 | Scenes from Scripture with Other Poems |  |
38
THE VISION OF GOD.
“Now we see through a glass darkly, but then, face to face; now know I but in part, but then shall I know, even as also I am known.”—I Corinthians xiii, 12.
God! when I think upon Thy name,
No doubts before my spirit rise;
I hear all Nature's voice proclaim,
That Thou art great, and good, and wise.
Yet would I, if it were Thy will,
See Thy bright Image, brighter still.
No doubts before my spirit rise;
I hear all Nature's voice proclaim,
That Thou art great, and good, and wise.
Yet would I, if it were Thy will,
See Thy bright Image, brighter still.
The wandering eyes, the wandering ears,
The ill, “sufficient to the day,”
(Thing of temptation and of tears;
Thine old inheritance of clay!)
On Man's weak spirit fix their chain,
And drag him down to Earth again.
The ill, “sufficient to the day,”
(Thing of temptation and of tears;
Thine old inheritance of clay!)
On Man's weak spirit fix their chain,
And drag him down to Earth again.
39
Give me the strong realities;
(I know not how to form the prayer),
Of Angels' thoughts and Angels' eyes!
Or if that be too high to dare,
Oh! mould me to Thy mighty will,
“To commune with Thee, and be still.”
(I know not how to form the prayer),
Of Angels' thoughts and Angels' eyes!
Or if that be too high to dare,
Oh! mould me to Thy mighty will,
“To commune with Thee, and be still.”
If Israel longed to see Thy face,
While roared the thunders of the Law;
Shall we, who know Thee, God of Grace,
Shrink from Thy countenance in awe?
While Saints below, and Thrones above,
Proclaim Thy mightiest title, Love!
While roared the thunders of the Law;
Shall we, who know Thee, God of Grace,
Shrink from Thy countenance in awe?
While Saints below, and Thrones above,
Proclaim Thy mightiest title, Love!
Impress Thy image on my mind;
Let me but see Thee as Thou art;
If mortal eyes at best are blind,
Let me behold Thee with my heart.
In Mercy and in Love be nigh,
Oh! visit Thou, my mental eye!
Let me but see Thee as Thou art;
If mortal eyes at best are blind,
Let me behold Thee with my heart.
In Mercy and in Love be nigh,
Oh! visit Thou, my mental eye!
40
But rest, thou ever restless soul!
Thy feverish hours are flying fast;
The clouds before thee shall unroll,
The glorious vision shine at last;
And thou, without a shade between,
Shalt see, as thou thyself art seen!
Thy feverish hours are flying fast;
The clouds before thee shall unroll,
The glorious vision shine at last;
And thou, without a shade between,
Shalt see, as thou thyself art seen!
| Scenes from Scripture with Other Poems | |