Part 33 (2/2)

To be where thou my Saviour art, To see, and be conformed to thee, Perfect in holiness this heart; _This; this_ is heaven itself to me.

To see thee in thy glory, Lord, Thy Father's glory and thy own; The eternal, the incarnate Word, Adored upon his Father's throne.

To see as seen, to know as known, My Saviour in my flesh and blood; To be made like him, with him one, I in him, and he in G.o.d.

The holy, holy, holy One, Who was, and is, and is to come, The earth his footstool, heaven his throne, The church his bride, he her Bridegroom.

Angels and elders, earth and heaven, Are summoned to unseal the book; But silent all, no answer given, None worthy found therein to look.

But Judah's Lion, David's Son, And David's Root, the great I AM, Appears upon his Father's throne, As slain for sacrifice, the Lamb.

He takes the book he can unseal; He worthy is, and he has power G.o.d's secret counsels to reveal, And to fulfil each in its hour.

The heavenly host united fall In humble wors.h.i.+p at his feet; One glorious theme inspires them all, The joy is full, the concert sweet.

New odors to the throne ascend, In accents new their praises soar; Each finds in each a glowing friend, And all the G.o.d of all adore.

And shall I join that prostrate throng, In love's ecstatic heaven-taught lays, With powers expanded, that new song Hymn to the Lamb's exalted praise?

”Worthy art thou to take the book, And loose the seals, and read therein, G.o.d's holy mysteries to unlock; Worthy art thou, for thou wast slain.

”Thou hast redeemed us with thy blood, From every nation of the earth; And made us kings and priests to G.o.d, And sharers of a heavenly birth.”

Myriads of angels stand around, Uniting in the loud acclaim; And fill the temple with the sound Of our Redeemer's gentle name.

”Worthy the Lamb that once was slain, A sacrifice for every sin, All power and glory to obtain, And universal empire win.”

Heaven, earth, and sea shall swell the tone Of fervent universal praise; And grateful joy around the throne, Its voice from age to age shall raise.

In all these myriads, is there one Who had on earth so much forgiven?

And shall I reach their highest tone Of love to Jesus? THIS IS HEAVEN.

And when this breast to heave shall cease, And heart and lungs are hushed to peace, Some friendly hand the eyelids close, And leave the clay to short repose.

Still on your knees be thanks expressed, According as the Lord has blessed; This tongue, then mute, can now foretell Jesus shall have done all things well.

Should the great Sovereign will it so, That I in secret with him go, 'T will be enough that He stands by, He all my wants will well supply.

Upon his dear, his faithful breast, My heart and head shall safely rest; The fluttering pulse and bursting sigh, He'll soothe with, ”Fear not; it is I.”

Into his hands my spirit I'll breathe, Inhaling life from him in death; Though none should see, faith can foretell My Jesus shall do all things well.

Though he deny my half-formed prayer, Well may I cast on Him my care; All things are mine, or life or death; In praise of Him I'll spend my breath.

Be this my only wish beside, That G.o.d's great name be glorified, What me concerns faith can foretell, My Jesus shall do all things well.

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