'Tis such as angels use,

Such as good men would choose ; It hath all fair and pleasant things in sight:

Its walls as white and fine
As polished ivory shine,

And through its windows comes celestial light.

'Tis builded fair and good,

In the similitude

Of the most royal palace of a king ;
And sorrow may not come

Into that heavenly home,

Nor pain, nor death, nor any evil thing.

Near it that stream doth pass Whose waters, clear as glass, Make glad the city of our God with song;

Whose banks are fair as those Whereon stray milk-white does, Feeding among the lilies all day long.

And friends who once were here
Abide in dwellings near;

They went up thither on a heavenly road;

While I, though warned to go,
Yet linger here below,

Clinging to a most miserable abode.