Scripture Verse

Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14

Introduction

portrait
David Y. Bagby
1849–1939

Words: Wi­ley B. Carnes, in Gems and Je­wels, by James H. Fill­more & James H. Ro­se­crans (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: Fill­more Bro­thers, 1890), num­ber 78.

Music: An­go­la Da­vid Y. Bag­by (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Life is oft be­set with sor­rows,
Trials come on ev­ery hand;
Fain would care­worn pil­grims borrow
Pleasures from the glo­ry land;
But we bide our time with pa­tience,
Waiting till our Lord shall come,
Waiting till the Mas­ter bids us
Enter our eter­nal home.

Refrain

Are we rea­dy? Are we rea­dy?
Will we hear the wel­come voice
Bid us en­ter in­to glo­ry,
And with ran­somed souls re­joice?

Oft we stum­ble by the way­side
When temp­ta­tions spread around;
Thus to lure us from our du­ty
Satan seeks to drag us down;
But like ser­pent-bit­ten Israel,
We can lift our trust­ing eyes
To the cross of our Re­deem­er
And our home be­yond the skies.

Refrain

Yes, we’ll bide our time with pa­tience,
Battling with the hosts of sin;
If we’re faith­ful to the Mas­ter,
He will bid us en­ter in;
When we’ve passed the pear­ly gate­way,
When we’ve reached the glo­ry land,
Pain and tears will all be ban­ished
By the lov­ing Fa­ther’s hand.

Refrain