O! bright and blessed scenes,
Where sin shall never come!
Whose sight my longing spirit weans.
From earth, where yet I roam.
And can I call. my home.
My Father's house on high,—
The Rest of God, my rest to come,
My place of liberty?
Yes! In that light unstained,'
My stainless soul shall live;
My heart's deep longings more than gained,
When God His rest shall give!
His presence there, my soul
Its rest, its joy untold
Shall find, when endless ages roll
And time shall ne'er grow old.
My God the center is:
His presence fills that land;
And countless myriads, own'd as His,
Round Him adoring stand.
My God, whom I have known,
Well known in Jesu's love,
Rests, in the blessing of His own
Before Himself above.
Glory supreme is there,
Glory that shines through all:
More precious still that love to share,
As those that love did call!
Like Jesus, in that place
Of light and love supreme,
Once " Man of sorrows," full of grace,
Heaven's blest and endless theme!
Like Him! O grace supreme!
Like Him. before Thy Face;
Like Him, to know that glory beam
Unhindered, face to face.
O love, supreme and bright,
Good to the feeblest heart!
That gives me now,-as heavenly light,
What soon shall be my part!
Be not to me, My God,
As one that turned aside
To tarry for a night, and trod
His onward path Abide
With me, as light Divine,
That brings into my breast
Those gladdening-scenes, e'en now, as mine;
Soon my eternal rest.