 | Virginalia ; or, songs of my summer nights |  |
CONSOLATION.
“I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live.”
—David.
—David.
Shout, ye Redeemed! with one accordant voice!
Proclaim the victory over Death—rejoice!
Th' illustrious triumph over Sin prolong
In rapturous strains—the burden of our song!
Proclaim the victory over Death—rejoice!
Th' illustrious triumph over Sin prolong
In rapturous strains—the burden of our song!
Soon shall the hallowed carnival begin
Of Zion—everlasting—ushering in
The Sabbath of sweet rest unto the good,
When all of Moab's sons shall be subdued.
Of Zion—everlasting—ushering in
The Sabbath of sweet rest unto the good,
When all of Moab's sons shall be subdued.
Star-crowns of glory shall adorn each head
Of those now resurrected from the dead;
But round the head of him who shunned the light,
A crown of darkness woven out of night!
Of those now resurrected from the dead;
But round the head of him who shunned the light,
A crown of darkness woven out of night!
This is the Anastasis we shall have—
A spiritual, glorious life beyond the grave—
Wearing the robes of glory Christ put on
Beneath the Rainbow of his Father's throne.
A spiritual, glorious life beyond the grave—
Wearing the robes of glory Christ put on
Beneath the Rainbow of his Father's throne.
The lowering clouds that hung about the grave,
Were melted by the Son that came to save—
When, folding back the Vail that hid the light,
God's glory burst upon his raptured sight.
Were melted by the Son that came to save—
When, folding back the Vail that hid the light,
God's glory burst upon his raptured sight.
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For, when his body from the grave came forth,
Then was the Man-Child born upon the earth—
Then God proclaimed from Heaven's Eternity,
“This Day, my Son! have I begotten thee!”
Then was the Man-Child born upon the earth—
Then God proclaimed from Heaven's Eternity,
“This Day, my Son! have I begotten thee!”
With reconciled expectancy we wait
To hail the opening of the Heavenly Gate
Of Hierosolyma—celestial—bright—
At the Christ-couching of our mortal sight.
To hail the opening of the Heavenly Gate
Of Hierosolyma—celestial—bright—
At the Christ-couching of our mortal sight.
For, as God's voice broke through eternity,
Making the universe of worlds to be;
So did this Spiritual Sampson, without hands,
Tear up Hell's iron gates at his commands!
Making the universe of worlds to be;
So did this Spiritual Sampson, without hands,
Tear up Hell's iron gates at his commands!
Thus the Believer on his dying bed,
When Death's dark night is lowering round his head;
Draws round his faith the curtain of sweet calm,
In beatific vision of the Lamb.
When Death's dark night is lowering round his head;
Draws round his faith the curtain of sweet calm,
In beatific vision of the Lamb.
1846.
| Virginalia ; or, songs of my summer nights | |