I Shall Behold Thy Face O Lord Poem by Richard Merrell

My body is now still
No movement does it make
Cold from head to feet
Takes no sleep nor wakes.
There is no breath left in it
Quiet in death it be
The final place for man
Corruption it will see.
The worms shall devour my body
When my skin is past
This rotting, stinking body
Goes to the grave at last.

For whilst I lived, I spoke
To my body oftentimes
Saying, 'You cannot enter heaven
God's kingdom is divine.'
For my redeemer lives -
gave me a second birth
and in the latter day
He shall stand upon the earth!
Now body, you shall perish
and shall no longer be
for I shall get a new one
and have no need of thee.'

I shall behold Thy face O Lord
As your righteousness I see;
Be satisfied when I awake
And in your likeness be.