LIGHT'S ABODE, CELESTIAL SALEM. O happie harbour of the saints! Noe greefe, noe care, noe toyle. But there they live in such delight, Thy vineyardes and thy orchardes are Thy gardens and thy gallant walkes Continually are greene; There grow such sweete and pleasant flowers As nowhere else are seene. There is nectar and ambrosia made, There is muske and civette sweete; There manie a faire and daintie drugge Are trodden under feete. There cinomon, there sugar grow, There narde and balme abound; What toungue can tell, or harte containe, The ioyes that there are found. Quyt through the streetes with silver sound, Upon whose bankes on everie syde, There trees forevermore beare fruite, And evermore doe singe. There David stands with harpe in hand, Tenne thousand times that man were blest, Our Ladie singes Magnificat, With tunes surpassinge sweete; Te Deum doth Sant Ambrose singe, Have not their songes to seeke. There Magdalene hath left her mone, 1616. Hierusalem! my happie home! 987 Would God I were in thee! Would God my woes were at an end, Thy joys that I might see! Attributed to F[RANCIS] B[AKER], P[riest]. LIGHT'S ABODE, CELESTIAL SALEM. "Jerusalem luminosa." LIGHT'S abode, celestial Salem, Vision dear, whence peace hath spring, Brighter than the heart can fancy, Mansion of the highest King: Thou with beauteous stones and polished Decorated gloriously: And with pearls thy portals glitter, Alleluia is outpoured: That within thy walls is stored. From the Sun of suns is there; Full of health, and strong, and free, That shall last eternally! Now with gladness, now with courage, May with endless gifts be paid: Thou with joy mayst be arrayed. Laud and honor to the Father; Laud and honor to the Son; Laud and honor to the Spirit ; Ever Three, and ever One: Consubstantial, co-eternal, While unending ages run. Amen. AUTHOR UNKNOWN. JERUSALEM! HIGH TOWER. "Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt." WILLIAM ROLLINSON WHITTINGHAM, the late Bishop of Maryland, was born in New York City, Dec. 2, 1805. Educated entirely by his mother until he entered the General Theological Seminary of New York, he graduated from it a year in advance of the canonical age for ordination. He became Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the seminary from which he had graduated, in 1835, and in 1840 was chosen Bishop of Maryland. His death occurred in 1879. JOHANN MATTHÆUS MEYFART, from whom this is translated, was professor at Erfurt; born in 1590, and died in 1636. JERUSALEM! high tower thy glorious walls, Desire of thee my longing heart enthralls, Wide from the world outleaping, O'er hill and vale and plain, My soul's strong wing is sweeping, O gladsome day, and yet more gladsome hour! When shall that hour have come, When my rejoicing soul its own free power, May use in going home? Itself to Jesus giving, In trust to his own hand, To dwell among the living In that blest Fatherland. A moment's time, the twinkling of an eye, In buoyant exultation, through the sky, The homeward traveller there; It onward through the air. Great fastness thou of honor! thee I greet! Throw wide thy gracious gate, An entrance free to give these longing feet; At last released, though late, From wretchedness and sinning, What throng is this, what noble troop, that pours, Arrayed in beauteous guise, Out through the glorious city's open doors, To wipe away my tears. Of prophets great, and patriarchs high, a band That once has borne the cross, With all the company that won that land, From tyrants' chains set free ; One more at last arrived they welcome there, To beauteous Paradise, Where sense can scarce its full fruition bear, Or tongue for praise suffice; Glad hallelujahs ringing With rapturous rebound, And rich hosannas singing Eternity's long round. Unnumbered choirs before the Lamb's high throne There shout the jubilee, With loud resounding peal and sweetest tone, In blissful ecstasy: A hundred thousand voices Take up the wondrous song; Eternity rejoices God's praises to prolong. JOHANN MATTÆHUS MEYFART, 1634 Translated by W. R. WHITTINGHAM, D. D. |