Poems (David)/St. Mark iv. 39

by Edith Mary David

St. MARK IV., 39.

 

"And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."

"PEACE!" cried the Saviour, "Peace, be still!"
 The troubled lake His voice obeyed.
And then by His far mightier will
 The angry billows' course was staid.
The winds rebuked, their rage withheld;
 A calm sunk o'er the tossing sea;
And thus obedient to that great command
 Peace reigned o'er troubled Galilee.

Oh! peace to thee, thou anxious soul!
 Be not afraid, thy Lord is nigh:—
He seems to sleep when angry roll
 The waves of sorrow sweeping by.
Mourner, for thee His voice will surely still
 The tempest of thy human woes:—
Be not afraid!—He comes alone to kill
 The greatest of our earthly foes!

"Peace!" saith the Lord, ¢thou hast a crown
 Of life, oh! soul, reserved for thee;
Behold thou fainting one, its points are bound
 With roses gathered on the Tree.
Oh! trembling souls, when dark clouds grew,
 And midnight blackness reigned at noon;
The earth was tossed, the winds thus blew,
 And the fork'd light'ning rent the gloom!

"I gathered then that crown for thee,
 Threw ope the glorious gates of heaven!—
And wilt thou doubt, when thus on Calvary
 A sacred pledge for thee was given?
Be not afraid, for as of yore obeyed
 The depths of Galilee My mighty will:—
I rule supreme o'er death's cold dismal wave
 And whisper to them 'Peace, be still!'"