以撒·华兹（Isaac Watts，1674-1748）. Explore “There Is a Land of Pure Delight”: song information and official sources.
Hope for the end of the age · Eternal life and rest
An early work by Watts, its 1709 heading states plainly that a sight of heaven makes death easier. It pictures Moses viewing Canaan from Pisgah to speak of death: Jordan stands between him and the promised land. The third stanza admits the most immediate difficulty: seeing the land but fearing to cross the cold river. This prevents the hymn becoming weightless longing. It does not pretend believers never fear death. Hebrews says, “There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” (Hebrews 4:9). A local Southampton story links the hymn to Watts looking towards the Isle of Wight. Receive it as a story, since firm historical evidence is lacking.
Funerals, memorials, accompanying brothers and sisters near death, and year-end services; teaching on rest in Hebrews 4.