Hymnal: The Christian Hymn Book
Date: 1865
Compiler: Alexander Campbell
Publisher/Printer: Central Book Concern
First Line: Away from his home and the friends of his youth
Topic: The Present and the Future/Life and Death
Writer: W Hunter
Composer:
Meter: 11s
Tune:
Hymn Number: 1095
Page Number: 648, click to see hymnal pages
LyicsA way from his home and the friends of his youth,
He hasted, the herald of mercy and truth,
For the love of his Lord, and to seek for the lost;
Soon, alas! was his fall-but he died at his post.
The stranger's eye wept, that, in life's brightest bloom,
One gifted so highly should sink to the tomb;
For in ardor he led in the van of the host,
And he fell like a soldier-he died at his post.
He wept not himself that his warfare was done-
The battle was fought, and the victory won;
But he whisper'd of those whom his heart clung to most,
"Tell my brethren for me that I died at my post."
He ask'd not a stone to be sculptured with verse;
He ask'd not that fame should his merits rehearse;
But he ask'd as a boon, when he gave up the ghost,
That his brethren might know that he died at his post.
Victorious his fall-for he rose as he fell,
With Jesus, his Master, in glory to dwell;
He has pass'd o'er the stream, and has reach'd the bright coast,
For he fell like a martyr-he died at his post.
And can we the words of his exit forget?
O! no, they are fresh in our memory yet;
An example so worthy shall never be lost,
We will fall in the work-we will die at our post.