I long to be soaring away

Maria De Fleury was a Baptist poet and hymnwriter, descended from French Huguenots. Additionally she engaged in religious and political controversies of her day. Her father was probably J. de Fleury, Sr and her brother J. de Fleury Jr, the artist, engraver, and painter. George Dyer eulogized Maria de Fleury as “Maria” in his ode “On Liberty” – written after her death in the fall of 1792.

The following, titled simply, “An Hymn,” appeared on pages 95 and 96 of de Fleury’s book Divine Poems and Essays on Various Subjects (1791). The third stanza is the text of a popular Sacred Harp song, Panting for Heaven.

1. Ye Angels, who stand round the throne,
And see my Immanuel’s face,
In rapturous songs make him known,
Tune, tune your soft harps to his praise:
He form’d you the Spirits you are,
So noble, so happy, so good,
While others sunk down in despair,
Confirm’d by his power, you stood.

2. Ye Saints, who stand nearer than they,
And cast your bright crowns at his feet,
His Grace and his Glory display,
O tell of his love as is meet;
He sav’d you from Hell, and the Grave,
He ransom’d from Death and Despair,
For you he was Mighty to Save,
Almighty to bring you safe there.

3. O when will the period appear
When I shall unite in your song!
I’m weary of lingering here,
And I to your Saviour belong!
I’m fetter’d, and chain’d up in clay,
I struggle and pant to be free,
I long to be soaring away,
My God and my Saviour to see.

4. I want to put on my attire,
Wash’d white in the Blood of the Lamb,
I want to be one of your choir,
And tune my sweet harp to his name:
I want—O I want to be there,
(Where Sorrow and Sin bid adieu,)
Your Joy and your Friendship to share,
To wonder and worship with you.