1

7.6.

589 Reaching forth unto those things

which are before.-Phil. 3, 13.

FROM every earthly pleasure,

From every transient joy,
From every mortal treasure
That soon will fade and die;
No longer these desiring,
Upwards our wishes tend,
To nobler bliss aspiring,
And joys that never end.
2 From every piercing sorrow
That heaves our breast to-day,
Or threatens us to-morrow,
Hope turns our eyes away;
On wings of faith ascending,
We see the land of light,
And feel our sorrows ending
In infinite delight.

3 Tis true, we are but strangers
And sojourners below;

And countless snares and dangers
Surround the path we go:
Though painful and distressing,
Yet there's a rest above:
And onward still we're pressing,
To reach that land of love.

8.8.6.

590 I shall be satisfied when I awake

1

TIS

with Thy likeness.-Ps. 17, 15. IS sweet on earth at early morn To wake restored, when faint and We laid us down at even; [worn How sweet, when last we sink to rest Pallid and spent, amid the blest

To wake restored in heaven!

2 On earth, if oft at morning's dawn, Lost strength return, that strength is When evening comes again; [gone In heaven renewed, our angel powers Shall yield not to a few brief hours, But ever fresh remain.

3 On earth, though we may wake and smile

With new-born joy, a little while
And tears may tell our woe;

In heaven, who once with joy awake,
Shall still unceasing bliss partake
As endless ages flow.

4 Who then that knows Thy power and Atoning Lord! from every ill

To shield him, and to save,

[will,

Would shun the swift approaching close
Of this frail life, and the repose
That waits him in the grave?

C.M.

591 We look at the things which are not seen.-2 Cor. 4, 18.

1

WE

THEN I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,

I bid farewell to every fear,

And wipe my weeping eyes.

2 Should earth against my soul engage,
And hellish darts be hurled,
Then I can smile at Satan's rage,
And face a frowning world,

3 Let cares, like a wild deluge, come,
And storms of sorrow fall:
May I but safely reach my home,
My God, my heaven, my All.

4 There shall I bathe my weary soul
In seas of heavenly rest,
And not a wave of trouble roll
Across my peaceful breast.

S.M.

592 Arise ye and depart, for this is not

1

your rest.-Mic. 2, 10.

WHERE shall rest be found,
Rest for the weary soul?

"Twere vain the ocean's depth to sound,
Or pierce beneath the pôle.

2 The world can never give
The bliss for which we sigh;
Tis not the whole of life to live,
Nor all of death to die.

3

Beyond this vale of tears,

There is a life above,

Unmeasured by the flight of years;
And all that life is Love.

4 Here would we end our quest; Alone are found in Thee

1

The life of perfect bliss, the Rest
Of immortality.

L.M.

593 Thou art my portion, O Lord.

MY

Ps. 119, 57.

Y soul to God, its source, aspires! Come, Lord, and fill my vast desires! Be Thou my Portion; here I rest, Since of my utmost wish possest. 2 O let Thy sacred word impart Its generous influence to my heart; With power, and light, and love divine, Assure my soul that Thou art mine. 3 Thy blissful word, with joy replete, Shall bid my gloomy fears retreat; And heaven-born hope, serenely bright, Shine cheerful through this mortal night.

4 Then shall my joyful spirit rise,

On wings of faith above the skies; [o'er,
And when these transient scenes are
And this vain world shall tempt no
more,-

5 O may I reach the blissful plains,
Where Thy unclouded glory reigns,
And dwell for ever near Thy throne,
In joys to mortal thought unknown!

1

L.M.

594 As for me, I will behold Thy face

in righteousness.-Ps. 17, 15. ORD, I am Thine; but Thou wilt prove

LO

My faith, my patience, and my love: When men of strife against me join, They are the sword, the hand is Thine. 2 What sinners value I resign;

Lord, tis enough that Thou art mine; I shall behold Thy blissful face, And stand complete in righteousness. 3 This life's a dream, an empty show ; But the bright world to which I go Hath joys substantial and sincere: When shall I wake, and find me there?

4 O glorious hour! O blest abode!
I shall be near and like my God;
And flesh and sin no more control.
The sacred pleasures of my soul.

5 My flesh shall slumber in the ground,
Till the last trumpet's joyful sound;
Then burst the chain with sweet sur-
And in my Saviour's image rise. [prise,

L.M.

595 Strangers and pilgrims.-1 Pet.

2, 11.

OW let our souls, on wings sub

1 NOW lime,

Rise from the vanities of time,

Draw back the parting veil, and see
The glories of eternity.

2 Born by a new celestial birth,

Why should we grovel here on earth?
Why grasp at transitory toys,
So near to heaven's eternal joys?

8 Shall aught beguile us on the road
When we are walking back to God?
For strangers into life we come,
And dying is but going home.

4 Welcome, sweet hour of full discharge,
That sets our longing souls at large;
Unbinds our chains, breaks up our cell,
And gives us with our God to dwell.
5 To dwell with God, to feel His love,
Is the full heaven enjoyed above;
And the sweet expectation now;
Is the fair dawn of heaven below.

C.M.

596 4 far more exceeding and eternal

weight of glory.-2 Cor. 4, 17.

1 MY thoughts surmount these lower

And look within the veil; [skies,
There springs of endless pleasure rise,
And joys that never fail.

There I behold, with sweet delight,
The blessed Three in One:

And strong affections fix my sight

On God's incarnate Son.

3 His promise stands for ever firm,
His grace shall ne'er depart;
He binds my name upon His arm,
And seals it on His heart.

4 Light are the pains that nature brings:
How short our sorrows are,
When with eternal future things
The present we compare!

5 I would not be a stranger still
To that celestial place,
Where I for ever hope to dwell
Near my Redeemer's face.

C.M.

597 I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.

1

--Ex. 33, 18.

ATHER, I long, I faint to see

FA

The place of Thine abode;

To leave Thine earthly courts and flee
Up to Thy seat, my God!

2 Here I behold Thy distant face,
And tis a pleasing sight;
But to abide in Thine embrace
Is infinite delight.

3 I'd part with all the joys of sense
To gaze upon Thy throne;
Pleasures spring fresh for ever thence,
Unspeakable, unknown.

4 There all the heavenly hosts are seen,
In shining ranks they move;
And drink immortal vigour in,
With wonder and with love."

5 There would I vie with all the host
In duty and in bliss;

While less than nothing I would boast,
And vanity confess.

6 The more Thy glories strike mine eyes, The humbler I shall lie;

Thus, while I sink, my joys shall rise
Unmeasurably high.

S.M.

598 In my Father's house are many

mansions.-John 14, 2.

1 HAVE a home above,

From sin and sorrow free