My soul, let this your thoughts employ,

Defer not until death to ponder

On what shall be the heavenly joy,

Which God’s redeem’d are promis’d yonder.

True riches lie beyond the skies,

And there should’st thou be ever gazing;

Then learn earth’s treasures to despise,

To heaven your spirit upward raising.

But ah! those riches who can paint,

Reserv’d in heaven for righteous spirits,

Or shew me but in outline faint,

What he who scorns the world inherits!

No eye hath seen, no ear hath heard,

Nor heart of man hath comprehended,

The peace and joy in heaven prepar’d,

For those who well their course have ended.

Then why do earth and earthly things

Thus check my heavenward inclinations?

Oh! that I now had eagles’ wings,

To aid my longing aspirations!

Oh, come, Lord Jesus! nor delay

From this dark scene my soul to sever:

From earth I would depart away,

And with my Saviour be for ever.