Encumber’d heart! lay by thy sorrow,

My head! be thou no longer bowed,

For yonder dawns the welcome morrow,

Which God for rest to man allowed;

Which God for rest to man commended,

That rest Himself had sanctified.

Rise up! much time thou’st misapplied,

For God’s own sacred work intended.

Come! Egypt’s bricks and straw forsaking,

On them no more your labour spend;

Of dew-like manna now partaking,

In God’s most holy courts attend.

To Him your solemn vows renewing,

Your priesthood’s work perform with zeal,

That while devoutly thus you kneel,

Glory to Him may be accruing.

My God! I now appear before Thee,

And wait thy every sign to see;

How can I serve, or how adore Thee,

Without thy Spirit strengthening me?

If He, of grace the sole dispenser,

Sin’s torment ease not, how rejoice?

In prayer to Thee how raise my voice,

Unless his incense fill my censer?

How can my harp give tones of sweetness,

Unless thy finger sweep the string?

How can I steer my course with meetness,

Without thy star enlightening?

Unless this flame burn bright within me,

Can I a grateful offering prove,

Unless it fill me with thy love,

And from the dust of earth shall win me?

Christ fills my heart with deep desire

Within his temple gates to be;

Here is thine altar, here thy fire,

And fulness of thy Majesty.

Thy mercy-seat, thy sanctuary,

Thy light and law, the bread of heaven,

The graces by thy Spirit given,

Within thy covenant-ark still tarry.

Lord! when life’s work-days all are closing,

Let my freed spirit with Thee rest,

Safe in its Father’s hands reposing,

My body on its mother’s breast;

Till both the sabbath-rest enjoying,

In heaven’s own peaceful courts above,

Shall live to praise Thee and to love,

No other care my thoughts employing.