You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

438. Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings

1 Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings,
Thy better portion trace;
Rise from transitory things,
Toward heaven, thy native place:
Sun and moon, and stars decay,
Time shall soon this earth remove;
Rise, my soul, and haste away
To seats prepared above.

2 Rivers to the ocean run,
Nor stay in all their course;
Fire ascending seeks the sun,--
Both speed them to their source:
To a soul that's born of God,
Pants to view His glorious face,
Upward tends to His abode,
To rest in His embrace.

3 Cease, ye pilgrims, cease to mourn,
Press onward to the prize;
Soony our Saviour will return
Triumphant in the skies:
But a season, and you know
Happy entrance will be given,
All our sorrows left below,
And earth exchanged for heaven.

Amen.

Text Information
First Line: Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings
Author: Robert Seagrave (1742)
Meter: 7s, 6s D. Trochaic
Language: English
Publication Date: 1899
Topic: Christ: Second Advent; Fellowship with God; Heaven: Longings for (3 more...)
Notes: Public Domain.
Tune Information
Name: AMSTERDAM
Composer: James Nares
Meter: 7s, 6s D. Trochaic
Notes: Public Domain.



Media
More media are available on the text authority and tune authority pages.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.