Hymn: Jerusalem! high tower thy glorious walls
- Title: Jerusalem! high tower thy glorious walls
- First Line: Jerusalem! high tower thy glorious walls
- Hymnal: Hymnal: according to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America
- Denomination: (Protestant) Episcopal Church
- Publisher: Remsen & Haffelfinger
- Publication Date: 1871
Author(s)
- Author Name: Johann Meyfart
- Born: 1590
- Died: 1642
- Gender: M
- Author Name: William R. Whittingham
- Born: 1805
- Died: 1879
- Gender: M
Full Text
1 Jerusalem! high tower thy glorious walls! Would God I were in thee! Desire of thee my longing heart enthralls, Desire at home to be: Wide from the world outleaping, O'er hill and vale and plain, My soul's strong wing is sweeping, Thy portals to attain. 2 O gladsome day, and yet more gladsome hour! When shall that hour have come, When my rejoicing soul its own free power May use in going home? Itself to Jesus giving, In trust to His own hand, To dwell among the living, In that blest Fatherland. 3 A moment's time, the twinkling of an eye, Shall be enough to soar, In buoyant exultation, through the sky, And reach the heavenly shore. Elijah's chariot bringing The homeward traveller there; Glad troops of angels winging It onward through the air. 4 Great fastness thou of honour! thee I greet! Throw wide thy gracious gate, An entrance free to give these longing feet; At last released, though late, From wretchedness and sinning, And life's long, weary way; And now, of God's gift, winning Eternity's bright day. 5 What throng is this, what noble troop, that pours, Arrayed in beauteous guise, Out through the glorious city's open doors, To greet my wondering eyes? The hosts of Christ's elected, The jewels that He bears In His own crown, selected To wipe away my tears. 6 Of prophets great, and patriarchs high, a band That once has borne the cross, With all the company that won that land, By counting gain for loss, Now float in freedom's lightness, From tyrants' chains set free; And shine like suns in brightness, Arrayed to welcome me. 7 One more at last arrived they welcome there, To beauteous Paradise, Where sense can scarce its full fruition bear, Or tongue for praise suffice; Glad hallelujahs ringing With rapturous rebound, And rich hosannas singing Eternity's long round. 8 Unnumbered choirs before the Lamb's high throne There shout the jubilee, With loud resounding peal and sweetest tone, In blissful ecstasy: A hundred thousand voices Take up the wondrous song; Eternity rejoices God's praises to prolong.