"If lilies teach, why not the voiceful sea?"—MS.

I.

"STARS teach as well as shine," so sings the bard:

Yea, to fit audience, Nature doth unfold

Both cheer and counsel; flowers which deck the sward, We know have lessons for us from of old.

And who can yonder element behold,

Nor feel what truths it presses on the heart

Which lists its teachings. From the crowd apart,

My spirit oft with it shall converse hold

Of life and death, eternity and time;

God's judgments witness in its depths sublime,
His mercies in its sand; till more and more

From things terrene and base my soul is won—

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Thoughtful to walk the silent, solemn shore

Of that vast ocean it must sail so soon."

A

II.

I stood upon a rock, against whose base
The breakers dashed with such tumultuous glee,
I could have deemed it ire, but that the sea
With answering smile returned the sun's glad gaze.
But soon dark clouds bedimmed the solar blaze,
And in his billowy strength the mighty deep
Gave fitting answer to the gale's wild sweep;
Till sea and skies appeared one wildered maze,
Each in the other lost and as the roar

Of wind and water in their dread affray
Smote on my ear, what I thought wrath before
Seemed but the freaks of infants at their play.
"Alas!" I cried, "how like this weary life,
Whose mirth is madness!-agony its strife!"

III.

Then to the beach descending mournfully,
I sought the shelter of a little cove,
Rock-fenced-but open to the sky above,
And by one narrow inlet to the sea :

And marvelled I to mark how peacefully

The charmed waves now, with scarce a louder tone Than that of summer brooklet, one by one

Entered that quiet bay. It seemed to me

A comment on those words the Saviour spake
To all with grief o'erburdened-care oppressed-
"Come unto me, ye heavy-laden: take

My yoke upon you, so shall ye find rest.”
So be it, Lord! even dear the storm will be
Which drifts me onward till I rest in Thee!

IV.

The day, though late in autumn, was most bright,
And the calm heavings of old Ocean's breast
Showed how near motion could resemble rest;
Yet grander looked he in his couchant might,
Than when with strength only not infinite,
Maddened with pride, he lifts his waves on high,
As 'twere his aim to fill the vaulted sky,

Not less than those vast depths of central night
Which never plummet sounded. As I gazed
On might resistless sheathed in smiles so bland,
Thought kindling thought, to Him my heart was raised
"Who measureth the waters in his hand :

Whose power, whose wisdom, though all thought above,
Are yet both lost in His Almightier love!

V.

"And there was no more sea!"

Rest for the weary! what so sweet as rest?
Go, ask the pale mechanic at his loom ;

Or him whose dinted helm and blood-stained plume
Speak of hard fields; or mariners who breast
Ocean's wild waves; and each one will attest
For this sweet boon he makes his ceaseless prayer.
But most of all, ask life's tired voyager

What lures him to the region of the blest;

'Tis not its loud hosannas, crowns, or palm

Its light ne'er dimmed-its bowers by angels trod:

No; next to the full vision of his God,

He yearns to feel the rapture of its calm—

Which haply in those words may imaged be

(Instinct with rest)—“ And there was no more sea!"

IDOL WORSHIP.

MRS ABDY.

NONE other gods but Thee-oh, Lord! How blest the task appears,

Το

pour the wonders of thy word

In listening heathen ears;

Their cherished idols to remove,

Their souls from clouds to free,

And bid them worship, serve, and love None other gods but Thee!

Yet, while thy glories we reveal
To many a pagan land,
Do we, thy chosen people, feel

The force of thy command?
Oh, do we to thy name divine

As to a refuge flee,

And do our inmost souls enshrine
None other gods but Thee?

Oft wealth our dazzled sight betrays, Ambition's power beguiles,

And pleasure to her specious ways

Courts us with flattering smiles;

Fame waves on high her laurel crown, We bend the votive knee :

Lord! can we then be said to own

None other gods but thee?

And even in our social ties,
Around the quiet hearth,
Too tenderly perchance we prize
Some dear one of the earth;
Our love to heavenly objects weak,
Chain'd to our homes may be,
Although our lips profess to seek
None other gods but thee!

Lord! while we lead the heathen still

In thy pure laws to live, Grant that we better may fulfil

The precepts that we give.

On us thy Holy Spirit pour;

From idols set us free;

And may our hearts henceforth adore

None other gods but thee!