226: AND art Thou, gracious Master, gone

226: AND art Thou, gracious Master, gone

by Thomas Kelly (1769-1854)

1 AND art Thou, gracious Master, gone
For us a mansion to prepare?
Shall we behold Thee on Thy throne,
And sit for ever with Thee there?
Then let the world approve or blame,
We'll triumph in Thy glorious name.

2 Should we to gain the world's applause,
Or to escape its harmless frown,
Refuse to countenance Thy cause,
And make Thy people's lot our own,
What shame would fill us in that day,
When Thou Thy glory wilt display!

3 Yea, let the world cast out our name,
And vile account us if it will;
If to confess our Lord be shame,
Oh, then we would be viler still;
For Thee, O Lord, we all resign,
Content that Thou dost call us Thine.

4 What transports then will fill our heart
When Thou Thyself our names wilt own,
When we shall see Thee as Thou art
And know as we ourselves are known,
And then from sin and sorrow free
Find our eternal rest with Thee.