Poems By William Walsham How ... New and Enlarged Edition |
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The Last Communion.
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67
The Last Communion.
(ON A FEEBLE OLD MAN COMING ONCE MORE TO THE HOLY COMMUNION AFTER ILLNESS.)
He had been near unto the golden gate:
Serene he waited for his Master's calling;
It came,—‘A little longer thou must wait,
‘The sands of life have not yet ceased their falling.’
Serene he waited for his Master's calling;
It came,—‘A little longer thou must wait,
‘The sands of life have not yet ceased their falling.’
Once more he passeth by the well-known way,
Tho' sight be dim, tho' footstep fail and falter,
Led by the hand, once more this holy day
He draweth nigh unto his Lord's dear altar.
Tho' sight be dim, tho' footstep fail and falter,
Led by the hand, once more this holy day
He draweth nigh unto his Lord's dear altar.
He kneeleth low; he heareth words of bliss;
With hand upspread and eyelid closed he kneeleth;
Oh, what an hour of peace and joy is this!
Oh, in what love his Lord Himself revealeth!
With hand upspread and eyelid closed he kneeleth;
Oh, what an hour of peace and joy is this!
Oh, in what love his Lord Himself revealeth!
We see the trembling form; but far from sight
The spirit passeth to more glorious regions,
Behind the veil, upborne on wings of light,
Blending its worship with Angelic legions.
The spirit passeth to more glorious regions,
Behind the veil, upborne on wings of light,
Blending its worship with Angelic legions.
68
Entranced he gazeth on the wounded Side,
The precious Stream for him in mercy flowing,
The low-bowed Head, the Arms outstretching wide,
The awful Cross with mystic radiance glowing.
The precious Stream for him in mercy flowing,
The low-bowed Head, the Arms outstretching wide,
The awful Cross with mystic radiance glowing.
Servant of God! Thou hast not long to stay;
Soon the weak bonds that hold thee here shall sever:
Then shalt thou gaze upon the perfect day,
And Him thou lov'st, for ever and for ever.
Soon the weak bonds that hold thee here shall sever:
Then shalt thou gaze upon the perfect day,
And Him thou lov'st, for ever and for ever.
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