Homeward bound

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The pilgrim and stranger

Author: Charles Barth
Tune: [Der Pilger aus der Ferne]
Published in 4 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 The pilgrim and the stranger
Pursues his journey home;
On earth there’s toil and danger,
In heav’n is rest alone.

2 The love that earth has given
Beneath the sod is laid;
He yearns for that in heaven,
For flow’rs that never fade.

3 Of wealth and pride and glory,
Of palaces and gold,
There is the old, sad story
Of death and ruin told.

4 The rivers’ flood is hurried
Into the ocean wide,
And in its bosom buried
Beneath the silent tide.

5 ‘Tis thus the pilgrim yearneth
For God’s own bliss and peace;
In life and joy eternal
His soul may be at ease.

6 And longing thus he wanders
Throughout this vale of tears,
To reach the home that’s yonder
Where Christ, his life, appears.

Source: Elmhurst Hymnal: and orders of worship for the Sunday school, young people's meetings and church services #315

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Author: Charles Barth

Barth, Christian Gottlob, son of C. F. Barth, house painter in Stuttgart, was born at Stuttgart, July 31,1799. He studied at Tubingen, where he was the principal founder of the Missionary Society, and was only restrained by his mother's entreaties from offering himself as a missionary. He became, in 1821, assistant at Neckarweihingen and Dornham, and, in 1822, curate in charge of Effringen and Schönbrunn, near Nagold. In 1824 he was appointed pastor of Möttlingen, near Calw, but resigned his charge in 1838, and settled in Calw, receiving in the same year the degree of D.D. from the University.of Greifswald. He died at Calw of apoplexy, Nov. 12, 1862. At Calw he devoted himself as a writer and preacher to children, as a preacher and writer… Go to person page >

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