Poems by the late John Bethune With a sketch of the author's life, by his brother |
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ANGELS WATCHING FOR THE SPIRITS OF
THE JUST. |
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| II. |
 | Poems by the late John Bethune |  |
131
ANGELS WATCHING FOR THE SPIRITS OF THE JUST.
While round the good man's bed of death
His faithful friends are weeping,
Angels above, with joyful breath,
His jubilee are keeping.
His faithful friends are weeping,
Angels above, with joyful breath,
His jubilee are keeping.
They sing, and in their heavenly notes
His holy name is ringing,
And through the halls of heaven it floats:
Seraph and saint are singing.
His holy name is ringing,
And through the halls of heaven it floats:
Seraph and saint are singing.
They all rejoice with songs to see
His soul, unchained from earth,
Ready to mount—a spirit free—
To Him who gave it birth.
His soul, unchained from earth,
Ready to mount—a spirit free—
To Him who gave it birth.
While mortals mourn, and weep, and pray,
Around him as he dies,
The angel-watchers sing, and say,
“He soon shall scale the skies!”
Around him as he dies,
The angel-watchers sing, and say,
“He soon shall scale the skies!”
While mortals gather round his bed,
When death hath still'd the strife,
And sighing, say, “Alas! he's dead!”
Angels are shouting “Life!”
When death hath still'd the strife,
And sighing, say, “Alas! he's dead!”
Angels are shouting “Life!”
And when beneath the verdant sod
His silent dust they lay,
Jesus presents his soul to God,
Clothed in a rainbow-ray.
His silent dust they lay,
Jesus presents his soul to God,
Clothed in a rainbow-ray.
| Poems by the late John Bethune | |