Sweet Place

Sweet place; sweet place alone!

The court of God most high

The heav­en of heav­ens

the throne

Of spot­less ma­jes­ty!

O hap­py place!

When shall I be

my God

with Thee

To see Thy face?

The strang­er home­ward bends

And sighe­th for his rest:

Heaven is my home

my friends

Lodge there in Ab­ra­ham’s breast.

Earth’s but a sor­ry tent

Pitched but a few frail days

A short leased te­ne­ment;

Heaven’s still my song

my praise.

No tears from any eyes

Drop in that ho­ly choir:

But death it­self there dies

And sighs them­selves ex­pire.

There should temp­ta­tions cease

My frail­ties there should end.

There should I rest in peace

In the arms of my best friend.

Jerusalem on high

My song and ci­ty is

My home when­e’er I die

The cen­ter of my bliss.

Thy walls

sweet ci­ty! thine

With pearls are gar­nished

Thy gates with prais­es shine

Thy streets with gold are spread.

No sun by day shines there

No moon by si­lent night.

O no! these need­less are;

The Lamb’s the ci­ty’s light.

There dwells my Lord

my king

Judged here un­fit to live;

There an­gels to Him sing

And low­ly hom­age give.

The pa­tri­archs of old

There from their tra­vels cease:

The pro­phets there be­hold

Their longed for Prince of Peace.

The Lamb’s apos­tles there

I might with joy be­hold:

The harp­ers I might hear

Harping on harps of gold.

The bleed­ing mar­tyrs

they

Within those courts are found;

All clothed in pure ar­ray

Their scars with glo­ry crowned.

Ah me! ah me! that I

In Ke­dar’s tents here stay;

No place like this on high;

Thither

Lord! guide my way.