Behold they gain the lonely height

Behold, they gain the lonely height,
the Master and the favored three,
and through the thickest gloom of night
the glory of the Lord they see.

He prays, and lo! the wondrous cloud
enwraps him in its robe of fire;
and they on earth, in terror bowed,
look upward, fainting with desire.

What forms are these that, floating near,
hold converse with their Lord on high?
The prophet old, the Tishbite seer,
why speak they now of Calvary?

Yea, seer and prophet witness gave
that all their work on earth was done:
for he, the Christ, was strong to save,
and all that they had hoped was won.

What wonder that the eager heart
should seek to stay the flight of time;
and, from that vision loathe to part,
still linger in that loftier clime?

Ah, vain the dream! The morning clear
brings back earth's weary life again;
the heavenly voice no more they hear,
but murmuring cries of doubt and pain.

Yet still within each faithful breast
there dwells the thought of what shall be;
that vision of the eternal rest,
that cloud of Love's deep mystery.

So grant us, Lord, through mists of night,
to see thee in thy glory clad;
make us thy children, heirs of light,
and with thy gladness make us glad.

Words: Edward Hayes Plumptre (1821-1891), 1871

Music: Wainwright (Arthur Sullivan?)

Meter: LM

Hymnal, Year Number Tunes Other comments
Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861-1874      
The Anglican Hymn Book, 1868       
The Sarum Hymnal, 1869      
The Church Hymnal, 1871 (Hall & Whiteley)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Goodrich & Gilbert)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Hutchins)      
Church Hymns with Tunes, 1874 337 Wainwright  
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1874      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Standard, 1875-1924      
A Church of England Hymn Book, 1879      
The Universal Hymn Book, 1885      
The Hymnal Companion, 1890      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Darlington)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Parker)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Hutchins)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Helfenstein)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Messiter)      
The Yattendon Hymnal, 1900
      
Church Hymns, New Edition, 1903      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Edition, 1904      
The English Hymnal, 1906      
The Book of Common Praise, 1908      
The Hymnal 1916      
Church Hymnal for the Christian Year, 1917      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1919      
Church Hymnal Revised, 1920 (Hutchins)      
The Oxford Hymn Book, 1925      
Songs of Praise, 1925      
Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition, 1931      
The Book of Common Praise, 1938      
The Hymnal 1940      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Revised, 1950      
The Mirfield Mission Hymn Book, 1955      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1960      
Anglican Hymn Book, 1965      
The Hymn Book 1971      
The Australian Hymn Book / With One Voice, 1977      
The Hymnal 1982      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard, 1983      
The New English Hymnal, 1985      
Hymns for Today's Church, second edition, 1988      
Church Family Worship, 1988      
Hymns Old & New, New Anglican Edition, 1996      
Common Praise (Anglican Church of Canada), 1998      
Together in Song: The Australian Hymn Book II, 1999      
Sing Glory, 1999      
Complete Mission Praise, 2000      
Common Praise: Hymns Ancient & Modern, 2000      
Hymns Old & New, Complete Anglican Edition, 2000      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 2000      

Website compiled by Steve Benner, 1999-2004.