Virginalia ; or, songs of my summer nights :: :: University of Virginia Library

Sing, at the Tomb of Joseph first began
The spiritual glory of the Son of Man,
Casting his body off, he there put on
God-robes of lightning brighter than the sun!

Covered with God's excessive glory bright,
He walked invisible to mortal sight—
Except to those whose eyes were couched to see
The blazing splendor of his Majesty!

He came unto the Ancient One of Days
To sit beside him on his throne always—
Riding in lightning-Chariot through high Heaven
Up to the throne that He to him had given.

He sits in centre of the Burning Row
Of those Bright Lamps of God in glory now,
Singing, like Stars, around him while they shine,
A thunderous song in myriad choir divine.

As by the Angelic Convoy he was led
From Death to Life, (the First-born of the dead,)
So shall we rise, (the pledge by him being given)
In plenary glory from the grave to Heaven.

For all the Priesthood at his death was slain—
Killed—crucified—when he began to reign;
Doomed with his fond Disciples now to sup
No more till his great Kingdom was set up.

For in his Father's glory he arose,
Pulling down Death's dark throne upon his foes!
Planting his spiritual Kingdom there instead
Of the Old Law, which in the grave was laid.

For his Humanity was glorified
By that Divinity he cast aside—
(Emptying himself of glory to be Man)
Possest in Heaven before the world began.

These shining garments which to him were given,
Were those of which he was disrobed in Heaven—
Which he put on again when he arose
From Death, wherein he left his old grave-clothes.

Then in his God-like vestiture divine
He shone on earth as now in Heaven doth shine—
Bright as when Paul beheld him—Glorious One!
Brighter than brightness of the noonday sun!

For in Prophetic ecstacy of trance
He saw the Holy One's bright countenance
Beaming in brightness brighter than the Sun,
By which he knew it was the Holy One!

And as those mortal robes in which he died,
When he arose from Death, were cast aside—
Putting on those primeval robes of light,
He wore in Heaven before his Father's sight—

So shall we cast our mortal robes away,
Putting on garments of Celestial Day,
Pure as the Body of Heaven in Heaven shall be,
Beside God's throne in immortality.

Villa Allegra, Ga., July 8, 1842.