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
To the wild sea, Be still!"

And the wind ceased-that conquering word
Pass'd through the gloomy sky;
The troubled billows knew their Lord,
And sank beneath his eye.

And slumber settled on the deep,

And silence on the blast,

As when the righteous fall asleep,
When death's fierce throes are past,

Thou that didst rule the angry hour,
And tame the tempest's mood,
Oh! send thy Spirit forth in power,
O'er our dark souls to brood!

18

MESSIAH'S ADVENT.

Thou that didst bow the billow's pride

Thy mandates to fulfil,

So speak to Passion's raging tide,
Speak and say," Peace, be still !"

MRS. HEMANS.

Messiah's Adgent.

He came not in his people's day
Of miracle and might,

When awe-struck nations owned their sway,
And conquest crowned each fight;—
When Nature's self with wonder saw,
Her ancient power, her boasted law,
To feeble man give way—

The elements of earth and heaven
For Israel stayed-for Judah riven!

Pillar and cloud Jehovah gave,
High emblems of his grace;
And clove the rock, and smote the way.
Moved mountains from their place :-
But judgment was with mercy blent-
In thunder was the promise sent—
Fierce lightning veil'd his face;
The jealous God-the burning law-
Were all thy chosen people saw.

MESSIAH S ADVENT.

Behold them-pilgrim-tribes no more—
The promis'd land their own;
And blessings theirs of sea and shore,
To other realmns unknown:
From age to age a favoured line,
Of mighty kings and seers divine,

A temple and a throne :

Not then, but in their hour of shame,

19

Woe, want, and weakness—then “he came.”

Not in the earthquake's rending force,

Not in the blasting fire;

Not in the strong wind's rushing course,
Came He, their soul's desire!
Forerunners of his coming these.
Proclaiming over earth and seas,
As God, his might and ire:

The still small voice, the hovering dove,
Proved him Messiah,-spoke him "Love!"

Of life the Way, of light the Spring,
Eternal, undefiled;

Redeemer, Prophet, Priest, and King—
Yet came he as a child!

And Zion's favoured eye grown dim,
Knew not her promised Lord in Him
The lowly and the mild!

She saw the manger and the tree,

And scornful cried-"Can this be He ?"

ANON.

Best Wishes.

WHо art thou, stranger! Nay, read on,
I will not ask thy name or lot;
Whether thy days be well-nigh gone,

Or in their spring-it matters not;
Thou art my brother! and for thee,
Stranger, shall my best wishes be.

Life is a sea of stormy pain;

Thou know'st it or thou soon wilt know; Thine be the faith that braves the main,

When its most angry tempests blow;

Thine anchor cast within the veil;
None ever knew that mooring fail.

Thine be the love-refined from sense-
That seeks its object in the skies,
Draws all its warmth and brightness thence,
Its comfort, confidence, and joys;

And be thy best affections giv'n
To Him who lov'd thee first in heav'n.

Thine be the refuge-ever found

By them who seek in faith and prayer -From all the trials that abound

Throughout this wilderness of care. The faithfulness of Him, whose love

Storms cannot quench, nor death remove.

THE MERCIES OF REDEMPTION.

Thine be the meekness of the flower

That bows its head before the blast; Increase in wisdom and in power;

Be lowliness around thee cast; -Thy faith and love, like flames of fire Trembling, the higher they aspire.

And when thy Master calls thee,-thine,
Thine be the crown of endless joy,
Where Heaven's eternal rivers shine
Beneath a bright and cloudless sky.
Those realms-how beautiful and fair!
Stranger! a blissful meeting there!

The Merries of Redemption.

O CAN such charms be left to waste,
Unmarked by man's insensate taste?
Can beauty, use, and health,
Be spread before regardless eyes,
And not one thankful accent rise
For all creation's wealth?

Alas! in vain,-if outward sense
Is claimed by Heaven's benevolence,
How shall it hope to reach

21.

ANON.