Lo, God To Heav'n Ascendeth

Lo, God to Heav'n ascendeth! Throughout its regions vast With shouts triumphant blendeth the trumpet's thrilling blast: Sing praise to Christ the Lord; sing praise with exultation, King of each heathen nation, the God of Hosts adored!

With joy is Heav'n resounding Christ's glad return to see; Behold the saints surrounding the Lord who set them free. Bright myriads, thronging, come; the cherub band rejoices, And loud seraphic voices Welcome Messiah home.

No more the way is hidden, Since Christ our Head arose: No more to man forbidden The road to Heav'n that goes. Our Lord is gone before; yet here He will not leave us, And soon in Heav'n receive us and open wide the door.

Christ is our place preparing; to Heav'n we, too, shall rise, And, joys angelic sharing, Be where our treasure lies: There may each heart be found! Where Jesus Christ has entered, There let our Hope be centered; Our course still heav'nward bound.

May we, His servants, thither In heart and mind ascend, And let us sing together: " We seek Thee, Christ, our friend, Thee, God's exalted Son, our Life, and Way to Heaven, To whom all pow'r is given, our Joy and Hope and Crown."

Farewell with all thy treasures, O world, to falsehood giv'n! Thy dross gives no true pleasures; We seek the joys of Heav'n: The Savior is our Prize; He comforts us in sadness, And fills our hearts with gladness; to Him we lift our eyes.

When, on our vision dawning, Will break the wished-for hour Of that all glorious morning, When Christ shall come with power? O come, thou welcome day! When we, our Savior meeting, His second advent greeting, Shall hail the heav'n-sent ray.