Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
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THE SPIRIT AND THE FLESH. |
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186
THE SPIRIT AND THE FLESH.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.”
—John, vi. 63.
If aught of flesh, or fleshly powers,
Thy kingdom, Lord, could win,
Then might we deem the glory ours,
And pride would enter in.
Thy kingdom, Lord, could win,
Then might we deem the glory ours,
And pride would enter in.
But Thy unchanging word hath shown
That these can nought avail,
That all which man can call his own
Must in this conflict fail.
That these can nought avail,
That all which man can call his own
Must in this conflict fail.
And our experience proves it true,
Instructed, day by day,
How little all that we can do
Can help us on our way.
Instructed, day by day,
How little all that we can do
Can help us on our way.
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Thy Spirit's quick'ning aid must give
The power to come to Thee,
The life whereby our souls must live,
The light by which we see.
The power to come to Thee,
The life whereby our souls must live,
The light by which we see.
The gracious words thy lips have said,
Are spirit, life indeed;
And Thou art still the living Bread,
Whereon the soul must feed.
Are spirit, life indeed;
And Thou art still the living Bread,
Whereon the soul must feed.
But those unto the fleshly heart,
Nor life, nor spirit yield;
Nor wilt thou of thyself impart,
Until by grace reveal'd.
Nor life, nor spirit yield;
Nor wilt thou of thyself impart,
Until by grace reveal'd.
Oh, give us, then, that heavenly grace,
Through whose blest aid, alone,
Our souls the mysteries can trace,
Thy living words make known.
Through whose blest aid, alone,
Our souls the mysteries can trace,
Thy living words make known.
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