AROUSE thee, my soul! look up,
And view what mortal eye cannot discern;
But faith can pierce the distance,
And behold the scene.
Lo! ‘tis a radiant glory where
The Eternal sits enthroned—
Most wondrous sight! — and in the midst
“A Lamb as it had been slain.”
O precious “Lamb of God!” what love
To ruined man express’d in this,
Which wondering angels look into.
There, see the elders seated—
Hark to their song!
With golden harps supplied, they sing
“Worthy the Lamb who hast redeemed us
By Thy blood to God.”
Such the bright glimpse of the futurity
That waits the Bride of Him
Who once was slain—alive for evermore.
But stay, my soul! yet thou art here
Awhile to this dull scene of earth in bondage;
Redeem the time, dear saint, for
Thou canst not recall it.
With girded loins and well-trimm’d lamp,
Be active in the service of the Master;
He was the servant here, to show thee
What thy daily task should be;
He went about doing the Father’s will—
Thus should the faithful servant
Wait his coming Lord,
With joy to hear the merited “Well done”
From lips that ne’er spake aught but good.
“Come, Lord Jesus,” come, and take us
Where we long to be— “caught up,”
To “be forever with the Lord.”
A. M. H.