367 Lo, God to heaven ascendeth!

1 Lo, God to heaven ascendeth! Throughout its regions vast, With shouts triumphant blendeth The trumpet's thrilling blast: Sing praise to Christ, the Lord, Sing praise with exultation! King of each heathen nation! The God of hosts adored. 2 With joy is heaven resounding, Christ's glad return to see; Behold the saints surrounding The Lord who set them free: Bright myriads thronging come; The cherub-band rejoices, And loud seraphic voices Welcome Messiah home. 3 No more the way is hidden, Since Christ, our head, arose: No more to man forbidden, The road to heaven that goes; Our Lord is gone before, Yet here He will not leave us, But soon in heaven receive us: He opens wide the door. 4 Christ is our place preparing. To heaven we, too, shall rise, And, joys angelic sharing, Be where our treasure lies: There may each heart be found, Where Jesus Christ has entered! There let our hopes be centered, Our course still heavenward bound! 5 May we, His servants, thither In heart and mind ascend, And let us sing together, - We seek Thee, Christ, our friend, Thee, God's anointed Son, Our life, and way to heaven, To whom all power is given, Our joy, and hope, and crown.