263
��HORATIUS BOXAR (1S08-1SS0).
HERE, my Lord, I sec thee face to face ; Here would I touch and handle things unseen, Here grasp with firmer hand the eternal grace, And all my weariness upon thee lean.
Here would I feed upon the bread of God,
Here drink with thee the royal wine of heaven ;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load. Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.
This is the hour of banquet and of song ;
This is the heavenly table spread for me ; Here let me feast, and feasting still prolong
The brief bright hour of fellowship with thee.
��Too soon we rise ; the symbols disappear ;
The feast, though not the love, is past and gone ; The bread and wine remove, but thou art here.
Nearer than ever ; still my Shield and Sun.
I have no help but thine ; nor do I need Another arm save thine to lean upon ;
It is enough, my Lord, enough indeed ;
My strength is in thy might, thy might alone.
Mine is the sin, but thine the righteousness ;
Mine is the guilt, but thine the cleansing blood ; Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace —
Thy blood, thy righteousness, Lord my God.
Feast after feast thus comes and passes by ;
Yet passing, points to the glad feast above, Giving sweet foretastes of the festal joy,
The Lamb's great bridal feast of bUss and love.
��381
�� �
