Who knows how near my end may be

1 Who knows how near my end may be?
Time speeds away, and death comes on;
How swiftly, ah! how suddenly,
May death be here and life be gone!
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

2 The world that smiled when morn was come
May change for me ere close of eve;
So long as earth is still my home
In peril of my death I live;
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

3 Teach me to ponder oft my end,
And ere the hour of death appears,
To cast my soul on Christ, her Friend,
Nor spare repentant sighs and tears;
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

4 And let me now so order all,
That ever ready I may be
To say with joy, Whate’er befall,
Lord, do Thou as Thou wilt with me;
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

5 Let heaven to me be ever sweet,
And this world bitter let me find,
That I, 'mid all its toil and heat,
May keep eternity in mind;
My God, for Jesus' sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

6 O Father, cover all my sins
With Jesus’ merits, who alone
The pardon that I covet wins
And makes His long-sought rest my own;
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

7 His sorrows and His cross I know
Make death-beds soft, and light the grave,
They comfort in the hour of woe,
They give me all I fain would have;
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

8 From Him can naught my soul divide,
Nor life nor death can part us now;
I thrust my hand into His side,
And say, My Lord and God art Thou!
My God, for Jesus' sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

9 In holy Baptism long ago
I joined me to the living Vine;
Thou lovest me in Him, I know,
In Him Thou dost accept me Thine;
My God, for Jesus' sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

10 And I have eaten His own flesh
And drunk His blood,--nor can I be
Forsaken now, nor doubt afresh,
I am in Him, and He in me.
My God, for Jesus' sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.

11 Then death may come, or tarry yet,
I know in Christ I perish not,
He never will His own forget,
He gives me robes without a spot.
My God, for Jesus’ sake I pray
Thy peace may bless my dying day.