Scripture Verse

The beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. Luke 16:22

portrait
Daniel W. Whittle
(1840–1901)

Words: Da­ni­el W. Whit­tle, in Gos­pel Hymns No. 5, by Ira D. San­key et al. (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: John Church, 1887), num­ber 124. Some hym­nals give the au­thor as El Na­than, one of Whit­tle’s pseu­do­nyms.

Music: Ca­la­de­si Is­land James Mc­Gra­na­han (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
James McGranahan
(1840–1907)
Wikipedia

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Lyrics

Sitting by the gate­way of a pal­ace fair,
Once a child of God was left to die;
By the world ne­glect­ed, wealth would no­thing share:
See the change await­ing there on high.

Refrain

Carried by the an­gels to the land of rest,
Music sweet­ly sound­ing thro’ the skies;
Welcomed by the Sav­ior to the heav’n­ly feast,
Gathered with the loved in pa­ra­dise.

What shall be the end­ing of this life of care?
Oft the quest­ion com­eth to us all;
Here up­on the path­way hard the bur­dens bear,
And the burn­ing tears of sor­row fall.

Refrain

Follower of Je­sus, scan­ty tho’ thy store,
Treasures, pre­cious trea­sures wait on high;
Count the tri­als joy­ful, soon they’ll all be o’er;
O the change that’s com­ing by and by.

Refrain

Upward, then, and on­ward! on­ward for the Lord;
Time and tal­ent all in His em­ploy;
Small may seem the ser­vice, sure the great re­ward;
Here the cross, but there the crown of joy.

Refrain

illustration
Lazarus and the Rich Man
Gustave Doré (1832–1883)