Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

“The Jailer Liberated”

“And at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, do thyself no harm; for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16.)

“The Glory of that Light”

I was journeying in the noon-tide,
When His light shone o’er my road;
And I saw Him in that glory —
Saw Him, Jesus, Son of God.
All around in noon-day splendour,
Earthly scenes lay fair and bright;
But my eyes no longer see them,
For the glory of that light.
 
Others in the summer sunshine,
Wearily may journey on;
I have seen a light from heaven,
Past the brightness of the sun.
Light that knows no cloud, no waning —
Light wherein I see His face;
All His love’s uncounted treasures —
All the riches of His grace.
 
All the wonders of His glory,
Deeper wonders of His love;
How for me He won, He keepeth,
That high place in heaven above.
Not a glimpse the veil uplifted —
But within the veil to dwell,
Gazing on His face for ever,
Hearing words unspeakable.
 
Marvel not that Christ in glory,
All my inmost heart hath won;
Not a star to cheer my darkness,
But a light beyond the sun.
All below lies dark and shadow’d,
Nothing there to claim my heart,
Save the lonely track of sorrow,
Where of old He walk’d apart.
 
I have seen the face of Jesus,
Tell me not of aught beside;
I have heard the voice of Jesus,
All my soul is satisfied.
In the radiance of the glory
First, I saw His blessed face —
And for ever shall that glory
Be my home, my dwelling place.
 
Sinners! it was not to angels
All this wondrous love was given,
But to one who scorn’d, despised Him;
Scorn’d and hated Christ in heaven,
From the lowest depths of evil,
To the throne in heaven above;
Thus in me He told the measure
Of His free, unbounded love.

(Voice to the Faithful, Volume 3.)