The Happy Pilgrim

I saw a happy pilgrim, On Zion's shining road

Author: Mary D. James
Tune: [I saw a happy pilgrim] (Church)
Published in 3 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 I saw a happy pilgrim
On Zion’s shining road,
Exulting as he journey’d—
His face with rapture glowed;
He’d passed thro’ fi’ry trials
But only lost the dross,
And all his heavy burdens
He’d left beneath the cross.

Chorus:
Shouting victory! victory!
Vict’ry through the Lamb!
Shouting victory! victory!
All glory to His name.

2 The summer sun was scorching,
But as he traveled on,
His head was overshadowed
Until the heat was gone;
He walked and talked with Jesus,
And leaning on His breast,
His sheltering wings above him,
He found the sweetest rest. [Chorus]

3 And soon he came to Beulah,
Where all the air is love,
Where sweet refreshing breezes
Comes from the world above;
He heard celestial music—
The grand triumphant song
Of ransomed ones in glory—
The holy, blood-washed throng. [Chorus]

4 I saw him in the valley
Death’s shadow drawing nigh,
And still he sang exulting,
For it “is gain to die;”
And when to Jordan’s river
The pilgrim’s feet had come,
‘Twas but a step to cross it,
And he was safe at home. [Chorus]

5 Then, at the pearly portals
I saw the white-robed band
Greet him with shouts of welcome
Into the glory-land!
O, then, what rapture thrilled him
To look on Jesus’ face,
And cast his crown before Him,
Who saved him by His grace. [Chorus]


Source: Gospel Praise Book.: a collection of choice gems of sacred song suitable for church service, gospel praise meetings, and family devotions. (Complete ed.) #178

Author: Mary D. James

Mary Dagworthy Yard James USA 1810-1883. Born at Trenton, NJ, she began teaching Sunday school at age 13 in the Methodist Episcopal Church. She married Henry B James, and they had four children: Joseph, Mary, Ann, and Charles.. She became a prominent figure in the Wesleyan Holiness movement of the early 1800s, assisting Phoebe Palmer (also a hymnist) and often leading meetings at Ocean Grove, NJ, and elsewhere. She wrote articles that appeared in the “Guide to holiness”, “The New York Christian advocate”, “The contributor”, “The Christian witness:, “The Christian woman”, “The Christian standard”, and the “Ocean Grove record”. She wrote a biography of Edmund J Yard entitled, “The soul winner” (1883). She… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: I saw a happy pilgrim, On Zion's shining road
Title: The Happy Pilgrim
Author: Mary D. James
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Shouting victory, victory
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)

Gospel Praise Book, enlarged ed. #d64

TextAudioPage Scan

Gospel Praise Book. #178

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The Gem of Gems #68

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