When sorrows encompass me round And many distresses I see Astonished I cry, Can a mortal be found Surrounded with troubles like me? Few seasons of peace I enjoy And they are succeeded by pain If e'er a few moments of praise I employ I have hours and days to complain O! when will my sorrows subside? O! when will my sufferings cease? O! when to the bosom of Christ be conveyed? To the mansions of glory and bliss? May I be prepared for that day When Jesus shall bid me remove That I may in raptures go shouting away To the arms of my heav'nly Love. My spirit to glory conveyed My body laid low in the ground I wish not a tear at my grave to be shed But all join in praising around No sorrow be vented that day When Jesus hath called me home With singing and shouting let each brother say "He's gone from the evil to come." If souls disembodied can know Or visit their brethern beneath My spirit shall join you, while singing you go And leave all my cares in the grave Immersed in the ocean of love My soul, like an angel shall sing Till Christ shall descend with a shout from above And make all creation to ring Our bodies, in dust shall obey And swifter than thought shall arise Then, changed in a moment, go shouting away To mansions of love in the skies.