2 Oh, that home of the soul, in my visions and dreams Its bright jasper walls I can see; Till I fancy but thinly the veil intervenes Between the fair city and me.
3 That unchangeable home is for you and for me, Where Jesus of Nazareth stands, The King of all kingdoms forever is he, And he holdeth our crowns in his hands.
4 Oh, how sweet it will be in that beautiful land, So free from all sorrow and pain; With songs on our lips and with harps in our hands, To meet one another again.
"Forever with the Lord!" Amen, so let it be; Life from the dead is in that word, 'Tis immortality. Here in the body pent, Absent from him I roam, Yet nightly pitch my moving tent A day's march nearer home; Nearer home, nearer home, A day's march nearer home.
2 My Father's house on high, Home of my soul, how near, At times, to faith's aspiring eye Thy golden gates appear. Ah! then my spirit faints To reach the land I love; The bright inheritance of saints-- Jerusalem above; Home above, home above, Jerusalem above.
3 Yet doubts still intervene, And all my comfort flies; Like Noah's dove, I flit between Rough seas and stormy skies. Anon the clouds depart, The wind and waters cease, While sweetly o'er my gladdened heart Expands the bow of peace; Bow of peace, bow of peace, Expands the bow of peace.
On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, And cast a wishful eye To Canaan's fair and happy land, Where my possessions lie.
Cho.--We will rest in the fair and happy land, Just across on the evergreen shore, Sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, by and by, And dwell with Jesus evermore.
2 O'er all those wide-extended plains Shines one eternal day; There God the Son forever reigns And scatters night away.
3 When shall I reach that happy place, And be forever blest? When shall I see my Father's face, And in his bosom rest?
4 Filled with delight, my raptured soul Would here no longer stay; Tho' Jordan's waves around me roll, Fearless I'd launch away.
Shall we gather at the river Where bright angel feet have trod; With its crystal tide forever Flowing by the throne of God.
Cho.--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.
2 On the margin of the river Washing up its silver spray, We will walk and worship ever, All the happy, golden day.