Not Half Has Ever Been Told

I have read of a beautiful city, Far away in the kingdom of God

Author: J. B. Atchinson
Tune: [I have read of a beautiful city] (Presbrey)
Published in 59 hymnals

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Representative Text

1 I have read of a beautiful city,
Far away in the kingdom of God;
I have read how its walls are of jasper,
How its streets are all golden and broad,
In the midst of the street is life's river,
Clear as crystal and pure to behold;
But not half of that city's bright glory
To mortals has ever been told.

Chorus:
Not half has ever been told;
Not half has ever been told;
Not half of that city's bright glory
To mortals has ever been told.
Not half has ever been told;
Not half has ever been told;
Not half of that city's bright glory
To mortals has ever been told.

2 I have read of bright mansions in Heaven,
Which the Saviour has gone to prepare;
And the saints who on earth have been faithful,
Rest forever with Christ over there;
There no sin ever enters, nor sorrow,
The inhabitants never grow old;
But not half of the joys that await them
To mortals has ever been told. [Chorus]

3 I have read of white robes for the righteous,
Of bright crowns which the glorified wear,
When our Father shall bid them "Come, enter,
And my glory eternally share;"
How the righteous are evermore blessed
As they walk thro' the streets of pure gold;
But not half of the wonderful story
To mortals has ever been told. [Chorus]

4 I have read of a Christ so forgiving,
That vile sinners may ask and receive
Peace and pardon from ev'ry transgression,
If when asking they only believe.
I have read how He'll guide and protect us,
If for safety we enter His fold;
But not half of His goodness and mercy
To mortals has ever been told. [Chorus]

Source: International Song Service: with Bright Gems from fifty authors, for Sunday-schools, gospel meetings, missionary and young people's societies, prayer-meetings, etc. #166

Author: J. B. Atchinson

Atchinson, Jonathan Bush, born at Wilson, New York, Feb. 17, 1840, and "licensed as a Methodist Preacher," Sept. 6, 1874. Of his hymns the following are the best known:— 1. Behold the stone is rolled away. [Easter.] This was Mr. Atchinson's first hymn. It appeared in the Sunday School Times, Dec. 1874. It is not in use in Great Britain. 2. Fully persuaded, Lord, I believe. [Faith.] Written in 1874 or 1875, and first published in Gospel Hymns, No. 1. It is given in I. D. Sankey's Sacred Songs & Solos, No. 149, with music by W. F. Sherwin. 3. I have read of a beautiful city. [Heaven.] Written about the same time as the former, and published in Gospel Hymns. It is given in I. D. Sankey's Sacred Songs & Solos, No. 4… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: I have read of a beautiful city, Far away in the kingdom of God
Title: Not Half Has Ever Been Told
Author: J. B. Atchinson
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Not half has ever been told
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

I have read of a beautiful city. [Heaven.] Written [in 1874 or 1875], and published in Gospel Hymns. It is given in I. D. Sankey's Sacred Songs & Solos, No. 403, with music by O. F. Presbrey. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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