When I set out for heaven

1 When I set out for heaven,
But few were in the way;
But oftentimes together
We met to praise and pray:
Our bosoms glow'd with rapture,
With love our hearts were fired;
We sung and talk'd of glory,
We sung and never tired.

2 Those days were full of sweetness;
I think upon them yet;
Their holy joy and gladness
I never can forget:
We were a band of brothers,
Of brothers fond and true;
We were a band of brothers
And loved as brothers do.

3 The world was all against us,
What cared we for its frown?
A better world before us
Contain'd a starry crown:
We trampled on earth's pleasures,
Its riches were but dross;
Its glory all was tarnish'd;
We gloried in the cross.

4 When one was call'd to leave us,
And fly away to God,
We cheer'd him with our voices,
While crossing Jordan's flood:
We sung the songs of Zion
Around his dying bed,
And witness'd with what triumph
The soul from sorrow fled.

5 Then with our friends departed,
We seem'd the earth to leave;
And soaring up like seraphs,
Forgot to weep and grieve:
With patriarchs and prophets,
And blood-wash'd throngs above,
We sung the loud hosanna--
The song of heavenly love.

6 Ye friends of former seasons,
Of happy youthful days,
All, all have gone before me,
Ye all have run your race:
And mine will soon be finish'd;
I haste to grasp your hand,
To join again my comrades,
In that undying land.

Source: The Minstrel of Zion: a book of religious songs, accompanied with appropriate music, chiefly original #178