That form so calm upon the waves,
While all around the tempest raves?
No look of wrath is on that brow;

No words of wrath those lips have spoken; Whatever dread the gazers know,

Of peace alone they see the token.

Oh! human fear, at sight of ought'
That wakens vividly the thought
Of viewless power close around,
Yet baffling all attempts to sound-
How plainly may the searching eye,
Illumined by the lamp from Heaven,

In thee the dreadful truth descry,

That man is from his Maker riven!

VI.

Time was a spirit had been hailed

With voice and look of joy-nor failed

A welcome full of love to meet

In man's all peaceful blest retreat:

* Luke i. 12; ii. 9.

That time is past- "the gold is dim!"

Its beauty gone-nor left a relic!

Who once had smiled on Seraphim

Now dares not look on form angelic!

VII.

"What is it, sin, that thou hast done?" What tides of ill for ever run

From thee! we feel thee in the breast, And therefore shun even spirit blest; Because we cannot choose but fear,

At sight of all our search defying, Which tells of mighty power near, That evil in our path is lying.

VIII.

But little need for fear had they,
Who now beheld at early day

No spirit, as they deemed, but one
Their eyes should joy to look upon :

*Lamentations iv. 1.

There walked upon the troubled sea
Not even the form of earthly stranger:
'Tis their incarnate God they see-
Their "very present help" in danger.

IX.

"Tis He who when He pleaseth rides
In chariot of the winds or tides:
Who when He will can make the wave
Stand fixed and be "a wall" to save;
Or flowing on, yet firm sustain,

As now, the Lord who gave it being;
That they who feared the hurricane

Might fear no more-their helper seeing.

X.

But man first dreads his present ill;
And then, when matchless love and skill
Unite to lend the help he needs,

Still greater cause for terror reads:

Nay, oft he kneels him down in prayer,
To ask the gracious aid of Heaven,
And murmurs most, or in despair

Is lost, when what he asks is given.

XI.

How do we always need a voice
To say, "Tis I"-and bid rejoice!
We take the blessing for the rod,
"afraid to look on God:"

And are

We call on Him with fervent cry

And yet so prone to doubt Him ever

We fancy greatest danger nigh,

When He approaches to deliver.

XII.

Lord, give us grace to better learn
How wise thy love; and well discern
What most to wish-what most to dread:
And when our prayer or want hath sped

*Exod. iii. 6.

To Thee and brought a blessing down-
Oh! give us ever eyes perceiving
Its nature true-and hearts to own
That all is good to the, believing.

XIII.

When rises the tempestuous wave,
Oh! hasten still thine own to save!
At morn or eve, by night or day,
Come down, though gone above to pray :
We need indeed thy voice on high,

But here not less thine arm sustaining,And ever still those words-" Tis I"

Lest love be answered by complaining.