University of Virginia Library


111

ARISE AND DEPART

Brethren, arise,
Let us go hence!
Defiled, polluted thus,
This is no home for us;
Till earth is purified,
We may not here abide.
We were not born for earth:
The city of our birth,
The better paradise,
Is far above these skies.
Upward then let us soar,
Cleaving to dust no more!

112

Brethren, arise,
Let us go hence!
Death and the grave are here,
The sick-bed and the bier.
The children of the tomb
May love this kindred gloom;
But we, the deathless band,
Must seek the deathless land.
The mortal here may rove,
The immortal dwell above.
Here we can only die,
Let us ascend on high.

113

Brethren, arise,
Let us go hence!
For we are weary here.
The ever-falling tear,
The ever-swelling sigh,
The sorrow ever nigh,
The sin still flowing on,
Creation's ceaseless groan,
The tumult near and far,
The universal war,
The sounds that never cease.
These are our weariness!

114

Brethren, arise,
Let us go hence!
This is not our abode;
Too far, too far from God!
The angels dwell not here.
There falls not on the ear
The everlasting song,
From the celestial throng.
'Tis discord here alone,
Earth's melody is gone;
Her harp lies broken now,
Her praise has ceased to flow!

115

Brethren, arise,
Let us go hence!
The new Jerusalem,
Like a resplendent gem,
Sends down its heavenly light,
Attracting our dull sight.
I see the bright ones wait
At each fair pearly gate;
I hear their voices call;
I see the jasper wall,
The clear translucent gold,
The glory all untold!

116

Brethren, arise,
Let us go hence!
What are earth's joys and gems?
What are its diadems?
Our crowns are waiting us
Within our Father's house,
Our friends above the skies
Are bidding us arise;
Our Lord, He calls away
To scenes of sweeter day
Than this sad earth can know,
Let us arise and go!