TO THE SHIP "JOHN BUNYAN."

155

Then shapes a true course from the Bible outspread, And steers with the light of the wicket ahead.

There forward thou pressest, as running a race, Thy left grasps with ardour the volume of grace, That tells in what armour with Satan to cope, And lays the foundation of pardon and hope.

When gloom gathers o'er her, and baffling winds fight,

Still onward and upward thou point'st with thy right;

Thy figure will glow in the wave's lambent gleam, And guide thro' the dangers of whirlpool and stream.

When smooth is the ocean, the breeze blowing fair,
Oh! warn her to flee from the flatterer's snare,
Nor list to the song of the syren on shore,
Still watchful, should Satan or blandish or roar.

Thou knowest the labour when laden with sinsWhere the burden falls off, and redemption begins; Then warn of the light that Delusion displays, And point to the morning star's peace-bringing rays.

Exhort her, while traversing life's stormy main, From pride and the lusts of the eye to abstain; Urge patience and growth, on her heaven-set

race,

In the knowledge of Jesus, and beauty of grace.

Then go, lovely bark, with thy signals unfurled, And spread the glad tidings of peace o'er the world— A living epistle that all can receive

Display in thy conduct what Christians believe.

Escaped from the power of the Prince of the air,
The rocks of presumption and sands of despair,
The headland is doubled, the offing is won,
All danger surmounted, her heavenly course run;

For, leaving the ocean of tempest and strife,
She passes the bar of the river of life;
Her sails' growing splendour her progress displays-
In the light of the throne she is lost to the gaze!

J. LONGMUIR.

THE MAGNET.

LONG lay the ocean-paths from man concealed;
Light came from heaven, the magnet was revealed,
A surer star to guide the seaman's eye
Than the pale glory of the northern sky;
Alike ordained to shine by night and day,
Through calm and tempest, with unsetting ray;
Where'er the mountains rise, the billows roll,
Still with strong impulse turning to the pole,
True as the sun is to the morning true,
Though light as film, and trembling as the dew.
Then man no longer plied with timid oar,
And failing heart, along the windward shore;

THE MARINER'S COMPASS.

157

Broad to the sky he turned his fearless sail,
Defied the adverse, woo'd the favouring gale,
Bared to the storm his adamantine breast,
Or soft on ocean's lap lay down to rest;
While free as clouds the liquid ether sweep,
His white-winged vessel coursed the unbounded

deep;

From clime to clime the wanderer loved to roam,The waves his heritage, the world his home.

MONTGOMERY.

THE MARINER'S COMPASS.

SEE the magnetic needle lightly rest
Upon its pivot-delicate yet strong:
And, as the reeling vessel sweeps along,
It trembles with the ocean's trembling breast.
A ripple moves it, easily depressed,

But never conquered, tho' fierce whirlwinds roar,
Again it points to the far distant shore,
Swayed by a spell unseen, but still confessed.

And so the Christian, on life's troubled sea,
For ever shaken, yet for ever true,

Turns to the haven where he fain would be;
many, such his triumphs too:

His trials
Feels a mysterious power pervade his thrilling soul,
And with exulting faith obeys its strong control.
Church of England Sunday School Quarterly.

THE PARTING SHIP.

"A glittering ship that hath the plain

Of ocean for her own domain."-(WORDSWORTH.)

Go, in thy glory, o'er the ancient sea,

Take with thee gentle winds thy sails to swell; Sunshine and joy upon thy streamers be, Fare-thee-well, bark, farewell!

song;

Proudly the flashing billow thou hast cleft,
The breeze yet follows thee with cheer and
Who now of storms hath dream or memory left?
And yet the deep is strong!

But go thou triumphing, while still the smiles
Of summer tremble on the water's breast!
Thou shalt be greeted by a thousand isles,
In lone, wild beauty drest.

To thee a welcome breathing o'er the tide,
The genii groves of Araby shall pour;
Waves that infold the pearl shall bathe thy side,
On the old Indian shore.

Oft shall the shadow of the palm-tree lie

O'er glassy bays wherein thy sails are furled; And its leaves whisper, as the winds sweep by, Tales of the elder world.

THE PARTING SHIP.

159

Oft shall the burning stars of southern skies,
On the mid-ocean see thee charmed in sleep—
A lonely home for human thoughts and ties,
Between the heavens and deep.

Blue seas that roll on gorgeous coasts renowned, By night shall sparkle when thy prow makes

way;

Strange creatures of the abyss that none may sound,

In thy broad wake shall play.

From hills unknown, in mingled joy and fear, Free dusky tribes shall pour, thy flag to mark ;

Blessings go with thee on thy lone career!
Hush, and farewell, thou bark!

A long farewell! Thou wilt not bring us back All whom thou bearest far from home and hearth:

Many are thine, whose steps no more shall track Their own sweet native earth!

Some wilt thou leave beneath the plantain's shade, Where through the foliage Indian suns look bright;

Some in the snows of wintry regions laid,

By the cold northern light.