Lift up your heads! ye drooping ones—
Sorrow and night are nearly spent.
Sleepers awake! Ye slumberers, arise!
And you, ye patient, waiting ones,
Lift up your eyes!
For watchers on the hill-tops see
Visions supremely fair,
And notes of heaven’s own melody
Are wafted to them there.
See ye no tokens of the coming morn?
The breaking of that glorious day,
When sin, with all its deep dark stain,
For aye shall pass away?
Oh! let us not be weary,
Though all around be dreary;
Though for a while thick darkness like a pall
Over the world should fall.
When fierce the battle strife shall rage,
O Lord, for us do thou engage:
When Satan wields the death blows of his power,
Spirit of Truth, be with us in that hour.
Divinely strengthened, let the Church now stand
Firm against every foe, a compact band;
Each warrior girded be—assured of victory;
Others with sandaled feet,
Waiting the summons their dear Lord to meet.
Behold, He draweth near!
Ah! where will now the careless ones appear?
Whither will unbelievers flee?
Where will the scoffer and blasphemer be?
The lengthened day of grace will soon be o’er,
When mercy’s tender pleadings
Shall be heard NO MORE!
Joy, joy to all believing ones!
It is the Lord—He comes, He comes!
Christ once denied— “The Crucified.”
He who for us was slain,
Returns a Conqueror, crowned,
With all His faithful “found,”
Triumphantly to reign.
O grave! thy well-kept trust is there no more;
That thrilling sound to thee must be—
Give up His dead—Restore! Restore!
Clearer, transforming, and intenselier bright,
Nearer and nearer beams the Living Light;
Till faith and hope are perfected in sight.
Here conflicts cease—
Armor and weapons are laid down
To take up the Crown;
All, all is peace!
Earth, once again in youthful prime,
Now owns her rightful King.
And beast and bird, and herb and flower,
Spontaneous tribute bring.
On high, the ransomed myriads raise
Hosannahs to their Saviour’s praise;
Mountains and vales the sounds prolong,
Till universal is the song:
And angel choirs attent above,
Join in full chorus— “God is Love.”
The Bride’s long-absent Lord is come,
Jerusalem on high her blissful home!