p. 3 | The Church Triumphant by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 13, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 34, No. 20.

The Church Triumphant.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle.

Methought I stood, one summer night, Upon a hoary mountainside; I'd journeyed far on wings of light, A heavenly messenger my guide. Like favored seer whose mortal sense Has gazed on mysteries sublime, With heaven-anointed eyes I looked Adown the changing stream of time.

Methought I saw the church of Christ Adrift upon the whelming flood, The host of hell beset her path, Her streaming banners dripped with blood. And thru the ages drear and long, I heard her sad and mournful cry, As 'mid the hosts of sin and wrong, She bore her blood-stained banners high.

I looked again, the scene had changed; I saw the church of Christ once more; A diadem was on her brow, A robe of righteousness she wore. Her cruel foes, no longer proud, Had fallen 'neath the conquering feet, Fair as the sun, she stood arrayed, Her triumph and her joy complete.

The din of war I heard no more,— Instead, fair Zion's glorious notes, The song of Moses and the Lamb, Thru heaven's arches sweetly floats. Behold, the marriage feast was spread, I saw the Bridegroom blest and fair, His church, in royal dress arrayed, An honored guest, was seated there.

Then loud and long thru endless space, Angelic heralds bore the word, Where suns and systems blaze and race, Till vast infinity had heard: "Lo! here are they who've spotless come Thru tribulation's crimson flood, Who've washed their robes and made them clean And pure and white in Jesus' blood." And thru the ceaseless ages long, They shout redemption's wondrous song.