1 DEATHLESS principle, arise!
Soar, thou native of the skies;
Pearl of price by Jesus bought,
To his glorious likeness wrought,
Go to shine before his throne;
Deck his mediatorial crown;
Go, his triumph to adorn;
Made for God, to God return!
2 Lo, he beckons from on high!
Fearless to his presence fly;
Thine the merit of his blood,
Thine the righteousness of God.
Angels, joyful to attend,
Hovering round thy pillows bend,
Wait to catch the signal given,
And escort thee quick to heaven.
3 Is thy earthly house distressed,
Willing to retain her guest?
'Tis not thou, but she must die;
Fly, celestial inmate, fly!
Burst thy shackles, drop thy clay,
Sweetly breathe thyself away,
Singing to thy crown remove,
Mounting high on wings of love.
4 Shudder not to pass the stream;
Venture all thy care on him,
Him whose dying love and power
Stilled its tossing, hushed its roar;
Safe is the expanded wave,
Gentle as the summer's eve,
No one object of his care
Ever suffered shipwreck there.
5 Saints in glory perfect made
Wait thy passage through the shade;
See, they throng the blissful shore,
Ardent for thy coming o'er.
Mount, their transports to improve,
Join the longing choir above,
Swiftly to their wish be given,
Kindle higher joy in heaven!