1 Father, I long, I faint to see The place of thine abode, I'd leave thy earthly courts and flee Up to thy seat, my God!
2 Here I behold thy distant face, And 'tis a pleasing sight; But to abide in thine embrace Is infinite delight.
3 I'd part with all the joys of sense To gaze upon thy throne; Pleasure springs fresh for ever thence, Unspeakable, unknown.
4 [There all the heavenly hosts are seen, In shining ranks they move, And drink immortal vigour in, With wonder and with love.
5 Then at thy feet with awful fear Th' adoring armies fall With joy they shrink to _nothing_ there, Before th' Eternal All.
6 There I would vie with all the host In duty and in bliss, While _less than nothing_ I could boast, And _vanity_ confess.] _[1]_
7 The more thy glories strike mine eyes, The humbler I shall lie; Thus while I sink, my joys shall rise Unmeasurably high.
_[1]_ Isaiah 40:17.