Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#407

407. Heavenward doth our journey tend

1 Heavenward doth our journey tend,
Here on earth we are but strangers,
Towards our promised Land we wend,
Thro' a wilderness of dangers;
Here we roam a pilgrim band,
Yonder is our native land.

2 Heavenward stretch, my soul, thy wings,
Thou canst claim a heavenly nature;
Cleave not to these earthly things,
Thou canst rest not in the creature.
Every soul that God inspires,
Back to Him, its Source, aspires.

3 Heavenward! doth His Spirit cry,
Oft as in His word I hear Him;
Pointing to the rest on high
Where I shall be ever near Him.
When His Word fills all my thought,
Oft to heaven my soul is caught.

4 Heavenward still I long to haste,
When Thy Supper, Lord, is given;
Heavenly strength on earth I taste,
Feeding on the Bread of Heaven;
Such is e'en on earth our fare,
Who Thy marriage feast will share.

5 Heavenward! To that blessed home
Death at last will surely lead me;
All my trials overcome,
Christ with life and joy will feed me;
Who Himself hath gone before
That we too might heavenward soar.

6 Heavenward! This shall be my cry
While a pilgrim here I wander,
Passing earth's allurements by
For the love of what is yonder;
Heavenward all my being tends,
Till in Heaven my journey ends.

Text Information

• First Line: Heavenward doth our journey tend
• Author: Benjamin Schmolck (1731)
• Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1855)
• Meter: No. 22
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: Fourth Sunday after Trinity; Twenty Third Sunday after Trintiy; Third Sunday after Easter; Christian Life and Hope: The Walk of Godliness: Christian Resolve and Holiness
• Notes: From the German Text: Himmelan geht unsre Bahn

Tune Information

• Name: SAXONY (Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht)
• Composer: Andreas Hammerschmidt (1658)
• Meter: No. 22
• Key: C Major