For not in temple hoar alone,

In cloistered shade, 'neath sculptured stone,
Stands now God's house below;
But wheresoe'er His radiance bright
Gleams on our darkness and 'tis light,
His presence we may know.

Transfigured in His glory fair

The whole earth stands, one house of prayer,
One ante-room of heaven;

For surely, though we know it not,
God's presence is in every spot,
To those who seek it given.

Paraphrase on Psalm lxxxiv.

LEASANT are Thy courts above, In the land of light and love; Pleasant are Thy courts below In this land of sin and woe, Oh, my spirit longs and faints For the converse of Thy saints; For the brightness of Thy face, King of Glory, God of grace.

Happy birds that sing and fly
Round Thine altars, O most High!
Happier souls that find a rest
In a heavenly Father's breast!
Like the wandering dove that found
No repose on earth around,
They can to their ark repair,
And enjoy it ever there.

Happy souls, their praises flow
Ever in this vale of woe;

Waters in the desert rise,

Manna feeds them from the skies;
On they go from strength to strength,
Till they reach Thy throne at length,
At Thy feet adoring fall

Who hast led them safe through all.

Lord, be mine this prize to win,
Guide me through a world of sin,
Keep me by Thy saving grace,
Give me at Thy side a place.
Sun and shield alike Thou art;
Guide and guard my erring heart:

Grace and glory flow from Thee;

Shower, oh shower them, Lord, on me.

HE blue Egean's countless waves in Sabbath sunlight smiled,
And murmuring washed the rocky shore of that lone island wild;
Where unto him, "whom Jesus loved," such views sublime were

given,

He saw the radiant form of Him, upon whose sorrowing breast,
At the last supper's solemn feast, his weary head found rest;
One "like unto the Son of man," all glorious to behold,
Arrayed in robes of dazzling light, and girt with purest gold.

His head and hair were white as wool; His eyes a fiery flame,
Not tearful now as when He trod this world of sin and shame;
His countenance was as the sun, His voice was as the sound
Of many waters, murmuring deep in harmony profound.

But when before His feet, as dead, the loved disciple fell,
How gently deigned the Prince of life His servant's fears to quell !
And give him strength to see his face, whom highest heavens adore,
The Lord, who "liveth, and was dead," and lives for evermore !

Oh! then upon his raptured gaze what floods of glory streamed ;
He saw the land of love and light-the home of the redeemed;
He stood by life's resplendent stream, whose tide in music rolled
Throughout the holy city's length among its streets of gold.

He heard the mighty new-made song, to angel-hosts unknown,
Go up like incense unto Him that sat upon the throne;
And the pure strains by seraphs sung in that celestial sphere,
In sweetest cadence rose and fell upon his listening ear.

Within the flashing walls of heaven, with jewelled splendour bright,
He saw the countless multitudes arrayed in saintly white:
He marked them with their waving palms, in worship bending low
Before the feet of Him who smiled beneath the emerald bow.

The pearly gates, the crystal sea, the universal hymn,
The sun-bright forms, the brilliant eyes, which tears may never dim,
The healing trees, the fadeless flowers, the harpings of the blest,
In splendid vision to his soul revealed the promised rest.

Long since that aged saint hath reached the fair celestial shore,
And gained the martyr's crown, for he the martyr's suffering bore;
Long since his happy feet have stood within his Father's home,
Yet still the mighty voice he heard, with ceaseless cry, saith, "Come!"

And life's bright fountain springeth yet, as free, and fresh and fair,
As when in Patmos' dreary isle it cheered the exile there!
And hark! the Spirit and the Bride repeat in mercy still,
That he who is athirst may drink--yea, whosoever will!

O blessed voices! be it ours your loving call to hear
And so obey that when, at last, from yonder radiant sphere
The heavenly bridegroom shall descend to claim His own again,
We may lift up our heads and say, "Lord, even so, Amen!"

P

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