Scripture Verse

He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistening. Luke 9:28–29

Introduction

Words: All­en W. Chat­field, 1874. This hymn was writ­ten whilst jour­ney­ing to, and at­tend­ing at the Ass­ize Court at Shrews­bu­ry.

Music: Sem­per As­pec­te­mus John H. Cas­son, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1875 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Chat­field or Cas­son (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

For ev­er we would gaze on Thee,
O Lord, up­on the Mount;
With Mos­es and Eli­as see
That light from light’s own fount;

For ev­er with the chos­en three
Would stand up­on that height,
And in that bless­èd com­pa­ny
Be plunged in pure de­light.

For ev­er would we train the ear
To that ce­les­tial Voice;
In Thee, the Son of God, so near
For ev­er­more re­joice.

Here would we pitch our con­stant tent,
For ev­er here abide;
And dwell in peace and full con­tent,
Dear Mas­ter, at Thy side.

But no! not yet to man ’tis giv­en
To rest up­on that height;
’Tis but a pass­ing glimpse of Heav’n;
We must des­cend and fight.

Beneath the mount is toil and pain;
O Christ, Thy strength im­part;
Till we, trans­fig­ured, too, shall reign
For ev­er where Thou art.

illustration
The Transfiguration
Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834–1890)