The Holy City shall take up your strain,
And with glad songs resounding wake again
An endless Alleluia.
In blissful antiphons ye thus rejoice
To render to the LORD with thankful voice
An endless Alleluia.
Ye who have gain'd at length your palms in bliss,
Victorious ones, your chant shall still be this,
An endless Alleluia.
There, in one grand acclaim, for ever ring
The strains which tell the honour of your King,
An endless Alleluia.
This is sweet rest for weary ones brought back,
This is glad food and drink which ne'er shall lack,
An endless Alleluia;
While Thee, by Whom were all things made, we praise
For ever, and tell out in sweetest lays
An endless Alleluia.
Almighty CHRIST, to Thee our voices sing
Glory for evermore; to Thee we bring
384 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of Gođ. THERE is a blessed home
Beyond this land of woe,
Where trials never come,
Nor tears of sorrow flow;
Where faith is lost in sight,
And patient hope is crown'd,
And everlasting light
Its glory throws around.
There is a land of peace,
Good Angels know it well;
Glad songs that never cease
Within its portals swell;
Around its glorious throne
Ten thousand Saints adore
CHRIST, with the FATHER One
And SPIRIT, evermore.
O joy all joys beyond,
To see the LAMB Who died,
And count each sacred wound
In hands, and feet, and side;
To give to Him the praise
Of every triumph won,
And sing through endless days
The great things He hath done.
Look up, ye saints of GOD,
Nor fear to tread below
The path your Saviour trod
Of daily toil and woe ;
Wait but a little while
In uncomplaining love,
His own most gracious smile
Shall welcome you above. Amen.
385 For now they desire a better country, that is a
HERE is a land of pure delight,
Where Saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.
There everlasting spring abides,
And never-withering flowers;
Death, like a narrow sea, divides
That heav'nly land from ours.
Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood
Stand dress'd in living green ;
So to the Jews old Canaan stood,
While Jordan roll'd between.
But timorous mortals start and shrink
To cross the narrow sea,
And linger shivering on the brink,
And fear to launch away.
O could we make our doubts remove,
Those gloomy doubts that rise,
And see the Canaan that we love
With unbeclouded eyes:
Could we but climb where Moses stood,
And view the landscape o'er,
Not Jordan's stream, nor death's cold flood,
Should fright us from the shore.
386 That whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
HEY whose course on earth is o'er,
Think they of their brethren more?
They before the throne who bow,
Feel they for their brethren now
We, by enemies distrest―
They in Paradise at rest;
We the captives-they the freed-
We and they are one indeed.
One in all we seek or shun,
One-because our LORD is One;
One in heart and one in love-
We below, and they above.
Those whom many a land divides,
Many mountains, many tides,
Have they with each other part,
Fellowship of heart with heart?
Each to each may be unknown,
Wide apart their lots be thrown ;
Differing tongues their lips may speak,
One be strong, and one be weak ;—
Yet in Sacrament and prayer
Each with other hath a share;
Hath a share in tear and sigh,
Watch, and fast, and litany.
Saints departed even thus
Hold communion still with us;
Still with us, beyond the veil
Praising, pleading without fail.
With them still our hearts we raise,
Share their work and join their praise,
Rend'ring worship, thanks, and love
To the TRINITY above. Amen.
387 of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is
IET saints on earth in concert sing
With those whose work is done;
For all the servants of our King
Both quick and dead are one.
One family, we dwell in Him,
One Church, above, beneath;
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death.
One army of the living GOD,
To His command we bow;
Part of His host hath cross'd the flood,
And part is crossing now.
E'en now to their eternal home
There pass some spirits blest,
While others to the margin come,
Waiting their call to rest.
JESU, be Thou our constant Guide;
Then, when the word is given,
Bid Jordan's narrow stream divide,
And show the path to heaven. Amen.
388 0 how amiable are thy dwellings, thou Lord of hosts.
GOD of hosts, the mighty LORD,
How lovely is the place
Where Thou, enthroned in glory, show'st
The brightness of Thy face!
My longing soul faints with desire
To view Thy blest abode ;
My panting heart and flesh cry out
For Thee the living GOD.
For in Thy courts one single day
"Tis better to attend,
Than, LORD, in any place besides
A thousand days to spend.
O LORD of hosts, my King and GOD,
How highly blest are they
Who in Thy temple always dwell,
And there Thy praise display!
TO FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST,
The GOD Whom we adore,
Be glory, as it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
389 0 how amiable are thy dwellings, thou Lord of hosts.
OLEASANT are Thy courts above
PLEASANT
In the land of light and love;
Pleasant are Thy courts below
In this land of sin and woe:
Oh, my spirit longs and faints
For the converse of Thy Saints,
For the brightness of Thy face,
For Thy fulness, GoD of grace.
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