To Jesus, the crown of my hope, <br />My soul is in haste to be gone; <br />O bear me, ye cherubim, up, <br />And waft me away to His throne! <br /> <br />My Saviour, whom absent I love, <br />Whom, not having seen I adore; <br />Whose name is exalted above <br />All glory, dominion, and power; <br /> <br />Dissolve thou these bonds that detain <br />My soul from her portion in thee. <br />Ah! strike off this adamant chain, <br />And make me eternally free. <br /> <br />When that happy era begins, <br />When arrayed in Thy glories I shine, <br />Nor grieve any more, by my sins, <br />The bosom on which I recline. <br /> <br />Oh then shall the veil be removed, <br />And round me Thy brightness be pour'd, <br />I shall meet Him whom absent I loved, <br />Shall see Him whom unseen I adored. <br /> <br />And then, never more shall the fears, <br />The trials, temptation, and woes, <br />Which darken this valley of tears, <br />Intrude on my blissful repose. <br /> <br />Or, if yet remember'd above, <br />Remembrance no sadness shall raise, <br />They will be but new signs of Thy love, <br />New themes for my wonder and praise. <br /> <br />Thus the strokes which from sin and from pain <br />Shall set me eternally free, <br />Will but strengthen and rivet the chain <br />Which binds me, my Saviour, to Thee.<br /><br />William Cowper<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/olney-hymn-67-longing-to-be-with-christ/
