Festus · Scene 35

XXXV

Scene⁠—The judgment of Earth.
The Son of God, the Archangel, Saints and Angels.
Archangel Let all the dead rejoice! their Saviour comes; With clouds of angels circled like a sun, Belted with light, and brighter than all light, Lo! He descends and seats Him on His throne, Alighting like a new made sun in Heaven. The world awaits Thee, Lord! Rise, souls of men, Buried beneath all ages from the first; Ye numbered and unnumbered, loathed and loved, Awake to judgment! Rise! the grave no more Hath power upon ye than the ravening sea Upon the stars of Heaven. Ye elements! Give back your stolen dead. He claimeth them Whose they both were and are, and aye shall be.
Son of God I come to repay sin with holiness, And death with immortality; man’s soul With God’s Spirit; all evil with all good. All men have sinned; and as for all I died, All men are saved. Oh! not a single soul Less than the countless all can satisfy The infinite triumph which to me belongs, Who infinitely suffered. Ye elect! And all ye angels, with God’s love informed, Who reign with me o’er earth and Heaven, assume Your seats of judgment. Judge ye all in love, The love which God the Father hath to you⁠— For His Son’s sake, and all shall be forgiven.
Saints Lord! let us render back to Thee the love Which is Thine own: none else is worthy Thee.
Son of God Behold this day I dwell with thee on earth, E’en to the last; the next shall be in Heaven, Where ye shall meet the Father, and remain In the Eternal presence, He through me Blessing all spirits overflowingly.
Saints Dear Lord, our God and Saviour! for Thy gifts The world were poor in thanks, though every soul Were to do nought but breathe them, every blade Of grass and every atomie of earth To utter it like dew. Thy ways are plain Only in Thine own light. And this great day Unveils all nature’s laws and miracles⁠— All to Thee all as one. Thy death was life; Thy judgment is all mercy, Lord of Love! The world’s incomprehensible no more To man, but all is bright as new-born star.
Son of God The Book of Life is opened. Heaven begins.