OH' bright and blessed hope!
When shall it be
That we His face, long loved,
Revealed shall see?
Oh! when, without a cloud,
His features trace,
Whose faithful love so long
We've known in grace;
O Jesus, not unknown,
Thy love shall fill
The heart in which Thou dwell'st,
And shalt dwell still.
Still, Lord, to see Thy face,
Thy voice to hear;
To know Thy present love
Forever near;
To gaze upon Thyself,
So faithful known,
Long proved in secret help
With Thee alone;
To see that love, content,
On me flow forth,
Forever Thy delight,
Clothed with Thy worth!
O Lord, 'twas sweet the thought
That Thou wast mine;
But brighter still the joy
That I am Thine!
Thine own, O Lord, the fruit,
The cherished fruit,
Of Thine all perfect love!
No passing root
Of evil e'er will dim
Thy cloudless rays;
But a full heart pour forth
Thine endless praise!
Nor what is next Thy heart
Can we forget—
Thy saints, O Lord, with Thee
In glory met,
(Perfect in comeliness
Before Thy face
Th' eternal witness all
Of Thine own grace),
Together then their songs
Of endless praise,
With one harmonious voice,
In joy shall raise!
O joy supreme and full,
Where sunless day
Sheds forth, with light divine,
Its cloudless ray!