The Heavenly City

Home of glory! Crystal river!

Gate of pearl! Pure golden street!

Trod by feet defiling never,

Never trod by mortal feet.

Shall my pen be found comparing

Earthly glories with that place?

In its light was Eden sharing?

Saw it Adam? Not a trace.

In this land a thousand splendours

Pass before me every day,

And my heart rejoicing renders

Thanks to God upon my way.

When the evening shades were darkling,

I have passed the lily by;

Watched the dewdrop like a sparkling

Ruby in its bosom lie;

And I’ve thought of Him whose story

Sets the weary heart at ease:

“Solomon in all his glory

Was not robed like one of these.”

I have thought of lands far distant,

Where perennial summer smiles,

And to carols soft have listened

Breaking from perfumed defiles.

Vine and fig and palm tree flourish,

Nature sheds profuse her store,

Swarthy sons of Shem to nourish—

Home of Beauty! Sunny shore!

And I’ve passed on fancy’s pinions

Where eternal winter piles

Round her desolate dominions

Mounds of ice like floating isles.

I have seen the sun arising

From his bed of purple light,

And the shades of night surprising

Put like giants great to flight.

And I’ve seen him drop at even

Into yellow seas of gold,

Leaving on the brow of heaven

Stars whose number is untold.

And I’ve said: “His hand has made them,

Guided by eternal skill,

And in diverse robes arrayed them,

Set them thus to do His will.”

“And when they have served His pleasure,

Like a dream they’ll pass away;

All their brightness, all their treasure,

All their glory, shall decay.”

But this City fadeth never,

Bright it beams in every part,

Wall and gate and street and river,

The creation of His heart.

Home of glory! New creation!

Radiant with love divine,

Safe from sin’s accurst invasion—

Home of Jesus! Home of mine!

Living stones with glory blazing

In the golden light of God,

Countless thousands loudly praising

Him who washed them in His blood.

’Tis our God and Father’s dwelling,

’Tis His children gathered home,

Brought, with shouts of triumph swelling,

From the desert and the tomb.

Jesus Christ the Sun and Centre

Of that universe of love:

Happy those decreed to enter

Through those gates of pearl above.