All, gone, all gone, for this life gone,
My days of health and strength;
Wearied and worthless, glad were I
To welcome home at length:
And yet, I’m happier far in truth
Than e’er I was in buoyant youth;
For, Jesus, Thou art; more to me
Than health and strength and youth could be.
All gone, all gone, for this life gone,
Dear hopes most fondly nursed;
They glitter’d long around my path,
Till each bright bubble burst.
I wept; but oh! the blest despair
Has led me heaven’s own joys to share;
For, Jesus, Thou art more to me
Than Hope’s fond dreams fulfilled could be.
All gone, all gone, for this life gone,
My sours elastic spring
Of vigor stripp’d, I shrink aside
A crushed and useless tiling:
Yet this is gain; for thus I prove
Far more His patient, pitying love;
And sweeter, safer this to me
Than self-reliant strength could be.
And going fast, while most are gone,
Loved friends of early days;
The world grows stranger year by year;
I lose, but not replace.
‘Tis well! I’m cast the more on One;
Stars scarce are missed while shines the Sun;
And, Jesus, Thou art more to me
Than loved and loving hearts could be.
Dear Lord, I thankfully kiss the hand
That gently stripp’d me bare,
And laid me on Thy tender breast,
To lose my sorrow there:
‘Twas anguish when earth’s cup was spill’d,
But now with Thee ‘tis overfill’d;
For, Jesus, Thou art more to me
Than all earth’s brimming cups could be.
What grace! to show a soul so vile
Thy more than mother’s care,
And lead through wreck of earth’s poor joys
Thy joys with Thee to share.
What grace! that Thou to such halt given
The foretaste now of feast in heaven;
The foretaste even now to me,
More than a thousand worlds could be.