| |
| ’TWAS on the Mount of Olives, | |
| Nigh where the faithful Three | |
| Had bid the Master welcome | |
| So oft at Bethany, | |
| ’Twas there the Man we cherish, | 5 |
| The Mighty God we praise, | |
| Among His chosen ended | |
| The wondrous forty days. | |
| |
| There was not ought about Him | |
| The coming change to say, | 10 |
| Only a cloud was o’er them | |
| As on a common day; | |
| He stood with Hands uplifted; | |
| He blessed; that blessing o’er | |
| After that earthly pattern | 15 |
| He will not bless them more. | |
| |
| For while He spake, the Saviour | |
| Passed from this world of ill, | |
| Far o’er the sacred village, | |
| Far o’er the ancient hill; | 20 |
| Love unto Love returning, | |
| Light unto kindred Light, | |
| The cloud o’erhead He entered | |
| And passed from mortal sight. | |
| |
| Then Angels came, foretelling | 25 |
| That He shall come once more | |
| In clouds, that we may follow | |
| Where He has gone before; | |
| And then the twelve, descending, | |
| Hastened with joy where lay | 30 |
| The towers of Sion City, | |
| Distant a Sabbath day. | |
| |
| So God went up to Heaven; | |
| But many an age has passed, | |
| And still the Angel’s promise | 35 |
| We wait, in this, the last, | |
| And oft our hearts expectant | |
| Send up the cry of pain— | |
| “Too long, too long He lingers; | |
| When will He come again?” | 40 |
| |
| Be hushed, life-weary spirits! | |
| Not slack the work proceeds; | |
| On earth He strives and quickens, | |
| In Heaven His Death He pleads. | |
| With Kings for nursing-fathers | 45 |
| Shall we, the servants, fail? | |
| Not without Blood Divinest | |
| Our Master passed the veil. | |
| |
