Classic Poem

FALLING DOWN IN A FAINTING FIT IN THE PLACE AND TIME OF PUBLIC WORSHIP .

What a sudden pause is here!
Silence stops the pray'r ascending —
Pannic smites attention's ear,
Order in confusion blending.

Son of wisdom, saint, awake
From the trance of fainting nature.
Cloud on reason's organ, break;
Gracious God, the darkness scatter.

Does the king of fears advance,
His black host of pains displaying?
Does he shake his murd'ring lance?
Empty terrors, undismaying.

Upwards turn thy ravish'd eyes,
See the world of glory moving,
From their thrones the just arise;
See thy God with smiles approving.

On the verge of heav'n they stand,
Thy expected flight beholding:
See the crown in Jesus' hand,
See the gate of pearl unfolding.

From his trance the saint awakes,
Heav'n consenting to restore him,
From our lips the triumph breaks;
Late, O late, may we deplore him.