"For this life we live on earth Is as the insect's life in chrysalis. The creature shut in chrysalis awaits The promise of the sun's approach in spring; The sun is his true life, and when the sun Returns rejoicing hither from the south, Then cracks the chrysalis that bound him in, And, blossoming out in wings, he disimprisoned Springs a new creature forth, and sails abroad In beauty on the bosom of the air-- A living parable of that which we Shall undergo of glorious change when Christ, Our Sun, at His return revisits us. Haste, then, to put to death those things in thee, Pride, unbelief, self-will, vain trust in self, Excess of self-regard, whatever else Belongs to this thine earthly state of being And cannot overlive into the life Of glory to be thine forever in heaven-- All these things put to death, and nourish rather Faith, hope, love, joy, upward desire and pure, The spirit of forgetfulness of self-- Self-will become obedience unto God, Presumption changed to sweet humility, Thanksgiving like a fountain from the heart Springing, with a delicious tremble deep Reflected to the center of the soul, In eager exultation up to God: These and like things are of the heavenly mind; Cherish them thou with heedful husbandry. So shalt thou grow full-summed those buoyant wings Which, when Christ comes again, shall bear thee up To meet Him in the air and soar with Him Immeasurable heights above all height Into the heaven of heavens to be with God Forever and forever safe in bliss. "Dost thou ask, How do this? I answer thee, Be thy whole life obedience to His will Who lived and died and lives forevermore To save thee ransomed by His blood from sin. Yea, whatsoever thou henceforth shalt do, Whether in thought or word or deed, do all Not from thyself, nor for thyself, but all As living in the person and the name, As living therein only, of the Lord Jesus, to God the Father giving thanks By Him. "And now to Him that loved us, Him That washed us from our sins in His own blood, And made us kings and priests to God His Father-- To Him dominion be, and glory, given For ever and for evermore! Amen!"