Reading: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1:18

 

Rise, my soul, the dawn appears

Of that eternal day!

Quit, in hope, this vale of tears,

And mount, and soar away!

Darting through this lower air,

Quick as a seraphic flame,

Rise, the marriage feast to share,

The marriage of the Lamb.

 

In the wedding garment dressed,

Which my Redeemer wove,

I shall share the heavenly feast,

With all the church above:

To my elder brethren joined,

I shall there my Saviour see;

In the arms of Jesus find

A blest eternity.

 

There the saints with transport meet,

And know no parting days;

Jesus’ song of love repeat,

In ecstasy of praise:

Bright as His our bodies are;

Like the head the members shine;

All our open foreheads bear

The glorious stamp divine.

 

With the high and lofty One

We shall dwell in bliss supreme,

Share the glories of his throne,

And taste the crystal stream:

Banquet on angelic food,

Father, Son and Spirit know;

Drink the joys that flow from God,

And shall for ever flow.

 

“[Heaven is] where the unveiled glories of the Deity shall beat full upon us, and we forever sun ourselves in the smiles of God.”—Ezekiel Hopkins

Augustus Toplady