“Christ is the ladder, and believers get up, step by step, until they get into glory."—ROMAINE.
In Jacob's vision at Bethel, Gen. 28:10-2210And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. 11And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. 17And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: 22And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. (Genesis 28:10‑22), (viewing it in its prophetical aspect,) is foreshown the connection between heaven and earth in the kingdom—"The Bridal of the earth and sky," in the day when the angels of God shall be seen ascending and descending upon the Son of man. This truth, which is set forth in several of the foregoing hymns, the author had not yet learned when the following poem was written.
SWEET spot! 'twas surely hallow'd ground,
Where heaven itself diffused around
The breath of peace and love;
There Jacob slept—there angels hung
O'er him from whom the Savior sprung,
To guard him from above.
He slept—but who that saw him there,
Beneath the chill and midnight air,
Upon the dewy sod,
Lorn as he seem'd, could e'er have guess'd
How bright a glimpse of glory bless'd
That favor'd child of God?
The gloomy cloud by sorrow spread
Around the sleeper's dreamy head,
Had melted into light;
And, lo! a vision too intense
In splendor for weak mortal sense,
Blazed on his inward sight.
A ladder of stupendous height,
Led upward through the gates of light,
On to the throne of God:
While to and fro, 'twist heaven and earth,
Fair holy ones, of seraph-birth,
Its steps of glory trod.
Some paused to catch the broken prayer,
Breathed by the slumb'ring patriarch there,
E'en in the ear of Love;
While myriads more, as swift as thought,
Full many a goodly blessing brought,
In answer from above.
Sweet dream! its memory oft would cheer
The Patriarch's soul, through many a year
Of sorrow, fear, and strife;
We love it too, for there we see
A beauteous emblem, Lord, of thee,
Thou glorious way of life!
Through thee the Father's love descends,
Through thee our love to him ascends,
And prayer and praise arise;
While every promise, Lord! of thine,
What is it but a step divine,
To lead us to the skies?
Thy brethren, as with holy feet
They climb those steps, may feel it sweet
At times to glance below,
And wonder at the vast abyss
That severs yonder world of bliss
From depths of endless woe.
Or sweeter still to look on high,
Where, through the glorious opening sky,
Those steps of life ascend,
Each broader, brighter than the last,
Faith boldly mounts, till all are past,
And all in glory end.
Love there will crown what Love began,
Its wondrous ways of grace to man,
In its sweet home above:
All, all, O Lord, will there proclaim,
Through endless years, thy blessed name,
SUPREME, ALMIGHTY LOVE!