CHRIST STILLING THE TEMPEST.
FEAR was within the tossing bark,
When stormy winds grew loud,
And waves came rolling high and dark,
And the tall mast was bowed.
And men stood breathless in their dread,
And baffled in their skill;
But One was there, who rose and said
"Be still."
And the wind ceased-it ceased! that word
Pass'd through the gloomy sky;
The troubled billows knew their Lord,
And fell beneath His eye.
And slumber settled on the deep,
And silence on the blast;
They sank, as flowers fold to sleep,
When sultry day is past.
O Thou, that in its wildest hour,
Didst rule the tempest's mood,
Send thy meek spirit forth in power,
Soft on our souls to brood.
Thou that didst bow the billow's pride,
Thy mandate to fulfil !
Oh! speak to passion's raging tide,
Speak, and say, "Peace be still."
TO JOHN THORNTON, ESQ.
As the gun's alarming noise
Affrights the gentle warbling thrush,
Drives her from her fav'rite bush,
And silences her voice;
Yet her fears she'll soon forget,
When she finds a new retreat,
And try to sing again:
Thus of late a heavy stroke,
All my joys to pieces broke,
And fill'd my heart with pain:
But the Lord's command, "Be still,"
Bows my spirit to his will,
Bids me in his name be strong,
Calls me to resume my song.
This first renew'd attempt is due,
My much esteemed friend, to you.
Though far from my beloved home,
Yea, should I round creation roam,
Where'er I am, where'er I come,
Your name, engraven on my breast,
I trust by Jesu's hand imprest,
I shall for ever wear.
Yes, he has made us one in heart,
And I well pleased shall bear a part,
In all your joy and care.
To-morrow I shall watch the morn,
And mark with prayer and praise the day,
When first you drew your breath.
Oh! what a blessing to be born,
Heir to a life without decay.
Born not to feed on man's applause,
Or brood o'er mammon's sordid hoard;
But to promote the Saviour's cause,
And bring up children for the Lord.
This, this is life; for such a birth,
There's joy in heaven, and joy on earth.
Yet had you not been born again,
Sure your first birth had been but vain,
And all your portion sin and pain:
But in the annals of the skies
Your name was writ of old,
And the great Shepherd's watchful eyes,
And everlasting arms,
Long before him you knew,
Presided over you,
To shield you from all harms,
And guide you to his fold.
Through tender childhood, snare encircled youth,
His wisdom, mercy, providence, and truth,
Secured you from impending death,
And mark'd unseen your dubious path;
At length the happy moment came,
When he reveal'd his glorious name,
And claim'd you for his own.
Since then, he has been always near,
Crowning with goodness every year,
And yet a little while,
Far out of reach of Satan, gin and toil,
He'll place you near his throne.
These happy prospects your birth-day affords,
The comfort yours, the praise be all the Lord's,
If you look back, how pleasing the review
Of all the scenes his hand has brought you through,
Or look around, how sweet domestic life,
How blest in sons, in daughters, in a wife :
Wealth, with a heart to use it as a trust,
Free from the fool's parade and miser's thirst.
On all a blessing visibly descends,
That speaks the favour of the best of friends.
But faith's keen eye can but in part explore
The op'ning prospect if you look before.
See the white robe, the conqueror's palm,
The crown of life, the harp of gold,
Await each humble follower of the Lamb,
And joys which never tarnish, or grow
To morrow, when your family you meet,
Each face will undissembled pleasure wear, Each tongue, heart-taught, with gratulation sweet, Will hail your entrance on another year, And I in spirit shall be with you there,
Allied in grace, tho' not in blood,
I claim and offer such a love,
As only near relations know.
Born of one Spirit from above
One is our common father, God,
And from one fountain all our comforts flow.
'Tis not in names or party walls
Such friendship's influence to confine, See bigotry, proud monster, falls
Before the power of love divine.
O Saviour, may this love increase;
With growing knowledge, confort, peace,
Bless my beloved friend;
May he and his, and-1 and mine,
Serve thee on earth, then meet and join
In praise that ne'er shall end.
SUNG BY A NUMBER OF BOYS IN A BLIND ASYLUM.
YE see the glorious sun
The varied landscape light,
The moon, with all her starry train,
Illume the arch of night,
Bright tree, and bird, and flower,
That deck your joyous way,
The face of kindred and of friend,
More fair, more dear than they.
For us there glows no sun,
No green and flowery lawn:
Our rayless darkness hath no moon,
Our midnight knows no dawn;
The parent's pitying eye,
To all our sorrows true,
The brother's brow, the sister's smile,
Have never met our view.
We have a lamp within,
That knowledge fain would light,
And pure Religion's radiance touch,
With beams for ever bright.
Say, shall it rise to share
Such radiance full and free ?
And will ye keep a Saviour's charge,
And cause the blind to see?
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