
Author: Anne Steele Meter: 8.6.8.6 Appears in 48 hymnals First Line: How long shall earth’s alluring toys Lyrics: 1 How long shall earth’s alluring toys
Detain our hearts and eyes;
Regardless of immortal joys,
And strangers to the skies.
2 These transient scenes will soon decay,
They fade upon the sight;
And quickly will their brightest day
Be lost in endless night.
3 Their brightest day, alas, how vain!
With conscious sights we own;
While clouds of sorrow, care and pain,
O’ershade the smiling noon.
4 O could our thought and wishes fly,
Above these gloomy shades,
To those bright worlds beyond the sky
Which sorrow ne’er invades.
5 There joys unseen by mortal eyes,
Or reason’s feeble ray,
In ever blooming prospect rise,
Unconscious of decay.
6 Lord, send a beam of light divine,
To guide our upward aim;
With one reviving touch of Thine,
Our languid hearts inflame.
7 Then shall on faith’s sublimest wing
Our ardent wishes rise
To those bright scenes, where pleasures spring
Immortal in the skies. Used With Tune: BURLINGTON Text Sources: Poems on Subjects Chiefly Devotional, 1760
How Long Shall Earth's Alluring Toys