What are angels? Surely they are spirits— immortal spirits.
For their nature or substance, spirits ; for their quality or property,
glorious; for their place of abode, heavenly; for their
durance or continuance, immortal. —Lancelot Andrews.
Yet one more task was yours ! Your heavenly dwelling
Ye left, and by the unsealed sepulchral stone
In glorious raiment sat, the weepers telling
That He they sought had triumphed and was gone.
Now have ye left us for the brighter shore;
Your presence lights the lonely groves no more.
But may ye not, unseen, around us hover,
With gentle promptings and sweet influence, yet,
Though the fresh glory of those days be oyer,
When, 'midst the palm-trees, man your footsteps met?
Are ye not near, when faith and hope rise high,
When love, by strength, o'ermasters agony?
Are ye not near, when sorrow, unrepining,
Yields up life's treasures unto Him who gave?
When martyrs, all things for His sale resigning,
Lead on the march of death, serenely brave?
Dreams ! but a deeper thought our souls may fill;
One, One is near— a spirit holier still!
—Dorothea Felicia Hemans.
