The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Gospel indeed! the' eternal God
His Son on mortals hath bestow'd!
Rejoice! ye favour'd sons of men,
Jehovah in your flesh is seen:
He brings you news of sins forgiven,
Of peace restored 'twixt earth and heaven.

Triumph ye ransom'd worms of earth,
Exult in your Creator's birth,
Your long expected Saviour greet,
And gladly to His sway submit:
Good tidings of great joy He brings
Exalting beggars into kings.

Sure earnest of the joys above,
He bids you reign, enthroned in love;
His gracious kingdom here receive
With meekness in His sight to live,
And then His glorious kingdom share,
And reign with Christ triumphant there.

781. [What, to man my follies own!]

And were all baptized of him in the river, &c. —i. 5.

What, to man my follies own!
Pride will never give consent:
Lord, Thou seest my heart is stone,
Till the stricken rock is rent:

445

Touch my heart with contrite shame,
Speak my stubborn pride removed;
Then I can to all proclaim
What a monster Thou hast loved.

Bid me step into the pool,
By repentance I obey:
But my filthiness of soul
Cannot thus be purged away:
Tears may wash my actual sin;
Guilt requires a stronger flood:
Plunge, and make my spirit clean
In the fountain of Thy blood.

782. [A true forerunner of his Lord]

There cometh One mightier than I after me, &c. —i. 7.

A true forerunner of his Lord
Will point to Him that comes behind,
Worthy to be of all adored
The God, the Saviour of mankind!
The servant strives with jealous care
Himself out of our minds to' efface,
His image from our hearts to tear
And print his Maker's in the place.

A preacher of repentance true
Impatient of esteem and praise,
Withdraws himself from human view,
And sends us to the God of grace;
Skilful to turn our heart and eyes
On Him that doth our hearts require,
Doth with the Holy Ghost baptize,
And purge our earth with heavenly fire.

783. [What avails the outward sign]

He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. —i. 8.

What avails the outward sign,
Without the inward grace?

446

Lord, I want Thy Spirit Divine
The spark of love to raise,
Straiten'd through intense desire
To feel the pure baptismal flame
Let the Holy Ghost inspire,
And plunge me in Thy name.

Unbaptized, in sin I live,
Till I Thy Spirit feel;
To Thy ransom'd servant give
That Gift unspeakable,
Witness, Pledge of joys unseen
Thy Spirit breathe into my breast:
Partner of Thy nature then
And one with Thee I rest.

784. [That Spirit Divine, that Water clean]

That Spirit Divine, that Water clean,
Jesus, Thou only canst impart,
That Fire which burns up all our sin,
And purifies the foulest heart:
O might He now the filth remove,
The burden of this wretched breast,
And kindling here a flame of love
For ever in His temple rest!

785. [Where'er the pure baptismal rite]

Coming up out of the water, He saw the, &c. —i. 10.

Where'er the pure baptismal rite
Is duly minister'd below,
The heavens are open'd in our sight,
And God His Spirit doth bestow,
The grace infused invisible,
Which would with man for ever dwell.

But ah, we lost the grace bestow'd,
Nor let the Spirit on us remain,

447

Made void the ordinance of God,
By sin shut up the heavens again,
Who would not keep our garments white,
Or walk as children of the light.

786. [By the legal goat foreshow'd]

Immediately the spirit driveth Him into, &c. —i. 12.

By the legal goat foreshow'd
The heavenly Victim see,
Burden'd with the people's load,
A world's iniquity!
God on Him our sins did lay:
And lo, into the desert driven
Jesus bears them far away;
And we are all forgiven!

787. [Life a temptation is!]

He was there in the wilderness forty days, &c. —i. 13.

Life a temptation is!
Its troubles never cease:
Grief to grief doth still succeed,
Woe to woe, as wave to wave,
Till the last o'erwhelms our head,
Sinks us to the quiet grave.

Soon as one fight is done,
Another is begun:
Satan watches us to see
When the flesh is mortified,
Tempts us by our victory,
Drives us on the rock of pride.

Ah, whither shall I run
By grace itself undone?
How escape my inbred foe,
While I in the furnace dwell,
Hunted by the fiends below,
Compass'd with the toils of hell?

448

To Christ the tempted I
Tempted for help apply,
Meekly suffer to the end
Forty days or forty years,
Till the flaming guards descend,
Till the angel-God appears.

788. [Sinners with true repentance turn]

Repent ye. —i. 15.

Sinners with true repentance turn
To Him your sins have pierced, and mourn;
Pardon'd, with deeper sorrow grieve,
Nor e'er on earth yourselves forgive;
When grace hath form'd your souls anew,
The sadly-pleasing task pursue,
And weeping show, till life is pass'd,
That the first duty is the last.

Through life your change of mind express
By following after righteousness,
By humble zeal and watchful prayer
The fruit of true repentance bear:
And still when all in Christ complete,
Lamenting at your Saviour's feet,
The height of your perfection prove
By lowest depths of contrite love.

789. [Without reluctance or delay]

Straightway they forsook their nets, &c. —i. 18.

Without reluctance or delay,
The call I cheerfully obey,
Drawn by no sensible reward
To follow my celestial Lord:
Made willing by the God unknown
My all to leave for Him alone,
Meanest of His disciples I
With Christ resolve to live and die.

449

790. [Doth Christ the passive people lead]

He entered into the synagogue, and taught. —i. 21.

Doth Christ the passive people lead
By instincts or impressions blind?
Or doth He gradually proceed
To' inform and teach the reasoning mind?
The outward knowledge of His word
His Spirit's inward light afford!

From Him His ministers should learn
To' instruct the unenlighten'd crowd,
To show poor souls their first concern,
To' explain the oracles of God
And lead them on in all His ways
To search His word and seek His grace.

791. [From servile fear and flatterers free]

They were astonished at His doctrine: for, &c. —i. 22.

From servile fear and flatterers free
Who ministers the gospel-word,
With wisdom, life, and energy
He only seeks to please his Lord
And labours sinners to convert,
And gains, by preaching to, the heart.

He doth not learnedly declaim,
His gifts or eloquence to show,
But preaches peace in Jesus' name:
And all the man of God may know
Distinguish'd by an heavenly sign,
Clothed with authority Divine.

792. [What violence and convulsive throes]

When the unclean spirit had torn him, &c. —i. 26.

What violence and convulsive throes
Doth Satan's struggling captive feel!
Happy the man who soonest knows
To' escape the toils of sin and hell:

450

But if resolved to serve thy God,
Sinner, for sorer toils prepare;
Satan will aggravate thy load,
Thy flesh torment, thy spirit tear.

His utmost rage and efforts vain,
Sure token of deliverance nigh,
His fiercest last assaults sustain,
With all thy strength to Jesus cry,
Invoke Him with redoubled prayer,
And soon the Saviour from all sin
Shall pluck thy soul out of the snare,
Shall bid thy sprinkled heart be clean.

793. [Who soften and corrupt the word]

What new doctrine is this? —i. 27.

Who soften and corrupt the word,
The power of God who never knew,
They stumble at our pardoning Lord,
They call the ancient gospel new;
New to poor souls by them misled,
To teachers blind and sinners dead.

New as the word of truth and grace,
In Abraham and his sons fulfill'd,
In every age and every place;
New as the woman's Seed reveal'd,
New as the Lamb from Adam's fall
Promised, and preach'd, and slain for all!

794. [His own renown, His own great name]

His fame spread abroad throughout all, &c. —i. 28.

His own renown, His own great name
Could never hurt God's only Son:
But listening to the voice of fame,
A human preacher is undone;

451

He lets the pleasing poison glide
Insensible through every part,
Till praise, and vanity, and pride
Corrupt his whole unwary heart.

795. [In the houses of the great]

They entered into the house of Simon. —i. 29.

In the houses of the great
Jesus doth not seek repose,
Pleased with an obscure retreat
To the poor and sick He goes.
Troubled with His creatures' pain,
Glad to answer their requests
Sojourns with a fisherman,
Humbly in a cottage rests.

796. [Happy the sin-sick soul to whom]

He came, and took her by the hand, and lifted her, &c. —i. 31.

Happy the sin-sick soul to whom
Jesus doth in pity come,
Physician from the skies!
He touches by His sovereign grace,
Commands the fever to give place,
And bids the patient rise.

He rises glad to tend his Lord,
Renders back his strength restored,
And labours to approve
His faithful gratitude sincere,
By serving all who serve or fear
The God of pardoning love.

797. [Preventing the first dawn of day]

In the morning, rising up a great while before, &c. —i. 35.

Preventing the first dawn of day,
Thus may I steal myself away,
As Jesus leads me on;

452

My labours leave to pray apart,
And pour out all my earnest heart,
And talk with God alone.

Howe'er in serving Him employ'd,
Oft will I quit the works of God,
And to the mount repair,
With thankfulness His grace request;
Or borrow the soft hours of rest
To spend in praise and prayer.

798. [An humble instrument of God]

When they had found Him, they said unto, &c. —i. 37, 38.

An humble instrument of God,
Whom all men seek, esteem, applaud,
Their praises casts behind,
Far as his ministry permits
Into the wilderness retreats,
And flies from all mankind.

Glad to be hid, unknown, obscure,
Servant and preacher to the poor,
He leaves the wilderness;
To sinners rich the poor prefers,
Chief object of their Saviour's cares
And His expiring grace.

799. [Where but at his Saviour's feet]

There came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, &c. —i. 40.

Where but at his Saviour's feet
Should a guilty sinner lie?
Languishing Thy touch to meet,
Jesus, for Thy help I cry,
Sin's inveterate leprosy
Humbly here expose to Thee.

Loathsome, foul, and self-abhorr'd,
Most unholy, most impure,

453

From the pity of my Lord
May I not expect a cure?
Trusting in Thy power to heal,
Need I doubt Thy gracious will?

No I cannot doubt Thy love,
Love in every age the same;
Still my Saviour's bowels move,
While I invocate Thy name,
Humbly in Thy love confide,
Wait for Thy deserts applied.

Thou in Thy humanity
Instrument of grace Divine,
Dost apply Thyself to me,
Holiness to sinners join,
If I can believe that Thou
Willing art to cleanse me now.

Lord, I can, I do believe
Sin retires at Thy command:
Now the word almighty give,
Now extend Thy healing hand,
Bid my leprosy depart,
Touch, and purify my heart.

CHAPTER II.

800. [The forwardness of listening Jews]

Many were gathered together, insomuch that, &c. —ii. 2.

The forwardness of listening Jews
Condemns our backwardness to hear,
Who now the word of God refuse,
Reject the gospel messenger,

454

With envious wrath exclaim aloud,
And fiercely chide the flocking crowd.

801. [Few on their ministry attend]

Few on their ministry attend
Who preach themselves, not Christ the Lord:
But if our God His Spirit send
And give the dead-reviving word,
When Shiloh doth Himself reveal
To Him the people gather still.

Who preach the genuine word of God,
His presence doth their labours bless,
And while the eager multitude
Doth to the joyful tidings press,
Both minister and people join
In faith, to prove the word Divine.

802. [Saviour, Thy Spirit's power exert]

Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. —ii. 5.

Saviour, Thy Spirit's power exert,
To seal my pardon on my heart,
To' assure me God is reconciled
And owns His dear adopted child,
Received into Thy family,
A member of Thy church and Thee.

Soon as I know my guilt removed
I know myself in Thee approved,
I feel that for Thy sake alone
A pardon'd sinner is a son,
And cry, constrain'd by love Divine,
The Father of my Lord is mine.

803. [Saviour, Thou canst with equal ease]

Whether is it easier to say, . . . Thy sins be, &c. —ii. 9.

Saviour, Thou canst with equal ease,
As when Thou on our earth didst dwell,

455

The body's and the soul's disease
By virtue from the Godhead heal:
With perfect life inspire my soul:
And if I yet may serve my Lord,
Pronounce this languid body whole,
And bid me rise, to preach Thy word.

804. [Jesus, the mortal Son of Man]

The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins. —ii. 10.

Jesus, the mortal Son of Man,
While humbly sojourning below,
Had power to purge our guilty stain,
And did His pardoning grace bestow:
But now He hath for sinners died,
But now He doth for ever live
Triumphant at His Father's side
Can Christ the Lord no more forgive?

Exalted on Thy glorious throne,
Thee, Prince of Peace by faith we see,
To make Thy power on sinners known,
To' impart Thy grace and purity:
A Saviour still in Thee we have,
Our Friend on earth, our Friend in heaven,
And when they trust Thy power to save,
A helpless world are all forgiven.

805. [Jesus, Thine eye with pity sees]

He saith to the sick of the palsy, I say unto, &c. —ii. 10, 11.

Jesus, Thine eye with pity sees
The fallen soul's severe disease:
Fallen in sin it lies,
Seeks in the creature its repose,
And weaker still, and weaker grows,
Till it for ever dies.

456

Thou hast to me my case made known:
The palsy of my soul I own,
So impotent to good,
I cannot my old habits break,
Or once stir up myself to seek
And walk the heavenly road.

Attach'd to earth, and dead within,
Past feeling of my desperate sin,
My desperate misery,
One virtuous step I cannot take,
I cannot the least motion make
Toward happiness and Thee.

But O, Thy grace which comes to all
Attends to raise me from my fall,
My malady to heal,
And conscious of my helpless state,
A sinner at Thy feet I wait,
Till Thou Thy power reveal.

Thy word of evangelic grace
Can in this solemn moment raise
A penitent forgiven;
Speak then, my kind almighty Lord,
And bid me now by faith restored
Walk after Thee to heaven.

806. [Thee, almighty God, we praise]

They were all amazed, and glorified God, &c. —ii. 12.

Thee, almighty God, we praise
For the wonders of Thy grace,
Wonders which our eyes have seen
Wrought among the sons of men,
Jesus, at Thy feet we own
Thine the work, and Thine alone.

457

Many a paralytic soul
Thou hast spoke entirely whole,
Raised by Thy redeeming love,
Set their hearts on things above,
Certified of sin forgiven,
Lifted up from hell to heaven.

807. [Servant of Christ, thy talent see]

He went forth again by the sea-side; &c. —ii. 13.

Servant of Christ, thy talent see,
The people's confidence improve,
By turning their regard from thee
By teaching them their Saviour's love,
To Christ in vain they cannot go,
His grace is then to sinners given
When by thy ministry they know
The Truth, the Life, the Way to heaven.

808. [Lord, if I have indeed believed]

As Jesus sat at meat in his house, &c. —ii. 15.

Lord, if I have indeed believed,
And Thee into my heart received,
Amidst the sinful crowd
O let me never blush to own
My Master, by the world unknown,
My Saviour and my God,

O may I never dare despise
The most abandon'd slaves of vice,
Or scorn their company,
But humble love for sinners show,
And prove my own conversion true,
By turning them to Thee.

Not to the just, but sinners sent,
I bid them in Thy name repent,
Thy following joy to prove:

458

And O, that all with pardon bless'd
Would share with me the gospel-feast,
The banquet of Thy love.

809. [“So high, so holy, and so great]

How is it that He eateth and drinketh, &c. —ii. 16.

“So high, so holy, and so great,
Why doth your Lord with sinners eat?
Unfold His strange design:”
A Pharisee inquires in vain;
Faith only can the depth explain
Of charity Divine.

God over all, for ever bless'd,
Whose presence is the heavenly feast,
For us His throne He leaves,
His love the Man of Grief constrains,
And makes Him live with publicans,
And makes Him die with thieves!

810. [Righteous in our own esteem]

They that are whole have no need, &c. —ii. 17.

Righteous in our own esteem,
Far from Jesus we remove,
Just, we have no need of Him,
Him, or His forgiving love:
But if sick of sin we groan,
To the kind Physician cry,
He doth then His patients own,
He doth then His blood apply.

When He hath begun our cure,
Seal'd the pardon on our heart,
Made our life and nature pure,
Shall we bid Him then depart?

459

No, unless with us He stays,
Still applies His balmy blood,
We shall forfeit all His grace,
Live to sin, and die to God.

811. [Sinners if Thou cam'st to call]

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners, &c. —ii. 17.

Sinners if Thou cam'st to call,
Surely, Lord, Thou cam'st for me:
Me uplift out of my fall,
Pardoning my iniquity:
Pardon'd let me still repent,
Struck with deeper sorrow mourn,
Still my former sins lament,
Weeping to Thy arms return.

812. [A Pharisee his neighbours blames]

Why do the . . . Pharisees fast, but Thy disciples, &c. —ii. 18.

A Pharisee his neighbours blames,
More to reprove their conduct aims
Than to reform his own;
Eager that others should embrace
All his religious forms and ways,
And copy him alone.

Of others with design he speaks,
And marking their omissions, seeks
To draw the' admiring eye,
By branding them as less severe,
Himself he studies to prefer,
Himself to magnify.

Far from his sour hypocrisy,
Thou inexperienced novice flee,
The poisonous leaven shun;
Thy censure rash forbear to deal,
Nor boast thy forwardness of zeal
To serve a God unknown.

460

Thou feeble soul unsaved from pride,
All thy external rigours hide,
With humbly prudent care:
The inward true religion seek,
Be poor, self diffident, and meek,
And then for God declare.

813. [A pastor should consider long]

No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an, &c. —ii. 21.

A pastor should consider long
The task, and strength to fit,
Nor much require from converts young,
Or services too great:
By urging novices too fast
While yet their grace is small,
He stops and makes them worse at last,
He mars and ruins all.

Satan himself will push them on
To' affect the high estate
Of men to perfect stature grown,
And preach, “they need not wait;”
Will dash their souls against the rock,
The babes by pride ensnare;
And when he can no longer mock,
Implunge them in despair.

A guide and master-builder wise
The deep foundation lays,
That souls from humble love may rise
To reach the perfect grace:
Humility preserves, and takes
For saints the lowest seat,
Love only edifies and makes
The man of God complete.

461

814. [A Pharisee the law defends]

The Pharisees said unto Him, . . . Why do they, &c. —ii. 24.

A Pharisee the law defends,
Whose end and spirit he o'erthrows,
Boldly the judgment-seat ascends,
Censures, rebukes, on all bestows,
Sets himself up as judge supreme,
And all must give account to him.

Full of himself, and swollen with pride,
All sects, except his own, he blames:
With confidence he dares decide,
O'er others the dominion claims.
He adds their followers to his own,
And reigns o'er all the church alone.

815. [God in mercy to our race]

Have ye never read what David did, &c. —ii. 25, 26.

God in mercy to our race
Did all His laws ordain:
Precepts positive give place
To' ensure the good of man:
Every word from heaven reveal'd
Subservient to its end must prove,
Lose its binding force, and yield
To the great law of love.

When our neighbour's wants declare
Extremity of woe,
Taught by God, we nothing spare,
But freely all bestow:
God abandon'd in their need
The things reserved for Him alone,
Pitied those that wanted bread,
And fed them with His own.

462

816. [Christ's is the religion pure]

The sabbath was made for man. —ii. 27.

Christ's is the religion pure,
Which only doth contain
Means effectual to secure
The happiness of man:
God by each command requires
The creature's happiness, not His,
Here our real good desires,
And our eternal bliss.

CHAPTER III.

817 [Our weakness in this emblem we]

There was a man . . . which had a withered hand. —iii. 1.

Our weakness in this emblem we,
Our total inability
Of doing good, may find;
While strangers to restoring grace,
We here behold our helpless case,
The case of all mankind.

A wither'd hand the miser is,
So careful not to give amiss
He never gives at all!
A magistrate is dead and dry,
Who never doth his power apply
Where truth and justice call.

Who, of authority possess'd,
Neglects to succour the oppress'd,
Nor takes the injured part,
Dead in the sight of God is he,
And by the eye of faith we see
His impotence of heart.

463

We see the unbelieving crowd,
Who cannot do one act of good,
Till Thou Thy love reveal,
Till Thou, almighty Lord, restore
The' effectual will, the gracious power
We lost, when Adam fell.

818. [The good which Pharisees gainsay]

He saith unto the man which had the withered, &c. —iii. 3.

The good which Pharisees gainsay
We should perform in open day,
Nor to their wrath attend:
Offended if with us they be,
Saviour, for imitating Thee,
We will, we must offend.

819. [The' insidious foes of truth become]

They held their peace. —iii. 4.

The' insidious foes of truth become
Ofttimes through pride and envy dumb;
The good they would reprove
They dare not openly decry;
Nor dare they speak, to justify
The men they will not love.

820. [Such may all my anger be]

He . . . looked round about on them with anger, &c. —iii. 5.

Such may all my anger be,
Sin when I in others see,
Not the pagan passion blind,
Rage of a vindictive mind,
But the fervency of zeal
Pain'd for those who cannot feel.

Lord, impart Thy grief to me,
Grief for man's obduracy;

464

Angry at the sin alone,
Let me for the sinner groan,
Till his hardness Thou remove,
His, and mine, by dying love.

821. [Who follow Christ in good delight]

He saith unto the man, Stretch forth, &c. —iii. 5.

Who follow Christ in good delight:
The soul they in His name invite,
Sinner, thy hand extend,
In alms and prayer thy faith to show,
Extend thy hand to grasp a foe,
And turn him to a friend.

But Thou, my Saviour, must confer
The energy of faith and prayer,
The life of charity,
Whoe'er exerts his wither'd hand,
Transmitted through Thy sole command
The virtue comes from Thee.

Thy hand, O Lord, o'er us extend,
To bless and strengthen and defend,
To heal and sanctify,
To fit for every righteous deed,
To mould after Thy will, and lead
And lift us to the sky.

822. [What is an heart with envy fraught]

The Pharisees . . . took counsel . . . against Him, &c. —iii. 6.

What is an heart with envy fraught,
And pride, the Pharisaic leaven!
It poisons every word and thought,
Into the hands of Satan given,
Contrives to' advance the murderer's cause,
And nails the Saviour to His cross.

465

By the malicious fiend possess'd,
Evil he counts his only gain,
Virtue he turns into a pest,
The balm of Gilead into bane;
By good his wretched soul he kills,
By good his own damnation seals.

823. [Shall we by resistance vain]

Jesus withdrew Himself. —iii. 7.

Shall we by resistance vain
Tempt the rage of wicked men?
No; but till our work is done,
Humbly wise, their malice shun;
Guided by our Saviour's eye,
When to stand and when to fly.

824. [See the patience of our God]

He . . . healed many; insomuch that they pressed, &c. —iii. 10.

See the patience of our God,
Jesus' love with wonder see!
Gracious He received the crowd,
Bare their importunity:
Who to Him for help applied
None unsuccour'd He repell'd!
Kind relief to none denied,
Spake their every sickness heal'd.

Surely then if sick and poor
Sinners of their hearts complain,
Jesus will their spirits cure,
Give them back their health again:
When we will not let Him rest,
He our holy violence loves,
Urged and importuned and press'd,
All our sins and griefs removes.

466

825. [Our sovereign Priest above]

He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth, &c. —iii. 13.

Our sovereign Priest above,
Who first went up the hill,
Doth by His secret Spirit move
And call whome'er He will:
Fountain of priestly power
And ministerial grace,
The church's Head our souls adore,
The God of holiness:

His ministers He takes,
Ordains them all alone,
Associates with Himself, and makes
In mind and spirit one.
Close after Him they press,
The holy mount ascend;
And Jesus with His servants stays
Till time and death shall end.

826. [Sent forth by Christ indeed]

And He ordained twelve . . . that He might send, &c. —iii. 14.

Sent forth by Christ indeed,
His true apostles go,
Through earth the joyful tidings spread
Of heaven display'd below:
Physicians under God
They for His patients care,
And all the grace on them bestow'd
To others minister.

War with the fiend they wage,
From strength to strength go on,
And cast him out in every age,
And tread his kingdom down:
Their Lord sets to His seal,
His own great power applies,

467

O'erturns by them the gates of hell,
And opens paradise.

827. [Who of the rich or great appear?]

The multitude cometh together again. —iii. 20.

Who of the rich or great appear?
The vulgar run in flocks to hear,
The refuse of mankind,
Whom all the wise and noble scorn,
To Jesus from their sins they turn,
And sure salvation find.

To' abase the loftiness of man
Their grandeur, power, and honour vain,
The despicable herd,
The poor to their Redeemer cleave:
And few besides will e'er receive
A mean rejected Lord.

828. [Dispensers of the joyful word]

They could not so much as eat bread. —iii. 20.

Dispensers of the joyful word,
Taught by the' example of our Lord,
We in His footsteps tread,
Servants of souls, for them we live,
Our utmost strength and labour give,
To serve their every need.

On them we day and night attend,
Our graces, gifts, and talents spend,
Each precious moment buy,
Forget our needful rest and food,
Spend all our lives for sinners' good,
And in their service die.

829. [His body if a Christian slight]

When His friends heard of it, they went out, &c. —iii. 21.

His body if a Christian slight,
A pastor toil by day and night,

468

His health in serving souls impair,
His madness all mankind declare:
But let a fool his God disdain,
Expose his life and soul for gain,
Destroy his health, abridge his days,
And all mankind his wisdom praise.

Above my Lord I would not be,
Prized by a world that branded Thee,
But scorn their scandalous esteem
Who dared my God Himself blaspheme:
My portion of Thy shame I take,
A madman for my Master's sake,
And made unto salvation wise,
Pursue my Pattern to the skies.

830. [Jesus' blacken'd follower may]

He called them unto Him, and said, &c. —iii. 23.

Jesus' blacken'd follower may
His own innocency clear,
Inconsistent lies display,
Guard the simple and sincere:
Call'd sometimes for God to speak,
Foulest slanders to disprove,
Then he answers mild and meek,
Full of truth and power and love.

831. [Foolish world, who brand the men]

Foolish world, who brand the men,
Men of God, as tools of hell!
Tell us not they preach for gain
Who their lives for Jesus sell;
Tell us not they preach for fame,
Sinners while to Christ they call,
Cover'd with contempt and shame,
Hated and abhorr'd of all.

469

Would the wise malicious fiend
Weapons 'gainst himself employ,
Raise up instruments and send
His own kingdom to destroy?
Who with sin incessant fight,
Satan of his prey disseize,
God declares they must be right,
Owns the messengers for His.

832. [When Satan rules the simple heart]

No man can enter into a strong man's house, &c. —iii. 27.

When Satan rules the simple heart,
Jesus alone can drive him thence:
Jesus, Thy Spirit's power exert,
Bring in Thy love's omnipotence,
The fiend out of my soul to chase,
And plant Thy kingdom in its place.

The strong man arm'd this moment bind,
The bold usurper of Thy throne,
His armour seize, the carnal mind,
The unbelieving heart of stone,
Out of my flesh the evil tear,
And pluck my soul out of the snare.

My soul redeem'd from Satan's toils
Now for Thy lawful captive claim,
Stir up Thy strength and take the spoils,
Thy double property I am,
Mark'd with Thy name, the goods are Thine,
Thy work, and bought with blood Divine.

833. [All! shall all forgiven be!]

Verily I say unto you, All sins shall, &c. —iii. 28.

All! shall all forgiven be!
Mercy then there is for me:
Great as my offences are
Christ prohibits my despair:

470

If to Jesus' name I bow,
Ready is my pardon now,
Purchased by the Saviour's blood,
Promised by the oath of God.

Saviour at Thy feet I fall:
All! hast Thou forgiven all!
All the sins I e'er have done!
O the depth of love unknown!
Lost in love unknown I cry
Why, Thou Friend of sinners, why?
Cry through all eternity,
Why would God expire for me?

834. [Whoe'er rejects Thy sacrifice]

He that shall blaspheme against, &c. —iii. 29, 30.

Whoe'er rejects Thy sacrifice
Disdaining to be saved by Thee,
The Spirit of holiness decries,
The fulness of the Deity;
Which dwells for man in Thee alone,
Who scorns that He in him should dwell,
In spite of all Thy love hath done
He will his own damnation seal.

But O, my Lord and God Thou art,
Thou hast the Spirit to confer,
Who sprinkles with Thy blood my heart,
Renews me in Thine image here:
Jesus, the purchase of Thy death,
The Spirit pure of ripest grace
Into my panting bosom breathe,
And fit me thus to see Thy face.

835. [Who do the will Divine]

Whosoever shall do the will of God, &c. —iii. 35.

Who do the will Divine,
In heaven their bless'd abode

471

The church of the first-born they join,
The family of God:
Obedient faith and love
Our soul to God allies,
And makes us one with Christ above,
Our Brother in the skies.

CHAPTER IV.

836. [Christ and whoe'er His doctrine preach]

And said unto them in His doctrine. —iv. 2.

Christ and whoe'er His doctrine preach,
Not as the world's declaimers teach;
His doctrine speaks of Him alone,
With secret energy unknown,
And sweetly doth the heart incline,
And proves itself the word Divine.

Who publish His authentic word,
Preach not themselves, but Christ the Lord,
Preachers of real righteousness,
Of glorious joy and heavenly peace,
They spread the virtue from above,
The pure morality of love.

Jesus, Thy messengers prepare,
Thy genuine gospel to declare;
Reveal in them the mystery,
And make them apt to teach, like Thee,
And faithfully Thy people feed,
And nourish souls with living bread.

Attended by Thy Spirit's power
Before them set an open door;

472

The word Thou dost vouchsafe to bless
Shall yield an hundredfold increase,
And every prosper'd messenger
Save his own soul, with theirs that hear.

837. [He understands the word aright]

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. —iv. 9.

He understands the word aright
Of Jesus' ministers,
Who hears with care, and takes delight
To practise what he hears:
But only God the willing mind,
The listening ear can give,
The grace which all may seek and find,
May ask it, and receive.

838. [Thy own word I bring to Thee]

When He was alone, they . . . asked of Him, &c. —iv. 10.

Thy own word I bring to Thee
(Left with my great Lord alone);
Scatter the obscurity,
Make the hidden meaning known:
Dark Thou know'st I am and blind,
Let Thy Spirit's grace bestow'd
Lead me into all the mind,
All the mysteries of God.

839. [Reason's glimmering light is vain]

Unto you it is given to know the mystery, &c. —iv. 11.

Reason's glimmering light is vain,
Till Thy Spirit I receive:
He Thy language must explain,
He must give me to believe:
When the precious gift is mine,
Then I know the mystery,
Feel the power of love Divine
Stablishing its throne in me.

473

Yet I cannot proudly scorn
Those without, who nothing know:
Of Thy word and Spirit born
All I am to grace I owe,
Those without may be brought in,
I receive the faith in vain,
I may forfeit it by sin,
They by grace the kingdom gain.

840. [Our ignorance 'tis Thine to show]

Know ye not this parable? and how, &c. —iv. 13.

Our ignorance 'tis Thine to show,
And make us sensible
We never can the mysteries know
Which Thou dost not reveal:
All Scripture hence we plainly see
By inspiration given,
And wait, O Lord, till taught of Thee
We teach the way to heaven.

841. [The word in every one]

The sower soweth the word. —iv. 14.

The word in every one
Who faithfully receives,
An earnest of his bliss begun,
A seed of glory lives:
But let it still increase,
A tree of life arise,
And yield the fruits of righteousness,
The fruits of paradise.

842. [The bare external word]

The bare external word
A human sower sows;
But our unseen almighty Lord
The power and grace bestows,

474

The soul's attentive ear,
The persevering root,
The fertile ground, the heart sincere,
The growth and perfect fruit.

843. [Who untried himself can know?]

They . . . receive the word with gladness, &c. —iv. 16, 17.

Who untried himself can know?
Trials make the heart appear:
Joy if Thou on me bestow,
Guard it, Lord, with modest fear;
Nature's ostentatious pride,
Self-delight far off remove,
Then I shall the test abide,
Rooted deep in humble love.

844. [Saviour I in Thee confide]

The lusts of other things entering in, choke, &c. —iv. 19.

Saviour I in Thee confide:
How shall I Thy grace retain?
Aught if I desire beside,
All my good desires are vain:
Lest the world ensnare my heart,
Banish every thought of Thee,
Entering now, no more depart,
Christ be all in all to me.

845. [With humble joy the word who hear]

These are they which are sown on good ground, &c. —iv. 20.

With humble joy the word who hear
And faithfully retain,
And practise it with zeal sincere,
The full reward they gain;
In faith they more and more increase,
In hope and patient love,
Have here their fruit to holiness,
And endless life above.

475

846. [Truth will not be suppress'd]

Is a candle . . . to be put under a bushel, or, &c. —iv. 21.

Truth will not be suppress'd,
Our faith by works is shown,
Our Saviour openly confess'd
By all who Christ have known:
Christians as lamps appear,
Light to the world we give;
And if our words they will not hear,
They must behold us live.

847. [Truth never shuns the light]

There is nothing hid, which shall not be, &c. —iv. 22.

Truth never shuns the light,
The light it loves and spreads:
But well the conscious sons of night
May hide their wicked deeds—
Till that eternal day
Their works and hearts reveal,
And all the secret good display
Which humble saints conceal.

848. [Lord, if Thou giv'st the hearing ear]

Take heed what ye hear. —iv. 24.

Lord, if Thou giv'st the hearing ear,
The faith that works by love,
Thy word we cautiously shall hear,
And carefully improve;
Savour of life it then shall be,
Thoughts, words, and actions leaven,
And build us up complete in Thee,
And give us thrones in heaven.

849. [The hope of Thy redeeming love]

He that hath, to him shall be given. —iv. 25.

The hope of Thy redeeming love
Ah, give me, Saviour, to retain,

476

To use, and carefully improve
One talent, till the rest I gain:
On me, if still I clasp Thy feet,
Thou wilt bestow the gospel-peace,
And then the righteousness complete,
And then the crown of righteousness.

850. [Ye bold to' explain, describe, define]

So is the kingdom of God, as if a man, &c. —iv. 26, 27.

Ye bold to' explain, describe, define
The progress of the life Divine,
Your learned ignorance allow,
And own it grows ye know not how!

No mortal eye the manner sees,
The imperceptible degrees,
By which our Lord conducts His plan,
And brings us to a perfect man.

851. [Thou dost not say, The seed springs up]

The earth bringeth forth . . . first the blade, &c. —iv. 28.

Thou dost not say, The seed springs up
Into an instantaneous crop;
But waiting long for its return,
We see the blade, the ear, the corn:
The weak; and then the stronger grace,
And after that full holiness.

Thou then the fond delusion stop
Of nature's unsupported hope,
Which bids us snatch the' unlabour'd prize,
And into sudden pillars rise,
Step o'er the cross, and work between,
And sleeping dream—“we cannot sin”!

477

Let us with lawful violence strive,
And toil to rest, and die to live,
Humbly in all Thy footsteps go,
From babes to youths, and fathers grow,
From faith, by just gradation move,
Through patient hope, to perfect love.

“So the soul, in an inexplicable manner, brings forth first weak graces, then stronger, then full holiness.” —The Rev. Mr. J. Wesley's Notes on the New Testament.

852. [No turns of eloquence He seeks]

Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? &c. —iv. 30.

No turns of eloquence He seeks,
Or flowing ornaments of phrase,
But truth in apt expressions speaks,
To' explain the mysteries of grace,
That simple humble men may know
That which the proud and learned miss,
The way to happiness below,
The way to everlasting bliss.

853. [Saviour, instruct us to declare]

Spake He the word unto them, as they were able, &c. —iv. 33.

Saviour, instruct us to declare
Thy word as every one can bear,
Milk, or strong meat to give,
As every soul hath gain'd from Thee
A large or small capacity
Thy doctrines to receive.

Who the first elements would know,
To these we cannot stoop too low,
Or speak in words too plain,
While step by step we bring them on,
Till all Thy saints through faith alone,
Come to a perfect man.

854. [To men of their own knowledge proud]

But without a parable spake He not unto, &c. —iv. 34.

To men of their own knowledge proud,
In every age the truths of God
As riddles dark appear:

478

The things in parables conceal'd
From them, are to the poor reveal'd
The simple and sincere.

The secrets of the Lord are known
To them who follow Christ alone,
And leave themselves behind;
To sinners who His cross embrace
He shows the mysteries of grace,
And tells them all His mind.

855. [Who sail with our Lord in the ship]

There arose a great storm of wind, &c. —iv. 37, 38.

Who sail with our Lord in the ship,
Before we arrive at the skies,
Long toss'd on a perilous deep,
When storms of affliction arise,
We daily in jeopardy live
While sorrow and heaviness seize,
Of death the sad sentence receive
And shrink at a gaping abyss.

The floods of ungodliness swell,
The passionate hurricanes roar,
The prince of the air and of hell
All threaten our souls to devour!
The waves they go over our head,
The waves they beat into the ship,
O'erwhelm us with horrible dread
And whirl us immersed in the deep!

O where is our Friend in distress?
He sleeps, but His heart is awake:
Our danger and trouble He sees,
His church He will never forsake:

479

He sleeps, to redouble our prayers,
Our groans and importunate cries:
And still for His people He cares,
And soon we shall see Him arise.

856. [Master, can Thy follower be]

Master, carest Thou not that we perish? —iv. 38.

Master, can Thy follower be
Excluded from Thy care,
Toss'd on life's tempestuous sea,
And sinking in despair?
Now command the storm to rest,
Hush the wind, the sea reprove,
Spread throughout this troubled breast
A calm of faith and love.

857. [O Jesus awake and be near]

And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said, &c. —iv. 39.

O Jesus awake and be near,
A sinner in mercy to save;
I perish unless Thou appear,
And rescue my soul from the wave:
Assail'd from without and within,
The storm I no longer can bear,
But sink in an ocean of sin,
But plunge in a gulf of despair.

Arise in the power of Thy love
My turbulent passions to bind,
Temptation and sin to reprove,
And still the tempestuous wind;
The storm in a moment allay,
Pronounce the omnipotent word,
And ocean at once shall obey,
And nature acknowledge her Lord.

858. [Peace of the tempestuous soul]

Peace of the tempestuous soul,
Rise and all our fears control,

480

Calmer of the troubled breast,
Bring Thy tempted people rest:

In a world of evil toss'd,
Wilt Thou let Thy church be lost?
Can we perish in the deep,
Sink with Jesus in the ship?

Waking at our plaintive cry,
Show our sure salvation nigh,
By the brightness of Thy face
Sin, the world, and Satan chase.

Nothing can withstand Thy will,
Speak and bid the storm be still,
Then the wind shall cease to roar,
Then the sea shall work no more.

Lord, if Thou the tempest chide,
Sin shall suddenly subside,
Man to Thy command submit,
Satan fall beneath our feet.

Then to perfect peace restored,
Calm'd by Thy almighty word
All our troubles we outfly,
Reach our haven in the sky.

859. [Ask we, now the storm is laid]

Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? —iv. 40.

Ask we, now the storm is laid,
Wherefore was my heart afraid?
Lord, with shame the cause I see,
Want of confidence in Thee.

But Thy love doth not despise
Nature's most imperfect cries,
Souls o'erwhelm'd with doubts and fears,
Faith which next to none appears.

481

Thou my little faith increase
Till my last temptations cease,
Till Thy goodness I adore
Safe on the eternal shore.

860. [When the trying hour is pass'd]

They feared exceedingly, and said one to, &c. —iv. 41.

When the trying hour is pass'd,
Saved by miracle at last,
Mindful of the death so near,
Should we not rejoice with fear?

Should we not the dread retain,
Talking of the wondrous Man,
Mighty both in deed and word,
Sovereign universal Lord?

Him whom wind and sea obeys,
Him omnipotent in grace,
Him to worship we agree
God from all eternity.

CHAPTER V.

861. [A sinner's heart by lust possess'd]

There met Him out of the tombs a man with, &c. —v. 2.

A sinner's heart by lust possess'd,
Of birds unclean the loathsome nest,
Of fiends the dark abode;
A stinking sepulchre it lies,
While the poor wretch with horror flies
The sight of man and God.

Shut up within himself he dwells,
Corruption, rottenness, conceals,
Till the Deliverer come:

482

Tormented then with sudden light
The slave of hell bewrays his fright,
And rushes from his tomb.

Jesus, Thy Spirit drags him thence,
Compell'd by Thine omnipotence
He shows himself to Thee,
His putrid heart, his shameful vice
Exposes to Thy glorious eyes,
Thou God of purity.

862. [The soul o'ercome by vile desires]

Who had his dwelling among the tombs; &c. —v. 3, 4.

The soul o'ercome by vile desires,
When his last spark of grace expires,
Is number'd with the dead,
Buried in a foul body dwells
And all the rage of passion feels,
By sin and Satan led.

Impatient of control he flies,
Breaks through the strongest sacred ties
And ranges unconfined,
Nor shame nor conscience can restrain,
Nor all the laws of God and man
The fiend incarnate bind.

863. [Where social virtue never comes]

And always, night and day, he was in the, &c. —v. 5, 6.

Where social virtue never comes,
Among the dead in sin he roams,
Nor finds a moment's rest,
Tortured by contrary desires,
Pride, lust, and rage, he stirs the fires
The Tophet in his breast.

483

How shall he 'escape the hell within?
The' intolerable yoke of sin
How can he break or bear?
O, let him run our Lord to meet,
And worship at his Saviour's feet,
And cry for mercy there.

864. [Yet still the sin to which he cleaves]

He cried with a loud voice, . . . What have I to, &c. —v. 7, 8.

Yet still the sin to which he cleaves,
Not without violence he leaves
And nature's sorest pain;
As dreading to be dispossess'd,
The fiend he harbours in his breast,
And hugs the tyrant's chain.

But Jesus by a sinner seen
Will never bear the spirit unclean
Should in His presence stay:
The powerful word He speaks alone,
The demon foul He bids begone,
And Legion must obey.

865. [Legion the true infernal name]

My name is Legion. —v. 9.

Legion the true infernal name
Of him, who lost to virtuous shame
The slave of passion lives:
A multitude of passions rise,
And fill'd with one, he every vice
Into his heart receives.

866. [With sin we must entirely break]

He besought Him much that He would not, &c. —v 10.

With sin we must entirely break,
No truce or composition seek,
But all occasions fly,
No commerce with our lusts maintain,
Or, when the foe's expell'd, remain
With the temptation nigh.

484

867. [See the soul redeem'd indeed]

And see him that was possessed, sitting, &c. —v. 15.

See the soul redeem'd indeed,
From his evil habits freed,
See the pardon'd sinner sit
Listening at his Saviour's feet,
Clothed with Jesus' righteousness,
Fill'd with purity and peace,
To a sober mind restored,
One in spirit with his Lord!

868. [Earthly things who counts his gain]

And they began to pray Him to depart out of, &c. —v. 17.

Earthly things who counts his gain,
Christ he will not long retain,
If the world is in his heart,
Christ he wishes to depart,
Dreads the grace on sinners shown,
Happy in their God alone,
Lust prefers to love Divine,
Damns his soul to keep his swine.

869. [Blacker far in my own eyes]

He that had been possessed . . . prayed Him that, &c. —v. 18.

Blacker far in my own eyes
Than the foulest slaves of vice,
Saviour I have no pretence
To the place of innocence;
Yet, my God, I humbly pray,
Suffer me with Thee to stay,
In Thy loving heart to' abide,
Never leave Thy wounded side.

870. [Shall I through prudent fear forbear?]

Go . . . tell . . . how great things the Lord hath, &c. —v. 19.

Shall I through prudent fear forbear?
Or thankfully His grace declare
Who hath my sins forgiven?

485

His grace I will to all proclaim,
That all may praise my Saviour's name,
And earth be turn'd to heaven.

Now, Lord, at Thy command I go,
And to my friends the wonders show
Which Thou to me hast shown:
Thou hast Thy pardoning love reveal'd,
The fiend out of my heart expell'd,
And claim'd it for Thine own.

While thus I testify of Thee,
With genuine meek humility
Thy witness, Lord, inspire,
That all my friends may wake, and fear,
And listen, till Thyself they hear,
And catch the heavenly fire.

Didst Thou in me Thyself reveal,
That I Thy goodness might conceal,
Or boastingly proclaim?
No: but Thou wilt my wisdom be,
And give me true simplicity
To glorify Thy name.

Wherefore in confidence of grace,
I tell to all the ransom'd race
What Thou for me hast done,
That all the ransom'd race may find
The present Saviour of mankind,
And praise my God alone.

871. [A fountain of infectious blood]

And had suffered many things of many, &c. —v. 26.

A fountain of infectious blood
Hath made my heart and life unclean:

486

Most loathsome in the sight of God
The dire concupiscence within,
The filthiness of lust and pride,
Of flesh and spirit I bemoan;
And having all physicians tried,
Confess, I can be heal'd by none.

A length of years in sin and pain
Have I not rather died than lived?
Yet no relief from means or men,
Sufferings, or works, have I received:
My strength is spent, my life is gone,
The last faint spark of hope and grace,
And sunk in deep despair I own
I am all sin and wickedness.

872. [But lo, at last with joy I hear]

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press, &c. —v. 27.

But lo, at last with joy I hear
Of Jesus and His wondrous name,
And pressing through the crowd, draw near
In hope to touch His garment's hem:
Clothed with our flesh I Him believe
My spirit with His own to join,
And trust by contact to receive
The virtue of that Man Divine.

873. [That Man, the surety of our peace]

For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, &c. —v. 28.

That Man, the surety of our peace,
All power doth in Himself contain,
The cure of every soul-disease,
The balm of every grief and pain:
True faith on me if He bestow,
His Spirit then shall make me clean,
The fountain from His side shall flow,
And drain the spring of inbred sin.

487

874. [The spring of sin is proud self-love]

And straightway the fountain of her blood, &c. —v. 29.

The spring of sin is proud self-love;
And if my Lord His blood apply
His blood the evil shall remove,
His blood shall wholly sanctify;
Shall first of sin obstruct the course
In this frail flesh and heart of mine,
And then dry up corruption's source
By perfect charity Divine.

The plague which all my soul o'erspreads
Jesus can in a moment heal:
The long delay from me proceeds,
From mine and not my Saviour's will:
O could I touch the' incarnate God,
And boldly my Redeemer praise,
Cured by the virtue of His blood,
The emanation of His grace!

875. [Wisdom Himself surprised would be]

Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself, &c. —v. 30.

Wisdom Himself surprised would be
(If man his Maker could surprise)
At confident humility
Which secretly to Christ applies:
Where'er it apprehends its Lord,
He knows the soul no longer pain'd,
The conscious sinner is restored,
The Saviour by a touch is gain'd.

876. [What crowds, O Lord, Thy name profess]

His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest, &c. —v. 31.

What crowds, O Lord, Thy name profess,
Nor know their sinful malady!
On Thee in vain they throng and press,
Who never touch or cleave to Thee:

488

Thou singlest out the soul sincere,
That comes behind, Thy grace to prove,
That seeks abash'd, with speechless fear
And humble faith, Thy healing love.

877. [Self-diffidence may souls abase]

But the woman fearing and trembling, &c. —v. 33.

Self-diffidence may souls abase,
And blind to their own virtues make,
The humble trembling sons of grace
Faith for presumption may mistake:
But Christ delights in faith's excess,
He smiles to see the prostrate soul,
To hear the heal'd with awe confess
The confidence which made them whole.

878. [When Jesus hath a sinner heal'd]

And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith, &c. —v. 34.

When Jesus hath a sinner heal'd,
He will the healing word repeat,
Again confirm the pardon seal'd
To all who tremble at His feet:
“Be heal'd,” He every moment saith
In effluxes of gracious power,
And while He speaks, we live by faith,
Go on in peace, and sin no more.

879. [At first our wisely silent Lord]

As soon as Jesus heard the word, . . . He saith, &c. —v. 36.

At first our wisely silent Lord
Slighted the' afflicted father's prayer,
Gave him no hopes or cheering word,
As quite excluded from His care,
He seem'd to cast his suit aside,
And to another's cure applied.

But when his faith begins to fail
O'erpower'd with trials too severe,

489

Jesus doth by a word dispel
His sad despondency and fear,
Bids him believe from first to last,
And hold his faith and patience fast.

Brought to the point, a sinner still,
When ready to receive his cure,
May greater shocks and conflicts feel,
May sorer agonies endure,
As press'd above what he can bear,
As faith were conquer'd by despair.

But then in his extreme distress
The long entreated God will hear,
The sinner's staggering faith increase,
Reveal His great salvation near,
Make all His power and mercy known,
And save his soul by grace alone.

880. [Vainest man affects applause]

He suffered no man to follow Him, save Peter, &c. —v. 37.

Vainest man affects applause,
All his good to man displays;
Jesus from the world withdraws,
Hides His miracles of grace,
Teaches His disciples true
Noise and pomp, like Him, to shun,
Secretly their works to do,
Praise to seek from God alone.

881. [Sinners who bewail your dead]

Why make ye this ado, and weep? —v. 39.

Sinners who bewail your dead,
See from whence your sorrows flow:
If from nature they proceed,
Stop the unavailing woe:

490

Happy who in Jesus sleep:
Mourn aright ye noisy crowd,
For yourselves, not others, weep,
Foes to Christ, and dead to God.

882. [Still the faithless world deride]

They laughed Him to scorn. —v. 40.

Still the faithless world deride
Jesus and His witnesses,
Us who in His power confide
In His love the dead to raise:
Still their mockings we despise,
Daily, Lord, Thy wonders see,
Souls who from their sins arise
Quicken'd by a word from Thee.

883. [Jesus, I wait the Spirit's power]

Talitha cumi! —v. 41.

Jesus, I wait the Spirit's power
Which ever doth from Thee proceed,
Which did the breathless maid restore,
To raise my spirit from the dead:
I look continually to prove
The hidden life of holy love.

O bid my dead, dead soul arise,
In real holiness renew'd,
O give me back my paradise,
The image and the life of God,
My life, my resurrection be,
And manifest Thyself in me.

By one almighty word begin
Our life of faith and holiness:
And while we daily die to sin,
Thyself, by swift or slow degrees,

491

Diffuse through all Thy members here,
And then our heavenly Head appear.

884. [What but Omnipotence can raise]

They were astonished with a great astonishment. —v. 42.

What but Omnipotence can raise
The dead in trespasses and sins?
Jesus the infidels amaze,
The world by miracles convince,
Thy people call out of their tomb,
And prove, Eternal Life is come.

Who now Thy living church admire
O may they all our blessings share,
And while Thou dost their souls inspire,
The quickening power of faith declare,
The world's astonishment increase
By a new life of righteousness.

885. [The life by miracle restored]

He . . . commanded that something should be, &c. —v. 43.

The life by miracle restored
Must be by common means sustain'd:
But quicken'd by my loving Lord
The life which through His grace I gain'd
Each moment by His grace is fed,
And nourish'd with immortal bread.

Whoe'er by Thy command impart
The children's bread, the strengthening grace,
Thou, Lord, both Food and Feeder art;
Thy Spirit to our souls conveys
Perceived and unperceived supplies
Of heavenly life that never dies.

492

CHAPTER VI.

886. [To' elude the force of truth severe]

Many hearing Him were astonished, &c. —vi. 2.

To' elude the force of truth severe,
Many admire in vain,
And praise the powerful word they hear,
But cavil at the Man.

887. [The world with spurious wisdom blind]

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, &c. —vi. 3.

The world with spurious wisdom blind
Always reject the true,
Occasion of offence they find
In Him they never knew;
They stumble at His low estate
Who left His throne above,
Humbled Himself, to make us great
And crown us with His love.

888. [The' ungrateful unbelieving crowd]

He could there do no mighty works, save that, &c. —vi. 5.

The' ungrateful unbelieving crowd
Tie up the bounteous hands of God,
And stop His saving power;
Yet with the sick of sin He stays,
And every soul that needs His grace
He doth to health restore.

889. [Thou wonderest at our unbelief]

He marvelled because of their unbelief. —vi. 6.

Thou wonderest at our unbelief,
That with astonishment and grief
We our own sin may see,
Our incredulity confess,
Ask at Thy feet the saving grace
And faith receive from Thee.

493

890. [Who sends His servants forth by pairs]

And began to send them forth by two and two, &c. —vi. 7.

Who sends His servants forth by pairs,
To make His power and goodness known,
Thus to their successors declares
That two are better far than one,
And wills the preachers in His name
To think, and speak, and live the same.

The force of unity Divine
Nor men nor devils can oppose;
If Jesus' love our spirits join,
We trample on our hellish foes,
And spoil Abaddon of his crown,
And turn his kingdom upside down.

891. [True ministers of gospel grace]

He commanded them that they should take, &c. —vi. 8.

True ministers of gospel grace,
Detach'd from all the things below,
The cross and poverty embrace,
After the Lamb's apostles go;
And partners of the Crucified,
They nothing know or seek beside.

Strangers to every priestly vice
The world they neither fear nor love,
They hoard their treasure in the skies,
Fix their desire on things above,
They nothing have, yet all possess,
And fill the earth with heavenly peace.

But where, alas, may such be found,
Themselves to Christ who wholly give,
Spread the good news to all around,
And only for their Saviour live,
And glad at last their lives lay down
To gain an apostolic crown!

494

892. [The more a preacher toils to save]

Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, &c. —vi. 11.

The more a preacher toils to save
Rebellious souls that will not hear,
The sorer punishment they have
Scorners of Jesus' messenger:
And justly their neglected Lord
Deprives them of His slighted word.

Nor yet His servant He permits
Vengeance on sinners to require:
The meek ambassador retreats,
And never calls for heavenly fire;
Suffers without resentment still,
And answers all his Master's will.

893. [The Baptist and his heavenly Lord]

They went out, and preached that men should, &c. —vi. 12.

The Baptist and his heavenly Lord,
The chosen twelve by Jesus sent,
Dispensers of the gospel-word
Began with all mankind, “Repent,”
Before the Lamb was crucified,
After He had for sinners died.

Repentance should be preach'd to all:
And who its preachers vilify,
Blind leaders of the blind miscall,
Wisdom Himself they dare decry,
Jesus and His apostles blame,
Who preach'd repentance in His name.

Jesus, Thy contrite Spirit shed
On every gospel-messenger,
Give them a voice to rouse the dead;
Let all the sons of thunder hear,
Let all awake to righteousness,
Repent, believe, and go in peace.

495

894. [What though a Sadducee maintain]

Herod . . . said, That John the Baptist was risen, &c. —vi. 14.

What though a Sadducee maintain
The soul doth with its body die,
The infidel believes again,
When conscience waked renews her cry,
Tormented by the saint oppress'd,
The tyrant must his judgment feel,
Nor can he in his palace rest
Who bears about him his own hell.

895. [The servant of unbridled lust]

Herod himself had sent forth and laid, &c. —vi. 17.

The servant of unbridled lust
Is always cruel and unjust:
His idol, if for blood she cries,
He gluts with human sacrifice;
And left his measure to fulfil,
To persecute the saints and kill,
He rushes on with conscience sear'd,
And murders whom he once revered.

896. [In flattery nursed, the lawless great]

John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful, &c. —vi. 18.

In flattery nursed, the lawless great
A man of rigid virtue hate,
Who faithfully the truth declares,
And neither sin nor sinner spares;
Who no respect of persons knows,
No incense on the gods bestows,
And bold rebukes the royal vice,
And martyr'd for his conscience dies.

897. [The wicked may, through pride affect]

Herod feared John, &c. —vi. 20.

The wicked may, through pride affect
The good and righteous to respect,
While yet they no disturbance give,
And let them in their passions live.

496

But if a zealous preacher rise
And contradict their bosom-vice,
Vengeance his old admirers breathe,
And hurry him to bonds and death.

898. [A crime resolved upon]

When a convenient day was come. —vi. 21.

A crime resolved upon
Is more than half complete,
And who no more occasions shun
Will soon occasions meet:
Who bow to passion's sway
Shall find, from fear released,
For sin, the most convenient day
Is a licentious feast.

899. [How can a child of God]

When the daughter of . . . Herodias came in, &c. —vi. 22, 23.

How can a child of God
His innocence maintain,
At feasts assembled with the crowd,
Where mirth and pleasure reign?
Where thought and reason yield
To appetite and sense,
Truth for impertinence is held,
And God is banish'd thence.

In riotous excess
They with each other vie,
Their irritated passions please,
And modesty defy.
Their joy in sin they seek,
They glory in their shame,
And never of their Maker speak
But to blaspheme His name.

497

900. [How dire the ball, the feast]

She . . . said unto her mother, What shall I ask? &c. —vi. 24, 25.

How dire the ball, the feast,
By its effects we find!
Passion it wakes in Herod's breast,
And strikes his judgment blind;
It stirs the vengeful rage
Of the adulterous brood,
And helps a damsel's tender age
To shed a prophet's blood.

The sacrilegious three
Become in murder one,
And all the silent guests agree
To make the crime their own:
And who approve their deed
May still with frantic zeal
For innocent diversions plead,
And dance, like them, to hell.

901. [See the hypocrite profane]

For his oath's sake, and for their sakes, &c. —vi. 26, 27.

See the hypocrite profane,
Satan's superstitious tool,
God defies through fear of man,
Dares not let his passion cool,
Scrupulously he keeps his word;
(Such the fruit that honour brings!)
Slays a prophet of the Lord;
Such the gratitude of kings!

902. [Can one of the soft gentle kind]

And brought his head in a charger, &c. —vi. 28.

Can one of the soft gentle kind,
With timorous bashfulness endued
Her joy in hellish murder find,
A prophet's head that swims in blood

498

View with unnatural delight,
And feast her vengeance on the sight?

Who with the smallest act begin
May still go on, from bad to worse,
Rise to its most gigantic sin,
The sin his nature most abhors,
And one who can his God forget
Can every other crime commit.

903. [The first of saints, the Bridegroom's friend]

When his disciples heard of it, they came, &c. —vi. 29.

The first of saints, the Bridegroom's friend
Doth thus his course of sufferings end,
The Baptist by oppression dies,
A headless trunk the prophet lies,
Till carried from the dungeon's gloom
In silence to his darker tomb.

And can we doubt a future day
Which shall the patient saints repay?
The day of man will soon be pass'd
The Judge of all descend at last,
And souls beneath the altar rise
To brightest thrones above the skies.

904. [Rest succeeding work is sweet]

The apostles gathered themselves together, &c. —vi. 30.

Rest succeeding work is sweet,
(Sweetness to the world unknown,)
When we listen at His feet,
Commune with our Lord alone,
When out of ourselves we fly,
After all our preaching toil
Gather'd in by Jesus' eye,
Recompensed by Jesus' smile.

499

While we in His sight review
Every deed and word and thought,
Faithfully to Him we show
All that we have done and taught,
Prove our lives and doctrines good,
Own we have not run in vain,
Then go forth with strength renew'd,
Preach and live the word again.

905. [A pastor who o'erlooks the rest]

Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, &c. —vi. 31.

A pastor who o'erlooks the rest
Should for his fellow-labourers care,
Nor tempt the weak, by toils oppress'd,
With burdens more than they can bear;
He should not urge the strong to' exert
Their utmost powers with restless zeal,
But weigh their needs with pitying heart,
And all their nature's weakness feel.

906. [Troops of priests and doctors proud]

Jesus . . . saw much people, and was moved, &c. —vi. 34.

Troops of priests and doctors proud
And Pharisees there be,
But we cannot in the crowd
A single shepherd see:
Jesus is the Shepherd good,
And Him they madly cast behind,
Him who offers life and food
To them and all mankind.

Pastors can we them confess
The flock who never feed,
Never by the word of grace
Supply the people's need?

500

Thou, O Lord, their need supply,
Who no kind-hearted pastor have,
Millions at the point to die
Thyself instruct and save.

907. [Send the multitude away?]

Send them away, that they may go, &c. —vi. 36.

Send the multitude away?
To whom should sinners go?
Jesus, if with Him they stay
Will living bread bestow,
Hungry souls the' immortal meat
May without price and money buy;
Bread, which all who daily eat
Shall never faint or die.

908. [Many eat, but are not fill'd]

They did all eat, and were filled, &c. —vi. 42.

Many eat, but are not fill'd
With manna from above,
In all outward knowledge skill'd,
Yet destitute of love:
Without faith the word they read,
Without grace receive the sign,
Take the sacramental bread,
But not the life Divine.

But if Christ the bread impart,
The grace to each divide,
Every true believer's heart
Is fill'd and satisfied:
Fill'd, we hunger still, for love
For larger tastes of heavenly grace,
Till we share the feast above,
The sight of Jesus' face.

501

909. [Calm retreat and fervent prayer]

He constrained His disciples to get into, &c. —vi. 45, 46.

Calm retreat and fervent prayer
To labour should succeed,
Every prosper'd messenger
In Jesus' footsteps tread:
If we linger, Lord, behind,
Constrain Thy servants to depart,
Bless us with an active mind
And with a praying heart.

910. [Jesus shall I always be]

When even was come, the ship was in, &c. —vi. 47.

Jesus shall I always be
A frail bark amidst the sea,
Labouring against wind and tide,
All these storms of life to' outride,
Toss'd and destitute of aid,
Compass'd round with darkest shade,
Yielding to temptation's power,
Trembling lest the deep devour!

911. [Saviour, till Thy face I see]

He saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind, &c. —vi. 48.

Saviour, till Thy face I see,
All is contrary to me,
Me whom Thou hast left alone,
Me whose toils to Thee are known:
In this dark tempestuous night
Me Thou keepest still in sight,
Wilt at last dispel the gloom,
Wilt to my deliverance come.

Nature cries, Deliver now!
Nature's will to Thine must bow:
Patience taught by Thy delay,
Lord, I for Thy coming stay,

502

Wait the leisure of the Lord,
Wait the soul-becalming word,
Hoping against hope believe,
Till my heart its peace receive.

912. [We cannot rest, who Jesus know]

They knew Him, and ran through that, &c. —vi. 54, 55.

We cannot rest, who Jesus know,
Till others know Him too,
Till Christ on them His gifts bestow,
On them His wonders show:
Sinners we bring to Christ where'er
Distemper'd souls we find,
And wish that all with us may share
The Saviour of mankind.

913. [God as He will His grace bestows]

And besought Him that they might touch, &c. —vi. 56.

God as He will His grace bestows
Through the external sign:
We touch His sacramental clothes,
And feel the power Divine:
Annex'd to water or to bread
His Spirit we receive,
And help'd by Christ, and heal'd, and fed,
The life of angels live.

University of Virginia Library

S. MARK.

CHAPTER I.

780.

[Gospel indeed! the' eternal God]

781.

[What, to man my follies own!]

782.

[A true forerunner of his Lord]

783.

[What avails the outward sign]

784.

[That Spirit Divine, that Water clean]

785.

[Where'er the pure baptismal rite]

786.

[By the legal goat foreshow'd]

787.

[Life a temptation is!]

788.

[Sinners with true repentance turn]

789.

[Without reluctance or delay]

790.

[Doth Christ the passive people lead]

791.

[From servile fear and flatterers free]

792.

[What violence and convulsive throes]

793.

[Who soften and corrupt the word]

794.

[His own renown, His own great name]

795.

[In the houses of the great]

796.

[Happy the sin-sick soul to whom]

797.

[Preventing the first dawn of day]

798.

[An humble instrument of God]

799.

[Where but at his Saviour's feet]

CHAPTER II.

800.

[The forwardness of listening Jews]

801.

[Few on their ministry attend]

802.

[Saviour, Thy Spirit's power exert]

803.

[Saviour, Thou canst with equal ease]

804.

[Jesus, the mortal Son of Man]

805.

[Jesus, Thine eye with pity sees]

806.

[Thee, almighty God, we praise]

807.

[Servant of Christ, thy talent see]

808.

[Lord, if I have indeed believed]

809.

[“So high, so holy, and so great]

810.

[Righteous in our own esteem]

811.

[Sinners if Thou cam'st to call]

812.

[A Pharisee his neighbours blames]

813.

[A pastor should consider long]

814.

[A Pharisee the law defends]

815.

[God in mercy to our race]

816.

[Christ's is the religion pure]

CHAPTER III.

817