O! know ye how and where to seek

That mighty One, who here Vouchsafed these words of life to speak, And heard this father's prayer?

His heart is still soft pity's throne,
His ear as open stands,

His hand as strong, and still alone
His word the world commands.

And He is nigh thee! on thy heart
That pitying hand is laid,
And every wish thy lips impart

Is to that ear conveyed.

"Ask what thou wilt," commands He still;

Fear not, thou shalt be heard;

Only believe-He can, He will

Speak the life-giving word.

It

may

not be that life that spends

In care and pain its breath,

That runs its weary course, and ends

At last, and soon, in death.

But a gift beyond thy poor request
May to thy prayers be given :

A life to be spent in the mansions of rest,

And the endless bliss of heaven.

January, 1843.

13

Written for the Bethel Church at Habre.

To thee, O God! whose awful voice

Earth, sea, and air obey,

This humble house of prayer we raise,
And here our homage pay.

Its Bethel flag floats in the breeze,

Its stars on the ocean shine,

And the weary mariner's heart is cheered,
As he hails the holy sign.

The ship at rest, their perils past,

The joyous seamen come

Where the Bethel flag its welcome waves-
The flag of their distant home.

O God! if the heart's warm thanks to thee

A grateful offering prove,

If prayer and praise can rise on wings

Of gratitude and love,

Here in this house high hymns of joy
Thy rescued sons shall raise,

And glowing hearts and ready tongues
Their great Protector praise.

They've seen thy works upon the sea,

Thy wonders in the deep,

When thou didst loose the stormy winds
O'er the raging waves to sweep.

They sunk to the ocean's lowest depths,

They rose on the mountain wave,

They hung on the brink of the dread abyss, That yawned as an open grave.

They called on thee, and the raging sea

Sunk down at thy command,

And the angry rush of the winds was hushed In the grasp of thy mighty hand.

O! let them come, and this holy flag
Shall float in sainted air,

As high they raise the hymn of praise,
And the heart's ascending prayer.

And the breath of heaven shall fill their sails Wherever a breeze shall blow,

And they shall bear the gospel's light

Wherever a wave shall flow.

And thus, O God! the boundless sea

Thy glory shall proclaim,

And its distant isles' lone shores resound

With the Redeemer's name.

March, 1841.