| |
| “MASTER, it is good to be | |
| High on the mountain here with Thee:” | |
| Here, in an ampler, purer air, | |
| Above the stir of toil and care, | |
| Of hearts distraught with doubt and grief, | 5 |
| Believing in their unbelief, | |
| Calling Thy servants, all in vain, | |
| To ease them of their bitter pain. | |
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| “Master, it is good to be | |
| Where rest the souls that talk with Thee:” | 10 |
| Where stand revealed to mortal gaze | |
| The great old saints of other days; | |
| Who once received on Horeb’s height, | |
| The eternal laws of truth and right; | |
| Or caught the still small whisper, higher | 15 |
| Than storm, than earthquake, or than fire. | |
| |
| “Master, it is good to be | |
| With Thee, and with Thy faithful Three:” | |
| Here, where the Apostle’s heart of rock | |
| Is nerved against temptation’s shock; | 20 |
| Here, where the Son of Thunder learns | |
| “The thought that breathes, the word that burns;” | |
| Here, where on eagle’s wings we move | |
| With Him Whose last, best creed is Love. | |
| |
| “Master, it is good to be | 25 |
| Entranced, enwrapt, alone with Thee;” | |
| Watching the glistening raiment glow | |
| Whiter than Hermon’s whitest snow, | |
| The human lineaments that shine | |
| Irradiant with a light Divine; | 30 |
| Still we, too, change from grace to grace, | |
| Gazing on that transfigured Face. | |
| |
| “Master, it is good to be | |
| In life’s worst anguish close to Thee:” | |
| Within the overshadowing cloud | 35 |
| Which wraps us in its awful shroud, | |
| We wist not what to think or say, | |
| Our spirits sink in sore dismay; | |
| They tell us of the dread “Decease”: | |
| But yet to linger here is peace. | 40 |
| |
| “Master, it is good to be | |
| Here on the Holy Mount with Thee;” | |
| When darkling in the depths of night, | |
| When dazzled with excess of light, | |
| We bow before the heavenly Voice | 45 |
| That bids bewildered souls rejoice: | |
| Though love wax cold, and faith be dim, | |
| “This is My Son; O hear ye Him!” | |
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