The Church has waited long
Her absent Lord to see;
And still in loneliness she waits,
A friendless stranger she.

After after age has gone,
Sun after sun has set,
And still, in weeds of widowhood,
She weeps, a mourner yet.

Saint after saint on earth
Has lived, and loved, and died;
And as they left us one by one,
We laid them side by side.

We laid them down to sleep,
But not in hope forlorn—
We laid them but to ripen there
Till the last glorious morn.

The serpent’s brood increase,
The powers of hell grow bold,
The conflict thickens, faith is low,
And love is waxing cold.

How long, O Lord our God,
Holy and true and good,
Wilt Thou not judge Thy suffering church,
Her sighs and tears and blood?

We long to hear Thy voice,
To see Thee face to face,
To share Thy crown and glory then,
As now we share Thy grace.

Should not the loving bride
The absent Bridegroom mourn?
Should she not wear the weeds of grief
Until her Lord return?

Come, Lord, and wipe away
The curse, the sin, the stain,
And make this blighted world of ours
Thine own fair world again.

When I come to the end of the long, long road,
The shadows will flee away,
And I’ll stand in the glorious light of God,
Where dwelleth eternal day.

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When I come to the end, the end of the road,
To the land of eternity,
When I come to the end of life’s long road,
The face of my Lord I’ll see.

Looking back o’er the years that were hard and drear,
The hand of the Christ I’ll see;
While my heart will go forth with a song of praise,
Because of His love for me.

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When I come to the end of the long, long road,
And trials will all be past,
I shall look in the face of my dearest Friend,
Safe home in His Heav’n at last.

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Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ Who died for me?

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Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!

Only faintly now I see Him,
With the darkened veil between,
But a blessèd day is coming,
When His glory shall be seen.

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What rejoicing in His presence,
When are banished grief and pain;
When the crooked ways are straightened,
And the dark things shall be plain.

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Face to face—oh, blissful moment!
Face to face—to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ Who loves me so.

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We are going home rejoicing,
Where our Father’s dwelling stands,
We are going home rejoicing,
To a house not made with hands;
We are going home to Jesus,
Who redeemed us with His blood,
Hallelujah! hallelujah!
Soon we’ll cross the swelling flood.

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Soon we’ll cross the swelling flood of the Jordan,
And the happy, happy time is drawing nigh;
In the golden fields of rest, over Jordan,
We shall gather, we shall gather by and by.

We are going in a vessel
That we know is firm and strong;
’Tis the good old ship of Zion
That has stood the storm so long;
Countless millions it has anchored,
And will anchor millions more,
In the port of life eternal,
On the bright celestial shore.

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We are going home rejoicing,
Praise the Lord we’re going home!
Where forever and forever,
With the Savior we shall roam;
Clad in robes that He has brought us—
Precious garments of His grace—
We shall see Him in His glory,
And behold Him face to face.

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Sweet is the hope that is thrilling my soul—
I know I’ll see Jesus some day!
Then what if the dark clouds of sin o’er me roll,
I know I’ll see Jesus some day!

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I know I’ll see Jesus some day!
I know I’ll see Jesus some day!
What a joy it will be
When His face I shall see,
I know I’ll see Jesus some day!

Though I must travel by faith, not by sight,
I know I’ll see Jesus some day!
No evil can harm me, no foe can affright—
I know I’ll see Jesus some day!

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Darkness is gath’ring, but hope shines within,
I know I’ll see Jesus some day!
What joy when He comes to wipe out ev’ry sin;
I know I’ll see Jesus some day!

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In Heav’n above, in Heav’n above,
Where God our Father dwells,
How boundless there the blessèdness!
No tongue its greatness tells;
There face to face, and full and free,
Ever and evermore we see—
We see the Lord of hosts!

In Heav’n above, in Heav’n above,
What glory deep and bright!
The splendor of the noonday sun
Grows pale before its light;
That mighty Sun that ne’er goes down,
Before Whose face clouds never frown,
Is God the Lord of hosts.

In Heav’n above, in Heav’n above,
No tears of pain are shed;
There nothing e’er shall fade or die;
Life’s fullness round is spread,
And, like an ocean, joy o’erflows,
And with immortal mercy glows
Our God the Lord of hosts.

In Heav’n above, in Heav’n above,
God hath a joy prepared,
Which mortal ear hath never heard,
Nor mortal vision shared,
Which never entered mortal breast,
By mortal lips was ne’er expressed,
’Tis God, the Lord of hosts!

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,
O Savior of mankind!

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize will be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.

O Jesus, King most wonderful
Thou Conqueror renowned,
Thou sweetness most ineffable
In Whom all joys are found!

When once Thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanities depart,
Then kindles love divine.

O Jesus, light of all below,
Thou fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
And all we can desire.

Jesus, may all confess Thy Name,
Thy wondrous love adore,
And, seeking Thee, themselves inflame
To seek Thee more and more.

Thee, Jesus, may our voices bless,
Thee may we love alone,
And ever in our lives express
The image of Thine own.

O Jesus, Thou the beauty art
Of angel worlds above;
Thy Name is music to the heart,
Inflaming it with love.

Celestial Sweetness unalloyed,
Who eat Thee hunger still;
Who drink of Thee still feel a void
Which only Thou canst fill.

O most sweet Jesus, hear the sighs
Which unto Thee we send;
To Thee our inmost spirit cries;
To Thee our prayers ascend.

Abide with us, and let Thy light
Shine, Lord, on every heart;
Dispel the darkness of our night;
And joy to all impart.

Jesus, our love and joy to Thee,
The virgin’s holy Son,
All might and praise and glory be,
While endless ages run.

Jesus, these eyes have never seen,
That radiant form of Thine;
The veil of sense hangs dark between
Thy blessèd face and mine.

I see Thee not, I hear Thee not,
Yet art Thou oft with me;
And earth hath ne’er so dear a spot,
As where I meet with Thee.

Like some bright dream that comes unsought
When slumbers o’er me roll,
Thine image ever fills my thought,
And charms my ravished soul.

Yet though I have not seen, and still
Must rest in faith alone;
I love Thee, dearest Lord, and will,
Unseen, but not unknown.

When death these mortal eyes shall seal,
And still this throbbing heart,
The rending veil shall Thee reveal,
All glorious as Thou art.

Just one glimpse of the glory waiting,
Just one note of the seraph’s song—
How it cheers the heart that’s breaking,
How it makes the spirit strong.
Just one touch of the seamless garment,
Just one clasp of the nail-pierced hand—
How it calms the fevered pulses,
How it helps the weak to stand.

Just one breath of the Holy Spirit,
Just one cry of the heart in prayer—
How it gives us joy in service,
How it lifts the load of care.
Just one line of the promise given,
Just one thought of the Friend so near—
How it lifts our hearts to Heaven,
How it seems to soothe and cheer.

Just one smile of the loving Savior,
Just one gleam of the dawning day—
How it makes the cross grow lighter,
How it speeds us on our way.
Just one word of our Lord’s appearing,
Just one glance at the white-robed throng—
How it thrills our heart with rapture,
How it wakes the sweetest song.

Lo, the day, the day of life!
Day of unimagined light,
Day when death itself shall die,
And there shall be no more night!

See the King desired for ages,
By the just expected long,
Long implored, at length He hasteth,
Cometh with salvation strong.

O how past all utterance happy,
Sweet and joyful it will be,
When they who, unseen, have loved Him,
Jesus face to face shall see.

Blessèd then, earth’s patient mourners,
Who for Christ have toiled and died,
Driven by the world’s rough pressure
In those mansions to abide!

What will be the bliss and rapture
None can dream, and none can tell,
There to reign among the angels,
In that heavenly home to dwell.

O God, I cried, no dark disguise
Can e’er hereafter hide from me
Thy radiant identity,Thy radiant identity!
I know the path that tells the way
Thro’ the cool eve of every day.
God, I can push the grass apart
And lay my finger on Thy heart.

The world stands out on either side
No wider than the heart is wide;
Above the world is stretched the sky—
No higher than the soul is high.
The heart can push the sea and land
Farther away on either hand;
The soul can split the sky in two,
And let the face of God shine thro’.

They’ll never cross the valleys,
Or crystal waters sweet,
They’ll never face the foeman,
When charging armies meet;
O’er mountains, vast and hoary,
O’er hill and grassy plain,
Our soldier heroes sleeping,
Shall never march again.

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They’ll never march again,
They’ll never march again,
Our soldier heroes sleeping,
Shall never march again.

We’ll call our hosts together,
From over land and sea,
They’ll never hear the trumpet,
Or sound of reveille;
Our country’s flag shall lead them,
A host as strong and brave,
As they who sleep in silence,
Where flowers o’er them wave.

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They fought and won the battle,
Those hero boys of ours,
And we are left to weep them
And strew their graves with flow’rs;
They’ve won the palms of glory,
They wear the rose of grace,
Beneath His crown of sunlight
Their souls shall see His face.

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Their feet shall cross the valleys,
And Eden’s rivers sweet,
They’ll lie beside the fountains,
Where angels joyful meet;
But ’mid their country’s battles,
O’er any earthy plain,
Our soldier heroes sleeping,
Shall never march again.

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After my trials and troubles are past,
After my burdens aside have been cast,
I shall see Jesus my Savior at last,
That will be rapture indeed!

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That will be rapture indeed,
Glory and rapture indeed,
When I shall see Him Who died on the tree;
O that will be rapture for me!

When the last battle with sin shall be o’er,
When the wild tempest can beat me no more,
I shall see Jesus on heaven’s glad shore,
That will be rapture indeed!

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When I behold Him and praise Him up there,
Singing with angels in garments most fair,
When in His glory at last I shall share,
That will be rapture indeed!

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O golden day, when light shall break,
And dawn’s bright glories shall unfold,
When He Who knows the path I take
Shall ope for me the gates of gold!
Earth’s little while will soon be past,
My pilgrim song will soon be o’er,
The grace that saves shall time outlast,
And be my theme on yonder shore.

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Then I shall know as I am known,
And stand complete before the throne;
Then I shall see my Savior’s face,
And all my song be saving grace.

Life’s upward way, a narrow path,
Leads on to that fair dwelling place,
Where, safe from sin, and storm, and wrath,
They live who trust redeeming grace.
Sing, sing, my heart, along the way,
The grace that saves will keep and guide
Till breaks the glorious crowning day,
And I shall cross to yonder side.

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I dimly see my journey’s end,
But well I know Who guideth me.
I follow Him, that wondrous Friend,
Whose matchless love is full and free.
And when with Him I enter in,
And all the way look back to trace,
The conqu’ror’s palm I then shall win,
Through Christ and His redeeming grace.

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I do not know why oft ’round me
My hopes all shattered seem to be;
God’s perfect plan I cannot see,
But some day I’ll understand.

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Some day He’ll make it plain to me,
Some day when I His face shall see;
Some day from tears I shall be free,
For some day I shall understand.

I cannot tell the depth of love,
Which moves the Father’s heart above;
My faith to test, my love to prove,
But some day I’ll understand.

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Tho’ trials come thro’ passing days,
My life will still be filled with praise;
For God will lead thro’ darkened ways,
But some day I’ll understand.

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Some sweet day my Lord will come,
Come to claim His own;
I shall meet Him face to face,
Before the Advent throne.

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Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Like Him I shall be;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For I shall see Him as He is!

Some sweet day this body frail,
In a moment’s space,
Shall be changed and upward caught,
And stand before His face.

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Some sweet day my hand shall clasp
Those long gone before;
Press them to my heart with joy,
To part again no more.

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Thy ways, O Lord, with wise design
Are framed upon Thy throne above,
And every dark and bending line
Meets in the center of Thy love.

With feeble light and half obscure
Poor mortals Thine arrangements view,
Not knowing that the least are sure
And the mysterious just and true.

Thy flock, Thine own peculiar care,
Though now they seem to roam uneyed,
Are led or driven only where
They best and safest may abide.

They neither know nor trace the way;
But while they trust Thy guardian eye,
Their feet shall ne’er to ruin stray,
Nor shall the weakest fail or die.

My favored soul shall meekly learn
To lay her reason at Thy throne;
Too weak Thy secrets to discern,
I’ll trust Thee for my Guide alone.

Though the way we journey may be often drear,
We shall see the King some day;
On that blessèd morning clouds will disappear;
We shall see the King some day.

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We shall see the King some day,
When the clouds have rolled away;
Gathered ’round the throne,
When He shall call His own,
We shall see the King some day.

After pain and anguish, after toil and care,
We shall see the King some day;
Through the endless ages joy and blessing share,
We shall see the King some day.

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After foes are conquered, after battles won,
We shall see the King some day;
After strife is over, after set of sun,
We shall see the King some day.

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There with all the loved ones who have gone before,
We shall see the King some day;
Sorrow past forever, on that peaceful shore,
We shall see the King some day.

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If singing His praises is sweet to us here,
What will it be when we see Him?
And if to our hearts His own Word grows more dear,
What will it be when we see Him?

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What will it be when we see Him?
What will it be when we see Him?
We shall in an instant be wholly transformed,
We’ll know what He is when we see Him.

How blest are the moments with Him which we spend,
What will it be when we see Him?
When perfect communion all tho’t will transcend,
What will it be when we see Him?

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If we upon earth are amazed at His grace,
What will it be when we see Him?
If here, tho’ but dimly, His beauty we trace,
What will it be when we see Him?

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Our heart burns within us when His voice is heard,
What will it be when we see Him?
And love to Himself in each bosom is stirred,
What will it be when we see Him?

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When shall Thy lovely face be seen?
When shall our eyes behold our God?
What lengths of distance lie between,
And hills of guilt a heavy load.

Our months are ages of delay,
And slowly every moment wears;
Fly, wingèd time, and roll away
These tedious rounds of sluggish years.

Ye heavenly gates, loose all your chains,
Let the eternal pillars bow,
Blest Savior, cleave the starry plains,
And make the crystal mountains flow.

Hark! how Thy saints unite their cries!
And pray and wait the general doom;
Come Thou, the Soul of all of our joys,
Thou, the Desire of Nations, come.

When the mists have rolled in splendor
From the beauty of the hills,
And the sunlight falls in gladness
On the rivers and the rills,
We recall our Father’s promise
In the rainbow of the spray:
We shall know each other better
When the mists have rolled away.

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We shall know, as we are known,
Never more to walk alone,
In the dawning of the morning
Of that bright and happy day,
We shall know each other better,
When the mists have rolled away.

Oft we tread the path before us
With a weary, hardened heart.
Oft we toil amid the shadows,
And our fields are far apart.
But the Savior’s “Come, ye blessèd”
All our labor will repay
When we gather in the morning
Where the mists have rolled away.

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We shall come with joy and gladness,
We shall gather round the throne.
Face to face with those that love us
We shall know as we are known.
And the song of our redemption
Shall resound through endless day
When the shadows have departed
And the mists have rolled away.

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What a wonderful Savior is Jesus,
Who suffered with nail-pierced hand;
O yes, ’twill be heaven to see Him,
When we reach the glory land.

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When we reach the glory land,
When we reach the glory land,
We’ll walk and we’ll talk with the Savior
When we reach the glory land.

O the Savior is calling the sinner,
To join with that glorious band
Of saved who will praise Him forever,
When we reach the glory land.

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In the glorious, wonderful city,
Where Jesus shall have command,
We’ll dwell with the Savior forever,
When we reach the glory land.

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