1 When shall thy lovely face be seen?
When shall our eyes behold our God?
What lengths of distance lie between,
And hills of guilt? a heavy load!

2 Our months are ages of delay,
And slowly every moment wears:
Fly, wingèd time, and roll away
These tedious rounds of sluggish years.

3 Ye heavenly gates, loose all your chains,
Let the eternal pillars bow;
Blest Savior, cleave the starry plains,
And make the crystal mountains flow.

4 Hark, how thy saints unite their cries,
And pray and wait the general doom:
Come, Thou, the Soul of all of our Joys,
Thou, the Desire of Nations, come.

5 Put thy bright robes of triumph on,
And bless our eyes, and bless our ears,
Thou absent Love, thou dear Unknown,
Thou Fairest of ten thousand Fairs.