O’ once I saw that river
With deep and gloomy roll,
Cut off’ life’s peaceful pathway
Before my ruin’d soul,
While far beyond its banks there lay
A region bright and fair,
And like a cloud of glory,
Fell the sunlight everywhere.
I sought to stem those waters―
I could not bridge them o’er;
My eye looked onward hopeless
To that happy Canaan shore,
Until from out that glory
A voice of love I heard,
Which fell like music round me,
And cheered me with a word.
No inure in dread and darkness
I listened to the flow
Of that relentless river,
Where Christ the Lord lay low.
He bid the floods o’erwhelm
Him Till all the rage was o’er,
Now timid feet step dryshod
Where death had rush’d before.
No wave of that dread river
Can rise against me now,
Since all the deadly torrent
Roll’d o’er His holy brow.
With ever deep’ning worship,
And wonder at His love,
I trace His path thro’ Jordan
Back to the throne above,
That path is mine to follow,
That glory is my home,
Save only that the river
Is empty when I come.
Oh! love, and peace, and glory!
My heart is fill’d with song;
Oh! quiet, holy Canaan,
No more I look and long.
The One who forms your sunlight
Is now my Life, my Friend;
His presence is my home-land
His welcome knows no end.