For ever 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 to home.

My Father’s house on high,

Home of my soul, how near,

At times, to faith’s foreseeing eye,

Thy golden gates appear!

Ah! Then my spirit faints.

To reach the land I love,

The bright inheritance of saints,

Jerusalem above.

Yet clouds will intervene

And al my prospect flies;

Like Noah’s dove I flit between

Rough seas and stormy skies.

Anon the clouds depart,

The winds and waters cease;

While sweetly o’er my gladden’d heart

Expands the bow of peace.

I hear at morn and even,

At noon and midnight hour,

The choral harmonies of heav’n

Earth’s babel – tongues o’erpow’r;

That resurrection Word,

That shout of victory;

Once more, For ever with the Lord!

Amen; so let it be.