ASCENSION.

See, the Conqueror mounts in triumph; See the King in royal state, Riding on the clouds, His chariot, To His heavenly palace gate! Hark! the choirs of angel voices Joyful alleluias sing, And the portals high are lifted To receive their heav’nly King. 2. Who is this that comes in glory, With the trump of jubilee? Lord of battles, God of armies,— He hath gained the victory. He who on the cross did suffer, He who from the grave arose, He has vanquished sin and Satan; He by death has spoiled His foes. 3. While He raised His hands in blessing, He was parted from His friends, While their eager eyes behold Him, He upon the clouds ascends; He who walked with God and pleased Him, Preaching truth and doom to come, He, our Enoch, is translated To His everlasting home. 4. How our heav’nly Aaron enters With His blood within the veil; Joshua now is come to Canaan, And the kings before Him quail; Now He plants the tribes of Israel In their promised resting-place; Now our great Elijah offers Double portion of His grace. 5. Thou hast raised our human nature On the clouds to God’s right hand; There we sit in heav’nly places, There with Thee in glory stand. Jesus reigns, adored by angels; Man with God is on the throne; Mighty Lord, in Thine ascension We by faith behold our own.

Our Lord is risen from the dead, Our Jesus is gone up on high; The powers of hell are captive led, The Victor rises to the sky. 2. There His triumphal chariot waits, And angels chant the solemn lay: “Lift up your heads, ye heavenly gates! Ye everlasting doors, give way!” 3. Loose all your bars of massy light And wide unfold the radiant scene. He claims these mansions as His right; Receive the King of Glory in. 4. Who is the King of Glory, who? The Lord, who all His foes o’ercame, The world, sin, death, and hell o’erthrew; And Jesus is the Conqueror’s name. 5. Lo! His triumphal chariot waits, And angels chant the solemn lay: “Lift up your heads, ye heavenly gates; Ye everlasting doors, give way!” 6. Who is the King of Glory, who? The Lord, of glorious power possest, The King of saints and angels too, God over all, forever blest!

Lo, God to heaven 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! 2. With joy is heaven 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. 3. No more the way is hidden Since Christ, our Head, arose; No more to man forbidden The road that heav’nward goes. Our Lord is gone before; But here He will not leave us, In heaven He’ll soon receive us; He opens wide the door. 4. Christ is our place preparing; To heaven 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 hopes be centered, Our course still heavenward bound! 5. May we, His servants, thither In heart and mind ascend; And let us sing together: “We seek Thee, Christ, our Friend, Thee, God’s anointed Son, Our Life, and Way to heaven, To whom all power is given, Our Joy, and Hope, and Crown!” 6. 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. 7. 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 heaven-sent ray.

Draw us to Thee, For then shall we Walk in Thy steps forever And hasten on Where Thou art gone To be with Thee, dear Savior. 2. Draw us to Thee, Lord, lovingly; Let us depart with gladness That we may be Forever free From sorrow, grief, and sadness. 3. Draw us to Thee; O grant that we May find the road to heaven. Direct our way, Lest we should stray And from Thy paths be driven. 4. Draw us to Thee, That also we Thy heavenly bliss inherit And ever dwell Where sin and hell No more can vex our spirit. 5. Draw us to Thee Unceasingly, Into Thy kingdom take us; Let us fore’er Thy glory share, Thy saints and joint heirs make us.

A hymn of glory let us sing; New songs throughout the world shall ring: By a new way none ever trod Christ mounteth to the throne of God. 2. May our affections thither tend And thither constantly ascend Where, seated on the Father’s throne, Thee reigning in the heavens we own! 3. Be Thou our present Joy, O Lord, Who wilt be ever our Reward; And as the countless ages flee, May all our glory be in Thee! 4. All glory to the Father be, All glory, Jesus Christ, to Thee, Who didst to heaven above ascend, And to the Spirit, without end.

Since Christ has gone to heaven, His home, I, too, that home one day must share; And in this hope I overcome All doubt, all anguish, and despair; For where the Head is, well we know, The members He has left below In time He surely gathers. 2. Since Christ has reached His glorious throne And mighty gifts henceforth are His, My heart can rest in heaven alone, On earth my Lord I always miss; I long to be with Him on high, My heart and thoughts forever fly Where is my only Treasure. 3. From Thy ascension let such grace, Dear Lord, be ever found in me, That steadfast faith may guide my ways With step unfalt’ring up to Thee, And at Thy voice I may depart With joy to dwell where Thou, Lord, art; Lord, hear my supplication!