Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 93

3 It is all holy and serene,-- The land of glory and repose; And there, to dim the radiant scene, No tear of sorrow ever flows.

4 It is not fanned by summer gale; 'Tis not refreshed by vernal showers; It never needs the moon-beam pale, For there are known no evening hours.

5 There forms unseen by mortal eye, Too glorious for our sight to bear, Are walking with their G.o.d on high, And waiting our arrival there.

561. C. M. H. Ballou.

Heavenly Zion.

1 Behold, on Zion's heavenly sh.o.r.e, A pure and countless band, Whose conflicts and whose toils are o'er, In glorious order stand.

2 From earth's remotest bounds they came, From tribulations great, And, through the victories of the Lamb, Have reached the heavenly state.

3 Hunger and thirst they know no more, From burning heats refreshed; The Lamb shall feed them from his store, And give them endless rest.

4 G.o.d all their tears shall wipe away, And they his wonders tell, While in his temple they shall stay, And G.o.d with them shall dwell.

562. 7s. M. Raffles.

The Saints in Glory.

1 High, in yonder realms of light, Dwell the raptured saints above, Far beyond our feeble sight, Happy in Immanuel's love.

2 Happy spirits, ye are fled Where no grief can entrance find, Lulled to rest the aching head, Soothed the anguish of the mind.

3 'Mid the chorus of the skies, 'Mid the angelic lyres above Hark! their songs melodious rise,-- Songs of praise to Jesus' love.

563. S. M. R. Palmer.

Heavenly Rest.

1 And is there, Lord, a rest, For weary souls designed, Where not a care shall stir the breast, Or sorrow entrance find?

2 Is there a blissful home, Where kindred minds shall meet, And live and love, nor ever roam From that serene retreat?

3 Forever blessed they, Whose joyful feet shall stand, While endless ages waste away, Amid that glorious land.

4 My soul would thither tend, While toilsome years are given; Then let me, gracious G.o.d, ascend To sweet repose in heaven.

564. L. M. Anonymous.

The Better Land.

1 There is a land mine eye hath seen, In visions of enraptured thought So bright that all which spreads between Is with its radiant glory fraught;--

2 A land upon whose blissful sh.o.r.e There rests no shadow, falls no stain; There those who meet shall part no more, And those long parted meet again.

3 Its skies are not like earthly skies, With varying hues of shade and light; It hath no need of suns to rise, To dissipate the gloom of night.

4 There sweeps no desolating wind Across that calm, serene abode; The wanderer there a home may find, Within the paradise of G.o.d.

565. C. H. M. Sacred Lyrics.

The Everlasting Bliss of Heaven.

1 Heaven is the land where troubles cease, Where toils and tears are o'er;-- The blissful clime of rest and peace, Where cares distract no more; And not the shadow of distress Dims its unsullied blessedness.

2 Heaven is the dwelling-place of joy, The home of light and love, Where faith and hope in rapture die, And ransomed souls above Enjoy, before th' eternal throne, Bliss everlasting and unknown.

MOURNING AND CONSOLATION.

566. L. M. Bryant.

"Blessed are they that mourn."

1 Deem not that they are blessed alone, Whose days a peaceful tenor keep; The G.o.d, who loves our race, has shown A blessing for the eyes that weep.

2 The light of smiles shall fill again The lids that overflow with tears, And weary hours of woe and pain Are earnests of serener years.

3 O, there are days of sunny rest For every dark and troubled night!

Grief may abide, an evening guest, But joy shall come with early light.