PS 3519 
 .048 L5 
 1913 
 Copy 2 
 
 n' 
 
 
 Life of the Master 
 
 JTOEM 
 
 m 
 
 Sy S. S. JONES 
 
 Prooo, Uiah, Christmas, 1913 
 
 i'lVmumiiS. 
 
THE LIFE OF THE 
 MASTER 
 
DEDICATION 
 
 I desire to dedicate this, my humble effort, "The 
 
 Life of the Master," to all who believe in the divine 
 
 mission of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and 
 
 His infinite atonement. 
 
 S. S. JONES. 
 Prove, Utah, Christmas, 1913. 
 
 
Life of the Master 
 
 Jl'POEM 
 
 f# 
 
 .5K^ 
 
 Sy 5. 5. JONES 
 
 Provo, Utah, Christmas, 1913 
 
T5 3S'\^ 
 
 FEB IJ 
 
PREFACE 
 
 For some time past my mind has been led to con- 
 template the life and doctrines of our Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ. So deeply was my mind im- 
 pressed that I felt impelled to commit them to manu- 
 script. My failing health and eyesight, during the 
 time employed in writing these verses, seem to have 
 been compensated by a stronger appreciation of the 
 simplicity of the Saviour's teachings — their adapt- 
 ability to the human wants, and the sublime grand- 
 uer of his sufferings and death for the redemption 
 of the human family. 
 
 Asking the indulgence of my readers in my 
 humble effort, 
 
 Sincerely Yours, 
 In the cause of human redemption, 
 
 S. S. JONES. 
 
 Vermont Building, 
 
 Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 26, 1913.__ 
 
 Elder S. S. Jones, 
 
 Provo City. 
 
 Dear Brother Jones : 
 
 I return herewith the typewritten copy of your 
 
 story in verse entitled, "The Life of the Master." 
 
 I have read it with much interest and feel that it 
 
 cannot fail to do good to all who read it ; it is the old 
 
 story beautifully retold. I trust the poem will be 
 
 read by many. 
 
 JAMES E. TALMAGE. 
 
Stalamen and Warriors, Conquerors and Kings 
 Have gained high eminence in worldly things; 
 
 Yet all their pomp, magnificence and fame 
 SirJi in the shadows before Jesus' name. 
 
 S. S. J. 
 
THE LIFE OF THE MASTER 
 
 A Christmas Eve on a Wint'ry night 
 
 When the hills and vales are robed in white; 
 
 Our thoughts go back, we bear in mind, 
 When shepherds on the plain reclined 
 Hundreds of years ago. 
 
 They heard the Angels chant above 
 
 Of a Savior's birth and a Savior's love, 
 
 And the grandest theme on that night so still 
 Was peace on earth and sweet good will 
 To mortals here below. 
 
 And the wise men came from lands afar, 
 Led to that spot by the guiding star, 
 
 And solemnly their homage paid 
 
 To the little child in manger laid. 
 
 'Twas Christ our King, Jesus Our Lord 
 Whom they in reverence adored, 
 
 Then costly presents did unfold 
 
 With gifts of frankincense and gold. 
 
 The wise men quietly withdrew. 
 
 Unheeding Herod's interview, 
 Nor deign 'd to tell the tyrant where 
 
 The Christ child lay in Mother's care. 
 
 We all have read and read with pain. 
 How Herod had the children slain, 
 
 But Joseph took at God's command. 
 Mother and cliild to Egypt's land. 
 

 Escaping thus the stern decree, 
 
 Of Herod's horrid infamy; 
 There did these sacred ones reside 
 
 Until the cruel tyrant died. 
 
 A brilliant morning witnessed the return, 
 
 Of Joseph's family from their long so-joum 
 
 In far-off Egypt, over hill and plain, 
 Back to the land of Palestine again; 
 
 Joseph with little he could call his own 
 
 Save wife, and Jesus who to youth had grown. 
 
 They turned to Nazareth just off the road 
 And there this sacred family abode. 
 
 Oh Nazareth, fair Nazareth, happy thy lot, 
 
 For when our Savior, though thou knew it not, 
 
 Turned with his parents in thy midst to stay, 
 It made thee known forever and for aye. 
 
 Little is written of His name or fame 
 
 Until to John, or Jordan's bank he came, 
 
 Save when with doctors and with lawyers, he 
 
 Gave proof of wonderful precocity. 
 
 t 
 
 Tho ' twelve years old, to them 'twas clearly shown 
 The sacred scriptures were by Him well known. 
 
 When after His immersion in the stream 
 By John the Baptist it was clearly seen. 
 
 That lie was the acknowledged son of God, 
 
 And thence went forth to teach the living word. 
 
 While in the wilderness His great temptation came, 
 But Satan found allurements all in vain ; 
 
 ' ' Get thee behind me, ' ' was His stem reproof ; 
 
 He chose to worship God and spread the truth- 
 
Now the great mission of His life was on, 
 In doing good to all and fearing none; 
 
 His ministers, way-farers of the sea. 
 The humble fisher-folk of Gallilee. 
 
 Among the poor His friends were mostly found, 
 They gladly listened to the Gospel sound ; 
 'Twas Mary Magdelen, whose love so sweet, 
 
 With tears and tresses, bathed and dried His feet. 
 
 The Priests and Pharisees on Him looked down 
 
 While others offered praise, they gave a frown; 
 
 Oft to perplex their wiser men essayed, 
 But His calm dignity was undismayed ; 
 
 In vain they tried to cross Him in His words 
 
 For his replies were sharp as two-edged swords. 
 
 His first great miracle occurred when He 
 Was at the marriage feast in Gallilee. 
 
 'Twas there He manifested power divine 
 By turning jars of water into wine. 
 
 He healed the sick, gave eyesight to the blind, 
 
 Restored to reason those of unsound mind; 
 The leper cleansed, and caused the deaf to hear, 
 
 And raised the widow's son from off the bier: 
 With love divine, the little children blest 
 
 And promised to the heavy laden, rest ; 
 By supreme power, on two occasions fed 
 
 Thousands of souls with a few loaves of bread; — 
 Happy the scribe who sacred records kept, 
 
 And wrote that blessed sentence, "Jesus wept." 
 
 Then Lazarus, who'd lain four day entombed. 
 
 At Christ's command came forth and life re- 
 sumed ; 
 
 By faith weak mortals do not understand 
 He walked upon the sea as on dry land ; — 
 
 Said to the roaring billows, "Peace be still," 
 And demons fled subservient to His will; 
 
Yet in Plis bearing, He was meek and mild, 
 Treating all kindly as a little child. 
 
 Save the poor Fig Tree, perchance to show God's 
 power, 
 At Christ's command it mthered in an hour. 
 
 How could it be that one so thus empowered 
 
 Could bear the scorn and scoffs they on Him 
 
 showered ; 
 Legions of Angels would attend His call, 
 
 But yet He ealmlj', meekly bore it all ; — 
 He knew full well what was required of Him, 
 
 He came to make an offering for sin. 
 
 Yet not alone the miracles He wrought. 
 
 But greater still the doctrines that He taught; 
 His code of morals was divinely new 
 
 Startling alike to Pagan, Greek and Jew : — 
 Theirs was the rule of tyranny and force 
 
 With rites and ceremonies crude and coarse ; 
 He and His ministers to win men strove 
 
 With the persuasive eloquence of love. 
 
 That golden maxim, "unto others do 
 
 As you'd have others do like unto you," 
 Is known where e'er His banner is unfurled 
 
 In all the greatest nations of the world : 
 If others smite thee, smite thou not again; 
 
 If they revile, revile not, bear the pain, 
 And if one would desire to gain God 's favor 
 
 Then as one loves himself, so love his neighbor. 
 
 Ile'd chide the idler, still He loved the poor 
 
 And bade the rich give freely of their store; 
 
 Greatest of all. His plan to make men free 
 
 Through that blest boon, their own free agency. 
 
 Indignant at the Temple's desecration 
 
 By money changers, plying their vocation, 
 
He drove them forth, commanding them refrain 
 
 From making God's own house a place of gain. 
 
 His wondrous love was proven void of doubt 
 
 "When told His kindred waited Him without ; 
 
 "All they who do my Father's will," said He, 
 Are mothers, sisters, brothers, unto Me." 
 
 Ponder j'e lofty ones. Bishop, Priest or King, 
 
 Study the life of whom, both Saints and seraphs 
 sing; 
 Plow in humility, free from all deceit 
 
 Jesus our Lord and God, washed His disciples' 
 feet. 
 
 When stern-faced men with stones in hand held fast 
 
 At a defenseless woman's form to cast, 
 Jesus stood forth, saying in commanding tone : 
 
 "Let he that hath not sin cast the first stone." 
 Then with forgiving words, words which we all adore. 
 
 Said to the frail one: "Go and sin no more." 
 Such acts as these make deep impressions 
 
 And serve through life as lasting lessons. 
 
 Within His law no stern decree we find 
 
 To force the heart's desire, or subjugate the 
 mind; 
 Down through the years His mercy holds out still, 
 
 Imparting to us grace and our free will : 
 Of further teachings Matthew gives account 
 
 In the famed sermon spoken on the Mount, — - 
 Tho' persecution raged, 'twas all in vain 
 
 Yet thousands of the faithful Saints were slain. 
 
His truths have lasted near two thousand years, 
 The' oft bedew 'd with blood and bitter tears; 
 
 These principles embodied in His word, 
 
 Form the true Gospel of the Son of God ; 
 
 They stand today above all creeds supreme. 
 The doctrines of the humble Nabarene. 
 
 "Warriors and Statesmen, conquerors and kings. 
 
 Have reached high eminence in worldly things, — 
 Yet all their pomp, magnificence and fame 
 Sink in the shadows before Jesus' name. 
 
 Once treated with contempt and scorn, but now 
 The greatest majesties before Him bow; 
 
 The honor of the world was not His quest. 
 
 Had He desired, He could have been the guest 
 
 At feasts and public functions of the great, 
 
 "Where fawning flatterers would upon him wait. 
 
 One with a mind so lavishly endowed 
 
 Could influence the rich and sway the crowd, 
 For bear in mind, Jerusalem was then 
 
 The center of the East for learned men : 
 The seat of commerce, the great mart of trade, 
 
 To which long caravans their journej's made; — 
 It was the terminus of every road 
 
 "Where merchants did their costly wares unload. 
 A Roman garrison was quartered there 
 
 To guard the Empire's interests with care, 
 But opulence possessed no charms for Him, 
 
 He came to suffer, and atone for sin 
 And offer to mankind the one great plan 
 
 To formulate the brotherhood of man. 
 
 He was the greatest leveler the world will know, 
 The rich, the poor, all classes high and low 
 Could be united under His regime 
 And dwell contented till the end of time. 
 
He did not seek the favor of the great, 
 
 His followers were from those of low estate : 
 
 There ! see, He comes aloug the dusty street 
 
 Followed by frieuds and those He chanced to 
 meet; 
 
 The one He healed of palsey, too, is there 
 
 Voicing his thanks to God in praise and prayer. 
 
 The crowd increases as He comes along, 
 
 Peter and James are there among the throng; 
 
 He stops awhile some parable to tell 
 
 Holding His listeners bound as by a spell. 
 
 No sacred halo o'er His head we see, 
 
 Nor in His raiment signs of high degree ; 
 
 His features from long fasts are pinched and pale 
 With lines, such as long suffering entail : 
 We see a sacred sorrow in His face 
 Foreshadowing what shortly will take place, 
 
 Yet in His bearing God-like and serene. 
 
 Tokens of love are in His movements seen. 
 
 His voice is resonant, not sharp nor shrill, 
 
 But like the "still small voice" on Sinai's hill. 
 
 Come unto me, He cries, ye sore oppressed, 
 
 Oh come ye heavy laden, I will give ye rest. 
 
 Come with a contrite spirit and a broken heart 
 And I to you my blessings will impart. 
 
 Now see those Pharisees from out the crowd. 
 
 They interrupt with questions, bold and loud; 
 With dignity He turns on them to gaze 
 
 Exhibiting no symptoms of amaze : 
 Then conscious of the evil in their mind 
 
 Rebukes them, as blind leaders of the blind; 
 Silenced, discomfeited with naught to say, 
 
 The Pharisees in anger steal away: 
 Mark now a pathway through the crowd is made, 
 
 They bear some sick one, on a litter laid 
 
With fever-strieken brow and trembling hands 
 
 And place him near to where the Savior stands; 
 The sick one turned his head and cried with all his 
 soul, 
 
 "Lord if thou wilt, Oh thou cans't make me 
 whole." 
 The Saviour thus implored gazes on high. 
 
 His lips move as in prayer, He seems to heave a 
 sigh 
 And now His God-like nature stands revealed 
 
 As He saith, "Cheer thee Ezra, be thou healed." 
 Ezra, o'erjoyed at mention of his name 
 
 While a new life goes coursing through his frame, 
 Stands on his feet and calmly looks around. 
 
 All eyes behold him, but there is no sound ; 
 Then with a grateful smile upon his face, 
 
 Takes up his cot and seeks his dwelling place : 
 Thus Jesus went through Palestine's host 
 
 Preaching alike in cities of the Coast. 
 
 Oh ! solemn night when Jesus was betrayed, 
 More solemn still, the sacrifice He made; 
 
 Can human tongue portray the agony 
 
 That He endured within Gethsemane? 
 
 When taken prisoner. His friends had flown, 
 Truly He trod the wine-press all alone. 
 
 Not tears alone but blood evinced His sorrow, 
 
 For well He knew the anguish of the morrow; 
 Anguish so deep in its intensity 
 
 He cried aloud, "Let this cup pass from me," — 
 Recalling then the task for which He'd come 
 
 Exclaimed, "Let not My will, but Thine God 
 be done :" 
 Alas ! poor Judas had best passed away 
 
 At birth, than live to Jesus Christ betray. 
 
Tho' Peter failed to own his Lord when pressed, 
 Yet he dared more in following than the rest; 
 
 When the cock crew, his glance caught Jesus' eye, 
 He then went out and wept most bitterly. 
 
 They took Chirtst to the judgment hall to wait 
 
 For Ponitius Pilate to pronounce His fate; 
 There in the early morning, cold and grey, 
 
 They in mock royalty the Lord array ; 
 Upon His God-like form, a faded robe they place, 
 
 And shame on shame, they spat upon His face : 
 Heaped on Him insult, taunts and cruel scorn. 
 
 On His pale brow, pressed down the piercing 
 thorn ; 
 With brutal hands, they smote Him on the cheek, 
 
 Yet like unto one dumb. He did not speak ; 
 The thieves, tho' criminals, were not berated, 
 
 Then why should Pie be thus humiliated; — 
 Oh ! how could Heaven withhold its indignation 
 
 And not pour vengeance on such desecration? 
 For Pilate found no fault in this just man. 
 
 Then from the enraged Jews the clamor rang 
 
 Crucify ! Orucify ! — to us Barabbas give, 
 
 This base blasphemer is not fit to live. 
 Up to Golgotha's Mount (O Saints, hold back your 
 tears). 
 
 They led the Son of God mid'st shouts and jeers; 
 O'er burden 'd with His cross upon the road 
 
 Simon the Cyrenean came and bore the load; 
 And when the summit of the Mount was made, 
 
 Upon the ground that fated cross was laid. 
 
 They nailed Him down upon its rough hewn beams. 
 From feet and hands the life blood ran in 
 streams; 
 
 Nor did they heed the torture or the strain 
 
 That shot through every fibre of His frame. 
 
When they ui)lifted Him, Oh ! sickening sound, 
 As they let fall that cross into the ground; 
 
 There they upheld it while with earth and stone 
 They filled the opening till it stood alone. 
 
 Now there behold Him writhing, sighing. 
 
 Impaled 'tween Heaven and earth, and slowly 
 dying ; 
 His kindly glance met not one friendly eye 
 
 Among fierce enemies placed there to die; 
 His sainted mother was the death watch keeping, 
 
 Standing far off, among the sisters weeping; — 
 Yes there behold, those arms extended wide 
 
 His words, "Come unto me," exemplified. 
 
 Oh it is said to tell, but tell we must. 
 
 For as the cruel Roman soldier thrust 
 
 His keen and glittering spear into His side, 
 The blood and water followed like a tide, 
 
 Drenching His loin cloth, down His sacred limbs, 
 
 It fell to earth, a sacrifice for sins. 
 
 Tho' wrack 'd with pain. His heart no anger knew, 
 "Father forgive, they know not what they do;' 
 
 Those generous words live on throughout all time 
 To crown His memory with a love sublime. 
 
 Oh what a contrast to the taunts and jibes 
 
 Hurl'd by unfeeling Pharisees and Scribes; 
 Hark ! 'bove the din they hear His piercing cry, 
 
 "Eli! Eli! Lamar, Sabachthani." 
 His head fell forward and thus Jesus died : 
 
 Our Lord, the Son of God was crucified. 
 Finished : the mission unto Him assigned 
 
 The great atonement made for all mankind. 
 
Soon as the cruel tragedy was o'er, 
 
 His faithful friends from thence His body bore 
 To one named Joseph, good and true, by whom 
 
 'Twas placed with loving kindness in the tomb : 
 And Nicodemus gave with kingly grace 
 
 Linen and spices for His burial place. 
 
 • «**•• 
 
 Oh ! woe the day, the day when Jesus died, 
 
 All nature's forces seemed as horrified; 
 The heavens in anger at the foul deed done 
 
 With clouds' black draperies obscured the sun, — 
 The firm earth shook, the Temple's vail was rent. 
 
 The elements as if aware Christ's blood was 
 spent ; 
 Rained tears in torrents, and the thunder's crash 
 
 Responded to the lightning's vivid flash. 
 
 The multitude in terror fled away 
 
 To seek their homes in undisguised dismay; 
 Jerusalem was filled with fear and fright, 
 
 Wailing disturbed the stillness of the night ; — 
 The sobs of women, men's despairing groans, 
 
 Were mingled with sweet Mother Mary's moans. 
 
 O proud Jerusalem ! that fatal hour. 
 
 Pronounced thy doom, and robbed thee of thy 
 power ; 
 The Roman armies soon were at thy gate. 
 
 Vain were thy cries, repentence came too late. 
 
 Next morning came, but with it no relief 
 
 To sooth their sorrows, or assuage their grief ; 
 
 None of His faithful followers ever thought 
 
 That one who such great miracles has wrought 
 
 Would ever die, but live this world to own 
 
 And build here on His kingdom and a throne. 
 
These hopes were shattered, heartsick and forlorn, 
 Nothing seemed left- them but to grieve and 
 
 mourn ; 
 Tliy gathered in small groups, some here, some 
 
 there, — 
 When night's shades fell, their sole relief wae 
 
 prayer. 
 
 But on the third bless 'd morn from out the skies 
 Burst fortii bright rays of hope and glad sur- 
 prise; 
 The grandest scene in this world's history 
 
 Dispell 'd the gloom, and solved the mystery 
 When Christ, our Lord, who came on earth to save, 
 Wrought His triumphant vict'ry o'er Death, 
 Hell and Grave. 
 
 Prophets and wise men, seers and sages 
 
 Had look'd to this event through all the ages; 
 'Twas now accomplished without one defection, 
 
 The glorious triumph of the resurrection. 
 The word that Christ had risen quickly spread. 
 
 Cheering the hearts of those who mourned Him 
 dead; 
 In haste the brethren went with hurrying feet 
 
 To tell the joyful news from street to street. 
 
 The weaver let his flying shuttle rest, 
 
 Folded his arms in silence 'cross his breast, — 
 Turned from his loom and gazed upon the floor 
 
 While wife and child stood at the inner door: 
 Then in a voice of wonderment he said ; 
 
 "You say the Master's risen from the dead! 
 Did we not see Him nailed to that cross beam and 
 post; 
 
 Did we not hear His cry as He gave up the 
 Ghost t 
 
Was He not swath 'd in linen, and then laid 
 
 Within the tomb and sealed; that Joseph made? 
 
 Tell me, oh tell, how can such wonders be? 
 "As it was told to us, so we tell thee." 
 
 Those who informed us these events took place. 
 
 The truth was register'd upon their face: 
 'Twas Mary Magdalen at break at dawn, 
 
 Who went unto the sepulelier to mourn; 
 On her approach she saw to her dismay 
 
 The stone that closed the tomb was roU'd away, 
 And looking in, her heart with grief was torn 
 
 To find the body of her Lord was gone : 
 Turning, there stood the gardener, she thought, 
 
 And pleading piteously of Him besought 
 To give her aid, for she felt so forsaken, 
 
 And tell her where His body had been taken. 
 
 The person thus address 'd pronounced her name; 
 
 Slie knew Ihe voice, 'twas Jesus still the same : — - 
 His sacred presence banished all her fears. 
 
 Pilling her heart with love, her eyes with grate- 
 ful tears 
 And would embrace Him, but He bade her go. 
 
 Saying, "Tell my brethren, and have them know 
 That I am risen and you've talked with Me; 
 
 I go before them into Galilee." 
 
 Mary in haste to Peter took the word 
 
 And told him she had seen the risen Lord 
 
 When he and John ran straightway to behold, 
 
 And found the open'd tomb as they'd been told. 
 
 During this time, believers filled the street 
 
 At Seth, the weavers they were wont to meet ; 
 Altho the Savior sought to make it plain 
 That He'd be put to death, then rise again; 
 
 4 
 
None of His friends or followers, no not one 
 
 Believed it, till the cruel deed was done ; 
 "When it occurred it caused such consternation 
 
 Me thinks I hear the following conversation: — 
 "Praise God," cried Bartimeus, who onee was blind, 
 
 ' ' Not only in our sight but in our mind 
 Have we been lacking; did we not hear Him say 
 
 That He would die and rise on the Third day? 
 Johanna raised her thin arms o'er her head, 
 
 Her eyes bedimm'd with tears, in fervor said: 
 "Do not the sacred scriptures make it plain 
 
 The Lamb of God should die and rise again?" 
 
 It seems I hear the Koman guard march down 
 Bidding them all disperse, with curse and frown; 
 But some still lingered in the weaver's room 
 
 And there with earnestness the theme resume. 
 
 .Said Jude, "A rumor is around today. 
 
 That His disciples stole His corpse away 
 
 While those whom Pilate set safe watch to keep 
 From toil and over-service fell asleep." 
 
 Then spoke shrewd Titus, "That seems strange to me, 
 
 For those same guards are now at liberty; 
 Soldiers who sleep on watch to them assign 'd 
 
 Meet death, or in some prison are confined." 
 "All these are idle tales," bold Thaddeus said, 
 
 " 'Tis evident these soldiers have been paid 
 To falsify, at first they each did own 
 
 An Angel came and roll'd aside the stone, 
 "Whose face like lightning, and whose robes so white, 
 
 That they betook themselves in haste to flight." 
 And thus they spoke with joy, though some still 
 doubted, 
 
 But hope and faith prevailed, and doubt was 
 routed. 
 
As the bright sun at noon outshines the dawn, 
 
 So did the blessed resurrection morn 
 Brighten the hopes and make faint hearts revive, 
 
 As proof increased that Jesus was alive. 
 Nor did our blessed Savior rise alone. 
 
 The graves of many Saints were open thrown, 
 And 'peariug to their friends, were seen of them 
 
 Within the city of Jerusalem; 
 But let it be within remembrance kept 
 
 Christ was the first-fruits of all those who slept. 
 
 "Word came, that as with a friend, Cleopas, 
 Was traveling on the way to Emmaus, 
 
 A stranger joined them while ui)on the road 
 
 And conversed freely as they onward strode. 
 
 Cleopas and his friend were much downcast. 
 Reflecting on the sad events just past ; 
 
 Whereon, the stranger in more cherful vein 
 Ably begau the scriptures to explain: 
 
 Which saith the Son of God must surely die 
 E'er He ascended to His throne on high. 
 
 His converse with them won conviction 
 
 And reconciled them to the crucifixion; 
 With knowledge and with kindliness in turn 
 
 The hearts of both did in their bosoms burn, 
 And as they to the parting place had come, 
 
 Entreated Him go with them to their home. 
 Consenting, and while seated at the board. 
 
 Their eyes were open'd and they knew the Lord; 
 He blessed them, and so great was their delight, 
 
 Back to Jerusalem, that very night 
 They went in haste to tell that He arose; 
 That Jesus lived again, despite His foes. 
 
As these events were thus narrated, 
 
 Proofs of the living Christ accumulated; 
 The eleven while in a room with closed door, 
 
 To keep them safe from Jewish wild uproar 
 As they sat pondering the things they'd heard, 
 
 The Savior whom they loved to them appeared; 
 "Peace be unto you," were the words He spoke, 
 
 And on their heads the spirit did invoke : 
 Saying to doubting Thomas, "Come and see, — 
 
 A spirit hath not flesh and bones like me." 
 
 His sacred presence made llieir hearts rejoice 
 
 And oh! the joy, to hear again His voice; 
 To make His own identity complete, 
 Show'd unto them His hands, His side and feet. 
 
 Those cruel wounds, the testimony bore 
 That He was the same Jesus as before; 
 
 Thomas, in tears, with penitence drew nigh, 
 
 Call'd Him his Lord and God, wilh sob and sigh. 
 
 "While all in wonderment and joy combined, 
 
 Hailed Him as Christ, the Savior of mankind ; 
 
 His sacred voice was heard by them once more 
 When He partook of fish upon the shore; 
 
 And He was seen as Paul doth well define 
 
 By full five hundred persons at one time. 
 
 But last of all His voice was bj' them heard 
 
 When He commission 'd them to preach the word: 
 
 Saying: "Go to every nation, bond and free 
 As my own chosen witnesses to be." 
 
 When this. His last command to them was given, 
 The Son of God ascended into Heaven; 
 
 As they stood gazing steadfastly o'erhead 
 
 Two sacred beings standing near them said: 
 
"This self-same Jesus, whom thou see'st ascend, 
 
 Shall in like manner to the earth descend 
 To greet His Saints, and banish all their fears, 
 And reign with them in peace a thousand years. 
 
 Hail ! Hail ! all Hail ! Honor, glory, power 
 
 Be unto Thee, our Lord, our God forever; 
 Thou who descended 'neath all things on earth 
 
 And gave unto mankind a second birth 
 A change from these frail tenements of clay 
 
 To immortality and endless day. 
 Hast now ascended to the courts above 
 
 To reign supreme o'er all, through boundless 
 love. 
 
 Legions of Angels met Thee on Thy way, 
 
 Showing allegiance to Thy soverign sway; 
 Shades of the noble just, gone on before. 
 
 Joined in the throng to worship and adore. 
 The portals to that vast assemblage wide 
 
 Were open thrown, to bid Thee there abide; 
 Unnumbered millions greeted Thy return 
 
 To see Thee seated near Thy Father's throne, 
 Whose glorious grandeur Avith effulgence bright, 
 
 Illumed the scene with rays of purest light. 
 
 .-AH earthly sufferings are ended now, 
 
 A diadem of power adorns Thj^ brow; 
 White-robed arch-angels beautifully fair. 
 
 As messengers from orbs afar were there; 
 Cherubic cohorts as they hovered near 
 
 Added resplendence with a lustre clear; 
 .^'Redeemed throngs, extended far and wide. 
 
 Beings, immortal ranged on either side; 
 Rank upon rank they rise, tier above tier 
 
 The sons of God in majesty appear 
 As in illimitable space they tower. 
 
 Clad in habiliments of priestly power. 
 
Has Heavenly splendor e'er been thus displayed 
 Since the foundations of the earth were laid 
 
 When morning stars sang praise without alloy, 
 And God's descendents shouted loud for joy! 
 
 Then when the mighty concourse was arranged, 
 
 And the attention of the hosts attained ; 
 Heralds, in vestments brilliant as the sun, 
 
 Advanced, proclaiming the great victory won. 
 Bright seraphs raised a new triumphal strain 
 
 While myriads mingled with a glad refrain; 
 At first, the tones were gentle, sweet and mild, 
 
 Depicting Him as once a little child: 
 Thence on to Man's estate they stronger grew; 
 
 An air of grandeur, all the notes ran through; 
 Soft, tremulous and low, portray 'd the scene 
 
 When the anointed one ^vitll humble mien 
 Stood in the judgment hall, to hear His fate 
 
 Pronounced by those He loved, with rage and 
 hate. 
 
 Softer and lower still, the chords inclined 
 
 As the great sacrifice was brought to mind; 
 
 Thoughts of His agony still 'd every sound; 
 
 Then, for a time, deep silence reigned profound. 
 
 Again the Heavenly Choir burst forth anew. 
 
 Louder through space the glad vibrations flew, 
 As they re-echoed with intensity 
 
 Throughout the realms of God's immensity; 
 Reverberating thence to many a sphere 
 
 While distant worlds the waves of gladness hear 
 Till all the Universe with rapture rings. 
 
 Hailing Him Lord of Lords and King of Kings. 
 "Glory to God in the highest 
 Praise Him ye Heavenly host, 
 • Glory to God the Father 
 
 The Son and the Holy Ghost." 
 
LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
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