Heavenward ever would I haste,
When Thy Table, Lord, is spread;
Heavenly strength on earth I taste,
Feeding on the Living Bread.
Such is e'en on earth our fare

Who Thy marriage feast shall share.

Heavenwards! faith discerns the prize
That is waiting us afar;

And my heart would swiftly rise,
High o'er sun and moon and star,

To that Light behind the veil
Where all earthly splendors pale.

Heavenward, Death shall lead at last, To the home where I would be:

All my sorrows overpast,

I shall triumph there with Thee, Jesus, who hast gone before,

That we, too, might heavenward soar.

Heavenwards! Heavenwards! only this
Is my watchword on the earth;
For the love of heavenly bliss
Counting all things little worth.
Heavenward all my being tends,
Till in heaven my journey ends.

CONQUERING PRINCE AND LORD OF GLORY. 321

CONQUERING PRINCE AND LORD OF GLORY.

(Siegesfürst und Ehrenkönig.)

From the German of GERHARD TERSTEEGEN, a deeply spiritual hymnist, 1731. Translated by Miss C. WINKWORTH (Lyra Germ., II. 76; changed, 1862).

CONQUERING Prince and Lord of glory,

Majesty enthroned in light!

All the heavens are bowed before Thee,
Far beyond them spreads Thy might.

Shall I fall not at Thy feet,

And my heart with rapture beat,

Now Thy glory is displayed,

Thine ere yet the worlds were made?

As I watch Thee far ascending
To the right hand of the throne,
See the host before Thee bending,
Praising Thee in sweetest tone,
Shall I not, too, at Thy feet
Hear the angels' strain repeat,
And rejoice that heaven doth sing
With the triumph of my King?

Power and Spirit are overflowing;
On me also be they poured:
Every hinderance overthrowing,
Make Thy foes Thy footstool, Lord.
Yea, let earth's remotest end

To Thy righteous sceptre bend;
Make Thy way before Thee plain,
O'er all hearts and spirits reign.

Lo, Thy presence now is filling
All Thy Church in every place!
Fill my heart, too: make me willing
In this season of Thy grace.
Come, Thou King of glory! come:
Deign to make my heart Thy home:
There abide and rule alone,
As upon Thy heavenly throne.

Thou art leaving me, yet bringing
God and heaven most inly near:
From this earthly life upspringing,

As though still I saw Thee here, Let my heart, transplanted hence, Strange to earth and time and sense, Dwell with Thee in heaven e'en now, Where our only joy art Thou!

HAIL THE DAY THAT SEES HIM RISE !

323

HAIL THE DAY THAT SEES HIM RISE!

Rev. CHARLES WESLEY. From his Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1739. In Hymns Ancient and Modern, this hymn is so radically changed as to be hardly recognizable.

1 Or:

"AIL the day that sees Him rise,

HAIL

Ravished from our wishful eyes!

Christ, awhile to mortals given,1
Re-ascends His native heaven.

There the pompous triumph waits:
"Lift your heads, eternal gates,
Wide unfold the radiant scene;
Take the King of glory in!"

Circled round with angel powers,
Their triumphant Lord and ours,
Conqueror over death and sin;
Take the King of glory in!

Him though highest heaven receives,
Still He loves the earth He leaves;
Though returning to His throne,
Still He calls mankind His own.

Christ, the Lamb for sinners given.

See, He lifts His hands above!
See, He shows the prints of love!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow
Blessings on His Church below!

Still for us His death He pleads;
Prevalent He intercedes;
Near Himself prepares our place,
Harbinger of human race.

Master (will we ever say),
Taken from our head to-day,
See Thy faithful servants, see,
Ever gazing up to Thee.

Grant, though parted from our sight,

High above yon azure height,
Grant our hearts may thither rise,
Following Thee beyond the skies.

Ever upward let us move,

Wafted on the wings of love;

Looking when our Lord shall come, Longing, gasping after home.

There we shall with Thee remain,
Partners of Thy endless reign;
There Thy face unclouded see,

Find our heaven of heavens in Thee.