Give Me The Wings of Faith

Give me the wings of faith to rise
Within the veil, and see
The saints above, how great their joys,
How bright their glories be,
How bright their glories be.

Once they were mourning here below,
Their couch was wet with tears;
They wrestled hard, as we do now,
With sins and doubts and fears,
With sins and doubts and fears.

We ask them whence their victory came:
They, with united breath,
Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,
Their triumph to his death,
Their triumph to his death.

They marked the footsteps that he trod,
His zeal inspired their breast,
And, following their incarnate God,
Possess the promised rest,
Possess the promised rest.

Our glorious Leader claims our praise
For his own pattern given;
While the long cloud of witnesses
Show the same path to heaven,
Show the same path to heaven.

--Isaac Watts

We first heard this song on a CD made by a young friend from church. He is not a professional singer, but a young man who, his entire life, has been taught singing in a congregational and family setting; he has a strong, versatile voice and a thoughtful musical instinct. We listen to Brother Dan's CD often, and this is my current favorite song. I love the hope and faith expressed in the words, and the music makes me think of sweet, watchful patience.