That ocean, air, the land, the fire,
Might aye celestial thoughts inspire,

And from earth's pleasures wean ;—
Then all I think, or hear, or see,
Were token from my God to me.

And thou, fair sea!-for be thy form,
As spread before my sight,

Or heaved and frothed abroad by storm,
Or gemmed with twinklings bright—
I love thee for thy Maker's sake,
And hail the thoughts thy waves awake,
Thoughts clothed in mystic might,
That He, who rules in heaven above,
Loves me, his child, for He is Love.

One hour upon this lonely shore,
Where Paul before me trod,
Hath lent me wings, in hope to soar,
And commune with my God.
Oh, would this fresh'ning southern breeze,
That murmurs gently through the trees,
And spread their scents abroad,
Bear hither, as my longings rise,
The loaded gales of Paradise!

What is life's course, by day and night,

But an unstable sea,

Now wrestling in malicious might,

Now frothed in sportive glee?-
Why should I heed its restless wiles,
Its heaving wrath, or twinkling smiles,
Its frowns or revelry ?—

I heed nor blame-it has its hour-
The tool of an Almighty power.

O give me grace, my gracious King,
To take, as from thine hand,
The woes its boisterous tempests bring,
The comforts of its strand-
Then every breeze shall echo 'Come,'
And every billow waft me home
To Canaan's blissful land;

Where rolling thunders cease to roar,
And the tossed soul rests evermore.

CXIX.

FAITH fails:

Then in the dust

Lie failing rest and light and trust: So doth the troubled soul itself distress, And choke the fountain in the wilderness. I care not what your peace assails: The deep root is, faith fails.

Faith fails:

When in the breast

The Lord's sweet presence doth not rest: For who believes, clouds cannot make afraid; He knows the sun doth shine behind the shade; He rides at anchor through the gales. Do you not so? Faith fails.

Faith fails:

Its foes alarm,

And persecutions' threats disarm. False friends can scarcely wish it a good day, Before it taketh fright, and shrinks away. When God doth guard, what foe prevails? Why then the fear?

Faith fails.

Faith fails:

Else cares would die,

And we should on God's care rely.

Man for the coming day doth grieve and fret,

And all past days doth sinfully forget.

For every beast God's care avails;

Why not for us? Faith fails.

Faith fails:

Then cometh fear,

If sickness comes, if death is near.
O man, why is it, when the times are bad,
And the days are evil, that thy face is sad?
How is it that thy courage quails?

It must be this-faith fails.

Living and working actively,

With hope and joy, that death may not surprise;
So let them sweetly close my eyes!

The Christian's life to death may yield;-
Hope stands-faith has the field!

CXX.

WHO seeks in weakness an excuse,
His sins will vanquish never;
Unless he heart and mind renews
He is deceived for ever.

The strait and narrow way,
That shines to perfect day,

He hath not found, hath never trod;
Little he knows, I ween,

What prayer and conflict mean,
To one who hath the light of God.

In what the world calls weakness, lurks
The very strength of evil,

Full mightily it helps the works

Of our great foe, the devil.

Awake, my soul, awake,
Thy refuge quickly take

With Him, the Almighty, who can save.

One look from Christ thy Lord
Can sever every cord

That binds thee now, a wretched slave!

Know, the first step in Christian love
Is to depart from sin:

True faith will leave the world no more
A place thy heart within.

Thy Saviour's Spirit first

The heavy bonds must burst, Wherein death bound thee in thy need : Then the freed spirit knows,

What strength He gives to those Who, with their Lord, are risen indeed.

And what thy Spirit, Lord, began,
Help thou, with inner might;
Earth has no better gift for man
Than strength and love of right.
Oh, make thy followers just,
Who look to thee in trust!

Thy strength and justice let us know;
Our souls, through Thee, would wear
The power of grace, most fair

Of all the jewels faith can show.

Strong Son of God, break down Thy foes, So shall we conquer our's;

Strong in the might from Thee that flows, We mourn not lack of powers;