Scripture Verse

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. 1 Corinthians 13:12

Introduction

portrait
Ray Palmer (1808–1887)

Words: Ray Pal­mer, in the Sab­bath Hymn-Book, 1858.

Music: Saw­ley James Walch, 1860 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Walch (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

One ev­en­ing, Ray Pal­mer was sit­ting in his lit­tle stu­dy at home, pre­par­ing a ser­mon for the fol­low­ing Sun­day…I need­ed a vol­ume from my closed book­case on the oth­er side of the room. I rose from my chair and walked over to get it. As I opened the door, the ve­ry book ap­peared straight to my hand. At once it oc­curred to me that in some such way the face of Christ would be un­veiled to us, and the thought so filled my heart that I turned to my desk and com­posed the hymn.

Blanchard, pp. 56–57

Lyrics

Jesus, these eyes have ne­ver seen,
That radiant form of Thine;
The veil of sense hangs dark between
Thy blessèd face and mine.

I see Thee not, I hear Thee not,
Yet art Thou oft with me;
And earth hath ne’er so dear a spot,
As where I meet with Thee.

Like some bright dream that comes unsought,
When slumbers o’er me roll,
Thine image ever fills my thought,
And charms my ravished soul.

Yet though I have not seen, and still
Must rest in faith alone,
I love Thee, dearest Lord, and will,
Unseen, but not unknown.

When death these mortal eyes shall seal,
And still this throbbing heart,
The rending veil shall Thee reveal,
All glo­ri­ous as Thou art.