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I know when the silver cord is loosed,
When the veil is rent away,

Not long and dark shall the passage be
To the realms of endless day.

The eye that shuts in a dying hour

Will open the next in bliss;

The welcome will sound in the heavenly world

Ere the farewell is hushed in this.

THE VOICEFUL LAND.

C. H. A. BULKLEY.

"Into the Silent Land

Ah! who shall lead us thither?"-Longfellow.

'T'

IS not a Silent Land!

Tones of harmonic spheres,

Heard not by mortal ears,
Thither their echoes roll
Into the answering soul;

Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land!

'Tis not a Silent Land,
Voices of angel-throngs
Rain down their chorus-songs

Over ethereal hills,

'Till the rapt spirit thrills;

Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land!

'Tis not a Silent Land!
Harps, with their golden-strings,
Dipped as in music-springs,
Swept by the touch of love,
Ring in the realms above!
Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land!

'Tis not a Silent Land!
Footsteps of spirits sound
All through the air profound,
Gently as wind-tones make
Ripples on stream and lake;
Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land!

'Tis not a Silent Land!
Ever celestial wings,
Bathed in the amber-springs
Deep of God's ocean light,
Fan the swift paths of flight;
Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land!

'Tis not a Silent Land!
Psalm-breaths of joy arise,
Pulsing through inner skies,
When the sin-child returns
Whither Truth's incense burns;
Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land!

'Tis not a Silent Land! Hosts of the pure and true, Shouts of delight renew

Round the beloved, fled
Far from the speechless dead;
Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land!

'Tis not a Silent Land!
Welcomes divine are given,
Whene'er, death's fetters riven,
Holy ones evermore

Step on the better shore;

Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land!

'Tis not a Silent Land!
Far from the song-wrapt throne
Peals the unchanging tone,
Keying all notes above,

To the unisons of love!

Oh! 'tis a Voiceful Land!

H

HEAVEN'S JOYS.

THOMAS A'KEMPIS-1380-1471.

IGH the angel choirs are raising Heart and voice in harmony; The Creator King, still praising, Whom in beauty there they see.

Sweetest strains from soft harps stealing; Trumpets, notes of triumph pealing; Radiant wings, and white stoles gleaming, Up the steps of glory streaming;

NATURE OF HEAVEN.

Where the heavenly bells are ringing ;
Holy, holy, holy! singing-

To the mighty Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! crying;

For all earthly care and sighing

In that city cease to be!

Every voice is there harmonious,
Praising God in hymns symphonious;
Love each heart with light unfolding,
As they stand in peace beholding
There the Triune Deity!

Whom adore the seraphim

Aye, with love eternal burning;
Venerate the cherubim,

To their Fount of honor turning;
Whilst angelic thrones adoring,
Gaze upon His majesty.

O how beautiful that region!
And how fair that heavenly legion,
Where thus men and angels blend!
Glorious will that city be,

Full of deep tranquillity,

Light and peace from end to end! All the happy dwellers there

Shine in robes of purity,

Keep the laws of charity,
Bound in firmest unity;-

Labor finds them not, nor care.

Ignorance can ne'er perplex,
Nothing tempt them, nothing vex ;-
Joy and health their fadeless blessing,
Always all things good possessing!

THE INCORRUPTIBLE.

HORATIUS BONAR.

O joy is true, save that which hath no end; No life is true, save that which liveth ever; No health is sound, save that which God doth send; No love is real, save that which changeth never.

Heaven were no heaven, if its dear light could fade;
If its fair glory could hereafter wane;

If its sweet skies could suffer stain or shade,
Or its soft breezes waft one note of pain.

But now its beauty is forever vernal;
Its glory is the glory of its King,
Undying, incorruptible, eternal;

And ever new the song its dwellers sing.

O heaven of heavens, how true thy life must be!
O home of God, how excellent thy light!

O long, long Summer of eternity,

Bright noon of angels, ever clear and bright!

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