Alone, and yet not alone am I; sad, and yet not sad. No human form
intrudes upon my solitude, and yet He who fills creation with himself
is surely with me; sad I am, for there are many _earthly_
thoughts that contribute to cast a shade upon my soul, and yet
_heavenly_ thoughts soon dispel such mournful ones. Oh, that my
whole affection might be placed upon things above, and not on things
on the earth! Why should my heart be gloomy when such a glorious
prospect opens before me?--a world of immortal beauty, enlivened by
the presence of God himself, and a glorious city, even the New
Jerusalem. "Fly, lingering moments, fly away, and bring that long
expected day" when Christ shall appear in glory to take his weary
children home.
"THOU SHALT KNOW HEREAFTER."
The wind has ceased--how still and tranquil all!
The ghastly moon still shines upon the wall;
While other eyes are closed why do I weep?
Begone, ye phantoms, welcome, balmy sleep!
And bear me to the shadowy land of dreams
Where yesternight I roamed by crystal streams,
And gathered flowers methought would never fade,
Or talked with angels 'neath the pleasant shade!
It was a dream; ah, yes, and life to me
Was once a dream--smooth as the placid sea
When all is calm, and on its bosom lies
The golden radiance of the summer skies.
There came a storm--the thunder's dreadful roar,
The angry waves that beat against the shore
Awakened me--oh, I had lived too long
In the bright realms of fancy and of song.
Perhaps 'twas well the storm swept o'er the sea,
Perhaps 'twas well the tumult startled me,
'Twas well I learned there's much to do and dare,
Much to be suffered, much to meekly bear,
But when I found the real though unsought,
And thought of life and trembled as I thought,--
When like the leaves in autumn day by day
The hopes I cherished hastened to decay,
And hopeless, helpless in my great despair
I turned to earth but found no solace there,
'Twas well for me that in the darkened skies
I saw the Star of Bethlehem arise!
I know not why, though nature craves to know,
That all my dreams of happiness below
Should be thus blighted, yet the time is near
When I, poor voyager, often shipwrecked here,
Shall reach the port, and safely moored at last
Review the scenes and sufferings of the past,--
Beholding where the shadows darkest lay
The dawning glory of immortal day,
And all along the path that seemed so drear
Leaving this one memorial--God was here!
"THINE EYES SHALL SEE THE KING IN HIS BEAUTY."
The thought is ever present, Shall these eyes indeed see the Maker of
the universe? shall these feet indeed walk the Golden City? shall
these hands wave the palm of victory and strike the chords of the
glorious harp whose music shall be sweeter than that of David's? Can
this be possible, and do I weep and mourn because of present
affliction? Oh, the future, the future! what has it not in reserve for
me? Glories of which mortal never dreamed: eternal life--eternal
happiness--perpetual youth--knowledge unbounded, yet ever increasing!
Fly, fly, fly, days of pain and sorrow! Hail, all hail! bright morn of
deliverance. It _will_ come; and I--oh, the thought overpowers
me--I, poor and wretched and sinful, shall be blessed forever,
_forever_, FOREVER.