4 He that on the throne doth reign,
Them the Lamb shall always feed,
With the tree of life sustain,
To the living fountains lead;
He shall all their sorrows chase,
All their wants at once remove,
Wipe the tears from every face,
Fill up every soul with love.
THE BLESSEDNESS OF HEAVEN.
A door opened in heaven.-Rev. 4. 1.
FOR a sweet inspiring ray,
To animate our feeble strains,
From the bright realms of endless day,
The blissful realms where Jesus reigns.
2 There, low before His glorious throne,
Adoring saints and angels fall;
And, with delightful worship, own
His smile their bliss, their heaven, their all.
3 Immortal glories crown His head,
While tuneful Hallelujahs rise,
And love, and joy, and triumph spread
Through all the assemblies of the skies.
4 He smiles, and seraphs tune their songs
To boundless rapture as they gaze ;
Ten thousand thousand joyful tongues
Resound His everlasting praise.
5 There all the followers of the Lamb
Shall join at last the heavenly choir:
O may the joy-inspiring theme Awake our faith and warm desire. 6 Dear Saviour! let Thy Spirit seal Our interest in that blissful place, Till death remove this mortal veil, And we behold Thy lovely face.
What is your life? it is even a vapour.
RIEF life is here our portion,
Brief sorrow, short-lived care;
The life that knows no ending,
The tearless life, is there.
O happy retribution!
Short toil, eternal rest;
For mortals and for sinners
A mansion with the blest!
2 And now we fight the battle,
But then shall wear the crown
Of full and everlasting
And passionless renown.
And He, whom now we trust in,
Shall then be seen and known;
And they that know and see Him
Shall have Him for their own,
3 The morning shall awaken,
The shadows shall decay,
And each true-hearted servant
Shall shine as doth the day.
There God, our King and Portion,
In fulness of His grace,
Shall we behold for ever,
And worship face to face
4 O sweet and blessed country,
The home of God's elect!
O sweet and blessed country
That eager hearts expect!
Jesus, in mercy bring us
To that dear land of rest;
Who art with God the Father
And Spirit ever blest.
BERNARD OF MORLAIX. 1140.
TR. BY J. M. NEALE. 1851.
1192 Having the glory of God.—Rev. 21. 11.
OR thee, O dear, dear country,
Mine eyes their vigils keep;
For very love, beholding
Thy happy name, they weep:
The mention of thy glory
Is unction to the breast,
And medicine in sickness,
And love, and life, and rest.
2 O one, O only mansion!
O paradise of joy!
Where tears are ever banished,
And smiles have no alloy;
The Cross is all thy splendour,
The Crucified thy praise,
His laud and benediction
Thy ransomed people raise.
3 Jerusalem the glorious!
Glory of the elect!
O dear and future vision
That eager hearts expect!
Even now by faith I see Thee,
Even here thy walls discern;
To thee my thoughts are kindled,
And strive, and pant, and yearn.
4 Thou hast no shore, fair ocean!
Thou hast no time, bright day!
Dear fountain of refreshment
To pilgrims far away!
Upon the Rock of Ages
They raise thy holy tower;
Thine is the victor's laurel,
And thine the golden dower.
5 O sweet and blessed country,
Shall I e'er see thy face?
O sweet and blessed country,
Shall I e'er win thy grace?
Exult, O dust and ashes,
The Lord shall be thy part:
His only, His for ever
Thou shalt be, and Thou art!
BERNARD OF MORLAIX. 1140.
TR. BY J. M. NEALE. 1851.
1193 The glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb
is the light thereof.-Rev. 21. 23.
ERUSALEM the golden!
With milk and honey blest!
Beneath thy contemplation
Sink heart and voice oppressed.
I know not, O I know not,
What joys await us there,
What radiancy of glory,.
What light beyond compare!
2 They stand, those halls of Sion,
All jubilant with song;
And bright with many an angel
And all the martyr throng.
The Prince is ever in them,
The daylight is serene:
The pastures of the blessèd
Are decked in glorious sheen.
3 There is the throne of David,
And there, from care released,
The shout of them that triumph,
The song of them that feast:
And they who, with their Leader,
Have conquered in the fight,
For ever and for ever
Are clad in robes of white.
4 O fields that know no sorrow!
O state that fears no strife!
O princely bowers! O land of flowers!
O realm and home of life!
Jesus in mercy bring us
To that dear land of rest;
Who art with God the Father
And Spirit ever blest.
BERNARD OF MORLAIX. 1140.
TR. BY J. M. NEALE. 1851.
1194 With Me in Paradise.—Luke 23. 43.
10 PARADISE! O Paradise!
Who doth not crave for rest?
Who would not seek the happy land
Where they that loved are blest?
Where loyal hearts and true
Stand ever in the light;
All rapture through and through
In God's most holy sight.
2 O Paradise! O Paradise!
The world is growing old;
Who would not be at rest and free
Where love is never cold?
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