Scripture Verse

In My Father’s house there are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

Introduction

Words: Ro­bert Sea­grave, Hymns for Chris­tian Wor­ship, Part­ly Com­posed and Part­ly Col­lect­ed from Va­ri­ous Au­thors 1742.

Music: Am­ster­dam James Nar­es, in The Foun­de­ry Col­lect­ion, 1742 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

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

portrait
James Nares (1715–1783)

Lyrics

Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings,
Thy bet­ter por­tion trace;
Rise from tran­si­to­ry things,
Toward Hea­ven, thy na­tive place:
Sun and moon and stars de­cay,
Time shall soon this earth re­move;
Rise, my soul, and haste away
To seats pre­pared above.

Rivers to the ocean run,
Nor stay in all their course;
Fire as­cend­ing seeks the sun;
Both speed them to their source:
So my soul, that’s born of God,
Pants to view His glo­ri­ous face,
Upward tends to His abode,
To rest in His em­brace.

Fly me rich­es, fly me cares,
Whilst I that coast ex­plore;
Flattering world, with all thy snares,
Solicit me no more.
Pilgrims fix not here their home;
Strangers tar­ry but a night;
When the last dear morn is come,
They’ll rise to joyful light.

Cease, ye pil­grims, cease to mourn,
Press on­ward to the prize;
Soon thy Sav­ior will return,
Triumphant in the skies:
Yet a sea­son, and you know
Happy en­trance will be giv­en
All our sor­rows left below,
And earth ex­changed for Hea­ven.