Thank God That Towards Eternity

Thank God that to­wards eter­ni­ty

Another step is won!

O long­ing turns my heart to Thee

As time flows slow­ly on

Thou Fount­ain whence my life is born

Whence those rich streams of grace are drawn

That through my be­ing run!

I count the hours

the days

the years

That stretch in te­di­ous line

Until

O Life

that hour ap­pears

When

at Thy touch di­vine

Whate’er is mor­tal now in me

Shall be con­sumed for aye in Thee

And death­less life be mine.

So glows Thy love with­in this frame

That

touched with keen­est fire

My whole soul kin­dles in the flame

Of one in­tense de­sire

To be in Thee

and Thou in me

And e’en while yet on earth to be

Still press­ing clos­er

nigh­er!

Oh that I soon might Thee be­hold!

I count the mo­ments o’er;

Ah come

ere yet my heart grows cold

And can­not call Thee more!

Come in Thy glo­ry

for Thy bride

Hath girt her for the ho­ly-tide

And wait­eth at the door.

And since Thy Spir­it sheds abroad

The oil of grace in me

And Thou art in­ly near me

Lord

And I am lost in Thee

So shines in me the liv­ing Light

And stead­fast burns my lamp and bright

To greet Thee joy­ous­ly.

Come! is the voice

then

of Thy bride

She loud­ly prays Thee come!

With faith­ful heart she long hath cried

Come quick­ly

Je­sus

come!

Come

O my Bride­groom

Lamb of God

Thou know­est I am Thine

my Lord;

Come down and take me home.

Yet be the hour that none can tell

Left whol­ly to Thy choice

Although I know Thou lov’st it well

That I with heart and voice

Should bid Thee come

and from this day

Care but to meet Thee on Thy way

And at Thy sight re­joice!

I joy that from Thy love di­vine

No pow­er can part me now

That I may dare to call Thee mine

My friend

my Lord

avow

That I

O Prince of Life

shall be

Made whol­ly one in Heav’n with Thee

My por­tion

Lord

art Thou!

And there­fore do my thanks o’er­flow

That one more year is gone

And of this time

so poor

so slow

Another step is won;

And

with a heart that may not wait

Toward yon­der dist­ant gold­en gate

I jour­ney glad­ly on.

And when the wear­ied hands grow weak

And wear­ied knees give way

To sink­ing faith

O quick­ly speak

And make Thine arm my stay;

That so my heart drink in new strength

And I speed on

nor feel the length

Nor steep­ness of the way.

Then on

my soul

with fear­less faith

Let naught thy ter­ror move;

Nor aught that earth­ly plea­sure saith

E’er tempt thy steps to rove;

If slow thy course seem o’er the waste

Mount up­wards with the ea­gles’ haste

On wings of tire­less love.

O Je­sus

all my soul hath flown

Already up to Thee

For Thou

in whom is love alone

Hast whol­ly con­quered me.

Farewell ye phan­toms

day and year

Eternity is round me here

Since

Lord

I live in Thee.