Then cries of terror rose—I scarcely heard; And buildings shook, and rocked, and crashing fell— I scarcely marked their fall; the trembling ground Rose like the billowy sea—I scarcely felt The motion, such intensity of hope— Joy—expectation—flooded all my soul, A tide of living light, o’erwhelming all The hopes and fears, the cares and woes of earth! Could any doubt remain? Lo! from afar A sound of “Hallelujah!” ne’er before Had mortal ear drunk in such heavenly strain, Save when on Bethlehem’s plain the shepherds heard The music of the skies! Behold! behold! Like white-winged angels rise the radiant throng That from yon cemetery’s gloomy verge Have burst, immortal—glorious—undefiled! Bright as the sun their crowns celestial shine, Yet I behold them with undazzled eye! Oh! that yon glittering canopy of light Would burst asunder, that I might behold Him whom so long, not seeing, I have loved! It parted—lo! it opened—as I stood With clasped hands stretched towards heav’n, my eager gaze Fixed on the widening glory! Suddenly, As if the burden of the flesh no more Could fetter down the aspiring soul to earth, As if the fleshly nature were consumed— Lost in the glowing ecstasy of love— I soared aloft, I mounted through the air Free as a spirit, rose to meet my Lord With such a cry of rapture—that I woke! Oh! misery, to wake in darkness, wake From vision of unutterable joy, Instead of trumpet-sound and song of heaven, To hear the dull clock measuring out time, When I had seemed to touch eternity! In the first pang of disappointed hope, I wept that I could wake from such a dream. Until Faith gently whispered, “Wherefore weep To lose the faint dim shadow of a joy Of which the substance shall one day be thine? Live in the hope,—that hope shall brighten life And sanctify it to its highest end.” Fast roll the chariot wheels of time. He comes! The Spirit and the Bride expectant wait,— Even so come, Lord Jesus! Saviour—come! Footnotes [1]The expression used by one who now rests in Christ. [2]Captain Smith, the captive here mentioned, twice diverted the Indians from their murderous intentions, by drawing their attention to the marvels of the needle. [3]Pocahontas was presented to James I. Index to First Lines. HYMNS. A Page After labour sweet is rest 34 A helpless sinner in Thy sight 39 A holy warfare, Lord, is mine 79 An angel of comfort from heaven sped 18 At the foot of the Cross where my Saviour is bleeding 102