69. Brief life is here our portion
7.6.7.6 D
St. Alphege:
Henry J. Gauntlett, 1852
Latin; St. Bernard of Cluny, 1145;
Tr. John Mason Neale, 1858
Brief life is here our portion, Brief sorrow, short-lived care; The life that knows no ending, The tearless life is there! O happy retribution! Short toil, eternal rest, For mortals and for sinners A mansion with the blest! | There grief is turned to pleasure; Such pleasure as below No human voice can utter, No human heart can know; And after fleshly weakness, And after this world's night, And after storm and whirlwind, Are calm, and joy, and light. | And now we fight the battle, But then shall wear the crown Of full and everlasting And passionless renown; And he whom now we trust in Shall then be seen and known, And they that know and see him Shall have him for their own. | And now we watch and struggle, And now we live in hope, And Sion in her anguish With Babylon must cope; But there is David's fountain, And life in fullest glow; And there the light is golden, And milk and honey flow. | The morning shall awaken, The shadows flee away, And each true-hearted servant Shall shine as doth the day; For God our King and Portion, In fullness of his grace, We then shall see for ever, And worship face to face. | O sweet and blessed country, The home of God's elect! O sweet and blessed country That eager hearts expect! Jesus, in mercy bring us To that dear land of rest Who art with God the Father, And Spirit, ever blest. | |