Soon shall this earthly frame, dissolved, in death and ruins lie; But better mansions wait the just, prepared above the sky. | An house eternal, built by God, shall lodge the holy mind, When once those prison-walIs have fall’n by which ‘tis now confined. | Hence, burdened with a weight of clay, we groan beneath the load, Waiting the hour which sets us free, and brings us home to God. | We know, that when the soul, unclothed, shall from this body fly, ’Twill animate a purer frame with life that cannot die. | Such are the hopes that cheer the just; these hopes their God hath giv’n; His Spirit is the earnest now, and seals their souls for heav’n. | We walk by faith of joys to come, faith grounded on his word; But while this body is our home, we mourn an absent Lord. | What faith rejoices to believe, we long and pant to see; we would be absent from the flesh, and present, Lord! with thee. | But still, or here, or going hence, to this our labours tend, That, in his service spent, our life may in his favour end. | 144 For, lo! before the Son, as judge, th’ assembled world shall stand, To take the punishment or prize from his unerring hand. | Impartial retributions then our diff’rent lives await; Our present actions, good or bad, shall fix our future fate. | |