My Father's house on high,
Home of my soul! how near,
At times, to Faith's foreseeing eye,
Thy golden gates appear.
Ah! then my spirit faints
To reach the land I love,
The bright inheritance of saints,
Jerusalem above!
Yet clouds will intervene,
And all my prospect flies;
Like Noah's dove, I flit between
Rough seas and stormy skies.
Anon the clouds depart,
The winds and waters cease;
While sweetly o'er my gladdened heart
Expands the bow of peace!
Beneath its glowing arch,
Along the hallowed ground,
I see cherubic armies march,
A camp of fire around.
I hear at morn and even,
At noon and midnight hour,
The choral harmonies of Heaven
Earth's Babel tongues o'erpower.
Then, then I feel, that He,
Remembered or forgot,
The Lord, is never far from me,
Though I perceive Him not.
James Montgomery.