3 We share our mutual woes;
  Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
  The sympathizing tear.

4 When we asunder part,
  It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
  And hope to meet again.

5 This glorious hope revives
  Our courage by the way;
While each in expectation lives,
  And longs to see the day.

6 From sorrow, toil, and pain,
  And sin we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship reign
  Through all eternity.

     John Fawcett, 1772.

472 Dennis.  S.M.

Laborers in the Vineyard. (995)

And let our bodies part—­
  To diff’rent climes repair;
Inseparably joined in heart
  The friends of Jesus are.

2 Oh, let us still proceed
  In Jesus’ work below;
And following our triumphant Head,
  To further conquests go.

3 The vineyard of the Lord
  Before his laborers lies;
And lo! we see the vast reward
  Which waits us in the skies.

4 Oh, let our heart and mind
  Continually ascend,
That haven of repose to find,
  Where all our labors end.

     Charles Wesley

473 Dennis, S.M.

Meeting After Absence. (996)

And are we yet alive,
  And see each other’s face? 
Glory and praise to Jesus give,
  For his redeeming grace.

2 Preserved by power divine
  To full salvation here,
Again in Jesus’ praise we join,
  And in his sight appear.

3 What troubles have we seen! 
  What conflicts have we passed! 
Fightings without, and fears within,
  Since we assembled last!

4 But out of all the Lord
  Hath brought us by his love;
And still he doth his help afford,
  And hides our life above.

5 Let us take up the cross,
  Till we the crown obtain;
And gladly reckon all things loss
  So we may Jesus gain.

     Charles Wesley.

474 Rockingham.  L.M.

The Likeness of His Death. (974)

How blest the hour when first we gave
  Our guilty souls to thee, O God;
A cheerful sacrifice of love,
  Bought with the Savior’s precious blood.

2 How blest the vow we here record! 
  How blest the grace we now receive! 
Buried in baptism with our Lord,
  New lives of holiness to live.

3 How blest the solemn rite that seals
  Our death to sin, our guilt forgiven;—­
How blest the emblem that reveals
  God reconciled and peace with heaven.

4 Thus through the emblematic grave
  The glorious, suffering Savior trod;
Thou art our pattern, through the wave
  We follow thee, blest Son of God.

     S.F.  Smith.

475 Rockingham.  L.M.

The Feast of Love. (961)

My God! and is thy table spread? 
  And does thy cup with love o’erflow? 
Thither be all thy children led,
  And let them all its sweetness know.