One Sweetly Solemn Thought

One sweet­ly so­lemn thought

Comes to me o’er and o’er;

Nearer to my home to­day am I

Than e’er I’ve been be­fore.

Nearer my Fa­ther’s house

Where many man­sions be;

Nearer to­day

the great white throne

Nearer the crys­tal sea.

Nearer the bound of life

Where bur­dens are laid down;

Nearer to leave the hea­vy cross

Nearer to gain the crown.

But ly­ing dark­ly be­tween

Winding down through the night

Is the deep and un­known stream

To be crossed ere we reach the light.

Closer and clos­er my steps

Come to the dread abysm

Closer death to my lips

Presses the aw­ful chrism.

Feel as I would my feet

Are slip­ping ov­er the brink;

For it may be

I’m near­er home—

Nearer now than I think.

Father

per­fect my trust!

Strengthen my pow­er of faith!

Nor let me stand

at last

alone

Upon the shore of death.

Be Thee near when my feet

Are slip­ping ov­er the brink;

For it may be I’m near­er home

Nearer now than I think.