Once I could see, but ne'er again
Shall I behold the verdant plain,
Jeweled with flowers of colors bright,
Bathed in a flood of golden light.

The birds, the brilliant butterflies,
These all in thought before me rise;
The shining rivulet, whose song
Comes sweetly murmuring along;

The sky, the clouds, the grass, the trees,
All waving, glancing in the breeze-
I see them pictured in my mind,
But there alone, for I am blind.

Blind, did I say? How can that be?-
Since I by faith my Saviour see
Exalted on the throne above,
Beaming with mercy, grace and love.

A view like this is better far
Than sun, or moon, or glittering star,
Or glowing landscape, sunny skies,
Or sight that's fair to mortal eyes.

I thank my God that He has put
A veil before mine eyes, and shut
All earthly objects from my sight,
And Christ revealed in glory bright.
Henceforth my word shall ever be-
Once I was blind, but now I see.

The above was written by one who for 18 years was a helpless cripple and finally lost his sight. Converted from the evil of Unitarianism, for years his patient suffering glorified the Saviour whom he loved. The only organ of his body unaffected by disease was his tongue, and with it he fully glorified God and brightly testified to a Saviour's love and sufficiency. When near the end, he called someone to him to take down in writing the blessed sentiments expressed in this poem. "What hath God wrought!" J. W. H. Nichols