The poetical works of James Montgomery :: :: University of Virginia Library

Swept with the ruins down the flood,
I woke; home, hope, and heart were gone:
My brain flash'd fire, ice thrill'd my blood;
Life, life, was all I thought upon.

Death, death, was all that met my eye;
Deep swallow'd deep, wave buried wave:
I look'd in vain for land and sky;
All was one sea,—that sea one grave.

I struggled through the strangling tide,
As though a bowstring wrung my neck;
“Help! help!” voice fail'd,—I fain had cried,
And clung convulsive to the wreck.

Not long,—for suddenly a spot
Of darkness fell upon my brain,
Which spread and press'd, till I forgot
All pain in that excess of pain.

Part II. TRANSITION.

Two woes were past; a worse befell:
When I revived, the sea had fled;
Beneath me yawn'd the gulf of hell,
Broad as the vanish'd ocean's bed.

Downward I seem'd to plunge through space,
As lightning flashes and expires,
Yet—how, I knew not—turn'd my face
Away from those terrific fires;—

And saw in glory, throned afar,
A human form yet all divine;
Beyond the track of sun or star,
High o'er all height it seem'd to shine.

'Twas He who in the furnace walk'd
With Shadrach, and controll'd its power;
'Twas He with whom Elias talk'd,
In his transfiguration-hour.

'Twas He whom, in the lonely Isle
Of Patmos, John in spirit saw,
And, at the lightning of his smile,
Fell down as dead, entranced with awe.

From his resplendent diadem,
A ray shot through mine inmost soul;
“Could I but touch his garment's hem,”
Methought, “like her whom faith made whole!”

Faith, faith, was given;—though nigh and nigher,
Swift verging tow'rds the gulf below,

235

I stretch'd my hand;—but high and higher,
Ah me! the vision seem'd to go.

“Save, Lord, I perish!”—while I cried,
Some miracle of mercy drew
My spirit upward;—hell yawn'd wide,
And follow'd;—upwards still I flew:—

And upwards still the surging flame
Pursued;—yet all was clear above,
Whence brighter, sweeter, kindlier came
My blessed Saviour's looks of love.

Till with a sudden flash forth beam'd
The fulness of the Deity:—
Hell's jaws collapsed; I felt redeem'd;
The snare was broken, I was free.

A voice from heaven proclaim'd,—“Tis done!”
Then, like a homeward ray of light
From the last planet to the sun,
I darted through the abyss of night.

Till He put forth his hand, to meet
Mine, grasping at infinity;
He caught me, set me on my feet;
I fell at his in ecstasy.

What follow'd, human tongue in vain
Would question language to disclose:
Enough,—that I was born again;
From death to life that hour I rose.

Part III. RESTITUTION.

I built once more, but on a rock
(Faith's strong foundation, firm and sure)
Fix'd mine abode, the heaviest shock
Of time and tempest to endure.

Not small, nor large, not low, nor high,
Midway it stands upon the steep,
Beneath the storm-mark of the sky,
Above the flood-mark of the deep.

And here I humbly wait while He,
Who pluck'd me from the lowest hell,
Prepares a heavenly house for me,
Then calls me home with Him to dwell.