159. Old 44th. From Ravenscroft's "Whole Booke of Psalmes," 1621. 1 FAR AR from these narrow scenes of night And realms of infinite delight, 2 Fair distant land; could mortal eyes 3 There pain and sickness never come, 4 No clouds those blissful regions know, 5 There no alternate night is known, 6 The glorious Monarch there displays 7 O may the heavenly prospect fire 8 Prepare us, Lord, by grace divine, Anne Steele, 1760. 1 THERE is a land of pure delight, 2 There everlasting spring abides, 3 Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood So to the Jews old Canaan stood, 4 But timorous mortals start and shrink 5 O! could we make our doubts remove, 6 Could we but climb where Moses stood And view the landscape o'er: Not Jordan's stream, nor death's cold flood, Isaac Watts, 1709. "O stilles Gotteslamm." 161. c. 1714. 3 O joy all joys_beyond. To see the Lamb who died, 4 Look up, ye saints of God, In uncomplaining love, Sir Henry Baker, 1861. 2 O happy retribution! Short toil, eternal rest; For mortals and for sinners A mansion with the blest! 3 That we should look, poor wand'rers, To have our home on high! That worms should seek for dwellings Beyond the starry sky! 4 To all one happy guerdon Of one celestial grace: For all, for all, who mourn their fall, Is one eternal place. 5 And martyrdom hath roses Upon that heavenly ground; And white and virgin lilies For virgin souls abound. 6 There grief is turned to pleasure; 7 And, after fleshly scandal, 8 And now we fight the battle; But then shall wear the crown Of full and everlasting And passionless renown. 9 And now we watch and struggle, And now we live in hope, And Sion in her anguish With Babylon must cope: 10 But He, Whom now we trust in, Shall then be seen and known, And they who know and see Him Shall have Him for their own. John Mason Neale, 1861. From Bernard of Morlaix. Christmas Carol. 163. Old English. Oh! for a heart that never sins! 3 Here faith is ours, and heavenly hope, Oh! by Thy love and anguish, Lord! Oh! that we fall not from Thy grace, Nor cast away our crown! Cecil Frances Alexander [1853]. |