Poems (Edwards)/Guardian Angels
For works with similar titles, see Guardian Angels.
GUARDIAN ANGELS.[Suggested by hearing a Sermon from the Rev. G***** W. L******** of the Virginia Conference.]
They guard us well,
These holy messengers of God our King,
In the wide world wherever we may dwell,
Around our paths, their sheltering arms they fling.
These holy messengers of God our King,
In the wide world wherever we may dwell,
Around our paths, their sheltering arms they fling.
Where dangers rise,
And hope has almost vanished, then we hear
Their spirit-whispers from the far off skies,
Or from the viewless air; "soul do not fear."
And hope has almost vanished, then we hear
Their spirit-whispers from the far off skies,
Or from the viewless air; "soul do not fear."
When pain and grief
Comes o'er us like a tempest, and our hearts
Seek round and round in vain for some relief,
Their still small whisper sweetest peace imparts.
Comes o'er us like a tempest, and our hearts
Seek round and round in vain for some relief,
Their still small whisper sweetest peace imparts.
In the still night
When darkness gathers o'er us like a cloud,
They watch our slumbers with their eyes of light,
Whispering sweet dreams as round our beds they crowd.
When darkness gathers o'er us like a cloud,
They watch our slumbers with their eyes of light,
Whispering sweet dreams as round our beds they crowd.
And some there are,—
The loved and lost, and gentle ones of ours,
Who may be gathering with that bright throng there,
Filling our hearts with thoughts like starry showers.
The loved and lost, and gentle ones of ours,
Who may be gathering with that bright throng there,
Filling our hearts with thoughts like starry showers.
O! tell me not
Our loved ones are not with us day by day,
Methinks they guard us, we are not forgot
By all our kindred who have passed away.
Our loved ones are not with us day by day,
Methinks they guard us, we are not forgot
By all our kindred who have passed away.
They who have wept
When grief had cast its mantle on our brow,
They who have round us nightly vigils kept,
Think you, O! think you, they forget us now?
When grief had cast its mantle on our brow,
They who have round us nightly vigils kept,
Think you, O! think you, they forget us now?
Think you that love
So pure, so holy while it dwelt below,
Will not be brightened in the world above,
Where earth's dark dreams can sadden us no more?
So pure, so holy while it dwelt below,
Will not be brightened in the world above,
Where earth's dark dreams can sadden us no more?
I love to dream
That angels are around me, to recall
The names of the departed; it doth seem
That I am watched and guarded by them all.
That angels are around me, to recall
The names of the departed; it doth seem
That I am watched and guarded by them all.
Ye spirit band!
Still guide me through my pilgrimage below,
And lead my footsteps to the better land,
Where all the spirit's weariness is o'er.
Still guide me through my pilgrimage below,
And lead my footsteps to the better land,
Where all the spirit's weariness is o'er.
No night is there,
No lonely watching by the bed of death,
No broken sigh, no look of keen despair,
No painful listening for the parting breath.
No lonely watching by the bed of death,
No broken sigh, no look of keen despair,
No painful listening for the parting breath.
No fear, no dread,
No last farewell, no clasping of the hand
With vain regret, no tear, no parting tread,
Can mar the pleasures of that glorious land.
No last farewell, no clasping of the hand
With vain regret, no tear, no parting tread,
Can mar the pleasures of that glorious land.
Oh! guard us home,
Ye holy messengers of God; our steps attend,
Through life's dark vale of bitterness and gloom,
Up to that land where joy shall never end.
Ye holy messengers of God; our steps attend,
Through life's dark vale of bitterness and gloom,
Up to that land where joy shall never end.
And when we meet
Around our Father's throne, all face to face,
With what deep rapture will our spirits greet
The throng who led us to that happy place!
Around our Father's throne, all face to face,
With what deep rapture will our spirits greet
The throng who led us to that happy place!
A few more years,
And we will join them in the spirit land,
Where God himself shall wipe away our tears,
And bid us welcome to that Angel Band.
And we will join them in the spirit land,
Where God himself shall wipe away our tears,
And bid us welcome to that Angel Band.