Classic Poem

" WE shall be like him! " Here the mists of sin
Oft cloud the brightness which might beam within,
And, by our souls reflected, bid them shine
With likeness to their Master, loved, divine.

But there unclouded shall our vision be;
Each soul unhindered, heaven's light shall see;
And glory unimagined gild the day
Which dawns for us when earth is passed away.

" We shall be like him! " Here we strive in vain.
Sin mars the work we hoped would fair remain;
And when some virtue rises in the soul,
Pride scales the mount, and overthrows the whole.

But there we shall be purified from sin,
Made beautiful without and glorious within;
And, humble like our Master, bow us down
In lowly reverence to receive a crown.

" We shall be like him! " Oh, what rapturous bliss
For Christian hearts is in a pledge like this!
To be like thee, our Lord, is to be free
From every tie which holds us now from thee.

It is to dwell where love shall reign supreme,
And beauty shall excel our fairest dream,
And holiness, a glowing sun, shall shine, —
Rich synonymes which speak of the Divine.

" We shall be like him " when we take the crown
Where weights of bliss shall boWeach spirit down.
O soul of mine! be patient till the hour
Which strikes the end of sin's terrific power.

Then let praise be given, Lord, to thee;
For thou alone the captive soul can free.
The bliss of being like thee shall be mine;
But all the glory , blessed Lord, is thine!