  In the different mansions of heavenly space Prepared for the faithful and pure, (Ah me, for the faithful and pure!) Can I dare hope to find e'en a small resting place Free from sin and all earthly allure? Can a soul such as mine, that has wasted life's wealth On the baubles and gewgaws of time, (Ah me, on the baubles of time!) Have a fitting strength left to regain needed health For the life of a heavenly clime? For a life where the laws of the spirit, not sense, Bring their perfect eternal reward, (Ah me, their eternal reward!) And the pleasures obtained with such fever intense Can find nowhere a vibrating chord? Oh, woe is me, woe is me, this Easter day! No hope riseth up in my soul. (Ah me, my poor sin-laden soul!) I have only the dregs of my pleasure to pay, And such wrong, bitter thoughts of life's whole. But, listen! What's that? What's that message I hear Bearing down on my sad troubled heart? (Ah me, on my sad troubled heart!) And His strength to the weakest impart." O Christ, can it be that Thine own risen strength Can give life, added life, to my soul, To my sin-laden, weak, starving soul? Yes, 'tis true. I'll believe, and rejoice now at length To feel Easter's sweet joy o'er me roll. |
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