The night is dark and thick, the clouds roll on –
Ominous presage of impending doom!
Here all's unrest, no prop to lean upon,
But faith, triumphant, through the deadening
gloom,
With joy espies – fair harbinger of dawn! –
The Morning Star in all His beauty shine :
And brightly now the roseate hues adorn
The near horizon, gilt in light divine.
He comes! the Saviour comes! With joy we raise –
Our hearts to His attuned – th' eternal hymn of praise.

He comes! the long-expected, faithful Lord –
Joy of His people's hearts – to claim His own,
His soul's deep travail, His supreme reward,
Changed to His likeness, sharers of His throne.
His mighty voice the graves, responsive, heed;
His loved ones sleeping in the dust awake ;
The living changed ; all, from earth's trammels freed,
With Him of everlasting joy partake.
He comes! the Saviour comes! our hearts rejoice
His glorious face to see, and hear His well-known
voice.

A. D. S.