The Disciples at Sea.

I

Constrain’d by their Lord to embark,
And venture without him to sea,
The season tempestuous and dark,
How grieved the disciples must be!
But though he remain’d on the shore,
He spent the night for them in pray’r;
They still were as safe as before,
And equally under his care.

II

They strove, though in vain, for awhile
The force of the waves to withstand,
But when they were wearied with toil
They saw their dear Saviour at hand:
They gladly received him on board,
His presence their spirits revived,
The sea became calm at his word,
And soon at their port they arrived.

III

We, like the disciples, are toss’d,
By storms on a perilous deep;
But cannot be possibly lost,
For Jesus has charge of the ship:
Though billows and winds are enraged,
And threaten to make us their sport;
This pilot his word has engaged
To bring us in safety to port.

IV

If sometimes we struggle alone,
And he is withdrawn from our view,
It makes us more willing to own
We nothing without him can do:
Then Satan our hopes would assail,
But Jesus is still within call,
And when our poor efforts quite fail
He comes in good time and does all.

V

Yet, Lord, we are ready to shrink
Unless we thy presence perceive;
save us, (we cry,) or we sink;
We would, but we cannot believe!
The night has been long and severe,
The winds and the seas are still high,
Dear Saviour, this moment appear,
And say to our souls, “It is I!”