Scripture Verse

There remaineth…a rest to the people of God. Hebrews 4:9

Introduction

portrait
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

Words: Ho­ra­ti­us Bo­nar, Hymns of Faith and Hope (Lon­don: James Nis­bet, 1857), pag­es 5–7.

Music: Phi­lip Phil­lips, Our New Hym­nal (New York: Funk & Wag­nalls, 1893), pag­es 132–33 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Philip Phillips (1834–1895)

Lyrics

Where the faded flower shall freshen—
Freshen ne­ver more to fade;
Where the shaded sky shall brighten—
Brighten ne­ver more to shade:
Where the sun blaze ne­ver scorches;
Where the star beams cease to chill;
Where no tempest stirs the echoes
Of the wood, or wave, or hill;
Where the morn shall wake in gladness,
And the noon the joy prolong,
Where the daylight dies in fragrance,
’Mid the burst of holy song:

Refrain

Brother, we shall meet and rest
’Mid the holy and the blest!

Where no shadow shall bewilder,
When life’s vain parade is o’er,
Where the sleep of sin is broken,
And the dreamer dreams no more:
Where the bond is ne­ver severed;
Parting, claspings, sob and moan,
Midnight waking, twilight weeping,
Heavy noontide—all are done:
Where the child has found its mother,
Where the mother finds the child,
Where dear families are gathered,
That were scattered on the wild:

Refrain

Where the hidden wound is healèd,
Where the blighted life re-blooms,
Where the smitten heart the freshness
Of its buoyant youth resumes:
Where the love that here we lavish
On the withering leaves of time
Shall have fadeless flowers to fix on
In an ever spring-bright clime:
Where we find the joy of loving,
As we ne­ver loved before—
Loving on, unchilled, unhindered,
Loving once and ev­er­more:

Refrain

Where a blasted world shall brighten
Underneath a bluer sphere,
And a softer, gentler sunshine
Shed its healing splendor here:
Where earth’s barren vales shall blossom,
Putting on their robe of green,
And a purer, fairer Eden
Be where only wastes have been:
Where a king in kingly glo­ry,
Such as earth has ne­ver known,
Shall assume the righteous scepter,
Claim and wear the holy crown:

Refrain