O that I had wings like a dove, For, then, would I soon be at rest; I’d fly to the mansions above; The home of the pure and the blest; The place where no sorrow or tears Can ever my pleasures destroy; But where through eternity’s years, I’ll drink from an ocean of Joy!
2 The clouds that now hang o’er my soul, Make dark all the pathway of life; While thunders unceasingly roll In storms of deep anger and strife; I hope for some bright ray to beam From clouds where there yet may be light, But only the lightning’s red gleam Is seen through the darkness of night.
3 I try to be humble and meek, Leave all to my Saviour’s own will; For, He to the tempest can speak, The winds will obey and be still; But now my soul flutters and cries, And longs to be soaring away, From darkness and gloom, to the skies, The regions of bright, endless day.
4 Dear Saviour, O, let me come home, And rest on thy bosom in peace; No more from thy presence to roam— Then tempests and storms shall all cease. I’ll sing of thy wonderful ways, With all of the glorified throng— For ever and ever, thy praise, Shall be the one theme of my song.
827 8s. Having a desire to depart. Phil. 1:23.
To Jesus, the crown of my hope, My soul is in haste to be gone; O bear me, ye cherubim, up, And waft me away to his throne. My Saviour, whom absent, I love; Whom, not having seen, I adore; Whose name is exalted above All glory, dominion, and power!
2 Dissolve thou those bands that detain My soul from her portion in thee, Ah! strike off this adamant chain, And make me eternally free. When that happy era begins, When arrayed in thy glories I shine, Nor grieve any more, by my sins, The bosom on which I recline;
3 O then shall the vail be removed! And round me thy brightness be poured; I shall meet him, whom absent I loved; I shall see, whom unseen I adored. And then, never more shall the fears, The trials, temptations, and woes, Which darken this valley of tears, Intrude on my blissful repose.
828 S. M. D. A pilgrim’s song.
A few more years shall roll, A few more seasons come; And we shall be with those that rest, Asleep within the tomb. Then, O my Lord, prepare My soul for that great day; O wash me in thy precious blood, And take my sins away.
2 A few more suns shall set O’er these dark hills of time; And we shall be where suns are not, A far serener clime. Then, O my Lord, prepare My soul for that blest day; O wash me in thy precious blood, And take my sins away.
3 A few more storms shall beat On this wild rocky shore; And we shall be where tempests cease, And surges swell no more. Then, O my Lord, prepare My soul for that calm day, O wash me in thy precious blood, And take my sins away.
4 A few more struggles here, A few more partings o’er, A few more toils, a few more tears, And we shall weep no more. Then, O my Lord, prepare My soul for that blest day; O wash me in thy precious blood, And take my sins away.
5 A few more meetings here, Shall cheer us on our way; And we shall reach the endless rest, The eternal Sabbath day. Then, O my Lord, prepare My soul for that sweet day, O wash me in thy precious blood, And take my sins away.
829 8s & 7s. Here and yonder.
Here, we are but straying pilgrims, Here, our path is often dim, But to cheer us on our journey, Still we sing this way-side hymn. CHORUS. Yonder, over the rolling river, Where the shining mansions rise, Soon will be our home for ever, And the smile of the blesséd Giver Gladdens all our longing eyes.
2 Here, our feet are often weary, On the hills that throng our way; Here, the tempest darkly gathers, But our hearts within us say— Yonder, over the rolling river, etc.
3 Here, our souls are often fearful, Of the pilgrim’s lurking foe; But the Lord is our defender, And he tells us we may know, Yonder, over the rolling river, etc.
4 Here, our shadowed homes are transient, And we meet the stranger’s frown; So we’ll sing with joy while going. E’en to death’s dark billow down— Yonder, over the rolling river, etc.
830 7s & 6s. Song of our pilgrimage.
O when shall I see Jesus, And dwell with him above, To drink the flowing fountain Of everlasting love? When shall I be delivered From this vain world of sin, And with my blesséd Jesus Drink endless pleasures in?
2 But now I am a soldier, My Captain’s gone before: He’s given me my orders, And tells me not to fear. And if I hold out faithful, A crown of life he’ll give, And all his valiant soldiers Eternal life shall have.
3 Through grace I am determined To conquer though I die; And then away to Jesus On wings of love I’ll fly. Farewell to sin and sorrow, I bid them both adieu: And you, my friends, prove faithful, And on your way pursue.