The Reliquary By Bernard and Lucy Barton. With A Prefatory Appeal for Poetry and Poets |
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| II. |
“This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven
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 | The Reliquary |  |
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“This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven .”
He vanished from their stedfast gaze
Wrapp'd in the distant cloud;
Too keen had been his parting rays
But for that heavenly shroud.
Wrapp'd in the distant cloud;
Too keen had been his parting rays
But for that heavenly shroud.
E'en thus, the glorious hues of even,
Subdued for mortal sight,
Just open vistas into heaven,
Then, leave the world in night.
Subdued for mortal sight,
Just open vistas into heaven,
Then, leave the world in night.
In night! ah no, a lustre mild
So pure, so calm, so still,
Now softly gleams o'er wood and wild
O'er valley, lake, and hill.
So pure, so calm, so still,
Now softly gleams o'er wood and wild
O'er valley, lake, and hill.
Then, Christian, cheer thee! tho' awhile
The shades of night surround;
There is a Light whose healing smile
Can brighten all around.
The shades of night surround;
There is a Light whose healing smile
Can brighten all around.
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When He, thy Sun, went up on high
Bless'd mansions to prepare:
A guard He promised, ever nigh!
A guide, to lead thee there!
Bless'd mansions to prepare:
A guard He promised, ever nigh!
A guide, to lead thee there!
But brighter still that light shall glow,
More piercing far its ray,
As the still waves of time shall flow
Nearer the perfect day.
More piercing far its ray,
As the still waves of time shall flow
Nearer the perfect day.
That perfect day! no night shall shade,
That Sun shall set no more:
His glorious beams shall never fade,
All sorrow shall be o'er!
That Sun shall set no more:
His glorious beams shall never fade,
All sorrow shall be o'er!
Behold! the Lord of Life and Light,
Stands with his chosen few—
A moment—and they trace his flight
To regions ever new!
Stands with his chosen few—
A moment—and they trace his flight
To regions ever new!
That sinless blood for us was shed,
That side for us was riven,
For us, the grave restored its dead,
For us, He rose to heaven!
That side for us was riven,
For us, the grave restored its dead,
For us, He rose to heaven!
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Yet once again that boundless sea,
That vast unfathom'd space:
Whose centre is the Deity,
Whose light his dwelling-place!
That vast unfathom'd space:
Whose centre is the Deity,
Whose light his dwelling-place!
Shall ring with heavenly harps of praise,
With choral notes sublime;
When Jesus comes, his flock to raise,
At the dread end of time.
With choral notes sublime;
When Jesus comes, his flock to raise,
At the dread end of time.
Oh, Christian, watch! for clouds are round,
Dark is the night, ere dawn appear
Oh sleep not! lest the cry astound,
Wake, sleeper, wake! Thy God is near!
Dark is the night, ere dawn appear
Oh sleep not! lest the cry astound,
Wake, sleeper, wake! Thy God is near!
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