IN the sweet solitude of night,
While tired Nature seeks repose,
I seem to hear light rustling wings
And, as my weary eyes unclose,
Arrayed in robes of righteousness,
An angel-band appears above ;
And on their golden harps they sing,
In sweetest tones, of heavenly love.
" "We come" they sing from that bright world,
Beyond those shining orbs afar,
That spangle o'er yon azure dome,
Sweet messages of love to bear :
We come to dissipate death's gloom,
That now enshrouds this beauteous earth ;
To sing of life immortal, ere
These planetary spheres had birth.
" Ere Time his circling course began,
This Universe our Father planned ;
In wisdom He the soul ordained,
And worlds came forth at his command
Unnumbered worlds unknown to earth,
Chiming, as they forever shine
In orbits all harmonious,
< Our God is love his hand divine !
'" And as those glorious notes roll on,
Our Father's realms echo above,
And all the innumerable throng,
Adoring, shout ' Our God is love!'
O wisdom infinite ! love
Unspeakable ! let evermore
Thy soul with joy see through death's gloom,
In God confide his name adore.
" Where Death appears, on wings of love,
Unseen, unknown, to earth we come,
To bear the disembodied soul
..Up to our Father's heavenly home.
then, rejoice ! no terrors fear !
And as to other realms we soar
Away, '
Hallelujah !' ever
Shout '
Hallelujah !' evermore !"
