Scripture Verse

I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness. Psalm 17:15

Introduction

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: Bu­rton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 806. Glo­ries of Hea­ven.

Music: An­ge­lus Ge­org Jo­seph, Hei­lige Seel­en­lust (Bres­lau [now Wro­cław, Po­land]: 1657) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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

Lyrics

With joy, ye saints, di­rect your eyes,
Up to the world of per­fect light;
Thither the hap­py spir­it flies,
And faith and hope are turned to sight.

There liv­ing waters ev­er flow,
And floods of pur­est plea­sure roll;
Such as on earth we can­not know,
And fru­its ce­les­ti­al feast the soul.

The hap­py saint for­gets his cares,
Substantial joys are all his own;
Troubles no more he feels or fears,
For ev­er seat­ed near the throne.

There sits the Sav­ior and un­folds
The mys­te­ries of re­deem­ing grace,
While ev­ery humble soul be­holds
The daz­zling lus­ter of His face.