Scripture Verse

In My Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

Introduction

portrait
James M. Black (1856–1938)

Words: Phil­ip H. Wool­sey, Pre­cious Gems No. 1 (New York & Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Will­iam A. Pond, 1881), num­ber 5.

Music: Ja­bal­pur James M. Black, 1881 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Wool­sey (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Black,

Lyrics

I read of a home
In a country so fair,
Away from earth’s sorrows,
Temptations and cares;
A home in a world
Where bright angels, arrayed
In robes of great splendor,
Are praising their God.

I read how my Sav­ior,
Who now reigns above,
Once shed His own blood,
Out of pity and love;
He shed it to purchase
For you and for me
A home in that country,
So pure and so free.

There is a grand army
Now marching along,
With banners unfurled,
And with this for their song:
Come friends, and come, neighbors,
Come just as you are;
Your homes are all furnished,
Awaiting you there.

Praise God! He invites us,
And we may all go
And live in that land
That is free from all woe;
Now, if we in meekness
His mercy implore,
He’ll fit and prepare us
For that blissful shore.

There is but one way
To that blessèd abode,
And that is through faith
In the dear Sav­ior’s blood;
And when we by faith
Shall have reached that bright shore,
We’ll meet our loved friends who
Have gone on before.