C. M. The joys of the everlasting state contemplated.
Rev. xxii. 2-5.
1 COME, Lord, and warm each languid heart,
Inspire each lifeless tongue;
And let the joys of heav'n impart
Their influence to our song.
2 Then, to the shining seats of bliss
On wings of faith we'll soar,
And all the charms of paradise
Our raptur'd thoughts explore.
3 Pleasures, unsullied, flourish there,
Beyond the reach of time;
Not blooming Eden smil'd so fair,
In all her flow'ry prime.
4 Sorrow and pain, and ev'ry care,
And discord there shall cease:
And perfect joy, and love sincere,
Adorn the realms of peace.
5 The soul, from sin for ever free,
Shall mourn its pow'r no more;
But, cloth'd in spotless purity,
Redeeming love adore.
6 There on a throne, (how dazzling bright!)
Th' exalted Saviour reigns
And beams ineffable delight
O'er all the heav'nly plains.
7 There shall the followers of the Lamb
Join in immortal songs;
And endless honour to his name
Employ their grateful tongues.
8 Lord, tune our hearts to praise and love, Our feeble notes inspire;
Till, in thy blissful courts above,
We join th' angelic choir.
8.8.6. The saints welcomed to heaven. 2 Peter 1. 11.
1 SWEET is the thought, that we shall know The Man who suffer'd here below,
To manifest his love
For us, and all his people bless'd,
Or here, or with himself at rest,
In the bright realms above!
2 Not all things else are half so dear
As his delightful presence here;
What must it be on high!
His word, as in the churches known,
Falls like a show'r of blessings down,
And makes them shout for joy.
3 But how will his celestial voice
Make our enraptur'd hearts rejoice,
When, from his glorious throne,
He calls us to come near his seat,
And we, at his once-pierced feet,
Our diadems cast down.
4 "Come in, thou blessed, sit by me,
"With my own life I ransom'd thee,"
The Lord to each will say:
"Thou now shalt dwell with me at home;
"Ye blissful mansions, make him room
"For ever here to stay."
5 When Jesus thus invites us in,
How will the heav'nly hosts begin
To shout us welcome home!
"Come in! come in!" the blissful sound
Will make the chrystal walls resound
For joy that we are come.
11. 8. Anticipation of heaven. Isajab xxxiii. 17.
1 DRAW near, O ye ransom'd, and help us to sing The treasures for you laid in store,
When at last ye shall meet with your Shepherd and King,
To weep in this desert no more.
2 Oh think with what rapturous shouts we shall rise,
To join with the glorified choirs,
When Jesus' bright chariot appears in the skies,
And death at his coming expires!
3 When, "Come, O ye blessed," sounds sweet in our ears,
By love everlasting express'd,
What place will be found for our doubts and our fears
In sight of the mansions of rest?
4 No more shall the wicked our comforts annoy,
Nor conscience from guilt feel a wound;
No tree of temptation, our peace to destroy
Shall in the bless'd region be found.
5 No passions unholy our bosoms shall move,
To taint the fair mansions with strife:
Our Shepherd shall feed us in pastures of love.
And lead us to fountains of life.
6 Look up, ye dejected, that weep as ye go,
And complain that no comfort ye prove,
Cast off all your sadness, and sing, while belo
Of the bliss that awaits you above.
7 Anticipate heav'n; 'twill sweeten those hours, When sorrows around you appear;
Will strew all the road to mount Zion with flow's And smooth the rough path-way of care.
8.7. Pilgrims anticipating their destination. 2 Cor..
1 THUS far on our way to Zion,
We, through grace divine, are come;
And the Friend, whom we rely on,
Soon will bid us welcome home.
2 Grace and truth our steps attending,
Safely we shall walk along,
Till, our destin'd journey ending,
Truth and grace shall be our song. 3 Then these eyes, which now with sadness Oft in transient clouds appear,
Shall be deck'd with beams of gladness,
Never more to shed a tear.
4 Then these hearts, which now so often
Not the sharpest threats can move,
Nor the sweetest words can soften,
Shall be all dissolv'd in love.
5 Then these minds, whose chief employment
Is to watch and conflict now,
Favour'd with complete enjoyment,
Shall with endless rapture glow.
6 Solid hopes, like these, possessing,
Let us march with courage on;
Bold, through fears and dangers pressing,
Till we wear the conqu'ror's crown:
7 Till we wave our palms in glory,
Through the blissful plains above;
Till we sound the wondrous story
Of the great Redeemer's love,
8. 9. Longing for heaven. Psalm lv. 6.
10 HAD we the wings of a dove,
We'd make our escape and be gone;
We'd mingle with spirits above,
Who encompass yon heavenly throne;
We'd fly from all labour and toil,
To the place where the weary have rest;
We'd haste from contention and broil,
To the peaceful abodes of the bless'd.
2 How happy are they who no more Have to fear the assaults of the foe! Arriv'd on the heavenly shore,
They have left all their conflicts below:
They are far from all danger and fear,
While remembrance enhances their joys,
As the storm, when escap'd, will endear
The retreat which the haven supplies.
3 Around that magnificent throne,
Where the Lamb all his glory displays,
United for ever in one,
His people are singing his praise.
How holy, how happy are they,
No tongue can express their delight!
Our souls, now unwilling to stay,
Prepare for their heavenly flight.
4 But why do we wish to be gone?—
Do we want from the danger to flee?—
And shall we do nothing for One,
Who for us suffer'd death on the tree?—
Ah, Lord! let us think of the day,
When thou wast "rejected of men,”
And put the base wish far away,
And never be fearful again.
5 Nor less our perverseness forgive,
That when ease and prosperity come,
Thy servants are willing to live,
And their exile prefer to their home.
Ah, Lord! what frail creatures are we!
Sure nothing can heighten our guilt;
Forgive us, forgive us, we pray,
And make us whatever thou wilt.
8. 7. 7. Destring to depart.
1 WHAT is life?-Tis but a vapour
Soon it vanishes away;
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