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The Ascension.

While they beheld he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.-ACTS 1. 9.

BRIGHT portals of the sky,

Embossed with sparkling stars;

Doors of eternity,

With diamantine bars,

Your arras rich uphold:

Loose all your bolts and springs,

Ope wide your leaves of gold,

That in your roofs may come the King of kings.

Scarfed in a rosy cloud,

He doth ascend the air,
Straight doth the moon Him shroud.

With her resplendent hair;

The next encrystalled light

Submits to him its beams,

And He doth trace the height

Of that fair lamp which flames of beauty streams.

He towers those golden bounds

He did to sun bequeath;

THE ASCENSION.

The higher wandering rounds

Are found his feet beneath:
The Milky Way comes near,
Heaven's axle seems to bend
Above each turning sphere,

That robed in glory Heaven's King may ascend.

Oh well-spring of this All!

Thy Father's image vive,

Word, that from nought did call

What is,

doth reason live!

The soul's eternal food,
Earth's joy, delight of heaven;
All truth, love, beauty, good,-
To Thee, to Thee, be praises ever given!

What was dismarshaled late
To this thy noble frame,
And lost the prime estate,

Is

From

Hath re-obtained the same,
how more perfect scen;

Streams which diverted were

And troubled, stayed unclean)

their first source, by Thee home-turned are.

By Thee that blemish old,

Of Eden's leprous prince,
Which on his race took hold,

And him exiled from thence,

241

242

THE ASCENSION.

Now put away is far;

With sword in ireful guise,

No cherub more shall bar
Poor man the entrance into Paradise.

Now each ethereal gate,

To Him hath opened been;
And glory's King in state

His palace enters in ;
Now come is this High Priest

To the Most Holy Place,

Not without blood addressed.

With glory heaven, the earth to crown with grace.

Stars which all eyes were, late,

And did with wonder burn,

His name to celebrate

In flaming tongues, their turn.

Their orby crystals move

More active than before,

And, entheate* from above,

Their sovereign Prince laud, glorify, adore.

The choirs of happy souls,

Waked with that music sweet,

Whose descant care controls,

Their Lord in triumph meet

The spotless spirits of light,

His trophies do extol,

*Divinely inspired.

THE ASCENSION.

And arched in squadrons bright, Greet their great Victor in his capitol.

Oh, glory of the heaven!

Oh, sole delight of earth! To thee all power be given, God's uncreated birth:

Of mankind lover true,

Endurer of his wrong,

Who dost the world renew,
Still be thou our salvation and our song!

From top of Olivet such notes did rise,
When man's Redeemer did ascend the skies.

*Died 1649.

William Drummond.*

243

Ascended into Heaven.

RISE glorious, Conqueror, rise
Into thy native skies,—

Assume thy right;

And when in many a fold

The clouds are backward rolled

Pass through the gates of gold,

And reign in light!

Victor o'er death and hell!

Cherubic legions swell

The radiant train:

Praises all heaven inspire;
Each angel sweeps his lyre,
And waves his wings of fire,

Thou lamb once slain!

Enter incarnate God!

No feet but thine have trod

The serpent down:

Blow the full trumpets, blow!
Wider your portals throw!
Saviour triumphant-go,

And take thy crown.

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