How highly blest were those who saw
On earth their gracious Lord,
Who dared approach His sacred form,
Who listened to His word,
Whose faith the Son of God approved,—
Whom the Redeemer saw, and loved!
Disciples hearkening to the voice
Which reached the inmost soul,
That voice which could awake the dead,
The winds and waves control;
Who heard—oh! more than happiness—
Those accents pardon, praise, or bless!
Who gazed on that soul-searching eye,
Which every thought foresaw,
From whose calm power the hypocrite
Shrank with instinctive awe,—
Yet saw on them its glances fixed
With tender mercy—love unmixed!
And may not such ecstatic bliss
Be granted e’en to me?
Though death destroy this mortal flesh,
These eyes my God shall see,
When coming in the clouds of light
His glory bursts upon my sight!
To hear the Saviour’s voice of love
Pronounce the gracious word,
“Come, blessed of My Father, come,
Enter the kingdom of your Lord;”
To meet the smile in eyes divine—
Oh! can such rapture e’er be mine!
It may, it may, it is prepared
For all who love Him here,
Who humbly search His written word,
And serve with faith and fear;
They all shall see Messiah’s face
Radiant with glory, love, and grace!
The hand that guides their course on earth
Shall wipe all tears away,
The light which cheers their thorny path
Shall flash to perfect day;
Where Jesus reigns His saints shall be,
With Him through all eternity!