Home Here, and Home in Heaven; With Other Poems

TRUTH

Stamped with its Author’s lineaments divine
Truth’s lofty structure ever stands secure.
The storms of hate and scorn that round it lower,
May hurl their bolts in vain, its beauty to
Deface; nor opposition’s swelling waves,
That foam and break in fury round its base,
Its sure foundations undermine; for he
Who built the skies, and stretched abroad the heaven’s
Blue covering as a curtain round the wide
Etherial space, and in their orbits set
The countless worlds, that sparkling o’er its vast
Expanse, more on in their eternal course.
Hath its bright temple framed, and guarded by
His mighty hand, it has withstood the force
Of warring elements combined to thrust
It down, and through the lapse of ages bid
Defiance to the ravages of time. HHHH 34.1

Each age has had its basis broad, on which
Its champions have stood, and bold in its
Defense, have stained its hallowed precincts with
Their blood. And now the glorious crowning truths
Of revelation’s book, unsealed, foretell
The closing of the great prophetic scheme; HHHH 34.2

And from the watch-tower forth is heard the true
Alarm for those who, anxious, would inquire,
What of the night? The morning comes! also
The night! And now the enemy and all
His raging hosts, fierce at its vitals aim
Their poisonous darts, and with the remnant ‘neath
The high and royal standard raised, make war;
And happy they who, faithful to their charge,
Endure until the great Deliverer comes;
For they alone who, with its armor girt,
Lay not their weapons idly down until
The final conquest won, will reap the rich
Reward; and worthy they alone to join
The victor’s song, or wear the conqueror’s crown. HHHH 35.1

And when that storm of wrath whose fearful shades HHHH 35.2

Already tinge with gloom the distant skies,
And sounds portentous of its dread approach
Fall on the ear of the universal mind
As bright precursors of a better day,
Shall like an angry flood o’erwhelm the earth;
And as a scroll together rolled, involved
In one terrific blaze, the heavens reveal
The righteous Judge in robes of vengeance clad,
Whose light ineffable the sun and stars
Enshroud as in the pall of night, whose voice
The solid globe shall shake, and with the shock
Throughout convulsed all nature shuddering dies—
Then all the fabrics frail that human art
Or sophistry have reared, but founded on
The sand, shall fall; and visionary plans
Dissolve as mist before the opening day; HHHH 35.3

While Truth, triumphant, rises o’er their tomb
Sublime, and there amid the general wreck
Its everlasting pillars firm remain.
And when the renovated earth shall bloom
Beneath the smiles of an approving God,
Whose glory, as a flood poured from the fount
Of light, irradiates from pole to pole,
Hosannas, raptured strains, unceasing roll
To swell the wonders of redeeming love,
And all creation’s voice anew the songs
Of praise awakes, as on its morning dawn—
Then shall his chosen Israel behold
The grand design of wisdom infinite,
Complete—The restitution of a world. HHHH 36.1