TO ONE AT REST.
And needest thou our prayers no more, safe folded 'mid the Blest?
How changed art thou since last we met to keep the day of rest!
Young with the youth of angels, wise with the growth of years;
For we have passed since thou hast gone a week of many tears,
And thou hast passed a week with Christ, a week without a sin,
Thy robes made white in Jesus' blood, all glorious within.
We shall miss thee at a thousand turns along life's weary track,
Not a sorrow or a joy, but we shall long to call thee back;
Yearn for thy true and gentle heart, long thy bright smile to see,
For many dear and true are left, but none are quite like thee!
And evermore to all our life a deeper tone is given,
For a playmate of our childhood has entered into heaven.
How wise and great and glorious thy gentle soul has grown,
Loving as thou art loved by God, knowing as thou art known!
Yet in that world thou carest yet for those thou lov'dst in this;
The rich man did in torments, and wilt not thou in bliss?
For sitting at the Saviour's feet, and gazing in His face,
Surely thou'lt not unlearn one gentle human grace.
Human and not angelic the form He deigns to wear;
Of Jesus, not of angels the likeness thou shalt bear.
At rest from all the storms of life, from its night watches drear,
From the tumultuous hopes of earth, and from its aching fear;
Sacred and sainted now to us is thy familiar name;
High is thy sphere above us now, and yet in this the same,
Together do we watch and wait for that long-promised day,
When the Voice that rends the tombs shall call, “Arise and come away,
My Bride and my Redeemed; winter and night are past,
And the time of singing and of light has come to thee at last;”
When the Family is gathered and the Father's House complete,
And we and thou, beloved, in our Father's smile shall meet.
