Is Not This the Land of Beulah?

Here's the text of an old song that I like.

Is Not This the Land of Beulah? (see note below)
William Hunter, before 1884 [Note, Sept. 25, 2004: The webmaster of Timeless Truths informs me that this song was written before 1884. He or she apparently doesn't know the exact year.]
Copyright: Public Domain
Scripture: Isaiah 62:4
Tune: Is Not This the Land of Beulah? John W. Dadman

On-line source

I am dwelling on the mountain,
Where the golden sunlight gleams
O’er a land whose wondrous beauty
Far exceeds my fondest dreams;
Where the air is pure, ethereal
Laden with the breath of flow’rs,
They are blooming by the fountain,
'Neath the amaranthine bow’rs. (see note below)

Refrain:
Is not this the land of Beulah?
Blessed, blessed land of light,
Where the flowers bloom forever,
And the sun is always bright!

I can see far down the mountain,
Where I wandered weary years,
Often hindered in my journey
By the ghosts of doubts and fears;
Broken vows and disappointments
Thickly sprinkled all the way,
But the Spirit led, unerring,
To the land I hold today.

I am drinking at the fountain,
Where I ever would abide;
For I’ve tasted life’s pure river,
And my soul is satisfied;
There’s no thirsting for life’s pleasures,
Nor adorning, rich and gay,
For I’ve found a richer treasure,
One that fadeth not away.

Tell me not of heavy crosses,
Nor of burdens hard to bear,
For I’ve found this great salvation
Makes each burden light appear;
And I love to follow Jesus,
Gladly counting all but dross,
Worldly honors all forsaking
For the glory of the cross.

Oh, the cross has wondrous glory!
Oft I’ve proved this to be true;
When I’m in the way so narrow,
I can see a pathway through;
And how sweetly Jesus whispers:
"Take the cross, thou need'st not fear,
For I’ve tried the way before thee,
And the glory lingers near."

I have been so bold as to suggest some changes, attempting to make antiquated English more understandable, or replace it with something appropriate. The suggestions are in bold italic. If anyone has better suggestions, I'd appreciate them as a comment.

Is Not This the Land of Beulah?
I am living on the mountain,
Where the golden sunlight gleams
O’er a land whose wondrous beauty
Far exceeds my fondest dreams;
Where the air is pure and wholesome
Washed by blessed heavenly showers
And the land spreads out before me
With its ever-blooming flowers.

• Refrain:
  Is not this the land of Beulah?
  Blessed, blessed land of light,
  Where the flowers bloom forever,
  And the sun is always bright!
  

I can see far down the mountain,
Where I wandered weary years,
Often hindered in my journey
By the ghosts of doubts and fears;
Broken vows and disappointments
Thickly sprinkled all the way,
But the Spirit led me onward
To the land I hold today.

I am drinking at the fountain,
Where I ever would abide;
For I’ve tasted life’s pure river,
And my soul is satisfied;
There’s no thirsting for life’s pleasures,
Nor adorning, rich and gay,
For I’ve found a richer treasure,
One that does not fade away.

Tell me not of heavy crosses,
Nor of burdens hard to bear,
For I’ve found this great salvation
Makes each burden light appear;
And I love to follow Jesus,
Counting all I have as loss,
Worldly honors all forsaking
For the glory of the cross.

Oh, the cross has wondrous glory!
Oft I’ve proved this to be true;
When I’m in the way so narrow,
I can see a pathway through;
And how sweetly Jesus whispers:
“Take the cross, you need not fear,
for I've walked the way before you"
And the glory lingers near.

Beulah: Some modern popular gospel music uses this term to mean heaven. John Bunyan, in his great classic, The Pilgrim's Progress, did not use it so. He wrote: "Here they were within sight of the city they were going to, also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the Shining Ones commonly walked, because it was upon the borders of Heaven." I take it that he meant something like a state of Christian maturity, or the sanctified life, by the term. Merriam-Webster Online defines it as "an idyllic land near the end of life's journey in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress."

Amarinthine: An imaginary flower that never fades. (Dictionary.com)