What is it for a saint to die

Representative Text

1 What is it for a saint to die,
That we the thought should fear?
’Tis but to pass the heav’nly sky,
And leave pollution here.

2 True, Jordan’s stream is wondrous deep,
And Canaan’s walls are high;
But He, that guards us while we sleep,
Can guide us when we die.

3 A parting world, a gaping tomb,
Corruption and disease,
Are thorny paths to Heav’n our home,
And doors to endless bliss!

4 Eternal glory just before,
And Jesus waiting there,
A heav’nly gale to waft us o’er—
What have the saints to fear?

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #12627

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: Joseph Swain

Swain, Joseph, was born at Birmingham in 1761, and after being apprenticed to an engraver, removed to London. After a time he became a decided Christian, and being of an emotional poetic temperament, began to give expression to his new thoughts and feelings in hymns. In 1783 he was baptized by the Rev. Dr. Rippon, and in 1791 became minister of a Baptist congregation in East Street, Walworth. After a short but popular and very useful ministry, he died April 16, 1796 Swain published the following:— (1) A Collection of Poems on Several Occasions, London, 1781; (2) Redemption, a Poem in five Books, London, 1789; (3) Experimental Essays on Divine Subjects, London, 1791; (4) Walworth Hymns, by J. Swain, Pastor of the Baptist Church Meeting… Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	What is it for a saint to die
Author:	Joseph Swain
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

^ top

Tune

AZMON

Lowell Mason (PHH 96) adapted AZMON from a melody composed by Carl G. Gläser in 1828. Mason published a duple-meter version in his Modern Psalmist (1839) but changed it to triple meter in his later publications. Mason used (often obscure) biblical names for his tune titles; Azmon, a city south of C…

Go to tune page >

AULD LANG SYNE

SONG 67

SONG 67 was published as a setting for Psalm 1 in Edmund Prys's Welsh Llyfr y Psalmau (1621). Erik Routley (PHH 31) suggests that the tune should be ascribed to Prys. Orlando Gibbons (PHH 167) supplied a new bass line for the melody when it was published with a number of his own tunes in George With…

Go to tune page >

All tunes published with 'What is it for a saint to die'^ top

Timeline

^ top

Arrangements

Store

Piano/Organ Preludes of Praise and Adoration (Inspiring Hymn Settings for Piano) Festival Hymns for Organ, Brass, and Timpani—Set 7 Twelve Hymn Introductions, General More Piano/Organ...
Choral ACCLAMATION ON "AZMON" More Choral...
Instrumental Worship the King Sing It Simply (25 Congregational Hymn Accompaniments for Piano, with opt. Guitar, Bass, and Handbells) BRASS ACCOMPANIMENTS FOR HYMNSINGING More Instrumental...
Handbells Let Praises Ring: 18 Introductions and Hymn Accompaniments for Handbells, Organ, and Congregation, Volume 1 O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES Ring New Songs to the Lord, Vol. 1 (easy settings of praise and worship songs blended with traditional hymns) More Handbells...