Death and Resurrection

How sweet the hour of closing day

No. 915
Metre L. M.
Words William Bathurst.
Singing key D major
4 stanzas

Sung to MALVERN (hymn 927)

Words

How sweet the hour of closing day,When all is peaceful and serene,And the broad sun's retiring raySheds mellow luster o'er the scene!

Such is the Christian's parting hour;So peacefully he sinks to restWhen faith, endued from Heaven with power,Sustains and cheers his languid breast.

Mark but that radiance of his eye,That smile upon his wasted cheek;They tell us of his hope on highIn language that no tongue can speak.

Who would not wish to die like thoseWhom God's own Spirit deigns to bless?To sink into that soft repose,Then wake to perfect happiness?

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «915» (large) in the left column of p. 308, under hymn 914 («Anon.»), with the reference line «927, 924.» in italic figures beside it (sing to the tunes of hymns 927 or 924; no meter is printed — the four lines 8.8.8.8 are L. M., like hymn 914 and the referenced tunes). Stanzas numbered «1»–«4» without periods (written «1.»–«4.» here, as in the other deliveries of this book); lines 2 and 4 indented. The first word «HOW» is set in capitals and small capitals; written «How». «William Bathurst.» in italics, right-aligned, at the foot of the column. The print sets a thin space before «;», «!» and «?» («scene !», «hour ;», «cheek ;», «bless ?», «happiness ?»); it is closed up here. The apostrophes («sun's», «o'er», «Christian's», «God's») are written straight. Stanza 2, line 3 («When faith, endued from Heaven with power,») is broken by the column width in the print («power,» on a line of its own) and is joined here. Spelling («luster», «Heaven»), punctuation and capitals are the print's.