In Sight of the Crystal Sea

I sat alone with life’s me­mo­ries

In sight of the crys­tal sea;

And I saw the thrones of the star-crowned ones

With nev­er a crown for me.

And then the voice of the Judge said

Come

Of the Judge on the great white throne;

And I saw the star-crowned take their seats

But none could I call my own.

I thought me then of my child­hood days

The pray­er at my mo­ther’s knee—

Of the coun­sels grave that my fa­ther gave—

The wrath I was warned to flee;

I said

Is it then too late

too late?

Shut with­out

must I stand for aye?

And the Judge

will He say

I know you not

Howe’er I may knock and pray?

I thought

I thought of the days of God

I’d wasted in fol­ly and sin—

Of the times I’d mocked when the Sav­ior knocked

And I would not let Him in.

I thought

I thought of the vows I’d made

When I lay at death’s dark door—

Would He spare my life

I’d give up the strife

And serve Him for­ev­er more.

I heard a voice

like the voice of God—

Remember

re­mem­ber

My son!

Remember thy ways in the for­mer days

The crowns that thou might have won!

I thought

I thought—and my thoughts ran on

Like the tide of a sun­less sea—

Am I liv­ing or dead? to my­self I said

An end is there ne’er to be?

I seemed as though I woke from a dream

How sweet was the light of day!

Melodious sounded the Sab­bath bells

From tow­ers that were far away.

I then be­came as a lit­tle child

And I wept

and wept afresh;

For the Lord had tak­en my heart of stone

And given a heart of flesh.

Still oft I sit with life’s me­mo­ries

And think of the crys­tal sea;

And I see the thrones of the star-crowned ones;

I know there’s a crown for me.

And when the voice of the Judge says

Come

Of the Judge on the great white throne—

I know mid the thrones of the star-crowned ones

There’s one I shall call my own.