Murmuring softly, caroling gently,
Music enchanting cometh to me;
Over the waters, beautiful waters,
Where in the homeland soon I shall be.
How like a vision tenderly stealing,
Over my spirit, weary, oppressed;
Drawing me upward, urging me forward,
Telling of sunshine, rapture and rest.

Refrain

Murmuring softly, caroling gently,
Music enchanting cometh to me;
Over the waters, beautiful waters,
Where in the homeland soon I shall be.

Silently musing, blissfully gazing
Into the future teeming with light,
Sweetly the echoes floating around me,
Whisper of Eden, lovely and bright.
Eden, where summer, fadeless, eternal,
Scatters its roses, blooming for aye;
There is no parting, there is no weeping,
Sorrow and sighing vanish away.

Refrain

There our Redeemer, loving Redeemer,
Gathers the faithful safe on His breast,
Out of the changing into the changeless,
Out of the toiling into the rest.
Welcome the moment when to His presence,
Joyful my spirit flies like a bird;
O what a morrow, O what a meeting,
Eye hath not seen it, ear hath not heard.

Refrain

By and by we shall know Jesus, by and by, oh, by and by;
Even now He looks and sees us, journeying toward His home on high.
And He smiles upon us, saying, “By and by, oh, by and by,
Cares and trials you’ll be laying with your earthly garments by.”

Refrain

Oh by and by, oh sing it softly,
Thinking not of earthly care,
But the by and by of heaven
Waiting for us over there.

By and by we shall be standing, by and by, oh, by and by,
At fair heaven’s shining landing, while the river murmurs by,
And our friends will round us gather, by and by, oh, by and by,
Saying “Welcome, for the Father loves to have His children nigh.”

Refrain

By and by! we say it gently, looking on our peaceful dead,
And we do not think of earth life, but of heaven’s sweet life instead.
By and by we all shall gather, by and by, oh, by and by,
In the life of God our Father that shall know no by and by.

Refrain

Clear as crystal flows the river
From the throne of God above;
’Tis the water pure, of eternal life,
From the Fount of endless love.

Refrain

Clear as crystal, clear as crystal
May Thy truth forever be;
Clear as crystal, clear as crystal
In our hearts, O Lord, from Thee.

Clear as crystal, like a jasper,
Is the heav’nly city’s light,
As the wall appears, and the pearly gates—
To the pilgrim’s ravished sight.

Refrain

Clear as crystal, like the wondrous
Sea of glass before the throne,
Where the joyful cry rises day and night
To the glorious Three in One.

Refrain

Fresh from the throne of glory,
Bright in its crystal gleam,
Bursts out the living fountain,
Swells on the living stream;
Blessèd river, let me ever
Feast my eyes on thee;
Blessèd river, let me ever
Feast my eyes on thee.

Stream full of life and gladness,
Spring of all health and peace,
No harps by thee hang silent,
Nor happy voices cease;
Tranquil river, let me ever
Sit and sing by thee;
Tranquil river, let me ever
Sit and sing by thee.

River of God, I greet thee,
Not now afar, but near,
My soul to Thy still water
Hastes in its thirstings here;
Holy river, let me ever
Drink of only thee;
Holy river, let me ever
Drink of only thee.

A living stream, as crystal clear,
Welling from out the throne,
Of God and of the Lamb on high,
The Lord to man hath shown.

This stream doth water Paradise,
It makes the angels sing:
One precious drop within the heart
Is of all joy the spring:

Joy past all speech, of glory full,
But stored where none may know,
As manna hid in dewy heaven,
As pearls in ocean low.

Eye hath not seen, nor ear hath heard,
Nor to man’s heart hath come
What for those loving Thee in truth
Thou hast in love’s own home.

But by His Spirit He to us
The secret doth reveal:
Faith sees and hears: but O for wings
That we might taste, and feel;

Wings like a dove to waft us on
High o’er the flood of sin!
Lord of the Ark, put forth Thine hand,
And take Thy wanderers in.

O praise the Father, praise the Son,
The Lamb for sinners given,
And Holy Ghost, through Whom alone
Our hearts are raised to Heav’n.

I’ve cast my heavy burdens down on Canaan’s happy shore,
I’m living where the healing waters flow;
I’ll wander in the wilderness of doubt and sin no more;
I’m living where the healing waters flow.

Refrain

Living on the shore, I’m living on the shore,
I’m living where the healing waters flow;
Living on the shore, I’m living on the shore,
I’m living where the healing waters flow.

With Israel’s trusting children I’m rejoicing on my way,
I’m living where the healing waters flow;
The cloudy fiery pillar is my guiding light today;
I’m living where the healing waters flow.

Refrain

My hung’ring soul is satisfied with manna from above,
I’m living where the healing waters flow;
No more I thirst, the rock I’ve found, that fount of endless love;
I’m living where the healing waters flow.

Refrain

I’m singing “Hallelujah,” safely anchored in my soul,
I’m living where the healing waters flow;
I’m resting on His promises; the blood has made me whole;
I’m living where the healing waters flow.

Refrain

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Refrain

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

Refrain

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.

Refrain

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

Refrain

O have you not heard of that beautiful stream
That flows through our Father’s land?
Its waters gleam bright in the heavenly light,
And ripple o’er golden sand.

Refrain

O seek that beautiful stream,
O seek that beautiful stream;
Its waters, so free, are flowing for thee,
O seek that beautiful stream.

Its fountains are deep and its waters are pure;
And sweet to the weary soul;
It flows from the throne of Jehovah alone!
O come where its bright waves roll.

Refrain

This beautiful stream is the river of life!
It flows for all nations free!
A balm for each wound in its water is found;
O sinner, it flows for thee!

Refrain

O will you not drink of this beautiful stream,
And dwell on its peaceful shore?
The Spirit says, “Come, all ye weary ones, home,
And wander in sin no more.”

Refrain

On let us go where the valley of Eden fair
Blooms on the bank of the river;
On where the fields, in the beautiful robe they wear,
Wave in the sunlight forever.

Refrain

On let us go, on let us go, on let us go,
On where the happy ones are calling.

On let us go where the beautiful realms above
Ring with the time honored story;
Saved through the might of a blessèd Redeemer’s love,
His be the praise and the glory.

Refrain

On let us go where the weary and toil oppressed
Soon shall forget every sorrow;
On where the soul to a happy and golden rest
Wakes in eternity’s morrow.

Refrain

On let us go where the loving and loved shall meet,
Meet on the bank of the river;
There shall they sing at the blessèd Redeemer’s feet
Songs that shall echo forever.

Refrain

Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod,
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?

Refrain

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will talk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day.

Refrain

Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we every burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown.

Refrain

At the smiling of the river,
Mirror of the Savior’s face,
Saints, whom death will never sever,
Lift their songs of saving grace.

Refrain

Soon we’ll reach the silver river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.

Refrain

There is a pure and tranquil wave,
[or There is a pure and peaceful wave]
That issues from the throne of grace;
Whose waters gladden as they lave
The bright and heav’nly dwelling place.

In living streams behold that tide,
Thro’ Christ, the Rock, profusely burst,
And in His Word behold supplied,
The fount for which our spirits thirst.

The pilgrim, faint, who seems to sink
Beneath the sultry sky of time,
May here repose and freely drink
The waters of that better clime.

And every soul may here partake
The blessings of the fount above;
And none who drink will e’er forsake
The crystal stream of boundless love.

Those eternal bowers, man hath never trod,
Those unfading flowers round the throne of God:
Who may hope to gain them after weary fight?
Who at length attain them, clad in robes of white?

He who wakes from slumber at the Spirit’s voice,
Daring here to number things unseen his choice:
He whose one oblation is a life of love,
Knit in God’s salvation to the blest above.

Shame upon you, legions of the heav’nly King,
Citizens of regions past imagining!
What! with pipe and tabor dream away the light,
When He bids you labor, when He tells you, “Fight”?

Jesus, Lord of glory, as we breast the tide,
Whisper Thou the story of the other side;
Where the saints are casting crowns before Thy feet,
Safe for everlasting, in Thyself complete.

Tho’ the road may be rough where He leads me,
Still His footprints I plainly can trace,
And the trials I meet with seem nothing,
When I look in my dear Savior’s face.

Refrain

When I look in His face, His wonderful face,
In Heaven, that beautiful place!
All the hardships of earth will seem nothing,
When I look in my dear Savior’s face.

So I keep my eyes fixed upon Jesus,
While I’m running life’s wearisome race;
I’ll forget the hard pathway I traveled,
When I look in my dear Savior’s face.

Refrain

Tho’ the shadows around me may gather,
Safe I rest in my Lord’s “secret place.”
For I know there’ll be glorious sunshine,
When I look in my dear Savior’s face.

Refrain

There’s a city that looks o’er the valley of death,
And the glories can never be told;
There the sun never sets, and the leaves never fade,
In that beautiful city of gold.

Refrain

There the sun never sets, and the leaves never fade;
And the eyes of the faithful our Savior behold,
In that beautiful city of gold.

There the King, our Redeemer, the Lord Whom we love,
All the faithful with rapture behold;
There the righteous forever shall shine as the stars,
In that beautiful city of gold.

Refrain

Every soul we have led to the foot of the cross,
Every lamb we have brought to the fold,
Shall be kept as bright jewels our crown to adorn,
In that beautiful city of gold.

Refrain

Come, blessèd Spirit! Source of light,
Whose power and grace are unconfined,
Dispel the gloomy shades of night,
The thicker darkness of the mind.

To mine illumined eyes, display
The glorious truth Thy Word reveals;
Cause me to run the heavenly way,
Thy book unfold, and loose the seals.

Thine inward teachings make me know
The mysteries of redeeming love,
The vanity of things below,
And excellence of things above.

While through this dubious maze I stray,
Spread, like the sun, Thy beams abroad,
To show the dangers of the way,
And guide my feeble steps to God.

O Christ, who art the Light and Day,
Thou drivest darksome night away!
We know Thee as the Light of light
Illuminating mortal sight.

All holy Lord, we pray to Thee,
Keep us tonight from danger free;
Grant us, dear Lord, in Thee to rest,
So be our sleep in quiet blest.

Let not the tempter round us creep
With thoughts of evil while we sleep,
Nor with his wiles the flesh allure
And make us in Thy sight impure.

And while the eyes soft slumber take,
Still be the heart to Thee awake,
Be Thy right hand upheld above
Thy servants resting in Thy love.

Yea, our Defender, be Thou nigh,
To bid the powers of darkness fly;
Keep us from sin, and guide for good
Thy servants purchased by Thy blood.

Remember us, dear Lord, we pray,
While in this mortal flesh we stay:
’Tis Thou Who dost the soul defend—
Be present with us to the end.

Blest Thee in One and One in Three,
Almighty God, we pray to Thee,
That Thou wouldst now vouchsafe to bless
Our fast with fruits of righteousness.

I wandered in the shades of night,
Till Jesus came to me,
And with the sunlight of His love
Bid all my darkness flee.

Refrain

Sunlight, sunlight in my soul today,
Sunlight, sunlight all along the way;
Since the Savior found me, took away my sin,
I have had the sunlight of His love within.

Tho’ clouds may gather in the sky,
And billows round me roll,
However dark the world may be
I’ve sunlight in my soul.

Refrain

I cross the wide extended fields,
I journey o’er the plain,
And in the sunlight of His love
I reap the golden grain.

Refrain

Soon I shall see Him as He is,
The Light that came to me;
Behold the brightness of His face,
Throughout eternity.

Refrain

Light’s abode, celestial Salem,
Vision whence true peace doth spring,
Brighter than the heart can fancy,
Mansion of the highest King;
O how glorious are the praises
Which of thee the prophets sing!

There for ever and for ever
Alleluia is outpoured
For unending and unbroken
Is the feast day of the Lord;
All is pure and all is holy
That within thy walls is stored.

There no cloud nor passing vapor
Dims the brightness of the air;
Endless noonday, glorious noonday,
From the Sun of suns is there;
There no night brings rest from labor,
For unknown are toil and care.

O how glorious and resplendent,
Fragile body, shalt thou be,
When endued with so much beauty,
Full of health, and strong, and free,
Full of vigor, full of pleasure
That shall last eternally!

Now with gladness, now with courage,
Bear the burden on thee laid,
That hereafter these thy labors
May with endless gifts be paid,
And in everlasting glory
Thou with brightness be arrayed.

Laud and honor to the Father,
Laud and honor to the Son,
Laud and honor to the Spirit,
Ever Three, and ever One,
Consubstantial, Co-eternal,
While unending ages run.

O how light to the soul are its crosses,
And how easy our burdens to bear,
When we think of that land over Jordan,
And the joy that will crown us there.

Refrain

O the bright morning land, the dear morning land,
The land where all sorrow is o’er!
We shall sit beneath the ray of a golden summer day,
Where the shadows will return no more.

O how light to the soul are its crosses,
And the conflicts and trials we meet;
We shall soon lay down them over Jordan,
We shall lay them at Jesus’ feet.

Refrain

O how light to the soul are its crosses,
O the mercy of Jesus, our Friend!
We shall praise Him for all over Jordan,
In our beautiful home beyond.

Refrain

O Christ, who art the Light and Day,
Thou drivest darksome night away!
We know Thee as the Light of light
Illuminating mortal sight.

All holy Lord, we pray to Thee,
Keep us tonight from danger free;
Grant us, dear Lord, in Thee to rest,
So be our sleep in quiet blest.

Let not the tempter round us creep
With thoughts of evil while we sleep,
Nor with his wiles the flesh allure
And make us in Thy sight impure.

And while the eyes soft slumber take,
Still be the heart to Thee awake,
Be Thy right hand upheld above
Thy servants resting in Thy love.

Yea, our Defender, be Thou nigh,
To bid the powers of darkness fly;
Keep us from sin, and guide for good
Thy servants purchased by Thy blood.

Remember us, dear Lord, we pray,
While in this mortal flesh we stay:
’Tis Thou Who dost the soul defend—
Be present with us to the end.

Blest Thee in One and One in Three,
Almighty God, we pray to Thee,
That Thou wouldst now vouchsafe to bless
Our fast with fruits of righteousness.

When we cross the valley there need be no shadows,
When life’s day is ended and its sorrows o’er;
When the summons comes to meet the blessèd Savior,
When we rise to dwell with Him forevermore.

Refrain

Shadows! no need of shadows
When at last we lay life’s burdens down;
Shadows! no need of shadows!
When at last we gain the victor’s crown.

When our loved ones leave us there need be no shadows,
If their faith is fixed in Jesus as their Lord;
For they go to be with Him Who died to save them,
To be with the One Whom they have long adored.

Refrain

When He comes to meet us there need be no shadows,
When He comes in all His glorious array;
When the trump of God shall sound and loved ones waken,
When He leads us onward with triumphant sway.

Refrain

In the glow of early morning,
In the solemn hush of night;
Down from Heaven’s open portals,
Steals a messenger of light,
Whispering sweetly to my spirit,
While the hosts of Heaven sing:
This the wondrous thrilling story:
Christ is coming—Christ my King.
This the wondrous thrilling story—
Christ is coming—Christ my King.

Oft methinks I hear His footsteps,
Stealing down the paths of time;
And the future dark with shadows,
Brightens with this hope sublime.
Sound the soul inspiring anthem;
Angel hosts, your harps attune;
Earth’s long night is almost over,
Christ is coming—coming soon.
Earth’s long night is almost over,
Christ is coming—coming soon.

Long we’ve waited, blest Redeemer,
Waited for the first bright ray
Of the morn when sin and sorrow
At Thy presence flee away;
But our vigil’s nearly over;
Hope of Heav’n, oh, priceless boon!
In the east the glow appearing,
Christ is coming—coming soon.
In the east the glow appearing,
Christ is coming—coming soon.

How sweet are the tidings that greet the pilgrim’s ear,
As he wanders in exile from home!
Soon, soon will the Savior in glory appear,
And soon will the kingdom come.

Refrain

He’s coming, coming, coming soon I know,
Coming back to this earth again;
And the weary pilgrims will to glory go,
When the Savior comes to reign.

The mossy old graves where the pilgrims sleep
Shall open as wide as before,
And the millions that sleep in the mighty deep
Shall live on this earth once more.

Refrain

There we’ll meet ne’er to part in our happy Eden home,
Sweet songs of redemption we’ll sing;
From the north, from the south, all the ransomed shall come,
And worship our heav’nly King.

Refrain

Hallelujah, Amen! hallelujah again!
Soon, if faithful, we all shall be there;
O, be watchful, be hopeful, be joyful till then,
And a crown of bright glory we’ll wear.

Refrain

Rejoice! Rejoice! our King is coming!
And the time will not be long,
Until we hail the radiant dawning,
And lift up the glad new song.

Refrain

Oh, wondrous day! oh, glorious morning,
When the Son of Man shall come!
May we with lamps all trimmed and burning
Gladly welcome His return!
Rejoice! Rejoice! our King is coming!
And the time will not be long,
Until we hail the radiant dawning,
And lift up the glad new song.

With joy we wait our King’s returning
From His heavenly mansions fair;
And with ten thousand saints appearing
We shall meet Him in the air.

Refrain

Oh, may we never weary, watching,
Never lay our armor down
Until He come, and with rejoicing
Give to each the promised crown.

Refrain

Light of the lonely pilgrim’s heart,
Star of the coming day,
Arise, and with Thy morning beams
Chase all our griefs away.

Come, blessèd Lord, bid every shore
And answering island sing
The praises of Thy royal Name,
And own Thee as their King.

Bid the whole earth, responsive now
To the bright world above,
Break forth in rapturous strains of joy
In memory of Thy love.

Lord, Lord, Thy fair creation groans,
The air, the earth, the sea,
In unison with all our hearts,
And calls aloud for Thee.

Come, then, with all Thy quickening power
With one awakening smile,
And bid the serpent’s trail no more
Thy beauteous realms defile.

Thine was the cross, with all its fruits,
Of grace and peace divine;
Be Thine the crown of glory now,
The palm of victory Thine.

The Lord is coming, let this be
The herald note of jubilee;
And when we meet and when we part
The salutation from the heart.

Refrain

The Lord is coming, let this be
The herald note of jubilee,
The herald note of jubilee.

The Lord is coming! sound it forth
From east to west, from south to north;
Speed on! speed on the tidings glad,
That none who love Him may be sad.

Refrain

The Lord is coming, swift and sure
And all His judgments shall endure;
And none can hope t’escape His wrath,
Who walk not in the narrow path.

Refrain

The earth, with her ten thousand wrongs
Will soon be tuned in nobler songs;
Our praise shall then, in realms of light,
With all His universe unite.

Refrain

The Lord will come and not be slow;
His footsteps cannot err;
Before Him righteousness shall go,
His royal harbinger.

Mercy and truth, that long were missed,
Now joyfully are met;
Sweet peace and righteousness have kissed,
And hand in hand are set.

Rise, God, judge Thou the earth in might,
This wicked earth redress;
For Thou art He who shalt by right
The nations all possess.

The nations all whom Thou hast made
Shall come, and all shall frame
To bow them low before Thee, Lord!
And glorify Thy Name!

Truth from the earth, like to a flower,
Shall bud and blossom then,
And justice, from her heavenly bower,
Look down on mortal men.

Thee will I praise, O Lord, my God!
Thee honor and adore
With my whole heart; and blaze abroad
Thy Name forevermore!

To You, O Lord, we lift our voice;
We call from this world of pain.
You left us with Your blessing, Lord,
And promised to come again.
You promised to come again.

The years have fled, the ages flown
And still we wait and pray.
Your promise, Lord, our only hope,
Your blessing our only stay.
Your blessing our only stay.

Your children, Lord, we still remain,
And long to be with You.
Reward Your children’s patience, Lord:
Come back for Your people soon!
Come back for Your people soon!

Be near us, Holy Trinity,
One Light, one only Deity!
All things are Thine, on Thee depend,
Who art Beginning without end.

The myriad armies of the sky
Praise, bless, adore Thy majesty:
Earth’s triple frame—land, air, and sea—
Upraise their canticle to Thee.

We, too, Thy suppliant servants all,
Before Thy feet adoring fall:
To Thee our vows and prayers we bring
With hymns that saints and angels sing.

One we believe Thee, Light divine,
And worship in a glorious Trine:
O First and Last, we humbly cry,
And all things having breath reply.

Praise to the Father, made of none,
Praise to the sole-begotten Son,
Praise to the Holy Spirit be—
Mysterious Godhead, One in Three!

Christ! I am Christ’s, and the Name suffice you,
Ay, for me too He greatly hath sufficed:
Christ is the end, for Christ was the beginning,
Christ the beginning, for the end is Christ.

Can it be true, the grace He is declaring?
O let us trust Him, for His words are fair.
Man, what is this, and why art thou despairing?
God shall forgive thee all but thy despair.

Not as one blind and deaf to our beseeching,
Neither forgetful that we are but dust,
Not as from heavens too high for our up-reaching,
Coldly sublime, intolerably just—

Nay, but thou knowest us, Lord Christ Thou knowest,
Well Thou rememberest our feeble frame;
Thou canst conceive our highest and our lowest,
Pulses of nobleness and deeds of shame.

Christ! I am Christ’s, and the Name suffice you,
Ay, for me too He greatly hath sufficed:
Christ is the end, for Christ was the beginning,
Christ the beginning, for the end is Christ.

Hark, what a sound, and too divine for hearing,
Stirs on the earth and trembles in the air!
Is it the thunder of the Lord’s appearing?
Is it the music of His people’s prayer?

Surely He cometh, and a thousand voices
Shout to the saints and to the deaf and dumb;
Surely He cometh, and the earth rejoices,
Glad in His coming Who hath sworn, “I come.”

So even I, and with a pang more thrilling,
So even I, and with a hope more sweet,
Yearn for the sign, O Christ, of Thy fulfilling,
Faint for the flaming of Thine advent feet.

Yea, through life, death, through sorrow and through sinning,
He shall suffice me, for He hath sufficèd;
Christ is the end, for Christ was the beginning,
Christ the beginning, for the end is Christ.