Scripture Verse

Strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Hebrews 11:13

Introduction

Words: Theo­dore Til­ton, in May­nard’s Se­lect­ed Sab­bath School Hymns, 4th edi­tion, ed­it­ed by Tho­mas May­nard (Uti­ca, New York: Ro­berts, 1858).

Music: Avon­dale (Caw­thorne) George F. Caw­thorne, in The Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Hym­nal Sup­ple­ment with Tunes, ed­it­ed by George Booth (Lon­don: Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Pub­lish­ing House, 1912), num­ber 56 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Caw­thorne (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portait
Theodore Tilton (1835–1907)

Lyrics

Take thy staff, O pil­grim!
Haste thee on thy way;
Let the mor­row find thee
Farther than to­day.
If thou seek the ci­ty
Of the gold­en street,
Pause not on thy path­way,
Rest not wea­ry feet.
In the heav’n­ly jour­ney
Press with zeal along—
Resting will but wea­ry,
Running make thee strong.

Wings that ea­gles car­ry,
Bear them in their flight;
So thy bur­den bears thee—
Surely then ’tis light!
Haste, it hath been told thee—
All things are thine own;
Pass the pear­ly por­tals,
Stand be­fore the throne.
Here thy jour­ney end­eth,
Here thy staff lay down,
Enter here thy man­sion,
Here re­ceive thy crown!