Scripture Verse

I come quickly. Revelation 22:20

Introduction

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Frances R. Havergal
1836–1879

Words: Fran­ces R. Ha­ver­gal, in The Rock, 1873. Com­posed at Win­ter­dyne, this is the first hymn she wrote af­ter her King took her by the hand and led her in­to the good­ly land.

Music: Bev­er­ley Will­iam H. Monk, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1875 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

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William H. Monk
1823–1889

Origin of the Hymn

Some time af­ter­wards, in an­swer to my ques­tion when we were talk­ing qui­et­ly to­ge­ther, Fran­ces said, Yes, it was on Ad­vent Sunday, De­cem­ber 2, 1873, I first saw clear­ly the bless­ed­ness of true con­se­cra­tion. I saw it as a flash, and when you see it you can never un­see.

Maria Havergal, Mem­or­i­als of F. R. H.

Lyrics

Thou art coming, O my Savior,
Thou art coming, O my king,
In Thy beauty all resplendent,
In Thy glory all transcendent;
Well may we rejoice and sing:
Coming! in the opening east
Herald brightness slowly swells;
Coming! O my glorious priest,
Hear we not Thy golden bells?

Thou art coming, Thou art coming;
We shall meet Thee on Thy way,
We shall see Thee, we shall know Thee,
We shall bless Thee, we shall show Thee
All our hearts could never say!
What an anthem that will be,
Ringing out our love to Thee,
Pouring out our rapture sweet
At Thine own all glorious feet!

Thou art coming! Rays of glory
Through the veil Thy death has rent,
Touch the mountain and the river
With a golden glowing quiver,
Thrill of light and music blent.
Earth is brightened when this gleam
Falls on flower, rock, and stream;
Life is brightened when this ray
Falls upon its darkest day.

Not a cloud and not a shadow,
Not a mist and not a tear,
Not a sin and not a sorrow,
For that sunrise grand and clear!
Jesus, Savior, once with Thee,
Nothing else seems worth a thought!
Oh, how marvelous will be
All the bliss Thy pain hath bought!

Thou art coming; at Thy table
We are witnesses for this;
While remembering hearts Thou meetest
In communion clearest, sweetest,
Earnest of our coming bliss,
Showing not Thy death alone,
And Thy love exceeding great;
But Thy coming and Thy throne,
All for which we long and wait.

Thou art coming, we are waiting
With a hope that cannot fail,
Asking not the day or hour,
Resting on Thy Word of power,
Anchored safe within the veil.
Time appointed may be long,
But the vision must be sure;
Certainty shall make us strong,
Joyful patience can endure.

O the joy to see Thee reigning,
Thee, my own belovèd Lord!
Every tongue Thy name confessing,
Worship, honor, glory, blessing
Brought to Thee with glad accord!
Thee, my master and my friend,
Vindicated and enthroned;
Unto earth’s remotest end
Glorified, adored, and owned!