Poems (Shipton)/The Fourth Watch

by Anna Shipton

THE FOURTH WATCH.

Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it.
Sol. Song viii. 7.

He walketh on the waters,
 Calm in the midnight storm;
The seething billow beareth
 That mild, majestic form;
The wind is but His chariot,
 Obedient to His word.
Who knows the path Thou takest?
 Creator! Jesus! Lord!

He walketh on the waters,
 He ruleth wind and wave,
The storm-tossed bark He steereth,
 He watcheth but to save.
In His right arm is safety,
 With Him is life and light:
Wait for Him, though He tarry
 Till the fourth watch of the night.

Distrust meets no upbraiding,
 All terror is allayed;
"Be of good cheer," He whispers,
 "Tis I; be not afraid."
Hark! as the sweet assurance
 Breaks gently on the ear,
Each sinking heart respondeth—
 "'Tis He! be of good cheer."

'Tis He who cleansed the leper,
 The Evil One cast out,
'Tis He who fed the hungry;
 Ye loved ones, can ye doubt?
Who, 'neath the vault of heaven,
 E'er yet the waters trod,
Or quenched their foaming fury,
 Save Christ, the Son of God?

Ah! while on earth they wandered,
 Those often weary men,
Forgat they e'er that whisper
 That stole upon them then?
With every stormy breaker
 The Master still was near;
His love upheld His weak ones—
 "'Tis I; be of good cheer."

Son of Man! still sleepless,
 When others toil or weep,
Thou, 'midst the wildest tempest,
 Dost ceaseless vigil keep.
Come, Lord! our fourth watch waneth;
 Come Thou—deliverance bring;
Of thy little band the Brother,
 The Bridegroom, and the King.

Far o'er the world's wide waters
 Thy open door is seen:
Thy dove, with white wings weary,
 Prays Thee to take her in.
There's light upon the billow
 As the wild blast sweepeth by;
We hear the heavenly message,
 "Be not afraid, 'tis I."

Oh, chase away the shadows,
 We long to see Thy face;
Each lonely hour hath brought us
 Nearer to Thine embrace:
Come, Lord! We wait Thy coming;
 With Thee is joy and light;
Sweet hope! soon, soon shall vanish
 The fourth watch of our night.