| |
| “HE loved His own unto the end,” | |
| And asked their love; | |
| He said, “I call you each My friend, | |
| And not My servant; and I send | |
| One from above, | 5 |
| Who shall reveal such grace and truth to you | |
| As in My sojourn here ye never knew.” | |
| |
| “But why depart?” they cry, “why will | |
| To leave us here? | |
| Thou sayest that Thou dost love us still: | 10 |
| Can it be love if thus Thou fill | |
| Our cup of fear? | |
| O Master, Master, should’st Thou now depart | |
| All sorrow needs must overwhelm our heart. | |
| |
| Yet it is love: He said, “I go; | 15 |
| For could I stay, | |
| Your earth-bound thoughts would never know | |
| Love’s fullest mysteries, which flow | |
| From Me alway; | |
| My human heart might linger with you yet, | 20 |
| But now affections must on heaven be set. | |
| |
| “You could not know Me more, unless | |
| My Spirit came | |
| And taught the ways of righteousness, | |
| How sin and judgment to confess, | 25 |
| How learn to blame | |
| All clinging to inferior things of earth, | |
| Blind to the glory of your heavenly birth. | |
| |
| “My peace I leave with you, but not | |
| As this world gives; | 30 |
| My Spirit comes to you, yet what | |
| He teaches shows no earthly lot: | |
| He ever lives, | |
| The world must learn. I hear the Father’s call | |
| Away from earth!—Awhile I leave you all. | 35 |
| |
| “Arise! let us go hence.” He rose, | |
| And, as He spake, | |
| Calmly He moved, as one who knows | |
| The coming onset of his foes. | |
| The night winds shake | 40 |
| With distant sounds, as through the olive grove | |
| “Let us depart” is echoed from above. | |
| |
