And only there-her Paradise is found; O blest the man! whose aims and ardors rise These shall like fragrant incense rise, THE MISSIONARY. Go, take the wings of morn, Forsake thy father-land, Kindred, and friends, and pleasant home, O'er many a rude barbarian strand In exile though you roam, Walk there with God, and thou shalt find Double for all thy faith resign'd. Launch boldly on the surge, And, in a light and fragile bark, Thy path through flood and tempest urge, Like Noah in the ark: Then tread, like him, a new world's shore, Thine altar build, and God adore. Leave our Jerusalem, Jehovah's temple, and his rest; Go where no Sabbath broke on them Amidst that dawn from far. Be thine expected presence shown, And tell them, while they hail the sight, Tell them, his hovering rays Already gild their ocean's brim, Ere long, o'er heaven and earth to blaze- The Sun of Righteousness, who brings Nor thou disdain to teach To savage hordes celestial truth, Till warriors fling their arms aside, Train them, by patient toil, To rule the waves, subdue the ground, Thus then in peace depart, And angels guard thy footsteps.-No? There is a feeling in the heart That will not let thee go: Yet go-thy spirit stays with me; Though the wide world between Though day and night with thee be changed, Yet one in soul, and one In faith, and hope, and purpose;—yet God's witness in the heavens, yon sun, Forbids thee to forget Those from whose eyes his orb retires When thine his morning beauty fires. When tropic gloom returns, Mark what new stars their vigils keep; How glares the Wolf, the Phonix burns; And on a stormless deep The Ship of Heaven, the Patriarch's Dove, The emblem of Redeeming Love. While these enchant thine eye, O think how often we have walk'd, Till our hearts caught a kindling ray, Those hours, those walks are past! Farewell! we surely meet again Farewell till then! A HOME EVERYWHERE. HEAVE! mighty ocean, heave! And blow, thou boisterous wind! Onward we swiftly glide, and leave Our home and friends behind, Away, away we steer, Upon the ocean's breast; And dim the distant heights appear, Like clouds along the west. There is a loneliness Upon the mighty deep; Our home-O, heavens-that word! My wife and little one Are with me as I go; And they are all beneath the sun With them, upon the sea Or land, where'er I roam, Heave, mighty ocean, heave! And blow, thou boisterous wind! Where'er we go, we cannot leave Our home and friends behind. Then come, my lovely bride, We heed not earthly powers, We heed not wind nor weather; For come what will, this joy is oursWe share it still together. |