2245. “Living, Loving, Lasting Union.”

No. 2245-38:97. A Sermon Delivered On Wednesday, October 22, 1890, By C. H. Spurgeon, At The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington.

At The Funeral Of Mr. William Olney. With New Portraits of Pastor C. H. Spurgeon and Mr. William Olney

Funeral Address Intended For Reading On Lord’s Day, February 28, 1892.

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. {Eph 5:30}

For other sermons on this text:
   {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 1153, “Matchless Mystery, The” 1144}
   {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 2244, “Members of Christ” 2245}
   {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 2245, “Living, Loving, Lasting Union” 2246}
   Exposition on Eph 5 {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 2401, “Child of Light and the Works of Darkness, The” 2402 @@ "Exposition"}

1. Before the funeral, at Norwood Cemetery, of the late Mr. William Olney, senior deacon of the church at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, a service was held in the Tabernacle. The building was crowded with sympathizing friends, who came to testify the affection they bore to the beloved deacon who had been so suddenly called from their midst. The senior Pastor presided.

2. The hymn, “They are gathering homeward one by one,” was sung, and Pastor James A. Spurgeon offered prayer. The hymn “Why do we mourn departing friends?” followed, and C. H. Spurgeon then read and expounded 1Co 15. The Rev. Burman Cassin, Rector of St. George’s, Southwark, briefly engaged in prayer, and the assembly sang the thirty-fourth Psalm, in the version beginning —

   Through all the changing scenes of life,
      In trouble and in joy,
   The praises of my God shall still
      My heart and tongue employ.

The hymn commencing, “For ever with the Lord!” was sung, and a concluding prayer was offered by Mr. James Spurgeon.

3. Pastor C. H. Spurgeon then rose, and said: — Since I am in a very unfit condition to speak to you this morning, I shall try for once to keep away from my subject; for if I dwell on it; it will master me, and I shall not be able to speak to you at all. I am trying to suppress my feelings, so that I may be able to find words.

4. I am going to speak about the favourite expression of my brother William Olney, which he frequently used in prayer. I wonder whether you will agree with me as to what it was. As my memory serves me, I have heard him a score of times, at least, use the following sentence when he drew very near to the Lord his God in prayer. He said, “Lord Jesus, we are one with you. We feel that we have a living, loving, lasting union with you.” I think that you must remember that gem of his. Those three words have stuck by me; and ever since he has gone, I have found myself repeating them to myself quite involuntarily — “a living, loving, lasting union.” He owed everything to that. He consciously enjoyed a living, loving, lasting union with the Lord Jesus Christ; and if you and I have that, we have all that we need for time and for eternity. If we do not have it, we have nothing. Take any one of us by himself alone; he is lost, ruined, and undone. Take that same person linked with Christ by a living, loving, lasting union, and he is a saint — saved, sanctified, and sure to be glorified.

5. I have taken for my text the words which occur in the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians. Concerning our Lord Jesus, the apostle Paul says, “We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” {Eph 5:30}

6. “We,” that is his believing people, “are members of his body, and of his flesh, and of his bones.” He is our Head, and we are the members of the body, and so we are joined to him by a living, loving, lasting union.

7. I am not going beyond those three words; they shall be my three points, but at the same time I will keep to my text.

8. I. BETWEEN THE TRUE BELIEVER AND CHRIST THERE IS A LIVING UNION.

9. There was just that between my brother William Olney and his Lord. A living union! When he joined the church of Christ, he did not offer it the distinguished honour of his name, and then slip away, and give his life to politics, or to business, or to amusement; but when the church had his name on its roll, it received the whole man, body, soul, and spirit; and this because there was life in him.

10. His union to Christ was not nominal, but actual. He was not merely covered with the Christian name, but he had the Christian spirit and the Christian life within him. Yes, his union to Christ was a living union; not merely that of reliance, by which the stone leans upon the foundation; though he had that, for no man ever understood more clearly the doctrine of faith in Christ. Christ was his only trust and confidence, and he came to him as the stones come home to the foundation-stone. But it was a living union is his case, for the fruits of life were produced. It was the union of the branch to the stem in that blessed vine which Christ himself, even as he says, “I am the vine, you are the branches.”

11. Now what does this living union to Christ mean?

12. It means, first of all, Christ’s life laying hold of us. “For as the Father has life in himself; so he has given to the Son to have life in himself.” He is full of life, and when he takes hold of us, and raises our life into his, there is truly a living union between him and us.

13. But, further, this living union is Christ’s life in us. It is given to him, not only to take us in our feebleness; but it is his divine prerogative to impart life to us, and to call dead men, and to make them live. “For just as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them; even so the Son quickens whom he wills.” This is how we come to have life in connection with him. His life flows into us, just as out of the tree into the branches: so that we can truly say, with the apostle, “I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” The living union begins with our Lord’s life, and then that life flows into us, and we begin to live also.

14. It was so with our friend, whom we so sadly miss from our midst today. A new life, a life of holiness, a life of service, a life of communion with God, began in him, by oneness with Christ, and it was continued in him by the same means. There was a living union: the life of Christ had begotten life in him, and this was seen continually in the fruit that he bore. I should not know, if I had to describe my departed brother, which word to associate most fully with him, “life” or “love.” He was as full of life as he ever could be. He used to amaze us by his energy — I mean not merely physical or even mental energy, but his never-ceasing, overflowing spiritual energy. If any of us were dull, he never was; and he would not let us be dull for long. He would often tell us, when we were not well, that he thought we looked amazingly well, and he would try to cheer us up somehow or other, for he himself never seemed to lack for life, or fire, or force. I might almost say that, up to the last moment, he was energetic; he died full of life. He was intense in the very highest degree until struck down; and he was so intense, not because of mere mental activity, but because of the burning zeal for God that was in his soul, and this zeal was the result of his living union with the Lord Jesus Christ.

15. Because of this life of Christ which was in him, he bore suffering without flinching. If there was anything that could equal the industry of his work; it was the heroism of his patience. He has often amazed us by his fortitude. We have admired the way in which he has triumphed in Christ in spite of his sufferings; but we have felt that we could scarcely hope to imitate him to the letter. He went as far in the way of bearing pain with patience as he went in the direction of serving Christ with enthusiasm; and this is saying a very great deal for any man. Therefore I do not say it for the man; but in praise of the grace of God which helped him, whether he was active or passive, still to be buoyant and bright because of the living union which subsisted between him and Christ. A verse of the Psalms we have just sung, which was a great favourite of his, truly describes the resolution of his life: —

   Of his deliverance I will boast,
      Till all that are distress’d,
   From my example comfort take,
      And charm their griefs to rest.

Christ dwelling in him in fulness could both work and suffer. The fact that Christ lives in the believer is as real as that he once lived on earth in a human body. He came then with a double-handed blessing. He came both to do his Father’s will and to bear the burden of the souls of men. He was active in doing good; and when the appointed time came, he as willingly bore the burden of the sins of men, and suffered to the death without complaint. In the same way Christ lived in our dear friend, making him strong both to do and to suffer. May God grant also to you and to me to have such a living union to Christ!

16. Do you know anything of this experience, my dear friends? Many of you do; it is your life to be one with Christ. But to some of you I must be talking an unmeaning jargon. Oh souls, if the life of Christ is not in you, you are dead while you live, and you will die for ever when you die! Unless you get linked to Christ, you will be driven from the presence of God, and away from all that makes true life and joy. Lay hold on Christ, and you will “lay hold on eternal life”; for he is “that eternal life which was with the Father, and was revealed to us,” and living contact with him is our only hope either for the present or for the future. If you are vitally joined to Christ, it is well with your soul; but if you are separated from Emmanuel, and have no living union to Christ, there is no eternal life for you. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life: and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God resides on him.”

   Living or dying, Lord,
      I ask but to be thine,
   My life in thee, thy life in me,
      Makes heaven for ever mine.

17. II. The next word to “living,” in my dear brother’s frequent use, was “loving.” BETWEEN THE TRUE BELIEVER AND CHRIST THERE IS A LOVING UNION.

18. And oh, the union of a soul to Christ is made so sweet because it is as loving as it is living! My brother William Olney truly loved. He seemed to have a love for everyone. He never was so pleased as when he was pleasing other people; and he would go a long way, sometimes, to try and please people who would not be pleased, and sometimes people who ought not to be pleased. But still, his great ambition in life was to love others, and to make others love Christ. Love ruled supreme in his actions. His union to Christ was not cold, and formal, stiff and narrow; he had a union to Christ that was warm, human, intense, fervent, loving. There was fire in that man, and the fire was the ardent flame of great affection for the Lord Jesus Christ.

19. I would like to have a talk about this loving union to Christ on some other occasion, when I could trust myself more than I can do now at this very solemn service. {b} Still, there are a few things that may be said upon this subject even now.

20. Christ’s love for us begins this loving union. Its source is not in ourselves; but in love eternal, love immeasurable, love which caused itself, free-grace love, love for the unworthy, love for enemies, love for those who had no life, no strength, and no hope apart from him. Christ loved us so that he condescended to join himself to us in eternal union. The great Artesian well from which we drink, and which has tapped the divine fountains, is the love of Christ. This is the place where all our hope, and our joy, and our love begin. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us.” In connection with this same truth of union with Christ, and fruit-bearing as the result of it, our Lord himself says, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” So when this love made choice of us, he entered into covenant with his Father concerning his people; and before we were born he identified himself with us, so that in the purpose of God from all eternity we were accepted in him. But union with us meant union with our sins; and though the Son of God could never be overcome by evil, or become a sharer in human guilt, yet by the blessed mystery of his unity with his people, he could take their sin upon himself, and bear it in his own body on the tree. So, since there is no past or future to the eyes of him before whom all events are spread out in one eternal “now,” the Son of God was able to atone for the iniquities of those who, through all the ages, would be truly joined to him. His love that chose us did not shrink back from the awful payment which our debt rendered necessary: it was stronger than death, and mightier than the grave. Many waters could not quench it; many floods could not drown it; nor will it cease to exert its blessed influence over us until it shall bring us home to the mansions above; and not even then, for Christ’s love is everlasting. By this loving union Christ brings us safely through all the temptations of life; the ransomed spirits of such as are joined to him are taken to be with Christ the instant they are absent from the body; and at last out of the tomb that same love shall call the body, and on the glad day of resurrection it shall be clearly seen how wonderful is the love which made our Lord so one with us. This, then, is the way in which we came to a loving union with Christ; he began to love us with a love that had no beginning, which has no measure, and which shall know no change nor end, and therefore he united himself to us for ever. Well might Kent praise the name of the Lord for the wonders accomplished by such love as this as he sang: —

   Heirs of God, joint-heirs with Jesus,
      Long ere time its race begun;
   To his name eternal praises!
      Oh! what wonders love hath done!
         One with Jesus
      By eternal union one.

21. Our love for Christ completes this loving union. We first learn of his love for us, and then as the result of that, we are brought to love him. Ours is a poor little love, not worthy of his acceptance; but, such as it is, we give it all to him; and he will not refuse it, or despise it. Oh, that we all might be joined to Christ in love now! I am sure that my brother, who has gone from us, knew this union more than most of us. When we once got upon this glorious theme in private conversation, or when he touched upon it himself in his own public prayers, how his spirit seemed to burn and glow! He was always at home when speaking of the love of Christ, or of the love of Christ’s people to their Lord. He could truly say, as I trust many of us will truly say now, —

   I give my heart to thee,
      Oh Jesus, most desired!
   And heart for heart the gift shall be,
      For thou my soul hast fired:
   Thou hearts alone would’st move,
      Thou only hearts dost love:
   I would love thee as thou lov’st me,
      Oh Jesus most desired!

22. In this loving union, Christ’s love for us and our love for Christ flow in the same channel. Together they make a stream of love of a glorious kind. We love each other for Christ’s sake; we love sinners for Christ’s sake. We love the truth as Christ loves the truth. We love the Father in the same manner that Christ loves the Father, though not to the same degree. There is, in fact, only one love in the Head and in all the members. What the Head loves all the body loves. As one man we go with Christ. Being united to him, his desires and longings become our desires and longings, too; we grow into his likeness, and “are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

23. Do you know anything about loving union to Christ? I feel sure that the great majority of those assembled here both know it and rejoice in it. Oh, to know it more! Oh, that his love were shed abroad more richly in our hearts! Now, by the Holy Spirit who is given to us, may we experience, not only the tiny rivulets of love that some of us have had in the past days, but may we get to the torrents of love, may we be swept away by it, until, like a mighty ocean, it covers all our nature, and becomes to us a very heaven begun below!

24. III. Our third part is that, BETWEEN THE TRUE BELIEVERS AND CHRIST THERE IS A LASTING UNION.

25. The whole phrase which our dear departed friend used so frequently was “living, loving, lasting union.” Oh friends, what a sad thing it would be for anyone to have only a temporary union to Christ! If I am speaking to any who were members of this church years ago, but who are not even professors now — if I am addressing some who seemed to be earnest Christians once, but who have gone back from following Christ — I would earnestly remind you that no union with Christ is living and loving unless it is also lasting.

26. The man who is truly united to Christ does not become apostate. It is all in vain to seem to put on Christ for a time, and then, after a little while, to take him off again. That is the religion of the hypocrite, or of the merely temporary professor. But it was not so with our dear brother who is sleeping over there. When he joined the church — I think that it is rather more than fifty-four years ago — he gave himself to the Lord, and he has been kept and sustained and upheld until now. Why, there are some of you who have been members of four or five denominations during that time! You have changed your views with the varying seasons, and have altered more often than we care to remember, while here was he, keeping steadfast and immovable all the time, always remaining a member of the same church, and going on steadily with his work. It seems to me that some of you build for a year, and pull down, then build again, and pull down once more. Why, you are not building at all unless your building stands; and you are not truly in union with Christ unless the union is lasting union; and that it will not be unless it is a living union! Your profession of Christ will be a lie, and will help to sink you lower than the lowest hell unless you endure to the end. Make sure work with what you do in religion. Do not play at being a Christian. If you are converted, be converted with your whole heart. If you have faith in Christ, have vital faith, or do not pretend to have any. Be real; be true to the core. Be satisfied with nothing short of that union which the Spirit of God works in the hearts of those who, without reserve, yield to his power; otherwise what you seem to have will not be a lasting thing with you, and at the end you will be utterly cast off.

27. Now think of the joy of this fact. Our union with Christ is not only lasting, it is everlasting. With great boldness we utter the challenge. “Who shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord?” It is true that we hold Christ, and that we will hold him even tighter; but the greater mercy is that he holds us, and he will never let us go. Does he not say concerning his sheep, “I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand?” And will he not be true to his word? You may take Christ from our hand, but you cannot take us from Christ’s hand; he holds us firmly; he is married to us, and he himself declares, “The Lord, the God of Israel, says that he hates divorce.” He will have no divorce between our soul and himself. This living, loving, lasting union, which we have already found to be such a glorious reality, is to last for ever and ever, blessed be the name of the Lord!

28. I want you, beloved friends, to draw much comfort from this truth, and then I will be finished. Christ will not lose his members. My head would not willingly lose a little finger, and Christ our Head will not lose one of us if “we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” Do you think that Christ can be mutilated? Do you think that he will lose even the least joint of the least finger? Never shall that be true. The word written concerning his body of flesh is equally true concerning his mystical body, which is his church. “A bone of him shall not be broken.” Not even the smallest and most insignificant believer in Christ shall be lost, otherwise his body would be incomplete. He is a perfect Christ, and you who are members of his body shall never be cut away from his by the wounds of Satan’s sword, the surgery of infidelity, or any earthly accident or diabolical temptation. If you are one with him, you will be one with him for ever, for the union between you and your Lord is an eternal union, and to break it would be to disfigure and mutilate the Christ of God.

29. Furthermore, in that we are one with Christ, he will raise our bodies. “We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones”; and, though I do not insist upon it, this verse has to me a kind of ring about it, which would lead us to believe that if we are members of his body, he will take even our bodies to be members of himself. Christ will not leave our brother in the grave. His body will see corruption; but the tomb shall only be like a refining pot, to separate the precious from the vile. When Moses brought Israel out of Egypt, he said, “There shall not a hoof be left behind”; and when that One who is greater than Moses shall bring his people out from their graves, there shall not a bone or a piece of a bone of his redeemed be left in the region of death. When the angel brought Peter out of prison, he told him to put his shoes on. “Bind on your sandals,” was the angelic direction. He would not leave even an old pair of slippers in the prison when he brought Peter out. The deliverance was to be absolutely complete. So, too, when Christ shall tell us to put on our garments which he shall prepare for us in the resurrection, no integral part of the man shall be left behind. Oh grave, you must give up your prey! Oh death, you must yield up your spoils! Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and therefore they as well as our souls must be set free from the power of the last enemy. “Therefore comfort each other with these words,” whether it is concerning your own death, or the death of this dear friend, on whose coffin we look just now.

30. Beloved, we are parting with our brother, William Olney, for a while; but we shall meet again. We are so one with each other in truth and experience, that we cannot be separated. He was a member of Christ’s body, and of his flesh, and of his bones; so am I; and so are you, my fellow believer. The members of one body must be one. And we shall meet our departed friend again before long. Perhaps another week, some of us may see his face. I wonder what he has been doing already in that land of light and liberty. Mr. Fullerton writes me, saying that he would not wonder if he spent last Sunday telling the spirits above how he had spent the Sunday previous, and making them all wonder at what the grace of God had done among poor sinners down here on earth. He could tell the story of Haddon Hall, and of this Tabernacle, recounting the story of what the Lord has done in saving men and women; and I do not think the angels and the redeemed could be better occupied than in hearing what the Lord has been doing in his new creation here below. Very probably the conjecture is right, for the grace of God reaches us “to the intent that now to the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” When they hear the story up there, they will take down their harps, and raise new hallelujahs to God, and to the Lamb. Do not think that I talk strangely. The angels rejoice over one sinner who repents, and they will even more rejoice when a messenger, newly come from the midst of God’s salvation work, shall tell them about scores who have been brought to the Saviour’s feet.

31. Beloved friends, eternity is ours; and a joyful eternity it will be to those who are one with Jesus Christ, in “living, loving, lasting union.” We shall ascend to “the realms of the blest” soon. There is a ladder waiting for us to climb; and when we mount it, we shall have no reason to mourn. It is only for a little time that we shall have to keep the night-watches. The watchman of the night cries, “The morning comes.” The night of weeping will soon be past. “Until the day breaks, and the shadows flee away,” be of good courage. Patiently hope, “and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” He will surely come again; and even the tears of today shall be rewarded to you abundantly.

32. I pray that every blessing may rest upon every mourner today. Indeed, dear friends, while we mourn with you, we can only congratulate you that you have had such a husband, such a father, such a brother, as our friend who is now taken home. I will not say that you have lost him, for that would not be true. God lent him to you for a long time, and now he has taken him back. I think that it is about fifteen years ago, since, in the ordinary course of things, he might have been expected to have died; at least, so it seemed at the time he was so sick; yet with many tears and intercessions we prayed him back, and God has given him something like Hezekiah’s extra portion of life. We ought to be very thankful for that. In those fifteen years, how much has he done? How much has God done by him for us all! Therefore we will not sorrow so as to complain, but we will sorrow only so as to submit. May the Lord be with you for evermore! Amen.

[Portion Of Scripture Read Before Sermon — 1Co 15]
{See Spurgeon_Hymnal “Extra Non-Tabernacle Hymns — They’re Gathering Homeward From Every Land” 1071}
{See Spurgeon_Hymnal “The Christian, Burial Hymns — Burial Of A Saint” 832}
{See Spurgeon_Hymnal “Spirit of the Psalms — Psalm 34” 34 @@ "(Version 1)"}
{See Spurgeon_Hymnal “The Christian, Aspirations for Heaven — ‘For Ever With The Lord’ ” 846}

{a} Each page of this sermon is surrounded by a black rectangular box.
{b} On the following evening, Thursday, October 23, 1890, Mr. Spurgeon preached on this subject. {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 2244, “Members Of Christ” 2245}

The Sword And The Trowel. Established and for 27 years Edited by C. H. Spurgeon.
Table of Contents of Special Memorial Number, March, 1892.
Mrs. Spurgeon’s Message of Thanks to the many Correspondents who have so lovingly shared her sorrow (with Portrait).
C. H. S. on John xvii. 24.
Portrait of C. H. Spurgeon, 1856.
Portrait of C. H. Spurgeon, 1891.
Mrs. Spurgeon’s Menton Memorial Texts.
Mr. Spurgeon’s Pocket-books (containing entries of peculiarly special interest).
Letter from Rev. John Spurgeon (with Portrait).
Pastor Charles Spurgeon’s Loving Tribute to the Memory of his Beloved Father (with portraits of Charles and Thomas Spurgeon).
A Note from Georgia, U. S. A., from an Orphanage Old Boy.
Pastor J. A. Spurgeon’s Personal Thanks, and General Letter to all Helpers of the Institutions (with Portrait).
Another Star in Heaven. By W. Y. Fullerton (with Portrait).
Mr. Spurgeon’s Senior Secretary’s “Wreath.”

The “ARMOUR-BEARER’S” Last Despatch concerning his Glorified Captain (with views of the Study at “Westwood,” and Hôtel Beau Rivage, Menton; and including two short articles written by C. H. S. in January, reports of the last two services conducted by Mr. Spurgeon on January, reports of the last two services conducted by Mr. Spurgeon on January 10 and 17, and a facsimile outline of sermon prepared by him for delivery on January 17).

Re-united in Glory. (Portraits of C. H. S. and his Mother; Deacons W. Higgs, W. Olney, and B. W. Carr; and Professor Rogers.)
Reports of Memorial Services at Menton and the Tabernacle, and of the Funeral at Norwood Cemetery. By various writers.
His Prayer was Answered. Poem, by E. A. Tydeman.
In Memoriam. Poem on close of C. H. S’s New Year’s address, by K. Russell.
In Memoriam: an Acrostic. By E. Putley.
Reminiscences of the President, by Pastors’ College Brethren.
The Head-master, Stockwell Orphanage (with Portrait).
Testimony of two Neighbours: Revs. R. Taylor and J. W. W. Moeran.
Notices of Books, written by C. H. S.
Notes.
Lists of Donations —— Pastors’ College, Pastors’ College Missionary Association, Society of Evangelists, Stockwell Orphanage. Colportage Association.
64 Pages. Price 3d.; Post free, 3d.
Passmore & Alabaster, Paternoster Buildings; and all Booksellers.
Extra Non-Tabernacle Hymns

They’re Gathering Homeward From Every Land.
1. They’re gath’ring homeward from ev’ry land,
   One by one! one by one!
   As their weary feet touch the shining strand,
   Yes, one by one!
   They rest with the Saviour, they wait their crown,
   Their travel-stained garments are all laid down;
   They wait the white raiment the Lord shall prepare
   For all who the glory with Him shall share.
   Refrain:
   Gath’ring home! gath’ring home!
   Fording the river one by one!
   Gath’ring home, gath’ring home,
   Yes, one by one!
2. Before they rest they pass thro’ the strife,
   One by one! one by one!
   Thro’ the waters of death they enter life,
   Yes, one by one!
   To some are the floods of the river still,
   As they ford on their way to the heavenly hill;
   The waves to others run fiercely and wild,
   Yet they reach the home of the undefiled. [Refrain]
3. We too must come to the riverside,
   One by one! one by one!
   We are nearer its waters each eventide,
   Yes, one by one!
   We can hear the noise of the dashing stream,
   Oft now and again, thro’ our life’s deep dream;
   Sometimes the dark floods all the banks overflow,
   Sometimes in ripples and small waves go. [Refrain]
4. Oh, Jesus, Redeemer, we look to Thee,
   One by one! one by one!
   We lift up our voices tremblingly,
   Yes, one by one!
   The waves of the river are dark and cold,
   But we know the place where our feet shall hold;
   O Thou who didst pass thro’ the deepest midnight,
   Now guide us, and send us the staff and light. [Refrain]
      Author: Mary E. Leslie, 1861
See Explorer "http://www.hymnary.org/text/theyre_gathering_homeward_from_every_lan"

The Christian, Burial Hymns
832 — Burial Of A Saint
1 Why do we mourn departing friends,
      Or shake at death’s alarms!
   ‘Tis but the voice that Jesus sends
      To call them to his arms.
2 Why should we tremble to convey
      Their bodies to the tomb?
   There the dear flesh of Jesus lay,
      And left a long perfume.
3 The graves of all his saints he bless’d,
      And soften’d every bed:
   Where should the dying members rest,
      But with the dying Head?
4 Thence he arose, ascending high,
      And show’d our feet the way;
   Up to the Lord our flesh shall fly,
      At the great rising day.
5 Then let the last loud trumpet sound,
      And bid our kindred rise;
   Awake, ye nations, under ground;
      Ye saints, ascend the skies.
                           Isaac Watts, 1709.

Spirit of the Psalms
Psalm 34 (Version 1)
1 Through all the changing scenes of life,
   In trouble and in joy,
   The praises of my God shall still
   My heart and tongue employ.
2 Of his deliverance I will boast,
   Till all that are distress’d
   From my example comfort take,
   And charm their griefs to rest.
3 Come magnify the lord with me;
   With me exalt his name;
   When in distress to him I call’d
   He to my rescue came.
4 Oh make but trial of his love;
   Experience will decide
   How blest are they, and only they,
   Who in his truth confide!
5 Fear him, ye saints, and you will then
   Have nothing else to fear;
   Make you his service your delight,
   He’ll make your wants his care.
                     Tate and Brady, 1696.

Psalm 34 (Version 2)
1 Lord, I will bless thee all my days,
   Thy praise shall dwell upon my tongue
   My soul shall glory in thy grace,
   While saints rejoice to hear the song.
2 Come, magnify the Lord with me;
   Come, let us all exalt his name:
   I sought the eternal God, and he
   Has not exposed my hope to shame.
3 I told him all my secret grief,
   My secret groaning reach’d his ears;
   He gave my inward pains relief,
   And calm’d the tumult of my fears.
4 To him the poor lift up their eyes,
   Their faces feel the heavenly shine;
   A beam of mercy from the skies
   Fills them with light and joy divine.
5 His holy angels pitch their tents
   Around the men that serve the Lord;
   Oh hear and love him, all his saints;
   Taste of his grace, and trust his word.
                           Isaac Watts, 1719.

The Christian, Aspirations for Heaven
846 — “For Ever With The Lord”
1 “For ever with the Lord!”
      Amen! so let it be!
   Life from the dead is in that word,
      ‘Tis immortality!
2 Here in the body pent,
      Absent from him I roam,
   Yet nightly pitch my moving tent
      A day’s march nearer home.
3 My Father’s house on high,
      Home of my soul! how near,
   At times, to faith’s foreseeing eye,
      Thy golden gates appear!
4 Ah! then my spirit faints
      To reach the land I love,
   The bright inheritance of saints,
      Jerusalem above!
5 “For ever with the Lord!”
      Father, if ‘tis thy will,
   The promise of that faithful word,
      Even here to me fulfil.
6 Be thou at my fight hand,
      Then can I never fail,
   Uphold thou me, and I shall stand,
      Fight, and I must prevail.
7 So when my latest breath
      Shall rend the veil in twain,
   By death I shall escape from death,
      And life eternal gain.
8 Knowing as I am known,
      How shall I love that word,
   And oft repeat before the throne,
      “For ever with the Lord!”
9 Then, though the soul enjoy
      Communion high and sweet,
   While worms this body must destroy,
      Both shall in glory meet.
10 That resurrection word,
      That shout of victory,
   Once more, “For ever with the Lord!”
      Amen — so let it be!
                  James Montgomery, 1835.