University of Virginia Library

[FOR ONE THAT IS SICK, BEFORE USING THE MEANS OF RECOVERY]

CLVI. FOR ONE THAT IS SICK, BEFORE USING THE MEANS OF RECOVERY.

Hymn 1.

Virtue Divine, balsamic Word,
All-quickening, all-informing soul,
By whom Bethesda's waters stirr'd,
Could make the various lazars whole;

65

Angel of covenanted grace,
Come, and Thy healing power infuse,
Descend in Thine own time, and bless,
And give the means their hallow'd use.
Obedient to Thy will alone,
To Thee in means I calmly fly;
My life, I know, is not my own,
To God I live, to God I die.
In heaven my heart and treasure is,
Yet while I sojourn here beneath,
I dare not wish for my release,
Or once indulge the lust of death.
Thy holy will be ever mine;
If Thou on earth detain me still,
I bow, and bless the grace Divine,
I suffer all Thy holy will.
I come, if Thou my strength restore,
To serve Thee with my strength renew'd;
Grant me but this, (I ask no more,)
To spend, and to be spent, for God.

CLVII. THE SAME.

Hymn 2.

[Hail, great Physician of mankind]

Hail, great Physician of mankind,
Jesus Thou art from every ill,
Health in Thine only name we find,
Thy name doth in the medicine heal.
Thy name the fainting soul restores,
Strength to the languid body brings,
Renews exhausted nature's powers,
And bears us as on eagle's wings.

66

Faith in Thy sovereign name I have,
And wait its healing power to know,
Assured, that it my flesh shall save,
Till all Thy work is done below.
Then, Saviour, for my spirit call,
My spirit all conform'd to Thine;
And let this tabernacle fall,
To rise rebuilt by hands Divine.

CLVIII. THE SAME.

Hymn 3.

[Jesus, was ever love like Thine]

Jesus, was ever love like Thine,
So strong, and permanent, and pure!
Strange mystery this of love Divine,
That stripes should heal, and death should cure.
How costly was the medicine, Lord,
The medicine which Thy wounds supplied!
That I might live, to health restored,
My Lamb, my good Physician died.
My God, my all, O Christ, Thou art,
On Thee for every good I call,
Thy death shall life and strength impart;
O Christ, Thou art my God, my all.
Let others to the creature fly,
I still betake me to Thy blood,
I on Thy only blood rely
For life, for physic, and for food.
Thy blood did all my sorrows calm,
And ease the anguish of my soul,
And when I ask for Gilead's Balm,
It still is near to make me whole.

67

Thy powerful blood can clothe again
My feeble flesh with strength renew'd,
Sorrow, and malady, and pain
Shall fly before Thy powerful blood.
Whate'er my heavenly Father wills,
Through faith in Thee I still receive,
Thy blood my every promise seals,
And quicken'd by Thy blood I live.
Thy blood shall wash me white as snow;
It now hath brought me near to God,
And all my gifts and blessings flow
Through the dear channel of Thy blood.
To buy, and make me free indeed,
The ransom of Thy blood was given,
For me Thy blood on earth was shed,
And now it intercedes in heaven.
It speaks to God, my God, for me,
For me obtains whate'er is best;
And lo! the bleeding Lamb I see,
And in Thy wounds for ever rest.