Author: John Mason Meter: 8.6.8.6 D Appears in 29 hymnals First Line: I sojourn in a vale of tears Lyrics:
1 I sojourn in a vale of tears,
Alas, how can I sing?
My harp doth on the willows hang,
Distuned in every string.
My music is a captive’s chain,
Harsh sounds my ears do fill;
How shall I sing sweet Sion’s song
On this side Sion’s hill?
2 Yet lo! I hear a joyful sound,
"Surely I quickly come";
Each word much sweetness doth distill
Like swelling honeycomb.
And dost Thou come, my dearest Lord?
And dost Thou surely come?
And dost Thou surely, quickly come?
Methinks I am at home.
3 Come then, my dearest, dearest Lord,
My sweetest, truest friend;
Come, for I loathe these Kedar tents,
Thy fiery chariots send.
What have I here? My thoughts and joys
Are all packed up and gone;
My eager soul would follow them
To Thine eternal throne.
4 What have I in this barren land?
My Jesus is not here;
Mine eyes will ne’er be blest until
My Jesus doth appear.
My Jesus is gone up to Heav’n,
To make a place for me;
For ’tis His will that where He is
There should His servants be.
5 I Canaan view from Pisgah’s top,
Of Canaan’s grapes I taste;
My Lord, who sends unto me here,
Will send for me at last.
I have a God who changeth not,
Why should I be perplexed?
The God who owns me in this world,
Will own me in the next.
6 Go fearless then, my soul, with God
Into another room;
Thou who hast walkèd with Him here
Go see thy God at home.
View death with a believing eye,
It hath an angel’s face;
And this kind angel will escort
Thee to an angel’s place.
7 The grave is but a crucible
Unto believing eyes;
For there the flesh shall lose its dross,
And like the sun shall rise.
The world, which I have known too well
Hath mocked me with its lies;
How gladly would I leave behind
Its vexing vanities!
8 My dearest friends now dwell above,
Them will I go to see;
And all my friends in Christ below
Will soon come after me.
Fear not the trump’s earth-rending sound;
Dread not the Day of Doom,
For He that is to be thy judge,
Thy Savior is become.
9 Blest be my God that gives me light,
Who in the dark did grope;
Blest be my God, the God of love,
Who causeth me to hope.
Here is Word’s signet, comfort’s staff,
And here is grace’s chain;
By these Thy pledges, Lord, I know
My hopes are not in vain.
Used With Tune: KINGSFOLD Text Sources: Spiritual Songs; or, Songs of Praise to the Almighty God upon Several Occasions, 1683
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