Scripture Verse

A rest for the people of God. Hebrews 4:9

Introduction

Words: J. H. Bright, in the Un­i­vers­al­ist Hymn Book, third ed­i­tion, by George Ro­gers (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: R. P. Brooks, 1842), num­ber 518.

Music: From The Cas­ket of Sun­day School Me­lo­dies, by Asa Hull (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Asa Hull, 1865), num­ber 100 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Bright’s full name, or where to get good pic­ture of him (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Should sorrow o’er thy brow
Its darkened shadows fling,
And hopes that cheer thee now
Die in their early spring;
Should pleasure at its birth
Fade like the hues of ev’n,
Turn thou away from earth,
There’s rest for thee in Heav’n.

Refrain

There’s rest, there’s rest,
There’s rest for thee in Heaven,
O turn from earth away,
There’s rest for thee in Heav’n.

If ever life should seem
To thee a toilsome way—
And gladness cease to beam
Upon its clouded day;
If like the weary dove,
O’er shoreless oceans driven;
Raise thou thine eyes above,
There’s rest for thee in Heav’n.

Refrain

But O, if thornless flowers
Throughout thy pathway bloom—
And joyfully fleet the hours,
Unstained by earthly gloom—
Still, let not every thought
To this poor world be given;
Nor always be forgot
Thy better rest in Heav’n.

Refrain

When sickness pales thy cheek
And dims thy lustrous eye,
And pulses low and week
Tell of a time to die—
Sweet hope will whisper then,
Though thou from earth be riven,
There’s bliss beyond the ken,
There’s rest for thee in Heav’n!

Refrain