Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LINES ON SEEING THE SABBATH SCHOOL PROCESSION OF 3RD JULY, 1862, by JANET HAMILTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LINES ON SEEING THE SABBATH SCHOOL PROCESSION OF 3RD JULY, 1862, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Were thousand angels sinless, bright
Last Line: Like him who took your nature on.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson
Subject(s): Children; God; Religion; Sabbath; Youth; Childhood; Theology; Sunday


WERE thousand angels sinless, bright,
With folded wings and robes of light,
With flowing locks and glorious eyes,
To walk our streets—with what surprise
And awe-struck wonder we would gaze,
And ask each other in amaze,
Why to our sinful earth was given
To bear the denizens of heaven!

No angel band to-day, I ween,
Upon our village street was seen;
But thousand spirits young and fresh,
Wrapt in the veil of mortal flesh.
That veil on earth the Saviour wore;
In heaven he wears it evermore;
He took not angel nature on—
Your nature, dear ones, yours alone.

I gaze on thousand childish forms;
The veil they wear is food for worms:
If saved from sin the spirit springs,
When drops the veil, on brighter wings,
In whiter robes than angel wears,
Washed in the Saviour's blood and tears.

Dear children, 'twas with moistened eye
I saw you pass my window by;
I marked your gambols on the grass,
And, sighing, said, "Alas! alas!
What tongue may tell, what heart can know,
The heirs of bliss, the heirs of woe,
That mingle in the joyous throng,
That wake the woods with dance and song!"
To us the gracious words were given,
"Of such the kingdom is of heaven."
Yet none who live and die in sin
That kingdom e'er shall enter in.
Then love your teachers; love your school;
Be subject to your parents' rule;
Be grateful for the loving care
That gave you all these joys to share.
Be love's sweet law your rule alone,
Like Him who took your nature on.





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