University of Virginia Library

AN ACCEPTED SPIRIT.

He stood before the throne, and gaz'd upon
The Lord he lov'd on earth!—unspeakable,
Unfelt, and unimaginable here
The rising transport of his blessedness!
He knew the love of Christ,—he felt himself
Fill'd with the fulness of his God!—the tide
Of tranquil, deep, and exquisite delight,
(Which for a mortal to have caught below
One drop of its unutterable bliss
Had burst his heart, and smote him to the tomb,
Incapable to bear that lightning flash,)
Roll'd through his form angelic; he became
Instant, all soul, a living breathing heart
Expanded to the limits of his frame,
Expanded through the universal realm
Of heav'nly being, and he knew he was
Immortal, and he felt himself secure,
An heir of God's own everlasting bliss!
O, with what yearning love of brotherhood
He look'd upon the glorious sons of light!
For he was one with them: one with the saints,
Who thro' the jarring storms of mortal life
Had wrestled onward to the heavenly prize,
And sought for immortality and God!
One with the multitudes on multitudes
Of brightwing'd Sabaoth, that here below
Had minister'd incessant to the saints,
And praise on living harps, that thrill with bliss
To their own melody, the sinner's friend;
“Behold, he was their Saviour,—he for them
“With their afflictions was afflicted too;
“He felt with them, and ever from all ill
“The angel of his presence saved them:
“In his compassion and unbounded love
“He hath redeem'd them!—lo, they are redeem'd
“And stand before his throne, and wave on high
“The palm of triumph, and at Jesu's feet
“Cast their bright crowns of glory, shouting still
“Worthy the Lamb, for he was slain for us!”
“And lo, here is another; happy one
“We love thee, for that Jesus lov'd thee first,
“And that thou lovest him! come then with us,
“Join the full chorus, swell the peal of praise,
“That thus the travail of his soul on earth
“May by thy bliss be satisfied in heaven!