The dying Christian to his soul

General information

Lyricist is Alexander Pope.

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• William Billings — The dying Christian to his soul (Vital spark)  English SATB
• William Jackson of Exeter — Vital spark of heavenly flame  English SS,TT
• Edward Harwood — Vital spark of heavenly flame  English SSB,TTB
• Alan Struck — The dying Christian to his soul  English SATB

Text and translations

English text 1  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. 2  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?

3  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?