 | Miscellaneous Poems |  |
94
Hymns for Emigrants
Midnight.
“And He was in the hinder part of the ship asleep
on a pillow.”—
St. Mark iv. 38.
Lord, lift my heart to Thee at morn,
For Thou art very near;
Thy voice upon the waves is borne,
Thee in the winds I hear.
For Thou art very near;
Thy voice upon the waves is borne,
Thee in the winds I hear.
The winds and waves that chime all night
When I am dreaming laid;
A tune so soothing in its might,
I scarce can be afraid.
When I am dreaming laid;
A tune so soothing in its might,
I scarce can be afraid.
And yet 'tis awful music, fraught
With memories scorn'd at home;
And whispereth many a boding thought
Of trial-years to come.
With memories scorn'd at home;
And whispereth many a boding thought
Of trial-years to come.
95
O, Love unseen, we know Thee nigh,
When Ocean rageth most,
Thou bidd'st us come to Thee, and cry
“Lord, save us, we are lost!”
When Ocean rageth most,
Thou bidd'st us come to Thee, and cry
“Lord, save us, we are lost!”
Thou seem'st to sleep that we may pray,
Full deeply dost Thou hide;
Forgotten through the calm clear day,
Nor own'd at even-tide.
Full deeply dost Thou hide;
Forgotten through the calm clear day,
Nor own'd at even-tide.
But when the darksome gales begin,
The rude waves urge their race,
Man, startled from his sloth and sin,
Seeks out Thine hiding-place.
The rude waves urge their race,
Man, startled from his sloth and sin,
Seeks out Thine hiding-place.
Well if we pray till Thou awake!
One word, one breath of Thee
Soft silence in the heart will make,
Calm peace upon the sea.
One word, one breath of Thee
Soft silence in the heart will make,
Calm peace upon the sea.
Lord of our homes, and of our graves!
If ever while we lay
Beneath Thy stars, amid Thy waves,
Our souls have learn'd to pray,
If ever while we lay
Beneath Thy stars, amid Thy waves,
Our souls have learn'd to pray,
96
Revive that prayer, morn, night, and noon
In city, mine, or dale;
Else will the sounds of earth too soon
O'er the dread Voice prevail.
In city, mine, or dale;
Else will the sounds of earth too soon
O'er the dread Voice prevail.
Help us to sing Thine ocean-song
Each in his home on shore,
The note Thou gav'st do Thou prolong
Through life, and evermore.
Each in his home on shore,
The note Thou gav'st do Thou prolong
Through life, and evermore.
Morning Hymn.
“He walked on the water to go to Jesus.”—
St. Matt. xiv. 29.
Slowly the gleaming stars retire,
The eastern heaven is all on fire;
The waves have felt the unrisen sun,
Their matin service is begun.
The eastern heaven is all on fire;
The waves have felt the unrisen sun,
Their matin service is begun.
Lord of the boundless sky and sea,
In loving fear we kneel to Thee,
Fain would we grasp the strong right hand,
Reach'd to Thine own by sea and land.—
In loving fear we kneel to Thee,
Fain would we grasp the strong right hand,
Reach'd to Thine own by sea and land.—
97
The hand that did Thy Saint uphold,
When love had made him overbold;
What time at twilight dawn he stood
Half-sinking in the boisterous flood;
When love had made him overbold;
What time at twilight dawn he stood
Half-sinking in the boisterous flood;
He cried to Thee, and Thou didst save.
So we, Thine ocean-wanderers, crave
Ere the bright flush of morn be o'er,
Thy blessing, Lord, for one day more.
So we, Thine ocean-wanderers, crave
Ere the bright flush of morn be o'er,
Thy blessing, Lord, for one day more.
Still onward, as to Southern skies
We spread our sail, new stars arise;
New lights upon the glancing tide,
Fresh hues where pearl and coral hide.
We spread our sail, new stars arise;
New lights upon the glancing tide,
Fresh hues where pearl and coral hide.
What are they all, but tokens true
Of grace for ever fresh and new:
True tokens of Thine awful love
Around us, Father, and above?
Of grace for ever fresh and new:
True tokens of Thine awful love
Around us, Father, and above?
And we would daily, nightly, draw
Nearer to Thee in love and awe;
Till in Love's home we pause at last,
Our anchor in the deep Heaven cast.
Nearer to Thee in love and awe;
Till in Love's home we pause at last,
Our anchor in the deep Heaven cast.
98
The while across the changeful sea
Feeling our way, we cling to Thee,
Unchanging Lord! and Thou dost mark
For each his station in Thine ark.
Feeling our way, we cling to Thee,
Unchanging Lord! and Thou dost mark
For each his station in Thine ark.
Still overhead the saving Sign
Streams, and we know that we are Thine.
What course soe'er the vessel take,
The signal of our King we make.
Streams, and we know that we are Thine.
What course soe'er the vessel take,
The signal of our King we make.
It hallows air and wave: and lo!
The heavens a glorious answer shew.
High and more high through southern skies
We see the unmoving Cross arise.
The heavens a glorious answer shew.
High and more high through southern skies
We see the unmoving Cross arise.
The Cross on board,—what need we more?
The Cross to welcome us ashore;
What need we more, if hearts be true,
Our voyage safe, our port in view?
The Cross to welcome us ashore;
What need we more, if hearts be true,
Our voyage safe, our port in view?
If hearts be true: but O, dear Lord,
Which of us all may say the word?
Thy Spirit breathe this day! or we
Shall lose, ere night, ourselves and Thee.
Which of us all may say the word?
Thy Spirit breathe this day! or we
Shall lose, ere night, ourselves and Thee.
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