Poems (Toke)/Saint john the evangelist's day

by Emma Toke

SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY.

H! God of mercy! chill and dark
The waters swell around Thine ark;
Send forth, we pray. fresh streams of light,
To guide her through the deepening night.

Long has she struggled 'mid the waves;
But louder now the tempest raves,
And with the world's fast closing eve,
Wilder the restless billows heave.

Fierce foes without, false hearts within,
Rebuke and conflict, shame and sin,
At once Thy sorrowing Church must brave:
O Lord! stretch forth Thine hand and save!

Let that sure word her beacon be,
The loved disciple caught from Thee,
And traced upon the holy page,
To light her on from age to age.

Oh! to that faith still keep her true;
Now 'mid the storm her strength renew;
Till, washed in blood, refined by tears,
Meet for her crown, Thy Bride appears.