155. What Mean Ye By This Weeping

1. What mean ye by this weeping
To break my very heart?
We’re on in Jesus’ keeping
And never shall we part.
Nor time, nor place can sever
The ties that us have bound;
They shall abide forever
Who here in Christ are found.

2. Our farewells we are giving,
As though we were to part,
And yet we shall be living
Always as one in heart.
Farewell, we say: each other
We think we’ll no more see;
But close to Christ as brother
Each one will ever be.

3. We say, “I here, you yonder;
You go, and I remain,”
Yet we are not asunder,
But links in one great chain.
In words of deep affection,
“Our ways part here,” we say;
Yet go in one direction
And on the self-same way.

4. Why should our tears be flowing?
Why should we be so sad?
With One we all are going
Whose presence makes us glad;
He will protect us surely,
Lead us by His dear hand
Upon one way securely
Into one Fatherland.

5. Then not to parting sorrow,
But to our Savior true,
This solemn hour we hallow,
And to a bond that’s new;
If we choose Him, our Brother,
To be our highest gain,
We shall not lose each other,
Though parting give us pain.