Let love arise and praise him
Who came as Light from heaven,
And shines as light reflected
In souls of men forgiven:
Through the dimness of our shadows,
Through the mist he came;
For the souls of them that see him
Blessed be his name.
He cometh as the morning,
The light of day arisen,
To them that sit in darkness,
The souls of men in prison:
Blessed Light that deigns to visit
Man in his distress!
Welcome with thy wings of healing,
Sun of Righteousness!
Behold the sky at evening,
When day on earth is ending,
What clouds are seen at sunset
Upon the sun attending:
Where our sun is sinking from us
Into skies unknown,
All clouds aflame with glory
Where he passes on.
So, where our Christ advances,
The Lord of Life undying,
He goes with flashing trumpets
And pomp of banners flying;
Not in unattended glory,
Nor in lonely might:
Multitudes that none can number
Answer back his light.
A burning mist around him,
A flock of souls unending,
A cloud of flying spirits,
Ascending and descending,
Swimming on in light below him,
Soaring on above,
Who are these that move in rapture
Round about his love?
O these are souls that pitied,
Because they knew his pity,
And found him in their neighbour
And met him in their city;
These are they whose life among us
Won the weak from vice;
These are they, who little knowing,
Shared his sacrifice.
Through them he healed our wounded,
Through them he led our blindness,
Redeemed our unbelieving,
Atoned for our unkindness,
Therefore in the light they follow
Where the Lamb doth go;
Therefore shines their dazzling raiment
White as glistening snow.
So Christ his temple enters,
The Priest that was so wounded,
And makes a new atonement
As Love by love surrounded:
Love amazing that transfigures
Where its light has shone,
Love that burns upon the altar,
Love that mounts the throne.
|
|
