5 Then let my soul march boldly on,
Press forward to the heav'nly gate,
There peace and joy eternal reign,
And glitt'ring robes for conqu'rors wait.
6 There shall I wear a starry crown,
And triumph in almighty grace;
While all the armies of the skies,
Join in my glorious Leader's praise.
LIVE me the wings of faith, to rise
Within the veil, and see
The saints above, how great their joys,
How bright their glories be.
2 Once they were mourning here below,
And wet their couch with tears;
They wrestled hard as we do now,
With sins, and doubts, and fears.
3 I asked them whence their vict'ry came?
They, with united breath,
Ascribed their conquests to the Lamb,
Their triumph to His death.
4 They marked the footsteps that He trod,
His zeal inspired their breast:
And foll'wing their Incarnate God,
Possess the promised rest.
5 Our glorious Leader claims our praise,
For His own pattern given,
While the long cloud of witnesses
Shows the same path to heaven.
I LOVE the windows of Thy grace,
Through which my Lord is seen,
And long to meet my Saviour's face,
Without a glass between.
20 that the happy hour were come,
To change my faith to sight!
I shall behold my Lord at home,
In a diviner light.
3 Haste my Beloved, and remove
These interposing days;
Then shall my passions all be love,
And all my pow'rs be praise!
BSENT from flesh! O blissful thought!
AR
What unknown joy this moment brings!
Freed from the mischiefs sin hath wrought,
From pains, and tears, and all their springs.
2 Absent from flesh! Illustrious day!
Surprising scene! Triumphant stroke!
That rends the prison of my clay,
And I can feel my fetters broke!
3 Absent from flesh! Then rise, my soul,
Where feet or wings could never climb;
Beyond the heav'ns where planets roll,
Measuring the cares of joys and time.
4 I go where God and glory shine;
His presence makes eternal day,
My all that's mortal I resign,
For Uriel waits and points my way.
HAD I the wings of a dove,
I'd make my escape and be gone:
I'd mix with the spirits above,
Who encompass yon heavenly throne.
I'd fly from all labour and toil,
To the place where the weary have rest:
I'd haste from confusion and broil,
To the peaceful abode of the blest.
2 How happy are they who no more
Have to fear the assaults of the foe!
Arrived on the heavenly shore,
They have left all their conflicts below.
They are far from all danger and fear-
While remembrance enhances their joys:
As the storm, when escaped, will endear
The retreat which the haven supplies.
3 Around that magnificent throne,
Where the Lamb all His glory displays;
United for ever in One,
His people are singing His praise.
How holy, how happy are they!
No tongue can express their delight:
My soul, now unwilling to stay,
Prepares for her heavenly flight.
HY should we start, or fear to die?
What tim'rous worms we mortals are!
Death is the gate of endless joy,
And yet we dread to enter there.
2 The pains, the groans, and dying strife,
Fright our approaching souls away;
Still we shrink back again to life,
Fond of our prison and our clay.
3 Come, Lord, and deign my soul to meet,
Whilst winging hence her flight in haste;
Fearless, I'll pass death's iron gate,
Fearless, the grave's cold horrors taste.
4 Jesus shall make my dying bed
Feel soft as downy pillows are;
While on His breast I lean my head,
And breathe my life out sweetly there.
RISE, my soul, and stretch thy wings,
Thy better portion trace;
Rise, from transitory things,
Towards heav'n, thy native place.
Sun, and moon, and stars decay,
Time shall soon this earth remove:
Rise, my soul, and haste away
To seats prepared above.
2 Rivers to the ocean run,
Nor stay in all their course;
Fire ascending seeks the sun-
Both speed them to their source.
So, a soul that's born of God,
Pants to view His glorious face;
Upwards tends to His abode,
To rest in His embrace.
3 Cease, ye Pilgrims, cease to mourn,
Press upwards to the prize;
Soon your Saviour will return,
Triumphant in the skies:
Yet a season, and ye know
Happy entrance will be given;
All your sorrows left below,
And earth exchanged for heaven.
OH! most delightful hour by man,
Experienced here below;
The hour that terminates his span,
His folly and his woe!
2 Worlds should not bribe me back, to tread Again life's dreary waste;
To see again my day o'erspread
With all the gloomy past.
3 My home henceforth is in the skies,
Earth, seas, and sun adieu!
All heav'n unfolded to my eyes,
I have no sight for you.
4 So speaks the Christian; firm possessed Of faith's supporting rod:
Then breathes his soul into its rest,
The bosom of his God.
ND is this heaven? and am I there?
How short the road! how swift the flight!
I am all life, all eye, all ear;
Jesus is here-my soul's Delight.
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