Verse 1
When Jesus first appears,
And wipes away our tears,
When from us our sins he takes,
Joy unspeakable we prove;
That th’ espousing time he makes,
Time of pure delight and love.

Verse 2
Hearing the Bridegroom’s voice,
We only can rejoice:
Fear at his appearing flies,
Grief, and penitential pain,
Trouble, and temptation dies;
Kings we in his presence reign.

Verse 3
No abstinence severe
Can be, while Christ is here:
High on eagles’ wings we soar,
Safe in heavenly places dwell;
War and strife we reckon o’re,
Suffering is impossible.

Verse 4
But soon or late we moan
Our joyous Bridegroom gone,
Miss that sensible delight,
Extasy of infant grace,
Lose the Beatific Sight,
See no more his heavenly face.

Verse 5
His face unless he hide,
We never can be tried:
Wherefore not in wrath, but love
Jesus partially withdraws,
Leaves his own, our faith to prove,
Leaves us bleeding on his cross.

Verse 6
Then a long fast we keep,
And for his absence weep:
Nothing can our souls relieve,
Nothing can our loss supply;
Comfortless for Christ we grieve,
Truly fast, and daily die.

Verse 7
Throughout our mournful days
Our misery we confess,
With the Man of sorrows droop,
Share his consecrated pain,
Drink his passion’s deepest cup,
Till he shews himself again.

Verse 8
Come Thou, our living Head,
Our true, immortal Bread,
Enter every soul forlorn,
Speak the latest conflict o’re,
Into joy our sorrow turn,
Come, and never leave us more.