To Die is Gain
James Boyd
Glory to Christ for ever!
Glory to Father and Son!
Unto the Saviour eternal
Praise for the work He has done!
His be the throne and the kingdom
Who in unspeakable grace
Sought us and saved us and set us
Spotless in love’s embrace,
Called us to heavenly glory,
Showed us a prospect fair,
Gave us a life to enjoy it,
Gave us a foothold there.
Right in the heavenly places,
Bade us His advent wait,
When His love everlasting
Fully our souls shall sate.
Now He is tenderly leading
Us thro’ a desert lone,
Meeting our wants unnumbered
E’en in a land not sown;
Guarded by His good Spirit
Thro’ a wide waste of sand,
Keeping our feet from falling
By His almighty hand.
Here in a body mortal
We from our Lord are far,
Therefore by faith we follow
Him thro’ both peace and war.
But from this body absent,
Then in His presence bright;
Seeing is not believing,
Better than faith is sight.
Therefore it little matters
Whether He come today,
Or, in His wisdom searchless,
Whether He make delay;
Whether without the body
Or with the body changed;
Clothed or unclothed, whatever
Wisdom may have arranged.
Either with endless pleasure
Shall our estate enzone,
Blessings in infinite measure
For ever and ever our own.
Yet till He comes to take us
Fain would we here remain,
Tho’ we would not for a moment
Doubt that TO DIE IS GAIN.