Oh! happy thousand times were I,
If, after wretched days,
I might with listening ears conceive
Those heavenly songs of praise,
Which to the eternal king are sung
By happy wights above--
By saved souls and angels sweet,
Who love the God of love.
Oh! passing happy were my state,
Might I be worthy found
To wait upon my God and king,
His praises there to sound;
And to enjoy my Christ above,
His favor and His grace,
According to His promise made,
Which here I interlace:
"O Father dear," quoth He, "let them
Which Thou hast put of old
To me, be there where lo! I am--
Thy glory to behold;
Which I with Thee, before the world
Was made in perfect wise,
Have had--from whence the fountain great
Of glory doth arise."
Again: "If any man will serve
Thee, let him follow me;
For where I am, he there, right sure,
Then shall my servant be."
And still: "If any man loves me,
Him loves my Father dear,
Whom I do love--to him myself
In glory will appear."
Lord, take away my misery,
That then I may be bold
With Thee, in Thy Jerusalem,
Thy glory to behold;
And so in Zion see my king,
My love, my Lord, my all--
Where now as in a glass I see,
There face to face I shall.
Oh! blessed are the pure in heart--
Their sovereign they shall see;
O ye most happy, heavenly wights,
Which of God's household be!
O Lord, with speed dissolve my bands,
These gins and fetters strong;
For I have dwelt within the tents
Of Kedar over long.
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