“I will come again, and receive you unto Myself: that where I am, there ye may be also.”— John14:3.
JESUS, and shall it ever be,
That I shall see Thee as Thou art:
And be forever, Lord, with Thee,
And from Thee never more depart?
Can I, who merit only Hell,
Expect Thy glorious throne to share;
With God and Christ in Heav’n to dwell,
And sing Thy praise forever there?
Shall this vile body be transform’d
Into a glorious one like Thine;
And though ‘tie now by sin deform’d,
In Thy reflected beauty shine?
Yes, dearest Lord, Thy love I own
Has made me Thine by closest ties;
And Thou wilt safely bring me home
To God on whom my soul relies.
Thy precious blood for such as me,
Thou once didst shed upon the Cross;
And this is now my only plea,
All other hope I count but loss.
Thou, only Refuge of my heart―
Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all!
My Life, my Strength, my Rock Thou art,
And from Thy hands I ne’er can fall.
Jesus, hast Thou not giv’n Thy word,
“Where I am there ye too shall be;”
Oh, how I long to see thee, Lord,
Who lived, and died, and rose for me.
When shall I leave this gloomy world,
With God and Thee to rest above?
When shall I see Thee, dearest Lord,
Whom having never seen I love?
In Thee my heart has found its home;
Apart from thee I cannot stay;
Then come, Lord Jesus, quickly come,
And let me to Thee haste away.
How shall my soul its joy contain,
When I shall hear Thy welcome word,
Bidding me break from every chain,
And rise to meet my approaching Lord.
Till then, Lord, keep me near to Thee,
Till then Thy constant grace impart;
Let Thy bless’d Spirit comfort me,
Until I see Thee as Thou art.