On Visiting Niagara

The Unionist 1833-12-19

Unionist content

ON VISITING NIAGARA

The awful grandeur of that view

Burst on my feeble senses then,

With whelming violence, and drew

The soul’s deep feeling out; as when

The hour of death draws nigh, we call

On Him who holds life’s issues all—

And lift our hearts up to the throne

Of Him the High, Eternal One;

As on the brink of that bursting stream

My soul went forth to the Great Supreme:—

“Almighty God! The terrors of thy power

Ne’er overwhelmed my soul as now!

The ocean-wave I rode, and did not cower!

The red winged thunder met with placid brow!

But lightning’s glare—the thunder’s awful tone,

And the dark-rolling mountain waves combined,

Show not thy majesty as this alone—

This ocean torrent, tumbling unconfined,

Lifting to heaven its cloud of living foam!

If these, Great God! thy handy works, compel

The humbled soul to come for strength to Thee,

What shall we need, when summoned hence to tell

The story of our life! O strengthen me!

And may my feeble faith, like these firm rocks,

Amid the waves temptation rolls, endure;—

My trembling virtue, strong amid the shocks

That evil gives to all, stand high and pure

Till in thy presence, blessed, thro’ Christ, I rest secure!”