Thou Art Gone Up on High

Thou art gone up on high, to mansions in the skies;
And round Thy throne unceasingly the songs of praise arise;
But we are lingering here, with sin and care oppressed;
Lord, send Thy promised Comforter, and lead us to Thy rest.

Thou art gone up on high; but Thou didst first come down,
Through earth’s most bitter misery to pass unto Thy crown;
And girt with griefs and fears our onward course must be;
But only let this path of tears lead us at last to Thee.

Thou art gone up on high; but Thou shalt come again,
With all the bright ones of the sky attendant in Thy train.
Lord, by Thy saving power so make us live and die,
That we may stand in that dread hour at Thy right hand on high.

Author: Emma Toke

Year: 1852

This hymn text is by Emma Toke (née Leslie), an English hymnwriter. It first appeared in 1852 (sometimes dated 1851) in a collection associated with the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. No strong alternate attributions exist.