Christ My Song - 680

Rest of the saints above - The saints' rest
(John Nelson Darby/Johannes Thomas Rüegg)

The saints' rest.

(1845)

1. Rest of the saints above,
  Jerusalem of God!
who, in thy palaces of love,
  thy golden streets have trod (PDF - Midi)

2. to me the joy to tell?
  Those courts secure from ill,
where God himself vouchsafes to dwell
  and every bosom fill!

3. Who shall to me that joy
  of saint-thronged courts declare –
tell of that constant, sweet employ
  my spirit longs to share?

4. That rest, secure from ill,
  no cloud of grief e'er stains;
unfailing praise each heart doth fill,
  and love eternal reigns.

5. The Lamb is there, my soul!
  There God himself doth rest
in love divine diffused through all,
  with him supremely blessed.

6. God and the Lamb! 'Tis well
  I know that source divine
of joy and love no tongue can tell,
  yet know that all is mine.

7. And see, the Spirit's power
  has ope'd the heavenly door,
has brought me to that favoured hour
  when toil shall all be o'er.

8. There on the hidden Bread
  of Christ once humbled here –
God's treasured store – for ever fed,
  his love my soul shall cheer.

9. Called by that secret name
  of undisclosed delight
(blessed answer to reproach and shame),
  graved on the stone of white.

10. There in effulgence bright,
  Saviour and Guide, with thee
I'll walk, and in thy heavenly light
  whiter my robe shall be.

11. There in th'unsullied way
  which his own hand hath dressed
my feet press on, where brightest day
  shines forth on all the rest.

12. But who that glorious blaze
  of living light shall tell,
where all his brightness God displays,
  and the Lamb's glories dwell?

13. There only to adore,
  my soul its strength may find –
its life, its joy for evermore,
  by sight nor sense defined.

14. God and the Lamb shall there
  the light and temple be,
and radiant hosts for ever share
  the unveiled mystery!

(11,4: That is, the saints' rest.)

John Nelson Darby, Spiritual Songs, 13-15.

            PDF - Midi