Joyfully, joyfully, onward I move, Bound to the land of bright spirits above; Angelic choristers, sing as I come— Joyfully, joyfully, haste to thy home! Soon, with my pilgrimage ended below, Home to the land of bright spirits I go; Pilgrim and stranger, no more shall I roam: Joyfully, joyfully, resting at home.
2 Friends fondly cherished, but passed on before; Waiting, they watch me approaching the shore; Singing to cheer me through death’s chilling gloom: Joyfully, joyfully, haste to thy home. Sounds of sweet melody full on my ear; Harps of the blesséd, your voices I hear! Rings with the harmony heaven’s high dome— Joyfully, joyfully, haste to thy home.
3 Death, with thy weapons of war lay me low, Strike, king of terrors! I fear not the blow; Jesus hath broken the bars of the tomb! Joyfully, joyfully, will I go home. Bright will the morn of eternity dawn; Death shall be banished, his scepter be gone; Joyfully, then, shall I witness his doom, Joyfully, joyfully, safely at home.
794 P. M. Behold the fowls of the air. Matt. 6:26.
The child leans on its parent’s breast, Leaves there its cares, and is at rest; The bird sits singing by his nest, And tells aloud His trust in God, and so is blest ’Neath every cloud.
2 He has no store, he sows no seed; Yet sings aloud, and doth not heed; By flowing stream or grassy mead, He sings to shame Men, who forget, in fear of need, A Father’s name.
3 The heart that trusts for ever sings, And feels as light as it had wings; A well of peace within it springs: Come good or ill, Whate’er to-day, to-morrow brings, It is his will!
795 C. P. M. Matthew 14:28, 29.
He bids us come; his voice we know, And boldly on the waters go, To him our Christ and Lord; We walk on life’s tempestuous sea, For he who died to set us free Hath called us by his word.
2 Secure from troubled waves we tread, Nor all the storms around us heed, While to our Lord we look; O’er every fierce temptation bound— The billows yield a solid ground, The wave is firm as rock.
3 But if from him we turn our eye, And see the raging floods run high, And feel our fears within; Our foes so strong, our flesh so frail, Reason and unbelief prevail, And sink us into sin.
4 Lord, we our feeble faith confess; That little spark of faith increase, That we may doubt no more; But fix on thee our steady eye, And on thine outstretched arm rely, Till all the storm is o’er.
796 P. M. Rest, weary heart.
Rest, weary heart, From all thy silent griefs, and secret pain, Thy profitless regrets, and longings vain; Wisdom and love have ordered all the past, All shall be blessedness and light at last; Cast off the cares that have so long opprest; Rest, sweetly rest!
2 Rest, weary head! Lie down to slumber in the peaceful tomb; Light from above has broken through its gloom; Here, in the place where once thy Saviour lay, Where he shall wake thee on a future day, Like a tired child upon its mother’s breast, Rest, sweetly rest!
3 Rest, spirit free! In the green pastures of the heavenly shore, Where sin and sorrow can approach no more; With all the flock by the Good Shepherd fed, Beside the streams of life eternal led, For ever with thy God and Saviour blest, Rest, sweetly rest!
797 P. M. The bright and morning star. Rev. 22:16.
Star of morn and even, Sun of Heaven’s heaven, Saviour high and dear, Toward us turn thine ear; Through whate’er may come, Thou canst lead us home.
2 Though the gloom be grievous, Those we leant on leave us, Though the coward heart Quit its proper part, Though the tempter come, Thou wilt lead us home.
3 Saviour pure and holy, Lover of the lowly, Sign us with thy sign, Take our hands in thine; Take our hands and come, Lead thy children home!
4 Star of morn and even, Shine on us from heaven; From thy glory-throne Hear thy very own! Lord and Saviour, come, Lead us to our home!
798 P. M. I will not let thee go.
I will not let thee go; thou help in time of need, Heap ill on ill, I trust thee still, E’en when it seems as thou wouldst slay indeed! Do as thou wilt with me, I yet will cling to thee, Hide thou thy face; yet, help in time of need, I will not let thee go!
2 I will not let thee go; should I forsake my bliss? No, Lord, thou’rt mine, And I am thine: Thee will I hold when all things else I miss; Though dark and sad the night, Joy cometh with thy light, O thou my Sun; should I forsake my bliss? I will not let thee go!
3 I will not let thee go, my God, my Life, my Lord! Not death can tear Me from his care, Who for my sake his soul in death outpoured. Thou diedst for love to me, I say in love to thee, E’en when my heart shall break, my God, my Life, my Lord, I will not let thee go!