65. Oh How the Thought That I Shall Know

8,8,7,8,8,8,7.
by J. Swain, 1792
1
Oh how the thought that I shall know
 
The Man that suffered here below,
 
To manifest God’s favor
 
For me, and for the saints I love,
 
Both here, and with Himself above,
 
Doth my renewèd nature move
 
At that sweet word, "Forever!"
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9)
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
2
Forever to behold Him shine!
 
Forevermore to call Him mine!
 
And see Him still before me;
 
Forever on His face to gaze,
 
And meet the full, assembled rays,
 
While all His beauty He displays
 
To all the saints in glory!
“And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:4)
“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)
3
Not all things else are half so dear
 
As is His blissful presence here,
 
What will it be in heaven!
 
’Tis heaven on earth that we can say,
 
As now we journey, day by day,
 
"Himself has borne our guilt away,
 
Our sins are all forgiven."
“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” (Psalm 73:25)
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” (Colossians 2:13)
4
But how will His celestial voice
 
Make each enraptured heart rejoice,
 
Of saints in glory near Him!
 
When we no longer absent wait,
 
But like Him in His glorious state,
 
Where naught our bliss can e’er abate,
 
With joy in heaven shall hear Him!
“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:6)
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalm 17:15)
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)
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Little Flock Hymnbook Index