He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days. I said,
Psalm 102:23–24O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: Thy years are throughout all generations.
Words: Isaac Watts, The Psalms of David 1719. Man’s mortality and Christ’s eternity; or, saints die, but Christ and the Church live.
Music: Return (Squires) William H. Squires, 1895 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Squires (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
It is the Lord our Savior’s hand
Weakens our strength amidst the race;
Disease and death at His command
Arrest us, and cut short our days.
Spare us, O Lord, aloud we pray,
Nor let our sun go down at noon;
Thy years are one eternal day,
And must Thy children die so soon?
Yet in the midst of death and grief
This thought our sorrow should assuage:
Our Father and our Savior live;
Christ is the same through every age.
’Twas He this earth’s foundations laid;
Heav’n is the building of His hand;
This earth grows old, these heav’ns shall fade
And all be changed at His command.
The starry curtains of the sky,
Like garments shall be laid aside;
But still Thy throne stands firm and high,
Thy Church for ever must abide.
Before Thy face Thy Church shall live,
And on Thy throne Thy children reign;
This dying world they shall survive,
And the dead saints be raised again.