1. The Sabbath day—sweet day of rest—
Was drawing to a close;
The summer breeze went murmuring by,
To lull me to repose;
I took my father’s Bible down—
His father’s gift to him—
A treasure rare, beyond compare,
Though soiled the page, and dim.
2. Old friend, I said, if thou couldst tell,
What would thy memories be?
And from the Book there seemed to come
This evening reverie:
“Good will to men, Peace be to thee!
My mission aye hath been,
To tell the love of Him who died
To save a world from sin.
3. “A hundred years ago I sailed,
With those who sail no more,
Through perils dread; by land and sea,
I reached New England’s shore;
There, on a soul-worn, faithful band
This soothing psalm did fall:
Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place,
In generations all.
4. “Year after year, in temples rude,
Upon the desk I lay,
To teach of Him, the great High Priest;
The Life, the Truth, the Way.
And multitudes who listened there
To God’s life-giving word,
Are resting from their labors now,
‘For ever with the Lord.’
5. “Anon a lowly home I found,
But love and peace were there…
The children with the father read,
And knelt with him in prayer;
And through the valley, as one passed,
I heard her sweetly sing:
‘O Grave, where is thy victory?
O Death, where is thy sting?’
6. Hold fast the faith, the old Book said;
Thy father’s God adore…;
And on the Rock of Ages rest
The soul forever more.
Amen, said I, by grace I will,
Till at His feet we fall,
And join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all.
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #4418