Christ Will Gather In His Own

day by day the voice saith, “come,

enter thine eternal home”;

asking not if we can spare

this dear soul it summons there.

had he asked us, well we know

we should cry, “o spare this blow!”

yes, with streaming tears should pray,

“lord, we love him, let him stay.”

[substitute her if appropriate]

but the lord doth naught amiss,

and, since he hath ordered this,

we have naught to do but still

rest in silence on his will.

many a heart no longer here,

ah! was all too inly dear,

yet, o love, ’tis thou dost call,

thou wilt be our all in all.