lord when thy kingdom comes

“lord, when thy kingdom comes, remember me”;
thus spake the dying lips to dying ears;
o faith, which in that darkest hour could see
the promised glory of the far off years!

no kingly sign declares that glory now,
no ray of hope lights up that awful hour;
a thorny crown surrounds the bleeding brow,
the hands are stretched in weakness, not in power.

yet hear the word the dying savior saith,
“thou too shalt rest in paradise today”;
o words of love to answer words of faith!
o words of hope for those who live to pray!

lord, when with dying lips my prayer is said,
grant that in faith thy kingdom i may see;
and, thinking on thy cross and bleeding head,
may breathe my parting words, “remember me.”

remember me, but not my shame or sin;
thy cleansing blood hath washed them all away;
thy precious death for me did pardon win;
thy blood redeemed me in that awful day.

remember me, yet how canst thou forget
what pain and anguish i have caused to thee,
the cross, the agony, the bloody sweat,
and all the sorrow thou didst bear for me?

remember me, and, ere i pass away,
speak thou th’assuring word that sets us free,
and make thy promise to my heart, “today
thou too shalt rest in paradise with me.”