The dying Christian to his soul (Vital spark) (William Billings)

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CPDL #15672: 

Editor: Michael Lauer (added 2007-12-14).   Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 103 kbytes   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The dying Christian to his soul (Vital spark)
Composer: William Billings

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Genre: Sacred, Anthems
Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: 1781

Description:

External websites: http://www.mrlauer.org/music/

Original text and translations

English text Vital spark of heav’nly flame!
Quit, O quit this mortal frame:
Trembling, hoping, ling’ring, flying,
O the pain, the bliss of dying!
Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,
And let me languish into life.

Hark! they whisper; angels say,
Sister Spirit, come away!
What is this absorbs me quite?
Steals my senses, shuts my sight,
Drowns my spirits, draws my breath?
Tell me, my soul, can this be death?

The world recedes; it disappears!
Heav’n opens on my eyes! my ears
With sounds seraphic ring!
Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O Grave! where is thy victory?
O Death! where is thy sting?