When my last hour is close at hand, Lord Je-sus Christ, at - tend me;

Beside my bed, my Sav-ior, stand, To com-fort, help, de fend me:

Melchior Vulpius, 1609

My life is hid in Jesus, And death is gain to

me;

2 For Christ, my Lord and brother,
I leave this world so dim,
And gladly seek that other,
Where I shall be with Him.

3 My woes are nearly over,

Though long and dark the road;
My sin His merits cover,

And I have peace with God.

4 Lord, when my powers are failing
My breath comes heavily,

And words are unavailing,

O hear my sighs to Thee!

5 When mind and thought, O Savior,
Are flickering, like a light,
That to and fro doth waver,
Ere 'tis extinguished quite;

6 In that last hour, O grant me
To slumber soft and still,
No doubts to vex or haunt me,
Safe anchored on Thy will;

7 And so to Thee still cleaving
Through all death's agony,

To fall asleep believing,

And wake in heaven with Thee.

8 Amen! Thou Christ, my Savior,
Wilt grant this unto me:
Thy Spirit lead me ever,

That I fare happily.

Anon., German, 1609

2 Far off I see my fatherland,

Where through Thy grace I hope to stand,

But ere I reach that paradise,

A weary way before me lies.

3 My heart sinks at the journey's length,
My wasted flesh has little strength,
Only my soul still cries in me,

Lord, fetch me home, take me to Thee!

4 O let Thy sufferings give me power
To meet the last and darkest hour;
Thy cross the staff whereon I lean,

My couch the grave where Thou hast been.

5 Since Thou hast died, the pure, the just,
I take my homeward way in trust,
The gates of heaven, Lord, open wide,
When here I may no more abide.

6 And when the last great day is come,
And Thou, our Judge, shalt speak the doom,
Let me with joy behold the light,
And set me then upon Thy right.

7 Renew this wasted flesh of mine,
That like the sun it there may shine,
Among the angels pure and bright,
Yea, like Thyself in glorious light.
8 Ah, then I have my heart's desire,
When singing with the angels' choir,
Among the ransomed of Thy grace,
For ever I behold Thy face!

M. Behm, 1610

but

a

op-pressed.

heaven-ly grace With joy and peace my death