Memoir and remains of the Rev. James D. Burns ... By the late Rev. James Hamilton [i.e. J. D. Burns] |
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A THOUGHT ON THE SEA. |
 | Memoir and remains of the Rev. James D. Burns |  |
A THOUGHT ON THE SEA.
In that far heaving sea I trace
The varied aspect of the sky,
It lies reflecting in its face
The changeful glance of Heaven's own eye.
The varied aspect of the sky,
It lies reflecting in its face
The changeful glance of Heaven's own eye.
To-day beneath that genial glance
Its waves in azure beauty sleep,
Above, below, one calm expanse,
Deep calling in a dream to deep.
Its waves in azure beauty sleep,
Above, below, one calm expanse,
Deep calling in a dream to deep.
But let the cloudless skies assume
A vaporous veil or stormy pall,
How soon the shadow and the gloom
Would o'er the restless waters fall.
A vaporous veil or stormy pall,
How soon the shadow and the gloom
Would o'er the restless waters fall.
So heaven beholds as in a glass
Its image stamp'd in light or shade,
From smiles to frowns the waters pass
True to the signs on high display'd.
Its image stamp'd in light or shade,
From smiles to frowns the waters pass
True to the signs on high display'd.
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Oh that my heart thus open lay
To influence from the higher sphere,
That it would keep from day to day
Eternal truths reflected clear.
To influence from the higher sphere,
That it would keep from day to day
Eternal truths reflected clear.
Oh that the sanctities of heaven
Would stamp on it their image fair,
And visions by the Spirit given,
Abide in mild reflection there.
Would stamp on it their image fair,
And visions by the Spirit given,
Abide in mild reflection there.
That it would only joy when light
Dawn'd on it from God's glance benign,
And only mourn when from its sight
Some cloud had veil'd the sacred sign.
Dawn'd on it from God's glance benign,
And only mourn when from its sight
Some cloud had veil'd the sacred sign.
| Memoir and remains of the Rev. James D. Burns | |