John saw the Heav’n and earth made new,
The first had passed away,
The holy city coming down,
The new Jerusalem.

And God Himself shall dwell with men,
And wipe away all tears,
There is no sorrow, pain or death,
Throughout the coming years.

“Behold, I make all things anew,”
These faithful words are true,
To him who overcometh sin,
On earth with God shall rule.

In beautiful Jerusalem,
God’s glory gives it light,
All kings and nations walk in it,
“For there shall be no night.”

One day there’ll be new earth and Heaven, for the first will soon pass away.
And the Holy City, from Heaven will appear in bridal array.
Then with men God will make his dwelling; they will be his people indeed.
God himself will be with them always and their God will ever be.

God will wipe away every teardrop; there’ll be no more crying or pain.
Death and mourning will have no place there; old things will no longer remain.
From his throne God utters this promise: “I am making everything new!”
Now is written all that’s been spoken, for these words are trusted and true.

God the Lord is Alpha, Omega, the Beginning and the End.
From the spring of living water, a free drink he’ll give to all men.
He who overcomes will inherit all the blessings found in God’s Word.
He will be God’s son for all ages; God will be his God and his Lord.

See the Holy City, Jerusalem, out of Heav’n from God coming down,
Brilliant as a jewel, clear as crystal, with God’s glory shining around.
There’s no need for sunshine or moonlight, for God’s glory gives light to all,
And the Lamb of God is its temple and a lamp for all in its walls.

Nations all will walk by its lamplight; kings will bring their splendor therein.
Never will the gates shut and locked be, for no night will ever descend.
Nothing that’s impure will e’er enter—no immoral, dishonest men.
Only those whose names have been written in the book of life may come in.

Righteous God! Whose vengeful phials
All our fears and thoughts exceed,
Big with woes and fiery trials,
Hanging, bursting o’er our head;
While Thou visitest the nations,
Thy selected people spare;
Arm our cautioned souls with patience,
Fill our humbled hearts with prayer.

If Thy dreadful controversy
With all flesh is now begun,
In Thy wrath remember mercy,
Mercy first and last be shown;
Plead Thy cause with sword and fire,
Shake us till the curse remove,
Till Thou com’st, the world’s Desire,
Conquering all with sovereign love.

Every fresh alarming token
More confirms the faithful Word;
Nature (for its Lord hath spoken)
Must be suddenly restored:
From this national confusion,
From this ruined earth and skies,
See the times of restitution,
See the new creation rise!

Vanish, then, this world of shadows,
Pass the former things away:
Lord, appear! appear to glad us
With the dawn of endless day
O conclude this mortal story,
Throw this universe aside!
Come, eternal King of glory,
Now descend, and take Thy bride!

Safe upon the billowy deep,
Loving Lord, Thy servants keep
Helpless, trusting pilgrims they,
Guard them on their watery way.

In the morning fill their sails,
’Mid the dark send favoring gales;
If their sky be overcast,
Calm the waves, and still the blast.

Let Thy sunshine guide by day;
Send at eve the starry ray
Through the watches of the night,
Be Thou, Lord, their shining Light.

Thus, as hour by hour rolls by,
Watch them with Thy sleepless eye:
Guide with Thine almighty hand
Safe unto the haven land.

And at last, life’s voyage o’er,
Take us to the heavenly shore,
Safe in port, to dwell with Thee
Where there shall be “no more sea.”

City of God, how broad and far
Outspread thy walls sublime!
The true thy chartered freemen are
Of every age and clime.

One holy Church, one army strong;
One steadfast, high intent;
One working band, one harvest song,
One King omnipotent.

How purely hath thy speech come down
From man’s primeval youth!
How grandly hath thine empire grown
Of freedom, love and truth!

How gleam thy watch fires through the night
With never fainting ray!
How rise thy towers, serene and bright,
To meet the dawning day!

In vain the surge’s angry shock,
In vain the drifting sands;
Unharmed upon the eternal Rock
The eternal City stands.

Refrain

I want to be ready,
I want to be ready,
I want to be ready,
To walk in Jerusalem just like John.

John said the city was just foursquare,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.
And he declared he’d meet me there,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.

Refrain

O John, O John, what do you say?
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.
That I’ll be there at the coming day,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.

Refrain

When Peter was preaching at Pentecost
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.
He was endowed with the Holy Ghost,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.

Refrain

If you get there before I do,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.
Tell all my friend I’m a-comin’, too,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.

Refrain

Jerusalem, my happy home!
Name ever dear to me;
When shall my labors have an end,
In joy, and peace, and thee?

When shall these eyes thy heaven built walls
And pearly gates behold?
Thy bulwarks, with salvation strong,
And streets of shining gold?

There happier bowers than Eden’s bloom,
Nor sin nor sorrow know:
Blest seats, through rude and stormy scenes,
I onward press to you.

Why should I shrink at pain and woe?
Or feel at death dismay?
I’ve Canaan’s goodly land in view,
And realms of endless day.

Apostles, martyrs, prophets there
Around my Savior stand;
And soon my friends in Christ below
Will join the glorious band.

Jerusalem, my happy home!
My soul still pants for thee;
Then shall my labors have an end,
When I thy joys shall see.

O Christ do Thou my soul prepare
For that bright home of love;
That I may see Thee and adore,
With all Thy saints above.

Jerusalem, my happy home,
When shall I come to thee?
When shall my sorrows have an end?
Thy joys when shall I see?

O happy harbor of the saints!
O sweet and pleasant soil!
In thee no sorrow may be found,
No grief, no care, no toil.

In thee no sickness may be seen,
No hurt, no ache, no sore;
There is no death nor ugly devil,
There is life for evermore.

No dampish mist is seen in thee,
No cold nor darksome night;
There every soul shines as the sun;
For God himself gives light.

There lust and lucre cannot dwell;
There envy bears no sway;
There is no hunger, heat, nor cold,
But pleasure every way.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
God grant that I may see
Thine endless joy, and of the same
Partaker ay may be!

Thy walls are made of precious stones,
Thy bulwarks diamonds square;
Thy gates are of right orient pearl;
Exceeding rich and rare;

Thy turrets and thy pinnacles
With carbuncles do shine;
Thy very streets are paved with gold,
Surpassing clear and fine;

Thy houses are of ivory,
Thy windows crystal clear;
Thy tiles are made of beaten gold—
O God that I were there!

Within thy gates nothing doth come
That is not passing clean,
No spider’s web, no dirt, no dust,
No filth may there be seen.

Aye, my sweet home, Jerusalem,
Would God I were in thee:
Would God my woes were at an end,
Thy joys that I might see.

Thy saints are crowned with glory great;
They see God face to face;
They triumph still, they still rejoice
Most happy is their case.

We that are here in banishment
Continually do mourn:
We sigh and sob, we weep and wail,
Perpetually we groan.

Our sweet is mixed with bitter gall,
Our pleasure is but pain:
Our joys scarce last the looking on,
Our sorrows still remain.

But there they live in such delight,
Such pleasure and such play,
As that to them a thousand years
Doth seem as yesterday.

Thy vineyards and thy orchards are
Most beautiful and fair,
Full furnished with trees and fruits,
Most wonderful and rare.

Thy gardens and thy gallant walks
Continually are green:
There grow such sweet and pleasant flowers
As nowhere else are seen.

There is nectar and ambrosia made,
There is musk and civet sweet;
There many a fair and dainty drug
Is trodden under feet.

There cinnamon, there sugar grows,
Here nard and balm abound.
What tongue can tell or heart conceive
The joys that there are found?

Quite through the streets with silver sound
The flood of life doth flow,
Upon whose banks on every side
The wood of life doth grow.

There trees for evermore bear fruit,
And evermore do spring;
There evermore the angels be,
And evermore do sing.

There David stands with harp in hand
As master of the choir:
Ten thousand times that man were blessed
That might this music hear.

Our Lady sings Magnificat
With tune surpassing sweet,
And all the virgins bear their part,
Sitting at her feet.

There Magdalen hath left her moan,
And cheerfully doth sing
With blessèd saints, whose harmony
In every street doth ring.

Jerusalem, my happy home,
Would God I were in thee!
Would God my woes were at an end
Thy joys that I might see!

Jerusalem, thou City bright
From Heav’n to earth descending,
How wondrously their holy light
Thy precious stones are blending.

Refrain

O City fair, O City blest,
All joy to mortals bringing,
Who would not raise his voice in praise
And thy dear name be singing!

O Gates of pearl,
O Streets of gold,
O River ever flowing
Where leads the Shepherd to the fold
The flock their Savior knowing.

Refrain

Shine, holy Light, within our hearts
All evil shade dispelling,
That we ne’er from Thy way depart,
Which leads to that blest dwelling.

Refrain

Lo! what a glorious sight appears
To our believing eyes!
The earth and sea are passed away,
And the old rolling skies.

From the third heav’n, where God resides,
That holy, happy place,
The new Jerusalem comes down,
Adorned with shining grace.

Attending angels shout for joy,
And the bright armies sing—
“Mortals, behold the sacred seat
Of your descending King.

“The God of glory down to men
Removes His blest abode;
Men, the dear objects of His grace,
And he the loving God.

“His own soft hand shall wipe the tears
From every weeping eye,
And pains, and groans, and griefs, and fears,
And death itself, shall die.”

How long, dear Savior! O how long
Shall this bright hour delay?
Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time,
And bring the welcome day.

O mother dear, Jerusalem,
When shall I come to thee?
When shall my sorrows have an end,
Thy joys when shall I see?
O happy harbor of the saints!
O sweet and pleasant soil!
In thee no sorrow may be found,
No grief, no care, no toil.

No murky cloud o’ershadows thee,
Nor gloom, nor darksome night;
But every soul shines as the sun,
For God Himself gives light.
There lust and lucre cannot dwell,
There envy bears no sway;
There is no hunger, heat, nor cold,
But pleasure every way.

Thy walls are made of precious stones,
Thy bulwarks diamonds square;
Thy gates are of right orient pearl,
Exceeding rich and rare.
Thy turrets and thy pinnacles
With carbuncles do shine;
Thy very streets are paved with gold,
Surpassing clear and fine.

Thy gardens and thy gallant walks
Continually are green;
There grow such sweet and pleasant flow’rs,
As nowhere else are seen;
Quite through the streets, with silver sound,
The flood of life doth flow,
Upon whose banks on every side,
The wood of life doth grow.

There trees forevermore bear fruit,
And evermore do spring,
There evermore the angels sit,
And evermore do sing.
Jerusalem, my happy home,
Would God I were in thee!
Would God my woes were at an end,
Thy joys that I might see!

That glorious day is drawing nigh,
When Zion’s light shall come;
She shall arise and shine on high,
Bright as the morning sun;
The north and south their sons resign,
And earth’s foundations bend;
Clothed as a bride, Jerusalem
All glorious shall descend.

The King Who wears the splendid crown,
The azure’s flaming bow;
The holy city shall bring down,
To bless His church below;
When Zion’s bleeding, conqu’ring King,
Shall sin and death destroy,
The morning stars shall join to sing,
And Zion shout for joy.

When the toils of life are over,
And we lay our armor down,
And we bid farewell to earth with all its cares,
We shall meet and greet our loved ones,
And our Christ we then shall crown,
In the new Jerusalem.

Refrain

There’ll be singing, there’ll be shouting
When the saints come marching home,
In Jerusalem, in Jerusalem,
Waving palms with loud hosannas
As the King shall take His throne,
In the new Jerusalem.

Though the way is sometimes lonely,
He will hold me with His hand,
Through the testings and the trials I must go.
But I’ll trust and gladly follow,
For sometime I’ll understand,
In the new Jerusalem.

Refrain

When the last goodbye is spoken
And the tear stains wiped away,
And our eyes shall catch a glimpse of glory fair,
Then with bounding hearts we’ll meet Him
Who hath washed our sins away,
In the new Jerusalem.

Refrain

When we join the ransomed army
In the summer land above,
And the face of our dear Savior we behold,
We will sing and shout forever,
And we’ll grow in perfect love,
In the new Jerusalem.

Refrain

And will the great eternal God
On earth establish His abode?
And will He, from His radiant throne,
Accept our temple for His own?

These walls we to Thy honor raise;
Long may they echo with Thy praise;
And Thou, descending, fill the place
With choicest tokens of Thy grace.

Here let the great Redeemer reign,
With all the graces of His train;
While power divine His Word attends,
To conquer foes, and cheer His friends.

And in that great decisive day,
When God the nations shall survey,
May it before the world appear
That crowds were born to glory here.

Great King of glory, come,
And with Thy favor crown
This temple as Thy home,
This people as Thine own;
Beneath this roof, O deign to show
How God can dwell with men below.

In sweet, exalted strains
The King of glory praise;
O’er Heav’n and earth He reigns
Through everlasting days;
He, with a nod, the world controls
Sustains or sinks the distant poles.

To earth He bends His throne,
His throne of grace divine;
Wide is His bounty known,
And wide His glories shine;
Fair Salem still His chosen rest
Is with His smiles and presence blest.

Here may Thine ears attend
Our interceding cries,
And grateful praise ascend,
Like incense, to the skies:
Here may Thy Word melodious sound,
And spread celestial joys around.

Here may our unborn sons
And daughters sound Thy praise,
And shine, like polished stones,
Through long succeeding days;
Here, Lord, display Thy saving power,
While temples stand and men adore.

Here may the listening throng
Receive Thy truth in love;
Here Christians join the song
Of seraphim above;
Till all, who humbly seek Thy face,
Rejoice in Thy abounding grace.

We hail Thee now, O Jesu,
Upon Thine altar-throne,
Though sight and touch have failed us,
And faith perceives alone!
Thy love has veiled Thy Godhead
And hid Thy power divine,
In mercy to our weakness,
Beneath an earthly sign.

We hail Thee now, O Jesu;
In silence hast Thou come;
For all the hosts of Heaven
With wonderment are dumb;
So great the condescension,
So marvelous the love,
Which for our sakes, O Savior,
Have drawn Thee from above.

We hail Thee now, O Jesu;
For law and type have ceased,
And Thou in each communion
Art Sacrifice and Priest;
We make this great memorial
In union, Lord, with Thee,
And plead Thy death and passion
To cleanse and set us free.

We hail Thee now, O Jesu;
For death is drawing near,
And in Thy presence only
Its terrors disappear.
Dwell with us, sweetest Savior,
And guide us through the night,
Till shadows end in glory,
And faith be lost in sight.

When God is seen with men to dwell,
And all creation makes anew,
What tongues can half the wonders tell,
What eye the dazzling glories view?

Celestial streams shall gently flow,
The wilderness shall joyful be;
On parchèd ground shall lilies grow
And gladness spring on every tree;

The weak be strong, the fearful bold,
The deaf shall hear, the dumb shall sing,
The lame shall walk, the blind behold,
And joy through all the earth shall ring.

Away with our sorrow and fear!
We soon shall recover our home,
The city of saints shall appear,
The day of eternity come:
From earth we shall quickly remove,
And mount to our native abode,
The house of our Father above,
The palace of angels and God.

Our mourning is all at an end,
When, raised by the life-giving Word,
We see the new city descend,
Adorned as a bride for her Lord;
The city so holy and clean,
No sorrow can breathe in the air;
No gloom of affliction or sin,
No shadow of evil is there.

By faith we already behold
That lovely Jerusalem here;
Her walls are of jasper and gold,
As crystal her buildings are clear;
Immovably founded in grace,
She stands as she ever hath stood,
And brightly her Builder displays,
And flames with the glory of God.

No need of the sun in that day,
Which never is followed by night,
Where Jesus’ beauties display
A pure and a permanent light:
The Lamb is their light and their sun,
And lo! by reflection they shine,
With Jesus ineffably one,
And bright in effulgence divine!

The saints in His presence receive
Their great and eternal reward;
In Jesus, in Heaven they live,
They reign in the smile of their Lord:
The flame of angelical love
Is kindled at Jesus’ face;
And all the enjoyment above
Consists in the rapturous gaze.

Come, let us now forget our mirth,
And think that we must die:
What are our best delights on earth,
Compared with those on high?

A sad and sinful world is this,
Although it seems so fair;
But Heaven is perfect joy and bliss,
For God Himself is there.

Here all our pleasures soon are past,
Our brightest joys decay;
But pleasures there for ever last,
And can not fade away.

Here many a pain and bitter groan
Our feeble bodies tear;
But pain and sickness are not known,
And never shall be, there.

Here sins and sorrows we deplore
With many cares distressed;
But there the mourners weep no more,
And there the weary rest.

Our dearest friends when death shall call,
At once must hence depart;
But there we hope to meet them all,
And never, never part.

Then let us love and serve the Lord
With all our youthful powers,
And we shall gain this great reward,
This glory shall be ours.

Let us sing a song that will cheer us by the way,
In a little while we’re going home;
For the night will end in the everlasting day,
In a little while we’re going home.

Refrain

In a little while, in a little while,
We shall cross the billow’s foam;
We shall meet at last,
When the stormy winds are past,
In a little while we’re going home.

We will do the work that our hands may find to do,
In a little while we’re going home;
And the grace of God will our daily strength renew,
In a little while we’re going home.

Refrain

We will smooth the path for some weary, way-worn feet,
In a little while we’re going home;
And may loving hearts spread around an influence sweet!
In a little while we’re going home.

Refrain

There’s a rest beyond, there’s relief from every care,
In a little while we’re going home;
And no tears shall fall in that city bright and fair,
In a little while we’re going home.

Refrain

Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Thou city ever blest,
Within thy portals first I find
My safety, peace and rest.
Here dangers always threaten me,
My days in strife are spent,
And labor, sorrow, worry, grief,
I find at best their strength.

No wonder, then, that I do long
O blessèd home, for thee,
Where I shall find a resting place,
From sin and sorrow free;
Where tears and weeping are no more,
Nor death, nor pain, nor night,
For former things are passed way,
And darkness turned to light.

Now all for me has lost its charm
Which by the world is praised,
Since on the cross, through faith, I saw
My Savior Jesus raised;
My goal is fixed, one thing I ask,
Whate’er the cost may be,
Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Soon to arrive in thee.

O blessèd home where those who meet
Shall never say goodbye;
Where kindred souls each other greet,
And never say goodbye.

Refrain

We’ll never say goodbye,
We’ll never say goodbye;
In that fair land beyond the sky,
We’ll never say goodbye.

Beyond this vale of toil and care,
We’ll never say goodbye;
We part in tears on earth, but there—
We’ll never say goodbye

Refrain

When safe among the ransomed throng
We’ll never say goodbye;
Where life is one eternal song,
We’ll never say goodbye.

Refrain

On yonder fair and peaceful shore,
We’ll never say goodbye;
But dwell with Christ forevermore,
And never say goodbye.

Refrain

There is a better world, they say
O so bright! O so bright!
Where sin and woe are done away,
O so bright! O so bright!
And music fills the balmy air,
And angels with bright wings are there,
And harps of gold and mansions fair,
O so bright! O so bright!

No clouds e’er pass along that sky,
Happy land! Happy land!
No tear drops glisten in the eye,
Happy land! Happy land!
They drink the gushing streams of grace,
And gaze upon the Savior’s face
Whose brightness fills the holy place;
Happy land! Happy land!

And wicked things and beasts of prey,
Come not there! Come not there!
And ruthless death and fierce decay,
Come not there! Come not there!
There all are holy, all are good,
But hearts unwashed in Jesus’ blood,
And guilty sinners unrenewed,
Come not there! Come not there!

And though we’re sinners every one,
Jesus died! Jesus died!
And though our crown of peace is gone,
Jesus died! Jesus died!
We may be cleansed from every stain,
We may be crowned with bliss again,
And in that land of glory reign;
Jesus died! Jesus died!

There is no night in Heaven;
In that blest world above
Work never can bring weariness,
For work itself is love.

There is no grief in Heaven;
For life is one glad day;
And tears are of those former things
Which all have passed away.

There is no sin in Heaven;
Behold that blessèd throng:
All holy is their spotless robe,
All holy is their song!

There is no death in Heaven;
For they who gain that shore
Have won their immortality,
And they can die no more.

Lord Jesus, be our Guide;
O lead us safely on,
Till night and grief and sin and death
Are past, and Heaven is won!

We are going, we are going,
To a home beyond the skies,
Where the fields are robed in beauty,
And the sunlight never dies;
Where the fount of joy is flowing,
In the valley green and fair,
We shall dwell in love together;
There will be no parting there.

Refrain

We are going, we are going,
To a home beyond the skies,
Where the fields are robed in beauty,
And the sunlight never dies.

We are going, we are going,
And the music we have heard
Like the echo of the woodland,
Or the carol of a bird;
With the rosy light of morning
On the calm and fragrant air,
Still it murmurs, softly murmurs,
There will be no parting there.

Refrain

We are going, we are going,
When this mortal life is o’er,
To that pure and happy region
Where our friends have gone before;
They are singing with the angels
In that land so bright and fair;
We shall dwell with them forever;
There will be no parting there.

Refrain

What will it matter, by and by,
What will it matter, by and by
Whether my crosses were heavy or light,
Whether my pathway was cloudy or bright,
When I shall walk with the ransomed in white,
Safe in that beautiful land?

What will it matter, by and by,
What will it matter, by and by,
Whether my trials were many or few,
Whether the world was unfaithful or true,
When my Redeemer in glory I view,
Home in that beautiful land?

What will it matter, by and by,
What will it matter, by and by,
Whether the waters were bitter or sweet,
Murmuring gently, or sad at my feet,
When the departed, with rapture, I meet,
Home in that beautiful land?

What will it matter, by and by,
What will it matter, by and by,
Whether I press with the morning away,
Whether at noontide or closing of day,
When in the valley of Eden I stray,
Home in that beautiful land?

Behold, these words are trustworthy and true,
For God the Lord is making all things new.
He showed His servants what must take place,
The plagues and blessings set for Adam’s race.
Now keep these words, for he who overcomes
Will gain new life and he will be God’s son.

“Behold,” says Jesus, “Quick I come again;
Most blest is he who keeps My words made plain.
The time is near; reward is in sight.
So holy stay and always seek the right.
The First, the Last, Beginning and the End,
The Alpha and Omega e’er I am.”

How blest are those who wash their robes from sin,
That they may to the city enter in
And to the tree of life have full right.
They’ll see God’s face, and He will give them light.
The curse is gone! They’ll reign forevermore
With Jesus, David’s Root, bright Morning Star.

The Spirit and the bride of Christ say, “Come!”
And let each one who hears these words say, “Come!”
Yea, whosoever thirsts, let him come.
The drink of life is free; let all men come!
Hear Jesus’ words: “Quickly I come again.”
O come, Lord Jesus, come to us. Amen.

Glory to God! The morn appointed breaks,
And earth awakes from all the woeful past;
For, with the morn, the Lord of life awakes,
And sin and death into the grave are cast.

Glory to God! The cross, with all its shame,
Now sheds its glory o’er a ransomed world;
For He Who bore the burden of our blame,
With piercèd hands the foe to hell hath hurled.

Glory to God! Sing, ransomed souls again,
And let your songs our glorious Victor laud,
Who by His might hath snapped the tyrant’s chain,
And set us free to rise with Him to God.

Darkness and night, farewell! The morn is here;
Welcome! the light that ushers in the day;
Visions of joy before our sight appear,
And, like the clouds, our sorrows melt away.

Great Son of God, immortal and renowned!
Brighter than morn the glory on Thy brow;
Crowns must be won, and Thou are nobly crowned,
For death is dead, and sin is vanquished now.

What wonderful words in the Gospel of grace
Our loving Redeemer has giv’n!
How happy are they who in spirit are pure,
For theirs is the kingdom of Heav’n!

Refrain

Tho’ all that is earthly will fade,
And vanish away from our view,
We know that as sure as the Savior lives,
The words He has spoken are true.

He maketh the lilies to bloom in the field,
And shelters the bird in its nest;
He calleth the weary to come unto Him,
And find the sweet blessing of rest.

Refrain

To those that are thirsting and longing for Him,
The water of life He will give;
And they that with patience endure to the end,
Forever in glory shall live.

Refrain

Then why are we fearful, and where is our faith?
His own He will never forsake;
And tho’ He may lead them where waters are deep,
His promise He never will break.

Refrain

O Life that makest all things new,
The blooming earth, the thoughts of men,
Our pilgrim feet, wet with Thy dew,
In gladness hither turn again.

From hand to hand the greeting flows,
From eye to eye the signals run,
From heart to heart the bright hope glows,
The seekers of the Light are one.

One in the freedom of the truth,
One in the joys of paths untrod,
One in the soul’s perennial youth,
One in the larger thought of God.

The freer step, the fuller breath,
The wide horizon’s grander view,
The sense of life that knows no death,
The Life that maketh all things new!

Spouse of Christ, in arms contending
O’er each clime beneath the sun,
Blend with prayers for help ascending
Notes of praise for triumphs won.

As the Church today rejoices
All her saints to join on high,
So from earth let all our voices
Rise in solemn harmony.

First amid the laurelled legions
Prays the mother to her Son,
Close to Christ in those fair regions
Where high praise to Him is done.

Angels next, in due gradation
Of the Spirit’s ministry,
Hymn the Father of creation,
Maker of the stars on high.

John, the herald voice sonorous,
Head of the prophetic throng,
Patriarchs, and seers in chorus,
Join to swell the angels’ song.

Near to Christ th’Apostles seated,
Trampling on the powers of hell,
By the promise now completed
Judge the tribes of Israel.

They who nobly died believing,
Martyrs purpled in their gore,
Crowns of life by death receiving,
Rest in joy forevermore.

Priests and Levites, Gospel preachers,
And confessors numberless,
Prelates meek and holy teachers,
Bear the palm of righteousness.

Virgin souls, by high profession
To the Lamb devoted here,
Strewing flowers in gay procession
At the marriage feast appear.

All are blest together, praising
God’s eternal majesty,
Thrice repeated anthems raising
To the all holy Trinity.

In your heav’nly habitations,
In your blessèd home on high,
Hear, ye saints, our aspirations,
As to God we lift our cry.

Ever praising, ever praying,
Help ye thus your brethren here,
That the will of God obeying
We in peace may persevere.

So may we, with hearts devoted,
Serve our God in holiness;
So may we, by God promoted,
Share that heaven which ye possess.

Hail the glorious golden city,
Pictured by the seers of old!
Everlasting light shines o’er it,
Wondrous tales of it are told:
Only righteous men and women
Dwell within its gleaming wall;
Wrong is banished from its borders,
Justice reigns supreme o’er all.

We are builders of that city,
All our joys and all our groans
Help to rear its shining ramparts;
All our lives are building stones:
Whether humble or exalted,
All are called to task divine;
All must aid alike to carry
Forward one sublime design.

And the work that we have builded,
Oft with bleeding hands and tears,
Oft in error, oft in anguish,
Will not perish with our years:
It will live and shine transfigured,
In the final reign of right;
It will pass into the splendors
Of the city of the light.

O holy city, seen of John,
Where Christ the Lamb, doth reign,
Within whose foursquare walls shall come
No night, nor need, nor pain,
And where the tears are wiped from eyes
That shall not weep again.

Hark, how from men whose lives are held
More cheap than merchandise,
From women struggling sore for bread,
From little children’s cries,
There swells the sobbing human plaint
That bids thy walls arise.

O shame to us who rest content
While lust and greed for gain
In street and shop and tenement
Wring gold from human pain,
And bitter lips in blind despair
Cry “Christ hath died in vain!”

Give us, O God, the strength to build
The city that hath stood
Too long a dream, whose laws are love,
Whose crown is servanthood,
And where the sun that shineth is
God’s grace for human good.

Already in the mind of God
That city riseth fair:
Lo, how its splendor challenges
The souls that greatly dare;
Yea, bids us seize the whole of life
And build its glory there.

When my final farewell to the world I have said,
[originally, When mysterious whispers are floating about]
And gladly lie down to my rest;
When softly the watchers shall say, “He is dead,”
And fold my pale hands o’er my breast;
And when, with my glorified vision at last
The walls of “That City” I see,
Will any one then at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me?
Will any one then at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me?

Refrain

Be waiting and watching,
Be waiting and watching for me?
Be waiting and watching,
Be waiting and watching for me?

There are little ones glancing about in my path,
In want of a friend and a guide;
There are dear little eyes looking up into mine,
Whose tears might be easily dried.
But Jesus may beckon the children away
In the midst of their grief and their glee?
Will any of them, at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me?
Will any of them, at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me?

Refrain

There are old and forsaken who linger awhile
In homes which their dearest have left;
And a few gentle words or an action of love
May cheer their sad spirits bereft.
But the Reaper is near to the long standing corn,
The weary will soon be set free?
Will any of them, at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me?
Will any of them, at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me?

Refrain

Oh, should I be brought there by the bountiful grace
Of Him who delights to forgive,
Though I bless not the weary about in my path,
Pray only for self while I live,
Methinks I should mourn o’er my sinful neglect,
If sorrow in Heaven can be,
Should no one I love, at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me!
Should no one I love, at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me!

Refrain