The Christian — Hymns for Social Worship

My rest is in heaven, my rest is not here

No. 512
Metre 11s.
Tune REST IN HEAVEN.
Words Henry F. Lyte.
Music Lowell Mason.
Key E-flat major
Singing key E♭ major
Time 2/2
6 stanzas

Words

My rest is in heaven, my rest is not here,Then why should I tremble when trials are near?Be hushed, my sad spirit, the worst that can comeBut shortens my journey, and hastens me home.

It is not for me to be seeking my bliss,Or building my hopes in a region like this;I look for a city that hands have not piled,I pant for a country by sin undefiled.

The thorn and the thistle around me may grow,I would not lie down upon roses below;I ask not my portion, I seek not my rest,Till I find them forever on Jesus' breast.

Afflictions may press me, they cannot destroy;One glimpse of his love turns them all into joy;And the bitterest tears, if he smile but on them,Like dew in the sunshine, grow diamond and gem.

Let doubt, then, and danger, my progress oppose,They only make heaven more sweet at its close;Come joy, or come sorrow, whate'er may befall,An hour with my God will make up for them all.

A scrip on my back, and a staff in my hand,I march on in haste through an enemy's land;The road may be rough, but it cannot be long:I'll smooth it with hope, and I'll cheer it with song.

About this hymn

As printed As printed: running head «THE CHRISTIAN—HYMNS FOR SOCIAL WORSHIP.»; hymn number «512» (large), tune name «REST IN HEAVEN. 11s.» centred over the music (condensed capitals and small capitals), «LOWELL MASON.» at the right (capitals and small capitals). Stanza 1 is interlinear, between the staves, one line per system, with «1.» before «My»; no syllable hyphens are printed («heaven,», «tremble», «trials», «spirit,», «shortens», «journey,», «hastens» stand whole under two notes). Stanzas 2–6 are printed as text in two columns below the music (left column: 2, 3 and the first two lines of 4; right column: the rest of 4, then 5 and 6), under the reference line «511, 255.» in italic figures (= the words may also be sung to the tunes of hymns 511 or 255), followed by «Henry F. Lyte.» in italics — in this exemplar the signature is struck through by hand in ink (not printed). Long lines are turned over with an indent in the print («may / grow,», «into / joy ;», «on / them,», «and / gem.», «progress / oppose,», «it / with song.»); each verse is one line here. The print sets a thin space before «;» and «?» («this ;», «below ;», «joy ;», «near ?»); it is closed up here; the space missing after the comma in the interlinear «journey,and» is supplied (typography only). «whate'er», «enemy's», «I'll» with straight apostrophes; «Jesus'» as printed. Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's.