'The Sands of Time are Sinking' (hymn) written by Anne Ross Cousin

The words are based on the letters of Samuel Rutherford (1600 -1661)

From 'Immanuel's Land and Other Pieces' by Anne Ross Cousin (1857)


The sands of time are sinking;

The dawn of heaven breaks;

The summer morn I've sighed for,

The fair sweet morn awakes;

Dark, dark has been the midnight,

But dayspring is at hand,

And glory, glory dwelleth 

in Immanuel's land.


[Oh! well it is forever,

Oh! well forevermore

My nest hung in no forest 

Of all this death-doomed shore!

Yea, let the vain world vanish,

As from the ship the stand,

While glory - glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.]


[There the Red Rose of Sharon 

Unfolds its heart-most bloom.

And fills the air of Heaven

With ravishing perfume;

Oh, to behold its blossom,

While by its fragrance fann'd

Where glory - glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.]


The King is there in His beauty

Without a veil is seen;

It were a well-spent journey,

Though trials lay between:

The Lamb with His fair army

On Zion's mountain stands,

And glory, glory dwelleth

in Immanuel's land.


Oh! Christ, He is the fountain,

The deep, deep well of love!

The streams on earth I've tasted;

The more deep I'll drink above:

There is an ocean fullness

His mercy doth expand,

And glory, glory dwelleth 

In Immanuel's land.


[E'en Anwoth was not heaven -

E'en preaching was not in Christ;

And in my sea-beat prison 

My Lord and I held tryst:

And aye my murkiest storm-cloud

Was by a rainbow spann'd,

Caught from the glory dwelling

In Immanuel's land.]


[But that He built a heaven

Of His surpassing love,

A little Jerus'lem,

Like the one above, - 

"Lord, take me o'er the water,"

Had been my loud demand,

"Take me to love's own country,

Unto Immanuel's land."]


[But flowers need night's cool  darkness,'

The moonlight and the dew;

So Christ, from one who loved it,

His shining oft withdrew;

And then, for cause of absence,

My troubled soul I scann'd -

But glory, shadeless, shineth

In Immanuel's land.]


[The little birds of Anwoth

I used to count them blest, -

Now, beside happier altars

I go to build my nest;

O'er these there broods no silence,

No graves around them stand,

For glory, deathless, dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.]


[Fair Anworth by the Solway,

To me thou still art dear!

E'en from the verge of Heaven 

I drop for thee a tear.

Oh! if one soul from Anworth

Meet me at God's right hand,

My Heaven will be two Heavens,

In Immanuel's land!]


[I've wrestled on towards Heaven,

'Gainst storm, and wind, and tide; -

Now, like a weary traveller,

That leaneth on his guide,

Amid the shades of evening,

While sinks life's ling'ring sand,

I hail the glory dawning 

From Immanuel's land.]


[Deep waters cross'd life's pathway,

The hedge of thorns was sharp;

Now these lie all behind me, -

Oh, for a well-tuned harp!

Oh, to join Hallelujah

With yon triumphant band,

Who sing where glory dwelleth 

In Immanuel's land!]


[With mercy and with judgement

My web of time He wove,

And aye the dews of sorrow

Were lustered with His love!

I'll bless the hand that guided,

I'll bless the heart that plann'd,

When throned where glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.]


[Soon shall the cup of glory

Wash down earth's bitterest woes,

Soon shall the desert briar

Break into Eden's rose;

The curse shall change to blessing -

The name on earth that's banned,

Be graven on the white stone

In Immanuel's land.]


[Oh! I am my beloveds,

And my Beloved's mine!

He brings a poor vile sinner

Into His "house of wine:"

I stand upon His merit,

I know no other stand,

Not e'en where glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.]


[I shall sleep sound in Jesus,

Fill'd with His likeness rise,

To live and adore Him,

To see Him with these eyes:

'Tween me and resurrection 

But Paradise doth stand:

Then - then for glory dwelling

In Immanuel's land!] 


The bride eyes not her garment,

But her dear bridegroom's face;

I will not gaze at glory,

but on my King of grace -

Not at the crown He giveth

But on His pierc'ed hands;

The Lamb is all the glory

Of Immanuel's land.


[I have borne scorn and hatred,

I have borne wrong and shame,

Earth's proud ones have reproach'd me,

For Christ's thrice blessed name:

Where God His seal set fairest

They've stamp'd their foulest brand;

But judgement shines like noonday

In Immanuel's land.]


[They've summoned me before them,

But there I may not come, -

My Lord says, "Come up hither,"

My Lord says, "Welcome home!"

My King now at His white throne,

My presence doth command,

Where glory - glory dwelleth

In Immanuel's land.]

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