SEAMEN WANTED! When gentle zephyrs softly blow, Peace would reside within your breast, And 'mid the ocean's fervid glow, Your soul in hope would sweetly rest. Yours would be joys beyond the grave, 341 REV. J. TODD. SEAMEN WANTED! "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." -(MATT. xi. 28.) THINK, fearless roamers on the deep, Guilt looms along your sinful wake; Luff! luff! and shape your course anew, Keep Christ, your leading star, in view, No longer sail with folly's tides; Sin's compass and his chart forsake; Steer as the Holy Spirit guides, Attend your helm, and keep awake. Desert the captain and his crew, That lead you captive with the stream; Come, strike their flag of deadly hue, And leave them on the larboard beam. The CAPTAIN OF SALVATION calls- And clears the passage for above. Behold the bounty He will give— A pardoned soul, a peaceful breast, The glorious hope with Him to live, Safe landed on the SHORE OF REST! J. LONGMUIR "LAND A-HEAD!" SWEET music in the wave-worn ear! It is the seaman's cry, When the first speck of home-land near Then, loud as lip the news can spread, Oh! as those gladsome tidings speed And blithe ones to the topmast thread Once-and 'tis still a happy day- Where earth had but a shadowy sway, The heavens seemed past, and light, instead, I sat me by a dying man A good old man was he Whose years had through life's little span Where he had fought, and watched, and bled, Those scenes were now for ever past: 343 Where holy brethren meet at last, And storms are heard no more; And, rising from that lowly bed, I gently pressed his feeble hand, And wondered if his heart was manned When as if in my looks was read The thought he cried out, "Land a-head!" It was the olden, happy phrase; But at that hour it came, Not wrapt in light of elder days, But in immortal flame Poured out, and in abundance shed, He now could see beyond the skies- Where mansions of salvation rise And nobly trod the path that led And thither he went up at length, And walks the regions o'er, ELEGY ON SHIPWRECKED COMPANIONS. 345 Which armed those lingering hours with strength, And cheered for years before: If sweet to see, how sweet to tread Celestial land!-the "Land a-head!" REV. GEORGE BRYAN, M.A. ELEGY ON SHIPWRECKED COMPANIONS. YE lost companions of distress, adieu! Your toils, and pains, and dangers are no more; The tempest now shall howl unheard by you, While ocean smites in vain the trembling shore On you the blast, surcharged with rain and snow, In winter's dismal nights no more shall beat; Unfelt by you the vertic sun may glow, And scorch the panting earth with baneful heat. No more the joyful maid, with sprightly strain, Shall wake the dance to give you welcome home; Nor hopeless love impart undying pain, When far from scenes of social joy you roam; No more on yon wide watery waste you stray, |