The Tempest

And are our joys so quickly fled!
We who were fill'd with living bread,
With calm delight and peace,
Constraint into the ship we go,
And now the boisterous violence know
Of stormy winds and seas.

To shipwreck our weak faith and hope,
Satan hath stirr'd a tempest up,
Prince of the lower air;
The world he actuates and guides,
He in that troubled ocean rides,
And reigns despotic there.

The world obedient to their god,
Rage horribly, and storm aloud,
The waves around us roll;
But fiercer still the storm within,
While floods of wickedness and sin
O'erwhelm the tempted soul.

Even now the waves of passion rise,
And work, and swell, and touch the skies,
Or bear us down to hell;
Toss'd in a long tempestuous night,
While not one gleam of cheerful light,
Or ray of joy we feel.

But lo! in our distress we see
The Saviour walking on the sea!
Even now He passes by;
He silences our clamorous fear,
And mildly says, " Be of good cheer,
Be not afraid, 'tis I!"

"'Tis I who bought you with My blood,
Tis I, who bring you wash'd to God,
Tis I the sinner's Friend,
Tis I, in whom ye pardon have,
Who speak in truth, mighty to save,
And love you to the end."

Ah! Lord, if it be Thou indeed,
So near us in our time of need,
So good, so strong to save,
Speak the kind word of power to me,
Bid me believe, and come to Thee
Swift walking on the wave.

He bids me come! His voice I know,
And boldly on the water go,
To Him my God and Lord,
I walk on life's tempestuous sea:
For He who loved, and died for me,
Hath spoke the powerful word.

Secure on liquid waves I tread,
Nor all the storms of passion heed,
While to my Lord I look;
O'er every fierce temptation bound,
The billows yield a solid ground,
The wave is firm as rock.

But if from Him I turn mine eye,
And see the raging floods run high,
And feel my fears within,
My foes so strong, my flesh so frail,
Reason, and unbelief prevail,
And sink me into sin!

Sinking on Him for help I call,
Save, Lord, or into hell I fall,
O snatch me from my doom;
Stretch out Thy hand, and ask me why,
Why dost thou doubt, or fear, when I
Thy Lord have bid thee come?

Lord, I my unbelief confess,
My little spark of faith increase,
And I shall doubt no more
But fix on Thee my steady eye,
And on Thine outstretch'd arm rely,
Till all the storm is o'er.

Jesu, in us Thyself reveal,
The winds are hush'd, the sea is still,
If in the ship Thou art;
O manifest Thy power Divine,
Enter this sinking church of Thine,
And dwell in every heart.

Come in, come in, Thou Prince of Peace,
And all the storms of sin shall cease,
And fall no more to rise;
We then, if Thou with us remain,
Our port shall in a moment gain,
And anchor in the skies.