The wealth of high estate

Translator: John Brownlie (1907)
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

I
The wealth of high estate,
The silver and the gold,
The glory of the great,
The wisdom of the old,—
Death seizes all, they pass away,
For all on earth is vanity.

II
Why seek the vain that dies?
The life begirt by death?
The fame, the power that flies
With the expiring breath?
The good that carries ill besides,
And for a fleeting hour abides?

III
Are there no gains that last,
To bless the soul for aye,
When passing things are past,
And things of earth decay?
Are there no joys that linger long
In sweetness, like a heavenly song?

IV
Arise, my soul, arise!
The husks of time disdain,
And wing thee to the skies,
Where there is lasting gain;
Where moth nor rust can mock thy toil,
Nor subtle thief break through to spoil.

V
O Christ, for Thee we long,
’Tis Thee our spirits need;
They only life prolong
Who on Thy bounties feed;
And they have wealth, and high estate,
And endless bliss who on Thee wait.

Hymns from the East, 1907

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Translator: John Brownlie

Brownlie, John, was born at Glasgow, Aug. 6, 1857, and was educated at Glasgow University, and at the Free Church College in the same city. In 1884 he was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow; in 1885 he became Assistant Minister of the Free Church, Portpatrick, and on the death of the Senior Minister in 1890 he entered upon the full charge of the Church there. He has interested himself in educational matters, became a Member of the local School Board in 1888, a governor of Stranraer High School in 1897, and Chairman of the governors in 1901. His hymnological works are:— 1. The Hymns and Hymnwriters of the [Scottish] Church Hymnary, 1899. This is a biographical, historical, and critical companion to that hymnal, and is well done and… Go to person page >

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