Those Eternal Bowers

Melody -

St. John of Damascus, 749, translated by John Mason Neale, 1862

Those eternal bowers
Man hath never trod
Those unfading flowers
Round the throne of God:
Who may hope to gain them
After weary fight?
Who at length attain them,
Clad in robes of white?

2. He who wakes from slumber
At the Spirit's voice,
Daring here to number
Things unseen his choice:
He who casts his burden
Down at Jesus' cross;
Christ's reproach his guerdon,
All beside but loss.

3. He who gladly barters
All on earthly ground
He who, like the martyrs,
Says, "I will be crowned";
He whose one oblation
Is a life of love,
Knit in God's salvation,
To the blest above.

4. Shame upon you, legions
Of the heavenly King,
Citizens of regions
Past imagining!
What! with pipe and tabour
Dream away the light,
When he bids you labour,
When he tells you, "Fight"?

5. Jesus, Lord of glory,
As we breast the tide,
Whisper thou the story
Of the other side;
Where the saints are casting
Crowns before thy feet,
Safe for everlasting,
In thyself complete.

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