The clouds! the clouds!-My childish days Are past, my heart is old; But here and there a feeling stays, That never can grow cold; And the love of Nature is one of these, That Time's wave never shrouds ; And oft and oft doth my soul find peace In watching the passing clouds! WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS, THAT EVEN THE WINDS AND THE SEA OBEY HIM?-Matt. viii. 27. OH! who is he?-the mighty waves Are silent when they hear his word,— The billows tremble like to slaves, And the rude wind, that wildly stirred, Sinks silently away to sleep Upon the bosom of the deep; And the storms flee before him, and are gone, Like clouds before the glory of the sun! Oh! who is he ?-a mortal's form, A mortal's face and voice are his; Yet, wherefore flees away the storm, Why comes a calm upon the abyss? The ship is tossing hopelessly, And madly boils the raging sea; Yet, in a moment stays it, at his will, When he hath only uttered, "Peace! be still.” Oh! who is he?—is he a king, With power to force the wind to cease,— Who, as he bids his people bring Offerings, can bid a holy peace Come, like a breath of heaven, upon The water-and will ocean own A mortal's power? No earthly king is he, And yet hath rule o'er heaven, and earth, and sea! Oh! who is he?-hath Genius poured Her hidden treasures o'er his mind; And like the royal harp, whose chord Could calm a monarch's tortured mind, Hath he a music in his tone, To make the mighty sea bow down?— Mightier than minstrel in his mightiest hour, Is that whereof he holds alone the power! Oh! who is he?-could man's command Be heard in Ocean's inmost caves, It could not force a grain of sand To fly towards the eddying waves: Therefore, within that earthly mould, The spirit sent from heaven behold; And lowly bowing, at his footstool fall, Confessing him the God, the Saviour of us all! "THEREFORE, LET HIM THAT STAND ETH TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL." I have beheld the eagle rise Proudly upon its mighty pinions, And soar along the azure skies, As if they were its own dominions; And I have seen its kingly form Amidst the clouds and whirlwinds floating, Regardless of the thunder storm, Its every motion strength denoting: Yet I have seen that very bird, That heeded not the thunder's pealing, That when the tempest's voice was heard, Amidst the lightning's bolts was wheeling, Struck by some earthly shaft, low lying Upon the plain, o'erpowered and dying. |