James Montgomery

The Body dies; the Soul suffers no Decay.

Time grows not old with length of years;

Changes he brings but changes not;

New born each moment he appears;

We run our race, and are forgot.

Stars in perennial rounds return,

As from eternity they came,

And to eternity might burn;

We are not for one hour the same.

Spring flowers renew their glad perfume,

But ere a second spring they fly;

Our life is longer than their bloom,

Our bloom is sweeter, -- yet we die.

Stars, like Spring-flowers, shall pass away;

Time, like the stars, must cease to roll;

We have what never can decay, --

Like flowers and stars and time, -- a soul.

Lord God! when time shall end his flight,

Stars set and flowers revive no more;

May we behold Thy face in light,

Thy love in Jesus Christ adore.