The earth shall cast out the dead.
Isaiah 26:19
Words: John Bowring, in A Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Worship, by John Relly Beard (London: John Green, 1837), number 531.
Music: Guide Marcus M. Wells, 1858 (🔊
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If you know where to get a good photo of Wells (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels), would you send us an e-mail?
Gather up, O earth, thy dead,
Grass! thy peaceful pillow spread;
Add another mortal’s bed
To the bed where mortals sleep;
Where they sleep—but not to rise,
When morn’s sunlight clears the skies,
But to rest—while centuries
Their long-during watches keep.
Centuries shall pass away,
Earth shall hasten to decay;
Days will bring of days the Day
When the exhausted cycles end;
Then earth’s every fugitive
Shall appear—the grave shall give
Up its dead—the dead shall live,
And the eternal Judge descend.
Day of wonders! Day of woe!
Day of evil’s overthrow!
Day of joy! when all shall know—
Know, and see the Lord of Heaven—
Then, Oh, then, may hope appear,
Faith our fainting spirits cheer,
Love dry up the trembling tear,
Whispering sweetly, Sins forgiven.