On the Eclipse of the Moon July 30, 1776

The moon in silver glory shone,
And not a cloud in sight;
When suddenly a shade begun
To intercept her light.

How fast across her orb it spread,
How fast her light withdrew!
A circle, ting'd with languid red,
Was all appear'd in view.

While many with unmeaning eye
Gaze on thy works in vain;
Assist me, LORD, that I may try
Instruction to obtain.

Fain would my thankful heart and lips
Unite in praise to thee;
And meditate on thy eclipse,
In sad Gethsemane.

Thy people's guilt, a heavy load!
(When standing in their room)
Depriv'd thee of the light of GOD,
And fill'd thy soul with gloom.

How punctually eclipses move,
Obedient to thy will!
Thus shall thy faithfulness and love,
Thy promises fulfil.

Dark, like the moon without the sun,
I mourn thine absence, LORD!
For light or comfort have I none,
But what thy beams afford.

But lo! the hour draws near apace,
When changes shall be o'er;
Then shall I see thee face to face,
And be eclips'd no more.

John Newton.

I saw this here and thought it pretty good. I liked the third stansa. My eyes will be "unmeaning" if I don't allow Father to assist me to understand. The initial thought on the last stansa is that he is talking about death. But after futher thought, I believe that it is the passing of what seems like seperation from God. He always beholds our face even when we cannot see his. The eclipse it seems is of our own perception. The moon has not moved. We have only gotten in the way of its light.