The Sea by Eliza H. Morton

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Aug 8, 1878

The Sea.

By Eliza H. Morton

When God made the heavens and the earth he formed the sea also, and gave it this decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment. At times God has manifested his power by causing the waters of the sea to go back and by stilling its proud waves.

The sea is a symbol of beauty and grandeur. The varied hues of the fleeting clouds are reflected in its bosom; the lofty trees, the blue sky, the twinkling stars and the glories of the natural world are mirrored in its pure waters; but all this loveliness hides a relentless, cruel power. When harrowed by storms it lashes its waves in wild ungovernable fury and man cannot stay its roaring.

The earth can be cultivated; but the sea is a wide, dreary expanse. Man can traverse it, but no human hand can tame it. Its wet arms have opened to receive many of the loved of earth. Low, in that ocean-sepulcher lie many manly forms and beautiful faces. "Lost at sea," are words that have filled thousands of hearts with agony. Nameless graves, destitute of funeral rites, save the sad requiem of the winds, are scattered under the waves of the wide, wide sea.

The same hand that spread the waters from pole to pole, will gather them together again and that voice which is like the "noise of many waters" will call forth the sleeping dead.

The earth shining with glory will become pleasant land, and Abraham's seed, which are as the sands of the sea, will be gathered home. Pure will be the feet that press the "sea of glass" and sweet the voices that sing praises to the Lamb. ELIZA H. MORTON.