He Is Gone

Verse 1

He is gone—a cloud of light Has received Him from our sight; High in Heav’n, where eye of men Follows not, nor angels’ ken; Through the veils of time and space, Passed into the holiest place; All the toil, the sorrow done, All the battle fought and won.

Verse 2

He is gone—and we remain In this world of sin and pain: In the void which He has left On this earth, of Him bereft. We have still His work to do, We can still His path pursue; Seek Him both in friend and foe, In ourselves His image show.

Verse 3

He is gone—we heard Him say, Good that I should go away, Gone is that dear form and face, But not gone His present grace; Though Himself no more we see, Comfortless we cannot be: No, His Spirit still is ours, Quickening, freshening all ours powers.

Verse 4

He is gone—towards their goal World and church must onward roll; Far behind we leave the past; Forward are our glances cast: Still His words before us range Through the ages as they change: Wheresoe’er the truth shall lead, He will give whate’er we need.

Verse 5

He is gone—but we once more Shall behold Him as before; In the heaven of heavens the same, As on earth He went and came; In the many mansions there, Place for us He will prepare; In that world unseen, unknown, He and we shall yet be one.

Verse 6

He is gone—but not in vain, Wait until He comes again: He is risen, He is not here, Far above this earthly sphere; Evermore in heart and mind There our peace in Him we find: To our own eternal Friend, Thitherward let us ascend.