It Is not Death to Die

It is not death to die,
To leave this weary road,
And, 'midst the brotherhood on high,
To be at home with God.

It is not death to close
The eye long dimm'd by tears,
And wake in glorious repose
To spend eternal years.

It is not death to fling
Aside this sinful dust,
And rise, on strong exulting wing,
To live among the just.

Jesus, Thou Prince of life!
Thy chosen cannot die;
Like Thee, they conquer in the strife,
To reign with Thee on high.

From the French;
George W. Bethune,1847
No. 828 in C.H. Spurgeon's "Our Own Hymnbook"

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

background & graphics by Mary Stephens
updated 2019