| Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907. | | | Hymns and Sacred Poems.
I. Earth and Heaven | | By Cecil Frances Alexander (1823–1895) |
| | | THE ROSEATE hues of early dawn, | |
| The brightness of the day, | |
| The crimson of the sunset sky, | |
| How fast they fade away! | |
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| Oh, for the pearly gates of Heaven, | 5 |
| Oh, for the golden floor, | |
| Oh, for the Sun of Righteousness | |
| That setteth nevermore! | |
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| The highest hopes we cherish here, | |
| How fast they tire and faint; | 10 |
| How many a spot defiles the robe | |
| That wraps an earthly saint! | |
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| Oh, for a heart that never sins, | |
| Oh, for a robe washed bright, | |
| Oh, for a voice to praise our King, | 15 |
| Nor weary day or night! | |
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| Here faith is ours, and heavenly hope, | |
| And grace to lead us higher; | |
| But there are perfectness, and peace, | |
| Beyond our best desire. | 20 |
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| Oh, by Thy love and anguish, Lord! | |
| Oh, by Thy life laid down, | |
| Oh, that we fall not from Thy grace | |
| Nor cast away our crown. | | | | |
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