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And every taint of earth had vanished
As their renewed souls drew near to God ?
And kindred faces sat in love together,
Beaming affection ; brother smiled on sister,
Mother on son, and father on his daughter,
What looks of holiness, that seem’d to say,
Are we not truly blest?—and some, perchance.
Look’d wistfully towards that happy time
When old and young, in their appointed season,
Together gather'd by the reaper, Death,
Should live for ever in the light of Heaven,
Of which this earthly foretaste was so sweet;
And their full hearts, perchance, were warmly breathing,—
"How pleasant are thy tabernacles, Lord!
With mercy’s oil my head thou hast anointed;
My cup o’erflows even in the wilderness;
Yea, though I wander through the dreary vale
Of death’s dark shadow, I will fear no evil;—
For thou, oh Lord, art with me, and thy rod
And staff they comfort me.—Yea all my life,
Goodness and mercy, sure, shall follow me.
And I shall dwell within the House of God
For evermore.”
Hark, whence arose that shriek
Of agony! that fearful, dreadful crash!
That hum of many voices in despair!
How stream the people from the fated temple,
With looks of horror,—wildly—wildly gazing!
Ye who desired to be with God, are there!
His house was your last earthly dwelling-place;
His mercy, your last meal ; his sacred blood,
Your latest cup; the cup of death, the gate
