Poems (Edwards)/The Song of the Heavenly Harpers
THE SONG OF THE HEAVENLY HARPERS.
"How long is it since Eternity has known an hour, in which was not heard the prelude of the heavenly harpers, 'they come, they come!'"
[Bascom's Sermons.
Hark! from the portals of the skies, A joyous anthem peals,Through all the shining courts above, The melting echo steals; As angels, with their deep-toned harps, Bend from the heavenly dome,And shout, as millions enter there, Behold! "they come, they come."
From every nation, every clime, From every sea and land,See, how in crowds, they enter there, United heart and hand;From all affliction, pain, and grief, From sorrow, sin, and gloom,From all the toils and ills of life, Behold! "they come, they come."
"They come, they come,"—the blood-washed band, From doubt and pain and woe;They come to share these heavenly courts, Where sorrow is no more;Here, not a cloud shall shade their brows, Their eyes ne'er shed a tear;No anxious doubts can pain them now, No sorrowing hearts are here.
"They come, they come,"—long severed ones Are all united now;They come, with wreaths of gladness twined Around each beaming brow;They come with rapturous songs of joy, They come with gladness home,While Angels touch their harps anew, And shout, "they come."