The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Let Pharisees affect
External purity,
Thy Spirit, Lord, doth us direct
Frequent to wash in Thee:
Busied with life's affairs
We search our inward parts,
And from the filth of worldly cares
Wash, not our hands, but hearts.

915. [Strangers to Jesus and His grace]

Why walk not Thy disciples according to the, &c. —vii. 5.

Strangers to Jesus and His grace,
The Scribes and Pharisees precise
In outward things religion place,
In trifles scrupulously nice,
Hate the pure wisdom from above,
And quite reject the law of love.

916. [We ought to wash before we eat]

We ought to wash before we eat;
We should our former sins confess,
Who oft have snatch'd the' unhallow'd meat,
Indulged our nature's greediness,
And feeding without fear or thought
Ungratefully our God forgot.

This filth we first should purge away
In Jesus' all-atoning blood,
For pardon, and His Spirit pray
To bless and sanctify our food,
And then the gift of God partake
Vouchsafed us for our Saviour's sake.

917. [What multitudes to God draw near]

This people honoureth Me with their lips, &c. —vii. 6, 7.

What multitudes to God draw near
In forms devoid of life or power,
Usurp the sacred character,
Themselves instead of Christ adore!
From self their whole religion flows,
Their worship is all false and vain,
Who dare on simple souls impose
The doctrines, rules, and laws of men.

Thee, Lord, that I may serve aright,
Still let my heart approach to Thee,
Find in Thy will its whole delight,
And pant for all Thy purity.
The honour which Thou dost require,
The worship which Thou wilt approve,
Is following with an heart entire
The God of holiness and love.

918. [Ye shepherds of the Romish fold]

Laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold, &c. —vii. 8.

Ye shepherds of the Romish fold,
Who God's express commandments leave,
Yet still your own tradition hold,
This censure to yourselves receive.
Bodies ye may, and bells baptize,
Sprinkle with holy drops the crowd,
Your hearts ye will not circumcise,
Or wash your souls in Jesus' blood.

919. [The gift which our own flesh we owe]

Ye suffer him no more to do ought for his, &c. —vii. 12.

The gift which our own flesh we owe
If on the temple we bestow,
Though meant an offering to the skies,
'Tis sacrilege, not sacrifice:
What through the hands of parents poor
We gladly should to God restore,
If to the church or priest we give,
God never will through them receive.

920. [Yes, by faith's enlighten'd eye]

Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing, &c. —vii. 18, 19.

Yes, by faith's enlighten'd eye
We corruption's fountain see,
For relief to Christ apply,
Bring our evil hearts to Thee:
Jesus, Thou to us hast shown
All this filth of inbred sin,
Heal the plague through which we groan,
Cleanse the house by entering in.

921. [False we must ourselves confess]

That which cometh out of the man, that, &c. —vii. 20.

False we must ourselves confess
If ourselves aright we know,
All our truth and righteousness
From some other fountain flow:

Jesus, Thou that Fountain art,
Source of grace and purity:
Spread Thyself throughout my heart,
Dwell by perfect love in me.

922. [Vile and wretched as the worst]

Out of the heart . . . proceed evil thoughts, &c. —vii. 21.

Vile and wretched as the worst,
Saviour if this heart of mine
Bears not all those fruits accursed,
Thine the praise and only Thine:
What it doth of evil bear
Thou dost patiently endure
Till Thy love the root uptear,
Make mine inmost nature pure.

923. [One possess'd of Jesus' mind]

He . . . entered into an house, and would have no, &c. —vii. 24.

One possess'd of Jesus' mind
Would fain like Jesus live,
Live the servant of mankind
But no applause receive;
Would be private and conceal'd
Till God in him His power display,
Force the humble man to yield,
And shine in open day.

924. [By his tyrannising sin]

A certain woman, whose young daughter had, &c. —vii. 25.

By his tyrannising sin
The sinner is possess'd,
Harass'd by a spirit unclean
Which will not let him rest:
This my dreadful case I own:
But tortured by the fiend impure,
Jesus, at Thy feet I groan,
And here expect a cure.

925. [A poor worthless penitent]

She answered and said unto Him, Yes, Lord: &c. —vii. 28.

A poor worthless penitent,
Saviour behold in me!
Justly treated I consent
To be reproach'd by Thee:
Viler than the beasts am I;
Yet hungering for celestial food,
At Thy wounded feet I lie,
The purchase of Thy blood.

926. [Devils must at Christ's command]

He said unto her, For this saying go thy way; &c. —vii. 29.

Devils must at Christ's command
Out of the soul remove:
Christ Himself will not withstand
Our humble faith and love:
Lord, Thou dost on sinners still
Our humble faith and love bestow,
Then the saving promise seal,
And all Thy mercy show.

927. [We see not why the Man Divine]

Departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, &c. —vii. 31.

We see not why the Man Divine
One country for another leaves,
He only knows His own design,
Who no account to sinners gives,
Who nothing to the creature owes,
But when He will His gifts bestows.

He holds us thus in humble fear,
Lest we His gracious presence lose,
Instructs us to detain Him here,
His gifts and benefits to use
And profit by His gospel-word,
And keep, by walking with our Lord.

928. [How sad the state of fallen man!]

They bring unto Him one that was deaf, &c. —vii. 32.

How sad the state of fallen man!
Incapable the truth to hear,
He could not of his fall complain,
Till God did in our flesh appear,
Who came the deaf and dumb to seek,
Who brings us power to hear, and speak.

His hand on us if Jesus lay,
Our cure already is begun,
The stammerer then attempts to pray,
For mercy at His feet we groan,
And while our misery we confess
We hear Him whisper, Go in peace.

929. [Happy whom Jesus takes aside]

He took him aside from the multitude, &c. —vii. 33.

Happy whom Jesus takes aside
Far from the unbelieving throng!
His merit through His word applied
Looses the speechless sinner's tongue,
Opens the heart to hear His voice,
And in a pardoning God rejoice.

930. [O Saviour let Thy pitying love]

And looking up to heaven, He sighed, &c. —vii. 34, 35.

O Saviour let Thy pitying love
Thy ceaseless efficacious prayer
This bar of unbelief remove,
That we Thy goodness may declare,
Open our lips Thy name to bless,
And bold before the world confess.

Loosed by Thy powerful Ephphatha
Thy witnesses their Lord adore,
In everything give thanks and pray,
Exult and triumph evermore,

And number'd with the children, I
Distinctly Abba Father cry.

931. [They did not keep Thy charge enjoin'd]

He charged them that they should tell no man: &c. —vii. 36.

They did not keep Thy charge enjoin'd,
Yet didst Thou not command in vain,
If copying out Thy lowly mind,
Jesus, we shun the' applause of man,
And labouring to do all things well
Our goodness from the world conceal.

Our goodness is not ours but Thine:
O may we all the praise disclaim,
The' admiring multitude decline,
And wrapp'd in humble fear and shame
Remain unnoticed and unknown,
That God may be extoll'd alone.

932. [Made capable through Jesus' word]

They were beyond measure astonished, saying, &c. —vii. 37.

Made capable through Jesus' word
The quickening voice of God to hear,
To praise Him by all heaven adored,
His person and His character
We testify in Christ express'd,
And bear His image in our breast.

Jesus the Patron of mankind
With fix'd astonishment we praise,
The end of all His wonders find,
His works are miracles of grace,
His power in acts of mercy show'd
Only intends His creature's good.

The deaf, we to His voice attend,
“Be saved; be perfected; come up!”
The dumb in rapturous hymns ascend,
And shouting gain the mountain top,

In songs of pure seraphic joy
A bless'd eternity to' employ.

933. [Lord, I by faith my seal set to]

Lord, I by faith my seal set to,
Thy miracles are ever new;
Thou mak'st the deaf to hear Thy voice,
The dumb in songs of praise rejoice,
The lame to walk, the blind to see,
Thou hast done all things well—in me.

CHAPTER VIII.

934. [Still with bowels of compassion]

I have compassion on the multitude, because, &c. —viii. 2, 3.

Still with bowels of compassion
Jesus Thy disciples see,
Hungering after Thy salvation
Perishing for want of Thee,
Thee, the Bread come down from heaven,
Thee the true angelic food,
Manna to Thy people given,
Life, and plenitude of God.

Sin's immeasurable distance
God and us no longer parts:
By Thy merciful assistance
Lo, we bring to Thee our hearts:
Empty while Thy love is wanting,
For Thine only love we pine;
Feed us, Lord, distress'd and fainting,
Be our sustenance Divine.

If we in Thy grace have tasted
That imperishable Bread,
All our former strength is wasted,
Fresh supplies, Thou know'st, we need:
Lord we can hold out no longer,
Cannot live without Thy love:
Wilt Thou let us die for hunger,
Ere we reach our home above?

Comfort though Thou dost not give us
On the first, or second day,
Thou wilt on the third relieve us,
Us who for Thy blessing stay;
Patient, poor, and persevering,
Hungry if we still abide,
We shall at Thy late appearing
All be fill'd and satisfied.

935. [In this barren wilderness]

From whence can a man satisfy these men, &c. —viii. 4.

In this barren wilderness
By the good Shepherd led,
Having Christ we all possess,
And nothing more can need:
Thou art all good things in one,
And dost for every soul suffice;
Find we in Thy love alone
The life of paradise.

936. [Lord, on Thee Thy people wait]

He gave to His disciples to set before them; &c. —viii. 6.

Lord, on Thee Thy people wait
Thy blessing to receive,
Thou dost still communicate
The bread by which we live;

Dost to ministers impart
The grace we through their hands obtain,
All Thou hast and all Thou art,
Thou hast and art for man.

937. [Jesus multiplies to give]

And they had a few small fishes: and He, &c. —viii. 7.

Jesus multiplies to give,
But man to' engross and hoard:
Shall we not with thanks receive
The bounty of our Lord?
Riches, Lord, Thou dost not bless,
But things by which the poor are fed:
Happy who therewith possess
The everlasting Bread!

938. [When in Jesus' name we pray]

So they did eat, and were filled. —viii. 8.

When in Jesus' name we pray,
And bless our daily food,
Jesus doth the power convey
Which makes the creatures good;
He the secret grace reveals
Which never cloys, yet satisfies,
He our hearts with gladness fills,
And lifts them to the skies.

939. [No proofs will for the men suffice]

The Pharisees came forth, and began to, &c. —viii. 11.

No proofs will for the men suffice
Who shut against the light their eyes,
Who seek occasion from His word
To' oppose and contradict their Lord,
The Scriptures search but to pervert,
And harden more their faithless heart.

Because they will not understand
Thy truth, they miracles demand,

The hand Divine refuse to see,
And still insist “How can it be?”
And when the Comforter is given
They disbelieve the sign from heaven.

940. [When the captious Pharisee]

He sighed deeply in His spirit, and saith, &c. —viii. 12.

When the captious Pharisee
Asks a fresh unneeded sign,
We can only sigh like Thee
Touch'd with sympathy Divine!
Lord increase our loving grief,
Hear us for the' opposers pray,
Help their wilful unbelief,
Take their stony heart away.

941. [Christ no further effort makes]

He left them, and entering into the ship again, &c. —viii. 13

Christ no further effort makes
Men to teach who will not see,
Harden'd infidels forsakes
In their infidelity:
Passing to the other side,
When He gives the sinner o'er,
Parted by the gulf of pride
God and man can meet no more.

942. [Happy Thy faithful followers, Lord]

Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread. —viii. 14.

Happy Thy faithful followers, Lord,
Who slight the body's need,
And tasting the true heavenly word
Forget their daily bread:
Thou wilt from thence occasion take
To teach them truths unknown,
And everything subservient make
For perfecting Thine own.

943. [From spiritual to sensual good]

They reasoned among themselves, saying, &c. —viii. 16.

From spiritual to sensual good
By nature's weight we slide,
Till saved and perfectly renew'd
In Jesus we abide:
From sensible enjoyments then
To spiritual we soar,
And never sink in flesh again,
And think of earth no more.

944. [On whom doth Jesus' censure fall?]

Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? &c. —viii. 17.

On whom doth Jesus' censure fall?
On you who Providence forget,
Anxious for life, as life were all,
Labouring for perishable meat,
Who murmur at your scanty store,
Or in abundance grasp at more.

Doubting your heavenly Father's care,
So oft in your support employ'd,
Blinder than infidels ye are,
Of faith, of understanding void,
Grovelling on earth your spirits lie,
And stupid as the beasts that die.

945. [Worldlings ye may, but will not see]

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, &c. —viii. 18.

Worldlings ye may, but will not see
Ye will not hear the truth, and know
That all on earth is vanity,
While heaping up your wealth below,
Ye quite forget that coming day
When earth and heaven shall flee away.

Ye will not bear it in your mind
That God can all your riches blast,

Scatter as chaff before the wind,
And driven from His face at last
Confine you to the burning pool,
With not a drop your tongue to cool.

946. [How dark the night which sin hath spread]

How is it that ye do not understand? &c. —viii. 21.

How dark the night which sin hath spread
O'er every heart and mind of man!
Thy blessings, Lord, we will not heed,
Thy benefits pour'd out in vain,
Thy works with careless eye we view,
And wonders every moment new.

Surrounded by Thy power and love,
We will not see the' Almighty's hand,
Unless Thy grace the clouds remove,
And teach our hearts to understand,
And give us in Thy light to see
The fulness of our God in Thee.

947. [Blind to ourselves by nature we]

They bring a blind man unto Him, &c. —viii. 22.

Blind to ourselves by nature we,
Blind to the things of God, were born,
When God assumed humanity,
Our darkness into light to turn,
He touch'd our nature with His own,
And made them in His person one.

He to the conscious soul of man
Still condescends Himself to' unite,
Broods o'er the dark abyss again,
And sighing saith “Let there be light!
Open thine eyes of faith, and see
Thy God incarnated in Me.”

O Jesus, after Thee I feel,
To Thee present my blindfold heart:
Touch by Thy grace invisible,
And bid these scales of sin depart:
Till Thou mine unbelief remove,
I cannot see that God is love.

948. [Out of the crowd He first must take]

He took the blind man by the hand, and led, &c. —viii. 23.

Out of the crowd He first must take,
Before His grace He show:
Sinner, the busy world forsake,
And with thy Saviour go;
Then shall the God of pardoning love
Bid all thy sin depart,
And by a sovereign touch remove
The blindness of thy heart.

949. [Me by the hand Thy grace hath took]

Me by the hand Thy grace hath took,
Kind leader of a sinner blind,
Through Thee I have the world forsook,
And wait Thy healing touch to find,
That when Thou dost my sight restore
My faith may wonder and adore.

Thy hand upon Thy creature lay,
The Spirit of Thy powerful love,
Mould as Thou wilt the passive clay;
Jesus, in whom I live and move,
Apply Thine own balsamic blood,
And show my heart the pardoning God.

950. [Thy previous grace, which now I feel]

He looked up, and said, I see men as trees, &c. —viii. 24.

Thy previous grace, which now I feel,
To me mine unbelief hath shown.

Hath made my darkness visible,
And joyful in its cure begun,
A glimmering light my spirit sees,
And men beholds as walking trees.

As walking in a shadow vain
A world of sinners I perceive;
Joy they pursue, and sorrow gain,
In ignorance like mine they live,
Till justice stern the axe apply,
And then they fade, they fall, they die!

951. [O Saviour touch mine eyes again]

After that He put His hands again upon his, &c. —viii. 25.

O Saviour touch mine eyes again;
Heal'd by the eye-salve of Thy grace,
I then shall see both God and man,
Express'd in my Redeemer's face,
And comprehend the mystery,
And all things know by knowing Thee.

My head anoint and purify
That Thee I may behold below
With spiritual discerning eye
Thy works, Thy will, Thy people know,
And look the whole creation through
Till Thee I in Thy glory view.

952. [Christ of Himself, and Christ alone]

By the way He asked His disciples, . . . Whom, &c. —viii. 27.

Christ of Himself, and Christ alone
Can without peril speak:
We speak to magnify our own,
Ourselves, not God, we seek;
We plainly show our heart's desire
Our curious vanity

Who listening after fame, inquire
What say the world of me?

But rather what of Christ they say,
Let us desire to know,
And talk of Jesus by the way,
And Jesus' Godhead show:
The' Anointed of the Lord Thou art;
The unction of Thy grace
To me, to all Thy church impart,
To all our ransom'd race.

953. [Jesus no exception leaves]

Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny, &c. —viii. 34.

Jesus no exception leaves,
Our self-denying Lord
Calls the multitude, and gives
The universal word:
What to them the Saviour spoke
Doth every age and nation bind,
Lays alike the sacred yoke
On us, and all mankind.

Ministers and people too
Must now themselves forsake,
Keep the Crucified in view
And Jesus' cross partake;
Daily in His footsteps tread,
His sacrificial spirit breathe,
Till like Him they bow the head,
And die their latest death.

Lord, if Thou the grace supply
And mark me with Thy name,
I shall still renounce, deny
Whate'er I have or am;

Judgment, memory, mind, and will,
The Adam old opposed to Thee,
Thou my heavenly Adam, kill,
And live alone in me.

954. [What but the love of truth and Thee]

Whosoever shall lose his life for My sake, &c. —viii. 35.

What but the love of truth and Thee
From nature's love can set me free,
The just contempt of life bestow,
Of all its goods, and ills below?
Saviour, infuse into my heart
The grace with all for Thee to part,
And lo, I cheerfully resign
My life, to find it hid in Thine.

Regardless of the tyrant's frown,
The witnesses their lives laid down,
Tortures and death they dared despise,
And gain'd at once the glorious prize:
But proof of stronger faith we give,
While dead to life's delights we live,
And still for Thee ourselves deny,
And still a thousand deaths we die.

955. [Ere the righteous Judge appear]

What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the, &c. —viii. 36.

Ere the righteous Judge appear,
Sinner, count thy mournful gains,
Momentary pleasures here
Purchased with eternal pains!
When Thy soul its body leaves,
Where is its felicity?
When the pit thy soul receives,
What is all the world to thee?

CHAPTER IX.

956. [Of every promised good our Lord]

There be some of them that stand here, which, &c. —ix. 1.

Of every promised good our Lord
To man vouchsafes an earnest here,
And Tabor doth a glimpse afford
Of what on Zion shall appear,
A glimmering of that brightest day
When Jesus shall His power assume,
His glorious majesty display,
And robed in light, to judgment come.

Jesus, before He sheds His blood
A foretaste of His glory gives,
Appears the true eternal God,
Our faith confirms, our hope revives:
That sweet anticipated sight
Takes off the scandal of His cross,
And arms our souls with love and might
And zeal to die in Jesus' cause.

957. [When six great days of God are pass'd]

After six days, Jesus taketh with Him Peter, &c. —ix. 2.

When six great days of God are pass'd
(Which man computes six thousand years)
The' eternal rest begins at last,
And Christ with all His saints appears!
The members in pure light array'd
On that celestial mountain meet,
And fashion'd like their dazzling Head
Make the triumphant church complete.

Thou city of the living God,
Mother and church of the first-born,
Jerusalem the saints' abode,
To thee we languish to return,

To put our glorious Saviour on,
Illustrious with His lustre shine,
Clear as the everlasting Sun,
And pure as Purity Divine.

958. [The image of the earthy now]

His raiment became shining, &c. —ix. 3.

The image of the earthy now
The death we in our bodies bear,
And daily on His cross we bow,
The kingdom of our Lord to share;
The image of the heavenly Man,
Our bodies, spiritual as His
In that sabbatic day shall gain
With fulness of immortal bliss.

959. [Who Moses and the prophets hear]

There appeared unto them Elias with Moses: &c. —ix. 4.

Who Moses and the prophets hear,
And Christ the Sum of all receive,
Transfigured shall with Christ appear,
With Him in light and glory live,
Obtain a never-fading crown,
Enraptured on their Saviour gaze,
For ever by His side sit down,
And talk with Jesus face to face.

960. [When Christ doth to the soul appear]

Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us, &c. —ix. 5.

When Christ doth to the soul appear,
How good, how pleasant to be here!
Eternal life in Him we know,
And paradise regain'd below:
But if on earth so sweet it is
A drop of that celestial bliss,
What will His saints enjoy above
In the full ocean of His love?

Happy who in His house abide,
Enroll'd among the glorified!

They tell the riches of His grace,
They sing in ecstasy of praise,
“How good for us Thy joy to gain,
And sharers of Thy kingdom reign;
To cast our crowns before Thy throne,
One with our Head, for ever one!”

961. [What endless scenes of wonder rise]

He wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. —ix. 6.

What endless scenes of wonder rise
And strike with rapturous surprise,
When Jesus face to face we see
In all His pomp and majesty!
Angels adore the King of kings
Their faces shadowing with their wings,
And saints the' o'erpowering vision prove,
In deepest awe of speechless love!

962. [Surrounded with the golden blaze]

There was a cloud that overshadowed them, &c. —ix. 7.

Surrounded with the golden blaze,
Hid in the secret of His face,
Received within the lucid cloud,
Caught to the bosom of our God,
A voice shall bless us from the throne,
“This is My well-beloved Son,
The' essential Truth and Life Divine,
Through everlasting ages thine.”

Faithful and good, thy Saviour hear,
And seeing live, all eye, all ear
Hear Him, and let thy joys abound,
And fall transported at the sound,
The utmost powers of music prove,
Be fed, be feasted with His love;
And while eternity glides on
Thy banquet is but just begun.

963. ['Tis there the law is void at last]

They saw no man any more, save Jesus only, &c. —ix. 8.

'Tis there the law is void at last,
The prophecies fulfill'd and pass'd,
Mysteries and ministries are o'er,
And God in Scripture speaks no more:
Contemplating their Lord alone
All things the saints possess in one,
Enjoy the blissful plenitude
Of God in Christ, and Christ in God.

964. [Wisdom we gain, O Lord, from Thee]

He charged them that they should tell no man, &c. —ix. 9.

Wisdom we gain, O Lord, from Thee,
Nor at all times to all declare
The truths which yet they cannot see,
Which young in grace they cannot bear;
The word we to the state adjust,
And learn in what degree to trust.

To all the twelve Thou wouldst not show
The sight Thou didst to three reveal,
That we may times and persons know,
Thy mysteries with discretion tell,
Tell every partner of Thy pain
They, only they, with Thee shall reign.

965. [Possess'd by sin the world and hell]

Bring him unto Me. —ix. 19.

Possess'd by sin the world and hell
My kindred Lord I see,
And bring the souls Thou lov'st so well
In fervent prayer to Thee.
Thou canst, Thou wilt, (I dare not doubt,)
The' indwelling demons chase;
I trust Thy power to cast them out,
I trust Thy pardoning grace.

966. [But is it possible, that I]

All things are possible to him that believeth. —ix. 23.

But is it possible, that I
Should live and sin no more?
Lord, if on Thee I dare rely,
The faith shall bring the power:
On me that faith Divine bestow
Which doth the mountain move,
And all my sinless life shall show
The' omnipotence of love.

967. [Lord, I at times in Thee believe]

Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief. —ix. 24.

Lord, I at times in Thee believe,
But soon my faith and courage fails;
Thy power no longer I receive,
And Amalek again prevails:
Sinking, to Thee for help I cry,
My desperate unbelief remove,
And give me always to rely
On Thine eternal truth and love.

My darkness by Thy light I see,
Mine unbelief by faith I know;
Yet still the mount abides on me,
But shall before Thy presence flow:
I count Thee to Thy promise just,
I wait to prove Thine utmost word,
I then shall every moment trust,
Shall every moment please my Lord.

968. [Lord, I believe, Thou wilt forgive]

Lord, I believe, Thou wilt forgive,
But help me to believe Thou dost:
The answer of Thy promise give,
Wherein Thou causest me to trust,
The gospel-faith Divine impart,
Which seals my pardon on my heart.

I do believe Thy blood was spilt
To make my heart and nature clean:
But help me to believe Thou wilt
This moment save me from my sin,
Preserve me every moment Thine,
A vessel pure of love Divine.

O that I could with all my heart
Entirely trust Thy gracious power
To make and keep me as Thou art,
To bid me go and sin no more,
No more in word or thought transgress
But live and die in perfect peace.

Thou wilt this secret bar remove:
But will my God remove it now?
How can I doubt the God of love?
The God of truth and wisdom Thou
Shalt in Thine own appointed day
Take all this unbelief away.

Here then in vehement hope I rest,
Nor put Thee off nor urge Thee on:
The secret lies within Thy breast,
Thy time and work to Thee are known,
And I shall in due season prove
That faith fill'd up is perfect love.

969. [Jesus omnipotent to heal]

I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no, &c. —ix. 25.

Jesus omnipotent to heal,
Thine utmost power exert,
And for Thy mercy sake expel
The fiend out of my heart:
Tormented by this spirit unclean
For help Divine I groan,

This Belial of indwelling sin
Will yield to God alone.

But if I can believe in Thee
My kind almighty Lord,
Impossibilities shall be
Accomplish'd by Thy word:
I do imperfectly believe,
Do Thou my doubts remove,
And help my weakness to receive
The holiness of love.

The same in every age Thou art,
Replete with grace and power
Command the demon to depart,
And never enter more,
And never more pollute my breast,
Disburden'd of its load,
By perfect purity possess'd,
For ever fill'd with God.

970. [Jesus, my Lord, I cry to Thee]

Jesus, my Lord, I cry to Thee
Against the spirit unclean;
I want a constant liberty
A perfect rest from sin:
Expel the fiend out of my heart
By love's almighty power,
Now, now command him to depart,
And never enter more.

971. [Saviour extend Thy hand of grace]

Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up, &c. —ix. 27.

Saviour extend Thy hand of grace
A feeble helpless soul to raise
Who, from the fiend's oppression freed
Still lies before Thy feet as dead.

O might I feel the touch Divine,
And live by faith entirely Thine,
And never act, and never move,
Without the conduct of Thy love!

972. [Waiting at his Saviour's feet]

If any man desire to be first, the same shall, &c. —ix. 35.

Waiting at his Saviour's feet,
Till Jesus bids him rise,
He alone is truly great
Who greatness dares despise,
Courts the dignity supreme
Obedient to his Master's call,
Seeks the praise that comes from Him
By ministering to all.

973. [Who would not eagerly desire]

He took a child, and set him in the midst, &c. —ix. 36.

Who would not eagerly desire
That envied infant's place?
Jesus, I to Thine arms aspire,
And pant for Thy embrace:
My ruin'd innocence re-give,
My lost simplicity,
And then with arms of love receive
A little child in me.

974. [How oft beneath a show of zeal]

We forbad him, because he followeth not us. —ix. 38.

How oft beneath a show of zeal
Our secret jealousies we hide,
Our nature's selfish ends conceal,
And say, “Let God be glorified!”
And steal the honours of His name,
To raise our own, or party's fame!

The preacher vehemently requires
That souls should follow Christ alone,

Yet oft unconsciously desires
That crowds should to his doctrine run,
After himself disciples draws,
And subtly seeks his own applause.

975. [Jesus, I belong to Thee]

Ye belong to Christ. —ix. 41.

Jesus, I belong to Thee,
Challenge Thine own property,
Made, and bought by Love Divine,
Thine I am, and doubly Thine:
Lest through me Thou suffer loss,
Nail me to Thy bleeding cross;
Farther to secure Thine own,
Make me partner of Thy throne.

976. [Sinner in love with guilty joys]

It is better for thee to enter into life maimed, &c. —ix. 43.

Sinner in love with guilty joys,
Compute while here thy final gain,
The pleasure of a moment poise
With an eternity of pain:
And, if in love with hell thou art,
Persist thy lusts to gratify,
Refuse with a right hand to part,
And choose the second death to die.

977. [The word His sacred lips hath pass'd!]

Their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. —ix. 44.

The word His sacred lips hath pass'd!
And shall I trust the' infernal liar,
Who whispers soft, “But God at last
Will kill the worm, and quench the fire!”
Get thee behind me, fiend, say I,
Thine eloquence on others try,
Who, if they listen to thy tale,
Shall prove the loudest laugh of hell.

978. [Great Judge, and Lawgiver supreme]

Great Judge, and Lawgiver supreme,
Shall man Thine attributes deny,
Thy sovereign righteousness blaspheme,
Or give Thine awful truth the lie?
With reason's line we cannot prove
Thy judgment's infinite abyss,
But trust to' inherit through Thy love
A whole eternity of bliss.

979. [Thrice solemn, thrice repeated word]

Thrice solemn, thrice repeated word,
For all who at Thy bar are cast!
Most merciful, most righteous Lord,
Thy justice, as Thy grace, shall last:
But all that now invoke Thy name,
That trust Thy bleeding sacrifice,
Shall flee with us the quenchless flame,
Shall 'scape the worm that never dies.

980. [I own, alas, my desperate case!]

If the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith, &c. —ix. 50.

I own, alas, my desperate case!
Then, then I lost the salt of grace,
When from the faith I fell.
But can I never be renew'd?
And must the righteous wrath of God
My sure damnation seal?

Wherewith shall I be season'd now?
The Advocate of sinners Thou
To Thy own word reply:
Or if Thou canst no more forgive,
My doom I at Thy feet receive,
And here resolve to die.

CHAPTER X.

981. [New Pharisees in every place]

The Pharisees came to Him, and asked Him, &c. —x. 2.

New Pharisees in every place
In every age arise,
And Satan, by the captious race,
The faithful pastor tries:
They ask ensnaring questions still:
But who the Saviour know,
We baffle all the tempter's skill,
And all his host o'erthrow.

982. [Jesus, kind, inviting Lord]

Suffer the little children to come unto Me. —x. 14.

Jesus, kind, inviting Lord,
We with joy obey Thy word,
In their earliest infancy
Bring our little ones to Thee:
Born they are, like us, in sin,
Touch the' unconscious lepers clean;
Purchase of Thy blood they are,
Save them by Thy dying prayer.

983. [I yield, I joyfully agree]

I yield, I joyfully agree
That children should be brought to Thee,
Myself their infant weakness bear,
And bring them in the arms of prayer.

Hear, Jesus, hear their helpless cry,
Whom now I place beneath Thine eye;
Into Thy kind embraces take,
And subjects of Thy kingdom make.

Thine hand beneficent extend
To bless, and shelter, and defend;
Thy Spirit to my children give,
And let them to Thy glory live.

Dear objects of their Shepherd's care
Thy lambs and little ones they are,
Whom Thou dost in Thy bosom hide
Or by the silent waters glide.

Still let them in Thy footsteps tread,
Till by Thy loving Spirit led
They find the final blessing given,
And triumph with Thy flock in heaven.

984. [Thy church is here with saints supplied]

Of such is the kingdom of God. —x. 14.

Thy church is here with saints supplied,
Who childlike innocence regain;
And every babe that ever died
Shall in Thy heavenly kingdom reign.

985. [A soul by sacred infancy]

A soul by sacred infancy
From anger and desire set free,
From pride and avarice,
From guile, ambition, and self-will
Helpless, and innocent of ill,
In Jesus' arms he lies.

The God of love Himself imparts
To men of simple, humble hearts
Who hang on Him alone;
He claims these little ones for His,
The new-born heirs of heavenly bliss,
And seats them on His throne.

986. [Old age we second childhood name]

Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of, &c. —x. 15.

Old age we second childhood name,
Reason's decline, and nature's shame;
But infancy of grace
Our reason's full perfection is,
Our meetness for the' ecstatic bliss,
The sight of Jesus' face.

Jesus, believing in Thy name,
By faith a child of God I am,
The faith Thou didst impart;
And with a child's docility
A tablet I present to Thee,
An unopposing heart.

Erase the character of sin,
And write whate'er Thou wilt therein,
Whate'er Thou art for man:
Thy name, Thine image I receive,
Which makes me fit with Thee to live,
With Thee my Lord to reign.

987. [Who is this condescending Friend]

He took them up in His arms. —x. 16.

Who is this condescending Friend,
That doth for children care,
That doth my little ones defend,
And in His bosom bear?
The arms, within whose soft embrace
My sleeping babes I see,
They comprehend unbounded space,
And grasp infinity!

988. [Thy hands upon our children lay]

He . . . put His hands upon them, and blessed them. —x. 16.

Thy hands upon our children lay,
And bless them in Thy service here,
Into their tender hearts convey
A principle of pious fear:
Thee by a life of holy love
Long may they live to glorify,
Or innocent from earth remove,
And spotless to Thy bosom fly.

989. [Jesus, Lord, to Thee I run]

There came one running, and kneeled to Him, &c. —x. 17.

Jesus, Lord, to Thee I run,
Humbly for direction sue,
Make the' important secret known,
Show me, Saviour, what to do:
Hear a dying sinner pray
For the life that never dies,
Art Thou not Thyself the Way?
Lead me, lead me to the skies.

Bold I may of Thee inquire:
Me the Truth will not deceive,
Life into my heart inspire,
In Thyself the answer give,
Tree of immortality,
Earnest of Thy joys above,
Live, eternal Life, in me,
Fill, O fill my soul with love!

990. [How hard for you to think it hard]

How hardly shall they that have riches enter, &c. —x. 23.

How hard for you to think it hard,
To think that God is true,
Who riches as your end regard,
And as your good pursue!
Your dangerous state ye will not fear,
Till mercy's day is pass'd;
And then ye have your riches here,
And die unsaved at last.

991. [The worldly man of wealth possess'd]

How hard is it for them that trust in riches, &c. —x. 24.

The worldly man of wealth possess'd
Doth nothing else esteem,
In wealth he seeks his joy and rest,
And happiness supreme;

To wealth, in the Almighty's stead,
He trusts for clothes and food,
And when he prays for daily bread
He only mocks our God.

His good is that to which he gives
His confidence and love:
His portion he from earth receives,
And slights the things above.
A mystic kingdom he disdains
To none but beggars given,
And never seeks and never gains
The' inheritance of heaven.

992. [A rich man saved! it cannot be.]

With men it is impossible, but not with God. —x. 27.

A rich man saved! it cannot be.
Ye that in riches trust,
Feel this impossibility,
Or be for ever lost!
Despair, and then to Jesus fly,
Who can the bar remove,
For Jesus is the Lord Most High,
The' almighty God of love.

993. [Rejoice, ye rich, with humble fear]

With God all things are possible. —x. 27.

Rejoice, ye rich, with humble fear:
There yet is hope for you,
Jesus the Power of God is near
And He can all things do:
He waits to pluck you from the fire,
His utmost grace to' exert,
And tear the covetous desire
Out of your bleeding heart.

994. [Myself from sin I cannot save]

Myself from sin I cannot save,
My weakness I confess,
But surely in the Lord I have
Both strength and righteousness:
When Jesus gives me to believe,
His righteousness is mine,
And I into my heart receive
Omnipotence Divine.

What cannot Christ in sinners do,
In me the sinners' chief?
Thy creature, Lord, Thou wilt renew
And end mine unbelief;
Thou wilt destroy the enmity,
My ruin'd soul restore,
Effect the thing which cannot be;
And then I sin no more.

995. [Made willing by Thy gracious call]

Lo, we have left all, and have followed Thee. —x. 28.

Made willing by Thy gracious call,
We have left our earthly all,
Our heavenly Lord to find:
But help us by Thy Spirit still
To leave our pride and fleshly will,
To cast ourselves behind.

The gifts Thou didst Thyself bestow
Give us, Saviour, to forego,
If Thou revoke Thine own,
In life and death to follow Thee
And cry, expiring on the tree,
Thine only will be done!

996. [Who would not serve a Lord]

He shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, &c. —x. 30.

Who would not serve a Lord
With loyalty sincere,

So kind and bounteous to reward
His faithful followers here?
He gives us joy in pain,
In want our wealth He is,
And turns our loss to present gain,
And to eternal bliss.

997. [Saviour, who ask to reign with Thee]

Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of, &c. —x. 38.

Saviour, who ask to reign with Thee,
They ask (what yet they cannot know)
Thy cup of inward agony,
Thy burden of external woe;
With eagerness of blind desire,
They ask reproach, and pain, and loss,
They ask to be baptized with fire,
And hang expiring on Thy cross.

Cover'd with outward sufferings here
Thou wast, with inward sufferings fill'd;
They mark'd Thy perfect character,
They show'd Thee by Thy Father seal'd:
The cross Thou didst for sinners prove
The lot of all Thy followers is;
And leads us on to perfect love,
And paves our way to glorious bliss.

Query? J.W.

998. [An apostolic prelate hopes]

Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be, &c. —x. 44.

An apostolic prelate hopes
For no preferment here,
To every cross and burden stoops,
The church's minister;
He strives with unremitted pain
In Jesus' steps to move,
He labours all the heights to' attain,
And depths of humble love.

999. [The Son of man, the Man of woe]

The Son of Man came . . . to minister, and to, &c. —x. 45.

The Son of man, the Man of woe,
Why did He leave the sky?
'Twas all His business here below,
To serve us, and to die!

1000.

[A sinner blind and poor]

Blind Bartimeus . . . sat by the highway side begging. —x. 46.

A sinner blind and poor,
A helpless beggar I,
The pardoning grace implore
Of Him that passes by:
He passes now: His name I hear,
And long to see my Saviour near.

1001.

[Jesus, for this I wait]

Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. —x. 47.

Jesus, for this I wait,
Thy Deity to know,
Pity my dark estate,
On me Thy mercy show;
Thou Son and Lord of David, be
A Prophet, Priest, and King to me.

1002.

[The world rebuke in vain]

Many charged him that he should hold his, &c. —x. 48.

The world rebuke in vain,
And would my clamours still,
Till mercy I obtain
I must cry on, and will,
Mercy, Thou Son of David, show,
And give me eyes Thyself to know.

1003.

[Stopp'd by a sinner's prayer]

Jesus stood still, and commanded him to, &c. —x. 49, 50.

Stopp'd by a sinner's prayer,
Thou canst no farther move,
Thou canst no more forbear
To manifest Thy love.
Thou waitest now to show Thy grace,
And callest me to seek Thy face.

I now Thy call obey,
Put off my sordid dress,
And cast the rags away
Of my own righteousness;
Naked, and indigent, and blind,
I run the pardoning God to find.

By Thy own mercy brought
Before Thy face I stand,
Yet still I see Thee not
Till Thou put forth Thy hand,
And by Thy word create the light,
And by Thy touch restore my sight.

In pity to my cries,
And heartfelt poverty,
Open the beggar's eyes,
That I my way may see,
My pure and living way pursue,
Till Thee I in Thy glory view.

1004.

[I would my sight receive]

Lord, that I might receive my sight. —x. 51.

I would my sight receive
And keep my Lord in view,
Thy faithful follower live,
Thy steps in death pursue,
And joyful lay my body down,
The cross exchanging for the crown.

1005.

[Faith to be heal'd I have]

Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole, &c. —x. 52.

Faith to be heal'd I have,
The faith Thou didst impart,
But now the sinner save
And cure the blind of heart,

This instant, Lord, my sight restore,
And following Thee I sin no more.

Yes, O my suffering God,
Henceforth I follow Thee
The narrow rugged road;
Which leads to Calvary;
And there I on the cross ascend
To heavenly joys that never end.

CHAPTER XI.

1006.

[An image of the Gentiles see]

Ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man, &c. —xi. 2.

An image of the Gentiles see,
Long in a state of nature free,
Free from the law and gospel yoke,
Untaught, undisciplined, unbroke,
Till Jesus, full of truth and grace,
His servants sends to the highways,
Redeems by His all-powerful word,
And brings them to their pardoning Lord.

1007.

[As a wild ass's colt is man]

As a wild ass's colt is man,
Licentious, yet by passion bound,
Till Christ the vagabond restrain
And free him by the gospel sound.
He sends His servants forth to claim
The wanderer from His righteous laws,
And makes the human savage tame,
And marks His subject with His cross.

1008.

[Resolved on man His grace to prove]

The Lord hath need of him. —xi. 3.

Resolved on man His grace to prove,
He needs the subject of His love,
And represents in emblem true
The power which all things shall subdue;
He comes our captive souls to' unbind,
The Lord and Master of mankind,
His sovereign majesty displays,
Triumphant o'er the ransom'd race.

1009.

[The will of man must bow before]

They said unto them even as Jesus had, &c. —xi. 6.

The will of man must bow before
The will omnipotent Divine,
And clothed with Thy resistless power,
Thy servant's word, O Lord, is Thine:
Thy messenger persist to bless,
And still with Thy commission send,
The souls of sinners to release,
And with us go, till time shall end.

1010.

[Loosed from the bands of sin we bring]

They brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their, &c. —xi. 7.

Loosed from the bands of sin we bring
Poor sinners to our Lord and King,
Cover and screen with tenderest care,
Dispose them Jesus' yoke to bear:
They serve the triumph of His love;
To that Jerusalem above,
(When He His promised Spirit imparts,)
They carry Jesus—in their hearts.

1011.

[We of every good below]

Many spread their garments in the way: &c. —xi. 8.

We of every good below
With joy ourselves divest,
All at Jesus' feet we throw,
Our God for ever bless'd;

Worldly hopes like branches green
We cast away and trample down;
Triumph, Lord, and entering in
Make all our hearts Thine own.

1012.

[All who went His birth before]

They that went before, and they that followed, &c. —xi. 9.

All who went His birth before,
And all who follow'd since,
Still unite in songs to' adore
Our everlasting Prince,
Christ the Lord to glorify;
Descending in His Father's name,
David's Son who comes from high
Let earth and heaven proclaim.

Welcome to the souls of men,
His royal power He brings,
Makes us partners of His reign,
A race of patient kings:
Now companions in distress
We suffer in our Master's cause,
Drink His hallow'd cup, and bless
And love His daily cross.

Heavenly King, we still attend
Thy glorious kingdom here:
Thou the second time descend,
With all Thy saints appear!
Then we shall our voices raise,
The God of our salvation own,
Thee through endless ages praise
On Thy triumphant throne.

1013.

[Kings of earth, on Jesus wait]

Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple. —xi. 11.

Kings of earth, on Jesus wait,
The meek and lowly King,

All your pomp and gorgeous state
Into His triumph bring:
Power ascribe to Him alone,
Him only wise, and good, and great,
Cast your crowns before His throne,
And triumph at His feet.

1014.

[What is the fruit which Christ requires?]

Seeing a fig-tree, . . . He came, if haply He, &c. —xi. 13.

What is the fruit which Christ requires?
Promises vain, or good desires,
Our outward services?
These are but leaves which fade and die,
Nor can the want of grace supply,
Nor can the Saviour please.

But faith, and hope of joys above,
True virtue, Lord, and real love
Are pleasant to Thy taste,
Good works, and meek humility,
These are the fruits required by Thee,
Which shall for ever last.

1015.

[He blasts the undeserving tree]

No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. —xi. 14.

He blasts the undeserving tree,
That we our just desert may see,
Our doom in emblem show'd;
May, ere the barren curse take place,
Bring forth the fruits of righteousness,
And work the works of God.

1016.

[Built by the most holy God]

Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast, &c. —xi. 15.

Built by the most holy God,
Every soul His house should be,
Fitted to His fix'd abode,
Fill'd with prayer and purity:

But when covetous and vain
Worldly lusts my soul receives,
Then Thy temple I profane,
Turn it to a den of thieves.

Jesus, Purity Divine,
Plenitude of God below,
Come and claim this heart of mine,
All my selfish plans o'erthrow;
For Thy name and glory's sake,
Every trafficker expel,
Of Thy own possession take,
In Thy house for ever dwell.

1017.

[Thou long sought God of grace]

He would not suffer that any man should, &c. —xi. 16.

Thou long sought God of grace
Unto Thy temple come,
Make it the house of holiness,
And take up all the room:
What robs Thee of Thy due
Command it to depart,
Nor let an evil thought pass through
My consecrated heart.

1018.

[For long unfruitfulness]

They saw the fig-tree dried up from the roots. —xi. 20.

For long unfruitfulness
If Christ the sinner curse,
Fearful and desperate is his case,
And only hell is worse:
His root is quite dried up,
His gracious day is o'er,
He can no more believe, or hope,
He can repent no more.

1019.

[I want the true divinity]

Have faith in God [Gr. the faith of God]. —xi. 22.

I want the true divinity,
The faith of God, the power in me:

Jesus, the Power of God Thou art,
Inspeak Thyself into my heart,
Command my heart the faith to have
Which saves, and shall for ever save.

1020.

[Jesus, the' irrevocable word]

What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, &c. —xi. 24.

Jesus, the' irrevocable word
Thy gracious lips hath pass'd,
And trusting in my faithful Lord
I shall be saved at last:
Whate'er I ask with longing heart
Expecting to receive,
Almighty God, Thou ready art,
And promisest, to give.

I ask the gift of righteousness,
The sin-subduing power,
Power to believe, and go in peace,
And never grieve Thee more;
I ask the blood-bought pardon seal'd,
The liberty from sin,
The grace infused, the love reveal'd,
The kingdom fix'd within.

Thou hear'st me for salvation pray,
Thou seest my heart's desire,
Made ready in Thy powerful day
Thy fulness I require:
My vehement soul cries out oppress'd,
Impatient to be freed;
Nor can I, Lord, nor will I rest,
Till I am saved indeed.

Art Thou not able to convert,
Art Thou not willing too

To change this old rebellious heart,
To conquer and renew?
Thou canst, Thou wilt, I dare believe,
So arm me with Thy power,
That I to sin shall never cleave,
Shall never act it more.

1021.

[Come then, my God, the promise seal]

Come then, my God, the promise seal,
This mountain-sin remove,
Now in my gasping soul reveal
The virtue of Thy love:
I want Thy life, Thy purity,
Thy righteousness brought in,
I ask, desire, and trust in Thee,
To be redeem'd from sin.

For this, as taught by Thee, I pray,
And can no longer doubt;
Remove far hence, to sin I say,
Be cast this moment out:
The guilt and strength of self and pride
Be pardon'd and subdued,
Be cast into the crimson tide
Of my Redeemer's blood.

Saviour, to Thee my soul looks up;
My present Saviour Thou:
In all the confidence of hope,
I claim the blessing now!
'Tis done: Thou dost this moment save,
Thou dost with pardon bless;
Redemption through Thy blood I have,
And heaven in Thy peace.

1022.

[Still, O my dear redeeming Lord]

Still, O my dear redeeming Lord,
Thy faithfulness I plead,
And hang on Thy most precious word
For every good I need:
The good which first of all I want
Into my heart convey,
The power to pray and never faint,
The constant power to pray.

With all my small remains of grace
The blessing I implore,
Stir up my soul to seek Thy face,
To seek it evermore;
To wrestle till the clouds remove,
And Thou Thy name declare,
While all my happy heart is love,
And all my life is prayer.

For this I pray, and long, and trust
Thy goodness, truth, and power,
To make, as to account me just
In Thine appointed hour:
Thou canst; and is it not Thy will
That I should holy be?
Lord, I expect Thee to fulfil
Thy whole design on me.

1023.

[Thy counsel is, to save me now]

Thy counsel is, to save me now
From every act of sin;
Nor will I, Lord, the least allow,
Or touch the thing unclean:
Surrounded with ten thousand snares,
I shall not, cannot fall,

While hanging on the arm that bears
My soul above them all.

In Thee my Saviour I confide,
By my own sin beset,
And lay it easily aside,
And spurn it at my feet;
It shall no more dominion have,
Or captivate my will,
For Thou art ever near to save,
For Thou art Jesus still.

Believing all Thy fulness mine,
Nor earth nor hell I fear,
Kept by omnipotence Divine
To full salvation here:
The thing for which I dare believe
I shall at last obtain,
And, when Thine image I retrieve,
With Thee in glory reign.

1024.

[Jesus, Thou say'st I shall receive]

Jesus, Thou say'st I shall receive
The thing for which I pray;
Then give me, Lord, Thy Spirit give,
And take my sins away:
That I may never grieve Thee more,
Thy blessed Self impart,
And stamp in perfect peace and power
Thine image on my heart.

Why should I smaller gifts request,
When all I ask is mine?
I covet earnestly the best,
The plenitude Divine:

My swelling heart I open wide
To' admit my heavenly Friend;
Come Saviour, come in me to' abide,
Till grace in glory end.

My evil will be all cast out,
When Thou resid'st within,
Thy presence, Lord, I cannot doubt,
Extirpates inbred sin:
Out of mine inmost soul I trust
The root shall be destroy'd,
While Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Fills all the sacred void.

Thee, the thrice holy God, I want,
And nothing less than Thee:
With infinite desire I pant
For Thy infinity:
On eagles' wings my spirit flies
To grasp its Lord above,
And faints upon Thy breast, and dies
To be dissolved in love.

The things which I desire in prayer
I surely, Lord, shall have,
All in Thy power contain'd they are,
And in Thy will to save:
The sum of my desires Thou art,
And shalt my portion be,
And fix Thy heaven within my heart
Through all eternity.

1025.

[Forgiveness is the foremost grace]

Forgive . . . that your Father . . . may forgive you. —xi. 25.

Forgiveness is the foremost grace
Which God vouchsafes a sinful race;
But none the pardon shall receive,
Who will not, as his God, forgive.

1026.

[How blind the priests who could not see]

The chief priests, and the scribes, . . . say, &c. —xi. 27, 28.

How blind the priests who could not see
The Godhead in our great High Priest,
Or own the Lord's authority
In countless miracles confess'd:
How dark the scribes, who dared pretend
To make the law and Scripture known,
Nor knew its Author, scope, and end,
Spirit, and truth, was Christ alone.

CHAPTER XII.

1027.

[God let His vineyard out to man]

A certain man planted a vineyard . . . and let it, &c. —xii. 1.

God let His vineyard out to man,
His rent of glory to obtain,
Told him his soul was not his own,
But made to serve his Lord alone;
He bade him feed, increase, improve
His grain of faith, his seed of love,
And stock'd him with sufficient grace
To bear the fruits of righteousness.

1028.

[Though long He seem'd as distant far]

At the season he sent to the husbandmen, &c. —xii. 2.

Though long He seem'd as distant far,
His vineyard still engross'd His care;
His servant in due time He sent,
To gather in the gracious rent:
His messenger was good desires
With which He freely all inspires,
And stirs us up to use the power,
To serve, and worship, and adore.

1029.

[Conscience when we refuse to hear]

They caught him, and beat him, and sent, &c. —xii. 3.

Conscience when we refuse to hear,
And quite throw off our gracious fear,

The serious thought resist, repel,
Our heart against conviction steel,
'Tis then the messenger we slight,
Entreat the Sender with despite,
By violence force Him to depart,
And chase His Spirit from our heart.

1030.

[Scripture, a second servant, came]

Again he sent unto them another servant; &c. —xii. 4.

Scripture, a second servant, came,
The vineyard's fruit for God to claim:
We its authority deny,
And will not with the word comply:
The word which doth His mind declare,
We mangle, mutilate, and tear,
Abuse with haughty rage and scorn,
Nor make our Lord the least return.

1031.

[The Lord, whose mercies never end]

Again he sent another; and him they killed, &c. —xii. 5.

The Lord, whose mercies never end,
More messengers vouchsafed to send;
By teachers His demands made known,
By seers and saints required His own;
They call'd on man his rent to pay,
They urged, “Repent, believe, obey,
Restore whate'er His grace bestow'd,
And live to glorify your God.”

But man averse in heart and mind
Cast all his Maker's words behind,
In every age the' ungrateful race
Hath spurn'd the ministers of grace,
Hated whoe'er the message brought,
Their ruin and destruction sought;
Truth and its witnesses abhorr'd,
And stoned, and kill'd them with the sword.

1032.

[That all might savingly believe]

He sent his well-beloved Son also last unto, &c. —xii. 6.

That all might savingly believe,
And glory to Jehovah give,
He sent at last His favourite Son
To take possession of His own:
To every soul He sends Him still,
That every soul may serve His will,
Their faith by meek obedience prove,
With fear rejoice, with reverence love.

1033.

[Murder'd on earth by Jews He was]

They took him, and killed him. —xii. 8.

Murder'd on earth by Jews He was,
When once they nail'd Him to the cross;
But we renew His deadly pains
Who glorious and triumphant reigns,
Against His life contriving still,
By twice ten thousand ways we kill,
By twice ten thousand sins we slay,
And crucify Him every day.

1034.

[Ah, wretched man when God requires]

He will come and destroy the husbandmen. —xii. 9.

Ah, wretched man when God requires
His soul, who in his sins expires!
His soul alas, is his no more,
Consign'd to the tormentor's power,
Losing his soul, he loses all
Yet cannot into nothing fall,
But hopelessly his doom bemoans,
And pours in hell eternal groans.

1035.

[Thee, Lord, Thy church confess]

The stone which the builders rejected is become, &c. —xii. 10.

Thee, Lord, Thy church confess
The Stone of steadfastness;
Firm with immortality,
Strength immovable is Thine,
Whiteness we ascribe to Thee,
Spotless purity Divine.

Thou art the basis laid,
The principle and head,
Author of our faith we own
Thee the Finisher complete,
Join'd to Thee the corner-stone,
All in one the members meet.

'Tis Thine, O God of grace,
The living stones to place,
Framed and fitted, Lord, by Thee
All into a temple rise,
Hallow'd by the Deity,
Fill'd with Him who fills the skies.

1036.

[How happy, Lord, are we]

How happy, Lord, are we,
Repulsed and scorn'd with Thee!
Charged with Thy reproach and shame,
Glad the trial we abide:
Let them still cast out our name,
Treat us like the Crucified.

Who suffer for Thy sake
We shall Thy joy partake,
Sure as now Thy cross we bear,
Till with life we lay it down,
We shall all Thy glories share,
Sit exalted on Thy throne.

1037.

[God o'er the heathen reigns]

They sought to lay hold on Him, &c. —xii. 12.

God o'er the heathen reigns,
And checks their full career,
Passion by passion He restrains,
Malicious rage by fear;
Suspends their wicked deed,
Till all His work is done,
And when He lets their purpose speed
He only serves His own.

1038.

[A pastor with courageous zeal]

Master, we know that Thou art true, &c. —xii. 14.

A pastor with courageous zeal
The truth to all alike should deal,
And no respect of persons know;
But if he once himself respect,
That leaven will the lump infect,
And all his confidence o'erthrow.
The flattering fiend, his faith to try,
Will turn upon himself his eye,
His zeal admire, his boldness praise,
Impel him to some dire extreme,
Or make him dignities blaspheme,
And lose through pride his boasted grace.

But should we not the truth declare,
Refuse or high or low to spare,
And kings undauntedly reprove?
If fired with an intrepid zeal
The way of God in truth we tell,
What more can there be wanted? Love:
Love and discretion must conspire,
To cool and guide the temper'd fire
Of Jesus' flaming witnesses;
Humble and peaceable and meek,
Wisdom should teach us when to speak,
And how the' unsoften'd truth to press.

1039.

[When captious Pharisees are near]

Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, &c. —xii. 17.

When captious Pharisees are near,
Through prudence false or slavish fear
We never should the truth suppress,
We never should with man comply,
Their pride or malice gratify,
Or speak a curious world to please.

Whether they praise us, or condemn,
Our silence or our freedom blame,
We make the heavenly counsel known,
To truth our testimony bear,
And only for His interests care,
And simply speak for Christ alone.

1040.

[Will carnal thoughts of carnal men]

In the resurrection . . . whose wife shall she be? —xii. 23.

Will carnal thoughts of carnal men
The hidden life of heaven explain?
Who rightly would of heaven conceive
Must all his old ideas leave,
Forget whate'er is done below,
After the flesh no longer know
Children, or wife, or bosom-friend,
But stripp'd of all, on Christ attend.

The creature in those realms of bliss
Doth only his Creator please;
Man, happy man, no more his own,
Doth greatly live to God alone:
Who father here and mother leaves
And for all creatures one receives,
Her and himself forsakes above,
And cleaves to Christ in endless love.

1041.

[The carnal Jews misunderstood]

Do ye not therefore err, &c. —xii. 24.

The carnal Jews misunderstood
The lively oracles of God,
No promise spiritual they saw
Beneath the shadows of the law,
But resting in the literal word
Renounced the truth, with Christ our Lord.

The modern Jews who bear His name,
In judgment and mistake the same,

No hope of immortality
In Moses or the prophets see,
No Spirit now to sinners given,
No inward Christ, or present heaven.

They still a God unknown adore,
Strangers to faith's almighty power,
To Christ the power of God in man,
Who only can His word explain
And write it on their inward parts,
And breathe the sense into their hearts.

1042.

[The Scriptures never can be known]

The Scriptures never can be known
But through the power of God alone;
The Spirit of power, and truth, and love
Doth first our unbelief remove,
Discovers the deep things of God,
And shows to me my Saviour's blood.

My Father's mind I then perceive,
And quicken'd by His Spirit live;
The Spirit doth His word reveal,
The Spirit teaches me His will,
And while into all truth He guides,
My Teacher in my heart resides.

1043.

[How pure the blessed spirits there]

When they shall rise from the dead, they, &c. —xii. 25.

How pure the blessed spirits there,
Who bright celestial bodies wear,
No more to earth allied.
Consummated in joy unknown,
For ever bless'd, for ever one,
With Jesus glorified.

O that we might begin below
The life angelical to know,
Our faithfulness approve,

Present with God in every place,
Perform His will, and see His face
In purity of love!

Jesus, the holiness impart,
Earnest of glory in my heart,
And then my soul receive
To cast its wreath before Thy throne,
The heavenly life on earth begun
Eternally to live.

1044.

[The one religion see]

Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is, &c. —xii. 29, 30.

The one religion see
Which God vouchsafes to' approve,
'Tis grounded on His unity,
'Tis—Hear, believe, and love!

1045.

[How bless'd the people are—]

How bless'd the people are—
Peculiarly His own,
To whom He doth His will declare,
And makes His Godhead known!
Whate'er He doth require
He graciously imparts,
And writes the perfect law entire
Upon their loving hearts.

Ah, tell it, Lord, to me,
That Thou art God alone:
My only God in Jesus be,
Thy well-beloved Son:
Ah, fill for Jesus' sake
My heart with love Divine,
And now the full possession take,
And keep it always Thine.

1046.

[The sovereign God affects]

To love Him with all the heart . . . is more than, &c. —xii. 33.

The sovereign God affects
Our whole delight to be,
And every worshipper rejects
When void of charity:
No other sacrifice
Can for this want atone,
But love the place of all supplies,
But love is all in one.

1047.

[Not he who barely knows]

Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. —xii. 34.

Not he who barely knows
Hath found the kingdom here;
Yet towards it he by knowledge goes,
And finds salvation near;
But let him forward press
In search of things above,
By violent prayer the kingdom seize,
The power of faith and love.

Our God is love supreme:
And who in love abides
He dwells in God, and God in him
Substantially resides:
His Spirit lives and reigns
In every loving one,
His throne of grace in saints maintains
His everlasting throne.

1048.

[Jehovah to Jehovah]

The Lord said to My Lord, Sit Thou on, &c. —xii. 36.

Jehovah to Jehovah
Fulness of power hath given,
Hath bid His Son
Ascend the throne,
And reign in earth and heaven:

His foes shall prove His footstool,
His foes subdued before Him
Shall prostrate lie,
While happy I
With all His saints adore Him.

The stubborn and rebellious
With iron rod He bruises,
As grovelling slaves;
But loves and saves
Whome'er His mercy chooses:
With mercy's outstretch'd sceptre
His subjects here He raises,
Who at His feet
For grace entreat
Us by His side He places.

A church of living members
He fills us with His Spirit,
And makes us meet
On thrones to sit,
And glorious joys inherit:
O'er our last foe victorious
He shortly shall deliver,
And then receive;
His saints to live
And reign with Him for ever.

1049.

[Still by faith we see Him wait]

Jesus sat over against the treasury, &c. —xii. 41.

Still by faith we see Him wait
Sinners' offerings to receive;
There He at the temple-gate
Judges of the alms we give:

But His ways and thoughts we own
Far above out of our sight:
Sitting on Thy heavenly throne
All Thy judgments, Lord, are right.

1050.

[Let the rich their wish obtain]

There came a certain poor widow, &c. —xii. 42.

Let the rich their wish obtain
By the world admired and prized;
Free from envy I remain,
Mean, neglected, and despised:
Friend and Patron of the poor,
Noticed if I am by Thee,
I can covet nothing more:
Jesus, Thou art all to me.

1051.

[Needy saints your privilege know]

This poor widow hath cast more in, than all, &c. —xii. 43.

Needy saints your privilege know,
Needy whom the rich miscall,
Ye can more than them bestow,
Ye can give your little all:
What with willing heart ye give
Jesus doth with smiles approve;
Nothing for yourselves ye leave,
Nothing but your Saviour's love.

1052.

[By the needy widow taught]

All they did cast in of their abundance, &c. —xii. 44.

By the needy widow taught
Blush, ye rich, who little give;
Poorest you who offer nought
Learn the poorest to relieve;
God declares the giver bless'd:
Trust His providential word,
Cast your mite into the chest,
Cast yourselves upon the Lord.

CHAPTER XIII.

1053.

[The world an outward temple praise]

Master, see what manner of stones, &c. —xiii. 1.

The world an outward temple praise,
Magnific, such as worms can raise,
The' effect of human art,
With lofty battlements and towers;
But God, whose thoughts are not as ours,
Regards a humble heart.

A humble heart He makes His shrine,
Hallow'd by charity Divine,
A house of praise and prayer,
Where God is loved, revered, adored,
A living temple of the Lord
For ever present there.

1054.

[The men of an unstable mind]

Take heed lest any man deceive you, &c. —xiii. 5.

The men of an unstable mind,
Themselves who never throughly knew,
Their eager hope and passion blind
For things extraordinary and new
Exposes them to Satan's wiles,
Who makes their souls his easy spoils.

To each seducer they give ear,
In every lying prophet trust,
Who claims the sinless character,
Who dares his own perfection boast,
“Of glory in an instant sure,
And pure, at once, as God is pure!”

1055.

[How happy is the Christian's lot]

When ye shall hear of wars and rumours of, &c. —xiii. 7.

How happy is the Christian's lot,
Whom saved from every anxious thought
No earthly evils move;

In vain the storms of trouble rise,
Come to his city in the skies
He sits secure above.

Tumults and wars serene he sees,
They cannot interrupt his peace,
Which Christ's approach portend,
Which hasten the long wished for day,
When heaven and earth shall flee away
And grace in glory end.

1056.

[Be this, O Lord, our constant care]

Take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver, &c. —xiii. 9.

Be this, O Lord, our constant care,
Not how the destined cross to fly,
But meekly in Thy Spirit to bear,
The truth with zeal to testify,
To tremble at the wrath Divine,
Regardless of a mortal's frown,
And calm, like Thee, our lives resign,
And grasp through death the martyr's crown.

1057.

[The words we speak, we speak, them not]

It is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. —xiii. 11.

The words we speak, we speak, them not,
The words we speak are God's, not ours,
When before kings and rulers brought,
We meet unmoved the worldly powers,
By unpremeditating grace
Prepared our Maker to confess.

The Saviour then His promise seals,
The Spirit then doth utterance give,
Our mouth with heavenly wisdom fills;
And lo, our foes the truth receive,
And from the power of Jesus' word
Own the companions of our Lord.

1058.

[Whoe'er the gospel hate]

Ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake. —xiii. 13.

Whoe'er the gospel hate,
And virtue disapprove,
Will loathe the men that vindicate
The truth, and goodness love:
But happy he who sees
His calling's heavenly prize,
And suffering on for righteousness,
With Jesus lives and dies.

This happiness is mine,
If Thou my Lord appear,
And arm my soul with faith Divine,
With strength to persevere:
Supported by Thy grace,
I shall Thy cause maintain,
Abhorr'd of all, the cross embrace,
Till I the kingdom gain.

1059.

[Stands the world in being still]

For the elect's sake . . . He hath shortened the days. —xiii. 20.

Stands the world in being still
Against that fatal day,
Kept from wasting flames until
The saints escape away:
For Thy people's sake alone,
The universe Thou dost reprieve,
That with Thee entirely one
They may for ever live.

Oft Thou dost cut short their days,
When sin and danger's near,
Save them from a poisonous race,
And trials too severe:
Oft, when just o'erpower'd in fight
They faint, by Satan's host oppress'd,

Lord, Thou dost stir up Thy might,
And take them to Thy breast.

Lord, Thou seest me in the snare
And long continued strife,
Dying, ready to despair
Of everlasting life:
Shorten my extreme distress,
My soul to ruin's margin driven
Perfect in true holiness,
And snatch me up to heaven.

There shall I transported see
Thy miracles of love
Wrought on earth to rescue me,
And hide my life above:
There I shall with joy admire
The dangers I through death outrun,
Scarcely saved out of the fire
And caught up to Thy throne.

1060.

[O what cause of humble fear!]

If any man shall say to you, Lo, here is, &c. —xiii. 21.

O what cause of humble fear!
We may phantoms vain pursue,
Take impostors for sincere,
A false Christ believe the true:
We may cease to watch and pray,
Slumber on the pinnacle,
Sure we cannot fall away
Dream of heaven and wake in hell!

1061.

[Who earth and heaven and hell commands]

False Christs and false prophets shall rise, &c. —xiii. 22.

Who earth and heaven and hell commands
Shall guard His own elect,
(That fall into seducers' hands,)
And all their paths direct:

His goodness will not let them stray,
But soon the fiend remove,
And keep them in the narrow way
Of humble patient love.

Great things in the Satanic hour
Delusion's sons may do,
Vaunt of their happiness and power,
And pass for prophets true:
But, one short moment turn'd aside,
We think of Jesus' word,
Fly back to our unerring Guide,
And faster grasp our Lord.

1062.

['Tis all foretold, the' impostor's art]

But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold, &c. —xiii. 23.

'Tis all foretold, the' impostor's art,
'Tis written in the sacred leaves!
We need not take the tempter's part
Who weak credulity deceives:
If now into his toils we run,
We perish by ourselves undone.

Unless Thy warnings we despise,
And Thee our God refuse to hear,
Seducers never can surprise,
Nor Satan's smoothest messenger
Draw our unwary souls away,
Or force us from Thy word to stray.

But if we cast Thy word aside,
Or intermit our watchful care,
Through curious, or presumptuous pride
Dissolved in sloth or slack in prayer,
Justly Thou may'st the grace deny,
And leave us to believe a lie.

Ah do not from Thy people go
While error's whirlpool is so near,
And robed in light, the hellish foe
Affects the' angelic character,
And tempts us with a specious show
To fancy “we are angels too.”

Still may we tremble and take heed,
Warn'd by the word and Spirit of grace,
With meek humility proceed
In the old paths of righteousness,
And search Thy records night and day,
And always watch and always pray.

1063.

['Tis all our blessed business here]

Then shall they see the Son of Man coming, &c. —xiii. 26.

'Tis all our blessed business here
To wait till Jesus shall appear,
Descending from His bright abode,
The Son of man, the' eternal God.

We shall behold our Saviour shine,
Girt with omnipotence Divine,
Shall at the trumpet's sound rejoice,
And echo to the' archangel's voice,

He comes, He comes to fetch His bride!
Even I shall see the heavens thrown wide,
Discern Him on His cloudy car,
And mount and meet Him in the air:

And while He ready makes our place
His Spirit in His members prays,
“Appear to take Thine exiles home,
Come quickly, Lord, to judgment come!”

1064.

[Vanish then this old creation]

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but, &c. —xiii. 31.

Vanish then this old creation,
Still the promise must remain,
At the general restoration
We shall see our Lord again:
Pass away this earth and heaven,
Truth can never be o'erthrown,
Stands the word by Jesus given
Firm as His eternal throne.

1065.

[Jesus hath left His house below]

The Son of man is as a man taking a far, &c. —xiii. 34.

Jesus hath left His house below;
Him in the flesh no more we know,
No more on earth we see;
But throned on the celestial hill
He earnestly remembers still
His blood-bought family.

He marks the church He left behind,
If each fulfil the task assign'd
With never slackening care,
If each his faithfulness approve
By labours of unwearied love,
By watchfulness and prayer.

Master, the grace vouchsafe to me,
The loving firm fidelity,
That mindful of Thy word
I may, with all my skill and might,
Perform my every work aright,
And please my heavenly Lord.

My heart, Thy meanest house, I keep
If Thou whose eyelids never sleep
The watchful power bestow;

I mark the thoughts that hence proceed;
Not one shall pass into a deed
Before Thy mind I know.

Cautious, the door of sense I close,
And keep it shut against my foes
Who press to enter in;
All commerce with the world preclude,
Nor let the tempting fiend intrude,
Or the besetting sin.

No unexamined thought or word
Shall pass, but such as serve my Lord,
And execute Thy will:
I only live to watch and pray,
And for Thy second coming stay,
And all Thy mind fulfil.

Happy, if watching to the end,
I see Thee gloriously descend,
The man Thou dost approve
Enter into my Master's joy,
And all eternity employ
In rhapsodies of love.

1066.

[I set me on the watchman's tower]

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not, &c. —xiii. 35.

I set me on the watchman's tower,
I wait the' uncertain day and hour
When my discharge shall come:
When Christ His heavenly face reveals,
He brings the fatal hour that seals
Mine everlasting doom.

The awful day and hour unknown
Of death and judgment are but one,
Are both the same to me;

For such as out of life I go,
I must remain in bliss or woe
Through all eternity.

Be this my whole employment here,
As Jesus' faithful minister
His interests to maintain,
My station in His house to keep,
And never slumber, never sleep
Till He appears again.

The more my Lord prolongs His stay
The more my duty is to pray
And watch and labour on,
Always to keep myself prepared,
And looking for my full reward
In that immortal crown.

1067.

[Is there a saint who doth not need]

I say unto all, Watch. —xiii. 37.

Is there a saint who doth not need
To watch and pray, while station'd here?
Doth grace the duty supersede,
Or love cast out the humble fear?
Who bade the twelve, take heed, beware,
Cautioning them, He cautions all:
And those that watch with ceaseless care,
Can never sin, can never fall.

1068.

[Jesus, inspire the watchful power]

Jesus, inspire the watchful power,
And set me on Thy cross's tower,
Till life's sad moment's o'er:
Here may I still my station keep,
And never fold my arms to sleep,
And never slumber more.

O might I in Thy likeness wake,
Thy spotless purity partake
And fix my wishful eye,
Till coming in the clouds I see
Thy mild, triumphant majesty,
And to Thy bosom fly.

CHAPTER XIV.

1069.

[Commendable excess]

She brake the box, and poured it on His head. —xiv. 3.

Commendable excess
Of generous faith and love!
O could I thus my zeal express,
My gratitude approve;
Pour out the precious balm
And rendering Him His own,
Whate'er I have, whate'er I am,
Expend on Christ alone.

1070.

[Our zeal in men's esteem]

Some . . . had indignation, . . . and said, Why, &c. —xiv. 4.

Our zeal in men's esteem
May pass for indiscreet;
Suffice if what we do for Him
Our Lord's acceptance meet:
If He our gift receive,
Though more than life it cost,
We know whate'er to Christ we give
It never can be lost.

1071.

[Who worldly good pursue]

They murmured against her. —xiv. 5.

Who worldly good pursue
As their supreme delight
Will murmur at His followers true
Who all for Jesus slight:

Yet we who Jesus know
The world as nothing deem,
And all the precious things below
Account but dross for Him.

1072.

[Saviour, Thy witnesses]

Jesus said, Let her alone. —xiv. 6.

Saviour, Thy witnesses
The world must disapprove,
They cannot judge in righteousness
Who want both light and love;
But patient of the wrong
I leave my cause to Thee,
And, while I meekly hold my tongue,
Thou answerest, Lord, for me.

1073.

[No longer visible]

Me ye have not always. —xiv. 7.

No longer visible
To eyes of flesh and blood,
The Son of Man with God doth dwell
Himself the' eternal God:
Yet still He ready stands
Assistance to receive:
And through His poor disciples' hands
Our alms to Christ we give.

1074.

[Might I but do for Thee]

She hath done what she could. —xiv. 8.

Might I but do for Thee
The little in my power,
Who know'st my soul's infirmity,
Thou wouldst require no more:
Work then in me to will
To ask and use Thy grace,
And lo, Thy pleasure I fulfil,
And give Thee all the praise.

1075.

[The one great God supreme]

Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached, &c. —xiv. 9.

The one great God supreme
In power and majesty,
Jesus, Thou lov'st and honour'st them
Who love and honour Thee:
Thou will'st that all our race
Should know what faith hath done,
Should imitate the saints, and praise,
But worship God alone.

1076.

[How sad the triumph of an hour]

When they heard it, they were glad. —xiv. 11.

How sad the triumph of an hour,
How short the joy of human fiends,
Which leaves them to the tempter's power,
And in eternal sorrow ends!

1077.

[Able to break the' infernal band]

He sought how he might conveniently betray Him. —xiv. 11.

Able to break the' infernal band,
And blast the plots of earth and hell,
He let their direful counsel stand,
And Satan over God prevail;
Holy and just, and wise and good,
To' abolish sin, He sin employs,
Lays down our ransom in His blood,
And death through His own death destroys.

1078.

[If still Thou dost with sinners eat]

Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat, &c. —xiv. 14.

If still Thou dost with sinners eat,
Come, dearest Lord, and quickly come:
Thy grace alone can speak us meet,
Our souls enlarge to make Thee room,
The leaven old of inbred sin
Expel by true sincerity,
Prepare our heart and enter in,
And keep a passover in me.

1079.

[Alas for him! whose teaching pride]

Good were it for that man if he had, &c. —xiv. 21.

Alas for him! whose teaching pride
Peoples the realms beneath,
And helps poor sinners to deride
The never-dying death!
Who madly mocks the endless pain,
And laughs his God to scorn—
Good were it for that wretched man,
If he had ne'er been born!

1080.

[From Jesu's sacrifice]

I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, &c. —xiv. 25.

From Jesu's sacrifice
And sacrament we rise,
Borne on wings of faith and love
To the mansions of the bless'd,
Triumph with the saints above,
Share that everlasting feast.

The Truth, the Deity,
We there unveil'd shall see;
Lose in that transporting sight
All we felt or fear'd below;
Torrents of unmix'd delight
There our raptured souls o'erflow.

O blessed, blessed hope!
From earth it lifts us up:
Now in heaven with Christ we dwell,
Now the bliss of heaven we taste,
Glorious joys unspeakable,
Joys which shall for ever last.

Jesus, substantial Bread,
If Thou our spirits feed,
Nothing can we want beside,
With Thy immortality,

With Thy fulness satisfied,
All we sacrifice to Thee.

1081.

[Rivals of saints supremely bless'd]

When they had sung an hymn, they went, &c. —xiv. 26.

Rivals of saints supremely bless'd,
Our souls to heaven ascend,
Who Jesu's eucharistic feast
With praise begin and end.
With Jesus while our hearts we feed
They must with joy o'erflow,
And find, in that immortal Bread,
Their heaven begun below.

But conscious of our constant wants
To Christ again we cry,
Who all our needed graces grants,
And ask a fresh supply:
Oft to the garden we remove,
Our Master's grief to share,
Pour out our souls in plaintive love,
And agony of prayer.

An upper room will soon be found
Where we with Christ shall sit,
Partake His joy with glory crown'd,
And all our griefs forget:
Our praises there shall never cease,
Our joys shall ne'er decay,
But higher rise and more increase
Through one eternal day.

1082.

[Who trusts his own intrepid heart]

Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. —xiv. 29.

Who trusts his own intrepid heart,
Burning with inexperienced zeal,
Secure he never shall depart,
“For sin is quite impossible,”

He must perceive himself but man,
Must fall, to teach him that he can.

Presuming on his strength of grace,
Himself to others who prefers,
And boasts his future faithfulness,
And slights the warning word he hears,
He soon shall prove his pride to all,
Alarming thousands by his fall.

1083.

[How little of himself he knows]

How little of himself he knows,
Who dares depend on his own heart!
Our whole of strength from Jesus flows:
Jesus, my confidence Thou art,
And while I can on Thee rely,
I never shall my Lord deny.

Who in Thy faithful word believes,
And humbly calls upon Thy name,
Each moment he Thy grace receives,
And never shall be put to shame;
But Thou a stumbling block shalt be
To all who trust themselves, not Thee.

1084.

[Who every thought and motion knows]

Before the cock crow twice, &c. —xiv. 30.

Who every thought and motion knows
Of every heart Himself hath made,
The day, the hour, the moment shows,
When Peter through his pride betray'd
Shall fall: by basest perjury
To warn, and shake, and stablish me.

Omniscient God of love, impart
A ray of Thine unerring light,
That seeing my own treacherous heart,
And trembling at the horrid sight,

I may to my Supporter run,
And humbly stand by faith alone.

1085.

[“This night thou shalt deny Me thrice,”]

If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee. —xiv. 31.

“This night thou shalt deny Me thrice,”
Is the meek Master's warning word:
“I never will,” the servant cries,
And boldly contradicts his Lord;
“Though all beside turn back and flee,
I vow to live and die with Thee.”

The Saviour sad replies no more,
Nor eagerly His word defends,
But leaves it to the trying hour;
And who on his own strength depends,
Peter the confident, the proud,
Abjures his Master and his God.

Instructed by his fall, I stand
In just self-diffidence secure:
And while my soul is in Thy hand
Jesus, I can the test endure,
Arm'd with that lowly mind of Thine,
That modesty of truth Divine.

Warm, vehement, positive, and loud
With violent bold assertions vain,
If others boast their zeal for God,
Their future constancy maintain,
O may I see them with Thy eyes,
And neither credit, nor despise.

Much of myself I dare not say,
Or glory in my faith unproved,
Or promise in the evil day
That I alone shall stand unmoved,

Weakest, and sinfullest of all,
I fear to' affirm, “I cannot fall.”

Yet if I truly trust in Thee,
Me to myself Thou wilt not leave,
But help my soul's infirmity,
Dependent on Thy grace to live,
To live (till Thou from earth remove),
The spotless life of humble love.

1086.

[How stubborn the presumptuous man]

Likewise also said they all. —xiv. 31.

How stubborn the presumptuous man,
So blind, so sure he cannot fall!
How swift the fatal mischief ran,
While Peter's bane infects them all,
To sin the sacred college leads,
And pride through every bosom spreads.

They promise all, seduced by one,
Freedom, or life itself to save,
The Lord they never will disown;
But who the dire example gave
Left to himself, and most secure,
He only doth his Lord abjure.

1087.

[Thus might I from man retreat]

Sit ye here, while I shall pray. —xiv. 32.

Thus might I from man retreat,
Shut to him my sorrowing heart,
Open it my Lord to meet,
Watch and mourn, and pray apart!
Thus prevent the trying hour:
Then I share Thine agony,
Arm'd with all Thy Spirit's power
Then I come to die with Thee.

1088.

[Sore amazed is God's own Son]

He . . . began to be sore amazed, and to be, &c. —xiv. 33.

Sore amazed is God's own Son,
God's vindictive wrath to see,
Grieved with mortal grief unknown,
Crush'd by our iniquity:
And shall we ourselves remain
Still to both insensible,
Strangers to remorse and pain
Neither sin nor justice feel.

Could we see that dreadful sight
With our Saviour's eyes and heart,
Justice, sin brought forth to light
Would our soul and body part;
But who both for man hath borne
Spares us the extreme dismay,
Gives us self-condemn'd to mourn,
Takes our sins and griefs away.

1089.

[The' Almighty can employ His power]

Take away this cup from Me: nevertheless, &c. —xiv. 36.

The' Almighty can employ His power
To snatch us from the dreadful hour;
But oft to' exalt His name,
To raise our bliss and virtue higher,
Continues with us in the fire,
And saves us in the flame.

If God doth for a time defer
To answer his continued prayer,
Shall sinful man complain,
When Christ the Lord for ever bless'd
Repeats, and urges His request,
Yet seems to pray in vain!

1090.

[Who promised with his Lord to die]

Couldest not thou watch one hour? —xiv. 37.

Who promised with his Lord to die,
But sinks so soon, by sleep o'ercome,
Did he not on himself rely,
And rash on his own strength presume?
Gently rebuked, and call'd again,
Full of himself, he slights the call,
Who will not see must blind remain,
And fall, to wake him from his fall.

1091.

[Unless a constant watch I keep]

Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into, &c. —xiv. 38.

Unless a constant watch I keep,
I cannot without ceasing pray,
Unless by prayer I shake off sleep,
I fold my hands, and sink away;
Saviour, bestow the double power,
My soul and flesh with strength endue,
And save me from the dangerous hour,
Or bring me more than conqueror through.

1092.

[Into the hands of sinful men]

Betrayed into the hands of sinners. —xiv. 41.

Into the hands of sinful men
Is Holiness Himself betray'd,
Sinners to save from Satan's den,
To snatch them from the' infernal shade.
The hour is come by nature fear'd,
For which so long His spirit pined,
For which He in the flesh appear'd,
To honour God, and save mankind.

1093.

[In our feeble nature clad]

Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth, &c. —xiv. 42.

In our feeble nature clad
He sinks beneath His load,
In His own great strength array'd
He stands the' almighty God!

Calmly meets His murderous foes,
Animates His drooping friends,
To His cross intrepid goes,
And thence to heaven ascends.

Left to his own feebleness,
Or arm'd with Jesus' name,
Weak by nature, strong by grace,
A man is not the same:
Nothing can he do alone:
But when enabled from above,
In his impotence is shown
The' omnipotence of love.

1094.

[Hail, all-redeeming Lord]

They laid their hands on Him, and took Him. —xiv. 46.

Hail, all-redeeming Lord,
Through earth and heaven adored,
Seized by sacrilegious hands,
Jesus, Thy captivity
Looses all our slavish bands,
Sets imprison'd spirits free.

Thou by Thy foes confined
Enlargest all mankind;
Liberty from sin and pain,
Lo, we by Thy bonds receive,
Glorious liberty obtain,
Liberty with God to live.

1095.

[Nature's strife will never last]

One of them . . . drew a sword. —xiv. 47.

Nature's strife will never last,
Soon her warmest zeal is pass'd;
While a soldier of the Lord,
Arm'd with neither shield nor sword,
Doth, like Christ, himself defend,
Calm and patient to the end,

Strives, for ill returning good,
Strives, resisting unto blood.

1096.

[Christ by the youth's escape makes known]

He left the linen cloth, and fled from them, &c. —xiv. 52.

Christ by the youth's escape makes known
His power and guardian care,
And thus admonishes His own
To fly the coming snare:
Shows the malicious world's design
His followers all to seize,
And bids us still the storm decline
Of furious wickedness.

Weakest of Thy disciples, young
In inexperienced grace,
I dare not meet the' outrageous throng,
Or now Thy cross embrace:
Sufficient strength to die with Thee
Yet while I cannot find,
Naked, I from their violence flee,
And leave the world behind.

1097.

[Can injured innocence complain]

Many bare . . . witness against Him. —xiv. 56.

Can injured innocence complain,
Or martyrs at their lot repine,
Who mark that blessed sinless Man,
That spotless Innocent Divine,
Arraign'd before His creatures' bar,
Patient, and meek, and silent there!

1098.

[An advocate the sinner needs]

But He held His peace. —xiv. 61.

An advocate the sinner needs,
And Christ the just for us declares,
Our desperate cause by silence pleads,
Our long-lost innocence repairs,

Refusing to defend His own,
He clears us at His Father's throne.

1099.

[Silent long the Prisoner stood]

Jesus said, I am. —xiv. 62.

Silent long the Prisoner stood,
But not through guilty fear;
Bold at last the Son of God
Asserts His character,
Makes to God His just appeal,
Who every heart will soon display,
Cites His judge the truth to feel
At that tremendous day.

1100.

[Adjudged to die He is by all]

They all condemned Him. —xiv. 64.

Adjudged to die He is by all,
A criminal unfit to live:
Our sins transferr'd for justice call;
And meek the sentence to receive
The patient Lamb makes no reply,
For all His meaning is to die.

Guilty of death Thou art indeed
Who dost the general guilt assume,
Appearing in the sinner's stead,
Our merits justify Thy doom:
And freely moved by love alone,
Thou mak'st our sins and death Thine own.

1101.

[The saint who of his grace presumes]

Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. —xiv. 67.

The saint who of his grace presumes,
Nor yet his own great weakness knows,
A woman's word or look o'ercomes,
A pillar of the church o'erthrows.
And Peter's sin proclaims to all
That pride precedes a certain fall.

1102.

[Is this the man who answer'd, “Lord]

He began to curse and to swear. —xiv. 71.

Is this the man who answer'd, “Lord,
'Tis Thine eternal life to' impart,
Thou art the Christ by heaven adored,
Son of the living God Thou art,
Thee we believe, and surely know
Jehovah manifest below.”

Betray'd by pride insensible,
Whate'er of knowledge we possess,
Of faith Divine, or fervent zeal,
We may be robb'd of all our grace,
May in a moment forfeit all,
And like presumptuous Peter fall.

1103.

[The cock had crow'd in vain]

And when he thought thereon, he wept. —xiv. 72.

The cock had crow'd in vain,
If Jesus had not stirr'd,
And brought to Peter's mind again
The warning of his Lord:
But Jesus cast the look
Which into contrite woe
Dissolved at once the smitten rock,
And made the waters flow.

Retreat the mourner seeks,
(When Christ the grace supplies,)
Not with his tongue but heart he speaks
Through his o'erflowing eyes:
His tongue he sadly knew
The organ of his sin,
And show'd us that repentance true
With silence must begin.

CHAPTER XV.

1104.

[Into the heathen judge's power]

The chief priests . . . delivered Him to Pilate. —xv. 1.

Into the heathen judge's power
By envious Jews deliver'd o'er,
Behold the spotless Lamb of God!
Sinners of every sort and kind
Are in His condemnation join'd,
Who bears the universal load:

At each unrighteous judgment-seat
He bows, submissively to meet
His sentence from the Lord most high,
Conscious that wicked men fulfil
His just, offended Father's will,
He comes for all mankind to die.

1105.

[While at the bar He stands]

Art Thou the King of . . . Jews? —xv. 2.

While at the bar He stands
A prisoner in their hands,
Christ whom earth and heaven adore,
Christ whom saints and angels sing,
First asserts His royal power,
Plainly owns Himself a king.

He thus the way makes known
Which leads Him to a throne,
Thus His dignity assumes
Patient of contempt and pain,
Prince of life, to die He comes,
By His cross begins to reign.

1106.

[Sins He bears, but not His own]

Answerest Thou nothing? —xv. 4.

Sins He bears, but not His own:
Sins the mouth of Jesus close!

Dumb for sins which we have done,
Lo, He stands before His foes,
Will not to their charge reply
Us with God to justify.

1107.

[While for us He undertakes]

Jesus yet answered nothing. —xv. 5.

While for us He undertakes,
Blacken'd with our sinful load
No defence our Proxy makes,
Speechless at the bar of God,
Dumb before the Judge supreme,
All our crimes He owns to Him.

Man will speak accused by man,
Fearful of disgrace and loss,
Long his innocence maintain,
Eagerly defend his cause:
God-with-us accepts the shame,
Yields to death, a silent Lamb.

Seal'd His lips with wisdom's seal,
Seal'd by meek humility,
Reverence for His Father's will,
Love for all mankind and me:
Nothing need the Lamb reply
All his business is—to die.

But His silence intercedes,
If their guilt the guilty own,
For the self-condemn'd it pleads,
Powerful at the gracious throne;
But His blood a voice hath found,
Life and heaven is in the sound!

1108.

[This figurative custom]

He released unto them one prisoner. —xv. 6.

This figurative custom
Doth to our faith discover.

A world released
At that great feast
When justice pass'd us over;
When Jesus to His Father
Became a pure Oblation,
That Lamb of God
Whose sprinkled blood
Ascertains our salvation.

1109.

[Envy, when time began]

He knew that the chief priests had delivered, &c. —xv. 10.

Envy, when time began,
The death of Jesus was,
From earth's foundations slain
It nail'd Him to the cross:
Through envious pride the fiend came in,
And death with the malicious sin.

A murderer from the first
In Cain the devil stood:
And still the wicked thirst
To shed their brethren's blood,
And daily by the priestly vice
The Saviour in His members dies.

1110.

[Christians, alas, like Pilate are]

What will ye . . . that I shall do unto Him? —xv. 12.

Christians, alas, like Pilate are,
Jesus in their hands they bear
And might embrace with joy,
His name upon themselves they take,
Nor know what use of Christ to make,
Or how their Friend employ.

The Saviour, Priest, and Sacrifice,
Prophet, King of earth and skies,
O let us Him receive,

To Him our hearts and duties pay,
To Him give thanks, and praise and pray,
And for His glory live.

1111.

[Happy he whose utmost patience]

They compel one . . . to bear His cross. —xv. 21.

Happy he whose utmost patience
Is by daily troubles tried!
Forced at first through sore temptations
With his suffering Lord to' abide,
Soon he chooses his condition,
Loves the cross of Jesus' pains,
Bears it with entire submission,
Thus the promised crown obtains.

1112.

[Burden'd with our griefs and cares]

They bring Him unto the place Golgotha. —xv. 22.

Burden'd with our griefs and cares
That true Isaac from the skies,
Lo, Himself the wood He bears
To the place of sacrifice,
Bears it to Moriah's top;
There extended on the tree
Lo, the universal Hope
Hangs, and bleeds, and dies for me.

Suffering death without the gate
From Jerusalem He leads,
Thus, instructing us to wait
Where the common Victim bleeds.
After Him our hearts ascend,
Lifted up 'twixt earth and skies,
On His only death depend,
Seek no other sacrifice.

Jesus lays the ransom down,
Buys the nations with His blood,
Doth for all our sins atone,
Reconciles a world to God.
Jesus purchases our peace,
(Peace which every soul may find,)
Pardon, grace, and holiness,
Life, and heaven for all mankind.

1113.

[Prostrate, with eyes of faith I see]

They crucified Him. —xv. 25.

Prostrate, with eyes of faith I see
My Saviour fasten'd to the tree,
A victim on that altar laid,
Himself presenting to the skies,
The grand vicarious sacrifice,
The Righteous in the sinner's stead.

Well-pleasing to our God above,
His sacrifice of life and love
I plead before the gracious throne:
Father, a prodigal receive,
And bid a pardon'd rebel live,
The purchase of Thy bleeding Son.

1114.

[Jesus fulfil the title]

The King of the Jews. —xv. 26.

Jesus fulfil the title
Which caused Thy condemnation,
Immortal King
By dying bring
To all Thy church salvation;
Come in Thy red apparel,
All beautiful and glorious,
Thy foes assail,
O'er sin prevail,
O'er death and hell victorious.

We by Thy bloody conquest
Redeem'd from every nation,
A right obtain
With Thee to reign
As partners of Thy passion;
Admit Thy loyal subjects
To triumph in Thy favour,
Us inward Jews
Who chosen choose
Thee for our Lord and Saviour.

To Thee our lawful Sovereign
Most humbly and sincerely
Our hearts we give;
Thine own receive
Which Thou hast bought so dearly,
King of Thy favourite Israel,
Of every true believer,
By death alone
Erect a throne
To stand in us for ever.

1115.

[Insults in the' improper hour]

The chief priests mocking said, &c. —xv. 31.

Insults in the' improper hour
Christ forbids us to repress,
Arms us with His Spirit's power,
Strengthens us—to hold our peace!
Meekly then His mind we show,
Silently the truth defend,
More than signs and wonders do,
Suffer all things to the end.

1116.

[See and believe! it cannot be]

That we may see and believe. —xv. 32.

See and believe! it cannot be:
We first believe, and then we see,

While Israel's King His power exerts,
And comes from heaven into our hearts.

Had Christ descended from the cross
His life had been His creatures' loss,
Nor could we on that scale ascend
To live in joys that never end.

Did they not see to life restored
The man belovèd of his Lord,
Yet went with harden'd hearts away
And sought even Lazarus to slay?

Who miracles demand in vain
Would stubborn infidels remain,
By countless wonders unsubdued;
For faith is still the gift of God.

1117.

[The world in darkness lies]

There was darkness over the . . . land. —xv. 33.

The world in darkness lies,
While its Redeemer dies;
Sin had long the earth o'erspread,
Error gross and palpable,
Circumfused its deadly shade,
Wrapp'd them in the gloom of hell.

But Jesus on the tree
Hath made the shadows flee,
Dying He restored the day,
Scatter'd sin's infernal night,
Chased the ignorance away,
Brought immortal life to light.

His last tremendous groan
Hath Satan's realms o'erthrown:
On that third triumphant morn
See the heavenly kingdom come,

See the Light of Life return,
Glory issuing from the tomb!

1118.

[Casting a dying look]

Why hast Thou forsaken Me? —xv. 34.

Casting a dying look
Thy God Thou couldst not find
Because Thy Spirit had forsook
Our whole apostate kind.
Nor could our fallen race
Rise, and return to God
Or e'er retrieve Thy Spirit's grace,
But through Thy sprinkled blood.

1119.

[Our sins against the Saviour cry]

Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up, &c. —xv. 37.

Our sins against the Saviour cry,
Our sins inflict His mortal pain,
His death forbids that we should die,
Or brings the dead to life again,
Our souls from death eternal saves,
And millions calls out of their graves.

When God resigns His parting breath,
All nature should at once expire;
But to prevent the sinner's death
He doth the death of sin require,
He wills that sin should lose its power,
And move, and live, and be no more.

O that it now might breathe its last,
Transfix'd with Jesus on the tree!
Saviour, on Thee my soul is cast,
To suffer all Thy pangs with Thee,
Participate the death Divine,
And live through endless ages Thine.

1120.

[Sinners, approach, the Lamb is slain]

The veil of the temple was rent in twain. —xv. 38.

Sinners, approach, the Lamb is slain,
And lo, the veil is rent in twain,

The heavenly sanctuary true
Is now exposed to mortal view,
And earth through Christ's atoning blood
Is one great temple fill'd with God.

Rent is the sacred flesh of Him
Whose death doth every soul redeem;
He made the new and living way
Which leads to everlasting day,
That all mankind alike forgiven
Might pass through Jesus' wounds to heaven.

1121.

[That blood Divine had brought the grace]

Joseph . . . came, and went in boldly unto Pilate. —xv. 43.

That blood Divine had brought the grace
Which fill'd his soul with power unknown,
And bold his Saviour to confess
He claims a God whom all disown,
A single champion in the cause
Of Jesus lifeless on the cross.

Like him with confidence of love,
Love which excludes the servile fear,
I come my loyalty to' approve,
Boldly before the world appear,
Who did for me His life resign,
My Lord, I challenge Him for mine.

1122.

[Still by the holy matrons led]

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of, &c. —xv. 47.

Still by the holy matrons led
Let us our dearest Lord pursue,
True to the Living, and the Dead,
Nor ever lose Him from our view:
Him in His life and death we trace,
In every state to Jesus come,
Our Saviour on the cross confess,
Our Saviour in the silent tomb.

CHAPTER XVI.

1123.

[Who from the world retreat]

Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus. —xvi. 6.

Who from the world retreat
Their Saviour-God to meet,
Trials strange at first they prove,
Seized with horrible affright,
But their fear gives place to love,
Holy joy and pure delight.

Buried where Jesus lies
Out of His grave we rise,
Know that there He lies no more,
Feel the grace on us bestow'd,
Conscious of His quickening power,
Fill'd with all the life of God.

1124.

[Penitents the Saviour cheers]

Tell His disciples and Peter, that He, &c. —xvi. 7.

Penitents the Saviour cheers,
Who beneath their burden droop,
Wipes away the mourner's tears,
Lifts the poor backsliders up;
Grieved at having left our Lord
While we after Jesus pine,
He the comfortable word
Sends to Peter's heart, and mine.

Me, the vile deserter me,
Christ whom I denied, forsook,
Kindly calls His face to see,
Bids me to my Saviour look,
Token of His rise he gives,
Takes my pardon'd sins away,
Till my heart again believes
Ever lives for me to pray.

1125.

[Jesus risen from the dead]

He goeth before you into Galilee. —xvi. 7.

Jesus risen from the dead
Doth to us appear again,
Goes before, our living Head,
Makes our way direct and plain;
Still conducts the souls He loves,
Captain on His church bestow'd,
Every obstacle removes,
Brings us to the mount of God.

Marching through the vale below
On His promise we depend,
After Him in safety go,
Daily on His cross ascend
To that heavenly Galilee;
Trusting our celestial Guide
Him we shall in glory see,
Sit enraptured at His side.

1126.

[God lets His closest followers know]

They . . . fled . . . they trembled and were amazed. —xvi. 8.

God lets His closest followers know
The' inconstancy of all below,
The saints whom most He loves,
The saints to whom He first appears,
By daily weaknesses and fears
He mercifully proves.

'Tis thus He teaches them to' aspire
On wings of faith and strong desire
To that abiding place
Where feeble faith no more is known,
Where evil, pain, and death are gone,
And joy eternal stays.

1127.

[Who at His cross had stood]

He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, &c. —xvi. 9.

Who at His cross had stood
And seen the dying God,

Happy Magdalene receives
The first visit from her Lord,
By His resurrection lives,
Finds in Him her full reward.

He thus delights to' approve
Her constancy of love,
Shows Himself alive to her
Once by seven devils possess'd,
Now His chosen messenger,
Now preferr'd to all the rest.

He still vouchsafes to bless
Who boldly Him confess,
Prize their Saviour's grief and shame,
Will not from His cross remove,
These He calls to bear His name,
Honours with His richest love.

These are the souls He sends
To cheer His drooping friends,
These His choicest favourites are;
Crown'd for their fidelity
These at last His glory share,
These His face for ever see.

Author of faith, appear
Again its Finisher,
Comforter of all that mourn,
All that love their Lord to see,
Into joy our sorrow turn,
Show Thyself alive to me.

1128.

[Returning from the dead]

She went and told them that had been with, &c. —xvi. 10.

Returning from the dead
Our heavenly Lord and Head

Charges with the joyful news
No unsullied innocent,
Will not an apostle choose,
Sends a pardon'd penitent.

The woman testifies,
Of Him that never dies,
First of Jesus' witnesses,
Magdalene the truth imparts,
Messenger of life and peace
To His sad disciples' hearts.

He thus His word fulfils,
His promised grace reveals,
Lifts His weeping followers up
Still appearing from above,
Now revives our dying hope,
Now rewards our patient love.

1129.

[How fervent is our Shepherd's love]

He appeared in another form unto two, &c. —xvi. 12.

How fervent is our Shepherd's love,
Who follows all the sheep that rove,
Who every wanderer
Pursues with persevering grace
As every child of Adam's race
Engross'd His tender care.

Their Shepherd rising from the dead
To each extends His friendly aid,
To each Himself applies,
Dispersed and stumbled by His death
Brings back into His fold beneath,
And leads them to the skies.

'Tis thus He for His followers cares,
When persecution parts and tears
The flock, and scatters wide,

When daily they His lot partake
To death deliver'd for His sake,
With Jesus crucified.

Beyond the rage of fiends and men
He gathers and unites again
The people of His love:
And O, that I might gather'd be,
To share through all eternity
Thy glorious life above!

1130.

[So slow and backward to believe]

Neither believed they them, &c. —xvi. 13.

So slow and backward to believe
The rise of Jesus crucified,
They stronger testimony give
To what they had themselves denied;
And while His witnesses maintain
The truth they first had disallow'd,
The incredulity of man
Confirms the faithfulness of God.

1131.

[Appear, to us appear]

He appeared . . . and upbraided them, &c. —xvi. 14.

Appear, to us appear,
And kindly now reprove
Our harden'd heart, our faithless fear
Which doubts Thy pardoning love;
Which disbelieves the men,
And contradicts their word,
Who witness, they themselves have seen,
Who preach their living Lord

If Thou vouchsafe to show
Thy presence to our heart,
The mountains of our sins shall flow,
And unbelief depart,

While one with Thee our Head,
And to Thy members join'd,
We witness Thou art risen indeed,
To quicken all mankind.

1132.

[Gospel to every soul of man!]

Preach the gospel to every creature. —xvi. 15.

Gospel to every soul of man!
The one eternal God
For the whole world of sinners slain
Hath bought them with His blood!
Let every child of Adam's line
The joyful news embrace,
Acquitted by an act Divine
Of universal grace!

1133.

[By faith my pardon I receive]

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. —xvi. 16.

By faith my pardon I receive,
Regenerate from above,
And still believing on, I live
The life of holy love;
And humbly faithful unto death
I shall through grace obtain
At Jesus' hands the' immortal wreath,
And in His glory reign.

We bow submissive to the will
Of an ordaining God,
Stamp'd with His sacramental seal
In the baptismal flood;
His Spirit there the blood applies,
Which makes our conscience pure,
And in the water testifies
Our present pardon sure.

1134.

[The infidel his doom shall bear]

He that believeth not shall be damned. —xvi. 16.

The infidel his doom shall bear,
In endless torment cry,
But never doth our Lord declare
“The unbaptized shall die:”
In education's fetters bound
Who miss the outward way,
Yet love their God, shall all be found
His people in that day.

He winks at ignorance sincere
In them that knew His grace;
But no unholy souls appear
Before His glorious face:
Baptized, or unbaptized, they all
Shall die the second death,
And banish'd from His presence fall
Into their place beneath.

1135.

[Jesus! formidable name]

In My name shall they cast out devils. —xvi. 17.

Jesus! formidable name,
Puts all the fiends to flight,
Arm'd with this, His word we claim,
And conquer in His might,
Troops of hellish spirits chase,
Or tread them bruised beneath our feet,
Till our Lord reveals His face
And seals the burning pit.

1136.

[While in faithful hearts we bear]

They shall speak with new tongues. —xvi. 17.

While in faithful hearts we bear
Thy name invincible,
We its energy declare,
And all its wonders tell,

Speak a language new and pure,
The language of celestial love,
Speak with tongues which shall endure
And sing Thy praise above.

1137.

[Reverencing Thy name and word]

They shall take up serpents; &c. —xvi. 18.

Reverencing Thy name and word,
We nothing fear beside;
Evil cannot touch our Lord,
Or who in Thee abide;
We unhurt with serpents play,
Error's baneful draught receive,
Cast the deadly thing away,
And marvellously live.

1138.

[For the sick of sin we plead]

They shall lay hands on the sick, &c. —xvi. 18.

For the sick of sin we plead,
And wrestle in Thy name,
Through Thy Spirit intercede,
And life and pardon claim:
What we ask in faith, we have,
Thou dost the prostrate souls restore;
Witnessing Thy power to save
They rise, and sin no more.

1139.

[His course, but not His office ends]

He was received up into heaven, and sat, &c. —xvi. 19.

His course, but not His office ends,
When Jesus in the clouds ascends,
And enters that most holy place,
(The holiest place not made with hands,)
Our great High-priest with God, He stands,
He stands before His Father's face.

100

Jehovah's co-eternal Son
Returns triumphant to His throne,
And whom the heaven of heavens receives,
Seated at God's right hand again
The cause of sinners to maintain
Our Advocate for ever lives.

1140.

[The faithful acceptable word]

They went forth, and preached every where, &c. —xvi. 20.

The faithful acceptable word
That ransom'd sinners may embrace,
Their merciful almighty Lord
With all His gospel labourers stays;
Their mission first by signs He seal'd:
His providence doth still attend,
And still His secret grace reveal'd
Works in their hearts till time shall end.

Saviour, we on the word rely;
The word of truth and present power
Doth wound, and heal, and sanctify,
To peace, and perfect love restore.
With pardon and salvation bless'd,
Wonders we to the world proclaim;
Wonders of grace, they are not ceased
But daily wrought in Jesus' name.

101

S. LUKE.

CHAPTER I.

1141.

[How happy that distinguish'd pair]

They were both righteous before God, walking, &c. —i. 6.

How happy that distinguish'd pair,
Whom God's own oracle
Doth righteous in His sight declare,
And saints unblamable!
Before the Word incarnate made
The Father had reveal'd,
They with a perfect heart obey'd,
And all His law fulfill'd.

And shall not we who Christ embrace,
God in our flesh made known,
Empower'd by His sufficient grace
In all His statutes run;
Walk before God, and perfect be,
And turn no more aside,
From every spot and wrinkle free,
Completely sanctified?

Jesus, the purchase of Thy blood
Thou wilt on us confer,
The Spirit of the Holy God,
The' indwelling Comforter;
Thy good and acceptable will
We then shall throughly prove,
And all Thy just commands fulfil,
Renew'd in blameless love.

102

1142.

[When people and priest, United in prayer]

The whole multitude of the people were praying, &c. —i. 10.

When people and priest, United in prayer,
Their faithful request Together prefer,
With Jesus' oblation The heavens assail,
Their joint supplication Is sure to prevail.

His sacrifice pleads, His prevalent blood
Brings down on our heads The blessings of God:
Our Priest is before Him, And join'd to our Lord
In Christ we adore Him By angels adored.

Our incense of prayer Thou offer'st alone;
Thou, Saviour, dost bear Our souls to the throne;
On Thine intercession We gladly depend
For grace and salvation, And life without end.

1143.

[The great Angel of the Lord]

There appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, &c. —i. 11.

The great Angel of the Lord
Attends invisible,
Ready to apply His word,
His ordinance to seal;
To the majesty of God
Presents His people's sacrifice
Mix'd with the atoning blood,
And fragrant through the skies.

1144.

[A vision true is proved by fear]

When Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, &c. —i. 12.

A vision true is proved by fear;
We start as at illusion near,
Unworthy of the grace:
Disturb'd by the celestial sight,
Till humble love and calm delight
The dread and trouble chase.

1145.

[While nature yielding to despair]

Thy prayer is heard. —i. 13.

While nature yielding to despair
Her blasted expectation mourns,

103

After a length of years the prayer
In the most helpless case returns,
The peaceful word at last comes down,
And lo, the barren bears a son!

Then let us patiently attend,
To Him the time and manner leave,
Till God the long-sought blessing send,
Till Christ His gracious fulness give,
And faith's maturest fruit we prove
In finish'd holiness and love.

1146.

[Great before God is great indeed!]

He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, &c. —i. 15, 16.

Great before God is great indeed!
Prophet miraculously born,
Jehovah's harbinger decreed
Rebellious multitudes to turn,
Their hearts to soften and prepare,
That God may make His entrance there.

Greater and more than man is he,
Who dead to the desires of men,
Lives to declare the Deity
And shows the Lamb for sinners slain,
Fill'd with the Spirit of his God,
And bold to seal the truth with blood.

Jesus, Thy preaching servants raise
Who real greatness may pursue,
May before Thee themselves abase,
Thine all-atoning passion show,
Thee before kings undaunted own,
And die to make their Saviour known.

1147.

[Could Zachary the just]

Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man. —i. 18.

Could Zachary the just,
Who walk'd before the Lord,

104

The' Omnipotent Himself mistrust,
And stagger at His word?
Where is the faithful man,
Unless the Lord who gave
His faith, continually maintain,
And to the utmost save?

1148.

[Ministers of Jesus' word]

I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; &c. —i. 19.

Ministers of Jesus' word
Should angels emulate,
Always present with their Lord,
While on His church they wait,
Only in His will delight
Who hath their high commission given,
Labour on, and in His sight
Enjoy a constant heaven.

1149.

[Our holy God the smallest fault]

Behold, thou shalt be dumb, . . . because thou, &c. —i. 20.

Our holy God the smallest fault
Severely chastens in His own;
So base a misbelieving thought
In those who have His goodness known!
The sin He graciously forgives,
Nor yet remits the total pain,
But marks of His displeasure leaves,
Lest saints should doubt His love again.

Nine months for a mistrustful word,
Nine months of silence must atone,
That starting from the sin abhorr'd,
The sin which all contains in one,
We may our unbelief deny,
The words of truth with joy embrace,

105

On Christ, the Power of God rely,
And calm expect His promised grace.

Improperly speaking, not evangelically.

1150.

[Jesus, Son of the Most-High]

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son, &c. —i. 32, 33.

Jesus, Son of the Most-High,
David's and God's authentic Heir,
Lord of all in earth and sky,
Who Thy greatness can declare?
Great in holiness and power,
Great in mercy, truth, and grace,
We Thy majesty adore,
Sing Thine everlasting praise.

Earthly kingdoms soon decline,
Totter, fall, and pass away,
Permanent, O Christ, is Thine,
Cannot moulder or decay;
Every other power o'erthrown
Shall its destined period prove,
Thy dominion stands alone,
Fix'd as Thine eternal love.

King of saints, Thy right assume,
Thy majestic right impart,
Let Thy royal Spirit come,
Spread His power through every heart,
Thrones to all Thy subjects give;
Then we grace and glory gain,
Partners of Thy nature live,
Kings with Thee for ever reign.

1151.

[What cannot the Almighty do]

With God nothing shall be impossible. —i. 37.

What cannot the Almighty do
For saving sinful man?
Able Thou art and willing too
To form my heart again:

106

Thou shalt its old diseases cure,
Its bent to sin remove,
And make and keep it always pure
And always fill'd with love.

Hanging by humble faith on Thee,
On Thee my Saviour stay'd,
I find in my infirmity
Thy perfect strength display'd;
The' omnipotence of grace I feel
In utter weakness shown,
And nothing is impossible
To man with Jesus one.

1152.

[God of Israel, see]

Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto, &c. —i. 38.

God of Israel, see
Thy servant in me,
Who humbly approve
Though I cannot conceive, the design of Thy love;
With obedience sincere
Thy will I revere,
And expect from Thy word
The mystical life of my heavenly Lord.

The birth of Thy Son
To sinners made known,
Manifested in man,
Manifested in me, shall the secret explain.
While made willing by Thee
To Thy work I agree,
And entirely resign
My whole soul to be fill'd with the fulness Divine.

1153.

[Oft a seasonable word]

When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, &c. —i. 41.

Oft a seasonable word
From a messenger of Thine

107

Spoken in Thy Spirit, Lord,
Clothed with secret power Divine,
Gracious life and light imparts,
Fills with God our faithful hearts.

The Babe unseen His power displays,
And works upon a babe unseen,
To show the mystery of grace,
When speaking by the tongue of men,
Jesus is pleased to minister
His life through the believing ear.

Jesus who in His church below
Invisibly vouchsafes to dwell
Doth daily thus His power bestow,
His energy in souls reveal;
The word they still by faith receive
And quicken'd through His Spirit live.

1154.

[The Fruit of Mary's womb]

Blessed is the fruit of thy womb. —i. 42.

The Fruit of Mary's womb
Is bless'd, and that alone,
Whatever blessings come
From the eternal throne
Through Mary's Offspring we receive,
And happy in His life we live.

That holy Child bestow'd
On poor apostate man,
That everlasting God
Whom heaven cannot contain,
Source of our gracious joys He is,
And constitutes our glorious bliss.

1155.

[Whence is it that my Lord]

Whence is this to me, that the mother of my, &c. —i. 43.

Whence is it that my Lord
Himself should visit me,

108

Should stoop to such a wretch abhorr'd,
And claim my misery?
He leaves His throne above
For His own mercy sake,
He comes constrain'd by pitying love,
And doth my nature take.

The mystery of Thy grace
What angel can conceive?
Thou wouldst to all our ransom'd race
Faith and salvation give,
Thou dost the grace reveal,
Thou dost the faith impart,
And thus Thou com'st again to dwell
For ever in my heart.

1156.

[God by His almighty word]

As soon as the voice of thy salvation sounded in, &c. —i. 44.

God by His almighty word
The world's foundations laid,
Spake the universe restored,
The new creation made:
Christ on earth His wonders wrought,
And by the word He works again;
By the word His saints are brought
Unto a perfect man.

When the evangelic sound
A pardon'd sinner hears,
Paradise again is found,
And God to man appears;
Quicken'd by His heavenly voice,
We spring to life, and meet our Lord,
Triumph, evermore rejoice,
And praise the' Incarnate Word.

109

1157.

[Thou tell'st me, O most gracious Lord]

Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a, &c. —i. 45.

Thou tell'st me, O most gracious Lord,
“I will thy sins forgive,”
The welcome reconciling word
I thankfully receive;
Joyful in hope of happiness
Even now I happy am,
For I shall soon obtain the peace
Of all that love Thy name.

Jesus, I wait till Thou display
In me Thy mercy's power;
Take mine iniquities away,
And think of them no more:
Thou all Thy promises fulfil,
This unbelief remove,
And pardon on my conscience seal
And fill my soul with love.

Thou tell'st me, “I thy King will be,
Will to the utmost save,
Renew, and change, and perfect thee,
And ransom from the grave.”
The blessedness of faith I prove,
For Thy own sake forgiven,
And in this hope of perfect love
Anticipate my heaven.

Within the promise now, I sing,
Exult, and shout for joy;
He comes! He comes! my God and King
Shall all my sins destroy!
Thou, Lord, shalt purify my heart
Through Thine all-cleansing blood,
As sure as Thou my Saviour art,
As sure as Thou art God.

110

1158.

[An humble saint will never praise]

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my, &c. —i. 46, 47.

An humble saint will never praise
Himself, or glory in his grace;
But lives to magnify
His Saviour by all heaven adored,
But dies rejoicing in the Lord
Exalting the Most-High.

1159.

[His servants in their low estate]

For He hath regarded the low estate of, &c. —i. 48.

His servants in their low estate
Through His regard are truly great,
For who in their own eyes
Little, and poor, and vile appear,
Jesus delights to honour here,
And lifts them to the skies.

The more our Lord exalts, the more
We sink, and self-abased adore
Thy peerless majesty,
All creature-excellence disclaim,
And strive, o'erwhelm'd with holy shame,
To lose ourselves in Thee.

1160.

[Jehovah doth Himself conceal]

His mercy is on them that fear Him. —i. 50.

Jehovah doth Himself conceal
In brightness inaccessible,
Unsearchable, unknown.
Struck with His holiness we fear,
And quake, and tremble to draw near
The glories of His throne.

But mercy doth the dread remove,
Mercy reveals the God of love
To sinners reconciled:

111

Mercy and holiness agree,
And God and man made one we see
In that celestial Child.

Mercy doth every soul embrace,
That reverences the God of grace
Incarnated below;
Mercy for all far off, or nigh,
Flows from its Fountain in the sky,
And shall for ever flow.

1161.

[His arm the' almighty Father bared]

He hath showed strength with His arm; &c. —i. 51.

His arm the' almighty Father bared
When God in Christ Himself declared
Our Saviour from above;
Deliverer of a sinful race,
He show'd the world in Jesus' face
His utmost power of love.

The mystery of Jehovah's birth
Confounds us potsherds of the earth,
Of sin and misery proud;
It scatters every lofty thought,
And man is humbled into nought
Before an emptied God.

The meek humility Divine
Shall heal this pride-sick soul of mine,
This plague incurable:
Now, Jesus, now Thy power exert,
And with Thy lowliness of heart
In mine for ever dwell.

1162.

[Who did the rebel angels quell]

He hath filled the hungry with good things. —i. 53.

Who did the rebel angels quell,
And hurl'd them down from heaven to hell,
Doth still the proud abase,

112

Doth cast the mighty from their thrones,
The humble, weak, and little ones
Exalting in their place.

The angels fell through pride o'erthrown,
Through His humility the Son
Bids fallen man arise,
Glad tidings to the poor reveals,
The hungry with His Spirit fills,
And all their wants supplies.

But souls unconscious of their wants,
Self-fill'd, self-saved, self-righteous saints,
Whose good is all their own,
He sends unjustified away,
That emptied of themselves they may
Be saved by grace alone.

1163.

[Bless'd be the Lord, for ever bless'd]

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for, &c. —i. 68.

Bless'd be the Lord, for ever bless'd
The God of Israel's favour'd race,
His name be known, His power confess'd,
His riches of redeeming grace
Who left for sinful worms His throne,
And came to bless us in His Son.

God was in Christ on earth reveal'd,
He enter'd a mean house of clay,
With whom the heaven of heavens is fill'd
He stoop'd to bear our sins away,
Victim Divine on all bestow'd
He bought the nations with His blood.

Let all their great Redeemer praise,
Redeem'd from sin the world and hell!

113

The strength of Thy victorious grace
Jesus, throughout our souls we feel,
And wait Thine utmost power to save
Our bodies ransom'd from the grave.

1164.

[The mercy to our fathers show'd]

To perform the mercy promised, &c. —i. 72–76.

The mercy to our fathers show'd
To us in every age extends,
That covenant seal'd by Jesus' blood
Its blissful virtue never ends,
A covenant of redeeming grace
Confirm'd in Christ to all our race.

Jehovah by Himself hath sworn
To Abraham and his faithful seed,
(Empty the word shall not return,)
That we from all our tyrants freed,
From all our sins, through Jesus bless'd,
Shall dwell in everlasting rest.

We now the great salvation claim,
The filial love that casts out fear,
The righteousness in Jesus' name,
The gospel-holiness sincere,
The image of our God restored,
The tempers of our spotless Lord.

Father, Thy word, Thy oath we plead,
In our behalf to Abraham given,
And wait to do, when free indeed,
Thy will as angels do in heaven,
Blameless to walk before Thy face,
And serve Thee all our sinless days.

114

1165.

[Prophet of Christ the Lord Most-High]

And thou, child, shalt be called, &c. —i. 76.

Prophet of Christ the Lord Most-High,
His great immediate harbinger,
The Baptist came to testify,
Jesus the Saviour to declare,
And make that heavenly Victim known,
Who should for all mankind atone.

With his our office is the same
Who preach the reconciling word,
Publish the all-redeeming Lamb,
As sure forerunners of our Lord
Commission'd to prepare His ways,
And sent before Messiah's face.

His heralds in His name we cry,
Sinners the gospel-grace receive,
And God who sent His Son to die
Doth by our word the Spirit give,
Who testifies salvation known
And pardon felt through Christ alone.

1166.

[Stupendous height of heavenly love]

Through the tender mercy of our God. —i. 78.

Stupendous height of heavenly love,
Of pitying tenderness Divine;
It brought the Saviour from above,
It caused the springing day to shine;
The Sun of Righteousness to' appear,
And gild our gloomy hemisphere.

God did in Christ Himself reveal,
To chase our darkness by His light,
Our sin and ignorance dispel,
Direct our wandering feet aright;
And bring our souls, with pardon bless'd,
To realms of everlasting rest.

115

Come, then, O Lord, Thy light impart,
The faith that bids our terrors cease;
Into Thy love direct my heart,
Into Thy way of perfect peace;
And cheer my soul, of death afraid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.

Answer Thy mercy's whole design,
My God incarnated for me;
My spirit make Thy radiant shrine,
My Light and full Salvation be;
And through the dreary vale unknown
Conduct me to Thy dazzling throne.

CHAPTER II.

1167.

[Cæsar his own dignity]

There went out a decree from Cæsar. —ii. 1.

Cæsar his own dignity
His own renown intends,
God o'errules the proud decree
To serve sublimer ends:
Lo, He comes, the King foretold,
He comes o'er all mankind to reign,
God's eternal Son enroll'd
A new-born child of man!

1168.

[See ye blushing sons of pride]

She . . . laid Him in a manger; because, &c. —ii. 7.

See ye blushing sons of pride,
See your God a child become!
When He would on earth reside,
Earth can scarce afford Him room:
Wrapp'd Himself in swaddling bands
Who with darkness swathes the sea,

116

Who the universe commands,
Comprehends immensity!

Triumph we the sons of grace,
That our God is born so poor,
Doth His majesty abase
Our salvation to secure:
Glorying in our Infant-King,
Him we in the manger own,
Him whom brightest seraphs sing
High on His eternal throne.

1169.

[To simple souls alone]

There were . . . shepherds abiding, &c. —ii. 8.

To simple souls alone
The Saviour is made known,
Shepherds who their station keep
See the glory from on high;
Those that negligently sleep
Still in sin and darkness lie.

The poor rejoice to hear
The heavenly messenger;
From the rich and wise conceal'd,
Jesus doth His light impart,
Shows the mystery reveal'd,
Shines in every humble heart.

1170.

[An herald from the King of kings]

Good tidings . . . which shall be to all people. —ii. 10.

An herald from the King of kings
He comes our guilty fears to chase,
Good tidings of great joy He brings,
Great joy to Adam's favour'd race;
Not one of all our ransom'd kind
But may the gospel-grace receive,
Born in himself his Saviour find,
And one with his Creator live.

117

1171.

[To us a Child of royal birth]

Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, &c. —ii. 11.

To us a Child of royal birth,
Heir of the promises, is given;
The' Invisible appears on earth,
The Son of Man, the God of heaven.

A Saviour born, in love supreme
He comes our fallen souls to raise;
He comes His people to redeem
With all His plenitude of grace.

The Christ, by raptured seers foretold,
Fill'd with the' eternal Spirit's power;
Prophet, and Priest, and King behold,
And Lord of all the worlds adore.

The Lord of hosts, the God most-high,
Who quits His throne on earth to live,
With joy we welcome from the sky,
With faith into our hearts receive.

1172.

[Sing all in heaven at Jesu's birth]

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, &c. —ii. 14.

Sing all in heaven at Jesu's birth
“Glory to God, and peace on earth,
The heart of God through Christ is seen
In mercy and good-will to men!”

Praise Him, extoll'd above all height,
Who doth in worthless worms delight;
God reconciled in Christ confess,
Your present and eternal peace.

From Jesus, manifest below,
Rivers of pure salvation flow;
And pour, on man's distinguish'd race,
Their everlasting streams of grace.

Sing, every soul of Adam's line,
The favourite attribute Divine;

118

Ascribing, with the hosts above,
All glory to the God of Love.

1173.

[Come, let us with speed To Bethlehem go]

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem. —ii. 15.

Come, let us with speed To Bethlehem go,
The house of that Bread Which God doth bestow:
To all He hath given And sent from above
The Banquet of Heaven, The Son of His love.

By faith we shall see Him promised of old,
And know it is He Of whom we were told;
That heavenly Stranger Fall prostrate before,
And God in a manger With angels adore.

1174.

[Happy who the angels' word]

When they had seen it, they made known. —ii. 17.

Happy who the angels' word
Hesitate not to believe,
Who their mean almighty Lord,
God in swaddling-clothes receive!
O Thou heavenly Man Divine,
Grant me their simplicity,
Then before Thy humble shrine
All my soul shall worship Thee.

1175.

[O may I always bear in mind]

Mary kept all these things, and pondered them. —ii. 19.

O may I always bear in mind
The Saviour's pity for mankind,
Which brought Him from His throne,
Emptied of all His majesty,
A Man of griefs to comfort me,
And make my heart His own.

O may I in His love delight,
Muse on His love both day and night,
And think of nothing more,
To Him with pure affection cleave,
And only in His presence live
To wonder and adore.

119

1176.

[The first effect of faith is praise]

The shepherds returned, glorifying and, &c. —ii. 20.

The first effect of faith is praise,
A tribute to the God of grace
Which ransom'd worms are bound to give:
Thankful, O God, Thy love we own,
The gift of Thine incarnate Son
With joy unspeakable receive:

Thee let our actions glorify,
Our lives confess the Lord Most-High
For this alone to sinners given,
That we of Jesus' Spirit born
With songs of triumph may return,
And claim our purchased thrones in heaven.

1177.

[Saviour, let the grace supplied]

When eight days were accomplished, &c. —ii. 21.

Saviour, let the grace supplied
And merited by Thee
Circumcise my nature's pride,
And heart impurity;
By Thy Spirit's law within
Redeem me from my inbred stains,
Quite destroy the man of sin
And purge his last remains.

To Thy holy saving name
I for deliverance run;
Save from fear, and grief, and shame,
A soul by sin undone;
Lord, on me, even me exert
Thy right and power, and sovereignty,
Speak Thy name into my heart,
And Jesus prove to me.

1178.

[Lord of all, with pure intent]

They brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him, &c. —ii. 22.

Lord of all, with pure intent
From his tenderest infancy

120

In Thy temple I present
Whom I first received from Thee:
Through Thy well-beloved Son,
Mine acknowledge for Thine own.

Seal'd with the baptismal seal,
Purchased with the' atoning blood,
Jesus in my infant dwell,
Make his heart the house of God,
Fill Thy consecrated shrine,
Father, Son, and Spirit Divine.

1179.

[Who God devoutly dreads]

He should not see death, before he had, &c. —ii. 26.

Who God devoutly dreads,
And here expects His Son,
And in the Saviour's footsteps treads,
Led by the Spirit on
The sure accomplish'd word
He must on earth receive,
And when his eyes have seen the Lord
In endless raptures live.

Spirit of Jesus, tell
The joyful truth to me,
And in my longing soul reveal
That I my Lord shall see,
Shall see Him full of grace
Whom all the saints admire,
And fold Him in my faith's embrace
And in His arms expire.

1180.

[When in his arms he held]

Then took he Him up in his arms, &c. —ii. 28.

When in his arms he held,
And to his bosom press'd,
He found Him to his heart reveal'd,
And God for Jesus bless'd;

121

The power and life of God
He felt with Jesus given;
And when his hoary head he bow'd,
He carried Christ to heaven.

1181.

[Jehovah's Fellow, and His Son]

This Child is set for the fall and rising, &c. —ii. 34.

Jehovah's Fellow, and His Son,
What numbers fall by Thee and rise!
Precious, elect, and Corner Stone,
Built on Thy strength we reach the skies,
Or by Thy cross ourselves o'erthrow
And sink into eternal woe.

Thine anger casts the sinner down,
That lifted up by pardoning grace
He may his Prince and Saviour own,
Thy justice and Thy mercy praise,
Raised from the dust to stand restored
In all the image of his Lord.

Jesus, Thy killing quickening power
On a proud abject worm exert,
Confound, abase me from this hour,
Humble, and break this stubborn heart,
And then my Resurrection be,
And live, my heavenly Life, in me.

1182.

[A sign admired by Thy redeem'd]

And for a sign which shall be spoken against. —ii. 34.

A sign admired by Thy redeem'd
Precious to every faithful heart,
But contradicted and blasphemed
By worldly infidels Thou art,
Who dare Thy Deity deny
And all Thy heavenly truths decry.

The manger mean, and bleeding cross,
Thy birth and passion they gainsay,

122

Thy maxims pure, and gracious laws,
And will not own Thy righteous sway,
But plead for that old hellish liar,
And harden'd in their sins expire.

Yet every tongue at last shall own,
And God the awful Judge declare,
When seated on Thy righteous throne
Thou doom'st the wicked at Thy bar
Justly consign'd to their own place,
For ever banish'd from Thy face.

1183.

[Jesus, the stumbling-block and sign]

That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. —ii. 35.

Jesus, the stumbling-block and sign,
By Thy mysterious death Divine
Thou dost our thoughts explain,
Thine honour'd, or rejected cross,
The veil from every heart withdraws
And shows what is in man.

The man that to himself adheres,
His life he to his God prefers;
But who themselves deny
They only their devotion prove
While daily, to evince their love,
Upon Thy cross they die.

1184.

[Ye aged saints whose one concern]

She . . . spake of Him to all them that, &c. —ii. 38.

Ye aged saints whose one concern
Is well to terminate your race,
Of Simeon and of Anna learn
To' exalt your dear Redeemer's praise;
A precious Christ to all commend,
Who seek redemption in His blood,
And your last, happiest moments spend
In publishing the dying God.

123

1185.

[Who Thy Deity confess]

All that heard Him were astonished, &c. —ii. 47.

Who Thy Deity confess
We must Thy love adore,
Love that did so long suppress
Thy wisdom and Thy power:
Wondering at our God conceal'd,
We rest in Thy obscurity,
Till by sovereign grace compell'd
To' appear, and speak for Thee.

1186.

[Jesus' faithful minister]

I must be about My Father's business. —ii. 49.

Jesus' faithful minister,
Who works the works of God,
Will not reason, or confer
With feeble flesh and blood;
Loosed from all on earth he sees,
He still presents his sacrifice,
Only lives to serve and please
A Father in the skies.

1187.

[Subject to Thy parents Thee]

He . . . was subject unto them. —ii. 51.

Subject to Thy parents Thee
The God supreme we praise:
O might all our children be
Partakers of Thy grace!
From their birth to sin inclined,
Convert and make them as Thou art,
Bless'd with Thy obedient mind,
Thy meek and lowly heart.

1188.

[What my gracious Saviour spoke]

His mother kept all these sayings, &c. —ii. 51.

What my gracious Saviour spoke
Is for my soul design'd;
All recorded in His book
I still would bear in mind,

124

Every sacred word retain
Which yet I cannot rightly know
Till my Lord Himself explain,
And all His counsel show.

1189.

[Wisdom with all its fulness dwells]

Jesus increased in wisdom, &c. —ii. 52.

Wisdom with all its fulness dwells
In Jesus for His church below;
Himself He more and more reveals,
While more and more like Him we grow,
Daily from faith to faith proceed,
Grace upon grace from Him receive,
Till Christ with all His riches spread
Doth fully in His members live.

CHAPTER III.

1190.

[Repentance must prepare the way]

Preaching the baptism of repentance. —iii. 3.

Repentance must prepare the way,
Repentance must be preach'd to all,
We thus the gospel call obey,
And throughly conscious of our fall,
Our deep apostasy confess,
And mourn our want of pardoning grace.

The first of duties is the last,
But cannot for our sins atone,
Pardon for our transgressions pass'd
We seek through Jesu's death alone,
And when our contrite hearts believe
Forgiveness we with Christ receive.

1191.

[A ready way repentance makes]

Prepare ye the way of the Lord. —iii. 4.

A ready way repentance makes
For God to man, and man to God,

125

The sinner who his sin forsakes
Shall feel applied the' atoning blood,
The broken heart shall take Him in
Who comes to save the lost from sin.

1192.

[To rectify my crooked will]

Every valley shall be filled, &c. —iii. 5.

To rectify my crooked will,
To smoothe my nature's ruggedness,
Reform'd from every outward ill
O bid me now from sinning cease,
Thy way into my heart prepare,
And then display Thy glory there.

1193.

[Father, we trust Thy Spirit of grace]

All flesh shall see the salvation of God. —iii. 6.

Father, we trust Thy Spirit of grace
Which works in man to will and do:
The time must come when all our race
At once shall Thy salvation view,
Behold Thee in Thy Son reveal'd,
And live with all the Godhead fill'd.

That every soul may make Thee room
Do Thou the obstacles remove,
And let Thy heavenly kingdom come
In perfect, pure, millennial love,
We all shall then contemplate Thee,
And Jesu's face for ever see.

1194.

[Preachers should with all maintain]

O generation of vipers, who hath, &c. —iii. 7.

Preachers should with all maintain
Their fearless character,
Tell the' apostate sons of men
What in themselves they are,
Sinners born, a viperous brood,
Of wrath Divine insensible,
Burden'd with the curse of God,
And hasting down to hell.

126

O what wondrous grace that I
Should here my danger see,
From the' impending judgment fly
My God, my God, to Thee!
Thou hast warn'd, and not in vain,
My soul to seek its real rest;
Rescue then from endless pain
And hide me in Thy breast.

1195.

[Lord, if Thou my soul convert]

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy. —iii. 8.

Lord, if Thou my soul convert
My life the change will show;
Actions evidence the heart,
The root from which they grow:
O might all my works express
A heart by true contrition rent,
O might all my words confess
The pardon'd penitent.

1196.

[Sinner who dost not bear]

The axe is laid unto the root of the tree. —iii. 9.

Sinner who dost not bear
The penitential fruit,
The righteous Judge will not defer,
The axe is at the root:
His justice hath decreed
To cast thee into hell,
And every barren tree shall feed
The fire unquenchable.

1197.

[How can we escape the fire]

What shall we do then? —iii. 10.

How can we escape the fire,
We who Jesus never knew?

127

Let us of Himself inquire
Lord, what wouldst Thou have us do?
Since we out of hell appear,
Still indulged with a reprieve,
Give the godly grief and fear,
Give us power to turn and live.

1198.

[The preacher doth not all condemn]

He said to the soldiers, Do violence to no man. —iii. 14.

The preacher doth not all condemn
Who justly wage defensive wars,
But shows salvation is for them
If, compass'd with ten thousand snares,
They dare their calling's sins eschew,
From avarice and ambition fly,
To God, their king, and country true,
And bold for Christ to live and die.

1199.

[If the chief of saints confess]

The latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy, &c. —iii. 16.

If the chief of saints confess
In the presence of their Lord
All their own unworthiness,
Self-abased and self-abhorr'd,
Fear His smiling eye to meet,
Blush and tremble at His feet;

How shall I, a sinner, dare
To my God for mercy cry,
How present my soul in prayer
If He did not draw me nigh,
Did not feel my misery,
Did not pray Himself in me?

1200.

[Holy, hallowing Spirit, come]

He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. —iii. 16.

Holy, hallowing Spirit, come,
Cleanse my life's impurity,

128

All my nature's filth consume,
Make an end of sin in me,
Spread the pure baptismal flame,
Plunge me deep in Jesus' name.

Jesus, Thou that Spirit art,
Thou the sinner dost baptize,
Purify by faith my heart,
Bid the fire of love arise,
Consecrate the human shrine,
Fill the earthly house Divine.

1201.

[The heavenly Man The God we adore]

Whose fan is in His hand, and He will, &c. —iii. 17.

The heavenly Man The God we adore
Is come with His fan To winnow His floor;
The first separation He makes by His word;
The heirs of salvation Acknowledge their Lord.

His church is the floor, His saints are the wheat;
Till sinless and pure For paradise meet,
He purges and sifts them, He chastens and tries,
And finally lifts them To thrones in the skies.

Then, then His full ire On sinners is come,
Unquenchable fire The chaff shall consume,
Jehovah shall sever, And send them to dwell
For ever and ever Tormented in hell.

1202.

[A sin there is which far exceeds]

Herod . . . added yet this above all, &c. —iii. 19, 20.

A sin there is which far exceeds
The tyrant's most atrocious deeds;
Ambition, pride, and lust
They cannot with his guilt compare
Who hates the Saviour's messenger,
And persecutes the just.

Shedding at length a martyr's blood,
He quenches the last spark of good,
And can no longer feel,

129

He makes his sin and misery full,
Murders his own immortal soul,
And shuts it up—in hell.

1203.

[Third of the glorious One-in-Three]

The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, &c. —iii. 22.

Third of the glorious One-in-Three,
A Substance personal we see;
The Holy Ghost from heaven comes down
And rests on the Eternal Son,
To magnify His sacred sign,
And prove the Trinity Divine.

Baptized into His name we own
The One in Three, and Three in One,
One God in persons Three adore,
Till time and death shall be no more,
Triumphant then with all His host
In Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

1204.

[The Father's delight Shall surely be ours]

Thou art My beloved Son: in Thee I, &c. —iii. 22.

The Father's delight Shall surely be ours
Who taste in His right The heavenly powers,
Who saved by the merit Of Jesus's blood
Lay claim to the Spirit And fulness of God.

The grace of our Head His members receive,
The Spirit is shed On all that believe,
With Jesus the favour Of God we regain,
And join'd to our Saviour Eternally reign.

1205.

[Who came to make His Father known]

Jesus . . . began to be about thirty years of age. —iii. 23.

Who came to make His Father known
For thirty years Himself conceal'd,
Nor then His ministry begun
When first to public view reveal'd;

130

He teaches by His long retreat,
His silence bids our hearts be still,
His toil instructs us to submit,
And serve in man's His Father's will.

Jesus, my long-sequester'd God,
The lesson of Thy life I hear;
It bids me shun the noisy crowd,
And Thee in solitude revere;
Important far above our thought
Was Thy conceal'd humility;
Silence for thirty years it taught,
Thy other truths were taught in three.

1206.

[Hail, Filial Deity]

Which was the son of Adam, which was, &c. —iii. 38.

Hail, Filial Deity,
Our hearts bow down to Thee,
Number'd with the sinful race,
Partner of our flesh and blood,
Thee we magnify and praise,
Son of Adam, and of God.

Offspring of God and man,
Thou dost our cause maintain,
Power omnipotent, Divine,
Mix'd with soft infirmity,
Greatness and compassion join,
God and man, to ransom me!

CHAPTER IV.

1207.

['Tis now the woman's heavenly Seed]

Led by the Spirit into the wilderness. —iv. 1.

'Tis now the woman's heavenly Seed
Begins to bruise the serpent's head,
To' avenge us of our foe;

131

But Jesus bleeding on the tree
Completes His glorious victory,
And gives the mortal blow.

Full of the Holy Ghost He comes,
Provokes the fiend, nor yet presumes
Who in Himself confides,
By the almighty Spirit led:
Who all that in His footsteps tread
To certain conquest guides.

1208.

[O thou whom God vouchsafes to' inspire]

O thou whom God vouchsafes to' inspire,
Born from above, baptized with fire,
Fill'd with the joy of grace,
Stand to thy arms, nor rest secure:
The Spirit shall thy soul allure
Into the wilderness.

Prepare to meet thy hellish foe,
But trusting in thy Captain, go
To final victory.
Thy Captain first the fight maintain'd,
And by His own temptation gain'd
The conquering power for thee.

1209.

[Severely tried by inward want]

He afterward hungered. —iv. 2.

Severely tried by inward want,
Let not thy hungry spirit faint,
Nor to the creature fly:
Man doth not live by bread alone;
If God pronounce the word, a stone
Shall all thy needs supply.

His love can find a thousand ways
Thy soul in its extreme distress
To succour and relieve:

132

Wait on thy God, be hungry still,
And let Him when and as He will
The lasting comfort give.

1210.

[Conqueror in one temptation, see]

The devil, taking Him up into an high mountain. —iv. 5.

Conqueror in one temptation, see,
To rob thee of thy victory
The rallying fiend is nigh;
Again he spreads his fatal snares,
By wiles and onsets new prepares
Triumphing saints to try.

Who all thy springs of action knows,
The kingdoms of the earth he shows,
To charm thy dazzled sight.
The glory of the world displays,
And by a momentary blaze
Would hide the' eternal Light.

1211.

[Insolent lie against the Lord!]

All this . . . will I give Thee. —iv. 6.

Insolent lie against the Lord!
Go thou blaspheming fiend abhorr'd
With fellow fiends to dwell!
All power is given to Him alone,
Who cast thee flaming from a throne
To the profoundest hell.

Jesus, the power and kingdom's Thine:
Thy sovereign providence Divine
We thankfully declare:
Thou castest down and liftest up;
And through Thy only grace we hope
Thy heavenly throne to share.

1212.

[The great, the' ambitious, and the proud]

Him only shalt thou serve. —iv. 8.

The great, the' ambitious, and the proud
Still, like the world's usurping god,
Our adoration claim;

133

But who our heavenly King obey,
Worship Divine to Christ we pay,
And bow to Jesus' name.

Yet ah! how few His kingdom own,
Worship and serve the Lord alone
As angels do above!
That all may only Thee adore,
Jesus, on all bestow the power
Thee, only Thee to love.

1213.

[While in their hands the angels bear]

Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. —iv. 12.

While in their hands the angels bear,
Our Father's providential care
We thankfully commend,
Safe in His guardian love confide,
But dare not by presumptuous pride
His glorious eyes offend.

Dangers we will not rashly brave,
Because Thou ready art to save,
And hid'st our life above:
A thousand proofs we daily find,
That Thou art tender of mankind,
Art Power, and Truth, and Love.

1214.

[Us, when our Lord the victory gives]

When the devil had ended all the temptation, &c. —iv. 13.

Us, when our Lord the victory gives,
The tempter for a season leaves,
Our fears asleep to lay:
But let us, if his wiles we know,
Prepare for the returning foe,
And always watch and pray.

134

After we have affliction seen,
Sore buffeted by fiends and men,
And countless trials pass'd,
Objects of God's peculiar love
Our agonizing souls may prove
The fiercest fight at last.

Vouchsafe us, Lord, that humble fear
Of danger every moment near,
Even when the fiend withdraws,
And let us always bear in mind
The bloody sweat is still behind,
The garden, and the cross.

1215.

[Jesus more than conqueror]

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit. —iv. 14.

Jesus more than conqueror
Of His thrice battled foe,
Fill'd with His own Spirit's power
Doth power on us bestow;
By His conquering Spirit led
We daily put the fiend to flight,
Foil through our victorious Head,
And triumph in His might.

1216.

[Tremble ye that preach the word]

There went out a fame of Him, &c. —iv. 14, 15.

Tremble ye that preach the word,
Whose fame abroad is spread,
To the bosom of your Lord
Retire, and hide your head:
There your sin and weakness own,
Decrease and into nothing fall,
Glad that Christ is praised alone,
Is glorified by all.

135

1217.

[Prophet, Priest, and King, on me]

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, &c. —iv. 18, 19.

Prophet, Priest, and King, on me
Thy threefold office show;
By Thine unction set me free,
And let the captive go:
Me a captive poor and blind
Whom Satan from my Lord detains,
In a dungeon dark confined,
And bruised with iron chains.

Preach forgiveness to the poor,
And sin shall all depart,
By Thy balm my sickness cure,
Bind up my broken heart;
By Thy salve of gospel grace
Mine eyes anoint, my sight restore,
Hold me fast in Thine embrace,
And I shall sin no more.

Preach the acceptable year
Of liberty from sin,
Breathe the promised Comforter,
The Pledge of heaven within:
When Thou dost Thy Spirit give,
My year of jubilee is come,
Then my birthright I retrieve,
And pass triumphant home.

1218.

[Speak, Divine Interpreter]

The eyes of all . . . were fastened on Him. —iv. 20.

Speak, Divine Interpreter,
Thine own prophetic word,
All my listening soul is ear
And hangs upon its Lord,

136

Fix'd mine eye of faith on Thee,
From whom it never shall remove,
Till Thine open face I see,
And hear Thy voice above.

1219.

[Be it Lord in me fulfill'd]

This day is this scripture fulfilled in, &c. —iv. 21.

Be it Lord in me fulfill'd
On this thrice happy day,
Speak my blood-bought pardon seal'd,
And take my sins away;
In the paths of righteousness
Teach by the' anointing from above,
Save me, Jesus, by Thy grace,
And rule me by Thy love.

1220.

[Lord Thy wisdom we adore]

All bare Him witness, and wondered, &c. —iv. 22.

Lord Thy wisdom we adore
And goodness without end,
Wondering testify the power
That doth Thy words attend:
Spoke into the faithful soul
Their own Divinity they prove,
All Thy gracious words are full
Of wisdom, life, and love.

1221.

[The world His abject poverty]

Is not this Joseph's son? —iv. 22.

The world His abject poverty
His low estate disdain,
And nothing great in Jesus see
The humbled Son of Man:
But we who Christ aright have known,
And seen with inward eyes,
Adore the poor mechanic's Son
Who made both earth and skies.

137

1222.

[Learn from hence, who now with power]

They were astonished at His doctrine, &c. —iv. 32.

Learn from hence, who now with power
Minister the word of grace,
Men admire it for an hour,
Struck with truth the preacher praise;
Numbers for a time believe,
Zealously the truth defend,
Few into their hearts receive,
Few are faithful to the end.

1223.

[From the impious and profane]

Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace. —iv. 35.

From the impious and profane
Praise our Lord will not receive,
While they in their sins remain,
To the world and Satan live:
Devils in the shape of men,
Can ye God by words adore?
Hold your peace, ye fiends unclean!
Gnostics, talk of Christ no more!

1224.

[Jesus prove Thy word on me]

What a word is this! for with, &c. —iv. 36.

Jesus prove Thy word on me:
Sin in me doth still reside,
Anger and impurity,
Self, and unbelief, and pride:
Thy Divine perfections show,
Thy authority exert,
Cast him out this inbred foe,
Come Thyself and fill my heart.

1225.

[Satan once the body tore]

The fame of Him went out into every place. —iv. 37.

Satan once the body tore;
Still he rules the faithless soul,
But the Spirit's stronger power
Doth the murderer's rage control:

138

Spread Thy fame through every place,
Jesus now the' usurper bind,
Vindicate the ransom'd race,
Cast him out of all mankind.

1226.

[Our Saviour and Lord]

All they that had any sick with divers, &c. —iv. 40.

Our Saviour and Lord
Applies through His word
His medicinal grace,
His omnipotent hands on our spirits He lays:
He is always the same,
When His wonderful name
He in sinners reveals,
And whate'er our disease, if He touches, He heals.

1227.

[The devils that reign]

Devils also came out of many, crying out. —iv. 41.

The devils that reign
In the children of men,
From an infidel's heart,
Till a stronger arrive, they will never depart.
But when Jesus draws near,
In their palace they fear,
And horribly cry,
And expell'd by His word from their Conqueror fly.

1228.

[O Saviour, repeat]

He rebuking them suffered them not to speak, &c. —iv. 41.

O Saviour, repeat
Thy prohibiting threat,
Nor suffer Thy foe
By his instruments base to confess Thee below:
No longer endure
His apostles impure
To publish abroad
With their unhallow'd lips the Anointed of God.

139

By preaching Thy word
They make it abhorr'd,
Who by deeds they deny,
The truth in unsanctified lips is a lie;
While with infamous praise
The abusers of grace
Thy gospel commend,
But the kingdom advance of their soul-killing friend.

O end the dark hour
By the word of Thy power,
The ranters suppress,
The witnesses false of Thy mercy and peace:
Let the faithful alone
Thy Divinity own,
Thine unction receive,
And demonstrate the truth of the gospel they live.

1229.

[He that doth his Pattern eye]

He departed and went into a desert place. —iv. 42.

He that doth his Pattern eye,
When his public work is done,
Let him from the people fly,
Seek the face of God alone,
To the wilderness repair,
Pour out all his soul in prayer.

Listening at the Master's feet,
Fresh instructions he receives,
Till required the flock to meet,
Loath the secret place he leaves,
Torn as with reluctant pain,
Forced into the world again.

1230.

[Let me with like eagerness]

The people sought Him, and came unto, &c. —iv. 42.

Let me with like eagerness
Cast the worldly crowd behind,

140

After Him impatient press,
Seek till I the Saviour find,
Follow on till Christ I know,
Hold, and never let Him go.

1231.

[Not to a single age or place]

I must preach the kingdom of God to other, &c. —iv. 43.

Not to a single age or place
Thy doctrine is confined,
Thou preachest still the word of grace
The gospel to mankind:
Sent from Thy Father's throne Thou art,
With news of sins forgiven,
Of peace for every contrite heart,
Of joy and present heaven.

Thy love constrains Thee to proclaim
The kingdom come to all,
And all receive it through Thy name
Who hear Thy Spirit's call:
Thy Spirit in Thy servant's word
The power Divine imparts,
And then the kingdom is restored
In pure believing hearts.

1232.

[Come Saviour, by Thy promise bound]

He preached in the synagogues of Galilee. —iv. 44.

Come Saviour, by Thy promise bound,
In every messenger,
And let our synagogues resound
With news of glory near;
Glory in grace on earth begun,
Which every soul may gain,
And humbled, at Thy side sit down,
And in Thy patience reign.

141

Thy peace into my troubled soul,
Thy mighty joy bring in,
Thy righteous nature, to control
And finish all my sin;
The power of Thy triumphant love
To me my Lord extend,
And bring the kingdom from above
Which never more shall end.

CHAPTER V.

1233.

[That apostolic ship]

He entered into one of the ships, &c. —v. 3.

That apostolic ship,
That church where Christ abides,
Loosed from the earth, while in the deep,
Above the deep it rides.
Of unity the school,
Of truth the sacred chair!
Jesus delights to sit and rule,
And teach His people there.

1234.

[When our incarnate God]

Now when He had left speaking, He said, &c. —v. 4.

When our incarnate God
No longer spake to men,
His church expanded all abroad
Through the wide world was seen;
Their net the' apostles spread,
Where'er their Lord they brought
And strangely took with rapid speed
Whole nations at a draught.

142

1235.

[Their successors in vain]

We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing. —v. 5.

Their successors in vain
We labour'd all the night,
Nor could a single sinner gain,
Or cast our net aright:
The mist was not dispell'd,
The thick infernal gloom
While blind we all the errors held
Of dark apostate Rome.

But our redeeming Lord
Hath chased the clouds away,
And manifested by His word
The full immortal day:
By His own Spirit's light
We now the net let down,
And toil successful in the sight
Of yon eternal Sun.

1236.

[If Thou the fishers guide]

When they had this done, they inclosed a great, &c. —v. 6.

If Thou the fishers guide,
Immortal souls we win,
Casting the net on the right side
We gather thousands in.

1237.

[I who so oft have seen]

When . . . Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees. —v. 8.

I who so oft have seen
The tokens of Thy power,
Vilest and sinfulest of men,
O how shall I adore!
Struck by Thy piercing eyes,
Unclean in lips and heart,
I fall; and all my nature cries
“From me, O Lord depart!”

143

Before Thy holiness
Shall I presume to' appear,
When purest angels hide their face,
And tremble to draw near?
What fellowship with light
Can darkness e'er maintain,
Or how shall sinners in Thy sight,
Or at Thy feet remain?

When Thou appear'st below
Thou show'st me what I am,
My darkness by Thy light I know,
And suffer all my shame;
Abash'd I see and feel
The vast disparity,
The distance inconceivable
Betwixt my God and me!

Yet Thou my Saviour art,
Whose love transcends the sky,
And canst not find it in Thy heart
To leave and let me die;
Whilst after Thee I mourn,
Thou wilt not let me faint,
But stay a sinful man to turn
Into a sinless saint.

1238.

[A prosperous minister]

He was astonished . . . at the draught, &c. —v. 9.

A prosperous minister
Doth with amazement see,
And Christ the only cause declare
Of his prosperity:
Yes, Lord, I gladly own
The miracle of grace,

144

If sinners I for God have won,
To Thee be all the praise.

1239.

[Fisher of men ordain'd]

Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt, &c. —v. 10.

Fisher of men ordain'd,
I with my partners go,
The gospel net at Christ's command
Into the world I throw;
And He forbids my fear
Whom earth and heaven adore,
And He attends His minister
Till time shall be no more.

1240.

[A leprous soul that feels]

A man full of leprosy . . . seeing Jesus. —v. 12.

A leprous soul that feels
The loathsomeness of sin,
To Christ his case reveals,
And longs to be made clean,
His humble faith to Christ applies,
And little speaks, but much it sighs.

O'erwhelm'd beneath the load
Of his impurity,
A long-offended God
Ashamed he is to see,
Low in the dust he hides his face,
And conscious of his vileness, prays.

My universal sin,
Lord, I to Thee confess,
Corrupt without, within,
Full of a sore disease,
Of bruises, wounds, and putrid sores,
My spirit at Thy feet adores.

Of grace I never will,
But of myself despair;

145

Able Thou art to heal,
Thou hear'st a sinner's prayer;
My faith is strong, my hope is sure
A touch of Thine can make me pure.

1241.

[Thy Spirit's hand apply]

He put forth His hand, and touched him. —v. 13.

Thy Spirit's hand apply
My pardon'd sin to seal,
My soul to purify,
Assure me now “I will,”
And all my guilt shall now depart,
And sin shall leave me pure in heart.

1242.

[Our Saviour and God]

Went there a fame abroad of Him, &c. —v. 15.

Our Saviour and God
Thou art publish'd abroad,
We have heard of Thy fame,
And allured by the sound of Thy wonderful name
With the crowd we draw near,
Thy wisdom to hear,
And in pardon reveal'd
To perceive all our sins and infirmities heal'd.

The gospel of grace
Thy Spirit conveys,
To the rapturous sound
We attend, and it heals our incurable wound;
The languishing soul
By a word is made whole,
And inspired from above
Through the hearing of faith we recover Thy love.

1243.

[A happy instrument of grace]

He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, &c. —v. 16.

A happy instrument of grace
Withdraws into the wilderness,
With still-continued care;

146

The good of precious souls he seeks,
In their behalf to God he speaks,
And pleads for them in prayer.

He muses frequently retired,
That more abundantly inspired
He may his mission prove,
The people serve with holier zeal,
And all his ministry fulfil
In praise of Jesus' love.

1244.

[I rise obedient to Thy word]

Immediately he rose up before them. —v. 25.

I rise obedient to Thy word,
Take up the bed on which I lay,
The tokens of my sin abhorr'd,
The relics I remove away,
Retreat, the worldly throng exclude,
And seek my God in solitude.

Saviour for this alone I live,
To magnify Thy healing love,
And while to Thee I glory give,
I hasten to my house above,
A house not made with human hands,
Which in the heavenly country stands.

1245.

[Let all the God of mercy praise]

They were all amazed, and they glorified God. —v. 26.

Let all the God of mercy praise,
Whose mercy doth to all extend;
His work reviving in our days,
His grace to sinners we commend,
While in ourselves and them we prove
The wonders wrought by Jesus' love.

Daily we see the arm reveal'd,
The love of our almighty Lord,

147

And crowds of palsied souls are heal'd,
Heal'd by a kind forgiving word,
They rise, they walk in truth and grace,
They follow after holiness.

Thee, Jesus, Thee we glorify,
With wonder at Thy feet adore;
With fear extol the Lord most high,
Wisdom, and Truth, and Love, and Power,
By every ransom'd soul confess'd
God over all for ever bless'd.

1246.

[Hadst Thou not cast a gracious look]

He left all, rose up, and followed Him. —v. 28.

Hadst Thou not cast a gracious look
On human misery,
The world I never had forsook,
Or rose to follow Thee;
But now convicted by Thine eye,
Mine evil I eschew,
My sin and its occasions fly,
And all Thy steps pursue.

My business, Lord, my only care
Poor souls for Thee to win;
For Thee the banquet I prepare,
And call my brethren in;
My guilty comrades I invite,
With Thee to feast and live,
And well I know, Thy whole delight
Is, sinners to receive.

1247.

[He eats with men of every sort]

Levi made Him a great feast in his own house. —v. 29.

He eats with men of every sort,
Matthew's and Simon's guest,
But never banquets at a court,
Or with a wicked priest.

148

1248.

[Conscious of this plague within]

They that are whole need not a physician. —v. 31.

Conscious of this plague within
I a Physician want;
My whole head is sick of sin,
And my whole heart is faint;
Only wickedness I feel,
No goodness doth in me reside,
All my nature is self-will,
And all my soul is pride.

While myself I faint to bear,
And life for lost give up,
Strangely rising from despair
I find a sudden hope;
Hope I of salvation have,
That if myself I cannot heal,
If myself I cannot save,
The great Physician will.

Humbly now, O Lord, I own
My sin and misery,
Make my sad condition known,
Expose my case to Thee;
Glory in my desperate case,
Without Thy help I cannot live;
Therefore help me by Thy grace,
And perfect soundness give.

1249.

[Me! did Jesus come for me?]

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners, &c. —v. 32.

Me! did Jesus come for me?
The God who reigns above,
Could He stoop to misery,
A Man of grief and love!

149

If Thou didst forsake the sky,
Sinners to save from endless woe,
Here, the sinners' chief am I,
Thy chief concern below.

Call (and give me ears to hear)
My soul out of its fall,
Call to godly grief and fear,
To true repentance call,
Call me Thine embrace to meet,
To know and feel my sins forgiven,
Call me then to love complete,
And call me up to heaven.

1250.

[We long to worldly pleasures cleave]

No man also having drunk old wine, &c. —v. 39.

We long to worldly pleasures cleave,
Nor will our evil habits leave,
Most gracious Lord for Thee,
Preferring the delights of sin,
The' intoxicating joys unclean,
To joys of purity.

But when Thou dost our souls convert,
Tasting how excellent Thou art
How full of pardoning grace,
We let the world and creature go,
The sweetness of religion know,
And all its pleasant ways.

We every earthly love forsake,
When of Thy Spirit we partake,
And drink Thy purity;
We own reclining on Thy breast,
The old, celestial wine is best,
The love that flows from Thee.

150

CHAPTER VI.

1251.

[In outward things alone]

Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the, &c. —vi. 2.

In outward things alone
Who their religion prove,
And hate the good they have not known,
The law fulfill'd in love;
They only cloke their pride,
With humble words conceal
And by a plea of conscience hide
The envious rage of hell.

1252.

[Jesus sojourning below]

He went out into a mountain to pray, and, &c. —vi. 12.

Jesus sojourning below,
Thy example I receive,
Only Thee I live to know,
Thee to imitate I live;
Thus for every work prepare,
Watchful and retired in prayer.

But that I may pray like Thee,
Thou the hindrances remove,
Help my soul's infirmity,
Breathe the Spirit of Thy love
Into this weak heart of mine,
Then my prayer is all Divine.

1253.

[Jesus full of holiness]

There went virtue out of Him, and healed them all. —vi. 19.

Jesus full of holiness,
Holiness proceeds from Thee,
Virtue pure and gospel-grace
Cures our souls' infirmity:
Thee who touch by faith and prayer
Shall the balmy effluence feel,
Throughly heal'd to all declare
Love is inexhaustible.

151

Now I seek to touch my Lord,
Now as yesterday the same,
Hear the evangelic word,
Trust the virtue of Thy name:
Lord, in me Thy grace reveal,
(Grace which every soul may prove,)
All my sicknesses to heal
Now infuse Thy sovereign love.

1254.

[Happy poor who know your bliss]

Blessed be ye poor, &c. —vi. 20–23.

Happy poor who know your bliss,
Poor in goods, and spirit too!
Yours the gracious kingdom is,
Glory is prepared for you;
All by sacred want ye gain,
Kings in earth and heaven ye reign.

Happy you content to pine,
Wanting now your daily bread,
Hungering after food Divine,
God your empty souls shall feed,
All His heavenly love reveal,
With Himself for ever fill.

Happy you to sorrow born,
Deeper grieved for want of grace:
God shall comfort all that mourn:
Calm your mournful lot embrace,
Sow in tears, a moment weep,
Sure eternal joy to reap.

Happy you by men abhorr'd,
From their fellowship expell'd,
Scorn'd, rejected as your Lord,
Mock'd, and in derision held,
Jesus' portion who partake,
Sufferers for your Saviour's sake.

152

Sing, rejoice, and leap for joy,
Triumph in that happiest day,
When the world your lives destroy,
Like the ancient prophets slay,
Live, out of your bodies driven!
Find your vast reward in heaven.

1255.

[Woe to you who riches prize]

But woe unto you that are rich! &c. —vi. 24–26.

Woe to you who riches prize,
Ye who now in wealth abound;
Ye have found your paradise,
All your paradise have found:
Cursed on earth with what ye love,
Look for no reward above.

Woe to you who always full,
Fare like Dives every day:
Famish'd is the glutton's soul,
Satan's long-expected prey;
Pamper'd beasts with devils dwell,
Keep an endless fast in hell.

Woe to you who laugh and play,
Who in mirth and pleasures live,
Cast your jocund souls away!
Ye shall soon lament and grieve,
Weep and wail with fiends below
Doom'd to everlasting woe.

Woe to you whom all commend:
Prudent to preserve your fame,
Favourites of the world your friend,
Foes to Jesus and His shame,
Souls for air, and fire ye sell,
Air on earth, and fire in hell.

153

So the lying prophets lived,
Honour'd in the days of old;
They their praise from men received,
They their souls for nothing sold;
You with them your doom shall mourn,
Raised to everlasting scorn.

Woe to you, eternal woe!
Idolised by flattering men!
Go, with the false prophets go
To the dark, infernal den,
Howl in blasphemous despair,
Hiss'd by all the serpents there!

1256.

[Master, if Thee I rightly hear]

I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, &c. —vi. 27, 28.

Master, if Thee I rightly hear,
My faith I by obedience show,
Aim at the perfect character,
And strive to love my deadly foe;
In word and deed, and heart, I love
When strengthen'd with Thy Spirit's might,
And thus the true perfection prove
The length, and breadth, and depth, and height.

Fill'd with the power procured for me
To love whom Thou hast bought with blood,
I long his happiness to see,
To speak, and labour for his good;
This vengeance on my foe I take,
Heap coals of fire upon his head,
Embrace him, Saviour, for Thy sake,
And die a victim in his stead.

His person, not his sin, I love,
His true, not fancied good I seek,

154

I wish him turn'd to things above,
And to him mild, not meanly speak:
I pray Thee, Lord, his soul to bless;
For his as for my own I pray,
Prepare us both to see Thy face,
And crown with glory in that day.

1257.

[Self-love which strikes us blind]

As ye would that men should do to you, &c. —vi. 31.

Self-love which strikes us blind,
And makes us others wrong,
Enlightens and informs our mind
What doth to each belong,
In every case supplies
A rule of equity;
And all mankind with kindly eyes
And cordial love we see.

1258.

[The Christian law alone]

If ye love them which love you, &c. —vi. 32.

The Christian law alone
Is holy, good, and pure,
It makes our heart-corruptions known,
And ministers a cure,
Exalts the fallen man;
And raised ourselves above,
We then resemble God again
By universal love.

1259.

[Tremble whoe'er thou art]

If ye do good to them which do good to you, &c. —vi. 33.

Tremble whoe'er thou art,
Though generous, just, and kind,
Who findest nothing in thy heart
But what a Turk may find!
Who do your patrons good,
Your partisans approve,
Your flattering friends with favours load;
Yourselves, not them, ye love.

155

1260.

[Father Thy boundless love we find]

Love ye your enemies . . . and your reward shall, &c. —vi. 35.

Father Thy boundless love we find,
Embracing our whole ransom'd kind,
Thy love to all Thy works extends,
Thy tender mercy never ends;
Thy kindness no distinction knows
Of bad or good, of friends or foes,
Thy love unmix'd Thy grace is free
To evil and unthankful me.

O could I Thee my pattern make,
Thy nature, mind, and Spirit partake,
And all the ransom'd souls that live
Alike into my heart receive,
By indiscriminating love
My second birth and sonship prove,
And thus ensure the' immortal prize,
And thus regain my paradise.

1261.

[A vessel of mere mercy I]

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father, &c. —vi. 36.

A vessel of mere mercy I
By mercy live, though doom'd to die,
I live Thine image to regain
Thy bowels toward the sons of men;
To prove that I my Father know,
Thy brightest character to show,
While all my blood-bought brethren see
Our God is love, and dwells in me.

1262.

[Forgive my foes? it cannot be]

Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. —vi. 37.

Forgive my foes? it cannot be:
My foes with cordial love embrace?
Fast bound in sin and misery,
Unsaved, unchanged by hallowing grace,
Throughout my fallen soul I feel
With man this is impossible.

156

Great Searcher of the mazy heart,
A thought from Thee I would not hide,
I cannot draw the' envenom'd dart,
Or quench this hell of wrath and pride,
Jesus, till I Thy Spirit receive,
Thou know'st, I never can forgive.

Come, Lord, and tame the tiger's force,
Arrest the whirlwind in my will,
Turn back the torrent's rapid course,
And bid the headlong sun stand still,
The rock dissolve, the mountain move,
And melt my hatred into love.

Root out the wrath Thou dost restrain;
And when I have my Saviour's mind,
I cannot render pain for pain,
I cannot speak a word unkind,
An angry thought I cannot know,
Or count mine injurer my foe.

1263.

[If Jesus' saying we receive]

Give, and it shall be given unto you. —vi. 38.

If Jesus' saying we receive,
Our charity to all runs o'er;
Love cannot hesitate to give
What truth is ready to restore.

1264.

[What is the proof of perfect love?]

Every tree is known by his own fruit. —vi. 44.

What is the proof of perfect love?
Assertions bold that “I am he
Whom God assures I cannot move,
And sin is all destroy'd in me”?
No pompous words the tokens are:
Words are but leaves, and not the fruit:
The leaves may spread, and flourish fair,
While nature's pride is at the root.

157

Great words an evil tree may bear:
Partners of real holiness
By purity of life declare,
By deeds their perfect love confess:
True goodness grows on a good tree,
Meekness which no affront can move;
Patience, conceal'd humility,
And all the fruits of silent love.

1265.

[Howe'er the softening art of man]

Howe'er the softening art of man
May subtle, learn'd distinctions make,
And sin in perfect saints explain
As nature's innocent mistake;
Howe'er we may the rule bring down,
And make it our experience suit,
That tree is good, and that alone,
Which cannot bring forth evil fruit.

Shall those who evil act or speak,
Our vouchers for perfection be,
Allow'd by man Thy law to break,
And call it an infirmity?
Ah, no: the trees of righteousness,
Thy planting, O almighty Lord,
They never can Thy law transgress,
Or sin, in deed, or thought, or word.

Away then with your boastings vain,
Proofs more substantial we demand,
Ye cannot sin, if born again,
Ye can the fiery trial stand;
The proof in facts and tempers give,
Sorrow, disgrace, and pain endure,

158

Live without sin, like Jesus live,
And tell us thus your hearts are pure.

1266.

[Love is the source of every good]

A good man out of the good treasure, &c. —vi. 45.

Love is the source of every good,
Concupiscence of every sin,
The fountain by the stream is show'd,
By works the principle within:
Good actions a good heart bewray,
Which humble souls in vain would hide,
And passions vile themselves betray,
And outward speaks the inward pride.

The heart corrupt with all his care
An hypocrite cannot conceal,
The lip at last will make it bare,
Its secret rottenness reveal;
His wicked skill to lurk unknown
Cannot the voice of works suppress,
But forced he is by deeds to own
“Mine inward parts are wickedness.”

1267.

[What crowds acknowledge Thee their Lord]

Why call ye Me Lord, Lord, and do not, &c. —vi. 46.

What crowds acknowledge Thee their Lord,
Yet take Thy name in vain,
Neglecting to observe Thy word
They let their passions reign;
Thy daily cross they will not bear
Or their own lusts deny,
But ruled by other lords they are,
And joyfully comply.

One of the formal worldly throng
I heretofore have been,
And mock'd Thee with my lips too long.
And gave my heart to sin.

159

But, master'd now by sovereign grace
Thy sway I truly own,
And walk in all Thy righteous ways,
And serve my God alone.

My heart, my life henceforth is Thine;
I glory to fulfil
The kind commands of Love Divine,
And do Thy utmost will;
The only work on earth I have
Is Thee my Lord to please,
My own and neighbour's soul to save,
And then depart in peace.

1268.

[Practice is the truth of grace]

Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth, &c. —vi. 47, 48.

Practice is the truth of grace,
Of faith the' authentic sign,
Built he is who Christ obeys
Upon the Rock Divine;
When the sandy buildings fail,
And earth is from its base removed,
Stands the man immovable
Who served the Lord he loved.

Lord I come by faith to Thee,
With joy Thy sayings hear;
Give me solid piety
And strength to persevere;
Lest the flood my house o'erthrow,
The knowledge of myself impart,
Lay the sure foundation low,
In a poor sinner's heart.

Founded on the rock of peace,
Who on Thyself relies,
Daily finds his faith increase,
And sees the building rise:

160

Thus my confidence I ground,
To all Thy words obedient prove,
Grow in grace, and more abound
In faith that works by love.

Trouble's flood assaults in vain,
Temptation's vehement stream,
Still unshaken I remain,
The rapid torrent stem:
Steadfast now in faith and hope,
My soul both stream and flood defies,
Till Thou take the building up,
And fix me in the skies.

1269.

[Thou who forward art to hear]

He that heareth, and doeth not, is like, &c. —vi. 49.

Thou who forward art to hear,
But negligent to do,
Tremble, for the day draws near
Which shall thy folly show;
Fair thou may'st a moment stand,
But when the storms of wrath assail,
Falls thy house upon the sand,
And tumbles into hell.

CHAPTER VII.

1270.

[A pastor fraught with Jesu's grace]

Now when He had ended all His sayings, &c. —vii. 1.

A pastor fraught with Jesu's grace
In Jesu's steps proceeds,
Teaches the way of righteousness,
And then performs the deeds;

161

From practising to teaching good
Betakes himself again,
By both instructs the multitude
Eternal life to' obtain.

My heavenly Lord, I would from Thee
The double grace receive,
With true Divine simplicity
The gospel preach, and live;
Inform the souls whose good I seek,
And do the Christian part;
Words to the understanding speak,
But actions to the heart.

1271.

[The man who Christ hath truly known]

A certain centurion's servant, who was, &c. —vii. 2.

The man who Christ hath truly known,
His faith by works of mercy proves,
Respects his servant as a son,
In him his heavenly Master loves;
Conscious that God will equal make,
Or crown the slave with brighter stars,
He humbly now for Jesus' sake
His servant to himself prefers.

1272.

[A token he for good receives]

When he heard of Jesus, he sent unto Him, &c. —vii. 3.

A token he for good receives
Who nothing hopes for his own sake,
Yet humbly confident believes
Christ will on him compassion take:
Who asks the faithful people's prayers,
By living saints to Christ applies,
Would pray himself, but scarcely dares
Approach, or lift to heaven his eyes.

1273.

[Man magnifies the deeds of men]

They besought Him instantly, saying, &c. —vii. 4.

Man magnifies the deeds of men,
With God the creature's merit pleads,

162

But all our thoughts by Christ are seen,
Our actions' spring and end He reads;
Strangers to evangelic grace,
The pompous works by sinners done
As works of charity they praise;
But Christ commends our faith alone.

1274.

[Because unworthy of Thy grace]

Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy, &c. —vii. 7.

Because unworthy of Thy grace,
In me Thy powerful grace reveal;
This plague of heart which I confess
A motion of Thy will can heal;
The Lord of all in earth and skies
Can by a word my soul restore;
O speak it now, and now I rise,
And follow Thee and sin no more.

1275.

[Jesus vouchsafes to recompense]

They . . . found the servant whole that had, &c. —vii. 10.

Jesus vouchsafes to recompense
The faith He doth Himself impart,
Inspires the hope, and then the sense
Of pardon in a contrite heart;
Faith to be heal'd Thou know'st I have,
I wait Thy pardoning love to feel:
Come, Lord, and to the utmost save,
And perfectly Thy servant heal.

1276.

[We here the sinner's history read]

Behold, there was a dead man carried out. —vii. 12.

We here the sinner's history read,
Who dead in sin, and doubly dead
Is carrying to the tomb;
Happy, before he reach the pit,
If Jesus the procession meet,
And to his rescue come.

Follow'd, and by the church deplored,
(That widow of her heavenly Lord,)
Insensible he lies;

163

The mother sad with pious tears
Bewails her son, till Christ appears,
And bids the dead arise.

1277.

[Her loss she never can forget]

When the Lord saw her, He had compassion. —vii. 13.

Her loss she never can forget,
Till Life and death together meet,
The sinner and his God:
He comes, and lifts His mourner up,
He fills her heart with cheerful hope,
And sheds His love abroad.

Pitying He hears the widow's prayers,
For souls that claim her tenderest cares,
Bereft of life and power;
And soon returning from the skies,
Jesus will banish all her sighs,
And bid her weep no more.

1278.

[Touch'd by Thine efficacious grace]

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. —vii. 15.

Touch'd by Thine efficacious grace,
Raised from his sins to speak Thy praise,
And testify Thy power,
Thou bidd'st him in Thy Spirit live,
Dost to his joyful mother give,
Dost to Thy church restore.

Happy the soul who lives again
Redeem'd from sin and death and pain
That glorious church to see,
(That mother of us all above,)
Communion with the saints to prove
Through all eternity.

1279.

[A guide of souls will not retain]

John calling unto him two of his disciples. —vii. 19.

A guide of souls will not retain,
Or suffer them on him to' attend,

164

But sends them to increase the train
Of Him that did from heaven descend;
His Saviour's humble harbinger,
No party will he call his own,
His only care that souls should hear,
Believe, and hang on Christ alone.

1280.

[One only thing we ask to know]

Art Thou He that should come? &c. —vii. 20.

One only thing we ask to know,
But one which everything contains,
Art Thou the Man that dwelt below,
That died to purge our sinful stains?
Assure my heart, if Thou art He,
My King, my Prophet and my Priest,
My God who gave Himself for me—
I'll trust Thy love for all the rest.

1281.

[Simple men who nothing know]

All the people that heard Him, &c. —vii. 29.

Simple men who nothing know,
Poor, but penitents sincere,
Simply their obedience show,
When the sinners' Friend they hear,
Enter into His design,
Gladly saved by grace Divine.

1282.

[But the men of learning proud]

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected, &c. —vii. 30.

But the men of learning proud,
Proud of their own righteousness,
Scorn to follow with the crowd,
Scorn their evil to confess,
Levell'd in the dust to lie,
There for mercy, mercy cry.

Never by the precept slain,
How can they the promise plead?
They the gospel plan disdain,
No Divine Physician need,

165

Will not condescend to take
Life and heaven for Jesu's sake.

1283.

[The holy God Himself they blame]

Ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, &c. —vii. 34.

The holy God Himself they blame,
The' essential Righteousness,
And shall we fondly hope or aim
A froward world to please?
No, Lord, we only wish to live
Thy life of purity,
And then Thy treatment to receive,
And suffer it like Thee.

1284.

[Secretly allured by grace]

A woman . . . which was a sinner, &c. —vii. 37.

Secretly allured by grace,
Lo to Christ the sinner flies,
Dares not look upon His face,
Dares not meet His purer eyes;
Having found the God she seeks,
Fill'd with shame, she scarce appears,
Only by her heart she speaks,
Pours it out in silent tears.

1285.

[While He sits at meat, reclined]

And stood at His feet behind Him. —vii. 38.

While He sits at meat, reclined,
Looking for that inward meat,
Penitent, she stands behind,
Falls, to wash and kiss His feet;
Waters them with copious showers
From the fountains of her eyes,
Richer than the oil she pours,
More accepted sacrifice.

Thus may I with faith sincere
Holy, self-abhorring shame,
Trembling to my Lord draw near,
Bring Him all I have, and am;

166

All my sinfulness confess,
Never from His feet remove,
Quite o'erwhelm'd with pardoning grace,
Swallow'd up in grief and love.

1286.

[O how gentle is my Lord]

Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. —vii. 40.

O how gentle is my Lord
Toward a Pharisee austere,
O how bounteous to reward
For his hospitable cheer!
Kind instruction He bestows
On a sinner unforgiven;
Bid by Pharisees, He shows
Pharisees the way to heaven.

1287.

[I the greatest debtor am]

There was a certain creditor which had two, &c. —vii. 41.

I the greatest debtor am,
Infinite the debt I owed,
Till a bankrupt poor I came
To the sin-remitting God;
Trembling at His feet I lay,
Scarcely dared for mercy call:
Then, when I could nothing pay
Frankly He forgave me all.

1288.

[Still He doth to sinners turn]

He turned to the woman, and said, &c. —vii. 44.

Still He doth to sinners turn,
Doth with mild complacence view,
Objects of your virtuous scorn
Sinners He prefers to you;
You who with self-righteous pride
Sinners haughtily entreat,
Judge whom God hath justified,
Spurn them at their Saviour's feet.

167

At His feet that harlot see,
Weeping and adoring there,
Feet transfix'd on Calvary,
Still she wipes them with her hair,
Kisses them a thousand times,
Weeps, and washing them again,
Loathes herself for pardon'd crimes,
Crimes that caused His mortal pain.

1289.

[Much she loved her loving God]

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which, &c. —vii. 47.

Much she loved her loving God,
Much forgiven by His grace,
Hence her large affections flow'd,
More increased by Jesu's praise:
Thus, when He hath purged our stain,
Glad we feel the guilt removed,
Dearly love our Lord again,
Us because He first hath loved.

Did our love the pardon buy?
Ours is but the' effect of His;
God doth freely justify,
Gives the reconciling kiss;
Then we fall and kiss His feet,
Much we love when much forgiven,
Hear Him every day repeat
“Saved by faith go on to heaven!”

1290.

[While our grief for sin we show]

He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. —vii. 48.

While our grief for sin we show,
Our respect for Christ express,
More confirm'd His love we know,
Deeper wrought His work of grace;
Jesus by His Spirit's power
Fuller confidence imparts,

168

Gives us what He gave before,
Seals the pardon on our hearts.

1291.

[Who is this that sin forgives?]

Who is this that forgiveth sins? —vii. 49.

Who is this that sin forgives?
A mere mortal sinful man,
Who his power from Rome receives,
Forms, and absolutions vain?
No; the power is God's alone;
God it is that justifies,
He who did for sin atone,
He the precious grace applies.

Who is this that sin forgives,
Now as yesterday the same?
Ask the sinner that believes,
Well he knows his Saviour's name;
Jesus bought the grace with blood,
Our infallible High-Priest,
Jesus is our pardoning God,
God supreme for ever bless'd.

1292.

[Saving faith is not alone]

And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath, &c. —vii. 50.

Saving faith is not alone;
All who savingly believe
Make their true affection known,
To their dear Redeemer cleave
Humbly at His feet they mourn,
All His benefits restore,
Never to the world return,
Walk in Christ, and sin no more.

Saved by faith from sin and fear,
Bright they in His image rise,
Meet before His face to' appear,
Sinners still in their own eyes;

169

Lord on me the grace bestow,
Pardon on my heart impress;
Saved by faith I then shall go,
Go to God in perfect peace.

CHAPTER VIII.

1293.

[Poor for our sake, the Lord most high]

Certain women which had been healed, &c. —viii. 2, 3.

Poor for our sake, the Lord most high
Humbly accepts His creature's aid,
Doth on His Father's care rely,
And freely deals the' immortal bread;
His sustenance from those receives
Whose sins He did by grace remove;
And thus to saints occasion gives
Of witnessing their grateful love.

Jesus, Thy travelling church below
In every age its Head attends,
Whoe'er Thy healing virtue know,
And trample on the' ejected fiends,
Pardon'd and thankful for their cure,
From Satan and the world set free,
By succouring Thy members poor
They serve and minister to Thee.

In the first infant church we view
The happy pair whom God hath join'd,
The mix'd inseparable two,
Knowledge and charity combined:
And still where Christ and His appear,
They hand in hand together move,
And both at once we see and hear,
The word of truth and works of love.

170

1294.

[The word, the seed of righteousness]

They . . . bring forth fruit with patience. —viii. 15.

The word, the seed of righteousness
Sown in our hearts we gladly feel,
With joy our proffer'd Lord embrace,
With rapturous joy unspeakable
Receive the news of sin forgiven,
And taste in love our present heaven.

Yet the incorruptible seed
Doth never in a moment rise,
But buried deep, as lost and dead,
Long in our earthy hearts it lies,
Water'd, before the fruit appears,
With showers of grace, and floods of tears.

Howe'er our hasty nature fret,
Or instantaneous growth require,
We must, we must with patience wait,
With humble, languishing desire,
And when ten thousand storms are pass'd,
Bring forth the perfect fruit—at last.

1295.

[The truth who with our hearts believe]

No man, when he hath lighted a candle, &c. —viii. 16.

The truth who with our hearts believe,
We must not there suppress,
But open testimony give,
And with our mouth confess:
Ashamed of Christ we must not be,
But let His candle shine,
That all throughout our lives may see
The light of love Divine.

1296.

[Though God in Christ reveal]

Whosoever hath not, from him shall, &c. —viii. 18.

Though God in Christ reveal
Our sins through faith removed,

171

We lose the talent we conceal,
The blessing unimproved;
Not labouring after more
Abundant righteousness,
Stripp'd of our former peace and power,
We forfeit all our grace.

1297.

[Lord, if Thy grace I have]

Whosoever hath, to him shall be given. —viii. 18.

Lord, if Thy grace I have,
I plead Thy word for more:
Whom Thou hast saved, persist to save,
And all Thy life restore:
If with a faithful heart
I simply follow Thee,
Whate'er Thou hast, whate'er Thou art,
Thou art, and hast for me.

1298.

[To whom but Jesus shall we run]

They came to Him, and awoke Him. —viii. 24.

To whom but Jesus shall we run
For refuge in despair?
We make our lost condition known
And waken Him by prayer;
Master, if Thou neglect to hear
Thy poor disciples cry,
If Thou Thy needful help defer,
Now in our sins we die.

Our toiling strength exhausted is,
Our Hope Thou art alone;
Save, or we perish in the' abyss,
Eternally undone:
Our succour in extremity,
Our all-commanding Lord,
Now, now rebuke the winds and sea,
And speak the calm restored.

172

1299.

[By Thee preserved in our distress]

He said unto them, Where is your faith? —viii. 25.

By Thee preserved in our distress,
In our temptation kept,
Thy watchful goodness we confess;
Our faith it was that slept.
With holy dread and wonder fill'd
We praise Thy saving power,
Rejoice to find the tempest still'd,
And at Thy feet adore.

1300.

[The slave to nature's filthy sin]

There met Him . . . a certain man, which had devils. —viii. 27.

The slave to nature's filthy sin
(Fit mansion for the spirit unclean)
Bewrays his foulest shame,
Wanders a phrenitic possess'd,
A furious diabolic beast,
And Legion is his name.

Stripp'd of his Maker's character,
Of virtuous sense and modest fear,
Far from himself he roams,
Far from the eye of man he flies,
Delights in rottenness and vice,
And dwells among the tombs.

1301.

[When Christ and purity is near]

When he saw Jesus, he cried out. —viii. 28.

When Christ and purity is near,
He starts appall'd with guilty fear,
As from his deadly foe;
All commerce with the Lord disclaims,
Aghast as if he saw the flames
The yawning gulf below.

1302.

[The slave to vile affections sold]

Oftentimes it had caught him, &c. —viii. 29.

The slave to vile affections sold,
No laws can bind, no fetters hold;
By Satan's impulse driven

173

He haunts the ghastly wilderness,
Far from the pleasant paths of peace,
As far as hell from heaven.

1303.

[When given up to brutish lust]

The herd ran violently down a steep place, &c. —viii. 33.

When given up to brutish lust,
Left by the holy God and just
To his own heart's desire,
He hurries for a moment on,
Rushes with his companions down,
And plunges in the fire.

1304.

[How vain our strife to heal]

A woman having an issue of blood, &c. —viii. 43.

How vain our strife to heal
The plague incurable!
Still the plague remains unstay'd,
Still the issue is undried;
Reason's philosophic aid
Heightens, and inflames our pride.

Endeavouring to restrain,
The law augments our pain:
Virtue's firm resolve we boast,
Boast our liberty of will;
All our confidence is lost,
Cannot stop the raging ill.

The' original disease
Our medicines but increase:
Happy when at last we know
Human insufficiency,
When we truly humbled go,
Jesus, for relief to Thee.

1305.

[To Thee I now draw near]

She came behind Him, and touched the border. —viii. 44.

To Thee I now draw near,
With faith and shame and fear

174

Mercy at Thy feet implore,
Feel my own unworthiness,
Faint without Thy saving power,
Die without Thy healing grace.

Source of my holiness,
Thy manhood I confess;
Through the means to Thee apply,
Wait Thy Spirit to receive;
Let it heal and purify,
Jesus, in Thy patient live.

1306.

[With lowly fear and shame]

And when the woman saw that she, &c. —viii. 47.

With lowly fear and shame
My Saviour I proclaim;
Prostrate at Thy footstool own,
Own in love's simplicity,
Thou hast made Thy mercy known,
Magnified Thy power on me.

For pardon I believed,
And have the grace received;
Jesus mighty to redeem
Bless'd me with a sudden cure:
Yes; I touch'd His garment's hem,
Touch'd and felt my pardon sure.

The truth I now declare,
My testimony bear,
Jesu's grace to sinners tell;
All the benefit may find:
Present is His power to heal
Me, and them, and all mankind.

1307.

[Lord, if my sin-sick soul]

Daughter, be of good comfort . . . . go in peace. —viii. 48.

Lord, if my sin-sick soul
Thou hast indeed made whole,

175

Bid me go in humble peace,
Go to that celestial prize,
Go to perfect holiness,
Go to God in paradise.

1308.

[Looking for the grace of God]

Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master, &c. —viii. 49.

Looking for the grace of God
And ready to receive,
Tempted then by flesh and blood,
And urged to disbelieve,
Let us then our shield hold fast,
And wrestle on in faithful prayer,
Sure to gain His life at last,
And all His impress bear.

1309.

[Fed, and strengthen'd by the word]

Fear not: believe only, and she shall, &c. —viii. 50.

Fed, and strengthen'd by the word
Our faith receives increase,
Stirs us up to seek the Lord,
To pray and never cease;
Prayer and faith the fight maintain,
By no discouragement repell'd,
Till the victory we gain
To full redemption seal'd.

Wherefore should I doubt His power,
When Christ the word hath said?
Can He not to life restore
A soul though doubly dead?
Is the thing impossible?
The thing impossible shall be,
Christ with all His love shall dwell,
With all His heaven in me.

176

1310.

[Make Thy heavenly wisdom mine]

He suffered no man to go in, save Peter, &c. —viii. 51.

Make Thy heavenly wisdom mine,
By signs infallible,
Teach me, Lord, the works Divine
To publish, or conceal;
When before the multitude
Thy gracious wonders to repeat,
When the people to exclude,
And when the saints admit.

1311.

[Need the true believer dread]

She is not dead, but sleepeth. —viii. 52.

Need the true believer dread
A temporary sleep?
Earth receives the body dead,
But cannot always keep;
Waken'd by the trumpet's sound
Body and soul shall soon arise,
Find their wings and spurn the ground,
And meet Him in the skies.

1312.

[Heathens mock our blessed hope]

They laughed Him to scorn. —viii. 53.

Heathens mock our blessed hope
As fancy's idle dream,
Yet we shall be all caught up
To live and reign with Him:
Here our souls by faith restored
Retrieve the life of holiness,
There our eyes shall see the Lord,
And glory in His face.

1313.

[Thou hast took us by the hand]

He took her by the hand, and called, &c. —viii. 54.

Thou hast took us by the hand,
Who didst our nature take;

177

Son of God and man command
The dead in sin to wake:
Sinners from the bed, the bier,
The tomb, a word of Thine can raise;
O that all Thy voice might hear,
And live the life of grace!

1314.

[Souls from Jesus separated]

Her spirit came again, and she arose. —viii. 55.

Souls from Jesus separated
No spark of life retain,
Dead, emphatically dead,
Till Christ come back again:
Lord, Thou know'st for whom I mourn,
Whom dead to God I still deplore,
In Thy quickening Spirit return,
And never leave him more.

1315.

[Lord our life of faith and prayer]

He commanded to give her meat. —viii. 55.

Lord our life of faith and prayer
Will languish soon and die,
If Thou dost not still repair,
And with fresh grace supply;
That we still in Thee may live,
Be Thou Thyself our daily Bread,
Every hour Thy Spirit give,
And every moment feed.

Keep us to that solemn hour
When Thou the Judge shalt come;
Then through Thine almighty power
We triumph o'er the tomb,
In the twinkling of an eye
Caught up, on eagles' wings we soar,
Swiftly to Thy bosom fly,
And meet to part no more.

178

Then we eat before Thy throne
The' immortalizing Food,
Glorious joy till then unknown
In the full sight of God,
Drink the new celestial wine,
Banquet with all the saints above,
Satisfied with Truth Divine,
And pure eternal Love.

1316.

[Never may I take the praise]

He charged them that they should tell no man, &c. —viii. 56.

Never may I take the praise
Or my own glory spread,
Made Thine instrument to raise
A sinner from the dead.
Never call the work my own,
But prosper'd in my ministry,
Sink forgotten and unknown,
And swallow'd up in Thee.

CHAPTER IX.

1317.

[A hidden kingdom in the skies]

Take nothing for your journey, &c. —ix. 3.

A hidden kingdom in the skies
To sinners we declare;
In vain; unless we first arise,
And find our treasure there,
Indifferent to the things below
Unless the proof we give,
By all our life and converse show
That now in heaven we live.

179

1318.

[What profits it the great and wise]

Now Herod . . . heard of all that was done. —ix. 7.

What profits it the great and wise,
All that was done by Christ to know,
Unless they take His love's advice,
Their sins renounce, themselves forego,
Unless His Spirit He imparts,
And works His wonders in their hearts?

1319.

[What could the curious passion do?]

He desired to see Him. —ix. 9.

What could the curious passion do?
He would not to his Saviour turn;
His Saviour's messenger he slew;
He saw, and laugh'd the Lord to scorn;
And thus a dire example set,
Still follow'd by the lawless great.

1320.

[Come all to Christ, who all receives]

The people . . . followed Him: and He received them. —ix. 11.

Come all to Christ, who all receives,
Instruction to the' unlearnèd gives,
Supplies our every need,
Makes the distemper'd sinner whole,
And satisfies the hungry soul
With true immortal bread.

Happy the steward of His grace,
Preacher of joy and righteousness,
The kingdom from above;
Who through the power of Jesus' word,
Sees sin-sick souls to health restored
And perfected in love.

Happy who finds his whole employ,
To serve their faith, and find their joy,
Till entering into rest

180

Up from this wilderness they rise,
Regain their country in the skies,
And God's eternal feast.

1321.

[Pastors the sheep should feed]

He said unto them, Give ye them to eat, &c. —ix. 13.

Pastors the sheep should feed,
When Jesus gives the word,
Whose grace provides with all they need
The followers of their Lord:
God will Himself supply
The impotence of man,
And do, poor souls to satisfy,
Whate'er the' Almighty can.

Jesus doth not enjoin
Impossibilities,
But shows our need of grace Divine
The Lord our God to please;
The things within our power
Commands us to fulfil,
Employ His grace, and ask for more
To do His perfect will.

For what Thou didst bestow
Thy love we glorify,
But own we can no farther go
Without a fresh supply:
We every word receive
Our Lord vouchsafes to say;
Command whate'er Thou wilt, but give
Thy servants power to' obey.

1322.

[Dispenser of the joyful word]

There was taken up of fragments . . . twelve, &c. —ix. 17.

Dispenser of the joyful word
Who at the banquet of his Lord
The people and himself hath fed,

181

Will gather up with pious care,
And in his faithful memory bear,
The fragments of that heavenly bread;
Will fear a single word to lose,
On every sacred saying muse,
And meditate and pray them o'er;
Each precious truth resolve, digest,
And lengthen out the gospel feast,
Replete, yet hungering still for more.

1323.

[Thou art the Christ of God]

Peter answering said, The Christ of God. —ix. 20.

Thou art the Christ of God
On all mankind bestow'd,
Thee the co-eternal Son
By the' anointing Spirit seal'd,
Prophet, Priest, and King we own,
Man with all the Godhead fill'd.

The Spirit of our Head
Is on the members shed:
Ever streaming from above
He to us Thy name imparts,
Brings the unction from above,
Forms and dwells in Christian hearts.

Thy mystic body we
Our all receive from Thee,
Life and truth, and grace for grace;
Thine anointed ones we rise,
Temples of Thy holiness,
Fill'd with Him who fills the skies.

1324.

[Jesus spake the word to all]

If any man will come after Me, let him deny, &c. —ix. 23.

Jesus spake the word to all,
All in every time and place;
Rich and poor, and great and small,
Every child of Adam's race,

182

Would ye His disciples be?
Follow Christ to Calvary.

Not a single soul excused,
Not a day exempted is:
Heaven is with the cross refused,
Glorious everlasting bliss:
Who the Saviour's burden shun
Down to endless ruin run.

You who revel every day,
Every day in pleasures live,
Will not Jesus' word obey,
Will not Jesus' yoke receive,
With your own desires comply
Dead in sin for ever die.

1325.

[Preserver of mankind]

Whosoever will lose his life for My sake, &c. —ix. 24.

Preserver of mankind,
The mystery explain,
Instruct my heart the way to find,
The truth of life to gain;
And when I rightly know
The sweetness of Thy love,
I come, by losing it below
To save my life above.

1326.

[Who blush their Lord to own]

Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of, &c. —ix. 26.

Who blush their Lord to own,
His truth and people here,
When Jesus sits upon the throne,
O where shall they appear!

183

They gain their just desert,
Soon as the Judge is come,
And from His frowning face depart
To hell's eternal gloom.

1327.

[Thy kingdom, Lord, I fain would see]

He took Peter and John and James, and went, &c. —ix. 28.

Thy kingdom, Lord, I fain would see:
O carry up my soul with Thee,
Above my body raise,
From earth's tumultuous scenes remove,
Bear to the holy mount above,
And then unveil Thy face.

Thou only by Thy prayer and blood
Canst bring me to the smiling God,
Reveal my sins forgiven,
And bless me with that rapturous sight
Which makes the saints' supreme delight,
Which makes a heaven of heaven.

1328.

[In momentary majesty]

Who appeared in glory, and spake of His, &c. —ix. 31.

In momentary majesty
My Saviour on the mount I see,
As on His dazzling throne,
But when the glorious God appears,
He still remains the Man of tears,
And speaks of death alone.

May this alone my thoughts employ
In triumph of ecstatic joy,
And temper the delight;
The moment that transports me hence,
And bids eternity commence,
Be ever in my sight.

184

1329.

[When shall the happy moment come]

When they were awake, they saw His glory, &c. —ix. 32.

When shall the happy moment come,
Which calls our dust out of the tomb
To see Thy glories shine?
Which doth our slumbering eyes unseal,
And all the mysteries reveal,
And all the truths Divine.

The world, and all we valued here
Shall then an empty dream appear,
And vanish from our view,
While Thee triumphant on Thy throne,
We see surrounded with Thine own
Creating all things new.

The fulness of the Deity
Even I shall then adore in Thee,
And on Thy beauties gaze,
Enjoy the pure eternal light,
And fall transported at the sight
In ecstasy of praise.

1330.

[Who tastes the truth, and Jesus sees]

Let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, &c. —ix. 33.

Who tastes the truth, and Jesus sees
In all the Scripture-mysteries
The law and prophets' End,
Delights to meditate and pray,
Would gladly on the mountain stay,
And never more descend.

1331.

[Blind to the Christian mystery]

Not knowing what he said. —ix. 33.

Blind to the Christian mystery,
We first a glimpse of glory see,
And zealous for Thy cause

185

Expect with sanguine hope and vain
The rest before the toil to gain,
The crown before the cross.

But ah! we know not what we say,
Who for pure consolation pray,
And seek with fond desire
In pomp of ghostly gifts to shine,
And in our fleshly prisons join
The bright celestial choir.

1332.

[Him, only Him we long to hear]

This is My beloved Son: hear Him. —ix. 35.

Him, only Him we long to hear,
Creator of the listening ear,
Who comes in Moses' place,
Spirit and life and power imparts,
And speaks into our faithful hearts
The words of truth and grace.

He doth to us His mind declare,
By every gospel messenger
His will to sinners show;
To heathens poor He speaks His praise,
He speaks by all His mysteries,
His life and death below.

He speaks by benefits bestow'd;
We hear the language of His rod,
Who kindly doth reprove:
In trouble's storm He chides our fear,
And gives our flutter'd hearts to hear
The whispering voice of love.

His Spirit's small and quiet voice
Makes all our broken bones rejoice,
Our souls to health restores;

186

And then the saint renew'd by grace
Abhors himself, and hides his face,
And silently adores.

1333.

[Jesus alone the room supplies]

When the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. —ix. 36.

Jesus alone the room supplies
Of prophets, law, and sacrifice,
Containing all in one:
And let the shadows disappear,
Suffice for us that Christ is here,
That Christ is seen alone.

Thee Lord our law and rule we see,
Regard no other guide but Thee
To that good land above;
Thine, not Elijah's spirit desire,
And call for no celestial fire
But that of purest love.

1334.

[From the calm repose of prayer]

When they were come down from the hill, &c. —ix. 37.

From the calm repose of prayer,
Mount of contemplation sweet,
To our labour we repair,
Haste the multitude to meet:
Sinners hungry for the word,
Sick of every soul-disease,
When in us they hear our Lord,
Heal'd by faith they go in peace.

See the fruit of faithful prayer,
When the sacred mount we leave
Souls prevent the pastor's care,
Jesus eager to receive:
Sinners poor, before we seek,
Waiting for the word are found:
Then of Jesus' love we speak;
Thousands bless the joyful sound!

187

1335.

[Jesus attend my cry]

Behold, a man of the company cried out, &c. —ix. 38.

Jesus attend my cry,
And cast a pitying eye;
Meanest of the sinful crowd
Me with kind compassion see:
Sorely vex'd I cry aloud,
Cry aloud for help to Thee.

Tormented I confess
My own most desperate case:
Nearer than an only child,
Lord, my only soul's oppress'd,
By the filthy fiend defiled,
By the pride of hell possess'd.

No help or hope I have
But in Thy power to save;
Master of the ransom'd soul,
Thou canst by a touch of Thine
Change my heart and make it whole,
Fill with purity Divine.

1336.

[A youth possess'd by sin]

Lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly, &c. —ix. 39.

A youth possess'd by sin
Obeys the spirit unclean,
Horribly at times he roars,
For his own damnation calls;
Satan governs all his powers,
Bruises by a thousand falls.

Weaker for each he lies,
And more attach'd to vice:
Shorter every interval
Fiercer lusts his bosom tear,
Shake him o'er the mouth of hell,
Leave him sunk in sad despair.

188

1337.

[Jesus, incline Thine ear]

I besought Thy disciples to cast him out. —ix. 40.

Jesus, incline Thine ear,
Thine own disciples hear;
Help the wretch for whom we pray,
While our impotence we own,
Chase the' indwelling fiend away,
Heal his soul Thyself alone.

1338.

[Who marvel at His power admire]

But while they wondered . . . He said, &c. —ix. 43.

Who marvel at His power admire
The greater wonder of His grace,
For God, the' incarnate God to' expire
Is more than all hell's host to chase:
From Satan's hands who rescued man
Into the hands of man betray'd,
Endured the cross, the shame, the pain,
And love's omnipotence display'd.

1339.

[The little child, the twice-born man]

Jesus . . . took a child, and set him by Him. —ix. 47.

The little child, the twice-born man,
Thou, Lord, wilt to Thyself receive,
Who humbly doth his soul refrain,
No glory to the creature give,
None to himself assume, or claim
Among the saints an honour'd name.

O could I gain my calling's height
Reduced to second infancy,
Smallest of all in my own sight,
Caught to Thy arms and hid in Thee,
Hid from the world, unmark'd, unknown,
Till seen the partner of Thy throne.

1340.

[We will not chide Thy followers, Lord]

Forbid him not. —ix. 50.

We will not chide Thy followers, Lord,
Distinct from us, who preach Thy word,

189

Who devils in Thy name expel,
And pluck poor sinners out of hell;
We dare not enviously deny
Their inward call to prophesy,
While faith is to their hearers given,
With God Himself sent down from heaven.

1341.

[Wherefore should we droop or fear]

When the time was come that He should be, &c. —ix. 51.

Wherefore should we droop or fear,
When the hour of death is near?
Death is but a ready way
Leading to the realms of day;
Wing'd in death our souls shall fly
To our city in the sky,
Find in Him that reigns above
All we wish, and all we love.

Tell me, O my Life, my Hope,
When shall I be taken up?
If Thy signs I understand
Now the time is near at hand:
Set my steadfast face and heart,
Make me ready to depart,
Breathe Thyself into my breast,
Bear me to eternal rest.

1342.

[Vengeance doth to God belong]

Wilt Thou that we command fire to come, &c. —ix. 54.

Vengeance doth to God belong:
Who the mind of Jesus have,
Kindness we return for wrong,
Only wish our foes to save.
If to Christ in spirit join'd,
If in us His bowels move,
Anger at the sin we find,
More than life the sinner love.

190

Let the furious sons of Rome
Show exterminating zeal,
Loathsome heretics consume,
Call for fire from heaven—or hell:
Lord, in their behalf we call,
Send Thy Spirit from above,
Burn their sins, consume them all,
Burn their souls with fire—of love.

1343.

[O thou who hadst the world forsook]

No man, having put his hand to the plough, &c. —ix. 62.

O thou who hadst the world forsook,
And set thy hand to Jesus' plough,
If back thou cast a wishful look,
One earthly fond desire allow,
That one desire thy bane will be,
And ruin all His work in thee.

Who to the world restorest thy heart,
Thou forfeitest the gracious power,
Unqualified for God thou art,
But ten times deader than before,
Fit with apostate fiends to dwell,
Fit for a burning throne in hell.

CHAPTER X.

1344.

[Two and two, not one and one]

The Lord appointed other seventy also, &c. —x. 1.

Two and two, not one and one,
He sends His messengers,
Makes by them His coming known,
By them His way prepares:
What shall part whom God hath join'd,
Or break the' indissoluble cord?
Two are one in heart and mind,
When Jesus is the third.

191

1345.

[Lamb without spot, who didst give up]

Behold, I send you forth as lambs, &c. —x. 3.

Lamb without spot, who didst give up
Thyself to worrying wolves a prey,
Thou art Thy suffering people's hope:
With us in our temptation stay,
Nor leave Thy church to Satan's power,
Nor let the sheeplike wolves devour.

The persecutor's rage restrain
Who tears Thy church with cruel scorn,
Baffle the furious wrath of man,
Or strangely to Thy glory turn,
Into a lamb the wolf convert,
And bless with a new meeken'd heart.

1346.

[Peace to this house! the greatest good]

Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace, &c. —x. 5.

Peace to this house! the greatest good
Which sinners can from God receive!
The peace Divine on all bestow'd
Who in a proffer'd Christ believe,
The peace which seals your sins forgiven,
And brings you here a taste of heaven.

We cannot wish our neighbour more
Than present and eternal peace,
The riches these of Jesu's poor,
With which the sons of men we bless,
And spread through earth the precious prize,
And turn it into paradise.

1347.

[A preacher should with freedom use]

Eat such things as are set before you. —x. 8.

A preacher should with freedom use
The food which poor or rich prepare,
Nothing reject and nothing choose,
The better or the meaner fare

192

With equal thankfulness receive,
Nor live to eat, but eat to live.

1348.

[Tremble who slight the word ye hear]

Notwithstanding be ye sure of this, &c. —x. 11.

Tremble who slight the word ye hear,
Nor will repent, believe, obey;
Damnation from salvation fear:
The word shall judge you in that day,
When dead out of your graves ye rise,
To die the death that never dies.

Then, then ye shall with anguish own
Ye might have took the proffer'd grace,
Ye might have God in Jesus known,
And lived the life of righteousness,
Ye might have felt your sins forgiven,
Ye once were at the gates of heaven.

1349.

[To Christ ascribing my success]

The seventy returned again with joy, &c. —x. 17.

To Christ ascribing my success,
To Christ I may the glory give
In words, while secretly I please
Myself, and vain delight receive,
May praise myself in praising God,
Happy that I by men am known,
That I, not others, was employ'd,
That I perform'd the work alone.

1350.

[The things which we the' occasion make]

He said unto them, I beheld Satan, &c. —x. 18.

The things which we the' occasion make
Of pride and self-complacency,
Shall cause our humbled hearts to quake
When rightly taught O Lord by Thee:

193

What saint dares in himself delight,
Or boast the grace and talents given,
Or glory in perfection's height,
Who sees archangels fall from heaven?

1351.

[The power is not revoked or lost]

Behold, I give unto you power to tread, &c. —x. 19.

The power is not revoked or lost
Which Christ did on His church bestow;
Satan is still with all his host
Trod down by those that Jesus know:
Yes Lord, the whole serpentine brood,
The scorpions swarming from that pit,
Are by Thy bloody cross subdued,
Are bruised beneath Thy people's feet.

1352.

[Saviour, we nothing have to fear]

And nothing shall by any means hurt you. —x. 19.

Saviour, we nothing have to fear,
Whate'er our flesh may here endure,
From sin, the world, and Satan near
Thy promise shall our souls secure:
No evil can afflict or grieve
A saint that on Thy truth relies;
Safe in the toils of hell we live,
As in the bowers of paradise.

1353.

[No dazzling gifts or talents]

In this rejoice not, that the spirits are, &c. —x. 20.

No dazzling gifts or talents
Require our exultation,
But let us praise
Redeeming grace,
Which brings us sure salvation:
Jesus hath bought the pardon
For every true believer,
And wash'd in blood,
And born of God,
Our souls shall live for ever.

194

Judas might cast out devils,
And die a perjured traitor:
With faith sincere,
Who Jesus hear,
Our cause of joy is greater:
The rapturous name of Jesus
To ransom'd sinners given,
Pure joy imparts,
And tells our hearts
Our names are wrote in heaven.

1354.

[Saviour, I listen for Thy voice]

Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. —x. 20.

Saviour, I listen for Thy voice
Which certifies my sins forgiven:
O speak, and bid my heart rejoice,
To know my name enroll'd in heaven:
Thy heavenly name might I but prove,
Thy holiest name inscribed on me,
I'd triumph in Thy perfect love,
I'd sing through all eternity.

1355.

[Father, we in the joy rejoice]

Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank Thee, &c. —x. 21.

Father, we in the joy rejoice
Of Thine eternal Son,
Approve Thy wise mysterious choice,
Thy depths of love unknown;
Thy love demands our highest praise,
And lo, we with our Lord
Adore the wonders of Thy grace
By Christ Himself adored.

Not by a blind capricious will
Thou dost Thy gifts bestow,
But justly from the proud conceal
What all the humble know;

195

To babes Thou dost Thy truths declare,
Explain Thy whole design,
And stamp them with the character
The holy name Divine.

For this we magnify Thy name
Through our High-priest above,
Thine awful righteousness proclaim,
Thy free electing love:
Who perish, perish self-destroy'd,
While we our voices raise
In songs of grateful joy employ'd,
For ever saved by grace.

1356.

[Happy we, the friends of Jesus]

Blessed are the eyes which see the things, &c. —x. 23.

Happy we, the friends of Jesus,
Him with eyes of faith to see,
Him whose pains and sorrows ease us,
Him whose bonds have set us free:
Partner of the fallen nature
He redeems us from our fall,
Christ the Way, and Mediator,
Principle of life to all.

Christ the God of our salvation
Still we see and still embrace,
Israel's Strength and Consolation,
Author, Finisher of grace.
Christ we find our sure protection,
Christ our utmost Saviour prove,
All our goodness and perfection,
All our purity and love.

196

1357.

[Prophets, kings far off beheld Thee]

Many prophets and kings have desired to see, &c. —x. 24.

Prophets, kings far off beheld Thee,
Jesus, God's eternal Son,
Shadows then, and veils conceal'd Thee
Till in mortal flesh made known:
We have now beheld Thy glory,
Heard Thy voice of truth and grace,
Still we hear, and fall before Thee
Till we see Thy open face.

1358.

[Do it Thyself in me]

This do, and thou shalt live. —x. 28.

Do it Thyself in me,
I then shall do Thy will,
Shall live Thy life, inspired by Thee,
And all Thy words fulfil.

1359.

[In every child of misery]

Go, and do thou likewise. —x. 37.

In every child of misery,
Jesus I would my neighbour see
With pity from above;
Endear'd by grace and nature's ties,
Would see the sinner with Thine eyes,
And in Thy bowels love.

Mercy constrains me to relieve
Who needs, and will my help receive,
By more than blood allied,
Stranger, or foe, he claims my aid,
A soul whom my Creator made,
For whom my Saviour died.

1360.

[Martha's faith in active life]

Martha received Him into her house. —x. 38.

Martha's faith in active life
Was laudably employ'd,
Tending Christ with zealous strife,
She served the' eternal God:

197

Mary waiting at His feet
The life contemplative express'd:
Let the happy sisters meet,
For join'd they both are bless'd.

O that I might humbly sit
With His beloved ones,
Happier at my Saviour's feet
Than monarchs on their thrones!
Who before His footstool bow
Are sure His quickening voice to hear;
Jesus speak: I listen now,
And all my soul is ear!

1361.

[O my God, how can it be!]

But Martha was cumbered about much serving. —x. 40.

O my God, how can it be!
The work I undertake,
In Thy saints to wait on Thee,
Their servant for Thy sake;
Work for Thy great praise design'd
Doth oft from Thee mine eye divert,
Dissipate my burden'd mind,
And quite dry up my heart.

Help me, Lord, to recollect
My scatter'd thoughts in prayer,
Thee in all things to respect,
And all Thy burdens bear:
I shall patiently endure,
In care unmoved, in labour still,
When my works are wrought in pure
Obedience to Thy will.

198

1362.

[What is everything beside]

One thing is needful. —x. 42.

What is everything beside
For which the world contend?
Baits of lust, or boasts of pride,
Which in a moment end:
After earthly happiness
I can no longer pant or rove,
Need no more, who all possess
In Jesu's heart-felt love.

1363.

[Martha's chosen work is good]

Mary hath chosen that good part, &c. —x. 42.

Martha's chosen work is good,
But Mary's better still;
Mary rests on earth employ'd
Like those on Zion's hill,
Antedates the' immortal joys,
Partaker with the heavenly powers,
Hears her dear Redeemer's voice,
And lost in love adores.

Rest, thou favour'd spirit, rest,
Who in His presence art,
Of the needful thing possess'd,
And Mary's better part:
Choose who will that happy place,
He there shall unmolested sit;
Never can the Saviour chase
A sinner from His feet.

199

CHAPTER XI.

1364.

[In pain and darkness groaning]

Lord, teach us to pray. —xi. 1.

In pain and darkness groaning
Thy ransom'd creature see,
A helpless soul bemoaning
My own infirmity!
I cannot help implore;
But at Thy footstool stay
Till Thou confer the power,
And teach me how to pray.

The feeble first desire
Proceeds from Thee alone;
Thou dost this wish inspire
My impotence to own,
In mournful lamentation
My misery to declare,
And beg Thy kind compassion
To fill my heart with prayer.

Purchased by Thy own merit
Thy righteousness and death,
Thy supplicating Spirit
Into my bosom breathe:
The Spirit of contrition
O let Him plead in me,
And cry for a Physician,
And show that Thou art He!

1365.

[Thou who art both God and man]

Thou who art both God and man
Canst Thy Father's will explain,
Thou the Truth, the Life, the Way,
Know'st what man to God should say;

200

Thou, that we His mind may know,
Dost the Holy Ghost bestow.

Teach me, Jesus, how to pray,
Take the hindering thing away,
Into this weak heart inspire
Power, and hunger, and desire;
Then the pleading Spirit impart,
Fix my Teacher in my heart.

1366.

[Father of me, and all mankind]

Our Father which art in heaven, &c. —xi. 2–4.

Father of me, and all mankind,
And all the hosts above,
Let every understanding mind
Unite to praise Thy love;
To know Thy nature and Thy name,
One God in Persons three,
And glorify the great I AM
Through all eternity.

Thy kingdom come, with power and grace,
To every heart of man;
Thy peace, and joy, and righteousness,
In all our bosoms reign!
Thy righteousness our sin keep down,
Thy peace our passions bind,
And let us in Thy joy unknown
The first dominion find.

The righteousness that never ends,
That finishes our sin,
The joy that human thought transcends,
Into our souls bring in,

201

The kingdom of establish'd peace,
Which can no more remove,
The perfect power of godliness,
The' omnipotence of love.

Then let us hear the trumpet sound,
That latest of the seven;
Come, King of saints, with glory crown'd,
The' eternal God of heaven.
Judge of Thine antichristian foe,
Appear on earth again,
And then Thy thousand years below
Before Thine ancients reign.

Hasten that happiest gospel-day,
When all on earth forgiven
As fully shall Thy will obey
As angels do in heaven;
While not one disharmonious string
Is heard below, above,
But all in perfect concert sing,
And praise the God we love.

Give us this day our daily bread,
As manna from above,
And every happy moment feed
Our hungry souls with love;
The' imperishable meat bestow,
For which our spirits cry,
And, nourish'd by Thy grace below,
Our souls shall never die.

Now, Father, now our sins forgive,
With present pardon bless,
And let our souls the kiss receive
Which seals our inward peace;

202

Accept us in Thine own dear Son,
Who bore our sins away,
Who all our debts discharged alone,
And left us nought to pay.

Grace unconditional and free,
Thy sweet forgiving grace,
Instructs us, as embraced by Thee,
Our brother to embrace:
Since Thou our infinite offence
Dost pardon and forget,
His debt of scarce an hundred pence
We cheerfully remit.

Ah, leave us not, above our power,
Above our patience tried,
But turn aside the dreaded hour,
And from temptation hide:
Or if we fall into the snare,
Let us our Lord behold,
Whose hand doth through the furnace bear,
And brings us forth as gold.

Deliver us from evil, Lord,
Thy church so dearly bought,
From every evil work, and word,
And every evil thought:
Preserve us from the tempting fiend,
The world of wickedness,
Till all our wars and conflicts end
In everlasting peace.

1367.

[We in our celestial Friend]

Which of you shall have a friend, &c. —xi. 5.

We in our celestial Friend
To a kind Father pray,

203

Need not urge our God to lend
Who gives without delay;
Presses us to ask for grace,
Solicits beggars to receive
All at every time and place
Which Love Divine can give.

Bold we then to Thee apply
In this accepted hour;
Father, hear Thy Spirit's cry,
And all Thy blessings pour;
Truth we want our minds to feed,
Our hearts require Thy love alone;
Fulness of immortal bread
Vouchsafe us in Thy Son.

1368.

[Still I knock, and ask, and seek]

Because of his importunity he will rise, &c. —xi. 8.

Still I knock, and ask, and seek,
A pressing beggar I;
Speak, the word of comfort speak,
And grant me the supply,
Pity a poor traveller,
With toil fatigued, with hunger faint;
Give, for Thou hast bread to spare,
O give me all I want!

Perishing for want of food
A sinner claims Thy care;
Every promise is made good
To persevering prayer:
Man may long withhold his aid,
Which want can scarce at last procure;
Never is Thy help delay'd
When souls are truly poor.

204

Man is cruel to his friends,
And sells his services,
Helps them but for sordid ends,
His own content or ease;
God doth every soul relieve
From His exhaustless stores above;
Grace to all doth freely give,
For God is perfect love.

1369.

[Thou who know'st a father's heart]

If a son shall ask bread of any of you, &c. —xi. 11, 12.

Thou who know'st a father's heart,
To thy own children good,
Less benign than Him thou art,
Who fills the world with food;
Nature's love 'tis God bestows,
A drop of that unfathom'd sea;
Mercy all His works o'erflows,
And now extends to thee.

1370.

[Father, through Thy Son to me]

How much more shall your heavenly Father, &c. —xi. 13.

Father, through Thy Son to me
Thy Holy Spirit give;
Him (Thy Son engaged for Thee)
Who ask shall all receive:
Bound by Jesu's word Thou art
To send Him from Thy throne above;
Send Him now, to fill my heart
With purity and love.

1371.

[Long undisturb'd the tempter keeps]

When a strong man armed keepeth, &c. —xi. 21.

Long undisturb'd the tempter keeps
His house, and rules without control;
The soul in his possession sleeps,
The careless, gay, unthinking soul.

205

No trouble fears, no evil sees,
But rests secure in hellish peace.

Pride is the armour of our foe,
In man's concupiscence he trusts,
And never will his house forego,
While strengthen'd with the sinner's lusts.
While guilt and unbelief remains
The tyrant in his palace reigns.

O come, Thou stronger than the fiend,
The giant arm'd this moment bind;
This moment his oppressions end,
Destroy in me the carnal mind,
The pride of life, the lusts unclean,
And root out all my love of sin.

By taking all my sins away,
From Satan all his armour take,
Thy glory through Thy house display;
And that the foe may ne'er come back,
Secure me for Thy lawful prize,
And bear Thy trophy to the skies.

1372.

[Then do not rest secure]

When the unclean spirit is gone out, &c. —xi. 24–26.

Then do not rest secure
If now thy heart be pure:
Thine infernal enemy
Arm'd with sevenfold rage will come,
Seek his former place in thee,
Strive to gain his ancient home.

Driven by stronger grace
Out of his dwelling-place,

206

All its avenues he knows,
Knows thy old besetting sin,
Watches if thine eyelids close
Unperceived to enter in.

A saint quite off his guard
Is for the fiend prepared;
When in grace they cease to grow,
When they in their grace confide,
Souls are ready for the foe
Garnish'd and adorn'd by pride.

The house which seems so clean,
And swept from every sin,
Tempts the tempter to come back;
Satan and a troop from hell
Of the soul possession take,
In the saint for ever dwell.

1373.

[Heathens shall in judgment rise]

The queen of the south shall rise up, &c. —xi. 31.

Heathens shall in judgment rise,
Careless Christians to condemn,
Who Thine oracles despise,
Thee refuse in slighting them:
Saviour, give my soul to own
Thou dost in Thy word appear
Greater far than Solomon,
Wisdom's self is speaking here!

1374.

[Ah, Lord, direct my aim aright]

If thy whole body therefore be full of light, &c. —xi. 36.

Ah, Lord, direct my aim aright,
Fill up my soul with purest light,
With genuine sanctity;
Leave here no unenlighten'd part,
No sin or folly in my heart,
No pride or wrath in me.

207

Then shall the lamp diffuse its blaze,
Through the once dark infernal place,
Through my whole nature shine,
While all my faculties restored
Reflect the candle of the Lord,
The heavenly light Divine.

1375.

[From the close hypocrisy]

Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside, &c. —xi. 39.

From the close hypocrisy,
Lord am I entirely free?
No: my selfishness and pride
Carefully from man I hide,
Act the Pharisaic part,
Wear a veil upon my heart.

Yet I seldom blush or groan
That my heart to Thee is known,
That Thou seest me as I am,
Sink of filthiness and shame,
Seest me now without disguise,
Torture to Thy purer eyes.

Thee that I at last may please,
Clothe me with Thy righteousness:
Canst Thou not a holy thing
Out of an unholy bring?
What Thou dost require, impart,
Cleanse, by dwelling in my heart.

CHAPTER XII.

1376.

[Nothing I in secret do]

Whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall, &c. —xii. 3.

Nothing I in secret do,
Nothing I in secret say,

208

Walk in man and angels' view,
Blameless walk in open day,
Follow'd by His piercing eye
Who to faith alone appears,
Still I think—the Judge is nigh,
Still reflect—the Witness hears.

1377.

[See the source of human care!]

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, &c. —xii. 6, 7.

See the source of human care!
Man will not on God rely,
God who counts his every hair
Doth his every want supply,
Loves the works His hands have wrought;
None without His nod can fall,
Not a sparrow is forgot,
God preserves and cares for all.

Him we foolishly mistrust,
Him ungratefully forget,
Doubt if God be true and just,
Kind to give the promised meat.
But His word if sinners claim
He cannot unfaithful prove,
He continues still the same,
Wisdom, Power, and Truth, and Love.

Who His wisdom can surprise?
Who can overrule His power?
Providence with all its eyes
Guides us in the dangerous hour;
Every word of His is sure,
Mercy bears us in its hands;
Then we stand in Christ secure
Long as our Supporter stands.

209

1378.

[Whom the Lord of life denies]

He that denieth Me before men shall be, &c. —xii. 9.

Whom the Lord of life denies,
Justly, finally forsakes,
Satan claims as lawful prize,
To his place of torment takes.

1379.

[Jesus declines the umpire's place]

Who made Me a judge or a divider over, &c. —xii. 14.

Jesus declines the umpire's place
Whose word had made their difference end,
To teach the stewards of His grace
Above all earthly views to' ascend;
True ministers of Christ the Lord
Should only live to preach His word.

1380.

[Our life on needful things depends]

A man's life consisteth not in the abundance, &c. —xii. 15.

Our life on needful things depends,
Not on superfluous treasures vain:
A little serves for nature's ends;
And if a world of wealth we gain,
We nothing gain with all our care
But food to eat and clothes to wear.

1381.

[By riches lawfully acquired]

What shall I do, because I have no room, &c. —xii. 17.

By riches lawfully acquired
The miserable owner's vex'd;
Possess'd of all his heart desired,
Yet still encumber'd and perplex'd.
Poor in abundance, he complains
Of wealth preserved by toil and cost,
And anxious to secure his gains
Regrets his peace for ever lost.

Not such the riches of His grace
Which God hath to His people given:
Riches which at our wish increase,
Enlarge, and fill the heart with heaven:

210

Distributing we find them grow,
Preserved and multiplied by use,
Which we (who their true value know,
And always love) can never lose.

1382.

[Full of designs for living here]

There will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. —xii. 18.

Full of designs for living here
Till death, the worldly man we see,
Till summon'd at the bar to' appear
Unmindful of eternity:
In vain he passes all his days,
He lives a wretch for this alone,
Earth to remove, and heap, and raise,
And leave it to his heirs unknown.

The perishable things below
He fondly reckons all his goods,
No happiness desires to know,
No treasure in those bright abodes;
Renounces the good things unseen,
The saints' ineffable delight,
The heavenly joys of righteous men,
The Good Supreme, the Saviour's sight.

1383.

[“Goods for many years laid up!”]

Thou hast much goods laid up for many years. —xii. 19.

“Goods for many years laid up!”
Worldling, to the future blind,
Trust not thy deceitful hope
Of those many years behind;
Slave to appetite and sense,
Foolish soul, of life secure,
Who, when judgment calls thee hence,
Can another hour ensure?

211

1384.

[Hear this, thou prosperous wretched man]

But God said unto him, Thou fool, &c. —xii. 20.

Hear this, thou prosperous wretched man,
Thou fool, by fools reputed wise,
Enlarge thy wealth-augmenting plan,
Enjoy the goods this earth supplies,
Indulge thy worldly heart's desire,
Regardless of the things unseen:
But God shall soon thy soul require,
And where are all thy treasures then?

1385.

[The miser doth his riches store]

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, &c. —xii. 21.

The miser doth his riches store
Not for his own or others' use,
Not for his God in Jesus' poor,
But for himself—to count—and lose:
Wealth for himself his confidence,
His god he makes, his sole delight
Till hurried in a moment hence
He sinks in everlasting night.

1386.

[Labour is by God enjoin'd]

Neither be ye of doubtful mind. —xii. 29.

Labour is by God enjoin'd,
God forbids our needless care,
Toil of the mistrustful mind,
Hung like meteors in the air,
Held in infidel suspense
Doubting His good providence.

But whoe'er Thy word receive,
We a firm support have found,
Free and undistracted live,
Built on an eternal ground,
Truth Divine which cannot move,
Boundless power, and endless love.

212

1387.

[Only on our Father's love]

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's, &c. —xii. 32.

Only on our Father's love
For the kingdom we depend:
Whom He doth in Christ approve
God shall keep us to the end:
Kindly number'd with His own,
Wherefore should we doubt or fear?
He who hath the work begun
Gives the grace to persevere.

1388.

[Is it not the Shepherd's voice?]

Is it not the Shepherd's voice?
Jesus, I Thy word embrace,
Fearful I in hope rejoice,
I shall gain the crowning grace
I the kingdom shall receive,
By my Father's pleasure given,
Triumph in Thy smile, and live
High-enthroned with God in heaven.

1389.

[Give us, Lord, the grace to give]

Sell that ye have, and give alms, &c. —xii. 33.

Give us, Lord, the grace to give,
Then we shall relieve Thy poor;
Then we shall from Thee receive
Gifts an hundredfold or more,
Riches which can never fail,
Safe laid up for saints above,
Treasures incorruptible,
Endless stores of heavenly love.

Selling all our happiness,
All our hopes beneath the skies,
Strangely we procure Thy grace
Without money, without price.

213

Gain, when grace removes us hence,
Solid and immortal good,
All our rich inheritance,
All the purchase of Thy blood.

1390.

[What we love for its own sake]

Where your treasure is, there will your heart, &c. —xii. 34.

What we love for its own sake,
Merely for ourselves desire,
We of that our treasure make,
Happiness from that require.
Pleasure, wealth, or fame, or power,
Business, books, or sports, or ease,
Grasp'd for one amusing hour,
Then our joys for ever cease.

Thou, my God, and Thou alone
My unfailing treasure be:
Thou art all good things in one;
Let me find them all in Thee.
When my whole delight Thou art,
Then I find the treasure given,
Heaven resides within my heart,
Dwells my heart with Thee in heaven.

1391.

[Jesus the power impart]

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord, &c. —xii. 37.

Jesus the power impart
Thy coming to attend,
And mark the motions of my heart,
Till life and care shall end:
That last important hour
Be ever in my sight,
Till mounting from the watchman's tower,
I greet my friends in light.

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1392.

[Each should the word receive]

Speakest Thou this parable unto us, or even to all? —xii. 41.

Each should the word receive
As to himself address'd;
For what my Lord to me doth give,
He gives it to the rest:
We all through life's short day
Our God should glorify;
We all are call'd to watch and pray,
For all are born to die.

1393.

[Goods and time, and gifts, and grace]

Who then is that faithful and wise steward, &c. —xii. 42.

Goods and time, and gifts, and grace
And life, are not my own,
Nothing I from Christ possess
But for His use alone:
In His family employ'd,
A steward of His mysteries I
Daily with the word of God
His people's wants supply.

Master, Lord, on me confer
The tender zeal of love,
Then I shall my faithful care
Over Thy church approve,
Gladly all my talents spend,
With constant, wise fidelity
Serve Thy people to the end
And live and die for Thee.

1394.

[Living to dispense Thy grace]

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, &c. —xii. 43.

Living to dispense Thy grace
A life of toil and care,
Never may I quit my place
Through slackness or despair;

215

Labouring with my utmost power
Thy servant at the gospel feast,
Find me at my latest hour,
And give me then to rest.

1395.

[Great the steward's labour is]

He will make him ruler over all that he hath. —xii. 44.

Great the steward's labour is,
But greater the reward,
Bliss, immeasurable bliss,
The riches of his Lord:
All He hath if Jesus give,
Who comprehends the vast delight,
He may God Himself conceive
And grasp the Infinite.

1396.

[What will it profit me to know]

That servant, which knew his lord's will, &c. —xii. 47.

What will it profit me to know,
That others know their sins forgiven,
And on to full perfection go,
And live on earth the life of heaven?
Unpardon'd if I still remain,
Nor serve my Lord with loving zeal,
My light will aggravate my pain,
And lead me to the darkest hell.

1397.

[Thou camest from above]

I am come to send fire on the earth. —xii. 49.

Thou camest from above
The fire of heavenly love
Over all the earth to spread;
Good and gracious as Thou art
Now Thy loving Spirit shed,
Now inflame my longing heart.

Answer Thine own design,
And let one spark Divine

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From that sacred altar come
Kindled once on Calvary,
All my sins by love consume,
Hallow all my soul to Thee.

1398.

[Thee, Lord, Thy love constrains]

How am I straitened till it be accomplished! —xii. 50.

Thee, Lord, Thy love constrains
To save us through Thy pains,
Straiten'd by desire Thou art
To appease the wrath of God,
Life by Thy own death to' impart,
Man to wash in Thy own blood.

Thy precious sacrifice
The general pardon buys:
Hence, my God, Thou canst not rest
Till Thou lay the ransom down,
Till with grace and glory bless'd
All Thy saints obtain their crown.

1399.

[Peace with the world and peace with God]

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? —xii. 51.

Peace with the world and peace with God
We never can at once maintain;
And Christ redeems us with His blood
From friendships and connections vain,
He breaks us off from man, to join
Our souls to Him in love Divine.

Spirit of unity, come down,
Thy people from the world to part
That knit to God in Christ alone
With all our mind and all our heart,
Perfect in one Thy church may know
Why the great God appear'd below.

217

1400.

[Thy work, O God, they will not see]

How is it, that ye do not discern this time? —xii. 56.

Thy work, O God, they will not see
Revived in our degenerate days,
Or mark the crowds begot by Thee,
The signs of Thy converting grace,
Refusing with their sin to part,
That wilful blindness of the heart.

Sinners, your bosom sins let go,
So shall ye all the truth perceive,
Your time of visitation know,
And savingly on Christ believe,
Increase the publicans forgiven,
And live on earth the life of heaven.

CHAPTER XIII.

1401.

[O what a life is mine!]

Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. —xiii. 3.

O what a life is mine!
Backward I cast mine eye,
And trembling own the truth Divine,
“I must repent, or die!”
But Him, who tells me so,
Highly extoll'd I see,
The godly sorrow to bestow,
The godly love on me.

Saviour, and Prince, appear
To break this stubborn heart,
And then to bid my guilty fear
And unbelief depart;

218

While at Thy feet I grieve,
From all my sins release,
The sense of Thy salvation give,
The kingdom of Thy peace.

1402.

[A sinner long possess'd by sin]

And, behold, there was a woman which, &c. —xiii. 11–13.

A sinner long possess'd by sin,
By Satan's power together bow'd,
Is utter impotence within,
Nor can lift up his soul to God;
Carnal his unregenerate mind,
Perverse his will, to evil prone,
His soul is all to earth inclined:
And such alas I find my own!

But surely Thou hast cast on me
The eye of Thy preventing grace,
Hast seen my depth of misery,
And undertook my desperate case.
Even now I hear Thine inward word,
Obedient to Thy sovereign will,
Which draws and brings me to my Lord,
And bids me wait Thy hand to feel.

That hand beneficent, Divine,
In mercy on Thy creature laid,
Shall strengthen this weak soul of mine,
Correct the work itself hath made;
My heart and spirit rectify,
Remove my nature's bent to ill,
And while Thou dost the rule apply,
Conform me to Thy perfect will.

219

O that I now my heart could raise
Transferr'd from earth to things above,
And only live to spread Thy praise,
To magnify Thy healing love!
O that in every word and thought
And deed I might Thy glory show,
Who hast on me such wonders wrought,
That all may Thy salvation know.

1403.

[The foes of our Lord, Who multitudes see]

All His adversaries were ashamed: and all, &c. —xiii. 17.

The foes of our Lord, Who multitudes see
Made straight and restored By mercy like me,
With wonders surrounded No credence they give,
And must be confounded Who will not believe.

But we the base throng Our voices may raise,
And sing the new song To Jesus's praise:
With joy we adore Thee, Thy miracles own,
And give Thee the glory Of all Thou hast done.

Bow'd down to the ground, But prisoners of hope,
We heard the glad sound That lifted us up:
The news of Thy passion It set our hearts free,
And call'd to salvation We found it in Thee.

The works of Thy grace Exulting we sing,
Our tribute of praise And thankfulness bring;
Thou Saviour hast bought us, And sprinkled with blood,
Hast ransom'd and brought us Accepted to God.

1404.

[He that hath ears to hear]

He said unto them, Strive to enter in at, &c. —xiii. 23, 24.

He that hath ears to hear
Will fully understand
Thine answer, Lord, express and clear,
Contain'd in Thy command;

220

To that celestial port
In safety few arrive,
But multitudes who seek come short
Because they never strive.

Their indolence would shun
The agonizing pain,
Widen the way to bliss unknown,
And make the hill a plain;
As always in their power
The joys of heaven they dream,
And nothing find at death's sad hour
But hell reserved for them.

1405.

[Long did I seek in vain]

Long did I seek in vain,
And could not enter in;
Now, Saviour, every nerve I strain,
But am not saved from sin:
I struggle to get free,
I strive, and pray, and groan;
Yet when admitted into Thee,
Shall live by grace alone.

1406.

[The Jews beheld the Lord most-high]

We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, &c. —xiii. 26.

The Jews beheld the Lord most-high,
When God on earth appear'd,
His wonders saw with careless eye,
His slighted sayings heard:
They would not own that Christ was He,
The true eternal God,
Held fast their incredulity,
And perish'd in their blood.

221

Professors still His name abuse,
His sacraments and word,
Subjection to His will refuse,
And falsely call Him Lord;
But who will not their Master own,
Or His commands obey,
They justly are by Christ unknown
In that decisive day.

1407.

[Earth's remotest countries now]

They shall come from the east, &c. —xiii. 29.

Earth's remotest countries now
The law of Christ receive;
Heathens once, to Him we bow,
And in His name believe,
Hold, of Jesus' Spirit possess'd,
Communion sweet with saints forgiven,
Banquet at the royal feast,
And eat the bread of heaven.

1408.

[Oft a soul that late begins]

There are last which shall be first, and, &c. —xiii. 30.

Oft a soul that late begins
To run the Christian race
Leaves the rest behind, and wins
The crown of righteousness,
Burning with intensest zeal,
Sunk in the lowest depths of love,
First he scales the heavenly hill,
And finds his seat above.

Set on slippery ground is he
Who claims the foremost place,
Conscious of his primacy
He loses all his grace:

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Of himself who highly thinks
He tumbles from perfection's height;
Then the first is last, and sinks
Into eternal night.

1409.

[Thee, Lord, we our Example see]

There came certain of the Pharisees, saying, &c. —xiii. 31.

Thee, Lord, we our Example see,
Hard-threaten'd by the world like Thee
Satan employs his ministers
To' alarm us by a thousand fears,
Weaken our hands, dismay our heart,
And make us from our work depart.

But arm'd with Thy undaunted zeal
We slight who can the body kill,
Their feeble menaces disdain,
Our path pursue, our post maintain,
In dangers, snares, and deaths live on
Immortal till our work is done.

1410.

[Jesus, if Thou Thy Spirit give]

I cast out devils, and I do cures to-day and, &c. —xiii. 32.

Jesus, if Thou Thy Spirit give,
We all the serpent's wiles perceive,
Faithful and true perform Thy will,
Our ministry with joy fulfil,
Give up our all, and win the prize
When death completes the sacrifice.

1411.

[My hunted life belongs to Thee]

Nevertheless I must walk to-day, and, &c. —xiii. 33.

My hunted life belongs to Thee
Subsisting still by Thy decree:
And while Thou wilt its actions use,
My hunted life I cannot lose,
Bound up with Thy designs of love,
And safe with Thee conceal'd above.

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1412.

[Far from the house of God most-high]

It cannot be that a prophet perish out. —xiii. 33.

Far from the house of God most-high
The victim was not to be slain;
The Truth must there the place supply
Of all its types and figures vain,
Jerusalem her sin fill up,
(The bloody, proud Jerusalem,)
And Jesus on Moriah's top
All nations of the earth redeem.

1413.

[Would God decree His creature's pain]

How often would I have gathered, &c. —xiii. 34.

Would God decree His creature's pain,
Would Jesus pass one sinner by,
Of man's obduracy complain,
Or ask who must, Why will ye die?
Could Love Divine their death intend?
And mock with offers insincere?
His messengers to sinners send,
But first resolve they should not hear?

“How oft would I have gather'd you
And ye would not be gather'd in!”
Sinners believe the record true,
The truth itself in Christ is seen,
In pity's softest form appears
And fain would bring you all to God,
He weeps! believe His artless tears:
He bleeds! believe His speaking blood.

224

CHAPTER XIV.

1414.

[Jesus, Thou dost the sinner see]

There was a certain man . . . which had the, &c. —xiv. 2–4.

Jesus, Thou dost the sinner see,
Thy mercy meets my misery
Preventing my request;
Unask'd Thou dost Thy blessings give,
Thy heart inclines Thee to receive
And succour the distress'd.

Present before Thy pitying eyes
To Thee my soul for help applies
In nature's sore disease:
This thirst of pleasure, wealth, and fame
Indulgence doth but more inflame,
And make my plague increase.

Swollen with concupiscence and pride,
I cannot heal, I cannot hide
The dropsy of my soul;
Unless Thou all Thy love reveal
The cause out of my heart to' expel,
I never shall be whole.

Thy hand medicinal extend,
To make my sins and sufferings end
Apply Thy sovereign grace:
Dry up in me corruption's flood,
And all my lust of creature good,
And all my thirst of praise.

Faith to be heal'd even now I feel,
I trust that balm infallible
Which Thy own Spirit applies:
Thy love omnipotent display,
And send me throughly heal'd away
From earth to paradise.

225

1415.

[What meekness, grace, and love Divine]

Which of you shall have an ass or an ox, &c. —xiv. 5.

What meekness, grace, and love Divine
Through all His words and actions shine!
He teaches, not insults His foes,
Nor publishes the hearts He knows:
He stops the mouth of baffled spite,
Nor brings their secret sins to light,
Nor drags them out for all to see,
But hides His silent victory.

1416.

[How doth he take the lowest place]

Sit down in the lowest room. —xiv. 10.

How doth he take the lowest place
Who glories in the heights of grace?
And free from self-mistrusting fear
Assumes the perfect character?
If void of true humility,
No place among the saints hath he;
And if his pride he will not feel,
Shall have the lowest place—in hell.

1417.

[Why have I, Lord, so often been]

Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased. —xiv. 11.

Why have I, Lord, so often been
Baffled, debased by every sin?
With humble shame and grief
One sin I own the cause of all,
Pride always went before my fall,
The pride of unbelief.

1418.

[Give me, O Lord, my soul to' abase]

He that humbleth himself shall be exalted. —xiv. 11.

Give me, O Lord, my soul to' abase,
To sink o'erwhelm'd with pardoning grace
Lower and lower yet;
But till I mount above the skies,
O may I never, never rise
From weeping at Thy feet!

226

1419.

[Shall man exalt himself, or boast]

Shall man exalt himself, or boast
His goodness, forfeited and lost
When his first parent fell?
A dark abyss of sin unknown
Is all he now can call his own,
And all his right is hell.

The good he doth through grace regain
He may by lowliness retain,
Or forfeit it by pride:
Full of the serpent's treacherous art,
He cannot trust his own weak heart
Or in his gifts confide.

Yet bold his neighbour to explore,
He durst prefer himself before
The meanest sons of grace;
No evil in himself can see,
And passing all in purity
He takes the highest place.

But taught of God we wait the end,
A moment patiently attend
Our true estate to find;
Eternity will soon disclose
What none but the Omniscient knows,
The hearts of all mankind.

1420.

[Who gladly to his home invites]

When thou makest a feast, call the poor, &c. —xiv. 13, 14.

Who gladly to his home invites
The poor that keep their Saviour's word,
Relations all at once unites,
Friends, neighbours, brethren in the Lord,
Christ in His members entertains,
And heaven's eternal banquet gains.

227

Their debts to God who paid alone
Jesus their debts to man shall pay:
The future partners of His throne,
Christian, thy royal guests survey!
The princes of His people these
Who sit in heavenly palaces.

To tend the great Jehovah's heirs,
Persist with joy thy goods to give,
Thy labours, services, and cares;
A ministerial spirit live,
Till Jesus in the clouds come down
And His glad host with glory crown.

1421.

[Happiness for Adam's race]

A certain man made a great supper, and, &c. —xiv. 16.

Happiness for Adam's race
Thou hast, O God, prepared;
All may gain Thy pardoning grace,
And heaven their full reward:
Bliss unspeakable, unknown,
Thou hast for every soul design'd,
Freely given Thine only Son
A Feast for all mankind.

1422.

[When the time was now fulfill'd]

And sent his servant at supper time to say, &c. —xiv. 17.

When the time was now fulfill'd
Thou didst send forth our Lord;
In a servant's form reveal'd
He preach'd the gospel word,
Show'd the heavenly kingdom nigh,
Invited sinners to the feast,
“Weary souls, on Me rely,
And I will give you rest.

228

I will give you drink, and feed
Your hungry souls with love,
To the feast eternal lead,
And be your Life above;
I have there prepared your place
Who to My yoke your spirits bow;
Now receive My word, and grace
And heaven is ready now.”

1423.

[Men with one consent excuse]

They all with one consent began to make, &c. —xiv. 18–20.

Men with one consent excuse
Themselves from happiness,
Still in various ways refuse
Their Saviour and His grace;
Some unpolish'd roughness show,
The messengers in haste repel,
Some with courteous smoothness go,
And decently—to hell.

House to house and field to field
The greedy worldling joins:
Shall he leave his ground untill'd
To serve his God's designs?
Time for heaven he cannot spare,
Or on his precious soul attend,
Earth engrosses all his care
Till life's short moment end.

All his treasure here he views,
And toils and hurries on,
Eagerly the world pursues
By lawful things undone:

229

“Business must be minded now:”
Who can for God no leisure find
Sets his hand to Satan's plough,
And never looks behind.

Why should that a hindrance prove
Which God a help intends?
Sinner gain in Jesus' love
The bliss that never ends;
Come, thou oft-invited guest
Whom God Himself vouchsafes to woo,
Hasten to the gospel-feast,
And bring thy consort too.

1424.

[Multitudes of souls distress'd]

Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, &c. —xiv. 22.

Multitudes of souls distress'd
At Thy command are come,
Now partake the heavenly feast,
Yet, Lord, there still is room:
Room (though millions have obey'd
Thy call, and to Thy arms are brought),
Room for all Thy hands have made,
For all Thy blood hath bought.

Room in Thy capacious breast
There is for all our kind,
Every soul may gain the rest
For every soul design'd,
Plunge in that unfathom'd sea,
The depth and height of mercy prove,
Feast through all eternity
On my Redeemer's love.

230

1425.

[To the hedges and highways]

Go out . . . and compel them to come in, &c. —xiv. 23.

To the hedges and highways
Even now Thy servant goes,
All the riches of Thy grace
To wandering sinners shows;
Seeks the vagabonds that fly
The most abandon'd slaves of sin,
Outcasts at the point to die,
And forces to come in.

Jesus bleeding on the tree,
Thy death their hearts compels,
Then they feel the joy in Thee
Which all delight excels.
Crowd into Thy house below,
Convinced Thy flesh is meat indeed
Thee their life eternal know,
And on Thy fulness feed.

1426.

[O what multitudes at last]

None of those men which were bidden shall taste. —xiv. 24.

O what multitudes at last
Their own destroyers prove!
Call'd, they might but will not taste
The sweets of Jesus' love:
Those who scorn'd His proffer'd grace,
And would not to His supper come,
Christ shall from His presence chase
To hell's eternal gloom.

1427.

[Who follows Christ with heart sincere]

If any man come to Me, and hate not his, &c. —xiv. 26.

Who follows Christ with heart sincere,
Sits loose to all relations here,
From every creature free:

231

The tenderest love which nature knows
Compared with what to Christ he owes
May pass for enmity.

Far above all competitors
Jesus the Saviour he prefers,
Jesus the Good supreme;
His bosom-friend if Christ demands
He renders back into His hands,
Or dies himself for Him.

1428.

[Millions the Christian name]

Whosoever doth not bear his cross, &c. —xiv. 27.

Millions the Christian name
Without the cross receive,
Servants of men and slaves of fame
In ease and pleasures live;
Following the world His foe
They throng the spacious road,
Nor will in Jesu's footsteps go
By Calvary to God.

But better taught by grace
His doctrines I approve,
Cheerful His daily cross embrace,
And all His sufferings love:
With joy I follow Him
Who once for sinners died,
And nothing know, desire, esteem
But Jesus crucified.

1429.

[Lord, I have counted first the cost]

Which of you . . . sitteth not down first, and, &c. —xiv. 28.

Lord, I have counted first the cost,
My all must for Thy love be lost:
I know, the sure foundation stands
Establish'd by almighty hands;

232

And Thou who hast Thy work begun,
From faith to faith shalt lead me on,
Till bold I to the summit press,
And rise complete in holiness.

I reckon on Thy Spirit's power
To build me up into a tower,
Thy gracious all-sufficiency
Shall bring forth the head-stone in me:
The more I sink in my own eyes
The higher in my Lord's I rise,
Fall into nothing through Thy love,
And thus I reach Thy throne above.

1430.

[Shall I the Lord of hosts defy]

Or what king, going to make war, &c. —xiv. 31, 32.

Shall I the Lord of hosts defy,
As stronger than the' Almighty I?
Or now my impotence confess,
And humbly sue for terms of peace?
The terms He hath already given,
The peace is made 'twixt earth and heaven;
I yield: the war is at an end,
And God in Jesus is my friend.

CHAPTER XV.

1431.

[Yes; for Thou hast received]

This Man receiveth sinners. —xv. 2.

Yes; for Thou hast received
The sinners' chief in me:
Through mercy I believed,
And favour found with Thee:
Admitted on Thy grace to feast,
O take me to Thy glorious rest.

233

1432.

[Jesus the good Shepherd, good]

What man . . . having an hundred sheep, if, &c. —xv. 4–10.

Jesus the good Shepherd, good
With Divine humanity,
Miss'd the purchase of His blood,
Left the ninety-nine for me:
Hurrying down the' infernal way
Long His fugitive He sought,
Found at last His fainting stray,
Found, and to His bosom caught.

Kindly for His own He cares,
Full of sympathetic love
All my griefs and burdens bears,
Hides my life secure above:
Sure support His mercy gives,
Bears beyond the adverse power,
Never to myself He leaves,
Never lets me wander more.

Jesus now gone up on high
Calls his family above,
Bids his friends and neighbours cry
“Glory to the God of love!”
Jesus' bliss the church inspires
Who before His face appear,
Angels strike their sounding lyres
For a soul repenting here.

Angels, saints, and men are glad
At a prodigal's return,
Envious Pharisees are sad,
With the powers of darkness mourn:

234

Scribes in every age the same
Thus their true succession prove,
By their murmurings proclaim
“God we neither fear nor love.”

1433.

[The cause of human ruin see!]

Father, give me the portion of goods, &c. —xv. 12.

The cause of human ruin see!
Man will his own disposer be,
And independent live,
His gracious stock at once demands,
Nor will from a kind Father's hands
His daily bread receive.

1434.

[Lord of himself, he takes his flight]

The younger son gathered all together, and, &c. —xv. 13.

Lord of himself, he takes his flight,
Far from his heavenly Father's sight,
While sense and passion guides,
Far as he can from God removes,
Through nature's paths licentious roves,
And with the world resides.

Ranging in vice without control,
He spends the riches of his soul,
Religion's laws disdains,
He sells himself and God for nought,
Sins on till not one serious thought
Or good desire remains.

1435.

[Who happy without God would be]

He began to be in want. —xv. 14.

Who happy without God would be
Finds only want and misery
When God is quite removed:
How void the soul if He depart,
And O, what famine in the heart
Where Jesus is not loved.

235

1436.

[Yet more and more abandon'd still]

And joined himself to a citizen of that country, &c. —xv. 15.

Yet more and more abandon'd still
He hires himself at Satan's will
To serve the fiend's design;
And lo, the tempter's instrument
To theatres and gardens sent,
He feeds the devil's swine.

He spends his strength the world to please,
In sin's most sordid services
Obeys his cruel lord,
A labourer in his vineyard lives,
Death all the wages he receives
And hell his whole reward.

1437.

[With envious impotent desire]

He would fain have filled his belly with, &c. —xv. 16.

With envious impotent desire,
The creatures wallowing in the mire,
The human herd he sees;
But no delight in sin can taste,
Harass'd and quite worn out at last
In Satan's drudgeries.

His wishes, were they all fulfill'd,
No real happiness could yield,
The filthy sinful herd
Could never satisfy his need;
On vanity themselves they feed,
On ashes, husks, and wind.

1438.

[When to his sober mind restored]

How many hired servants of my father's, &c. —xv. 17.

When to his sober mind restored,
He envies those that serve the Lord
With every good supplied,

236

Who in His family possess
The true substantial happiness,
And nothing want beside.

1439.

[Drawn by the secret power of grace]

I will arise and go to my father, &c. —xv. 18.

Drawn by the secret power of grace
Sin to forsake, and all its ways,
And not a moment lose,
He vows to try if prayer can move
The bowels of a Father's love,
At once resolves, and does.

1440.

[I will, I do arise]

And he arose, and came to his father. —xv. 20.

I will, I do arise,
And to my Father go,
My injured Father in the skies
To Thee my heart I show;
With late remorse confess
I have rebellious been,
My inward parts are wickedness,
And all my life is sin.

A sinner in Thy sight,
I have Thy justice dared,
And forfeited my filial right,
And earn'd the fiends' reward:
Yet do not lose Thine own;
Yet me for Jesus' sake,
(Unworthy to be call'd a son,)
Thy meanest servant make.

1441.

[With mercy's quickest eyes]

His father saw him, and had compassion, &c. —xv. 20.

With mercy's quickest eyes
His wretched son He sees,
The prodigal far off espies,
And pities his distress:

237

At sight of human woe
His yearning bowels move,
The Father swiftly runs to show
His warm paternal love.

A late-returning child,
His mercy's arms embrace,
His lips declare him reconciled,
His lips distilling grace;
The kiss dispels his fears,
With balmy words applied,
The self-condemning sinner hears,
And seals him justified.

Not one upbraiding word
The pardon'd sinner grieves:
In mercy rich his heavenly Lord
Forgets when He forgives:
He hears his heart's desire,
Preventing his request,
And recent from the swine and mire
Receives him to His breast.

1442.

[Father, I still confess]

And the son said . . . Father, I have sinned, &c. —xv. 21.

Father, I still confess
The sins Thou hast forgiven,
Unworthy to behold Thy face
Or lift mine eyes to heaven:
Though Thou Thy love reveal
Remitting all my debt,
That I have sinn'd I never will,
I never can forget.

Thou know'st what I would say
While at Thy feet I fall,
And dost not give me time to pray
To be the least of all:

238

Thy mercy bids me rise,
From all that I have done
Discharged, and fill'd with sweet surprise,
And call'd a pleasant son.

1443.

[Yet for my sinless Saviour's sake]

Yet for my sinless Saviour's sake
Thou wilt be reconciled,
Into Thine arms of mercy take,
And own me for Thy child.

1444.

[Thou hast brought forth for me]

Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, &c. —xv. 22.

Thou hast brought forth for me
That best original dress,
That robe of spotless purity
To hide my nakedness:
The robe Thy children wear
By faith is truly mine,
The perfect heavenly character,
The righteousness Divine.

The ring, the Spirit's seal
I from Thy hands receive,
Earnest of bliss ineffable
Which only God can give:
The signet bears His name
Who left His throne above,
And lo, to Christ betrothed I am
In mercy, truth, and love.

Shod with the gospel-peace
I safely now go on,
Ready with all Thy messages
In all Thy paths to run;

239

I urge my way with speed,
And strength invincible,
On serpents, and on scorpions tread,
On sin, and death, and hell.

1445.

[At the great feast of God]

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, &c. —xv. 23.

At the great feast of God
Delighted I sit down,
And eat the flesh, and drink the blood
Of Thine eternal Son:
I more than taste and see
How full of grace Thou art:
I sup with Christ, and Christ with me,
And heaven o'erflows my heart.

Angels the banquet share,
Thy family above
More happy, more triumphant are
Through Thy redeeming love;
My joy doth theirs increase,
Exalts their raptures higher,
O'erwhelms with mightier ecstasies
The whole transported choir.

From every golden string
Sublimer praises sound,
The dead restored to life they sing,
The wandering sinner found;
Found, to be lost no more,
Alive, in life to stay,
And love, and wonder, and adore
Through one eternal day.

240

CHAPTER XVI.

1446.

[God is rich, and God alone]

There was a certain rich man, which had, &c. —xvi. 1.

God is rich, and God alone:
The goods which we possess
Lent us by our Lord we own
As stewards of His grace:
Every talent we receive
Improved we should to Him restore,
Only for His service live,
And God in all adore.

Not employing for His use,
Our Master's goods we waste,
Life and all its blessings lose,
And our own souls at last;
Thoughtless of that day unknown,
When each shall at His bar appear,
Answer for the evil done
And good neglected here.

We shall stand before His face,
For all we now receive
(Every gift and every grace)
A strict account to give.
How we here our trust fulfill'd,
Our riches, time, and thoughts employ'd,
How we used the truth reveal'd,
And how the Christ of God.

1447.

[The men who seek their portion here]

The children of this world are in their, &c. —xvi. 8.

The men who seek their portion here,
To their own worldly interest true
Consistent with themselves appear,
With steady aim their end pursue,

241

Contrivance, care, and foresight show
To' ensure the good they prize below.

Not half so wise the sons of light
The one thing needful to secure!
Toiling henceforth both day and night
To make our heavenly treasure sure,
O might we every means improve,
And Jesus every moment love!

1448.

[Help us to make the poor our friends]

Make to yourselves friends of the mammon, &c. —xvi. 9.

Help us to make the poor our friends,
By that which paves the way to hell,
That when our loving labour ends,
And dying from this earth we fail,
Our friends may greet us in the skies
Born to a life that never dies.

1449.

[Whoe'er his Master's money wastes]

He that is unjust in the least is unjust also, &c. —xvi. 10.

Whoe'er his Master's money wastes,
A prodigal of time becomes,
Swiftly to sure perdition hastes,
His grace, his life, his soul consumes,
And when the self-destroyer dies
Forfeits his portion in the skies.

1450.

[Ye rich, your poverty confess]

If ye have not been faithful in that which is, &c. —xvi. 12.

Ye rich, your poverty confess,
And low at Jesu's footstool bow,
Stewards of all ye here possess,
Proprietors of nothing now,
His goods as He directs employ,
And share at last your Master's joy.

242

Foreign and false the riches here
Make themselves wings, and fly away:
Who bears the Christian character
Disdains to court their longer stay,
Restores the momentary loan,
And only heaven he calls his own.

For those eternal things design'd
Which Jesus did for him procure,
He sets on them his heart and mind,
The riches great, and true, and sure,
The fund of true unfading bliss
Which Jesus made for ever his.

1451.

[Which wilt thou serve? the world or God?]

No servant can serve two masters, &c. —xvi. 13.

Which wilt thou serve? the world or God?
Sinner, thou canst not both obey;
Each other contraries exclude:
If Mammon thine affections sway,
Thou must renounce the joys above,
Thou canst not God and money love.

Canst thou deliberate which to choose?
This moment with thine idols part,
The world with all its goods refuse,
Thy faithful undivided heart
To Christ thy rightful Master give,
And happy as His angels live.

1452.

[Riches to love and clothing gay]

There was a certain rich man, which was, &c. —xvi. 19.

Riches to love and clothing gay,
Themselves to pamper every day,
And to neglect the poor,

243

Consigns the men who will not know
Their God, to everlasting woe,
And makes damnation sure.

Ye rich who live yourselves to please,
Your pleasures and luxurious ease
Compare to Jesus' cross:
How doth your life with His agree,
Your pomp with His humility,
Your riot with His laws?

Daily do you yourselves deny,
Your lusts and passions mortify,
And serve and suffer on?
Set ye your hearts on things above,
God beyond all His creatures love,
And worship Him alone?

Alas, ye scorn the Lord to fear,
To work out your salvation here,
Or all for Christ forego:
His needy members ye despise,
And shut against the light your eyes,
To lift them up—below!

1453.

[Behold a favourite of the skies!]

And there was a certain beggar named, &c. —xvi. 20.

Behold a favourite of the skies!
Before the glutton's gate he lies
In pining want and pain,
Cover'd with wounds and loathsome sores,
Relief he silently implores,
But asks the crumbs in vain.

1454.

[The dogs some small relief afford]

Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. —xvi. 21.

The dogs some small relief afford,
Kinder than their hard-hearted lord;
The wretch he passes by,

244

Sufficient that his beasts he feeds,
He slights his fellow-creature's needs,
And lets the beggar die.

1455.

[Worn out with grief, and want, and pain]

The beggar died, and was carried by the angels, &c. —xvi. 22.

Worn out with grief, and want, and pain,
The beggar dies, and lives again
Beyond conception bless'd,
By flaming ministers convey'd
To realms of joy, he rests his head
On his Redeemer's breast.

1456.

[Gripp'd by the' arresting hand of death]

The rich man also died, and was buried, &c. —xvi. 22, 23.

Gripp'd by the' arresting hand of death,
The glutton too resigns his breath,
Lodged in a stately tomb!
His carcase leaves its bliss behind,
His soul with torturing fiends confined
Receives its fearful doom.

Below he lifts his haggard eyes,
Cursed with a glimpse of paradise,
And sees the beggar there:
The loss of heavenly happiness
Doth all his raging pangs increase
And deepens his despair.

Thou epicure not yet in hell,
Thy danger now submit to feel
While thy damnation stays:
Awake out of thy worldly dream,
Lift up thine eyes in prayer to Him
Who offers all His grace.

245

Thou need'st not feel the' infernal woe,
Or to that place of torment go,
That endless misery:
Repent, renounce thy wealth and ease,
Sell all for Jesu's love, and seize
The heaven prepared for thee.

1457.

[In hell he pours a fruitless prayer]

Father Abraham, have mercy on me, &c. —xvi. 24.

In hell he pours a fruitless prayer,
No mercy for a suppliant there
Who would not hear the poor:
Unheard he must, unpitied cry,
The gnawing worm that cannot die,
The quenchless fire endure.

How righteous is the sinner's doom!
He who refused the poor a crumb
Desires a drop in vain;
Who sold his God for pleasures base
Is justly driven from His face
To everlasting pain.

1458.

[Why is he doom'd to endless pain?]

Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime, &c. —xvi. 25.

Why is he doom'd to endless pain?
Did he by fraud his wealth obtain?
No; but the blessings given
On his rich neighbours he bestow'd,
Enjoy'd himself instead of God,
And sought no other heaven.

He had the happiness he chose,
Sensual delight and soft repose,
Magnificence and fame:
And who from earth their joys receive
Their joys they soon, like him, shall leave
For that eternal flame.

246

1459.

[Though now the good and evil meet]

Between us and you there is a great gulf, &c. —xvi. 26.

Though now the good and evil meet,
Though here the goats and sheep, the wheat
And tares we mingled see;
The' irremeable gulf betwixt
The saved and damn'd will soon be fix'd
For all eternity.

No hope shall the tormented know
Of 'scaping from the pit of woe,
And passing to the skies,
No fear shall with the bless'd remain
Of ever forfeiting again
Their heavenly paradise!

My God, to which shall I belong?
Rejoice with saints, or groan among
The cursed despairing crowd?
For Jesus' sake a sinner clear,
And give mine inmost soul to hear
The answer of His blood.

1460.

[Is there benevolence in hell?]

Send him to my father's house: for I, &c. —xvi. 27, 28.

Is there benevolence in hell?
Or can the damn'd compassion feel
At their associates' doom?
No: but an epicure below
May dread a huge increase of woe
When his associates come.

How will he their reproaches bear,
Who spread his table for a snare,
Taught them to scorn the poor,
Made them in all his crimes partake,
And left them all his goods to make
Their swift damnation sure?

247

1461.

[We have them too; and Christ beside]

They have Moses and the prophets. —xvi. 29.

We have them too; and Christ beside:
His word and Spirit is our guide
In the celestial way;
His gospel and apostles show
The means to' escape that hellish woe,
“Repent, believe, obey.”

1462.

[In vain the self-deceiver stays]

If one went unto them from the dead, they, &c. —xvi. 30.

In vain the self-deceiver stays
For wonders of resistless grace
His stubborn heart to' incline,
Proof for his faith affects to want:
A thousand proofs if mercy grant,
He asks a farther sign.

Faith for his proofs is wanting still,
He will remain, because he will,
Unsaved and unforgiven;
Till hearkening to the sacred word
He leaves his sin, and serves his Lord,
His God come down from heaven.

1463.

[His oracles who disbelieve]

If they hear not Moses and the prophets, &c. —xvi. 31.

His oracles who disbelieve,
To miracles no credence give:
His oracles are fill'd
With wonders by Jehovah done
To make His truth and goodness known,
And speak His arm reveal'd.

Jesus by His stupendous grace
Another Lazarus did raise,
Him from the dead He sent;

248

Himself on the third day arose,
To save His most obdurate foes,
Yet would they not repent.

Him and His friend they sought to slay,
Nor saw the clear meridian day
Which in their darkness shone,
Through passion blind and proud despite
They shut their eyes against the light
Of that meridian Sun.

Taught by their incredulity
The standing means vouchsafed by Thee
We thankfully embrace,
Thy Scriptures search to find our Lord
And listen to the joyful word
Of reconciling grace.

The sinner poor Thy word believes,
As full sufficient proof receives
What Thou art pleased to' impart:
But love alone can change the will,
But only Gilead's balm can heal
The blindness of my heart.

CHAPTER XVII.

1464.

[Let mine injurious brother own]

If he trespass against thee seven times in a day, &c. —xvii. 4.

Let mine injurious brother own
His oft-reiterated sin,
Received for Jesu's sake alone,
As the offence had never been,

249

I to my confidence restore,
And love, and prize him as before.

But if his stubborn pride disdain
The frequent evil to confess,
Lord, shall I trust my foe again,
Or as my bosom-friend caress?
I must, I will, with love receive,
And twice ten thousand times forgive.

Harden'd in his impenitence
For him I now in secret mourn,
Remit unask'd the hundred pence,
And pray my God his heart to turn,
And treat him, when the change I see,
As kindly, as Thou treatest me.

1465.

[Faith enables us to bear]

Increase our faith. —xvii. 5.

Faith enables us to bear
The sharpest injuries:
Faith alone gives birth to prayer,
And prayer doth faith increase:
Faith will every moment droop
Unless we every moment cry,
Guard it Lord, confirm, fill up,
And take us to the sky.

Thus throughout our course below
For more and more we pray,
Fresh degrees of faith bestow,
Nor let the grace decay;
Strengthen us to persevere,
And walk unblamed with Thee in white,
Till our faith is perfect here,
And swallow'd up in sight.

250

1466.

[Whether Thy little flock we feed]

Which of you, having a servant plowing, &c. —xvii. 7, 8.

Whether Thy little flock we feed,
Or follow, Lord, the gospel plough,
Patience, as well as faith, we need,
And must not ask our wages now,
Howe'er impatient nature say
“Go, triumph first, and then obey.”

Weary, with thirst and hunger faint,
From labouring in Thy field I come,
Thy sweet refreshing grace I want,
Unready for my heavenly home,
I long Thy promises to prove,
And banquet on Thy perfect love.

Yet O, a time I dare not set,
Or now demand to sup with Thee:
Still on my Lord I humbly wait,
If still Thou use my ministry;
In hunger, weariness, and thirst,
'Tis fit I serve my Master first.

Then let me patiently attend
The leisure of my heavenly Lord,
Till Thou in mercy condescend
To comfort by Thy hallowing word,
And raise me weeping at Thy feet,
At table with the King to sit.

After I have endured awhile,
After I have Thy pleasure done,
Thy love shall recompense my toil,
Thy love my patient faith shall crown,

251

And then I enter into rest,
And then on Thy perfection feast.

“But is it not meet, that you should first obey, and then triumph?” —Mr. W.'s Notes on the place.

1467.

[“But if you needs must work before]

Doth he thank that servant because he did, &c. —xvii. 9.

“But if you needs must work before,
Salvation is of works, not grace:”
Not so; if Christ supplies the power
For my imperfect services,
And gives me on Himself to' attend,
Labouring and suffering to the end.

No thanks to me my Master owes
For works which He Himself hath wrought;
Grace only the reward bestows
For every gracious word and thought,
And when I His commands have done,
The praise, I trow, is all His own.

I have but done my duty, Lord,
When answering all Thy welcome will,
I cannot speak one boasting word,
But most unprofitable still,
The meanest of Thy servants I,
The chief of sinners live and die.

1468.

[Repentance doth with fear begin]

There met Him ten men that were lepers. —xvii. 12.

Repentance doth with fear begin,
We feel the baseness of our sin,
Not bold salvation to demand,
Or snatch the grace out of His hand,
Not worthy before God to' appear,
We come, yet tremble to draw near.

Foul lepers, by ourselves abhorr'd,
Ashamed to meet an holy Lord,

252

Our nature's loathsomeness we feel,
Our heart and life deserving hell,
And cry with lifted voice aloud,
Immeasurably far from God.

Saviour of men, to Thee we cry,
Whose blood was shed to bring us nigh,
Apply it, Lord, to purge our sin,
To make our filthy conscience clean;
Thy love infuse, Thy mercy show,
And wash the lepers white as snow.

1469.

[Numbers frequent Thy house of prayer]

And one of them, when he saw that he was, &c. —xvii. 15.

Numbers frequent Thy house of prayer,
And wait Thy loving-kindness there,
Lift up their voice, and sue for grace,
But silent in the Giver's praise,
A thousand blessings they receive,
Yet never to Thy glory live.

A grateful soul cannot defer
Redeeming mercy to declare,
He must his thankful love express,
His Saviour before men confess,
And witnessing his sins forgiven,
Give glory to the God of heaven.

1470.

[Accompanied it needs must be]

And fell down . . . at His feet, giving Him thanks. —xvii. 16.

Accompanied it needs must be
True love with deep humility,
A leper cleansed, a sinner heal'd,
A soul who knows his pardon seal'd,
Prostrate, with all his ransom'd powers
At Jesus' feet through life adores.

253

1471.

[Where are the nine? alas, my God]

Were there not ten cleansed? but where, &c. —xvii. 17.

Where are the nine? alas, my God,
We soon forget Thy cleansing blood;
But lo, I now at last return,
My base ingratitude to mourn,
Thy pardoning love to glorify,
Thy confessor to live and die.

1472.

[Jesus by whom redeem'd I live]

There are not found that returned to give, &c. —xvii. 18.

Jesus by whom redeem'd I live,
To Thee I all the glory give,
And on the wings of angels borne
Shall soon triumphantly return,
To celebrate with saints above
The praise of Thine eternal love.

1473.

[The lower at His feet we stoop]

Arise, go thy way. —xvii. 19.

The lower at His feet we stoop,
The higher Jesus lifts us up,
And strengthens with confirming grace
Through all His peaceful pleasant ways
To walk unblamable in love,
And serve Him as His saints above.

1474.

[Jesus commends the faith in me]

Thy faith hath made thee whole. —xvii. 19.

Jesus commends the faith in me
Which heals my sinful leprosy,
That I may praise the grace of God
Who faith and its effects bestow'd,
And doth even now His peace impart,
And stamps His image on my heart.

254

1475.

[Engrave her doom upon my heart]

Remember Lot's wife. —xvii. 32.

Engrave her doom upon my heart,
That I may never wish to part,
(So apt to tempt my loving God,
To stop, and linger on the road,)
That I may never more draw back,
Saviour, into Thy bosom take,
And make this dear-bought soul of mine
A monument of grace Divine.

1476.

[Shall I be left in sin to die]

Two men shall be in the field. —xvii. 36.

Shall I be left in sin to die,
Or all the vengeful storms outfly?
Perish as the rebellious race,
Or 'scape within Thy arm's embrace?
Saviour, the solemn secret tell:
Or if Thou still Thyself conceal,
Yet keep me till my fears are pass'd,
And save me as by fire at last.

CHAPTER XVIII.

1477.

[Surely if we ought, we may]

Men ought always to pray, &c. —xviii. 1.

Surely if we ought, we may
Every moment watch and pray:
Simply I receive Thy word,
Merciful, almighty Lord:
Thou who gavest the command,
Nothing can Thy will withstand;
And if I believe in Thee,
Nothing is too hard for me.

255

O that I my God might find
Always present to my mind,
O that I might Thee desire,
Thee in every wish require.
When my constant aim Thou art,
Master of my longing heart,
All my happiness and care;
Then I pray the ceaseless prayer.

1478.

[A widow poor, forlorn, oppress'd]

And shall not God avenge His own elect? —xviii. 7.

A widow poor, forlorn, oppress'd,
Importunate her suit could gain;
And shall not we our joint request
By persevering prayer obtain?

A stranger to the judge she was;
But we God's chosen people are,
And wishing us to gain our cause
Himself doth all our burdens bear.

To an unrighteous judge she came,
But to a righteous Father we,
Who bids us confidently claim
His grace for needy sinners free:

The widow's and the orphan's Friend
Kindly commands us to draw nigh:
And lo, our hearts to heaven ascend,
And boldly Abba Father cry!

She had no promise to succeed,
And but at times could find access;
Encouraged we, and sure to speed,
Both day and night our suit may press.

256

Her vehemence did the judge provoke;
But God our earnestness approves,
Watches our every sigh and look,
And most the boldest suitor loves.

She had no friend or patron kind,
To' enforce and make her suit his own;
But we a powerful Spokesman find
Before us at the Father's throne;

Our Advocate for ever lives
For us in heaven to intercede,
For us the Comforter receives,
And sends Him in our hearts to plead.

1479.

[Lord Thy promise we believe]

I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. —xviii. 8.

Lord Thy promise we believe,
And confidently pray,
Soon Thou wilt the answer give,
And take our sins away,
Wilt Thy precious Self reveal,
Thine own almighty grace employ,
Satan from our hearts expel,
And all his works destroy.

Wrestling on in ceaseless prayer,
We will not let Thee go;
Saviour, Thy great arm make bare,
Avenge us of our foe;
Us who in Thy name intreat,
Thy church Thou canst not long refuse:
Bruise him now beneath our feet,
The fiend for ever bruise.

257

Day and night for this we cry,
And will not let Thee rest:
Cast him out, O Lord most high,
And heal our inbred pest.
Deal the' exterminating blow,
Purge out our nature's deepest stains,
Root and branch destroy our foe,
And slay his last remains.

Then our spotless spirits hide,
Till Thou to judgment come,
Claim the widow for Thy bride,
And take Thine exiles home,
Fully vindicate Thine own
Admitted in Thy deed to share,
Seated by Thy righteous throne
To doom the tempter there.

1480.

[When to the house of prayer we go]

Two men went up into the temple to pray, &c. —xviii. 10.

When to the house of prayer we go,
Who can our secret motive tell?
Beneath the same religious show
Our good or evil we conceal;
God only knows our inward parts,
The pride, or hunger of our hearts.

The proud He doth far off behold,
But hears the trembling sinner's prayer,
Pities a soul to Satan sold,
Who from the confines of despair
In Jesus' name for mercy cries;
And lives—because his Saviour dies!

258

1481.

[He comes (pretender vain) to pray]

God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other, &c. —xviii. 11, 12.

He comes (pretender vain) to pray,
Yet nothing of the Lord desires;
He comes, his virtues to display,
Himself, instead of God, admires;
Or thanks Him with his lips alone,
And thinks his goodness all his own.

His goodness in externals lies,
In negatives, and forms of good,
In freedom from disgraceful vice,
In alms by vanity bestow'd,
In fasts for sin to satisfy,
And the first seat above to buy.

His thanks abominably vain
The number of his sins increase,
And while he scorns the dregs of men
His inward parts are wickedness;
And while he God his debtor makes
All glory to himself he takes.

Presumption, confidence, and pride,
The prayer of Pharisees compose,
Of all who in themselves confide;
From nature their religion flows,
Nature improved by hellish art,
To hide the demon in their heart.

1482.

[A mere helpless sinner I]

God be merciful to me a sinner. —xviii. 13.

A mere helpless sinner I
Must without His mercy die;
But when this is all my plea,
God in Christ is love to me.

259

1483.

[Lord, I would be brought to Thee]

They brought unto Him also infants, &c. —xviii. 15–17.

Lord, I would be brought to Thee,
Passive as an infant be,
Hallow'd by that touch of Thine,
Lodged within the arms Divine.

Longing to be all Thine own,
Let me hang on Thee alone,
Free from trouble and concern
All my manly thoughts unlearn.

All my worldly wisdom lose,
All my power to will or choose;
Simply in Thy Spirit live,
Everything from God receive.

Let my elder brethren chide,
Push my foolishness aside,
Call'd I am in Thee to rest;
Press me closer to Thy breast.

Me into Thy kingdom take,
Me Thy loyal subject make,
Hide my happy life above,
Safe in unreflecting love.

Principled with humble grace
Make me meet to see Thy face,
Then Thy spotless image own,
Then receive me to Thy throne.

1484.

[How rich in God's esteem]

There is no man that hath left house, &c. —xviii. 29.

How rich in God's esteem
Is Jesus' minister,
Who has abandon'd all for Him,
And nothing covets here!

260

From hopes and fears set free
He labours for the sky,
In apostolic poverty
Resolved to live and die.

For precious souls he cares,
Their willing servant is,
And glad attends the royal heirs
Of everlasting bliss;
Nothing he hath, below,
And yet of all possess'd
Exults in perfect peace to go
And share that heavenly feast.

Lord we our seal set to,
Before we hence remove,
And testify that Thou art true,
To those who trust Thy love:
Besprinkled with Thy blood,
In deepest poverty,
Detach'd from every outward good
We all things have in Thee.

In Thy mysterious peace,
Which rules the spotless mind,
We here an hundredfold possess
For what we left behind;
Happy on earth we live
Who know our sins forgiven,
And die exulting to receive
Our full reward in heaven.

1485.

[How ignorant and blind]

A certain blind man sat by the way side, &c. —xviii. 35–43.

How ignorant and blind
The sinner's heart and mind!

261

In the shades of death he dwells,
Poor and proud of misery;
When his unbelief he feels,
Then he half begins to see.

Happy, if then he hear
Of the Physician near,
Jesus, Son of the Most-High,
Met with in the beggar's way!
But He quickly passes by:
Prayer alone can make Him stay.

Stop Him by prayer alone
Address'd to David's Son;
Cry, thou wretched beggar, cry,
Jesus, my Redeemer be,
Save, or in my sins I die,
Show Thy pardoning love to me.

Check'd by the worldly throng
I will not hold my tongue,
More importunate I cry
With redoubled energy;
Save, or in my sins I die,
Show Thy pardoning love to me.

Thou dost Thy suppliant hear,
Thy call hath brought me near;
All my heart to Thee is known,
Lord, I would receive my sight:
Shine, Thou uncreated Sun,
Turn my darkness into light.

This unbelief of heart
Command it to depart:

262

Pardon with Thy Spirit give;
Speak, and all my sins are gone,
Speak, and I my Lord perceive,
Truly saved by faith alone.

Thou dost my pardon seal,
Thou dost Thyself reveal,
Thee my Saviour from above
Now Thou giv'st me eyes to see,
Tongue to praise, and heart to love,
Feet to follow after Thee.

Happy through life if I
My God may glorify,
Make Thy power and mercy known,
Worthily show forth Thy praise,
Force the heathen world to own
The great miracle of grace.

CHAPTER XIX.

1486.

[A rich man saved! it cannot be]

Behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, &c. —xix. 2.

A rich man saved! it cannot be,
Till sovereign grace his heart incline;
But then the' impossibility
Is done by Christ, the Power Divine,
The chief of publicans believes,
The sinners' chief his Lord receives.

1487.

[Thou Saviour dost the wish impart]

He sought to see Jesus who He was; and, &c. —xix. 3.

Thou Saviour dost the wish impart,
Which draws a sinner from the crowd,

263

Assists his littleness of heart
And lifts him up to see his God:
Through Thee he longs Thyself to know,
And then Thou dost the sight bestow.

1488.

[Allured by his Redeemer's love]

And he ran before, and climbed up into a, &c. —xix. 4.

Allured by his Redeemer's love,
Prevented by His secret grace,
He runs with eagerness, above
All earthly things himself to raise,
Surmounts the judgment of mankind,
And leaves a scoffing world behind.

He waits in hope to see and know
The Lord in His appointed ways,
Where Christ is wont to pass, and show
Himself to those who seek His face,
Who all behold His love reveal'd,
And glory in their pardon seal'd.

1489.

[Before He saw him in the tree]

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked, &c. —xix. 5.

Before He saw him in the tree
Jesus the curious gazer view'd,
Gave him that heart sincerity,
That passion for a glimpse of God;
And while he after Christ aspires,
The Saviour crowns His own desires.

1490.

[Sinner, come down at Jesus' call]

He . . . said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, &c. —xix. 5.

Sinner, come down at Jesus' call,
Sink into thy own nothingness,
Feel the full misery of thy fall,
Thy vile apostasy confess,
Jesus with lowly faith receive,
Who stoops with sinful men to live.

264

Humility prepares His way,
His saving power the humble feel:
Jesus will lodge with thee to-day,
Will every day with sinners dwell,
Nor visit as a transient guest,
But be their everlasting Feast.

He for no invitation stays,
But freely of His own accord
Comes with the kingdom of His grace,
And favour shows as sovereign Lord:
His love, for every sinner free,
Precedes all good desire in thee.

1491.

[Who would not descend His Saviour to meet?]

And he made haste, and came down, and, &c. —xix. 6–9.

Who would not descend His Saviour to meet?
The publicans' Friend I hasten to greet:
And from my embraces He never shall part,
When on His own graces He feasts in my heart.

The Pharisees see And murmur in vain,
“Who comes unto Me With Me shall remain”;
The gracious Beginner Of faith will go on,
And raise a mere sinner To sit on His throne.

The change of my heart My life shall express,
While freely I part With all I possess;
My Master from heaven To Thee I restore
The goods Thou hast given, By feeding the poor.

I stand in Thy sight My evils to own,
And render their right To all I have known,
Renounce with confusion My ill-gotten gain,
And full restitution I make unto man.

265

If God justifies, Let all men condemn;
Worse in my own eyes, And viler than them,
Possess'd of Thy favour, A penitent poor,
My God and my Saviour, What can I have more?

The heart that believes Is Jesus's home,
When Him it receives Salvation is come;
And I through His passion From sin am set free,
And now my Salvation Inhabits in me.

Of Abraham's line The Blessing I own,
To me and to mine In Jesus made known:
His indwelling Spirit Believing we find,
And gladly inherit The Friend of mankind.

1492.

[Our whole apostate kind]

The Son of man is come to seek and to save. —xix. 10.

Our whole apostate kind
May now salvation find:
Lost to every thought of good,
Lost as sheep that went astray,
Jesus brought us by His blood
Back into Himself the Way.

Us through rebellion lost
To save, His life it cost:
Lost through sin's most sore disease,
Gasping out our latest breath,
Jesus brought us health and ease,
Rescued from that second death.

From sin and misery
Come then and rescue me,
Come my wandering soul to seek,
Come my sin-sick soul to heal,
All my guilty fetters break,
All Thy saving grace reveal.

266

Still let Thy grace abound
To me a sinner found:
Equal need I always have
To be sought and found by Thee:
Now, and every moment save,
Save through all eternity.

1493.

[Thy pound hath gain'd the pounds, not I]

Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. —xix. 16.

Thy pound hath gain'd the pounds, not I,
Not I, who all but sin disclaim:
My Saviour did the grace supply,
I nothing can, I nothing am,
Thou wrought'st in me to will and do,
Thou shalt have all the glory too.

1494.

[Tremble thou careless minister]

Lord, . . . here is thy pound, which I have kept, &c. —xix. 20.

Tremble thou careless minister,
Who standest all day long
Idle in Jesus' vineyard here,
Yet think'st thou dost no wrong,
Content in indolence to live,
As for thy pastime born,
Thou dost from Christ the pound receive,
And make Him no return.

Not to improve them, is to lose
The talents of thy God,
The gifts which for His church's use
He hath on thee bestow'd;
Not to do good is to do ill;
Thy sacred ministry
Not to discharge, not to fulfil,
Is wickedness in thee.

267

1495.

[But lo, the sentence to prevent]

Those mine enemies . . . slay them before me. —xix. 27.

But lo, the sentence to prevent,
While yet Thou may'st be found I come,
Thy foes and mine to Thee present;
Jesus to swift destruction doom
My sins, and rebel lusts, not me,
Who groan beneath their tyranny.

These lords Thy subject have oppress'd,
And never will Thy laws obey:
Expel the tyrants from my breast,
The' usurpers by Thy Spirit slay,
Slay by the brightness of Thy face,
And let Thy glory fill the place.

1496.

[This, this we all acknowledge]

The whole multitude of the disciples began, &c. —xix. 37, 38.

This, this we all acknowledge
Our time of visitation,
And see and own
What Thou hast done
For us and our salvation;
Sent from Thy Father's bosom
Honour, and might, and blessing,
And glory we
Ascribe to Thee,
And praises without ceasing.

Come in Thy gracious kingdom
We now by faith adore Thee;
But wait to see
Thy majesty,
And all Thy heavenly glory;

268

Thy last triumphant coming
Shall from the grave deliver;
And then we rise
Above the skies,
And praise our King for ever.

1497.

[The word fulfill'd in this our day]

If these should hold their peace, the stones, &c. —xix. 40.

The word fulfill'd in this our day
Obdurate sinners find,
And joyful multitudes obey
The Saviour of mankind:
Because the rulers hold their peace
The stones cry out and sing;
And still we shout, and still confess
The coming of our King.

1498.

[Weeps the Saviour o'er His foe]

He beheld the city, and wept over it. —xix. 41.

Weeps the Saviour o'er His foe,
The vilest of mankind:
Need we arguments to show
His mercy unconfined?
Arguments His heart to prove,
Copious from His eyes they fall,
Every tear demonstrates love,
And love that died for all!

Still the streams of pity run,
And never, never cease,
Still He mourns a soul undone
By its own wickedness;
One who would from Him depart
He doth with eyes of mercy see:
Grieves for me His melting heart,
His Spirit grieves for me!

269

Jesus, lengthen out my day,
That I Thy grace may know,
Grace which takes the stone away
And makes the waters flow:
Touch me with Thy sacred grief,
Draw me to Thy wounded side;
Then Thy blood is my relief,
And speaks me justified.

1499.

[The most apostate spirit below]

Thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. —xix. 44.

The most apostate spirit below
Amidst his torments shall confess
His season he refused to know
When visited by saving grace:
This, sinner, makes the hell of hell,
Thou might'st have lived on earth forgiven,
Consign'd to flames unquenchable
Thou might'st have gain'd the joys of heaven.

1500.

[Still every faithful minister]

The chief priests . . . sought to destroy Him, &c. —xix. 47, 48.

Still every faithful minister
Meets with the treatment of his Lord;
The priests detest, and scorn to hear,
The people hang upon his word.

CHAPTER XX.

1501.

[The people can a prophet know]

They be persuaded that John was a prophet. —xx. 6.

The people can a prophet know
Who lives a prophet's life below,
Who witnesses the truths of God,
And seals his mission with his blood.

270

But proof the learned cannot find
Through envious prepossession blind,
Nor should a saint the praise receive
Which Pharisees are forced to give.

1502.

[His miracles had plainly told]

Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you, &c. —xx. 8.

His miracles had plainly told
The' authority of Christ the Lord,
But who would not the facts behold,
Would never have believed His word:
He justly then to them denies
The light which He on babes bestows,
Hides from the prudent and the wise,
And mysteries to the simple shows.

1503.

[Jesus to heaven is gone]

He went into a far country for a length of time. —xx. 9.

Jesus to heaven is gone,
That distant land unknown,
Long He from His vineyard stays,
Doth not in His flesh appear;
Yet in His protecting grace
Every day we find Him here.

The slothful worldly throng
Suppose He tarries long;
Life appears an age to them,
Till the' important moment's o'er,
Then they wake out of their dream,
See the Judge, and sleep no more.

1504.

[Who in his mean condition here]

Whosoever shall fall upon that stone, &c. —xx. 18.

Who in his mean condition here
Refused the humbled Son of man,
Induced His righteous wrath severe
And perish'd, without mercy slain;

271

Who scorn Him on His glorious throne,
More harden'd than rebellious Jews,
His judgments shall on them come down,
His vengeance shall for ever bruise.

Who on Thy mystic body fall,
Thy church, O Lord, they cannot shock,
But broken fly, and scatter'd all
Like dashing glass against a rock;
And who their fearful state can tell,
When Christ to' avenge His saints shall come,
His whole almighty wrath reveal,
And fix their everlasting doom!

1505.

[Who sets not God before his eyes]

They feared the people. —xx. 19.

Who sets not God before his eyes,
Who His eternal wrath defies,
What keeps him from the last excess,
The utmost height of wickedness?
Only the abject fear of man,
And momentary ills restrain
A sinner, hanging by that hair
O'er the deep gulf of dark despair.

1506.

[Beneath a mask of piety]

They . . . sent forth spies, which should feign, &c. —xx. 20.

Beneath a mask of piety
Their worst designs the wicked hide:
Yet (for their hearts we cannot see,
Till actions cast the veil aside)
Love all things hopes, and all believes,
Rejecting and suspecting none:
And thus the hypocrite deceives,
And makes us trust in God alone.

272

The wisdom from above restrains,
And governs our credulity,
It guards the simple, and explains
How caution may with love agree.
With candour then we all receive,
Yet safe beyond the' impostor's power
We none implicitly believe,
We trust appearances no more.

1507.

[The wicked, Lord, and they alone]

Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cæsar, or no? —xx. 22.

The wicked, Lord, and they alone
Will question Cæsar's right,
Who Thy authority disown
May Thy vicegerent slight;
Who reverence God, their king obey
With constant loyalty,
And while his due to him we pay,
We serve and worship Thee.

1508.

[In Thee, O Lord, is all my trust]

They could not take hold of His words. —xx. 26.

In Thee, O Lord, is all my trust,
When men by speeches fair
Urge me to speak, and seeming just
Would in my words ensnare;
To turn the tempter's tools aside,
Thou wilt my wisdom be,
Thou wilt direct my tongue, and guide
My heart resign'd to Thee.

1509.

[The Lord unto my Lord hath said]

The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on, &c. —xx. 42, 43.

The Lord unto my Lord hath said,
The Father to His risen Son,
Sit Thou with all My power array'd,
The Partner of My heavenly throne;

273

At My right hand exalted sit,
Till all who Thy command withstood
Are subjected beneath Thy feet,
Cast down and vanquish'd by Thy blood.

Jesus, eternally the same,
Enthroned in glorious rest above,
We call on Thine almighty name,
We trust in Thine all-conquering love:
Thy church's foes Thou know'st are Thine,
The foes of our salvation see,
Take to Thyself Thy strength Divine,
And fight against them all in me.

Thou hast o'ercome the world and sin,
The work of ancient days repeat,
For us; for us the battle win,
And make Thy victory complete;
Whoe'er oppose Thy righteous reign,
We long to see them all subdued,
And every rebel soul of man
Prostrate before their dying God.

Avenge us, Saviour, of our foe,
Whose malice doth Thy saints accuse,
The seat of Antichrist o'erthrow,
Under our feet the tempter bruise;
Him and his works at once destroy,
The fulness of Thy Spirit give,
And crown us with triumphant joy,
And to Thy heavenly throne receive.

1510.

[Alas for us, who need beware]

Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk, &c. —xx. 46, 47.

Alas for us, who need beware
Of men that sit in Moses' chair,
And should to heaven the people guide!

274

Men with the pomp of office clad,
In robes pontifical array'd,
But stain'd with avarice and pride.

The church they call their proper care,
The temple of the Lord they are,
Abusers of their legal power;
Greedy the church's goods to seize,
Their wealth they without end increase,
And the poor widow's house devour.

CHAPTER XXI.

1511.

[He still with fix'd attention sees]

He looked up, and saw the rich men casting, &c. —xxi. 1.

He still with fix'd attention sees
The hand and heart of rich and poor:
Mark'd by no other eyes than His,
We all should His own gifts restore,
Renounce the empty praise of man,
Of vanity the vain reward,
And truly give whate'er we can,
As cheerful givers to the Lord.

Thou dost not Lord the rich condemn,
Who much of their abundance give,
That we the' intent may never blame,
When good the action we perceive:
The end of every offerer here,
The principle to God is known,
And till Thou make their hearts appear,
We leave their hearts to Thee alone.

275

1512.

[Rich in faith and poverty]

This poor widow hath cast in more than they all. —xxi. 3.

Rich in faith and poverty,
Rich in thy Redeemer's love,
Small thy gifts can never be,
Gifts which God delights to' approve;
Charity augments the least,
All exalts and multiplies,
Offer'd through the great High-priest,
Mix'd with Jesus' sacrifice.

1513.

[The pile magnificent may please]

As for these things which ye behold, the days, &c. —xxi. 6.

The pile magnificent may please
The curious eye of mortals vain,
But nothing great a Christian sees
In all the boasted works of men,
To nobler sights his soul aspires,
And Christ, and only Christ admires.

Objects which fleshly minds amuse
With careless eye he passes o'er,
Or palaces and temples views
As sinking—to be seen no more,
So soon the shadows disappear,
So soon the' eternal world is here!

When time and all its works are pass'd,
When earth and heaven are thrown aside,
The things invisible shall last,
The saints shall on their Base abide
(All who the will Divine have done)
As steadfast as Jehovah's throne.

1514.

[Did His own apostles need]

Take heed that ye be not deceived, &c. —xxi. 8.

Did His own apostles need
A commandment to take heed,

276

And shall we, the dregs of men,
Count the Saviour's caution vain?
If His warning we despise,
Obstinately close our eyes,
Jesus for His foe we leave,
Tempt the tempter to deceive.

Then the prophets false we hear
Publishing “The time is near,”
Showing when the Judge will come
The ungodly to consume,
Fixing the tremendous day
When He all His foes shall slay,
Pointing out the hour unknown,
Hid from all but God alone.

1515.

[Happy the man who uses right]

Great earthquakes shall be in divers places, &c. —xxi. 11.

Happy the man who uses right
Public calamities,
Whose faith in every fearful sight
The Lord approaching sees:
Famine, and pestilence, and war
Are tokens of that day,
Earthquakes and prodigies prepare
The great Redeemer's way.

Good out of all these ills He brings,
And serves His own design,
While ushering in the King of kings
The heavenly armies join;
Dissolved the universal frame,
That Jesus may appear,
And nature's dying groans proclaim
Her New-creator here.

277

1516.

[Fearful, fluttering heart be still]

There shall not an hair of your head perish. —xxi. 18.

Fearful, fluttering heart be still,
And free from anxious care,
Till my kind Defender will,
I cannot lose an hair:
If for Christ my all I leave
I but a moment's loss sustain,
Here an hundredfold receive,
And life eternal gain.

1517.

[That we may in patient hope]

In your patience possess ye your souls. —xxi. 19.

That we may in patient hope
Our quiet souls possess,
Lord, to Thee we give them up,
And to Thy guardian grace:
Them we then shall keep secure,
When every moment kept by Thee,
Faithful until death endure,
And die Thy face to see.

1518.

[While the world and sin oppress us]

While the world and sin oppress us,
Strengthen'd by the' infernal fiend,
We who keep the word of Jesus
Suffer on and wait the end;
Safe in manifold temptations,
If His proffer'd grace we use;
But the souls that lose their patience,
They themselves for ever lose.

Fix in us that quiet spirit
Which in Thee our Head abode,
Crucified, we then shall bear it,
Bear and bless the sacred load.

278

Arm us with Thy self-denial,
With Thy hope of joys above;
Bring us through the fiery trial
Perfected in meekest love.

Masters of our every passion
Who Thy daily burden bear,
Out of tenfold tribulation
Lo, we come Thy throne to share,
Hold our souls in full subjection,
Till we into nothing fall;
Then we find our true perfection,
Feel that Christ is all in all.

1519.

[Meet and right it is that Thou]

Then shall they see the Son of man coming, &c. —xxi. 27.

Meet and right it is that Thou,
Jesus shouldst the heavens bow,
Once an humble Son of man,
Our salvation to obtain,
Shouldst display Thy greatness here,
Glorious like Thyself appear!

Sovereign Lord for this we wait:
Come in Thy sublime estate,
Hasten the expected hour,
Come with all Thy pomp and power,
Come, the Father's only Son,
Shining on Thine azure throne.

Come Thine exiles to remove,
Us who Thy appearing love;
Prays the Spirit in the bride,
Come and take us to Thy side,
Take to our celestial home,
King of saints, triumphant come.

279

1520.

[The trees their swelling buds disclose]

Behold the fig tree, and all the trees, &c. —xxi. 29–31.

The trees their swelling buds disclose,
The vernal flowers appear,
And nature's resurrection shows
Our constant summer near:
The melancholy season's pass'd,
No more we droop and mourn,
But weathering out the wintry blast
Salute the spring's return.

The signs of our Redeemer nigh
We see and understand,
With cheerful hope look up and cry
His kingdom is at hand:
The joys which from believing flow
Are happiness in bloom,
And soon by tender love we know,
The life of heaven shall come.

In that perpetual summer, we
Retain the flowers of grace,
Nor fear the winter's wastes to see,
Or autumn's sad decays;
Summer and spring eternal meet
And mix their fruits and flowers,
And Jesus makes our bliss complete,
And all He is, is ours.

1521.

[O may we to ourselves take heed]

Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time, &c. —xxi. 34.

O may we to ourselves take heed,
A life of soft indulgence dread
Disguised by nature's art,
That regular, allow'd excess,
Which lulls the soul in sensual ease,
And stupifies the heart.

280

O may we shun that subtler snare,
The' entanglement of lawful care
Which busy worldlings feel,
Which banishes the thought of death,
And chokes their miserable breath,
And sinks them into hell.

Regardless of the things unseen,
They live to the desires of men,
Till the great day surprise,
And charged with all their sins they go
To taste the bitterer death below,
The death that never dies.

1522.

[The men of wealth and character]

As a snare shall it come on all them, &c. —xxi. 35.

The men of wealth and character,
The men of earth who settle here,
And count the world their home,
Entangled in the toils of hell,
Shall all the weight of vengeance feel,
And all the wrath to come.

But we who God in Jesus know,
Superior to the things below,
To every creature love:
Beyond the fowler's net we fly,
On eagle's wings divide the sky,
And dwell with Christ above.

1523.

[The servant of the Lord]

In the day time He was teaching in the, &c. —xxi. 37, 38.

The servant of the Lord,
Who Jesu's charge receives,
A faithful steward of the word,
A wrestling Jacob lives.

281

God and the multitude
His sacred labours share,
His day is spent in active good,
His night in fervent prayer.

Before the rising morn
He comes his flock to feed,
His flock with hungry hearts return,
And seek their daily bread:
Their love and earnestness
The pastor's zeal improve,
The pastor's zeal doth more increase
Their earnestness and love.

CHAPTER XXII.

1524.

[Fear for a moment may withhold]

For they feared the people. —xxii. 2.

Fear for a moment may withhold,
And curb the man to evil sold;
But if a stronger passion rise,
He every consequence defies,
And nature all restraint disdains,
And sin and Satan take the reins.

1525.

[A priest corrupt whom avarice blinds]

He . . . sought opportunity to betray Him unto them. —xxii. 6.

A priest corrupt whom avarice blinds
For no mature occasion stays,
But goes, and seeks it out, and finds,
Truth, justice, innocence betrays,
No conscience, no remorse he feels,
And to His foes the Saviour sells.

282

Saviour shut up my feeble heart
Against the direful lust of gold,
Which always takes the murderer's part,
Which Thee ten thousand times has sold,
Millions of hoary traitors made,
And peopled hell with Satan's aid.

1526.

[Holy sanctifying Lamb]

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when, &c. —xxii. 7.

Holy sanctifying Lamb,
Thee my Passover I see,
Victim pure I Thee proclaim,
Offer'd up to God for me.
Thee the true unleaven'd Bread,
The one sinless Man I own,
From the iron furnace freed,
Ransom'd by Thy blood alone.

1527.

[Who the true disciples are]

Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat, &c. —xxii. 11.

Who the true disciples are,
Counted worthy to be bless'd,
Christ their Passover to share,
Eat with Him the mystic feast?
Those that have their sins eschew'd,
Pant for happiness above,
Seek redemption in His blood,
Long their loving Lord to love.

Israelites indeed they stand,
Free and disengaged in heart,
Staves they carry in their hand,
Ever ready to depart:
Such His faithful followers be,
Eat the Christian sacrifice,
Share His immortality,
Feast with Jesus in the skies.

283

1528.

[Not for the legal feast]

With desire I have desired to eat this passover, &c. —xxii. 15.

Not for the legal feast
His longing He express'd,
Jesus languish'd to bestow
Blessings on His church beneath,
First His passion's type to show,
Then to bless us by His death.

With infinite desire
He doth His cross require,
There to purge the general stain,
There proclaim our sins forgiven,
There our paradise regain,
There ensure our thrones in heaven.

He long'd the rite to' ordain
Which God unites with man,
Sacramental mystery,
Emblem of His dying love,
Where the slaughter'd Lamb we see,
Share Him with the church above.

His passover precedes,
And then the Victim bleeds,
Then the great salvation's wrought
Life in Jesu's death we find,
From the house of bondage brought
Leave the world and sin behind.

1529.

[The fellowship below]

I will not any more eat thereof, until it be, &c. —xxii. 16.

The fellowship below
Prepares for that above,
Where Christ His face shall show,
And feed us with His love.
His glory shall be soon reveal'd,
And then the mystery is fulfill'd.

284

Imperfectly we have
Communion with our Lord,
Till ransom'd from the grave
We gain His full reward,
In Jesu's blissful presence given,
That eucharistic feast of heaven!

1530.

[How shall we do the things enjoin'd]

This do in remembrance of Me. —xxii. 19.

How shall we do the things enjoin'd,
Or how remember Thee aright,
Born in the dregs of time, and blind
To God, without Thy Spirit's light!
Upon all flesh Thy Spirit shower,
Thy death we then shall truly show,
And when Thou com'st in glorious power,
Banquet with our great King below.

1531.

[When the sacramental cup]

This cup is the new testament in My blood, &c. —xxii. 20.

When the sacramental cup
We faithfully receive,
Glad partakers of our hope,
By Jesu's death we live:
Feel the covenant blood applied,
And testify from sin set free,
Saviour of the world, He died
A sacrifice for me.

1532.

[Who knows the evils that remain]

They began to enquire among themselves, &c. —xxii. 23.

Who knows the evils that remain,
The trials still behind?
Thou, Lord, who canst my will restrain
To every sin inclined:
I cannot answer for my heart
So full of treachery;
Or fear, (if Thou my keeper art,)
To fly, and fall from Thee.

285

1533.

[The pride of haughtiest kings is seen]

There was also a strife among them, which, &c. —xxii. 24.

The pride of haughtiest kings is seen
In ambition's fishermen
Who the first place assume;
The plague of every human heart
It never will from one depart,
Till Jesu's Spirit come.

Jesus, Thou only canst abase
Proudest of sinners by Thy grace;
My Saviour from above
Appear, that I the least of all
May sink, and into nothing fall
Before Thy dying love.

1534.

[With truth we benefactors call]

They that exercise authority . . . are called, &c. —xxii. 25.

With truth we benefactors call
Princes and kings who born for all
Delight the worthy to reward,
But punish with the last regret,
As awful ministers of fate,
Entrusted with Jehovah's sword.

Who their authority maintain,
That justice and the laws may reign,
That man may to his God submit;
Who glory in their people's good,
To pride and passion's power subdued,
And cast their crowns at Jesu's feet.

1535.

[In the church whoe'er aspire]

He that is greatest among you, let him be as, &c. —xxii. 26.

In the church whoe'er aspire
To the first distinguish'd place,
They superior toils desire,
Deeper draughts of patient grace,

286

Ask to suffer in His cause,
Ask to die on Jesu's cross.

Wholly sacrificed to God,
Wholly to His people given,
Day and night for souls employ'd,
Servants to the heirs of heaven,
Active as the spirits above,
All humility and love.

1536.

[Lord of souls He truly was]

I am among you as he that serveth. —xxii. 27.

Lord of souls He truly was
Who Himself their servant made,
Bore their sorrows on the cross,
Bow'd beneath their load His head,
Them to serve His life resign'd,
Died the Ransom of mankind.

And shall I His lot refuse,
Greater than my Master be?
Master, I Thy portion choose,
Partner in Thy ministry
Stoop alike to great and small,
Live and die the least of all.

1537.

[A true disciple of the Lord]

I appoint unto you a kingdom, as My Father, &c. —xxii. 29.

A true disciple of the Lord,
Who can his dignity explain,
Entitled to the same reward
Which Jesus did Himself obtain!
The Son who by His Father sits,
The glorified triumphant Son
His servant at that day admits
To reign a partner of His throne.

287

1538.

[Shall I my Lord and God adore]

That ye may eat and drink at My table, &c. —xxii. 30.

Shall I my Lord and God adore
In that supreme felicity,
That state of joy, delight, and power,
And glorious fellowship with Thee?
For this I all things here forego,
Pleasures, and wealth, and honours vain,
And suffering on Thy cross below,
Shall in Thy heavenly kingdom reign.

The saints shall at Thy table sit,
Drink the pure crystal streams above,
The tree of life immortal eat,
And banquet on Thy richest love:
The treasures of eternity
Shall make our ravish'd souls run o'er,
And when Thy open face we see,
The heaven of heavens can give no more.

1539.

[Still our adversary's nigh]

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired, &c. —xxii. 31.

Still our adversary's nigh
In every place and hour,
Eager still to tempt and try
And sift us, and devour:
But before he can o'erthrow,
Or once endeavour to deceive,
The malicious fiend we know
Must ask our Saviour's leave.

1540.

[Jesus mine Advocate hath been]

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith, &c. —xxii. 32.

Jesus mine Advocate hath been,
And by the fiery darts assail'd
Of Satan, and the world and sin,
My faith hath never wholly fail'd:

288

Jesus, on whom I still depend,
Who ever lives for me to pray,
Shall keep me patient to the end,
Shall make me faithful to that day.

The tempted church for help relies
On His almighty prayer alone,
Who lives, His one great sacrifice
To plead before His Father's throne;
A voice assaults the ears of God,
That trembling, sinking soul sustain,
Attentive to this speaking blood,
Which cannot stream, or cry in vain.

Saved by that blood from death and hell,
My own infirmity I know,
And bowels of compassion feel
For every tempted soul below;
With tenderest love their burden bear,
(If Christ through me His grace supply,)
And joining in my Saviour's prayer,
Servant of all I live and die.

1541.

[Till Jesus casts the veil aside]

Lord, I am ready to go with Thee, both, &c. —xxii. 33.

Till Jesus casts the veil aside,
And man to man explains,
What depths of self-presuming pride
The sinner's heart contains.
He boasts his strength of faith and zeal
While to himself unknown,
And will not, but by falling, feel
He cannot stand alone.

Peter self-confident, sincere,
Before his faith was proved,

289

Was sure he loved his Master dear,
More than his life he loved:
But when the tempting foe assail'd,
At a weak woman's word
He sunk; the love of life prevail'd,
And he abjured his Lord.

1542.

[Who did His servant's fall foretell]

I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this, &c. —xxii. 34.

Who did His servant's fall foretell,
Forbids us to confide
In fervours we this moment feel,
In strength of faith untried;
Wherefore to Him we leave the heart
He only can defend,
And trust He will His grace impart
Till war with life shall end.

1543.

[Thou dost for Thy disciples care]

When I sent you without purse, and scrip, &c. —xxii. 35.

Thou dost for Thy disciples care,
Open Thine ears to hear our prayer,
Thine eyes our wants to see:
Thou canst not, Lord, Thyself deny;
Thou always wilt the wants supply
Of conscious poverty.

Calling Thy mercies past to mind
Increasing confidence we find,
And stronger comforts prove:
Jesus, Thou art a friend indeed,
Who never fail'st in time of need,
A God of truth and love.

We trust Thy providential power,
To keep us every future hour
Thy dear peculiar race;

290

We cannot lack a real good,
On whom Thou hast Thyself bestow'd,
With all Thy heaven of grace.

1544.

[Enough for Him who only means]

They said, Lord, behold, here are two swords, &c. —xxii. 38.

Enough for Him who only means
Himself by yielding to defend,
To purge, by suffering for, our sins,
By perfect patience to contend,
And conquer a rebellious race
By meekly dying in our place.

1545.

[Warn'd of God to watch and pray]

Pray that ye enter not into temptation. —xxii. 40.

Warn'd of God to watch and pray,
Ere the dying hour arrive,
Let us antedate the day,
Against sin and Satan strive,
Urge our vehement request,
Wrestle till the power come down,
Power to bear the fiery test,
Power to win the martyr's crown.

1546.

[Following Christ when danger's near]

He was withdrawn from them, . . . and kneeled, &c. —xxii. 41.

Following Christ when danger's near,
Leaving friends we pray apart,
Tell Him all our grief and fear,
Pour out all our troubled heart,
Bow our soul and body's knee
To the Lord of earth and skies,
Prostrate in humility,
Mix'd with Jesus' sacrifice.

Every knee shall bow before
God's tremendous righteousness:

291

Jesus on His knees adore!
God supreme, as man He prays!
Angels tremble at the sight,
Cast their crowns before His throne:
We our prayer to His unite,
God respects them both as one.

1547.

[Father, if Thou willing be]

Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup, &c. —xxii. 42.

Father, if Thou willing be,
Succour and deliverance send,
Take this bitter cup from me,
Bid this sore temptation end:
In His name and words I pray,
Whom Thou never canst deny;
Take this bitter cup away,
Seal my peace, and let me die.

But if Thou appoint me still
Dark and tempted to remain,
Father, I accept Thy will,
All the grief and all the pain:
Wretched I submit to live,
Till my latest death is pass'd,
Only then my soul receive,
Saved for Jesus' sake at last.

1548.

[Who the host celestial made]

And there appeared an angel unto Him, &c. —xxii. 43.

Who the host celestial made,
Who their strength to angels gives,
God Himself support and aid
Through His creature's hands receives!
And shall I with scorn refuse
My inferior's ministry,
If my Lord the meanest use,
Send a worm to strengthen me?

292

See the salutary stream
Flowing from the sinners' Friend!
Big with virtue to redeem,
Large the drops on man descend;
Drops which falling to the ground
Purge the universal stain:
There the precious ransom's found,
There my peace is seal'd again!

1549.

[I too have done the same]

Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? —xxii. 48.

I too have done the same,
Professing to be Thine,
Exposing to contempt the name
And work, and cause Divine:
Yet for my treacherous kiss
Thou dost not Lord reprove,
But pardonest all I did amiss
With a kind kiss of love.

1550.

[Who Jesus' spirit knows]

Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far, &c. —xxii. 51.

Who Jesus' spirit knows,
Whatever wrongs he feel
Can never magistrates oppose,
Or force with force repel:
If magistrates abuse
Their just authority,
He counts it gain his life to lose
And keep his conscience free.

The single miracle
He did unask'd, unsought,
A persecuting foe to heal
The Friend of sinners wrought.
Not from Himself to' avert
The death He came to prove,
But mercy mild inclined His heart,
But pure unbounded love.

293

1551.

[In pure obedience to Thy will]

I was daily . . . in the temple. —xxii. 53.

In pure obedience to Thy will
Who to Thy house repair,
We find Thee in the temple still,
And hear Thee teaching there.

1552.

[Jesus a captive made]

Then took they Him, and led Him, and, &c. —xxii. 54.

Jesus a captive made
To set the captives free,
Haste to a sinner's aid,
Exert the power in me
Which cannot be by man confined,
The power which ransoms all mankind.

The slave of hell and sin,
Lord I to Thee complain:
O make me free within
From pride, and passion's chain,
My spirit by Thy bonds release,
And bid me go in perfect peace.

1553.

[The sport of His own creatures made]

The men that held Jesus mocked Him, and, &c. —xxii. 63.

The sport of His own creatures made,
He suffers it our pride to cure,
That strengthen'd by His Spirit's aid
Contempt with patience to endure
We never may of wrong complain,
But meekly in His footsteps tread,
Loaded with scorn, oppress'd with pain,
Conform'd in all things to our Head.

The Lion might have torn His foes
By the sole motion of His will,
But meekness no resistance knows,
But love can only pity feel:

294

He doth His church with grace supply,
That I baptized into His name,
Arm'd with His mind, may live and die
A follower of the patient Lamb.

1554.

[Jesus, Son of God and man]

And many other things blasphemously spake, &c. —xxii. 65.

Jesus, Son of God and man,
Thy Person from the skies
Turns the wrongs Thou dost sustain
Into a sacrifice:
Thus Thou dost the pattern show
Of patient meek humility,
Fountain of all grace below,
For all Thy church and me.

Very God I Thee confess,
In Thy oblation join,
Imitate the lowliness,
And patient love Divine:
Virtue from the Fountain-head
And grace for grace I still receive,
Crucified with Thee and dead,
With Thee for ever live.

1555.

[Ask the ancient prophecies]

Art Thou the Christ? tell us. —xxii. 67.

Ask the ancient prophecies,
And their reply receive;
Every scripture testifies
To those who would believe;
Ask His every miracle:
His Deity in all is show'd;
All His words and tempers tell
This is the Christ of God.

295

1556.

[A Sheep before the shearers brought]

Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the, &c. —xxii. 69.

A Sheep before the shearers brought,
A Lamb whom cruel wolves devour,
Patient of wrong He threatens not,
Declaring His own glorious power,
Witness to that great truth He gives
Which cost the Confessor His blood,
By which His church for ever lives,
One Spirit with the' eternal God.

1557.

[His foes with joy malicious hear]

And they said, What need we any further, &c. —xxii. 71.

His foes with joy malicious hear
The words which from His mouth proceed,
Which holy transport minister
To all who know Him God indeed:
When Jesus speaks them to my heart,
“I am the Son of God most-high,”
The words eternal life impart,
And bear my soul beyond the sky.

His foes the precious truth abuse,
That God was manifest for them,
His record with His grace refuse,
And Christ to frequent death condemn:
Who boast their sacred character,
They doom their Saviour every day,
And hating all His members here
The Prince of Life persist to slay.

CHAPTER XXIII.

1558.

[If charged the holy Jesus be]

They began to accuse Him, saying, We, &c. —xxiii. 2.

If charged the holy Jesus be
With faction, treason, blasphemy,
Can innocence secure?

296

Or shall His followers complain,
Who all the calumnies of men
In life and death endure?

Saviour to Thee in sufferings join'd,
We cordial consolation find,
(If Thou Thy grace supply,)
Thy heaviest load with joy receive,
The offscouring of all things live,
Till on Thy cross we die.

1559.

[Though men Thy yoke disdain]

Art Thou the King of the Jews? And He, &c. —xxiii. 3.

Though men Thy yoke disdain,
Thy rights Thou wilt maintain:
King of disobedient Jews,
King of inward Jews Thou art:
Those Thine iron rod shall bruise,
These Thou hidest in Thy heart.

All must confess Thy power,
And perish, or adore:
O might I Thy goodness feel,
Object of Thy mercy prove,
Jesus, change my rebel will,
Prince of peace, and God of love.

I long to feel Thy sway,
And all Thy laws obey:
King of righteousness appear,
Reign in all Thy saints alone,
'Stablish Thy dominion here,
Fix in me Thy heavenly throne.

1560.

[Harmless in act, and word, and thought]

Pilate said, . . . I find no fault in this Man. —xxiii. 4.

Harmless in act, and word, and thought,
The judge declares Him free from blame,
Without a blemish or a spot,
A sinless Saint, a perfect Lamb;

297

And such is a fit sacrifice,
And such for sinful man He dies!

1561.

[Rejoice, ye followers of your Lord]

They were the more fierce, saying, He, &c. —xxiii. 5.

Rejoice, ye followers of your Lord,
Who preach the pure, pacific word,
Disturbers of the public peace,
Troublers of sleeping consciences,
As enemies to church and state,
Whom all men persecute and hate,
To you, your Master's cup is given,
And great is your reward in heaven.

1562.

[Led to a court (our heavenly Lord]

He sent Him to Herod. —xxiii. 7.

Led to a court (our heavenly Lord
Went never of His own accord)
But led in bonds He is;
To show that truth is seldom free
From insults and captivity
In royal palaces.

1563.

[The great ones of the earth delight]

When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding, &c. —xxiii. 8.

The great ones of the earth delight
In each new entertaining sight,
Diversion all their aim:
And still religion is the sport
Of wicked princes and their court
Who bear the Christian name.

1564.

[Christ doth not hear, or answer those]

Then he questioned with Him in many, &c. —xxiii. 9.

Christ doth not hear, or answer those
Who questions curiously propose:
Let us His cause defend
(When such its enemies we see)
With silent meek humility,
And suffering to the end.

298

1565.

[Worldly men whom interest parts]

The same day Pilate and Herod were, &c. —xxiii. 12.

Worldly men whom interest parts
By that made friends again,
Join their wicked hands and hearts
With Satan and his train;
Widest opposites unite
Kings, soldiers, priests, in this agree
All against the life to fight
Of genuine piety.

1566.

[If guilty why to be set free?]

I will therefore chastise Him, and release, &c. —xxiii. 16.

If guilty why to be set free?
Or why chastised, if innocent?
The heart hath no stability,
By two contending passions rent:
The abject slave of worldly fear
Who basely courts the smiles of men,
Condemning whom he fain would clear,
The judge condemns himself in vain.

1567.

[To David's Son and sovereign Lord]

But they cried, saying, Crucify Him, &c. —xxiii. 21.

To David's Son and sovereign Lord
Hosanna was the people's cry,
Their King they yesterday adored,
To-day they sentence Him to die:
So many blessings He bestow'd,
So many wonders wrought in vain!
Such the benignity of God,
And such the' ingratitude of man!

1568.

[Myself as in a glass]

He released unto them him that for, &c. —xxiii. 25.

Myself as in a glass
I in Barabbas see,
And, Lord, Thou takest the sinner's place,
A criminal for me:

299

Me by Thy mortal smart
Thou dost from death release:
Thy blood is sprinkled on my heart,
And bids me go in peace.

Father, behold Thy Son,
And me, even me in Him
Who doth for all my sins atone,
And by His death redeem;
As fasten'd to the tree,
As cover'd with His blood
His purchase and His member see
For ever one with God.

1569.

[The men that suffer in Thy cause]

On him they laid the cross, that he might, &c. —xxiii. 26.

The men that suffer in Thy cause
To faint beneath their heaviest cross,
Jesus, Thou dost not leave;
But all Thy confessors defend,
Give them Thy patience to the end,
And then Thy glory give.

1570.

[Happy His faithful worshippers]

There followed Him a great company, &c. —xxiii. 27.

Happy His faithful worshippers,
The women with lamenting tears,
And sympathising cries,
Who follow that incarnate God,
That Isaac laden with the wood
Of His own sacrifice.

They see their meek expiring Lord,
His kindest, last, instructive word
Into their hearts receive;
They stand to catch His parting breath,
And hear the Saviour gasp in death
“Father the world forgive!”

300

1571.

[Silent before the king He stood]

Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters, &c. —xxiii. 28.

Silent before the king He stood,
But speaks to the mean multitude
In words of cheering grace,
Their mournful gratitude receives,
To them His last instructions gives,
While dying in their place.

Their deep calamity He sees,
Anticipates their sore distress
By pitying love foreshown,
For them more than Himself He cares,
Their distant griefs and burdens bears
Regardless of His own.

1572.

[Our tears for Thee will nought avail]

Our tears for Thee will nought avail
Unless we Lord our sins bewail,
The cause of all Thy pain,
Unless our rocky hearts be rent
In vain Thou bear'st our punishment,
And shedd'st Thy blood in vain.

But O, Thy blood the sorrow buys,
Thy blood the contrite grace supplies,
And melts my heart of stone:
Struck by Thy death with anguish deep,
Prostrate before Thy cross I weep,
And now myself bemoan.

Long as Thy mangled form appears,
I lie dissolved in gracious tears
Of love's soft sympathy:
And here I would through life remain,
And of those cruel sins complain
Which nail'd Thee to that tree!

301

1573.

[When mercy's day is o'er]

Then shall they begin to say to the, &c. —xxiii. 30.

When mercy's day is o'er,
And time exists no more,
Nothing but the wrath of God
Doth for guilty souls remain:
Sinners then shall bear their load,
Load of everlasting pain.

In vain they would decline
The vengeful wrath Divine,
Would to rocks for shelter call,
Of the righteous Judge afraid,
Bid the' o'erwhelming mountains fall
On their hell-devoted head.

But now through faith we may
To Christ escape away,
In the mount of holiness,
In the Rock of Israel hide,
There our quiet souls possess,
Rest secure in Jesu's side.

Jesus our souls receive,
Who diedst that we might live,
Live till saved from sin and fear
We our spotless lives lay down,
Rise to see our Judge appear,
Hail Thee on Thy great white throne.

1574.

[He dies—a death of pain and shame]

They crucified Him, and the malefactors, &c. —xxiii. 33.

He dies—a death of pain and shame,
To the vile death of slaves submits,
And thus the humble patient Lamb
His own great sacrifice completes!

302

The universal sin He bears,
Conquers the world, and death, and hell,
And balm in His own blood prepares
The wounds of all mankind to heal.

1575.

[When Jesus for His murderers prays]

Father, forgive them; for they know not, &c. —xxiii. 34.

When Jesus for His murderers prays,
Can God reject the dying prayer?
Thou must forgive our ransom'd race;
Thou dost our world of ruffians spare:
The pardon bought by blood Divine
Hath surely pass'd the seals of heaven;
Father, Thou art in Jesus mine,
And all the world's with me forgiven.

1576.

[King of the inward Jews Thou art]

If Thou be the King of the Jews, save Thyself. —xxiii. 37.

King of the inward Jews Thou art,
And reign'st in every faithful heart,
But dearly didst Thy kingdom buy,
Vouchsafing on a cross to die;
The death establishes Thy throne,
And makes our ransom'd souls Thine own,
And saved, and gainers by Thy loss,
We only glory in Thy cross.

Blasphemous Jews may still deride,
And stumble at the Crucified,
Gentiles as foolishness condemn
A God made flesh to die for them;
Saviour, the mystery of Thy grace
Shall be the matter of my praise,
That grace which fills the hosts above
With joy, astonishment, and love.

303

1577.

[Who doth through Jesu's grace repent]

Lord, remember me when Thou comest, &c. —xxiii. 42.

Who doth through Jesu's grace repent
With patience to the cross submits,
Humbly accepts his punishment,
Himself condemns, and God acquits,
Zealous his genuine faith to' express,
And Christ in life and death confess.

His God he on the cross can see,
For His eternal kingdom prays,
In mercy, Lord, remember me,
Give me above the meanest place,
But give me with Thy saints a part,
And bear me on Thy dying heart.

1578.

[A monument of mercy's power]

To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise. —xxiii. 43.

A monument of mercy's power,
Rescued by Jesus on the tree,
Saved at the last tremendous hour
One soul, and only one we see,
With brokenness of heart sincere
That all may hope, that all may fear.

He but to be remember'd wants,
The time and all things else he leaves:
More than he asks the Saviour grants,
A kingdom promises and gives,
“I will My majesty display,
And thou shalt reign with Me to-day.”

1579.

[Saviour in death, the grace by one]

Saviour in death, the grace by one
Obtain'd, we all who ask shall have,
Thou by Thy precious death alone
Wouldst the whole world of sinners save;

304

Return'd triumphant from the dead,
My Lord, and King, remember me,
And give me, when I bow my head,
To find my paradise in Thee.

1580.

[But thicker darkness overspread]

There was a darkness over all the earth. —xxiii. 44.

But thicker darkness overspread
Their hearts who nail'd Him to the tree,
And could not through that dreadful shade
Perceive the dying Deity:
Admonish'd by that sacred night
Let us to Christ the glory give
Whose death hath merited the light
By which we now in Him believe.

1581.

[Eclipsed the Sun of Righteousness]

And the sun was darkened, and the veil, &c. —xxiii. 45.

Eclipsed the Sun of Righteousness,
His light and life extinguish'd are,
To make the reign of darkness cease,
The veil of shadowy types to tear:
The living way to joys above
Discover'd by His death we find;
It shows our hearts the truth of love,
It opens heaven to all mankind.

1582.

[The righteous real Abel cries]

Jesus . . . cried with a loud voice. —xxiii. 46.

The righteous real Abel cries
With all the strength of mortal pains,
His blood resounding through the skies
Grace for His murderers obtains,
His blood with powerful energy
(While Jesus' soul and body part)
Speaks in the ears of God for me,
And writes my pardon on my heart.

1583.

[O might my course like Jesu's end]

Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit. —xxiii. 46.

O might my course like Jesu's end,
O might His blessed death be mine!

305

I long my spirit to commend
Into those gracious hands Divine;
Father, my gasping spirit receive
By faith united to Thy Son,
And let me with my Saviour live,
In life and death for ever one!

1584.

[The earliest fruits of bleeding love]

Now when the centurion saw what was, &c. —xxiii. 47.

The earliest fruits of bleeding love
Not in a Scribe or Jew appear,
But Jesus' death hath power to move
A heathen's heart with pious fear:
A soldier owns His righteousness
Whom priests and elders crucify,
And teaches us our God to bless,
Who man became for man to die.

1585.

[On the thoughtless multitude]

And all the people that came together to, &c. —xxiii. 48.

On the thoughtless multitude
The second grace is shown,
Those that clamour'd for the blood
Of God's eternal Son;
Those that call'd with fury blind
“Away with Him, not fit to live,”
Soon His answer'd prayer they find
Who cried in death, “Forgive.”

1586.

[But I for Jesu's Spirit pray]

This man went unto Pilate, and begged, &c. —xxiii. 52.

But I for Jesu's Spirit pray,
Which Thou, O God, alone canst give:
Send Him to take my sins away,
Send Him within my heart to live,
And join me to that Sacrifice
Which crowns of life for sinners buys.

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CHAPTER XXIV.

1587.

[His disciples sincere]

He is not here, but is risen: remember, &c. —xxiv. 6, 7.

His disciples sincere,
We have nothing to fear,
Though our Master was slain,
He died for our sins, and He liveth again!
He is risen indeed,
Our life-giving Head,
We remember His word,
And arise in the power of our heavenly Lord.

His promises kind
He brings to our mind,
His Spirit imparts,
And the meaning explains to our sensible hearts:
With joy we approve
The design of His love,
The necessity see
Of His passion on earth, and His death on the tree.

The justice of God
Demanded His blood
For our sins to atone;
And exalted Him then to a share of His throne;
That the God of all grace
His members might raise,
From the sepulchre freed
And eternally join'd to our glorified Head.

1588.

[Weaken'd when our faith we find]

They talked together of all these things, &c. —xxiv. 14.

Weaken'd when our faith we find,
Faint our hope through long delay,
Let us call His death to mind,
Talk of Jesus by the way:

307

Thus our faith and hope revive,
Thus His Spirit its power exerts,
Jesus shows Himself alive,
Love rekindles in our hearts.

1589.

[Jesu's charity adore!]

While they communed together . . . Jesus, &c. —xxiv. 15.

Jesu's charity adore!
Raised again, the Shepherd good
Manifests His mercy's power,
Seeks His sheep dispersed abroad:
Lord to us Thyself unite,
Us in all our ways attend,
Always near, and still in sight,
Till our earthly journey end.

1590.

[Mine eyes are holden too]

Their eyes were holden that they should not, &c. —xxiv. 16.

Mine eyes are holden too:
Till open'd Lord, by Thee,
(Whom once imperfectly I knew,)
I neither know nor see:
Or if reveal'd Thou art,
Thou vanishest away;
But when Thou purifiest my heart,
Thou wilt for ever stay.

1591.

[And still we trust in Thee]

We trusted that it had been He which, &c. —xxiv. 21.

And still we trust in Thee
The' eternal Son of God,
Thou wilt from all iniquity
Redeem us by Thy blood:
The men of heart sincere
Thy blood shall sanctify,
Restore to Thy full image here,
And speak us to the sky.

308

1592.

[How foolish is my heart]

O fools, and slow of heart to believe all, &c. —xxiv. 25.

How foolish is my heart,
How tardy to believe
That Thou so kind a Saviour art,
So ready to forgive,
When all Thy prophets say
Thou shouldst for sinners die,
And rising point us out the way,
And lift us to the sky!

1593.

[Nature attempts and hopes in vain]

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, &c. —xxiv.26.

Nature attempts and hopes in vain
The' inevitable cross to shun,
That sacred path of grief and pain
Which led the Saviour to His throne,
To find a wider gate she tries,
A broader way to paradise.

Through sufferings our exalted Head
His height of glorious bliss attain'd,
Through sufferings all His members led,
His martyrs all, the summit gain'd,
Trusting in His and not their own
They echoed back His final groan.

Jesus, my trust is in Thy name,
For pardon, holiness, and heaven;
All merit I, but Thine, disclaim,
Thy cross, Thy crown are freely given;
And Thou, whose blood hath purged my guilt,
Shall save me when and as Thou wilt.

1594.

[The Scriptures all with Christ are fill'd]

He expounded unto them in all the scriptures, &c. —xxiv. 27.

The Scriptures all with Christ are fill'd,
With Jesus, and His will to save,

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His birth and death are there reveal'd,
His rise and triumph o'er the grave,
His kingdom come in gracious power,
His reign when time shall be no more.

Jesus, Divine Interpreter,
To me Thine oracles unseal,
Then shall I find and taste Thee there,
Thy truth, and power, and mercy feel,
And nothing know, and nothing see
In all the book of God but Thee.

To me that Spirit of wisdom give
Who doth in all Thy members breathe,
Thy sinless life I then shall live,
And daily die Thy blessed death,
Fix'd in my heart Thy kingdom own,
And rise to Thine eternal throne.

1595.

[Will my Lord be so unkind]

He made as though He would have gone further. —xxiv. 28.

Will my Lord be so unkind,
Leave an halting soul behind,
My Companion in the way
Leave me at the close of day?
Farther though Thou seem to go,
Yet Thy secret mind I know,
And Thou never wilt depart:
Have I not explain'd Thy heart?

1596.

[Thee let Thy own love constrain]

They constrained Him, saying, Abide with, &c. —xxiv. 29.

Thee let Thy own love constrain
With Thy followers to remain,
Now the shades of night are near,
Do not Saviour, disappear:

310

With us still vouchsafe to' abide,
Through the dreary valley guide,
On Thyself our spirits stay,
Bear us to eternal day.

1597.

[Thou didst forsake Thy throne above]

Did not our heart burn within us, while, &c. —xxiv. 32.

Thou didst forsake Thy throne above,
To bring on earth the fire of love,
By telling who Thou art:
Jesus, Thy word is as a fire,
And spreads the flame of strong desire
Through every faithful heart.

While in this wilderness we stray,
Talk with us, Saviour, by the way,
The things concerning Thee
In Thine own oracles reveal,
And warm our frozen hearts, and fill
With fervent charity.

Now, in Thy Spirit of burning come,
And all our sins as dross consume,
With purity Divine:
With love seraphical inspire,
And kindle here a heavenly fire
Which shall for ever shine.

1598.

[To Thy poor unfaithful creature]

The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared, &c. —xxiv. 34.

To Thy poor unfaithful creature,
Jesus show Thyself alive,
Thou who didst appear to Peter,
Now to me repentance give;

311

Me who have by sin denied Thee,
Author of Thy mortal smart,
Oft afresh have crucified Thee,
Turn, and look, and break my heart.

While with tears of true contrition
I my grievous falls deplore,
Pity my forlorn condition,
Lift me up to sin no more;
By Thy glorious resurrection,
Thou my twice-dead spirit raise,
Quicken'd with Divine affection,
Fill'd with all the life of grace.

1599.

[Captain, God of our salvation]

He was known of them in breaking of bread. —xxiv. 35.

Captain, God of our salvation
Bought so dear on Calvary,
While we call to mind Thy passion,
Thou for good remember me:
In the bread for sinners broken
Thou mine unbelief remove,
Give my trembling heart a token
Of Thy free redeeming love.

That my fears may all be over,
May with sin for ever cease,
To a drooping soul discover
Thou art still my Life, my Peace;
Take away this inward blindness,
That I may my Saviour know,
Conscious of Thy loving-kindness,
Hold, and never let Thee go.

312

1600.

[While we of His mysteries]

As they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood, &c. —xxiv. 36.

While we of His mysteries
Discourse with humble fear,
In the midst of us He is,
And Jesus will appear,
Will remove our sad distress,
By mercy's comfortable voice,
Speak the words of life and peace,
And bid our hearts rejoice.

Lord, Thou dost Thy followers seek,
Where'er dispersed they stray,
Cheer the faint, confirm the weak,
And by Thy presence stay:
Thee the Shepherd good and kind
Before our eyes of faith we see,
Peace the seal of pardon find,
And heavenly joy in Thee.

1601.

[Open mine eyes of faith to see]

Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I, &c. —xxiv. 39.

Open mine eyes of faith to see
Thy hands and feet transfix'd and torn,
So shall I know that Thou art He
Who hast my sins and sorrows borne,
The Man that on the mountain bled,
And rose my Surety from the dead.

O could I now behold my Lord,
Discern and touch the Crucified,
Adore the true immortal Word,
And thrust my hand into Thy side,
And feel that Thou my Saviour art;
Whose blood is sprinkled on my heart!

313

1602.

[Sometimes the faith, at once bestow'd]

They yet believed not for joy. —xxiv. 41.

Sometimes the faith, at once bestow'd,
Unfolds itself by slow degrees,
And thus the heavenly gift of God
More clearly the receiver sees,
Convinced his grace is not his own,
Glory he gives to God alone.

Fear, joy, astonishment oppose
The truth of Christ to life restored,
But these and every mountain flows
Before the presence of the Lord,
When Jesus His own Spirit imparts
To' attest His rising in our hearts.

1603.

[None that is not taught by Thee]

Then opened He their understanding, &c. —xxiv. 45.

None that is not taught by Thee
Can Thine oracles declare,
Thou hast, Lord, the sacred key,
Thou Thine own interpreter
Dost by inspiration give
The true sense by God design'd,
Teach us rightly to conceive
All Thy gracious Father's mind.

Open then our minds and hearts
Thy own word to understand,
Write it in our inward parts
Every promise and command,
All Thine acceptable will
Let us by Thy Spirit prove,
Through His energy fulfil
The whole counsel of Thy love.

314

1604.

[What but mercy could impose]

Thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to, &c. —xxiv. 46.

What but mercy could impose
The strange necessity?
Jesus, Lover of Thy foes,
Thy death hath set us free;
Thou hast suffer'd in our stead:
Thy rising and return to heaven
Proves the general debt is paid,
And all mankind forgiven.

Christ to suffer it behoved
By the decree of God,
Guilt could only be removed
Through His atoning blood:
Justice must be satisfied,
Or mercy never could take place:
Christ embraced the terms, and died,
And ransom'd all our race.

Thus, to save us it became
The Majesty Divine;
Thus to magnify His name
All His perfections join:
Truth and love His throne maintain,
And righteousness and grace agree,
Meet in the redeeming plan
With perfect harmony.

1605.

[Preach repentance in His name]

Repentance and remission of sins should, &c. —xxiv. 47.

Preach repentance in His name,
Preach forgiveness in His blood,
Then ye may His presence claim,
Then ye preach the word of God:
Empty all beside and vain,
Not the word of God, but man.

315

1606.

[Jesus, succeed our ministry]

Jesus, succeed our ministry,
And prove the virtues of Thy name:
Thee, Giver of repentance, Thee
Giver of pardon we proclaim:
Thyself of unbelief convince
Whome'er we to repentance call,
And then, to cancel all their sins,
Assure them Thou hast died for all.

1607.

[Sinners, a pardon I proclaim]

Beginning at Jerusalem. —xxiv. 47.

Sinners, a pardon I proclaim
Offer'd to all in Jesu's name;
But know, the wickedest and worst
Shall have the gracious offer first.

1608.

[Witnesses of Jesu's death]

Ye are witnesses of these things. —xxiv. 48.

Witnesses of Jesu's death
And resurrection we,
Dead to sin, believe and breathe
His Spirit of purity;
Quicken'd by our living Head
We rise and seek the things above,
Walk as Jesus walk'd, and lead
The life of holy love.

Witness of Thy death am I,
Who daily die with Thee,
I Thy rising testify
Who feel Thy life in me;
Penitent I dare proclaim
Thou dost the contrite grace impart,
Preach forgiveness in Thy name
Who find it in my heart.

316

1609.

[He lifts the hands stretch'd out so late]

He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. —xxiv. 50.

He lifts the hands stretch'd out so late,
And nail'd to the accursed tree,
Which bore His sacred body's weight
With all our sin and misery;
The hands from which our blessings flow,
Which every creature's wants supply;
Fountains of grace to all below,
They hold, and bear us to the sky.

Those hands on which my hopes depend
My present and eternal peace,
Lift up, and over me extend,
To guard, and sanctify and bless;
Bless me from Thy celestial throne,
With more than heart can e'er conceive,
And seal, and take me for Thine own,
Thy purchase, in Thy joy to live.

1610.

[Parted in the act of blessing]

While He blessed them, He was parted, &c. —xxiv. 51.

Parted in the act of blessing,
Never shall His blessings stop:
Still for us He prays unceasing,
Still His hands are lifted up!
First the Comforter is given
Proof of His continued prayer;
Then He prays us up to heaven,
Blesses us for ever there.

1611.

[We worship our exalted Lord]

They worshipped Him, and returned, &c. —xxiv. 52, 53.

We worship our exalted Lord,
By all the heavenly hosts adored,
Jesus, our sacrifice receive,
And King of saints for ever live.

317

Thou dost from Thy disciples part,
To make us one with Thee in heart,
Thou art, O God, gone up on high,
To draw us after to the sky.

Our Captain and triumphant Head
Hath took possession in our stead,
Hath open'd and prepared our way
To mansions of eternal day.

Till Thou return to fetch Thy bride,
We at Jerusalem abide,
And life's important hour employ
In hymns of praise and solemn joy:

On Thee we in Thy temple wait
(The house of God, the heavenly gate)
In all the means Thy grace enjoin'd
The presence of Thy Spirit find.

With that acclaiming choir above
We glorify the God of love,
Extol the wonders of Thy grace,
And only live to pray and praise.

318

S. JOHN.

CHAPTER I.

1612.

[The Word, the uncreated Son]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word, &c. —i. 1–3.

The Word, the uncreated Son,
When finite things began to be,
Existing, God with God alone,
Thou wast from all eternity!
There, in Thy Father's bosom laid,
Ineffably begot by Him,
Thou wast, before the worlds were made,
God independent and supreme.

All-wise, all-good, almighty Lord,
God over all Thou always art,
Jehovah's everlasting Word,
Spoken into Thy creature's heart;
With God essentially the same,
Distinct in personality,
Thou art the absolute I AM,
And all things made were made by Thee.

1613.

[Fountain of life to all that live]

In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. —i. 4.

Fountain of life to all that live,
Thyself, the' essential Life Divine,
Thou didst to our first parents give,
And in their sinless nature shine:

319

The Life was Light and happiness,
And wisdom pure with Thee bestow'd:
In all Thy works they saw Thy face,
While all Thy works were fill'd with God.

1614.

[Still on the soul of fallen man]

The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness, &c. —i. 5.

Still on the soul of fallen man
Thou dost a beam of glory shed,
A ray of grace, an hidden grain,
A spark of life, an heavenly seed:
He wakes, and thinks, by slow degrees,
Nor yet the Principle perceives,
Or knows the Light by which he sees,
Or feels the Life by which he lives.

1615.

[True Light of the whole world, appear]

That was the true Light, which lighteth every, &c. —i. 9.

True Light of the whole world, appear,
Answer in us Thy character,
Thou uncreated Sun;
Jesus, Thy beams on all are shed,
That all may by Thy beams be led
To that eternal throne.

Lighten'd by Thy interior ray
Thee every child of Adam may
His unknown God adore,
And following close Thy secret grace
Emerge into that glorious place
Where darkness is no more.

The universal Light Thou art,
And turn'd to Thee the darkest heart
A glimmering spark may find;
Let man reject it or embrace,
Thou offerest once Thy saving grace
To me, and all mankind.

320

Light of my soul, I follow Thee,
In humble faith on earth to see
Thy perfect day of love;
And then with all Thy saints in light
To gain the beatific sight
Which makes our heaven above.

1616.

[Thyself Thou wouldst to sinners give]

His own received Him not. —i. 11.

Thyself Thou wouldst to sinners give,
But Thee Thine own will not receive,
With all Thy proffer'd love,
Thy subjects they refuse to be,
Disdaining to be led by Thee
To endless joys above.

Thee, if they finally deny,
And harden'd unbelievers die,
Yet, by themselves undone,
Thy creatures, and redeem'd they are,
Invited, and design'd to share
Thine everlasting throne.

1617.

[Thee, Jesus, full of truth and grace]

As many as received Him, to them gave He, &c. —i. 12.

Thee, Jesus, full of truth and grace,
My God, my Saviour, I embrace,
To all Thy creatures given;
My Prophet, Priest, and King receive,
And in Thine only name believe
For pardon, grace, and heaven.

Sole self-existing God, I own
The merit of Thy death alone
Hath ransom'd all mankind,
And every dying slave in Thee
With peace and perfect liberty
May life eternal find.

321

I use the power by Thee bestow'd,
To' accept Thee as my Lord my God,
The privilege Divine
Assured Thou wilt on me bestow,
That born of God my soul may know
Whate'er Thou art is mine.

Not differing from a servant now,
I wait in humble faith, till Thou
Art in my heart reveal'd:
Then shall I Abba Father cry,
An heir of all in earth and sky,
An heir of glory seal'd.

1618.

[What angel can the grace explain!]

The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among, &c. —i. 14.

What angel can the grace explain!
The very God is very man,
By love paternal given!
Begins the uncreated Word,
Born is the everlasting Lord,
Who made both earth and heaven!

Behold Him high above all height,
Him, God of God, and Light of Light,
In a mean earthy shrine;
Jehovah's Glory dwelt with men,
The Person in our flesh is seen,
The Character Divine!

Not with these eyes of flesh and blood;
Yet lo, we still behold the God
Replete with truth and grace:
The truth of holiness we see,
The truth of full felicity
In our Redeemer's face.

322

Transform'd by the ecstatic sight,
Our souls o'erflow with pure delight,
And every moment own
The Lord our whole perfection is,
The Lord is our immortal bliss,
And Christ and heaven are one.

1619.

[Him in whom all fulness dwells]

Of His fulness have all we received, and grace, &c. —i. 16.

Him in whom all fulness dwells,
Every true believer feels,
Every soul by Christ restored,
Shines a copy of his Lord;
Father of His church and Head,
All the heaven-begotten seed
Cry, We have received from Him,
Grace for grace, as limb for limb.

O that with the faithful I
Could Thy fulness testify!
Jesus, is there not in Thee
Grace, sufficient grace, for me?
Let me now with Thee receive
All Thou dost to sinners give;
All Thou hast, and all Thou art,
Dwell for ever in my heart!

1620.

[The fiery law by Moses given]

The law was given by Moses, but grace and, &c. —i. 17.

The fiery law by Moses given,
Was thunder'd in a voice from heaven;
In shadowy types and victims slain,
Which could not purge our sinful stain,
It only pointed at the Lamb:
But grace and truth by Jesus came.

He in our mortal flesh reveal'd,
The types substantially fulfill'd,

323

By one sufficient sacrifice,
For ever smoking through the skies,
He answer'd the demand of God,
And quench'd the wrath with all His blood.

1621.

[Thee, Son of the Most-High]

No man hath seen God at any time, &c. —i. 18.

Thee, Son of the Most-High,
Jesus we glorify
In Thy Father's bosom laid,
Thou dost all His secrets know,
Partner of our nature made
Dost declare His name below.

With eyes of faith we see
The' Invisible in Thee,
When Thou dost Thy Sire reveal,
Then I know Thee who Thou art,
Find the great Unsearchable,
God residing in my heart.

Thou dost the Spirit confer,
The heavenly Comforter;
Thus the triune God of love
God of glory we receive,
Antedate the joys above,
Here the life eternal live.

1622.

[The saint indeed, the humble man]

He confessed . . . I am not the Christ. —i. 20.

The saint indeed, the humble man
Such as he is delights to' appear,
In words distinct, and strong, and plain
Disowns his Saviour's character,
Renounces man's misplaced esteem
As what belongs to God, not him.

324

He doth not in their error leave
The men who foolishly extol,
Too highly of his grace conceive,
Him holy, pure, or perfect call;
But all their fond conceits removes,
And still the lowest place he loves.

1623.

[In unambiguous words and few]

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? &c. —i. 21.

In unambiguous words and few,
Which just suffice his mind to' express,
He disavows the praise undue,
The truth they urge him to confess
Simply declares, from falsehood free,
Nor wounds his own humility.

His own advantages of grace
If known yet he regards them not;
The good he truly doth possess
O'erlooks as slighted and forgot:
Yet while he seeks himself to hide
He hates the modest veil of pride.

1624.

[More than a prophet sent by God]

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the, &c. —i. 23.

More than a prophet sent by God,
Forerunner of the Lord Most-High,
With all Elijah's spirit endued
Himself he doth not magnify,
But while Messiah he proclaims,
Himself a voice, a nothing, names.

Full of the greatness of his Lord,
Himself he studies to abase,
Let Jesus be alone adored,
Object of universal praise,
Proprietor of all esteem,
Bow all in earth and heaven to Him.

325

1625.

[Did Jesus for the world atone?]

Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away, &c. —i. 29.

Did Jesus for the world atone?
“Yes; for the world of the elect:”
Love could not die for some alone,
And all the wretched rest reject:
For the whole helpless world that lay
In desperate wickedness, He died,
And all who dare believe it, may
With me be freely justified.

Charged with the universal load,
The sins of every soul, and mine,
By faith I see the Lamb of God,
The bleeding Sacrifice Divine!
My sins, transferr'd from me to Him,
Shall never be by justice found,
All carried down that purple stream,
All in that open fountain drown'd!

1626.

[The heart to creature-love inclined]

The heart to creature-love inclined,
The sin of all our fallen kind,
Cannot the Lamb of God remove,
And cast it out by purer love?
Didst Thou not bear it on the tree,
To bear it far away from me,
And pour the fountain of Thy blood,
To wash out all my inbred load?

The sin that cleaves to Adam's race,
Our burden, plague and dire disgrace,
The beastly, and the devilish sin,
The lust, and pride that works within,
Thou, Lord, on whom in faith I call,
Wilt conquer, and destroy it all,

326

Wilt take both root and branch away,
And unbelief for ever slay.

Thee I behold with steadfast eye,
And wait till Thou Thy blood apply,
Its purifying power impart,
And throughly wash my sprinkled heart:
Then shall I make Thy mercy known,
And love my loving God alone;
Answer Thy passion's whole design,
And die, and live for ever Thine.

1627.

[Spotless, meek and holy Lamb]

I saw the Spirit descending from heaven, &c. —i. 32.

Spotless, meek and holy Lamb,
Why didst Thou the Spirit receive?
From Thy throne on Thee He came,
That Thou might'st to sinners give,
Might'st communicate to me
The Divine, pacific Dove,
Fill my heart with purity,
Innocence, and faithful love.

Let Him, Lord, my heart inspire,
All Thy gracious mind reveal,
Kindle the baptismal fire,
Now the heir of glory seal;
Let the Comforter come down,
Take possession of my breast,
Make Thy heavenly nature known,
On my soul for ever rest.

1628.

[By this celestial sign]

Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, &c. —i. 33.

By this celestial sign
We the Baptizer know,
And all baptized with love Divine
The self-same token show:

327

On them the Spirit of grace
Descends, and still abides,
And fills with fruits of righteousness,
And to His glory guides.

1629.

[God supreme, who diedst for me]

Behold the Lamb of God! —i. 36.

God supreme, who diedst for me
In that atoning Lamb,
Weary of not loving Thee
Grieved at my heart, I am:
Thee I never yet beheld
In bleeding majesty Divine,
Never felt Thy love reveal'd,
Or that had kindled mine.

Suffering in the sinner's place,
Transfix'd on Calvary,
Give me eyes Thy mournful face,
Thy mangled form, to see;
Lovely in Thy garments dyed,
Crush'd with the universal load,
Show me now Thy hands and side,
And conquer by Thy blood.

Help, O help my unbelief,
Or Thou hast died in vain;
Come and heal my sin and grief,
And purge my nature's stain;
Saviour of the world, bestow
The precious gift of faith Divine,
Then my Ransomer I know,
I feel that Thou art mine.

1630.

[Naked is my heart to Thee]

They followed Jesus. —i. 37.

Naked is my heart to Thee:
Would I not Thy follower be?

328

Tread the path which Thou hast trod,
Track Thee, Saviour, by Thy blood,
Meekly Thine afflictions share,
Every day Thy burden bear,
Drink Thy passion's second cup,
Fill the mournful measure up?

Thou didst once for sin atone,
Tread the winepress quite alone,
Yet I may Thy grief partake,
Suffer for my Master's sake,
Through the strength Thy cross supplies
Mingle with Thy sacrifice,
Bow my head on yonder tree,
Die for One who died for me.

1631.

[The law points out the Victim slain]

Master, where dwellest Thou? —i. 38.

The law points out the Victim slain,
And toward Him a few steps we go,
But never can to Christ attain
Till He the power of faith bestow,
Turning to us, Himself impart,
And speak in mercy to the heart.

Master, (as such Thyself I own,)
My Master and Director be,
Instruct me in the way unknown,
Which leads to happiness and Thee,
And by the lessons of Thy love
Conduct me to Thy house above.

1632.

[Inspired with faith we come and see]

He saith unto them, Come and see. —i. 39.

Inspired with faith we come and see,
The place of Thy abode we know,
And tarry in Thy house with Thee;
Where two or three are met below

329

Thee, Jesus, in the midst we meet,
Whose presence makes the church complete.

Come all, and see our Saviour here!
He still doth in His house abide,
Assembled with His church appear
Diffused through earth, and scatter'd wide:
And here we all with Christ may sup
Till to His throne He takes us up.

1633.

[The man who hath his Saviour found]

He first findeth his own brother, . . . and saith, &c. —i. 41.

The man who hath his Saviour found,
And knows where He vouchsafes to dwell,
Should never bury in the ground
His treasure, or his faith conceal,
But testify the gospel-word,
And others urge to seek their Lord.

1634.

['Tis not enough to speak for God]

And he brought him to Jesus. —i. 42.

'Tis not enough to speak for God:
If God our faithful labours speed,
We minister the grace bestow'd,
And precious souls to Jesus lead;
Point them to the Messiah nigh,
And place beneath His pitying eye.

1635.

[O the riches of Thy grace!]

Jesus . . . findeth Philip, and saith unto him, &c. —i. 43.

O the riches of Thy grace!
Grace surpassing all our thought,
Grace transcending all our praise,
Finding those who sought Thee not!
Grace doth more than sin abound,
For a world of sinners free:
Me, their guilty chief, it found,
Drew my heart to follow Thee.

330

Master of my heart and will,
Both are in Thy gracious hand,
Seek, and call, and draw me still
Subject to Thy mild command.
Then I after Thee shall run
On the wings of faith and love,
Find Thee, Saviour, on Thy throne,
Glorify Thy grace above.

1636.

[While all His holy angels]

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto, &c. —i. 45.

While all His holy angels
With hymns of praise surround Him,
We sing below
Who Jesus know,
And in our hearts have found Him.
Whom Moses and the prophets
Foretold by inspiration,
We now embrace,
Our Lord confess
Our Saviour, and Salvation:

To all our guilty brethren
We the good news discover,
Believe, and you
Shall find Him too,
The universal Lover.
Receive the true Messias
Whom God to man hath given,
And when you see
And know 'tis He,
You know the joys of heaven.

1637.

[An Israelite indeed]

Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? —i. 46.

An Israelite indeed,
A foe to worldly art

331

May be by prejudice misled,
Yet never err in heart:
God will not leave him long
Without distincter light,
Or let a soul continue wrong
Whose life is in the right.

1638.

[Me, I know Thine eye beheld]

When thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. —i. 48.

Me, I know Thine eye beheld
From the eye of man conceal'd,
Where I ignorantly pray'd
In the solitary shade,
Conscious of my nakedness
Cover'd with my leafy dress,
There I heard Thy secret call,
There began to feel my fall.

Drawn I was, and taught by Thee
From my earliest infancy,
In the lessons of Thy grace
I my heavenly Master trace:
Searcher of my simple heart,
God's omniscient Son Thou art,
Israel's King I worship Thee;
Come and fix Thy throne in me.

1639.

[Yes, my gracious God and Lord]

Thou shalt see greater things than these. —i. 50.

Yes, my gracious God and Lord,
If I believe in Thee,
I shall prove Thine utmost word
And greater wonders see;
I shall in Thy will delight,
And comprehend with saints above
All the length and breadth and height
And depth of perfect love.

332

1640.

[Greater things Nathanael view'd]

Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the, &c. —i. 51.

Greater things Nathanael view'd
When heaven he saw thrown wide,
Saw the Son of man and God
On wings of cherubs ride,
Israel's car and steeds of fire
For Israel's glorious King sent down,
Christ with all the' angelic choir
Returning to His throne.

These the greater things which I
Even I expect to see;
Christ descending from the sky
In beauteous majesty,
With His bright angelic train
While all His saints behold Him near,
I shall see my Lord again,
And in His sight appear.

Israel spiritually renew'd
In love, and pure in heart,
We shall meet and clasp our God,
And never never part;
'Midst the' acclaiming hosts ascend,
With all the clarions of the sky,
Rapt to bliss which cannot end,
To life which cannot die.

CHAPTER II.

1641.

[Mother of Purity Divine]

The mother of Jesus was there. —ii. 1.

Mother of Purity Divine
The Virgin graced a nuptial feast,

333

But who in Jesus' spirit join
They entertain a nobler Guest.
Who meet and marry in the Lord,
Bless'd as the first unspotted pair,
They find their paradise restored,
And Purity Himself is there.

1642.

[They, only they, the Lord invite]

Both Jesus was called, and His disciples. —ii. 2.

They, only they, the Lord invite
Their hallow'd nuptials to attend
Who seek in Him their chief delight,
Their Bridegroom and celestial Friend;
Who ask His love their feast to crown,
In wrestling faith their wants declare,
And bring the blissful Spirit down
By all the powers of humble prayer.

They bid the Lord's disciples too,
Who marry as His saints approve,
Expose their hearts to open view,
Set on the' eternal things above.
Who not with flesh and blood confer,
But counsel with the faithful take,
And call the church their bliss to share,
And love them all for Jesus' sake.

How fatal and unlike to these
The world's alliances profane,
Where sinners match themselves to please,
And lust and foul intemperance reign.
By avarice or ambition join'd,
They banish God from all their thought,
And madly cast His fear behind,
While Mammon ties the hellish knot.

334

1643.

[Our real want of needful food]

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to, &c. —ii. 4.

Our real want of needful food
We still may represent to God
With true simplicity:
Saviour, Thou dost with smiles approve
Our humble confidence of love
Which all expects from Thee.

Yet must we not presume to know
Or tell Thee when Thy grace to show,
Thy benefits to give;
But trusting in Thy mercy's power,
The manner and appointed hour
Unto Thy wisdom leave.

Then let us urge our meek request,
Nature's anticipating haste
With patient faith forego,
Assured Thou wilt Thy people feed,
And outward and immortal bread
In Thy own time bestow.

1644.

[Reproved she answers not a word]

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever, &c. —ii. 5.

Reproved she answers not a word,
But waiting on her heavenly Lord
Her confidence holds fast,
With faith increased the check receives,
He will, she fully now believes,
Do His own work at last.

1645.

[When wine they want the' almighty Lord]

Jesus saith, . . . Fill the waterpots. —ii. 7.

When wine they want the' almighty Lord
Water instead of wine demands:
He both created by His word,
Nothing His sovereign will withstands:

335

And every year in every vine
He changes water into wine.

Annex'd to means improbable
Thy blessing, Lord, we oft perceive,
Who, when Thou dost Thy mind reveal
Thy word implicitly believe,
And do what Thou art pleased to' ordain,
And thus a greater blessing gain.

1646.

[Call'd to the marriage of the Lamb]

Thou hast kept the good wine until now. —ii. 10.

Call'd to the marriage of the Lamb
Jehovah in our flesh we see;
To' espouse His church from heaven He came,
The great stupendous mystery
Made by His incarnation known,
And join'd our nature to His own.

Under Thy shade, O Christ, we sing,
Partakers of Thy nuptial feast;
Thou hast reserved the better thing
To cheer Thy every welcome guest,
To gladden all the faithful race
With the good wine of gospel grace.

Now, in the end of time reveal'd,
Thy choicest, sweetest grace we prove,
And fill'd with Thee our souls are fill'd
With purity of perfect love,
Of love unknown in ages past
Kept in Thy heart to crown the last.

Thou dost in closest bonds unite
Our souls, incorporate with Thee,
We antedate the full delight
The saints' supreme felicity,

336

Flesh of Thy flesh, bone of Thy bone,
With Thee inseparably one.

Thy saints in holiness complete
Consummated in rapturous love,
Shall at Thy side triumphant sit,
And keep the marriage-feast above,
And when Thy blissful face we view
We drink the wine for ever new.

1647.

[To change the soul's ignoble taste]

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana, &c. —ii. 11.

To change the soul's ignoble taste,
To' inspire the hope of things Divine,
Of pleasures pure which always last,
And change our water into wine,
Jesus at first His grace exerts,
And heavenward turns our earthly hearts.

Changed the strong bent of nature's will
With joy and wonder we confess,
New hopes, desires, sensations feel,
Hunger and thirst for righteousness,
And worship that incarnate Word,
And see that Glory of the Lord.

1648.

[Not the desires of men to please]

Not the desires of men to please
Thou dost Thy first of wonders show,
But sent from heaven our earth to bless,
Jehovah manifest below,
Thou dost Thy peerless power display,
And faith's eternal basis lay.

This demonstration of Thy grace,
This proof of Thy Divinity,
Saviour, in every age and place
Convinced Thy true disciples see,

337

Built on the rock that cannot move,
The truth of Thine almighty love.

Who changes water into wine
Can sinners into saints convert:
Thy grace omnipotent, Divine,
I trust to make me as Thou art,
To form my heart averse from sin,
And bid mine inmost soul be clean.

The virtue of Thy perfect love
This soul shall to the utmost save,
And when my hidden Life above
Appears, my Ransom from the grave,
This body vile shall mount Thy throne,
And shine immortal as Thine own.

1649.

[If all who holy things profane]

He drove them all out of the temple. —ii. 15.

If all who holy things profane
Out of the Christian church were driven,
Alas, how few would there remain
To' adore the majesty of heaven!

1650.

[More odious than the birds and beasts]

Take these things hence. —ii. 16.

More odious than the birds and beasts,
Creatures required for sacrifice,
Are careless crowds and worldly priests
Who now provoke Thy glorious eyes,
Profane the temple of the Lord,
And sell the prayer, the psalm, the word.

1651.

[Our fervent zeal for God to show]

The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up. —ii. 17.

Our fervent zeal for God to show,
We must not with our meekness part,
Or lukewarm and indifferent grow,
To prove our gentleness of heart:

338

Meekness and zeal in Jesus join'd,
In saints begotten from above,
Compose, and fill the Christian mind
With purest flames of perfect love.

Saviour, I want that ardent zeal
Which in Thy heavenly bosom glow'd,
That strong desire to do the will,
And serve the family of God:
Into my heart Thy Spirit of grace,
Of love, and true devotion pour,
To fill the consecrated place,
And all my ravish'd soul devour.

1652.

[Jesus' soul and body are]

He spake of the temple of His body. —ii. 21.

Jesus' soul and body are
The true temple of the Lord,
Come we, then, and worship there
God in the incarnate Word!
There the pure religion lies,
Dwells the Father in the Son,
And who reigns above the skies
God is found in Christ alone.

Very man of very man,
Temple of the Deity,
Whom the heavens cannot contain,
Bow our inmost souls to Thee.
Exiles while on earth we mourn,
Captives in a world of care,
All our thoughts to Thee we turn,
Every wish, and every prayer.

Prostrate now the shrine before
Join we in Thy Spirit's cry,

339

Our Immanuel adore,
Wait Thy coming from the sky:
Come and fix the temple here,
All Thy majesty reveal,
With Thy glorious scars appear,
Heaven and earth with glory fill.

1653.

[Jesus, Thou know'st what is in man]

Many believed in His name, . . . but Jesus, &c. —ii. 23, 24.

Jesus, Thou know'st what is in man,
So false, and changeable, and vain:
If now we in Thy name believe,
If Thee this moment we receive,
The next we cast our faith away,
And basely our dear Lord betray.

Thou canst not to our keeping trust
Thy grace, no sooner gain'd than lost:
But that we may in Thee confide,
With us continually abide,
A people for Thyself prepare,
And keep our hearts by reigning there.

CHAPTER III.

1654.

[Shall we discourage or repel]

The same came to Jesus by night. —iii. 2.

Shall we discourage or repel
The men who their own weakness feel,
And come to Christ by night?
Or cherish the first dawn of grace,
And teach them Jesus to confess
With all the sons of light.

340

1655.

[A Teacher come from God, and more]

Thou art a Teacher come from God. —iii. 2.

A Teacher come from God, and more,
In Thee we God Himself adore,
While in our inward parts
Thou dost Thy kind instructions write,
And make them the supreme delight
Of true believing hearts.

Master, instruct us thus to know
The' eternal God reveal'd below,
By miracles of grace
Of Thy Divinity convince,
For only God can cancel sins,
And save a ruin'd race.

God over all unless Thou art,
Thou canst not change the evil heart,
Our soul diseases heal:
But of Thy Spirit born we prove
Thou art the' almighty God of love
By signs infallible.

1656.

[The truth, and blessedness, and need]

Except a man be born again, he cannot see, &c. —iii. 3.

The truth, and blessedness, and need
Of this great change I know:
But can I witness it indeed,
Can I the tokens show?
Marks of this birth, they all are vain
Without the Spirit's power:
Then only am I born again,
When I can sin no more.

1657.

[I ask no more, how can it be?]

How can a man be born when he is old? —iii. 4.

I ask no more, how can it be?
But leave the manner now to Thee,
And wait in age to prove

341

That heavenly birth, by faith restored
To all the image of my Lord,
To all the life of love.

1658.

[The sinful father of mankind]

That which is born of the flesh is flesh. —iii. 6.

The sinful father of mankind
Could only sinful men beget,
Hence our whole race to ill inclined
The' offence original repeat.
In Adam's fallen likeness born,
We eat the interdicted tree;
Our will from our Creator turn,
And all through pride as gods would be.

Born of the flesh, to flesh alone
Our vile corrupt affections cleave,
Our reason sensualized we own,
To the desires of men we live;
Carnal alike in heart and mind,
Flesh, only flesh, ourselves we know,
And no good thing in us we find,
Till Thou, O Christ, Thy Spirit bestow.

1659.

[Adam descended from above]

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must, &c. —iii. 7.

Adam descended from above
Thou only canst that Spirit impart,
That principle of heavenly love
Regenerating the sinful heart:
O might He now from Thee proceed,
Fountain of life and purity,
Implant the nature of our Head,
And work the mighty change in me.

The seed infused, the good desire,
Into a tree immortal raise,

342

With all Thy sanctity inspire,
With all Thy plenitude of grace;
Spotless, and spiritual, and good,
My heart and life shall then be Thine,
And in my Lord's similitude
Renew'd I shall for ever shine.

1660.

[Strangers to nature's mystery]

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou, &c. —iii. 8.

Strangers to nature's mystery,
We hear its sound, but cannot see
The vague impetuous wind:
The Spirit's course we cannot trace,
The secret motions of that grace
Whose sure effects we find.

The ways of God are dark to man,
In vain we would describe, explain,
Delineate, or define:
The manner still remains unknown,
The sure reality we own,
And feel that birth Divine.

Just as He lists, the Spirit blows,
But whence He comes, and whither goes,
No mortal comprehends;
How He begins His power to' exert,
By what degrees renews the heart,
Or when His progress ends.

The soul in which His work is done,
Alike to worldly minds unknown
To all that know not God;
The spiritual regenerate man
Others discerns, but never can
Himself be understood.

343

His life a daily death they see,
A riddle of absurdity,
And quite unlike their own;
While, saved from low terrestrial views
He things invisible pursues,
And pants for God alone.

The heavenly principle within
The spring of all his acts, unseen
And unsuspected lies;
His end they cannot understand
Who seeks some undiscover'd land
A kingdom in the skies.

1661.

[The change we all may feel and show]

How can these things be? —iii. 9.

The change we all may feel and show,
And born of God, His kingdom see;
In vain we would the manner know,
And still inquire, How can it be?
Or, boldly ignorant, explode
The' inexplicable truths of God.

Who first by reason's scanty line
Can the immense Creator mete,
Fathom the depths of love Divine,
Of power and wisdom infinite,
May then the miracle explore
How saints can live and sin no more.

1662.

[Our Maker and redeeming Lord]

We speak that we do know, and testify that, &c. —iii. 11.

Our Maker and redeeming Lord
Whom all Thy heavens cannot contain,
The real Light, the' eternal Word,
The truth itself Thou speak'st to man;

344

Who only dost the Father know,
Thou dost His mysteries reveal,
The wisdom of His conduct show,
And teach the ways unsearchable.

Yet none of all our fallen race
By his own proper power receives
The record of Thy heavenly grace,
Or in Thy faithful word believes;
Unless Thou take the bar away,
Our helpless unbelief remove,
Thy life into our souls convey,
And teach our hearts that God is love.

The truth Thy witnesses have known,
And seen, and felt they all confess;
But still the Christian world disown
That second birth to righteousness:
Jesus, the Spirit's power exert,
The stubborn infidels convince,
The humbled infidels convert,
And truly save from all their sins.

1663.

[Who will not now the word believe]

If I have told you earthly things, and ye, &c. —iii. 12.

Who will not now the word believe,
And feel that wondrous birth below,
How shall their carnal hearts conceive
The joys which in Thy presence flow?

1664.

[Jesus, Son of God and man]

No man hath ascended up to heaven, but, &c. —iii. 13.

Jesus, Son of God and man,
To the regenerate given,
Thou dost to their hearts explain
The mysteries of heaven;
With Thyself in spirit one
The members in their Head ascend,

345

Taste the raptures of Thy throne,
The joys which never end.

1665.

[He hath been lifted up for me]

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the, &c. —iii. 14.

He hath been lifted up for me,
For me, when wallowing in my blood:
I saw Him hanging on the tree,
And virtue from His body flow'd,
The poison of my sins expell'd
And all my wounds that moment heal'd.

1666.

[How hath He loved us? how?]

God so loved the world, that He, &c. —iii. 16.

How hath He loved us? how?
Can man or angel tell?
While prostrate at that cross we bow,
His love's effects we feel;
The virtue of that sign
Our gasping souls receive,
And ransom'd by the death Divine,
We shall for ever live.

No angel from His throne
He sent the world to save,
But God his own beloved Son
To desperate sinners gave:
Who in His bosom lay
He on His foes bestow'd,
The Lamb that bore our sins away
And wash'd us in His blood.

Jehovah's name is Love,
And love His heart inclined
To send His Fellow from above
A victim for mankind:

346

'Twas found in Him alone
Salvation's wondrous cause
Who freely gave His only Son
To save us by His cross.

1667.

[Thee, Lord, who on the tree]

Thee, Lord, who on the tree
Didst buy the general peace,
Author of our salvation, we
Author of faith confess:
Thou dost the faith bestow
Thy blessed Self to' embrace,
The faith from which our virtues grow,
And all our fruits of grace.

Our souls are born again
Through faith inspired by Thee,
Through faith Thy nature we obtain,
Thine immortality;
It doth Thy mind reveal,
Thy hallowing blood applies,
And shuts the gates of death and hell,
And opens paradise.

1668.

[Thou didst Thy Son bestow]

God sent not His Son into the world to, &c. —iii. 17.

Thou didst Thy Son bestow
Thy truth of grace to prove,
And Jesus did by dying show
Sincerity of love:
He suffer'd in our place
By mercy's sole decree:
Know every child of Adam's race
Thy Saviour died for thee!

1669.

[Lord, I believe, and stand secure]

He that believeth on Him is not condemned. —iii. 18.

Lord, I believe, and stand secure,
In all I speak, and do, and feel;

347

My conscience finds an answer sure,
To every charge of earth or hell:
Nigh to the Judge I boldly draw,
My Surety all His anger bore,
My Lord fulfill'd the fiery law,
And God the just can ask no more.

1670.

[All in their wretched selves alone]

This is the condemnation, that light is come, &c. —iii. 19.

All in their wretched selves alone
The cause of their damnation lies,
Lovers of sin, they hate and shun
The light that pains their guilty eyes.
Who the dire deeds of darkness do
Abhorrence of the light they feel,
And the broad dreary path pursue
That leads to the profoundest hell.

1671.

[Happy those who labour on]

John . . . was baptizing . . . not yet cast into prison. —iii. 23, 24.

Happy those who labour on
For God with all their power,
Labour till their course is run,
And they can work no more:
Happier, when their toils are pass'd,
If liberty they sacrifice,
Offering up their lives at last
To win the martyr's prize.

1672.

[It is mine own infirmity!]

He that was with thee . . . baptizeth, and all, &c. —iii. 26.

It is mine own infirmity!
I would have all prefer,
And zealously caress, like me,
My favourite minister:
I grudge alas, at their success,
And secretly repine,
If other instruments of grace
Are follow'd more than mine.

348

Ah, Lord, enlarge my selfish heart,
And I shall gladly own
The Giver of all good Thou art,
And dost the work alone:
To Thee I shall the glory give,
Thine only choice approve,
And all Thy messengers receive
With pure impartial love.

1673.

[Lord, if Thou hast sent forth me]

John . . . said, A man can receive nothing, except, &c. —iii. 27.

Lord, if Thou hast sent forth me,
Used a sinner's ministry,
All the glory I disclaim,
Feel I worse than nothing am;
For my talents, gifts, or grace
Thee let Thy disciples praise,
God the heavenly Fountain own,
Magnify my God alone.

1674.

[He will not with His purchase part]

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom. —iii. 29.

He will not with His purchase part,
He holds His consort in His heart:
But is my narrow sect the bride,
And heathens all the church beside?

1675.

[No greater joy the servant knows]

The friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoiceth greatly, &c. —iii. 29.

No greater joy the servant knows
Than when the Master's voice he hears,
And Jesus on His church bestows
The peace that chases all their fears;
The servant is the Bridegroom's friend,
Delighted with His only praise,
When Christ he doth to souls commend,
And shares with them the gospel-grace.

349

This happiness, O Lord, is mine,
I taste the bliss Thy word imparts,
The word of righteousness Divine
Spoken into Thy people's hearts:
Thou hast betrothed Thy church to Thee,
United to the faithful soul,
And now the happy day I see,
And now my holy joy is full.

1676.

[I would be less and less]

He must increase, but I must decrease. —iii. 30.

I would be less and less
That Jesus may increase,
Would myself renounce, despise,
Till on earth no longer seen,
Least of all in my own eyes,
Least of all esteem'd by men.

A voice, and nothing more,
I only go before;
Jesus' poorest instrument,
Jesus' harbinger I am,
Live to spend and to be spent,
Live to glorify His name.

My life is not my own,
Bestow'd for Him alone:
Ready at the Master's call
Every blessing I resign,
Fame, and strength, and life, and all,
Die, to serve the cause Divine.

1677.

[Mere man of earthly origin]

He that is of the earth is earthly, &c. —iii. 31.

Mere man of earthly origin
Is all infirmity and sin,

350

The meanness of his native place
His spirit and his speech bewrays:
Jesus, the Lord and God most high,
Reveals the secrets of the sky,
And speaks in blessings from above
The language pure of heavenly love.

1678.

[The everlasting God is He]

What He hath seen and heard, that He, &c. —iii. 32.

The everlasting God is He,
And was from all eternity,
Who on His Father's bosom lay
And doth on earth His form display;
The things He saw, and heard, and knew,
Of these He bears a record true,
Discovers the redeeming plan,
And shows the heart of God to man.

Freely He left His throne above,
To tell the world that God is love;
Yet few the saving truth receive,
Or dare on Jesu's word believe;
Not one of our unfaithful race
Doth of himself his Lord embrace,
But all reject whom God hath given,
The Witness, and the Man from heaven.

1679.

[Jesus Thy record we receive]

He that hath received His testimony hath, &c. —iii. 33.

Jesus Thy record we receive,
And by a power from Thee believe;
By faith Divine our seal set to
That Thou art God, that Thou art true,
By faith Thy promises we gain,
Thy strict fidelity maintain,
And saved from sin exult to prove
The truth of Thy redeeming love.

351

1680.

[The words Thou dost from God declare]

He whom God hath sent speaketh the words. —iii. 34.

The words Thou dost from God declare
Pure life, and quickening Spirit are,
Their own divinity they prove,
The' eternal Truth, and Power, and Love:
Our penetrated hearts agree
Never was man that spake like Thee,
God over all the Speaker own,
And seat Thee on Thy favourite throne.

1681.

[God made His mind to prophets known]

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given, &c. —iii. 35.

God made His mind to prophets known,
But Thou art His beloved Son,
Vested with plenitude of power
To teach, and expiate, and restore;
I see Thee full of truth and grace,
My Prophet, Priest, and King confess;
Exert Thy threefold energy,
Instruct, forgive, and reign in me.

Thou workest all the works Divine,
Fulfillest all His love's design:
Thy church's Head, and great High-Priest
In Thee Thy Father stands confess'd,
Dispenser of His every grace,
Saviour of the peculiar race,
The Way, where all may walk forgiven,
The Truth of bliss, the Life of heaven.

Salvation is in Jesus' name,
I every other hope disclaim,
My soul into Thy hands commend,
On Thee my only God depend;
Observant of Thy just commands,
I rest in Thine almighty hands,

352

And trust Thee for my place above,
So dearly bought by dying love.

1682.

[Jesus, believing on Thy name]

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting, &c. —iii. 36.

Jesus, believing on Thy name
Raised from the death of sin I am,
My true eternal Life Thou art,
By faith residing in my heart;
Thy nature Lord in love I know,
Imparted to the saints below,
Anticipate the' immortal prize,
And live the life of paradise.

1683.

[But born in sin and misery]

He that believeth not the Son shall not, &c. —iii. 36.

But born in sin and misery
He still is dead who knows not Thee,
Who still Thy gospel disobeys,
A stranger to the life of grace,
True happiness he cannot prove
Or live the blissful life above;
Under the curse his wretched breath
He yields, and dies the second death.

CHAPTER IV.

1684.

[Teach me, Saviour, by Thy grace]

When . . . the Lord knew how the Pharisees had, &c. —iv. 1–3.

Teach me, Saviour, by Thy grace
To answer Thy design,
When the threatening world to face,
And when their rage decline;
Far from rashness as from fear
I would not, Lord, myself expose,
Would not shrink from danger near,
Or dare, or dread my foes.

353

Thou by Thy example guide
And certify my heart
When I shall the storm abide,
And when I should depart:
Let me till Thy time is come,
From place to place Thy follower fly,
Fly, till Thou recall me home,
And then stand still and die.

1685.

[Wandering souls, lift up your eyes]

Jesus . . . being wearied with His journey, &c. —iv. 6.

Wandering souls, lift up your eyes,
Mark Him fainting on the road,
Him who made both earth and skies,
Wonder at the wearied God!
God descending from above,
Takes your flesh and frailties too,
Wearied in the toil of love,
Wearied in pursuing you.

Jesus, we Thy mercy bless,
Gladly in our service tired,
By Thy toil and weariness
Rest Thou hast for us acquired;
Thy fatigue our souls relieves
Long with Satan's yoke oppress'd,
Rest from sin and fear it gives,
Present, and eternal rest.

1686.

[Weary on the well reclined]

Weary on the well reclined,
Mercy in Thy weariness,
Mercy in Thy rest we find;
Then Thou stay'st to grant Thy peace,

354

Waitest there to seize Thy stray,
Rest and pardon to bestow,
Wearied with her sinful way
That she may her Saviour know.

Welcome weariness and pain!
Servant of Thy church and Thee,
Saviour shall I not sustain
That Thou didst sustain for me?
Let my toil advance Thy praise,
My repose resemble Thine,
Tend to minister Thy grace,
Serve the blessed cause Divine.

1687.

[He asks that He may give]

Give Me to drink. —iv. 7.

He asks that He may give,
His creature's wants relieve,
Drink He earnestly desires,
Water He vouchsafes to crave,
Souls, His vehement Spirit requires,
Thirsts expiring souls to save.

1688.

[Contrary sects we see]

The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. —iv. 9.

Contrary sects we see
In this alone agree,
Sects that bear the Christian name,
Each from each in heart removed,
Mutual intercourse disclaim,
Hate the souls whom God hath loved.

As heretics and foes
Each other they oppose,
Every church the chosen race,
Every party is the bride,
Strangers, enemies to grace,
Heathens all the world beside.

355

1689.

[Jesus, the gift Divine I know]

If thou knewest the gift of God, . . . thou wouldest, &c. —iv. 10.

Jesus, the gift Divine I know,
The gift Divine I ask of Thee;
The living water now bestow,
Thy Spirit and Thyself on me:
Thou, Lord, of life the Fountain art:
O could I find Thee in my heart!

Thee let me drink, and thirst no more
For drops of finite happiness:
Spring up, O Well, in heavenly power,
In streams of pure perennial peace,
In joy which none can take away,
In life which shall for ever stay.

1690.

[Joy in our enjoyments here]

Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. —iv. 13.

Joy in our enjoyments here
Cannot alas be found,
Tired the gazing eye, the ear
Is glutted with the sound,
Passions with their food increase
And higher by indulgence rise,
Every creature promises,
But nothing satisfies.

Drinking cannot quench or cool
The fever of desire;
Thus inflamed the thirsty soul
Doth more and more require:
Tortured thus by gnawing pains,
And scorch'd with fire unquenchable,
Here the restless sinner gains
An antepast of hell.

356

1691.

[Thou promisest Thyself to' impart]

But . . . the water that I shall give him shall, &c. —iv. 14.

Thou promisest Thyself to' impart
To all who ask Thyself of Thee,
Open the fountain in my heart,
Spring up, O Well of life, in me!
The Root and Principle of grace,
In me let Thy good Spirit abide,
Renew in perfect holiness,
And add me to the glorified.

Not like a sudden transient flood,
But fix'd and permanent and sure,
The grace Thou hast on me bestow'd
Deep let it in my soul endure,
Swift to its source celestial move,
Freely fulfil Thy whole design
With all the' activity of love,
With all the powers of life Divine.

1692.

[Religion true to visit earth]

Religion true to visit earth
In pure Divinity descends,
But mindful of its heavenly birth,
To heaven in all its motions tends;
Returning to its bless'd abode,
It mingles with the crystal sea,
It bears my spirit back to God,
My God through all eternity.

1693.

[Prince and Saviour of mankind]

Thou hast had five husbands; and he whom, &c. —iv. 18.

Prince and Saviour of mankind,
Giver of repentance true,
Bring my secret sins to mind,
Drag them into open view,
Show me what I dread to know,
To himself the sinner show.

357

What I cannot hide from Thee,
From myself I hide in vain:
Give me, Lord, myself to see,
Break my heart with grief and pain,
Then my guilty load remove,
Then reveal Thy pardoning love.

1694.

[Sprinkled with the' atoning blood]

We know what we worship: for salvation is, &c. —iv. 22.

Sprinkled with the' atoning blood
By faith Divine applied,
Knowingly we worship God
In Jesus pacified,
Inward Jews our Lord confess,
(Whose temples pure our bodies are,)
In the spirit of fervent praise,
And sacrificial prayer.

1695.

[Ritual services are pass'd]

The hour cometh, and now is, when the true, &c. —iv. 23

Ritual services are pass'd
The shadows fled away,
God is manifest at last,
And brings the gospel day;
Worship spiritual and true
The God of holiness ordains,
Works in man to will and do;
And pure religion reigns.

God's accepted worshipper
Begotten from above,
Breathes the spirit of grace and prayer,
Of humble faith and love;
All His saints the law fulfil
Engraven on their inward parts,
Sanctified by Jesu's will,
They give Him all their hearts.

358

Such the Father seeks and owns
His worshippers indeed,
Such He calls His genuine sons,
Who in His footsteps tread:
Such on earth He cannot find,
Unless He forms us by His grace,
Makes us one in heart and mind
With Christ our righteousness.

1696.

[Thou, O God, a spirit art]

God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him, &c. —iv. 24.

Thou, O God, a spirit art,
Whose glory fills the sky.
Breathe within my childlike heart,
And there “My Father” cry!
Come in Christ and fill the place
With Wisdom and effectual Power,
Thee I then shall truly praise,
And worthily adore.

All my powers shall then be brought
Into captivity,
Every passion, every thought
Shall bow, and worship Thee,
Thee mine inmost soul shall bless,
Like angels worshipping above,
Silent at Thy feet confess
The' o'erwhelming force of love!

1697.

[Jesus, Lord, for Thee I stay]

Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee, &c. —iv. 26.

Jesus, Lord, for Thee I stay,
Come and take my sins away,
Manifest the Deity,
“I who speak to souls am He”!

359

Speak eternal God to mine,
Light of life, in darkness shine:
Thou the true Messiah art,
Teach by living in my heart.

1698.

[A wonder of grace To angels and men!]

His disciples . . . marvelled that He talked with, &c. —iv. 27.

A wonder of grace To angels and men!
The Ancient of days With mortals is seen,
With sinners converses, His Spirit imparts,
His numberless mercies Makes known to our hearts.

No matter how vile The sinner has been;
His word and His smile Redeems us from sin,
With kind conversation He comforts the worst,
And shows His salvation To profligates first.

1699.

[See a soul with pardon bless'd]

The woman then left her waterpot, and went, &c. —iv. 28.

See a soul with pardon bless'd,
Freely saved by grace alone!
Knowing Christ, she cannot rest,
Till she makes her Saviour known.
Changed by one almighty word,
Earthly things she leaves behind,
This the' Apostle of the Lord,
Lord of her, and all mankind.

1700.

[Jesus keeps the soul in view]

His disciples prayed Him, saying, Master, eat. —iv. 31.

Jesus keeps the soul in view
His converted messenger,
Doth in mind and heart pursue,
Fills with zeal and acts in her,
Acts on those to whom He sends,
Those He for His Father seeks;
Still upon her tongue attends,
Blesses every word she speaks.

360

Souls to win is Jesu's meat;
Jesus thus instructs His own
Nature's cravings to forget,
Living not by bread alone:
Preachers by the gospel live,
Feed on that themselves dispense,
Strength and nourishment receive,
More than life derive from thence.

1701.

[But if Thou the Father show]

I have meat to eat that ye know not of. —iv. 32.

But if Thou the Father show,
Manifest to me His love,
I the hidden meat shall know,
I my Master's joy shall prove,
Feast with Thee on heavenly food:
Heaven on earth is serving God.

1702.

[Jesus, we now with pure delight]

Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, &c. —iv. 35.

Jesus, we now with pure delight
Lift up our eyes and see
The gospel fields to harvest white,
The crowds that flock to Thee:
Call'd by Thy ministers they run,
With eager haste to find
The promised Christ, the God unknown,
The Saviour of mankind.

1703.

[The reaper of Thy fields receives]

He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth, &c. —iv. 36.

The reaper of Thy fields receives
In part his wages here,
Thrice happy in Thy service lives,
Thy Spirit's minister;
His heart Thy peace and blessing glads,
With joy he labours on,
And every added convert adds
A jewel to his crown.

361

He gathers fruit who sinners wins,
And fruit that shall remain,
While souls redeem'd from all their sins
With him the prize obtain;
Who many turns to righteousness,
To Him the grace is given,
To honour God by his success,
To gain and people heaven.

The earnest of his glorious hire
He humbly holds it fast,
Till bless'd with all his heart's desire,
With joys that ever last,
When all who sow'd the gospel word
With all the reapers meet,
And in the presence of their Lord
Behold their bliss complete.

1704.

[The prophets spake of Jesu's grace]

Herein is that saying true, One soweth, and, &c. —iv. 37, 38.

The prophets spake of Jesu's grace,
The seed immortal sow'd;
The' apostles reap'd the ransom'd race,
And brought a world to God.
The prophets and apostles too
For us the way prepared,
And if their footsteps we pursue
We share their full reward.

1705.

[Jesus a sinful soul converts]

Many of the Samaritans . . . believed on Him, &c. —iv. 39.

Jesus a sinful soul converts
And sends her to convert the men,
Master of all His creatures' hearts;
His power is thus in weakness seen,
And thus His counsel to fulfil,
The' Almighty sends by whom He will.

362

Shall men, the great, the learn'd, and wise
His feeble instrument disdain,
(Whoe'er of Jesus testifies)
Or wisdom from a woman gain?
And gladly at her bidding go
Their Saviour from Himself to know?

1706.

[Call'd by Thy gospel messenger]

Now we believe, not because of thy saying, &c. —iv. 42.

Call'd by Thy gospel messenger
We gladly his report believe,
But when of Thine own mouth we hear
The truth we savingly receive,
And partners of Thy Spirit know
That God is manifest below.

By that unspoken word of Thine
Thou dost Thy Deity reveal,
The Saviour of the world is mine,
Saved from my sins I surely feel
The real Christ of God Thou art,
Thy unction speaks it in my heart.

1707.

[The father's fondness for his son]

He went unto Him, and besought Him that, &c. —iv. 47.

The father's fondness for his son,
His forwardness to ask a sign,
False notions of the God unknown
Which would the' Omnipotent confine,
Jesus with kind compassion sees,
His weaknesses with meekness bears,
Relieves a sinner in distress,
And grants his most imperfect prayers.

1708.

[He spake, and Jesus' word alone]

Jesus saith, . . . Go thy way; thy son liveth, &c. —iv. 50.

He spake, and Jesus' word alone
Effects the double miracle,

363

The distant body of the son,
The father's heart, a word can heal;
Credence to God the father gives
Heal'd of his incredulity,
His son restored to health believes,
Believes the cure he doth not see.

1709.

[His word, the sign of Jesus' will]

The father knew that it was at the same hour, &c. —iv. 53.

His word, the sign of Jesus' will,
Performs the thing it signifies,
The power omnipotent to heal
His efficacious word applies;
Say to me, Lord, thy soul is heal'd,
And heal'd it shall this moment be,
And with Thy sinless spirit fill'd,
I live a sacrifice to Thee.

1710.

['Tis not enough for me to know]

Himself believed, and his whole house. —iv. 53.

'Tis not enough for me to know
The things which God for me hath done,
His works I should to others show,
And make His mighty wonders known,
I cannot hide them in my heart,
I must proclaim His power abroad,
His miracles of grace assert,
And give the glory all to God.

The faith which in my heart I feel,
I humbly with my mouth confess,
That others too His praise may tell,
My Saviour's witnesses increase,
That all His family beneath
May magnify, with those above,
The God who saves our souls from death,
The quickening power of dying Love.

364

CHAPTER V.

1711.

[O Jesus, I see]

There is at Jerusalem . . . a pool, which is called, &c. —v. 2.

O Jesus, I see
My Bethesda in Thee;
Thou art full of compassion and mercy for me:
Thy blood is the pool
Both for body and soul,
And whoever steps in is made perfectly whole.

1712.

[Jesus, Thou art the House of Grace]

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, &c. —v. 3.

Jesus, Thou art the House of Grace
Where all our sin-distemper'd race
A cure for every ill may find,
Those that in mercy's porch attend,
Till Thy balsamic power descend
To heal the sick and halt and blind:
A time to Thee who dare not set,
But Thy appointed season wait,
And long and pray to be made whole,
Till the good Spirit from the sky
Come down the' atoning blood to' apply,
And plunge us in the crimson pool.

1713.

[Angel, and Porch, and Pool Thou art]

An angel went down at a certain season into the, &c. —v. 4.

Angel, and Porch, and Pool Thou art,
And when Thou dost Thy zeal exert,
And stir Thine own compassions up,
The lazar-soul that comes to Thee
Is heal'd of his infirmity,
Is made partaker of his hope.

365

Soon as Thy yearning bowels move,
Approaching in the time of love,
Whoe'er believes and enters in,
Though wither'd, impotent, and blind,
Is by the Healer of mankind
Saved, in a moment saved from sin.

1714.

[An impotent desire I feel]

Wilt thou be made whole? —v. 6.

An impotent desire I feel
At times to be made whole,
But vain the help of man to heal
My long distemper'd soul:
The Angel-God must from the skies
Come down to cure my pain:
Come, Saviour, now, and bid me rise,
And never sin again.

1715.

[Thou dost my helpless case behold]

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he, &c. —v. 6.

Thou dost my helpless case behold
With pity's melting eye,
A soul unsaved, a sinner old,
Attach'd to earth I lie:
Weigh'd down with guilt, o'erwhelm'd, oppress'd,
I feebly mean to pray,
And ere I utter my request,
Thou know'st what I would say.

The ulcers which I hide from man,
I cannot hide from Thee,
Who know'st my sinfulness and pain,
My life of misery;
Born, altogether born in sin,
In sin I still abide,
And heal'd I never yet have been,
Or felt Thy blood applied.

366

Such is the desperate wickedness
Of this deceitful heart,
In love alas! with my disease,
From sin I will not part;
My nature doth to sin alone
Continually incline;
Let Thy effectual will be shown,
And that shall conquer mine.

1716.

[Thy word enables me to rise]

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. —v. 8.

Thy word enables me to rise,
Sin and the' occasions to forsake,
Thy word my pardon'd soul supplies
With strength Thy work to undertake;
And lo, I walk, to health restored,
In all the footsteps of my Lord.

1717.

[Why hast Thou, Saviour, by Thy grace]

And immediately the man was made whole, &c. —v. 9.

Why hast Thou, Saviour, by Thy grace
The miracle of healing shown,
But that I may Thy goodness praise,
The way of Thy commandments run,
With steady zeal my Guide pursue,
And bear Thine utmost will and do?

1718.

[Whene'er Thou dost a sinner heal]

And on the same day was the sabbath. —v. 9.

Whene'er Thou dost a sinner heal
Languid, and weary, and oppress'd,
His pardon he exults to feel,
Enters into the sacred rest,
And antedates the joy above,
The sabbath of eternal love.

367

1719.

[Saviour who by Thy balmy blood]

He that made me whole, the same said unto, &c. —v. 11.

Saviour who by Thy balmy blood
Hast all my sins and sorrows heal'd,
My soul Thou hast with strength endued,
Thy mercy and Thine arm reveal'd,
And bless'd me with sufficient grace
To walk in all Thy righteous ways.

If man forbid, and Thou enjoin,
Thy word shall my direction be,
I own the' authority Divine,
Take up my cross and follow Thee,
Till fashion'd like my Head I rise
And find my mansion in the skies.

1720.

[The Man whose word is life and power]

What man is that which said unto thee, &c. —v. 12.

The Man whose word is life and power,
Whose word, and will, and act are one,
Who only could to health restore,
And fill my soul with strength unknown,
The Man who hath my sins forgiven
He bids me walk with Him to heaven.

1721.

[But I my good Physician know]

He that was healed wist not who it was. —v. 13.

But I my good Physician know,
Whose blood was shed to buy my cure,
Whose grace the pardon did bestow
And seal'd it on my conscience sure;
My soul to save from heaven He came,
And heal'd by telling me His name.

1722.

[The Saviour still delights to find]

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, &c. —v. 15.

The Saviour still delights to find
His patients in the house of prayer,
Shows Himself good, and doubly kind
To all that humbly seek Him there,

368

Their souls with grace confirming meets,
Their cure continues and completes.

For Thee I in Thy temple stay,
For Thee before Thine altar lie;
Thou Lamb who bear'st my guilt away,
Wilt Thou not further sanctify,
Give always what Thou once didst give,
And in mine inmost essence live?

Tell me again that Thou hast heal'd
The worst of all the sin-sick race,
Assure me of my pardon seal'd,
Repeat the word of saving grace,
And bid me in Thy Spirit's power
Go conquering on, and sin no more.

Continual need of Thee I have
My faith to give, confirm, increase;
I sink, if Thou forbear to save
Relapse into my old disease,
Lose all my power and life and zeal,
And justly claim the fiercest hell.

But O I never, never need
Thy grace abuse and sin again,
I may from strength to strength proceed;
I shall the promised help obtain,
Retrieve the perfect health of love,
And take my place prepared above.

1723.

[God over all for ever bless'd]

My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. —v. 17.

God over all for ever bless'd,
Jehovah and Jehovah's Son,
From doing good Thou canst not rest,
With Thine eternal Father one:

369

His works of grace shall never cease,
The property of Love Divine
Is to communicate and bless,
And all His attributes are Thine.

Thy providence preserves, maintains,
And rules the universe it made,
Thy Spirit moves, and acts, and reigns
In all that hang upon Thine aid:
Thy Father is in Thee employ'd;
Thou dost His works, and Thou alone;
The power and majesty of God,
Essence and will is all Thine own.

1724.

[Because Thou sav'st us from our fall]

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill, &c. —v. 18.

Because Thou sav'st us from our fall,
Thy foes against Thy life conspire,
Because Thou dost Thy Father call
Thy proper, own, eternal Sire:
Thou dost Thy Godhead testify
Thy power Divine on sinners prove,
An Equal of the Lord Most-High,
A Martyr both of truth and love.

'Tis thus the world Thy love repays,
Which makes to dying sinners known
The truth that saves our ruin'd race,
Uplifting rebels to a throne;
And all who dare the truth defend
The treatment of their Lord receive,
And all who on their God depend
Are deem'd by men not fit to live.

1725.

[O glorious inability]

The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what, &c. —v. 19.

O glorious inability
Which shows the perfect power supreme!

370

He cannot work distinct from Thee,
Thou canst not work distinct from Him:
In virtue, mind, and nature one,
Beyond the reach of human thought,
Whate'er is by Thy Father done,
By Thee is in that instant wrought.

He shows and does the work Divine,
At once Thou seest and dost the same:
Thy act is His, and His is Thine:
He is, Thou art, the great I AM!
Incomprehensible we own
The' adorable necessity:
Nor He nor Thou canst act alone,
No more than God can cease to be.

1726.

[Sole Object of Thy Father's love]

For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth, &c. —v. 20, 21.

Sole Object of Thy Father's love,
A draught of all His great designs
From Him Thou hast received above,
And dost whate'er His will enjoins;
Equal to His, Thou show'st Thy power
Omnipotent the dead to raise,
Bodies Thou canst, and souls restore
To all the vigorous life of grace.

Thou dost on whom Thou wilt bestow
The various life derived from Thee;
Thee Thy believing people know
Fountain of immortality,
Thy sovereign Godhead we confess,
By whom the Holy Ghost is given,
And then the plenitude of grace,
And then the' eternal life of heaven.

371

1727.

[Eternal Judge of quick and dead]

The Father . . . hath committed all judgment unto, &c. —v. 22.

Eternal Judge of quick and dead
Thee, Jesus, I my Lord adore,
From whom my sentence must proceed,
And tremble at Thy boundless power!
Judge me not in Thy wrath severe,
But in the mildness of Thy grace
Afflict, rebuke, and chasten here,
But never drive me from Thy face.

1728.

[Thee, Jesus, God supreme, the Son]

That all men should honour the Son, even as, &c. —v. 23.

Thee, Jesus, God supreme, the Son,
Even as the Father we adore,
Equal to the Most-High we own
The same in majesty and power;
In Thee His character express,
The brightness of His glory see:
And will no other God confess,
No other God adore, but Thee.

1729.

[Bless'd with the faith that works by love]

He that . . . believeth . . . hath everlasting life. —v. 24.

Bless'd with the faith that works by love,
Bless'd with eternal life Thou art,
Thou hast the life of those above,
The seed of glory in Thy heart:
For God in Christ is love to man,
And when to the believer given,
The soul doth in itself contain
The essence and the bliss of heaven.

1730.

[When Jesus first pronounced the word]

The hour is coming, and now is, when the, &c. —v. 25.

When Jesus first pronounced the word,
They found the Resurrection come,
Dead bodies heard their quickening Lord,
And Lazarus forsook the tomb;

372

Dead souls He every day doth raise:
They hear His voice, and faith receive,
And live the sinless life of grace,
And soon the life of heaven shall live.

1731.

[I cannot doubt the power Divine]

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, &c. —v. 28, 29.

I cannot doubt the power Divine
Dead souls, or bodies dead to save;
Death oft hath heard that voice of Thine,
Heard from the bed, the bier, the grave:
That voice our mouldering dust again
Shall from earth's lowest centre hear,
And ocean pay its debt of man,
And all before Thy throne appear.

1732.

[And shall mere man of men demand]

If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. —v. 31.

And shall mere man of men demand,
His saying simply to receive,
Before the proofs we understand,
Before we see the witness live,
And evidence his sins forgiven
By walking like an heir of heaven?

We ought not to his word alone
Or confident assertions trust;
The life must join to make it known,
The works to show the doer just,
And all the Spirit's fruits to prove
A Christian perfected in love.

1733.

[He spake that they might hear]

These things I say, that ye might be saved. —v. 34.

He spake that they might hear,
And faith by hearing come,
He spake with kind intent sincere
To save and not to doom;

373

With real serious will
He wish'd them justified,
Who in their sins continued still
Till in their sins they died.

1734.

[A minister should burn and shine]

He was a burning and a shining light, &c. —v. 35.

A minister should burn and shine
Inflamed with pure celestial love,
Glad to impart the light Divine
Himself enlighten'd from above
His life should our instruction be,
One exercise of fervent zeal,
That all the light of truth may see,
That all the fire of love may feel.

Joyful to see the light appear,
If Christ His minister ordain,
The world admire, the adders hear,
And dart into the dark again:
They soon against conviction fight,
The unaccepted truth repel,
And quench the burning shining light
Who shows their works the works of hell.

1735.

[The judgment blind of erring man]

I have greater witness than that of John: for, &c. —v. 36.

The judgment blind of erring man,
The verbal testimony's vain,
Unless our actions testify
And more substantial proof supply:
But when our faith by works is show'd,
When all our works are wrought in God,
His record then the world receive;
They must behold how Christians live.

1736.

[Who in the Saviour sent confides]

Ye have not His word abiding in you: for, &c. —v. 38.

Who in the Saviour sent confides,
In him the' engrafted word abides,

374

He hath the great Jehovah seen,
And heard the voice of God to man;
By faith the' Unsearchable he knows,
And daily in the knowledge grows,
Till pure from sin his soul ascends,
And faith fill'd up in vision ends.

1737.

[Christ Himself the precept gives]

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think, &c. —v. 39.

Christ Himself the precept gives,
(Let who will the word despise,)
Bids me in the sacred leaves
Trace the way to paradise,
All His oracles explore,
Read, and pray them o'er and o'er.

Who with true humility
Seek Him in the written word,
Christ in every page they see,
See, and apprehend their Lord;
Every scripture makes Him known,
Testifies of Christ alone.

Here I cannot seek in vain;
Digging deep into the mine,
Hidden treasure I obtain
Pure, eternal Life Divine,
Find Him in His Spirit given,
Christ the Way, the Truth of Heaven.

1738.

[Will they not? alas for them]

Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. —v. 40.

Will they not? alas for them,
Dead in sin who Christ refuse!
He did all the world redeem,
All unto salvation choose:
Sinners come, with me receive
All the grace He waits to give.

375

In ourselves the hindrance lies,
Stopp'd by our own stubborn will;
He His love to none denies,
He with love pursues us still:
Sinners come, and find with me
Only heaven in His decree.

1739.

[Coming in Thy great Father's name]

If another shall come in his own name, &c. —v. 43.

Coming in Thy great Father's name
Who first rejected Thee
Allow'd each bold impostor's claim
With blind credulity:
And still we see the world that can
God and His truth deny,
They greedily assent to man,
They all believe a lie.

1740.

[Ye patient of applause and fame]

How can ye believe, which receive honour, &c. —v. 44.

Ye patient of applause and fame,
Bold to usurp the Christian name,
No more your souls deceive;
Who seek the praise that comes from men,
Ye boast your hearsay faith in vain;
Ye cannot yet believe.

By fellow-worms caress'd, beloved,
Ye cannot be by God approved,
Vile favourites of His foe,
Who incense from the world receive,
In fair repute and honour live,
And have your lot below.

Awake out of your pleasing dream,
Renounce yourselves, the world's esteem,
The world's reproach despise;
As sojourners on earth unknown,
Wish to be praised by God alone,
Your Father in the skies.

376

Your pride and want of faith lament,
And then believe whom God hath sent
To speak your sins forgiven;
Your sinful nature to remove,
And perfected in humble love
To give you thrones in heaven.

CHAPTER VI.

1741.

[I the miracles have seen]

And a great multitude followed Him, because, &c. —vi. 2.

I the miracles have seen
Wrought in these Thy Spirit's days
On the sin-sick souls of men,
Miracles of healing grace;
Wherefore with the multitude
Saviour, Lord, I follow Thee,
Let Thine ancient works be show'd,
O repeat them all on me.

1742.

[Jesus here His wisdom shows]

Jesus went up into a mountain. —vi. 3.

Jesus here His wisdom shows
Mix'd with tenderness of love,
Not to urge His envious foes
Doth out of their sight remove;
Silent, He declines applause,
Pious to the mount retreats,
Humbly from the world withdraws,
Meekly with His followers sits.

1743.

[Satan tempts our faith to' o'erthrow]

This He said to prove him. —vi. 6.

Satan tempts our faith to' o'erthrow,
Christ to strengthen and improve,
That we may our weakness know
With the virtue of His love;

377

Gracious souls by want He tries,
Takes upon Himself their cares,
Then abundantly supplies,
Tells them all He has is theirs.

1744.

[Less will in His hands suffice]

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves. —vi. 9.

Less will in His hands suffice,
Who the corn doth yearly bless,
Grains to harvests multiplies,
Gives the hundred-fold increase:
Careful for all living things,
God, whose providential call
From earth's fruitful bosom brings
Food and nourishment for all.

God omnipotently near
Leaves us first our wants to feel,
Then He doth for us appear,
Then He doth His arm reveal:
Succour'd in our greatest need,
Learn we thus His grace to prize,
At His hands receive the bread
Sent as manna from the skies.

1745.

[God commands the grass to grow]

Now there was much grass in the place. —vi. 10.

God commands the grass to grow,
Fodder to the cattle gives,
Yet His noblest work below,
Man, His goodness disbelieves.
Anxious for thy family,
Doubtful of thy Saviour's power,
Thousands fed by Jesus see,
Fed that thou may'st doubt no more.

378

Countless miracles unseen
Daily are by Jesus done,
That the careful sons of men
May confide in Him alone,
May their gracious Owner know,
God who answers the request,
Feeds His family below,
Leads them to an endless feast.

1746.

[Hungering after heavenly food]

He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples, &c. —vi. 11.

Hungering after heavenly food
If we for the blessing stay,
He that fed the famish'd crowd
Sends us not unbless'd away:
Waiting on our bounteous Lord
Who our faith's obedience prove,
Jesus feasts us by His word,
Fills our hearts with joy and love.

1747.

[Gather we still the fragments up]

Gather up the fragments. —vi. 12.

Gather we still the fragments up
Which from our Master's table fall,
The small remains of faith and hope,
The sacred crumbs, preserve them all:
Let not one gracious thought be lost;
The faintest, least desire of good
More than a thousand worlds it cost,
It cost the Lamb His richest blood.

1748.

[Poor fainting souls our Lord relieves]

They . . . filled twelve baskets with the fragments. —vi. 13.

Poor fainting souls our Lord relieves,
And thus our unbelief confounds,
Above what we can hope He gives,
His grace miraculous abounds,

379

His blessing all our wants exceeds;
And he who ministers the word
Himself enriches, while he feeds
The hungry followers of his Lord.

1749.

[How long hast Thou vouchsafed to feed]

When they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, &c. —vi. 14.

How long hast Thou vouchsafed to feed
Thy followers in the wilderness!
And yet I know Thee not indeed
Nor truly by my life confess;
Prophet Divine, raised up for me,
Thine utmost power of love exert,
Then shall I all Thy wonders see,
And hear my Teacher in my heart.

1750.

[Thou dost all worldly state decline]

When Jesus . . . perceived that they would come, &c. —vi. 15.

Thou dost all worldly state decline,
Thee, I by holy violence take,
Present my heart Thy humble shrine,
And Thee my King by faith I make;
Thou promisest my King to be,
Thou cam'st from heaven, to dwell with man,
And wilt not hide Thyself from me,
But in my ravish'd bosom reign.

Accomplish then Thy love's design,
Set up Thy gracious kingdom here,
And stamp'd with holiness Divine
I bear Thy royal character;
I sink baptized into Thy name,
All earthly dignities despise,
And singly seek with steadfast aim
A crown of glory in the skies.

380

1751.

[He who rules the lower air]

It is I; be not afraid. —vi. 20.

He who rules the lower air
Stirs up the troubled sea,
Tempts and urges to despair,
But cannot conquer me;
Cannot; for my present Lord
(When passion and the world runs high)
Speaks the comfortable word
And tells my heart 'T is I!

1752.

[Hurricanes the ship defies]

Then they willingly received Him into the ship, &c. —vi. 21.

Hurricanes the ship defies,
If Thou art in the ship,
Swiftly toward the haven flies,
And bounds along the deep!
Saviour, in Thy church appear,
Give all our hearts Thy voice to know,
Then redeem'd from sin and fear
We to perfection go.

Borne upon the wings of love,
We in Thy Spirit's might
Swiftly to our centre move
And urge our rapid flight:
Life is in a moment o'er,
While all Thy saints of Thee possess'd
Reach with shouts the happy shore,
And on Thy bosom rest.

1753.

[The world with useless care]

Labour not for the meat which perisheth. —vi. 27.

The world with useless care
Throughout their life's short day,
That perishable meat prepare,
That wealth which cannot stay;
But few their pains bestow
As creatures born to die,

381

And feed by faith on Christ below,
Till to His throne they fly.

1754.

[Thou art that Bread of life]

But for that meat which endureth. —vi. 27.

Thou art that Bread of life,
That meat which shall remain!
Be it our only care and strife
Thy blessed Self to gain:
Give, Lord, and always give
The' immortalising food,
And strengthen us by grace to live
The glorious life of God.

1755.

[Hast thou indeed done well?]

What shall we do, that we might work the, &c. —vi. 28.

Hast thou indeed done well?
The action is not thine;
The Spirit is its principle,
Its rule the will Divine;
To Him from whom it flow'd
It doth directly tend,
Wrought in the power and love of God
His glory is its end.

1756.

[The first great work of God]

This is the work of God, that ye believe on, &c. —vi. 29.

The first great work of God
Is in my heart begun,
Who now believe Thou hast bestow'd
On me Thy darling Son;
Hast sent Him from the sky,
That sinners may receive
The Man who lived for all to die,
Who died in all to live.

Father of all, in me
The heavenly gift increase,
The faith that works by charity
And teems with holiness;

382

That having done Thy will
I the reward may gain,
And meet my Saviour on the hill,
And in His presence reign.

1757.

[Wonders we daily see]

What sign shewest Thou then, that we may see, &c. —vi. 30.

Wonders we daily see
Of power and grace Divine,
Yet blind through infidelity
We still demand a sign:
Thou giv'st the sign required,
Thou dost the veil remove,
And with Thy Spirit's life inspired
We see, believe, and love.

1758.

[Moses could not give the Bread]

Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, &c. —vi. 32.

Moses could not give the Bread
Nor yet the sign bestow,
Jesus doth from God proceed,
His Gift to all below:
Who that precious Gift receives,
Sent from the Father's throne above,
Eats the manna true and lives
The life of sinless love.

1759.

[Bread of God, for Thee I lift]

The bread of God is He which cometh down, &c. —vi. 33.

Bread of God, for Thee I lift
My hungry longing heart,
The true Bread, the Father's Gift
To all the world Thou art;
Thou bestow'd on all mankind,
Dost sinners dead to life restore;
Thee reveal'd by faith we find,
And live for evermore.

383

1760.

[Lord, they ask'd a good unknown]

Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give, &c. —vi. 34.

Lord, they ask'd a good unknown
Which Thou wouldst not deny:
Thee, that living Bread we own
That Manna from the sky;
Thee we every moment need,
To' increase the life inspired by Thee,
Feed our spirit still, and feed
Through all eternity.

1761.

[Thee the Principle and Food]

I am the bread of life. —vi. 35.

Thee the Principle and Food
Of life Divine we bless;
Raise in us the life of God,
Of faith and righteousness;
Mix'd, incorporated with man,
Our grace continually improve,
Still with fresh supplies sustain,
And raise to perfect love.

1762.

[End of our enlarged desires]

He that cometh to Me shall never hunger, &c. —vi. 35.

End of our enlarged desires,
Eternal Verity,
Nothing more the soul requires
Which knows and feeds on Thee,
Bless'd, beyond conception bless'd,
Partaker with the saints above,
Here enthroned in heavenly rest,
And satisfied with love.

1763.

[God made man on earth appear'd]

Ye also have seen Me, and believe not. —vi. 36.

God made man on earth appear'd,
And mighty wonders wrought;
Sinners saw their Lord and heard,
And yet believed Him not:

384

Still Thy Spirit, Lord, is near,
Yet still unknown to me Thou art
Till Thou giv'st the hearing ear,
And preachest to my heart.

Now Thy miracles of grace
Repeat O God in me,
Now reveal Thy lovely face
And give me eyes to see;
Present with Thy servant dwell,
Into mine inmost spirit given,
Give me in Thyself to feel
The hidden life of heaven.

1764.

[Thy Father gave Thee all mankind]

All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me, &c. —vi. 37.

Thy Father gave Thee all mankind:
But drawn by unresisted grace
Who follow on their Lord to find,
Their Lord they surely shall embrace;
To those dear wounds for refuge flee,
And full salvation gain in Thee.

The soul that would on Thee rely,
Jesus, Thou never wilt disdain;
Or leave him in his sins to die,
But purged from every guilty stain
With open arms of love receive,
For ever in Thy joy to live.

Saviour, for Thy own promise sake,
Vouchsafe the blessing I implore,
Me, me into Thy favour take,
To perfect holiness restore,
And to Thy Father's house admit,
And give me on Thy throne to sit.

385

1765.

[Be it according to Thy word]

Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. —vi. 37.

Be it according to Thy word;
To Thee by faith I come:
Receive me to Thy mercy, Lord,
And to Thy heavenly home.

1766.

[Descending from Thy Father's throne]

I came down from heaven . . . to do . . . the will of, &c. —vi. 38.

Descending from Thy Father's throne,
Thou cam'st to execute His will,
The souls peculiarly Thine own
To bless, and sanctify, and seal;
And raise whoe'er His voice obey,
Thy saints triumphant in that day.

1767.

[Wast Thou not sent, my Lord, for me?]

And this is the Father's will which hath sent, &c. —vi. 39.

Wast Thou not sent, my Lord, for me?
And did not the Paternal grace
Give this poor helpless soul to Thee?
Receive me then to Thine embrace,
And place me by Thy side above,
To glorify Thy faithful love.

1768.

[Who can resist the' almighty will]

This is the will of Him that sent Me, &c. —vi. 40.

Who can resist the' almighty will,
Or frustrate what our God ordains?
The practical believer still
Eternal life in Christ obtains,
And faithful unto death shall rise,
To share His kingdom in the skies.

Salvation is of faith alone,
And who by faith my Saviour see,
I have the Life, I have the Son,
The glorious hope reveal'd in me:
And when my Friend the Judge comes down,
I mount, and claim the promised crown.

386

1769.

[Father Thou hast our hearts inclined]

No man can come to Me, except the Father, &c. —vi. 44.

Father Thou hast our hearts inclined,
Or we had never sought Thy Son,
We still Thy powerful drawings find,
And cannot rest in grace begun;
Till Thou Thine own desires fulfil,
And Jesus in our hearts reveal.

To this, O God, Thou hast us wrought,
That now we might Thy Son confess;
Led by preventing grace and taught,
Add us to Jesu's witnesses;
Command the light of faith to shine,
And fear gives place to love Divine.

His Spirit send to seal us His,
As members of His body here,
Joint heirs of everlasting bliss,
That when He doth with clouds appear
We all may to His joy succeed,
And rise triumphant with our Head.

1770.

[Taught of Himself my God to fear]

Every man . . . that hath heard, and hath learned, &c. —vi. 45.

Taught of Himself my God to fear,
Jesus, Thy Father's voice I hear,
The softly whispering grace,
Which bids me come as lost to Thee
For wisdom, peace, and liberty,
For life and righteousness.

1771.

[From His into Thy school receive]

Not that any man hath seen the Father, save, &c. —vi. 46.

From His into Thy school receive,
And help me, Saviour, to believe,
In God with Thee the same;

387

Thou only dost the Father know,
Thou only canst to sinners show
His nature and His name.

Witness of truth, and Channel too,
The' Invisible appears in view,
If Thou Thyself reveal;
I then enjoy the blissful sight,
I see Him by Thy Spirit's light,
And all His goodness feel.

1772.

[Author of faith implant in me]

He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. —vi. 47.

Author of faith implant in me
That root of immortality,
That never failing root,
Whence every grace and virtue grow,
And then the' eternal life bestow,
The ripe celestial fruit.

But if in me reveal'd Thou art,
I have the earnest in my heart,
The witness and the seal:
Come then mine unbelief remove,
And by the Spirit of life and love
In me for ever dwell.

1773.

[Jesus that Bread of life we own]

I am that bread of life. —vi. 48.

Jesus that Bread of life we own,
(Essential life which ne'er begun
And cannot cease to be,)
The Word of life, display'd above,
Begotten by His Father's love
From all eternity.

388

Jesus we own the angels' Bread
Before these heavens and earth were made,
And since our world began
Reveal'd in mortal flesh below
We all by faith may Jesus know
The Bread of life to man.

Author of faith and Finisher,
We taste His gracious sweetness here,
The manna of His love;
Sure antepast of heavenly bread,
Which shall our ravish'd spirits feed,
With endless life above.

1774.

[Form'd in the region of the air]

Your fathers did eat manna in the, &c. —vi. 49–51.

Form'd in the region of the air,
The figure might their strength repair,
Awhile from death reprieve,
But the true Bread from heaven sent down,
Who taste in God's eternal Son,
We evermore shall live.

While in this wilderness we dwell,
Our living, quickening Principle,
Thou Saviour from above
Dost with Thyself vouchsafe to feed,
And daily through Thy members spread
The life of faith and love.

Long as eternal ages last,
Our food shall neither cloy nor waste,
Our souls with love supplied
Shall on Jehovah's fulness feast,
In Thee alone for ever bless'd,
For ever satisfied.

389

1775.

[The' unfathomable mystery!]

How can this Man give us His flesh to eat? —vi. 52.

The' unfathomable mystery!
Let others ask how can it be:
The' imperishable meat
Which Thou to all wouldst freely give,
With prostrate reverence we receive,
Thy sacred flesh we eat.

The Fountain of my life, and Head,
The Victim dying in my stead,
That I Thy life may know;
Thyself in various ways design'd
To quicken me and all mankind,
Thou dost on all bestow.

1776.

[How blind the misconceiving crowd]

Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, &c. —vi. 53.

How blind the misconceiving crowd,
Who in the literal substance dream
They eat Thy flesh, and drink Thy blood!
Alas there is no life in them:
And who partake the' external sign,
Without the hidden mystery,
They eat the bread, and drink the wine,
But never feed, O Lord, on Thee.

What is it then, Thy flesh to eat?
O give mine inmost soul to know
The nature of that heavenly meat,
Design'd to quicken all below:
What is it, Lord, to drink Thy blood?
Explain it to this heart of mine,
And fill me with the life of God,
The love, the holiness Divine.

390

1777.

[Who now His flesh and blood partake]

Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My, &c. —vi. 54.

Who now His flesh and blood partake,
Partakers of the life Divine,
We soon shall see our Lord come back,
His members all in one to join;
And feeding on this living Bread,
This earnest of my glorious bliss,
I too shall rise to meet my Head;
I too shall see Him as He is.

1778.

[Saviour, Thy flesh is meat indeed!]

My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is, &c. —vi. 55, 56.

Saviour, Thy flesh is meat indeed!
Thy nature to Thy church made known
Doth every saint with manna feed,
Till every saint with Thee is one,
Till blended with its heavenly food
The soul Thy gracious fulness feels,
And all transform'd we dwell in God,
And God in us for ever dwells.

1779.

[Stupendous miracle of love!]

As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live, &c. —vi. 57.

Stupendous miracle of love!
Archangels cannot tell me how
I live by Thee, my life above,
As by the living Father Thou!
But sure as Thee through faith I eat,
Thy Spirit's substance I receive,
And one with my mysterious meat
Through all eternity shall live.

1780.

[Give me on Thee, the living Bread]

This is that bread which came down, &c. —vi. 58.

Give me on Thee, the living Bread,
To live, till here my journey end,
Thou Bread of heaven, a pilgrim lead
To realms from which Thou didst descend:

391

Eternal Bread, the true desire
Of everlasting joys impart,
And my translated soul inspire
With all Thou hast, and all Thou art.

1781.

[Hard to conceive without Thy love]

This is an hard saying; who can bear it? —vi. 60.

Hard to conceive without Thy love,
Impossible without Thy light,
Jesus, mine unbelief remove
That I may know the truth aright.
That Thou shouldst give Thy flesh to man,
Our reasoning pride can never bear;
Make Thy mysterious saying plain,
And teach my heart by dwelling there.

1782.

[Doubts may in true disciples rise]

When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples, &c. —vi. 61.

Doubts may in true disciples rise;
They cannot, Lord, offended be,
Or like the murmuring world, despise
The truths not yet reveal'd by Thee:
By faith their scruples they suppress,
With meek humility submit,
And waiting for the light of grace,
Bewail their blindness at Thy feet.

1783.

[When Jesus in the clouds ye see]

What and if ye shall see the Son of man, &c. —vi. 62.

When Jesus in the clouds ye see
Ascending to His pompous throne,
Enrobed in all His majesty
The Father's co-eternal Son,
Surrounded with His dazzling choir,
Blessing the church He leaves below;
No marvel if ye then inquire,
How can this God His flesh bestow?

392

1784.

[Thy word in the bare literal sense]

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth, &c. —vi. 63.

Thy word in the bare literal sense,
Though heard ten thousand times, and read,
Can never of itself dispense
The saving power which wakes the dead:
The meaning spiritual and true
The learn'd expositor may give,
But cannot give the virtue too,
Or bid his own dead spirit live.

But breathing in the sacred leaves
If on the soul Thy Spirit move,
The re-begotten soul receives
The quickening power of faith and love;
Transmitted through the gospel-word
Whene'er the Holy Ghost is given,
The sinner hears, and feels restored
The life of holiness and heaven.

1785.

[Jesus, descended from the sky]

The words that I speak unto you, they are, &c. —vi. 63.

Jesus, descended from the sky,
The power of God in man Thou art;
Thyself, to whom I now apply,
Speak Thy own words into my heart:
Thy words are more than empty sound,
Inseparably one with Thee;
Spirit in them, and life is found,
And all the depths of Deity.

While feebly gasping at Thy feet
A sinner in my sins I bow,
O might I now my Saviour meet,
And hear and feel Thy sayings now!

393

Speak, and Thy word the dead shall raise,
Shall me with spirit and life inspire;
Speak on, and fill my soul with grace,
And add me to Thy deathless choir.

1786.

[Faith is not on all bestow'd]

No man can come unto Me, except it were given, &c. —vi. 65.

Faith is not on all bestow'd:
Thou who hast the grace received
Fear to lose the gift of God;
Thou who never hast believed
Hope that precious gift to' obtain,
Bought by Jesus on the tree,
Bought for every child of man,
Freely offer'd now to thee.

Drawn by efficacious grace
Toward thine unknown Saviour move,
Taught of God to seek His face,
Wait for His redeeming love:
When Thou dost the Son receive
Made by His great Father known,
Saved by sovereign mercy, give
All the praise to God alone.

1787.

[Souls are by temptation shown]

From that time many of His disciples went, &c. —vi. 66.

Souls are by temptation shown
Jesus who awhile pursue;
Trials make them fully known,
Separate 'twixt the false and true:
Through Thy quick and powerful word,
Lord, Thou soundest every heart:
Then they feel the two-edged sword,
Then the hypocrites depart.

1788.

[Yes, unless Thou hold me fast]

Will ye also go away? —vi. 67.

Yes, unless Thou hold me fast,
After all Thy love to me

394

I shall faithless prove at last,
Treacherously depart from Thee;
But that we may never part,
Hide me, hide me in Thine heart.

1789.

[Master, what a school is Thine!]

Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the, &c. —vi. 68, 69.

Master, what a school is Thine!
Truth and life Thy words impart:
Thou Thyself the Truth Divine,
Thou the Life eternal art:
Both we by Thy teaching know,
Truly here we learn to live;
Here Thyself Thou dost bestow,
Light and love for ever give.

Whither shall we go from Thee,
Lord to whom for life repair?
All besides is misery,
Death, delusion, and despair;
Wherefore to Thyself we cleave,
Thee the living God we own,
Only by Thy Spirit live,
Find our heaven in Thee alone.

1790.

[Jesus, Thee I surely know]

We believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ. —vi. 69.

Jesus, Thee I surely know
Son of God, and God Most-High;
Thou wast manifest below
Whom the angels glorify;
Partner of my flesh and blood,
God's eternal Son Thou art,
Christ, Thyself the' eternal God
Living, reigning in my heart.

395

1791.

[He leaves them all in humble fear]

Have not I chosen you twelve? and one of you, &c. —vi. 70.

He leaves them all in humble fear,
While Judas He forbears to name,
That every faithful soul sincere
May ask if I the traitor am;
That each his helplessness may own,
Suspicious of himself alone.

O may I, Lord, with jealous care
Watch over my own feeble heart,
Mistrust myself, of sin beware,
And lest I should from Thee depart,
My soul into Thy keeping give,
And pray, and tremble, and believe.

CHAPTER VII.

1792.

[To' escape Thy persecuting foes]

Jesus . . . would not walk in Jewry, because the, &c. —vii. 1.

To' escape Thy persecuting foes
Thy power Thou dost not interpose,
Or call for heaven's vindictive fire,
But yield, and quietly retire:
The death Thou dost at present shun,
Not fearfully from danger run,
But seek Thy Father's will to do,
And in His time to suffer too.

By Thee instructed we suppress
Our rash impatient eagerness,
Nor court the persecutor's sword,
But wait the season of our Lord,

396

Wisely from our destroyers flee,
Till stopp'd by the Divine decree
We suffer in the will of God,
And write our victory in our blood.

1793.

[The feast of tabernacles]

Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. —vii. 2.

The feast of tabernacles
With joyful exultation
Thine Israel we
Observe to Thee
The God of our salvation;
From sin's Egyptian bondage
Who didst Thine own deliver,
Jesus we praise
Thy pardoning grace,
And love, that lives for ever.

We travel through this desert
Of trouble and vexation,
In booths remain,
Till we obtain
A lasting habitation;
The near celestial Canaan
To us by promise given,
The better feast,
The' eternal rest,
The inheritance of heaven.

1794.

[Who works the works of God]

If Thou do these things, show Thyself to the, &c. —vii. 4.

Who works the works of God
Must oft expect to hear
The dire advice of flesh and blood,
“Before the world appear,

397

Go show thyself to man,
A champion in the cause,
For all thy piety is vain
Without the world's applause.”

But deaf to nature's voice,
Jesus we follow Thee,
And hidden from mankind, rejoice
In Thy obscurity.
Happy if Thou approve
Our works in secret done,
If by our humble faith and love
We please our God alone.

1795.

[Who love the praise of men]

For neither did His brethren believe in Him. —vii. 5.

Who love the praise of men
Their unbelief confess,
Though walking in a shadow vain
Of formal godliness;
They slight the Saviour's word
Who seek their own renown,
Refuse their self denying Lord,
His sufferings and His crown.

1796.

[Who their own desires pursue]

Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come, &c. —vii. 6.

Who their own desires pursue
Their want of faith declare,
Their own violent will to do,
They always ready are;
God's appointed time outrun,
And full of selfish forwardness
Boldly snatch the gift unknown,
The' anticipated grace.

398

Now, just now, is nature's word
Impatient of delay!
Guided by Thy will, O Lord,
I for Thy leisure stay,
Dare not set a time to Thee,
Or dictate when Thyself to show:
Give whate'er Thou wilt to me,
And as Thou wilt bestow.

1797.

[The world will always love their own]

The world cannot hate you. —vii. 7.

The world will always love their own,
Who countenance their sin,
Or let them quietly sleep on,
Till Tophet takes them in;
But O! their choicest favourites are
The minister and priest,
The guides who prudently forbear
To interrupt their rest.

Who in the worldly spirit live,
And with the many go,
Favour and praise from man receive,
The good they seek below;
Not hated for religion's sake,
In Satan's arms secure
They slumber on, and thus they make
Their own damnation sure.

1798.

[The world with persecuting spite]

But Me it hateth, because I testify of it, &c. —vii. 7.

The world with persecuting spite,
The sons of God blaspheme,
And hate, and shun the' officious light
Which doth their deeds condemn;

399

The witnesses of Jesus' grace
The saints they cannot bear,
Who against all their evil ways
By word and life declare.

Confessing whom our hearts adore,
We feel their enmity:
O might we, Lord, deserve it more
By more resembling Thee!
O might we all Thy Spirit breathe,
The wicked to reprove,
And testify in life and death
Thy purity of love!

1799.

[To that sacramental feast]

Go ye up unto this feast. —vii. 8.

To that sacramental feast
Numbers without Jesus go,
In the outward form they rest,
Care not Him their Lord to know;
Christians leaving Christ behind,
To His house in vain repair,
Never at His table find,
Never wish to find Him there.

1800.

[Jesus I Thy wisdom need]

I go not up yet unto this feast; for My time, &c. —vii. 8, 9.

Jesus I Thy wisdom need
With exact fidelity
Well to time my every deed,
When, and as ordain'd by Thee:
Till Thy counsel is reveal'd
Let me in my calling rest,
Feel at last Thy time fulfill'd,
Then on Thy perfection feast.

400

1801.

[Thyself Thou dost from them conceal]

The Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, &c. —vii. 11.

Thyself Thou dost from them conceal
That seek Thee not aright,
But sinners who their blindness feel
Thou wilt restore to sight:
Thou wilt the seeking mourner cheer,
And give the weary rest:
And when Thou dost, my Lord, appear,
Thy presence makes the feast.

1802.

[The judgment of the world how blind]

Some said, He is a good man: others said, &c. —vii. 12, 13.

The judgment of the world how blind,
Who treat the members like their Head!
As base deceivers of mankind
Whoe'er in Jesu's footsteps tread,
Their Lord to Calvary attend,
And bear His burden to the end.

None dares in their behalf to speak,
Abandon'd and decried by all,
No favour but from God they seek,
On Him they for protection call,
On Him their Advocate rely,
Till meekly on His cross they die.

1803.

[At length the time is quite fulfill'd]

Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went, &c. —vii. 14.

At length the time is quite fulfill'd,
The moment come, when God had will'd
To manifest His Son;
Jehovah in the temple seen,
Begins to' instruct the sons of men,
And make the Godhead known.

The Christ foretold by ancient seers,
The Lord in His own house appears,
To hear and not declaim,

401

To answer all His love's design,
And with authority Divine
Declare His Father's name.

By Thy example, Lord, repress
Our ministerial forwardness,
And teach us when, and where,
And how, our office to fulfil,
And the whole counsel of Thy will
Before the world declare.

1804.

[Jesus, Thy ministers receive]

How knoweth this man letters, having never, &c. —vii. 15.

Jesus, Thy ministers receive
A light which study cannot give;
Divinely taught they are,
To propagate Thy truths below
And teach the doctrines which they know
By diligence in prayer.

Thy law is in their inward parts,
Thy Spirit inspires their faithful hearts
With wisdom from above;
He gives the meaning of Thy word,
And much they know of Thee their Lord,
For much they pray and love.

The scorn of men, the worldling's fool
Commences in Thy Spirit's school
Unto salvation wise;
The heavenly path to sinners shows,
And mighty in the Scripture, goes
Their leader, to the skies.

1805.

[An herald of the grace Divine]

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine, &c. —vii. 16.

An herald of the grace Divine
Can say, My doctrine is not mine
But His, who sent me forth,

402

Freely what I receive to give
And tell the world they all may live
Through Jesu's dying worth.

The truths he speaks are not his own,
God teaches him, and God alone,
The mystery to explain,
Opens his mouth to preach the word,
And tells our hearts, It is the Lord,
Who gives such power to man.

1806.

[Lord, that I may the doctrine know]

If any man will do His will, he shall know, &c. —vii. 17.

Lord, that I may the doctrine know,
A will to do Thy will bestow,
An humble ready mind,
To follow truth where'er it leads;
And then the light from Thee proceeds,
And then my God I find.

My simple childlike heart inspire
With fervour of intense desire
Thee, only Thee to please;
And make Thy great salvation known,
And bring Thy docile follower on
To perfect holiness.

Thou canst not speak distinct from Him
Who sent Thee, Saviour, to redeem
This longing soul of mine:
Come then my Lord, Thy counsel show,
And give me in Thy love to know
The plenitude Divine.

403

1807.

[A teacher sent from God designs]

He that seeketh His glory that sent Him, the, &c. —vii. 18.

A teacher sent from God designs
Jehovah's glory, and declines
Whate'er might raise his own;
To' exalt his heavenly Lord, he seeks,
In honour of his Master speaks,
And lives for God alone.

O that I thus with upright aim
May magnify my Saviour's name,
And only seek His praise;
My truth and faithfulness approve,
Saved by the power of perfect love
From all unrighteousness!

1808.

[The law Thy servant Moses gave]

Did not Moses give you the law, and yet, &c. —vii. 19.

The law Thy servant Moses gave,
But not the power our souls to save,
But not the' obedient heart:
Jesus, we more and more rebel,
Till Thou the gospel grace reveal,
And tell us who Thou art.

1809.

[Why? Thou Thyself hast told us why]

Why go ye about to kill Me? —vii. 19.

Why? Thou Thyself hast told us why,
Because we Thy commands defy,
Only inclined to ill,
With cruel enmity pursue,
And persecute our Lord anew,
And in Thy members kill.

Because we could not keep Thy laws,
Thy murderers nail'd Thee to the cross;
And there Thou bear'st away

404

The sins of reprobate mankind,
And buy'st the power which all may find
Thy perfect will to' obey.

1810.

[When virtue's advocate replies]

Jesus answered and said unto them, I have, &c. —vii. 21.

When virtue's advocate replies
As far from passion as from fear,
The answer soft and meekly wise
Becomes his Saviour's minister,
Who calmly sensible complains,
And truth, and Jesu's cause maintains.

For wisdom, Lord, on Thee I wait;
Instruct me when to hold my peace,
And when in words to vindicate
The words of genuine righteousness;
And stop the bold impiety
Which blames the good that flow'd from Thee.

1811.

['Tis not, O Lord, the' external part]

Judge not according to the appearance, but, &c. —vii. 24.

'Tis not, O Lord, the' external part
Which pleases or displeases Thee,
The principle, the end, the heart,
Thou dost in every action see,
Thou only know'st the doer's aim,
The will, the temper, and the frame.

But partial, ignorant, and blind
We rashly judge as things appear,
Censorious, hasty, and unkind
Judge by the hearing of the ear,
And often sway'd by hate or love,
The good condemn, the ill approve.

Jesus, send forth Thy truth and light,
That with Thy love of equity

405

Inspired, we may pronounce aright
The sentence which proceeds from Thee;
As partners in Thy judgment join,
And reign in righteousness Divine.

1812.

[The tongues, the hearts, the hands of men]

Is not this He, whom they seek to kill? But, &c. —vii. 25, 26.

The tongues, the hearts, the hands of men
Are subject to Divine control,
God over all doth still restrain
Their rage against the faithful soul,
The faithful soul hath nought to fear
Though Satan and his host are near.

Thoughtless of what the world intends,
A Christian speaks and labours on:
Jesus His instrument defends,
Immortal till his work is done:
Jesus the conquering faith supplies,
And then bestows the heavenly prize.

1813.

[Father in Thy hands we are]

Then they sought to take Him: but no man, &c. —vii. 30.

Father in Thy hands we are
The members of Thy Son,
Trust Thy providential care,
And hang on Thee alone:
Till Thy sovereign goodness please,
And Thou the sacred fence remove,
Neither friends nor men can seize
The objects of Thy love.

When Thy wise permissive will
Shall leave us to their power,
Let the world our bodies kill,
In Thine appointed hour;

406

Safe till then for God we live:
And when our souls from earth are driven,
Trust Thee, Father, to receive,
And give us thrones in heaven.

1814.

[See the heavenly Man of God]

The Pharisees and the chief priests sent, &c. —vii. 32.

See the heavenly Man of God,
How patiently He stands!
Lets the men athirst for blood
Extend their ruffian hands;
Checks the fury of His foes,
But not by judgments from above,
Only signs of meekness shows,
And miracles of love!

1815.

[Those who will not while they may]

Then said Jesus . . . Yet a little while am I, &c. —vii. 33.

Those who will not while they may,
Their Lord and God receive,
Soon outlive their gracious day,
And never can believe:
While I yet can make it sure,
Let me the proffer'd blessing seize,
Seize a moment to secure
Mine everlasting peace.

1816.

[Suffering saints with comfort mourn]

And then I go unto Him that sent Me. —vii. 33.

Suffering saints with comfort mourn
For your discharge is near,
Soon ye shall to God return,
And at His throne appear;
There the wicked vex no more,
There your weary spirits rest
Far beyond the tempter's power,
Reclined on Jesu's breast.

407

1817.

[Those who will not seek Him now]

Ye shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: and, &c. —vii. 34.

Those who will not seek Him now,
While life and strength remain,
When their dying heads they bow,
Would seek their Lord in vain:
Casting now His words behind,
Seized by the hellish messenger
Nothing they in death shall find
But darkness and despair.

Jesus, Lord, to Thee I give
The glory, power, and praise;
Thou hast help'd me to believe,
And half unveil'd Thy face:
O stir up my faithful heart
To seek and still pursue the prize,
Till arriving where Thou art
I grasp Thee in the skies.

1818.

[Yes: He hath the Gentiles sought]

Will He go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, &c. —vii. 35.

Yes: He hath the Gentiles sought,
Dispersed and wandering wide,
Outcasts by His Spirit taught,
And truly justified:
Sinners still He doth receive,
While Pharisees reject His grace,
Teaches us to love and live
The life of righteousness.

1819.

[Ye thirsty for God To Jesus give ear]

Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man, &c. —vii. 37.

Ye thirsty for God To Jesus give ear,
And take through His blood The power to draw near,
His kind invitation, Ye sinners, embrace,
The sense of salvation Accepting through grace.

408

Sent down from above Who governs the skies
In vehement love To sinners He cries,
“Drink into My Spirit, Who happy would be,
And all things inherit By coming to Me.”

O Saviour of all, Thy word we believe,
And come at Thy call, Thy grace to receive;
The blessing is given, Wherever Thou art:
The earnest of heaven Is love in the heart.

To us at Thy feet The Comforter give,
Who gasp to admit Thy Spirit and live:
The weakest believers Acknowledge for Thine,
And fill us with rivers Of water Divine.

1820.

[No; the Spirit's dispensation]

The Holy Ghost was not yet given; because, &c. —vii. 39.

No; the Spirit's dispensation
Was not then on earth begun;
Jesus in His bloody passion
Had not laid the ransom down,
Had not by His dying merit
Bought the universal grace,
Through His prayer obtain'd the Spirit,
Pour'd Him out on all our race.

But we now by faith adore Thee,
Jesus high above all height,
Reinstated in Thy glory,
Repossess'd of all Thy right;
Thou hast with Thy Father pleaded
Thy oblation on the tree,
Thou hast in Thy suit succeeded,
Gain'd the Holy Ghost for me.

409

Now He is sent down from heaven,
Witness of Thy power above,
Is to true believers given,
Source of all our joy and love:
Yes; we now Thy bliss inherit,
Now our Pentecost is come,
Thou hast seal'd us by Thy Spirit,
Mark'd for Thine eternal home.

1821.

[The promise made but not fulfill'd]

When they heard this saying they said, &c. —vii. 40, 41.

The promise made but not fulfill'd
Thy hearers, Lord, with joy received,
Before the precious truth was seal'd
The Prophet Thee, the Christ believed;
And shall not we Thy Godhead own,
And testify Thy Spirit given,
Through seventeen hundred ages known,
And daily still sent down from heaven.

1822.

[I want the faith which reasons not]

Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath, &c. —vii. 41, 42.

I want the faith which reasons not,
Though rational, implicit too,
That simply by Thy Spirit taught,
Persuaded all Thy works are true,
No seeming contrariety
May make me stumble, Lord, at Thee.

Useless disputes, reflections vain,
Questions obscure, be cast aside,
The doubts I cannot yet explain
I leave to my unerring Guide;
And He my heavenly path shall show,
And all the truth I need to know.

410

1823.

[The world offended at our Lord]

So there was a division among the people, &c. —vii. 43.

The world offended at our Lord,
Is still in every age the same;
To bring a sharp divisive sword,
Not a deceitful peace He came,
His followers from His foes to part,
And show the ground of every heart.

The truth His confessors defend
His faithless enemies deny:
Those in their Saviour's cause contend,
These still persist and crucify,
Till Jesus His great power assumes,
And the millennial kingdom comes.

1824.

[The world their hands can never lay]

And some of them would have taken Him; &c. —vii. 44.

The world their hands can never lay
On one secured in Thine,
Till Thou permit them, Lord, to' obey
And answer Thy design;
They then with malice blind fulfil
Thine unperceived decree,
The body of Thy witness kill,
And send his soul to Thee.

1825.

[When our God the gospel gives]

The officers answered, Never man spake like, &c. —vii. 46.

When our God the gospel gives
Clothed with His own Spirit's might,
Then the open'd heart believes,
Then our soul's restored to sight.
We its hidden beauty see,
Taste the sweetness of the word,

411

Feel its powerful energy,
Wondering own our heavenly Lord.

He disarms the hostile mind,
He doth all its hate remove;
By His word transform'd we find
Holy power and humble love;
Never mortal spake like Him!
More than man He needs must be:
Is He not the God supreme?
Answer Lord, Thyself in me!

1826.

[When Jesus we presume to praise]

Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye, &c. —vii. 47.

When Jesus we presume to praise,
Struck with His wonder working word,
The world their ancient clamour raise,
Against the' admirers of our Lord,
As weak deluded fools despise,
When Christ begins to make us wise.

Deceived by Truth we cannot be:
But you your wretched selves deceive,
Blind Pharisees, who say ye see,
In a vain formal shadow live,
And mock the power ye will not feel,
Till Satan cheats you into hell.

1827.

[We still the old objection hear]

Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees, &c. —vii. 48.

We still the old objection hear,
Have any of the great, or wise,
The men of name and character
Believed on Him the vulgar prize?
Our Saviour, by the rich unknown,
Is worshipp'd by the poor alone.

412

The poor, we joyfully confess
His followers and disciples still,
His friends, and chosen witnesses,
Who know His name, and do His will,
Who suffer for our Master's cause,
And only glory in His cross.

1828.

[Boasters of a religious show]

This people who knoweth not the law are, &c. —vii. 49.

Boasters of a religious show,
Who the unlearned poor disdain,
Howe'er the literal law ye know,
Its curse doth still on you remain,
Who have not the whole law fulfill'd,
It speaks your condemnation seal'd.

The poor, the death-devoted crowd,
Their Lord with humble faith receive,
They gladly know their pardoning God,
Freed from the legal curse they live,
The spirit of pure obedience prove,
And all the law fulfill'd in love.

1829.

[Who first conversed with Christ by night]

Nicodemus saith unto them (he that came), &c. —vii. 50.

Who first conversed with Christ by night,
Defends Him now in open day,
Arm'd by the word of Jesus' might
The malice of His foes to stay,
He quells them with resistless zeal,
And baffles all the rage of hell.

1830.

[Who suffer in their Saviour's cause]

Doth our law judge any man, before it hear, &c. —vii. 51.

Who suffer in their Saviour's cause,
Must never marvel or complain,
Of violent wrongs and broken laws;
By merciless oppressive man

413

Condemn'd unheard they always were,
And still their Master's portion share.

Witnesses of the' atoning blood
Have ye been once arraign'd and tried?
As outlaws by your foes pursued,
Persist and patiently abide,
Assured your cause shall soon be known,
And the great Judge pronounce, Well done.

1831.

[Who dar'st oppose the popular cry]

Art thou also of Galilee? —vii. 52.

Who dar'st oppose the popular cry,
For blacken'd innocency plead,
Expect the ready world's reply,
No stronger argument they need,
But answer by reproaching thee,
“And art thou too of Galilee?”

Determined then thy lot expect,
Who canst the Christian sect defend
Thou must be of the Christian sect;
Reviled, and patient to the end,
With God's afflicted people rise,
To claim thy kingdom in the skies.

1832.

[One question puts them all to flight]

And every man went unto his own house. —vii. 53.

One question puts them all to flight,
From the bold champion of his Lord;
And when with the same beasts we fight,
And speak in faith the given word,
They cannot stand before our face;
One Christian shall a thousand chase.

414

CHAPTER VIII.

1833.

[Let us to the mount retreat]

Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And, &c. —viii. 1, 2.

Let us to the mount retreat,
And rest with Christ awhile,
Rest from persecution's heat,
And evangelic toil;
Patient grace by prayer obtain
For labouring on with strength renew'd,
Then go forth to fight again,
And work the works of God.

1834.

[Answering to their pastor's zeal]

And all the people came unto Him; and He, &c. —viii. 2.

Answering to their pastor's zeal,
The sheep betimes appear,
Eager and impatient still,
They flock the word to hear,
Listen, while the rich despise,
The great neglect, the learn'd dispute,
Priests against the truth arise,
And zealots persecute.

1835.

[Rejoicing in iniquity]

The scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him, &c. —viii. 3.

Rejoicing in iniquity
The messengers of Satan see,
The servants of his will
Who watches us by day and night,
And seeks with unrelenting spite
To tempt, surprise, and kill.

But Jesus came the world to save,
Poor guilty souls who nothing have
In their defence to plead,

415

Who wait the sentence to receive,
Outcasts of men, that these may live,
He suffer'd in their stead.

1836.

[They drag her out to public view]

They . . . set her in the midst. —viii. 3.

They drag her out to public view,
Zealots who mercy never knew,
Who all remorse disown:
Drag her to death with hands unclean,
And fierce against another's sin,
Insult before they stone!

1837.

[Thou say'st, the law is good and just]

But what sayest Thou? —viii. 5.

Thou say'st, the law is good and just:
Yet if I in Thy mercy trust,
The law condemns in vain:
Thou say'st I to Thy wounds may flee,
And find my life restored in Thee,
And never sin again.

1838.

[He must unjust or cruel seem]

This they said tempting Him, that they, &c. —viii. 6.

He must unjust or cruel seem,
The sinner or the law condemn,
Mercy or truth offend,
His zeal, or His compassion show:
Absolve her? He is virtue's foe,
And sin's acknowledged friend.

The serpent speaks in guileful men,
He tempts us first to sin, and then
Accuses those that yield:
But Jesus he in vain assay'd,
That Bruiser of the serpent's head
His blunted tools repell'd.

416

1839.

[Hark how the hellish bloodhounds cry!]

But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger, &c. —viii. 6.

Hark how the hellish bloodhounds cry!
As Love Himself would doom to die
A speechless criminal!
Their clamour fierce He will not hear
Who still inclines his open ear
To misery's softest call.

1840.

[What wisdom in our heavenly Lord!]

He that is without sin among you, let him, &c. —viii. 7.

What wisdom in our heavenly Lord!
His power accompanies His word,
And keen conviction darts,
Righteous, and merciful, and meek,
He sends the hypocrites to seek
An answer in their hearts.

He teaches us to cast aside
The cruel zeal of virtuous pride,
And first inquire within,
(Before we dare an harlot stone,)
Impeccable am I alone,
And never born in sin?

1841.

[Content to blast their wicked aim]

And again He stooped down, and wrote on the, &c. —viii. 8.

Content to blast their wicked aim
He stoops again, and spares their shame,
The secret in their breast
Discover'd by His piercing word,
He leaves; the troubled sea is stirr'd;
Let conscience do the rest!

1842.

[Conscience, thou voice of God in man]

And they which heard it . . . went out. —viii. 9.

Conscience, thou voice of God in man,
Accused by thee, we strive in vain
Thy clamours to suppress:

417

A thousand witnesses thou art;
And God is greater than our heart,
And all its evils sees.

Thy voice outspeaks, and strikes us dumb,
When greater sinners we presume
With rigour to condemn,
It makes us hide our guilty head,
Who vilest profligates upbraid,
And judge ourselves in them.

1843.

[The gospel stands in Moses' place]

And Jesus was left alone, and the woman, &c. —viii. 9.

The gospel stands in Moses' place:
The foes of Jesus and His grace
Are scatter'd by a word,
The' accusers all are fled and gone,
Misery with mercy left alone,
The sinner with her Lord.

If left alone with Thee I am,
Though cover'd o'er with guilt and shame,
I nothing have to fear;
My Saviour in my Judge I meet,
And wait a sinner at Thy feet,
Thy pardoning voice to hear.

1844.

[He rises in the power of love]

When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and, &c. —viii. 10.

He rises in the power of love,
Lifts Himself up, His grace to prove,
And silent victory!
Be comforted, thou trembling soul,
Thy fears and sorrows to control,
He turns His eyes on thee.

418

“Where are the men that call'd so loud
For justice and the sinner's blood,
Thy chaste accusers where?”
(Jesus triumphantly demands,
And neither earth nor hell withstands
When mercy means to spare.)

“Not one among them all, not one,
To cast the first vindictive stone!
On thine iniquity.
Can none inflict the judgment due?
Are Pharisees adulterers too,
And Scribes as weak as thee?”

1845.

[And what though every man condemn]

She said, No man, Lord. —viii. 11.

And what though every man condemn,
And every fiend conspire with them
Hellish with human pride
To doom a sinner in distress,
The Judge (if thou thy guilt confess)
The Judge is on thy side.

1846.

[Thine Advocate in Jesus see!]

And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I, &c. —viii. 11.

Thine Advocate in Jesus see!
'Tis He that speaks the word, 'tis He,
That takes the prisoner's part:
Not to condemn the world He came;
Believing now in Jesus' name,
Even now absolved thou art.

Who shall accuse the' elect of God,
Protected by the' atoning blood?
'Tis God that justifies,

419

That bids thee go and sin no more,
Go in thy Saviour's peace and power,
And trace Him to the skies.

1847.

[Me, me command to sin no more]

Go, and sin no more. —viii. 11.

Me, me command to sin no more;
Saviour from all iniquity,
Thy kingdom in my soul restore,
And bid me then come up to Thee.

1848.

[Jesus, I believe in Thee]

He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness. —viii. 12.

Jesus, I believe in Thee,
Yet my way I cannot see,
Yet I cannot see Thy face,
Dark, and dead, and comfortless:
But if blind I follow on,
Trusting in Thy word alone,
I cannot long in darkness stay,
The darkness must be chased away,
And turn'd into the perfect day.

1849.

[O for that cheering light]

He that followeth Me shall . . . have the light, &c. —viii. 12.

O for that cheering light,
That Light of life within,
Which scatters all the shades of night,
The hellish gloom of sin!
Jesus Thyself impart,
Light of the world, remove
This unbelief, and fill my heart
With all the life of love.

Resolved, I follow Thee,
Till Thou Thy love reveal

420

In feeble faith's obscurity,
My deadly darkness feel;
Believing against hope,
The promise I embrace,
And I shall soon be lifted up,
And I shall see Thy face.

1850.

[Eternal thanks to Thee]

Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record, &c. —viii. 14.

Eternal thanks to Thee,
Thou self-discover'd Light,
Through whom we Thy credentials see
And learn to judge aright:
Thee Jesus we receive
Our Saviour from above,
The wonders of Thy life believe,
The wonders of Thy love.

Thou cam'st from God, we know,
And dost with sinners stay,
That we may in Thy footsteps go,
Nor miss the heavenly way:
Thou dost Thy church attend,
Our Comforter and Guide,
To keep us, and, when time shall end
To carry home Thy bride.

1851.

[Thou canst not Lord subsist alone]

And yet if I judge, My judgment is true, &c. —viii. 16.

Thou canst not Lord subsist alone,
As different or distinct from Him,
With God inseparably one,
The same eternal God supreme:
Thy judgments are Thy Father's too,
His judgments and decrees are Thine,

421

And therefore all Thy works are true,
And works of righteousness Divine.

1852.

[Jesus by His mere word, alone]

I am one that bear witness of Myself, and, &c. —viii. 18.

Jesus by His mere word, alone
True witness of Himself could bear;
Yet God did first attest His Son,
And by a voice from heaven declare;
The Father sent His Well-beloved,
By mighty signs His mission seal'd:
And Jesu's heavenly tempers proved,
His soul with all the Godhead fill'd.

'Tis thus a follower of the Lamb
Doth real testimony give,
By works, not words, His grace proclaim,
And show the world how Christians live:
'Tis thus the sons of God evince
Their birth illustrious from above,
From outward and from inward sins
Redeem'd by meek and lowly love.

1853.

[They who never knew the Son]

Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye, &c. —viii. 19.

They who never knew the Son
Through His own Spirit's light,
Never have the Father known
Or worshipp'd God aright;
Only Jesus can declare
The great eternal Deity:
Atheists, Lord, they surely are,
That disbelieve in Thee.

But Thy true disciples pray
To us the Father show,

422

Thou His majesty display
Which none besides can know:
Thou His glorious Image art,
Himself descended from above:
Finding Thee within our heart
We know that God is love.

1854.

[Who his mind on God hath stay'd]

No man laid hands on Him; for His hour, &c. —viii. 20.

Who his mind on God hath stay'd,
Is kept in perfect peace,
Neither troubled nor afraid
He lives his Lord to please;
Careless of approaching ill,
Himself to Jesu's work he gives,
Lives to answer all His will,
In snares and deaths he lives!

1855.

[Woe to the men whom Jesus leaves]

I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and, &c. —viii. 21.

Woe to the men whom Jesus leaves,
Who force their Saviour to depart!
Up to their own desires He gives,
Their own obduracy of heart:
They seek Him then, but seek too late,
Who long refused His love to feel,
They sink beneath His judgments' weight,
They sink with all their sins to hell.

Thou didst foretell the fearful doom
Of that self-reprobated race,
That we in this our day may come
And humbly seek, and find Thy grace:
Entering into Thy love's design,
We give Thee Lord, our broken heart:
Us to Thyself so closely join
That neither life nor death may part.

423

1856.

[As members of that heavenly Man]

Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye, &c. —viii. 23.

As members of that heavenly Man
Christians indeed are from above,
Not of this world of shadows vain,
We our celestial country love:
Let worldlings love the things below,
A noble good to us is given,
That all our spotless lives may show
The spirit, and the taste of heaven.

1857.

[I would believe that Thou art He]

If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die, &c. —viii. 24.

I would believe that Thou art He
Who came from heaven to die for me:
Saviour of men, the power supply,
Nor leave me in my sins to die:
A sinner on Thy mercy cast,
I mourn for my offences past;
O for Thy own dear sake forgive,
And saved by faith my soul shall live.

If now Thy previous grace I feel,
Which melts my stubbornness of will,
If crush'd by unbelief I groan,
And languish for a God unknown,
One ray of light and comfort dart,
One spark of faith into my heart,
And let me feel Thy sprinkled blood,
And see Thee now my Lord, my God!

1858.

[Thee, Jesus, Thee the' eternal Lord]

Then said they unto Him, Who art Thou? &c. —viii. 25.

Thee, Jesus, Thee the' eternal Lord,
Jehovah's uncreated Son,
Jehovah's unbeginning Word,
The first great Cause of all, we own

424

Thee by Thy works and doctrines find
The Light and Life of all mankind.

In works, in deeds Thou dost declare
Thy own Divine almighty power,
Yet harden'd infidels forbear
Thy sovereign Deity to' adore,
They will not know Thee who Thou art,
Or feel Thee living in their heart.

A life Thou hast which ne'er begun,
Which no decay or end shall know,
A life Thou didst assume, lay down,
To save this wretched world below:
And through Thy loss the sons of men
May all Thy life eternal gain.

1859.

[Jesus who dost alone contain]

I have many things to say and to judge of, &c. —viii. 26.

Jesus who dost alone contain
The blessings of eternity,
Thou know'st the ill that is in man,
Thine only eye his heart can see;
Yet wilt Thou not the whole declare,
Or show us more than we can bear.

Instructed by Thy tenderest love
O that Thy ministers may know,
The covering when they must remove
And when Thy moderation show,
Suppress what should not be reveal'd,
And leave the heart with Thee conceal'd.

1860.

[Fountain of truth for ever full]

Fountain of truth for ever full,
Hail Thou great Father of our Lord!
Thy bosom was His heavenly school:
He heard, not yet the' incarnate Word:

425

From all eternity He knew
That Thou art wise, and good, and true.

With Thee substantially the same,
With Thee inexplicably one,
He only doth declare Thy name,
He makes to man Thy nature known,
And taught by Him, we sweetly prove
Thy truth, Thy wisdom, and Thy love.

1861.

[What multitudes who never know]

When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, &c. —viii. 28.

What multitudes who never know,
Till they have crucified, their God!
He then doth His compassion show,
And draw, and wash them in His blood,
Into His cross's school receive
And teach them fully to believe.

Thy murderers, now we learn of Thee
That Thou art the supreme I AM,
Equal to God in majesty,
With God eternally the same,
Thy passions and Thy actions shine
With worth and dignity Divine.

Essential Truth, Thy words are His
And following them we cannot stray,
They point us to celestial bliss,
Fresh life into our souls convey;
Till saved and sanctified in one,
They speak us up into Thy throne.

1862.

[The Sender (for it cannot be)]

And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father, &c. —viii. 29.

The Sender (for it cannot be)
Is never separate from the Sent

426

Who join'd to His Divinity
Our flesh, His sacred instrument,
The Father leaves Him not alone,
But lives eternal in His Son.

Obedient to His Father's will,
The Son for us obtain'd the grace
All His commandments to fulfil,
To' abide in all His righteous ways;
To walk in all well-pleasing here,
And pure before His face to' appear.

1863.

[Continuing in the outward word]

If ye continue in My word, then are ye My, &c. —viii. 31.

Continuing in the outward word,
I read, and hear, believe and do:
But give me Thy good Spirit, Lord,
To' approve me Thy disciple true:
Thou art the truth that makes us free,
Abide, eternal Word, in me.

1864.

[O the vanity of man!]

We . . . were never in bondage to any man: how, &c. —viii. 33.

O the vanity of man!
Fast bound in misery,
Gall'd with Satan's iron chain,
He boasts that he is free;
Still enthrall'd in heart and mind,
He needs not be by Christ restored,
Bold and ignorant and blind
Rejects his pardoning Lord.

Jesus full of truth and grace,
To me my bondage show,
That I gladly may embrace
The gift Thou wouldst bestow,

427

Find redemption in Thy blood,
The joy of Thy disciples prove,
Live with all the sons of God
The life of perfect love.

1865.

[Slaves we all by nature are]

Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. —viii. 34.

Slaves we all by nature are,
To every vice inclined,
Foil'd and prisoners took in war,
Our conqueror's yoke we find:
We to sin ourselves have sold
And basely bow'd to passion's sway:
By a thousand lusts controll'd,
We dare not disobey.

By the guilt and tyranny
Of cruel sin oppress'd,
Lord, we will not come to Thee
For freedom and for rest:
Break this adamantine chain,
Who only canst the soul release,
Change the stubborn will of man
And bid us go in peace.

1866.

[Soon out of the house of God]

The servant abideth not in the house for ever, &c. —viii. 35.

Soon out of the house of God
The slave of sin is cast,
Cast into a fiery flood,
And pains that always last;
But the child of faith and love
His full recompence shall gain,
In his Father's house above
Eternally remain.

1867.

[Thee, Redeemer of mankind]

If the Son . . . shall make you free, ye shall be, &c. —viii. 36.

Thee, Redeemer of mankind,
Jehovah's favourite Son,

428

Let a wretched captive find,
Who for deliverance groan:
Real liberty from sin,
The true substantial freedom give,
Give Thy Spirit, and within
My heart for ever live.

Then, my God, and not till then,
I shall indeed be free,
Free from the desires of men,
From all iniquity;
Free from every thought of ill,
Free to rejoice and always love,
Free to do Thy perfect will
As angels do above.

1868.

[God and His hellish enemy]

I speak that which I have seen with My Father, &c. —viii. 38.

God and His hellish enemy
Divide the human throng:
Sinner, thy true condition see,
Thou must to one belong:
God, if His pleasure thou fulfil,
Thee for His child shall own,
But if thou dost the devil's will,
Thou art the devil's son.

1869.

[Not by the Christian name alone]

If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do, &c. —viii. 39.

Not by the Christian name alone
The Christian man is show'd,
Words cannot evidence a son
Of Abraham and of God;
No confident assertions vain,
No single act can prove
That I am truly born again,
And God sincerely love.

429

I must in Abraham's footsteps stay,
Pursue him to the skies,
My household teach the heavenly way,
My Isaac sacrifice;
My life must speak the faith within,
In even tenour flow,
Demonstrate I am saved from sin,
And God my Father know.

1870.

[Who in the faith of Abraham tread]

Ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you, &c. —viii. 40.

Who in the faith of Abraham tread,
Obediently receive
The truth that doth from God proceed,
And lovingly believe:
But his pretended children still
Reject the truth abhorr'd,
Malign the witnesses, and kill
And drive them to their Lord.

1871.

[The children of that wicked one]

We have one Father, even God. —viii. 41.

The children of that wicked one
Conceal their sin and shame,
With daring pride the God unknown
They for their Father claim;
Their guilt disdaining to confess
They make their misery sure,
And while they cherish their disease
Can never find a cure.

Sinner the painful truth admit
By hell no more beguiled,
And prostrate own at Jesu's feet
Thou art the devil's child;
Devilish thy works, and life, and heart;
But ransom'd by His blood

430

Believe that thou His purchase art,
And thou art born of God.

1872.

[Children of God by faith we owe]

If God were your Father, ye would love Me, &c. —viii. 42.

Children of God by faith we owe
Our hearts and lips O Christ to Thee:
Thou didst proceed from God we know
His Son from all eternity,
Thou cam'st His heavenly Messenger,
And didst in mortal flesh appear.

Wherefore we thankfully believe,
Enter into Thy strange design,
To Thee Thy praise and glory give,
Thou great Philanthropist Divine:
With warmest gratitude approve,
And our almighty Lover love.

1873.

[Strangers to your redeeming Lord]

Why do ye not understand My speech? —viii. 43.

Strangers to your redeeming Lord
Self-harden'd from His righteous fear,
Ye cannot understand His word,
For dead in sin ye will not hear:
His knowledge He withholds from none,
The bar is all in you alone.

By blinding passions prepossess'd,
Through grace consent to let them go
And ye may be in Jesus bless'd,
And ye His saving truths shall know,
Taste the good word to sinners given,
And praise your Teacher sent from heaven.

431

1874.

[A child of hell with Satan joins]

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts, &c. —viii. 44.

A child of hell with Satan joins,
His ready instrument of ill,
Enters into the fiend's designs;
(Who comes to steal, deceive, and kill;)
Envious against the truth he fights
Which would his direful deeds bewray,
And like his murdering sire, delights
The souls of innocents to slay.

1875.

[The' original of evil see]

He is a liar, and the father of it. —viii. 44.

The' original of evil see,
Of all deceit and wickedness!
Satan the homicide is he,
Deceiver of our helpless race;
To plunge us in eternal woe
He preaches still his ancient lie,
Sin on; and if to hell ye go,
Ye shall not there for ever die.

1876.

[Corrupt alike in heart and mind]

Because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not. —viii. 45.

Corrupt alike in heart and mind,
Till re-begotten from above,
To falsehood as to sin inclined,
We neither truth nor virtue love;
Wisdom Himself averse we hear,
Abhorring good to evil cleave,
To truth Divine, a lie prefer,
And Satan before Christ believe.

1877.

[Convinced of sin I cannot be]

Which of you convinceth Me of sin? —viii. 46.

Convinced of sin I cannot be,
Thou seest it, Lord, and Thou alone;
Born, wholly born in sin, to Thee
My heart's iniquity I own:

432

But if Thou bless me with Thy mind,
And safe conceal my life above,
The world no sin in me shall find,
Kept by the power of perfect love.

1878.

[The truth Thou say'st, the Truth Thou art]

If I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me? —viii. 46.

The truth Thou say'st, the Truth Thou art:
Why do I not believe in Thee?
Do I not, Lord, desire to part
With all my sin and misery?
Some secret ill, some bar unknown,
Some idol must obstruct my will:
O speak and take away the stone,
And pardon on my conscience seal.

1879.

[The sons of God with faith sincere]

He that is of God heareth God's words, &c. —viii. 47.

The sons of God with faith sincere,
Attend and know their Father's word,
The sheep their heavenly Shepherd hear
And glad confess, It is the Lord!
But ah, the unbelieving crowd
His word, His truth, His doctrine slight,
And deaf to all the calls of God,
Rush blindfold to eternal night.

1880.

[They brand Him whom they will not know]

Say we not well that Thou art a Samaritan, &c. —viii. 48.

They brand Him whom they will not know
(God in His miracles confess'd)
Their church's and their nation's foe
By a proud lying spirit possess'd!
Blasphemers of the Lord Most-High
They no remorse or scruple feel,
But uttering the infernal lie
Applaud themselves for speaking well.

433

1881.

[With meekness and majestic grace]

Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I, &c. —viii. 49.

With meekness and majestic grace
Jesus their hellish charge denies:
His word to the blaspheming race
Becomes the Lord of earth and skies!
Silent so oft He answers here,
His Father's greatness to maintain,
Stamp'd with Jehovah's character,
And God's Ambassador to man!

His minister the world should bear,
Their general calumnies despise:
But when to fix the charge they dare,
Tax'd with the thing his soul defies
The man whom Christ did truly send
Must then throw off the crime abhorr'd,
And while he doth himself defend
He guards the honour of his Lord.

1882.

[A messenger required to speak]

I seek not Mine own glory: there is One, &c. —viii. 50.

A messenger required to speak,
The bounds of his defence will know,
Nor ever his own glory seek,
Or fiercely judge his bitterest foe;
Content the slanders to repel
He speaks of Jesu's mind possess'd,
With wisdom mild and temper'd zeal,
And leaves his life to do the rest.

1883.

[Justly doth our humble Lord]

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man, &c. —viii. 51.

Justly doth our humble Lord
His doctrine magnify:
He that keeps the Saviour's word,
Shall not for ever die:

434

Life He sets before us here,
The true eternal life above;
Thus through faith we persevere
In pure obedient love.

1884.

[No: with God they greatly live]

Then said the Jews . . . Abraham is dead, and, &c. —viii. 52.

No: with God they greatly live,
A life on earth unknown,
Now the glorious end receive
Of faith in Abraham's Son;
Prophets, patriarchs fulfill'd
The' anticipated word of grace,
Saw their Lord in part reveal'd,
And now they see His face.

1885.

[If the Son of God forbear]

Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, &c. —viii. 54.

If the Son of God forbear,
The Lord and God most-high,
Which of us shall ever dare
Himself to glorify?
Prostrate at Thy throne of grace,
Thy creatures, Lord, we humbly own,
Sinful worms of earth to raise
Belongs to Thee alone.

1886.

[In figures, types, and promises]

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see, &c. —viii. 56.

In figures, types, and promises
Our father Abraham saw His day,
His seed which should the nations bless,
Bear all the curse of sin away,
A universal Saviour rise,
And bring us back our paradise.

O that the joy which then o'erflow'd
The patriarch's heart were fix'd in mine!

435

While gazing on the' incarnate God,
O'erpower'd with ecstacies Divine,
With all His weight of blessings bless'd,
I sink on my Redeemer's breast.

Thy day is come but never pass'd:
Jesus, I long Thy day to see:
Vouchsafe my favour'd soul a taste
Of that supreme felicity,
That rapture which Thy presence gives,
And every saint through faith receives.

Before mine eyes of faith appear
In all Thy charms of heavenly grace,
Or rather let me view Thee here,
A Lamb expiring in my place,
Pour out my soul in tears of love,
And die to share Thy joy above.

1887.

[Broken the Man of griefs appears]

Thou art not yet fifty years old. —viii. 57.

Broken the Man of griefs appears,
The Man of griefs He stands confess'd
Not by the weight of numerous years,
But by our numerous sins oppress'd,
Faded in youth, grown old so soon,
He shows His sun must set at noon.

1888.

[“When Abraham was not born, I AM]

Before Abraham was, I am. —viii. 58.

“When Abraham was not born, I AM,
I AM from all eternity!”
Jehovah sounds in Jesu's name,
God over all we worship Thee;
Sole, self-existing God Thou art,
Adored in every faithful heart.

436

Not a new-made dependent God,
But sovereign, absolute, most-high,
Thou cam'st to save us by Thy blood,
Thou cam'st for sinful man to die,
That all mankind might live forgiven
Through Thee, the only God in heaven.

1889.

[Thou dost Thy Godhead testify]

Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the, &c. —viii. 59.

Thou dost Thy Godhead testify,
Thine own eternal power maintain,
Nor for the truth refuse to die,
But sav'st Thyself for sharper pain,
Waiting to suffer in our stead,
And in Thy Father's time to bleed.

Thou dost out of the temple go,
Not to a single sect confined;
Thy blood in freer streams must flow
A sacrifice for all mankind,
That all mankind by faith may see
The one eternal God in Thee.

CHAPTER IX.

1890.

[How sad our state by nature is]

He saw a man which was blind, &c. —ix. 1.

How sad our state by nature is,
How dark, disconsolate, forlorn!
We have not known the way of peace,
In unbelief and misery born;

437

Deprived of that celestial Light,
With stumbling steps we wander on,
And nothing find but grossest night,
And sin, and death, and hell begun.

That heavenly Light appear'd below,
Pass'd through this mortal life for me,
When doubly blind I could not know
My God, or my Redeemer see:
On me He cast a pitying look
Which chased the shades of death away,
And all my chains of darkness broke,
And made my soul a child of day.

1891.

[Let every child of Adam own]

Who did sin, this man, or his parents, &c. —ix. 2.

Let every child of Adam own
The cause of all his sufferings here:
The cause is sin and sin alone,
And death and hell are in the rear!
My parents' sins engender'd pain,
Entail'd eternal death on me;
Who still in misery bound remain,
Till Christ appears to set me free.

1892.

[God cannot take delight to grieve]

Neither hath this man sinned, &c. —ix. 3.

God cannot take delight to grieve
The wretched helpless sons of men,
But may awhile in weakness leave,
That all His power may soon be seen:
His work is to restore the blind;
And when He doth the scales remove,
Our Lord by His own light we find
And praise the pardoning God of love.

438

1893.

[Long as my day of life remains]

I must work the works of Him that sent Me. —ix. 4.

Long as my day of life remains,
My business is to work for God,
To' employ my utmost strength and pains
For Him who bought me with His blood;
No respite from the toils of love
I ask, till life's short season end:
Suffice for me to rest above,
To rest with my eternal Friend.

1894.

[The Light for a few moments shines]

The night cometh, when no man can work. —ix. 4.

The Light for a few moments shines,
That every soul his course may run,
And joining in the Lord's designs
Labour till all his work is done:
But when the Sun of Righteousness
Withdraws from man His Spirit's light.
And leaves us wholly void of grace,
His absence is eternal night.

1895.

[Most sensibly, O Lord, I know]

Most sensibly, O Lord, I know,
My night of death approaches fast;
My time for work, my course below,
Is in another moment pass'd;
O then cut short Thy work of grace,
This moment finish it in me,
And let the next conclude my race,
And bring me to my goal and Thee.

1896.

[I know, most gracious Saviour]

I know, most gracious Saviour,
My night approaches fast;
O may I by Thy favour,
Be found in peace at last:

439

My time of visitation,
My latest hour improve,
And work out my salvation,
And die, renew'd in love.

What can I do but offer
My dregs of life to Thee?
What can I do but suffer
Whate'er Thou lay'st on me?
In manifold temptations,
I at Thy feet attend:
My duty now is patience,
Till pain, with life shall end.

1897.

[The world's bright Day did then appear]

As long as I am in the world, I am the light, &c. —ix. 5.

The world's bright Day did then appear,
When present in His body here
Our Lord vouchsafed to shine:
His heavenly life and doctrine show'd
The majesty of real God,
The' eternal Light Divine.

But present in Thy Spirit still,
Jesus, Thou dost Thyself reveal
In this Thy church below;
And every soul though wrapp'd in night,
May see Thine all enlivening light,
And Thee his Saviour know.

Light of the world, appear to all,
To raise the nations from their fall
Thy beams of glory dart.
Our sin and ignorance disperse,
And cheer our gladden'd universe,
And shine in every heart.

440

Come O Thou Day-spring from on high
Forth from Thy chamber in the sky,
To poor benighted man;
That visited and led by Thee,
We all our way to heaven may see,
And life eternal gain.

1898.

[Man made of earth by earth He heals!]

He anointed the eyes of the blind man, &c. —ix. 6.

Man made of earth by earth He heals!
The creature is whate'er He wills
Who gave it first to be;
Clay in the' Almighty's hands restores
Our bodily or mental powers,
And gives the blind to see.

The weakest instrument Divine,
Water, or earth, or bread and wine,
Can work upon the soul:
Thou giv'st the means their saving use,
And then Thy virtue they transfuse,
And make the sinner whole.

Thy touch medicinal we prove
Our blindness it doth still remove,
The unction of Thy grace
Opens our faith's enlighten'd eyes,
And lo with rapturous surprise
We see Thy lovely face.

1899.

[When Jesus bade me first believe]

Go, wash in the pool of Siloam . . . . He went, &c. —ix. 7.

When Jesus bade me first believe,
My spirit did its sight receive,
Though long by nature blind;
To Christ at His command I went,
And found Him by His Father sent,
The Saviour of mankind.

441

His Spirit drew me to the pool
Which makes a world of sinners whole,
The purple fountain show'd,
The balm infallible applied,
And pointed out the Crucified,
And plunged me in His blood.

'Twas there I wash'd my sins away,
I triumph'd in the gospel-day
To paradise restored:
And clearly still I all things see;
But nothing half so fair as Thee,
So heavenly as my Lord.

1900.

[The sinner blind is always poor]

The neighbours . . . said, Is not this he that, &c. —ix. 8.

The sinner blind is always poor,
And begging waits at mercy's door:
He waits when now restored to sight
A suppliant still for farther light,
Humbly resolved through life to sit
A beggar at his Saviour's feet.

1901.

[Enlighten'd by his God alone]

Some said, This is he: others said, He is like, &c. —ix. 9.

Enlighten'd by his God alone
A sinner saved is hardly known,
No more the slave of hell and sin
But humble, meek, and pure within,
In love renew'd and born again,
The Christian is another man!

Yet well he knows himself the same,
And owns “the beggar blind I am”;
With open'd eyes he always sees
His pardon'd sin and past disease,
Different through grace in heart and will,
But of himself a sinner still.

442

1902.

[We ask a soul no longer blind]

Therefore said they unto him, How were thine, &c. —ix. 10.

We ask a soul no longer blind,
Who chased the darkness of thy mind,
Open'd thine inward eyes to see
That all on earth is vanity,
To see the true celestial road,
And fix thy faithful heart on God?

1903.

[Through vanity I will not tell]

He answered and said, A Man that is called, &c. —ix. 11.

Through vanity I will not tell,
Nor yet through fear the truth conceal,
But own in love's simplicity
The things my God hath done for me;
He of His own accord pass'd by
And saw the blind with pitying eye.

The Man, the God, they Jesus call,
My Saviour, and the Friend of all,
Anointed with His grace my soul,
And said, Go wash in Siloam's pool:
Obedient to His Spirit's word
I went; I wash'd, and saw my Lord.

1904.

[Jesus! where is He to be found]

Then said they unto him, Where is He? —ix. 12.

Jesus! where is He to be found,
Whose mercy doth to all abound?
O that the blind would all inquire,
Impatient for the world's Desire,
Till Christ His healing light imparts,
And shows His presence to their hearts!

1905.

[A sinner once to sight restored]

He said, I know not. —ix. 12.

A sinner once to sight restored
Need never miss his pardoning Lord:

443

Nor shall he of his loss complain,
Who strives the Saviour to retain,
And only seeks the things above
With humble fear and grateful love.

1906.

[Jesus, the sabbath's Lord we praise]

It was the sabbath day when Jesus made the, &c. —ix. 14.

Jesus, the sabbath's Lord we praise,
Who carrying on His great designs,
His miracles of power and grace,
Redemption to creation joins,
He bids the soul with pardon bless'd
From its own works for ever cease,
Receives into His people's rest,
And keeps with Him in perfect peace.

1907.

[Pharisees inquire in vain]

The Pharisees . . . asked him how he had received, &c. —ix. 15.

Pharisees inquire in vain
How we received our sight,
Will not bow to God made man
Believing in the Light:
God in human clay reveal'd,
Who heal'd us by His blood applied,
Rests with all His works conceal'd
From all the sons of pride.

Jesus hides Himself from those,
Who with an evil heart
Seek the truth, the truth to' oppose,
And spitefully pervert:
When their Saviour they repel,
The Light their pride disdains to' adore,
Leaves them inexcusable,
And blinder than before.

444

1908.

[From the man, outrageous spite]

Said some, . . . This Man is not of God, &c. —ix. 16.

From the man, outrageous spite
To judgment false proceeds,
Equity pronounces right
Of persons from their deeds:
They appearances look through
Who darkness hate, and light approve,
They believe the Saviour true
Who truth and goodness love.

1909.

[Jesus, Thy disciples here]

And there was a division among them. —ix. 16.

Jesus, Thy disciples here
The judging world divide,
Praised by some as men sincere,
By others vilified:
Various as their passions, Lord,
The thoughts of men will ever be;
Thus they verify Thy word,
And treat Thy church like Thee.

1910.

[Strange malignity of men!]

They say unto the blind man . . . What sayest, &c. —ix. 17.

Strange malignity of men!
Who credulous of ill
All the proofs of good disdain
Which court their stubborn will!
Light from heaven if we receive,
They only question to disprove,
Good they never can believe
Of those they will not love.

1911.

[Jesus' upright confessor]

He said, He is a prophet. —ix. 17.

Jesus' upright confessor
Discharging what he owes,
Speaks without reserve or fear
The truth before its foes;

445

Vindicates the instrument
Who open'd a blind sinner's eyes,
Witnesses the Prophet sent,
His Saviour from the skies.

1912.

[Who the work of God oppose]

The Jews did not believe . . . that he had been, &c. —ix. 18, 19.

Who the work of God oppose,
Through obstinate despite,
Every avenue they close
Against the hateful light;
Pharisees the truth to shun
Unwearied pains and trouble take;
Doubting if the thing were done,
They it undoubted make.

1913.

[Few will risk the consequence]

He is of age, ask him. —ix. 21.

Few will risk the consequence,
And dare the truth confess,
Standing bold in the defence
Of Jesu's witnesses;
Prudently themselves to clear,
The burden they on others lay;
But they must to God appear,
And answer in that day!

1914.

[And have they not agreed it now]

The Jews had agreed already that if any man, &c. —ix. 22.

And have they not agreed it now,
While us who dare acknowledge Him,
To the one God in Jesus bow,
God self-existent and supreme,
Out of the Church they still reject,
And force into a separate sect?

But O most gracious God and true,
Defeat their dire malicious aim,

446

Who hate the Lord they never knew,
Abhor the followers of the Lamb,
And would as schismatics oppress,
And slay Thy patient witnesses.

Sole all-sufficient God most-high,
Exalted on Thy throne above,
The flock who on Thy blood rely
For peace and purity of love,
Kept in the British fold defend,
Kept in the Church till time shall end.

1915.

[Hear what the wise and learned say!]

Give God the praise: we know that this man, &c. —ix. 24.

Hear what the wise and learned say!
“This Man pretending to do good,
To show the blind their heavenly way,
And teach the' illiterate multitude,
The sabbath He profanely breaks,
And contrary to order speaks.”

We hear, but cannot think with them,
Or to their bold assertions trust,
Or from appearances condemn
Blindly implicitly unjust,
But Jesu's ministers receive;
And thus the praise to God we give.

1916.

[We still among the poor may find]

Whether He be a sinner I know not: one thing, &c. —ix. 25.

We still among the poor may find,
A soul to sudden sight restored,
A sinner now no longer blind
A generous witness for his Lord,
Who speaks and simply perseveres,
And neither man nor devil fears.

447

Born blind I was, and bred in sin,
Bound like the fiends in chains of night:
But Thou hast shone my heart within,
Surrounded with stupendous light;
And clearly, Lord, my way I see,
My end, my present heaven in Thee.

1917.

[Envious and proud in every age]

Then said they to him again, What did He, &c. —ix. 26.

Envious and proud in every age
The world against our Lord conspire
With restless unrelenting rage
Into His gracious work inquire,
With stubborn infidelity
They ask, they urge, how can it be!

The wonders wrought in this our day,
Which Thy experienced people know,
Saviour, they study to gainsay,
Our faith by cavilling to' o'erthrow,
The Spirit mock, the inward Light,
And rob Thee of Thy gracious right.

Yet will we still the truth maintain,
Born and enlighten'd from above,
And tell the faithless world again
Thy miracles of power and love;
We know what Thou to us hast done,
But how appears to Thee alone.

1918.

[An answer plain and full we give]

Wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye, &c. —ix. 27.

An answer plain and full we give
When friends or candid foes demand,
Willing our witness to receive,
The truth to know and understand:
The truth we then with joy impart,
And speak to Thy disciples' heart.

448

Weary of publishing Thy grace
To listening souls, we cannot be:
But if they proud objections raise,
Resist the light, and will not see,
And judges of Thy work appear,
They are not worthy, Lord, to hear.

1919.

[And let the railing world exclaim]

Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art, &c. —ix. 28.

And let the railing world exclaim:
I wish them all to follow Thee:
I glory in the sacred shame
Pour'd by their blindfold rage on me;
Thy poor reviled disciple I,
As such rejoice to live and die.

1920.

[Ye know not, for ye will not know]

We know that God spake unto Moses: &c. —ix. 29.

Ye know not, for ye will not know,
Jesus descended from the sky,
The Substance whom your shadows show,
The Prophet great, the Lord most-high,
The Light, the Life, the Truth, the Way,
Which leads to everlasting day.

Strangers to His converting grace,
Opposers of His Spirit's power,
Ye scorn our Saviour to confess,
The Opener of our eyes to' adore,
Who Christ undauntedly proclaim,
Our God eternally the same.

1921.

[The poor wayfaring man]

The man answered, . . . Why herein is a, &c. —ix. 30.

The poor wayfaring man,
Enlighten'd from above,
Doth valiantly the truth maintain,
And more than conqueror prove;

449

The man who nothing knows
But Jesus on his side
Withstands an host of learned foes,
And baffles all their pride.

Learning and power contend
Against the truth in vain,
Whoe'er the cause of Christ defend
The victory must obtain;
For still the truth of God
Doth in its witness fight,
Confounds the unbelieving crowd,
And puts the world to flight.

1922.

[His understanding's eyes]

Ye know not from whence He is, and yet He, &c. —ix. 30.

His understanding's eyes,
His mouth is open'd too,
The blind is brought divinely wise
A way he never knew;
With reasons strong and clear,
With wisdom not his own,
He proves the hand of God is here,
And God the work hath done.

1923.

[Even we, the vulgar know]

We know that God heareth not sinners: but, &c. —ix. 31.

Even we, the vulgar know
Who God disdains to fear,
And on in sin presumes to go,
His prayer He will not hear:
But if with contrite sighs
The wretch for mercy groan,
A sinner vile in his own eyes
In God's account is none.

450

1924.

[Who God in truth adore]

But if any man be a worshipper of God, &c. —ix. 31.

Who God in truth adore
And walk in all His ways,
He makes the channels of His power,
The vessels of His grace
Sends to declare His will,
And sinful souls convert;
And daily through His word they heal
The blindness of the heart.

1925.

[Conviction is from God]

Since the world began was it not heard, &c. —ix. 32.

Conviction is from God:
Since first the world began,
Was never man who knew or show'd
The sinfulness of man:
The Spirit of truth alone
Of unbelief reproves,
He makes the human darkness known,
And by His light removes.

1926.

[Ye scribes with learning fraught]

If this Man were not of God, He could do nothing. —ix. 33.

Ye scribes with learning fraught,
Ye doctors of the law,
By an illiterate beggar taught,
The just conclusion draw:
A man can nothing do
Of God uncall'd, unsent,
But saving souls in him we view
Our Saviour's instrument.

1927.

[The marks of wicked pastors see!]

Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost, &c. —ix. 34.

The marks of wicked pastors see!
Fierce war against the sheep they wage,
Treat them with scornful cruelty,
And minded of their duty rage;

451

Pleaders for rules, and union too,
The sheep out of the fold they drive,
And then as schismatics pursue,
And count them then not fit to live.

Yet will we not their sentence fear,
The' unjust themselves, not us, condemn;
Cast out we find our Saviour near,
Cut off not from our Head, but them;
Without the pale we cannot be,
Whose life is hid with Christ above,
Who cleave, dear Lord, to Thine and Thee
With steadfast faith, and humble love.

1928.

[The furious world rejecting those]

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, &c. —ix. 35.

The furious world rejecting those
Who seek in holiness to' excel,
Foes to themselves, eternal foes,
Themselves they from the church expel;
They separate from the saints indeed,
(The saints by formalists abhorr'd,)
And make the members like their Head,
And drive them closer to their Lord.

Our loving Lord the outcasts seeks
Whom Satan's synagogue expels,
He finds, and words of comfort speaks,
And to our hearts Himself reveals:
He gives us faith and faith's increase,
And while on us His Spirit rests,
Our souls o'erflow with joyous peace,
And heaven is open'd in our breasts.

1929.

[Happy the self-mistrusting man]

He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that, &c. —ix. 36.

Happy the self-mistrusting man
Who for Thyself of Thee inquires,

452

Thou wilt not let him ask in vain,
But grant in his Thine own desires:
For faith Divine the sinner's heart
Is open'd by docility,
But Thou of both the Giver art,
And all our good proceeds from Thee.

The man whom God to this hath wrought,
Instruction readily receives,
And found by Him who came unsought,
He first inquires, and then believes.
Enlighten'd by his Saviour's grace,
Convinced of His converting power,
His soul shall soon with joy embrace,
And Christ in spirit and truth adore.

1930.

[What comfortable words are Thine]

Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, &c. —ix. 37.

What comfortable words are Thine,
Physician of the helpless poor!
They speak our Comforter Divine,
They speak our heart-felt pardon sure:
Thy words are words of truth and grace,
Spirit, and light, and life they give;
We hear, we see the Speaker's face,
We see the face of God, and live!

1931.

[The sudden faith Thou hast bestow'd]

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped Him. —ix. 38.

The sudden faith Thou hast bestow'd,
Saviour, I must in words express,
Adore the true eternal God,
And Thee my God, my Lord confess:
For this alone I Thee entreat,
This only good on earth desire,
To live adoring at Thy feet,
And meekly at Thy feet expire.

453

1932.

[Righteous Lord Thy judgments are!]

For judgment I am come into this world, &c. —ix. 39.

Righteous Lord Thy judgments are!
When men their misery own,
Thou Thy mercy dost declare,
And make Thy Godhead known:
Foolish, ignorant, and blind,
We first our unbelief confess,
Then the light from heaven we find,
The Lord our Righteousness.

But the wise, and learn'd, and proud
Refuse themselves to' abase,
Scorn to' admit their fall from God,
And total want of grace;
Justly are they left by Thee,
Who still against Thy Spirit fight;
Left in their obscurity,
Or blinded by the light.

1933.

[Of their ignorance they show]

Some of the Pharisees . . . said, . . . Are we blind also? —ix. 40.

Of their ignorance they show
The most undoubted sign,
Dark as hell who will not know
Their need of light Divine;
Pharisees, untaught by grace,
Yet learned in their own esteem;
None of all our blindfold race
Is half so blind as them.

1934.

[Ignorance in which ye dwell]

If ye were blind, ye should have no sin, &c. —ix. 41.

Ignorance in which ye dwell
Excusable had been
Were it quite invincible,
It is not wilful sin.

454

But your knowledge ye assert,
And cast your helps and means aside,
Hence the veil is on your heart,
And all your faith is pride.

Would you own with humble grief
Your want of light and love,
Christ would help your unbelief,
And all your guilt remove:
But with arrogant disdain
Your blindness if ye still deny,
Infidels ye must remain
Till in your sins ye die.

CHAPTER X.

1935.

[A pastor good in God's esteem]

He that entereth in by the door is the shepherd, &c. —x. 2.

A pastor good in God's esteem,
Who enters in by Christ the Door,
Inwardly call'd and moved by Him,
Obeys the Spirit's secret power,
And for his awful charge design'd
By Heaven, he casts the world behind.

He only at God's glory aims,
And lives to serve the Saviour's will;
The love of souls his heart inflames,
He tends the sheep with fervent zeal;
Himself to this one thing applies,
And gives his life in sacrifice.

455

1936.

[To him the Doorkeeper above]

To him the porter openeth. —x. 3.

To him the Doorkeeper above,
The Father manifests His Son,
Opens the treasures of His love,
Makes His mysterious wisdom known,
The pastor into Christ receives,
And the true Door of utterance gives.

God only can His Son reveal,
And Jesu's ministers ordain,
Jehovah must their mission seal,
Or man lays on his hands in vain,
Thou, Father, Thou that Porter art;
Display my Saviour in my heart.

1937.

[His voice the sheep rejoice to hear]

And the sheep hear his voice. —x. 3.

His voice the sheep rejoice to hear,
Nor fear in following that, to stray,
They know their Saviour's minister,
And man for Jesu's sake obey,
His word as God's, not his, receive,
The gospel hear, the gospel live.

1938.

[Inspired with goodness from above]

And he calleth his own sheep by name, &c. —x. 3.

Inspired with goodness from above
His sheep he doth for Jesus claim,
He visits all with tenderest love,
He knows, and calls them all by name;
Each precious soul he counts his own,
His friend, his brother, and his son.

His own, and not another's sheep,
Watchful by day and night he tends,
Entrusted by his Lord to keep
From ravening wolves, and roaring fiends,

456

He knows their wants, their burdens bears,
And all their griefs and sorrows shares.

Out of an evil world of woe,
Out of its pomps and pleasures vain,
Out of their fond pursuits below,
Out of the base desires of men,
Out of themselves to Christ he leads,
And Christ supplies his people's needs.

1939.

[In all the paths of righteousness]

When he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth, &c. —x. 4.

In all the paths of righteousness,
Of silent peace and joy unknown,
The first to practise what he sees,
A faithful guide he leads them on,
A shining light before them goes,
In every point their duty shows.

The wisdom and the power of God
In hearing him, they hear and feel,
Admire the grace on man bestow'd,
(A man who speaks and lives so well,)
And while his life confirms his word
Pursue the follower of their Lord.

1940.

[A stranger to the truth of grace]

A stranger will they not follow, but will flee, &c. —x. 5.

A stranger to the truth of grace
They from their genuine shepherd know,
Abhor his doctrines and his ways,
After his life refuse to go,
And trembling at delusion nigh,
As from a thief and robber fly.

1941.

[Strangers both to themselves and Thee]

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they, &c. —x. 6.

Strangers both to themselves and Thee,
The robbers of Thy church remain,

457

They will not understand and see
The difference so severely plain,
Themselves the thieves they will not own,
Or at Thy feet for mercy groan.

Open, O Lord, their blinded eyes,
Blinded by the infernal god,
Or in Thy people's cause arise,
Whom Thou hast purchased with Thy blood,
Redeem the sheep to hirelings sold,
And chase the thief out of Thy fold.

1942.

[Thee Jesus, Thee I fall before]

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door, &c. —x. 7.

Thee Jesus, Thee I fall before
Who only art the church's Door,
With importunity;
I knock, and never will depart,
Open, O Lord, Thy loving heart,
And take me into Thee.

If Thou the grace of faith bestow,
Thyself I by Thy Spirit know
My true eternal rest,
Entrance into Thy church I find,
Through Thee to all Thy people join'd,
And shelter'd in Thy breast.

1943.

[Invaders of the ministry]

All that ever came before Me are thieves and, &c. —x. 8.

Invaders of the ministry
Who ran before, unsent by Thee,
The God they never knew,
Who profit and preferments gain;
They spoil the helpless souls of men,
They rob and murder too.

458

But them the flock will never hear,
Will never follow or revere
The covetous and proud
As pastors after Thine own heart,
Who take the dire destroyer's part,
And slay the saints of God.

1944.

[Lord, I believe, and enter in]

I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he, &c. —x. 9.

Lord, I believe, and enter in,
Saved, in a moment saved from sin,
Its guilt and tyranny;
Beyond the murdering shepherd's power,
Where neither men nor fiends devour,
I dwell secure in Thee.

Through Thee and Thine atoning blood
I come with free access to God,
His dear adopted son:
Thy blood shall all my wants supply,
And bear me up beyond the sky
To that eternal throne.

Pasture I find in every place,
I feed upon the word of grace
To all believers given;
And fill'd with love shall soon confess
Thou art the Gate of holiness,
Thou art the Gate of heaven.

1945.

[That the doubly dead might live]

I am come that they might have life, and that, &c. —x. 10.

That the doubly dead might live,
Lord Thou wast on earth reveal'd,
That we might Thy mind retrieve,
By Thy promised Spirit seal'd,

459

Pardon'd, perfectly renew'd,
Saved with all the life of God.

Answer then Thy bless'd design,
Bring to me the life of grace,
Bring me larger life Divine,
Fill my soul with holiness,
Fit me for the life above,
All Thy life of heavenly love.

1946.

[The Shepherd good indeed Thou art]

I am the good Shepherd. —x. 11.

The Shepherd good indeed Thou art,
I feel Thy goodness at my heart;
No goodness out of Christ I see;
Goodness itself has died for me!

1947.

[The man whom covetous desire]

But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, &c. —x. 12.

The man whom covetous desire
Impels to minister for hire
We mercenary call:
But oh what title shall we give
A wretch who dares the hire receive,
And never works at all?

1948.

[The Shepherd good, Thou dost approve]

I am the good Shepherd, and know My, &c. —x. 14, 15.

The Shepherd good, Thou dost approve
With kind regard, and cordial love,
The sheep redeem'd below,
The sheep with firm fidelity
Cleave to their Shepherd good, and Thee
With pure affection know.

Jehovah, with Jehovah one,
Thou know'st Him, Lord, as Thou art known,
And (O! how can it be?)

460

That union inexpressible
Thou dost with Thy great Father feel
Thy members feel with Thee.

For this Thou dost Thy life lay down,
That gather'd by Thy death alone
The sheep no more may rove,
But all Thy heavenly nature find,
To Thee inexplicably join'd,
And simplified by love.

1949.

[Millions of sheep so dearly bought]

And other sheep I have, which are not of this, &c. —x. 16.

Millions of sheep so dearly bought,
Immortal souls redeem'd of old,
Jesus, Thou hast already brought,
And added to the Christian fold:
Whole nations have Thy call obey'd,
Gentiles and Jews Thy gospel known,
And join'd to Thee their common Head,
Thy church throughout the earth is one.

One God the children all confess,
One Head the members all adore,
One Spirit of faith and holiness,
Who fills them with His love and power;
One flock, one body, and one bride,
So closely join'd in mind and heart,
That neither earth nor hell divide,
That neither life nor death can part.

Yet millions still uncall'd remain
Wide wandering in the wilderness,
Thee, Saviour, let Thy love constrain
To bring in every sheep that strays:

461

O let them hear and flock to Thee
From north and south and east and west,
Together all Thy glory see,
And in their Shepherd's bosom rest.

The secret whisper of Thy love,
The small still voice shall bring them home,
Though far as hell from heaven they rove
From God, they to Thy church shall come.
For Thy own gracious promise sake
Thou wilt incline their hearts to' obey,
One undivided people make,
And give us all one perfect way.

Then jarring sentiments shall cease,
And discord's voice be heard no more,
While in the truth of holiness
Thy church with one consent adore,
Flesh of Thy flesh, bone of Thy bone,
The members each to each shall join,
Cemented by Thy blood alone,
And one with unity Divine.

1950.

[Submissive to Thy Father's will]

Therefore doth My Father love Me, because, &c. —x. 17, 18.

Submissive to Thy Father's will,
Jesus Thou didst Thy life lay down,
Didst of Thine own accord fulfil
The strange design of love unknown;
Obedient to His love's decree
Thou didst the general ransom pay:
Thy deed was absolute and free,
And yet Thou couldst not disobey.

Love only did my Lord constrain
Thy life so freely to resign,

462

A sacrifice for guilty man,
A grateful sacrifice Divine:
Love would not let my Saviour rest,
Sole cause of the stupendous deed,
It drew Thee from Thy Father's breast,
It made the Man of sorrows bleed.

Deserving in Thy proper right
Thou hence obtain'st Thy Father's love,
And raised by Thy own Spirit's might,
Appear'st our Advocate above;
Great Patron of the ransom'd race,
Well-pleased He always is with Thee:
And Thou hast merited His grace,
And Thou hast bought His love for me.

1951.

[The wisdom of our God made man]

Many of them said, He hath a devil, and is, &c. —x. 20.

The wisdom of our God made man,
Jesus was vilified, blasphemed,
Heard with aversion and disdain,
A madman and demoniac deem'd!
Thou zealous follower of thy Lord
The crown of all thy labours see,
Expect from man the same reward,
And bow thy head on Calvary.

1952.

[Nature impatient of delay]

How long dost Thou make us to doubt? &c. —x. 24.

Nature impatient of delay,
Would force the Lord to show His power:
“Now, now, we cry, Thyself display,
Now, now, for we can wait no more,
Thy mysteries all at once explain,
For God is bound to wait on man!”

But a believing child of grace
Tarries the leisure of his Lord,

463

Waits upon Him who hides His face,
Continues patient in the word,
Manner and time to Jesus leaves,
And what his Saviour wills receives.

1953.

[Who in the steps of Jesus treads]

The works that I do in My Father's name, &c. —x. 25.

Who in the steps of Jesus treads
The surest testimony gives,
He speaks less by his words than deeds,
The truth's authentic witness lives:
And lo! throughout his life is show'd
The wisdom and the power of God!

1954.

[The sheep with meek docility]

Ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, &c. —x. 26.

The sheep with meek docility
Expect the Shepherd's voice to hear,
Jesus by faith they cleave to Thee;
Obedience is their character,
Obedience doth their faith approve,
And tender fear, and humble love.

Saviour, on me the faith bestow
Which joins a sinner to the sheep:
And when Thy pardoning voice I know,
To Thee and Thine united keep,
Till in that awful day I stand,
Among the sheep at Thy right hand.

1955.

[The sheep with true simplicity]

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, &c. —x. 27.

The sheep with true simplicity
Attend, and taste and keep Thy word,
They lead the life approved by Thee,
Follow their active suffering Lord,
Copy Thy life of love and pain,
And labour all Thy mind to gain.

464

They prove Thine acceptable will,
Thine image more and more put on,
Their vileness more and more they feel,
Their race assign'd with patience run,
Thy followers to the end endure,
And make their own election sure.

1956.

[The faith Thou dost even now bestow]

I give unto them eternal life; and they shall, &c. —x. 28.

The faith Thou dost even now bestow,
Even now the life eternal give,
And Thee their Lord who truly know
The hidden life of glory live;
Their souls are in those hands of Thine,
Kept by the power of love Divine.

Obsequious to Thy dear commands
With Thee alone who safely dwell,
Sin shall not pluck out of Thy hands,
Nor all the force of earth or hell;
And if the Truth can never lie,
Believing souls can never die.

1957.

[Jesus answer'd them, to show]

Jesus answered them, Many good works have, &c. —x. 32.

Jesus answer'd them, to show
We should at times reply
To the persecuting foe,
Our actions justify;
Bold before the world confess
The crime of publishing the word,
Advocates for truth express
The tempers of our Lord.

1958.

[Will the foes of Jesus own]

For a good work we stone Thee not; but for, &c. —x. 33.

Will the foes of Jesus own
They hate us for His sake?

465

Us they as blasphemers stone,
And righteous vengeance take;
“Wretches who the Spirit feel
Pretend to know their sins forgiven,
Say that now in God they dwell
And live the life of heaven!”

1959.

[Christ the character express]

Say ye of Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, &c. —x. 36.

Christ the character express
Of God's substantial power,
Image of His holiness
Jehovah we adore!
Him His Father sanctified
Before the worlds or time begun,
Placed for ever at His side
His co-eternal Son.

Fulness of His sanctity
The only God supreme,
Being's Source, I AM is He
Who did our world redeem;
When in Christ the Father came
To consecrate this human shrine,
Dwelt in that corporeal frame
The plenitude Divine.

One, I and My Father are!
One God in persons three
By the Spirit we declare
The triune Deity:
Blasphemy denies in vain,
The glories of Jehovah's Son:
One with God Thou must remain
Through endless ages One.

466

1960.

[Re-begotten from above]

Though ye believe not Me, believe the works. —x. 38.

Re-begotten from above
In Christ, and creatures new,
Sinners, by our works we prove
That our report is true,
Witness what we surely know,
That men may still the Spirit receive;
Let our words for nothing go,
Ye must our lives believe.

1961.

[Jesu's real witnesses]

That ye may know, and believe, that the Father, &c. —x. 38.

Jesu's real witnesses
We live for this alone,
That ye may with us confess
The Father in the Son,
That ye may believe aright,
And fill'd with God rejoice to prove
All the length, and breadth, and height,
And depth of Jesus' love.

1962.

[Voice of all the prophets old]

John did no miracle: but all things that, &c. —x. 41, 42.

Voice of all the prophets old,
Their End the Baptist show'd,
Pointing out whom they foretold
The heavenly Lamb of God:
Jesus His forerunner's word
By words, by wonders, verified,
Lived our gracious faithful Lord,
Confirm'd the truth, and died.

Searching Lord, if Thou art He
Who should our souls restore,
Clearly we Thy Godhead see,
And Thine eternal power;

467

Ancient prophecies compare
With those stupendous works of Thine,
Thus convinced to all declare
Thou art that Man Divine!

1963.

[Still in spite of earth and hell]

And many believed on Him there. —x. 42.

Still in spite of earth and hell,
Sinners their Lord embrace;
In their inmost souls they feel
The miracle of grace;
End of every outward sign,
Jesus, Thou dost the faith impart;
Then I know that Thou art mine,
Jehovah in my heart!

CHAPTER XI.

1964.

[The prayer which God delights to hear]

Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick. —xi. 3.

The prayer which God delights to hear,
With steadfast faith and humble fear
The sinner's wants before Him lays,
And meekly for an answer stays,
Nothing prescribes to the Most-High
Whose pity hears the softest sigh,
But waits the blessing from above,
And minds the Saviour of His love.

Saviour, with kind compassion see
Thy ransom'd creature's misery,
The sinner whom Thou lov'st am I,
But sick and at the point to die;

468

Tempted and weak in sin and pain,
Here at Thy feet I still remain:
Thou know'st my case, Thou hear'st me groan
In death, Thine only will be done!

1965.

[His own great glory He intends]

This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory, &c. —xi. 4.

His own great glory He intends,
When God the pain or trouble sends:
Out of the earth it doth not rise,
But comes in mercy from the skies;
It comes our grovelling souls to raise,
And quicken'd with the life of grace,
We seek the solid joys above,
And bless our Saviour's chastening love.

1966.

[Jesus, my soul's infirmity]

Jesus, my soul's infirmity
Is known, is suffer'd still by Thee,
Yet wilt Thou not Thy help deny,
Or leave me in my sins to die;
Surely Thou shalt my sickness heal,
Thy love in season due reveal,
That saved I may proclaim Thy grace,
And live to Thine eternal praise.

1967.

[And me—may every soul subjoin]

Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. —xi. 5.

And me—may every soul subjoin,
The Friend of Lazarus is mine;
My Friend from all eternity,
He loved, He died Himself for me!

1968.

[He waits; to manifest His grace]

When He had heard therefore that he was sick, &c. —xi. 6.

He waits; to manifest His grace,
To help His dying friend, delays,
The sickness lingers to remove,
But not through want of power or love.

469

Thus our Physician from the sky
Lets a beloved patient die,
And then exerts His power to save
And lifts the sinner from the grave.

1969.

[He shuns His murderers no more]

Let us go into Judea again. —xi. 7.

He shuns His murderers no more,
But goes at God's appointed hour
To lay the ransom down;
He goes to suffer in our stead,
And, life restoring to the dead,
Surrenders up His own.

1970.

[For this into their hands He goes]

Master, the Jews of late sought to stone Thee, &c. —xi. 8.

For this into their hands He goes,
Gives Himself up, to save His foes,
By dying in their place;
The voluntary Victim dies,
And through one bloody sacrifice
Atones for all our race.

1971.

[The faithful in their Saviour's sight]

Are there not twelve hours in the day? &c. —xi. 9, 10.

The faithful in their Saviour's sight
Walk on, as children of the light,
In calm security,
Nor earth nor hell their steps o'erthrow,
Who in the ways of duty go,
And Christ their Pattern see.

Light of the world they Him confess;
The glorious Sun of righteousness
On all their paths He shines;
And labouring with intrepid zeal,
They their appointed work fulfil,
And answer His designs.

470

On Christ while humbly they rely,
His only will and glory eye,
They cannot fall or sin:
Himself into their hearts He gives,
Irradiates all their powers, and leaves
No stumbling block within.

But strangers to His saving grace,
Sinners pursue their dreary ways,
Without His Spirit's light
Blindfold, in sin they stumble on,
And sink at last despairing down
Into eternal night.

1972.

[Period of my griefs and woes]

Our friend Lazarus sleepeth. —xi. 11.

Period of my griefs and woes,
Welcome death's desired repose!
Death my day of labour ends;
Death is sleep to Jesus' friends:

Weary, weary, and oppress'd,
Faint and languishing for rest,
Fain I would forget to weep,
Close my eyes in lasting sleep;

Free from pain recline my head,
Mouldering in its earthen bed,
Till the sinner's constant Friend
Judge of quick and dead descend.

Then my dust His voice shall hear,
Springing from the sepulchre,
Join its mate, and soar away,
Mingle in the blaze of day!

471

1973.

[Thy mercy grants the sinner's prayer]

And I am glad for your sakes that I was, &c. —xi. 15.

Thy mercy grants the sinner's prayer:
Thy greater love doth oft defer,
The promised good to give;
That help'd in the most desperate case,
We Thy transcendent power may praise,
And perfectly believe.

Thy presence bids our troubles cease;
Thy absence makes our faith increase,
While patient and resign'd
We humbly for Thy coming stay,
Till fitted through our Lord's delay
Thine utmost love we find.

1974.

[Not through a sad desponding fear]

Then said Thomas . . . unto his fellow-disciples, &c. —xi. 16.

Not through a sad desponding fear,
When danger, pain, and death are near,
We would with Christ abide;
But with Divine conformity
Partake His passion on the tree,
And languish by His side.

Made willing in the strength of grace,
Saviour, Thy portion we embrace;
Thou know'st Thy people's heart,
Who come to suffer for Thy name,
Resolved that neither grief nor shame,
Nor pain, nor death shall part.

1975.

[Parted from God the soul is dead]

When Jesus came, He found that he had lain, &c. —xi. 17.

Parted from God the soul is dead,
Buried alive the graceless soul,
His conscience as with worms o'erspread,
No sepulchre is half so foul!

472

The poor habitual sinner lies,
Long dead in trespasses and sins;
And cannot wake and cannot rise,
Till call'd by life's immortal Prince.

1976.

[We kindly share a mourner's woe]

Many . . . came to Martha and Mary, to comfort, &c. —xi. 19.

We kindly share a mourner's woe,
Stripp'd of the friend awhile bestow'd;
No pity for a soul we show,
Who long by sin has lost its God;
No comfort can that soul receive
But with the hope of Jesus' grace,
Who helps poor sinners to believe,
And still delights the dead to raise.

1977.

[Forth by our good desires we go]

Then Martha as soon as she heard that Jesus, &c. —xi. 20.

Forth by our good desires we go,
Our dear approaching Lord to meet,
Or wait His secret will to know,
And in the house expecting sit:
With forward zeal like Martha run,
To Jesus of our loss complain;
Or calmly sad like Mary moan,
Till He returns and ends our pain.

1978.

[Hadst Thou, O Lord, been always here]

But I know, that even now, whatsoever Thou, &c. —xi. 22.

Hadst Thou, O Lord, been always here,
My soul through sin had never died;
But now in my behalf appear,
My Spokesman at Thy Father's side:
He cannot turn away from Thee,
Thou must prevail I surely know;
Whate'er Thou dost request for me
He will for Thy dear sake bestow.

473

1979.

[The good we eagerly require]

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. —xi. 23.

The good we eagerly require
Thou still withholdest from Thine own,
To cool the' impatience of desire,
And make us ask in faith alone;
To stop our unbelieving haste
Dispose and teach us to receive;
And then Thou show'st Thy power at last,
And then Thou dost Thy Spirit give.

1980.

[With faith Thy saying we receive]

I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he, &c. —xi. 25, 26.

With faith Thy saying we receive,
Thee, Lord, the Resurrection own,
The' essential Life of all that live
Surrounding, or beneath Thy throne:
Life of the world to come Thou art,
Life of the saints in flesh confined,
And wouldst Thy quickening Spirit impart,
To raise the souls of all mankind.

The faith Thou dost on us bestow
Restores our souls to life again,
The' eternal Life in Thee we know,
The gracious glorious life obtain,
The antepast in perfect peace
In Thy unsinning mind we prove,
And feel the real holiness
The life infused of heavenly love.

Our souls raised up to die no more,
Jesus, Thou dost persist to save;
And Thou whom all Thy saints adore,
Shalt call our bodies from the grave;

474

We all who live by faith in Thee,
Who on Thine only love rely,
Possess'd of immortality
The second death shall never die.

1981.

[Yes, Lord: I steadfastly believe]

Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, &c. —xi. 27.

Yes, Lord: I steadfastly believe
Thou the desired Messias art,
Thee, Prophet, Priest, and King, receive
With joy into my loving heart;
Son of the living God Most-High,
His fulness all resides in Thee,
Yet didst Thou live on earth, and die
To live eternally in me.

The Saviour-God so long foretold,
The Ransomer of Jacob's race,
Of all mankind to Satan sold
My God, My Saviour, I confess:
Come in the flesh Thou art I know;
Thou wilt fulfil Thine own design,
Destroy the devil's works below,
And fill our souls with life Divine.

1982.

[Happy is the family]

The Master is come, and calleth for thee. —xi. 28.

Happy is the family
Strong in faith and much in prayer!
Jesus, they belong to Thee,
Thou art Lord and Master there,
Thou art worshipp'd and revered,
Thou art glorified alone;
Nothing but Thy word is heard,
Nothing but Thy will is done.

475

1983.

[Man in ministering relief]

As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, &c. —xi. 29.

Man in ministering relief,
Miserable comforter,
Aggravates the mourner's grief,
Burdens whom he means to cheer:
Mary turns from such away,
Her immortal Friend to meet,
Goes to Christ without delay,
Seeks her comfort at His feet.

1984.

[Passion's turbulent excess]

Jesus troubled Himself (Gr.) —xi. 33.

Passion's turbulent excess,
Pure from sin He could not feel;
Rational was the distress,
Wholly subject to His will:
He who did our nature take,
Would its sinless frailties know,
Freely suffer'd for our sake,
Made Himself the Man of woe.

1985.

[Jesus weeps, our tears to see!]

Jesus wept. —xi. 35.

Jesus weeps, our tears to see!
Feels the soft infirmity;
Feels, whene'er a friend we mourn,
From our bleeding bosom torn:
Let Him still in spirit groan,
Make our every grief His own,
Till we all triumphant rise,
Call'd to meet Him in the skies.

Jesus weeps for sinners blind,
Mourns the death of all mankind;
Blesses us with sacred showers,
Sheds His tears to hallow ours:
Weeps to make our case His own,
For our guilty joys to' atone,

476

Wipes at last the mourner's eyes,
Sorrow's source for ever dries!

1986.

[When with eyes of faith we see]

Then said the Jews, Behold how He loved him! —xi. 36.

When with eyes of faith we see
Jesus fasten'd to the tree,
Very man, and very God,
Pouring, not His tears, but blood,
Grateful on the sight we gaze,
Cry in passionate amaze,
See, His tender mercy proved!
See how well the world He loved!

1987.

[Presumptuous men through malice blind]

Could not this Man, which opened the eyes, &c. —xi. 37.

Presumptuous men through malice blind,
Would fain the times and seasons know,
Fault with eternal Wisdom find,
And teach Him when His power to show,
Insult Him for His kind delay,
And when He works, the Saviour stay.

1988.

[Their sin extorts the' indignant groan]

Jesus therefore again groaning in Himself, &c. —xi. 38.

Their sin extorts the' indignant groan,
Their proud obduracy of heart,
Which scorns His benefits to own,
Which will His saving grace pervert,
Though God Himself in person come
To call their souls from nature's tomb.

He curbs the struggling grief within,
That thus we may our zeal suppress,
Urged to resent our neighbour's sin,
Shock'd by a world of wickedness,
And silently the anguish bear,
Or vent our burden'd souls in prayer.

477

1989.

[Who lives in unbelief confined]

It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. —xi. 38.

Who lives in unbelief confined,
His heart is as a loathsome grave,
Loathsome and dark, corrupt and blind,
While grace in vain attends to save,
Harden'd by habitudes of sin,
It will not let salvation in.

Habitual sin shuts up the tomb,
And stops the avenues of grace,
Till shining in the dungeon's gloom
Glory supreme Himself displays,
And Holiness corruption seeks,
And Light Divine to darkness speaks.

Jesus, Thou hast the hindrance shown,
The sin that doth my soul beset,
I feel the hard and ponderous stone,
I pant beneath the' enormous weight,
Till pity brings redemption near,
And Love unbars the sepulchre.

1990.

[Thou bidd'st us take away the stone]

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. —xi. 39.

Thou bidd'st us take away the stone,
Thou bidd'st us put our sins away:
But Lord the power is Thine alone
Through which we can Thy word obey,
From every act of sinning cease,
And gain the gift of righteousness.

The power which Thy command conveys,
The previous penitential power,
Workers together with Thy grace
We all may use and wait for more,
May outward obstacles remove,
And gasp for the pure life of love.

478

1991.

[Reason and faith together strive]

Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath, &c. —xi. 39.

Reason and faith together strive
Just as the mighty work is wrought:
How can a putrid carcase live?
Or how out of corruption brought
My soul in holiness arise,
And live the life of paradise!

1992.

[The slave of fashionable sin]

The slave of fashionable sin,
Who spends his life in pleasures vain,
Specious without, but foul within,
Offensive both to God and man
The pestilent example gives,
Is dead, and stinks, while yet he lives.

1993.

[Lord Thy saying I receive]

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, &c. —xi. 40.

Lord Thy saying I receive,
As spoken now to me,
If the promise I believe
I shall Thy glory see,
Shall from mine offences freed
Both see and feel Thy saving power,
Rise triumphant from the dead,
And die and sin no more.

Gladly I believe the word,
And wait the truth to prove,
To Thine image here restored,
The life of spotless love:
Walking in my Saviour's sight
I here shall find Thine utmost grace,
Then with all the sons of light
Behold Thy open face.

479

1994.

[Ready to conclude Thy race]

Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, &c. —xi. 41, 42.

Ready to conclude Thy race
With this great miracle,
Lord Thou dost Thy Father praise,
Thou dost Thyself reveal;
Heard in this, in every hour,
Thou all Thy wondrous works hast done,
By Thine own essential power,
With God for ever one.

Sovereign Lord of life and death
Thy right Divine receive,
All who by Thy mercy breathe
Should to Thy glory live:
God supreme in majesty
Thee, Jesus, I with joy confess,
Sent from God to quicken me,
And all our ransom'd race.

1995.

[When the' almighty Jesus cries]

He cried with a loud voice. —xi. 43.

When the' almighty Jesus cries,
Hears the soul in paradise,
Hastes the summons to obey,
Reassumes his mortal clay,
To our dying life restored,
Lives again to serve his Lord.

All that voice of God shall hear,
All forsake the sepulchre,
Put again their bodies on,
Stand arraign'd before the throne;
Then the awful Judge we see,
Now, my God, He pleads for me.

480

1996.

[Jesus, quickening Spirit, come]

Lazarus, come forth! —xi. 43.

Jesus, quickening Spirit, come,
Call my soul out of its tomb,
Dead in sin to life restore,
Raise me up to die no more;
Perfect liberty bestow,
Speak again, and bid me go,
Thou who hast my sins forgiven,
Loose, and lift me up to heaven.

1997.

[Senseless no more in sin I dwell]

He that was dead came forth, bound hand, &c. —xi. 44.

Senseless no more in sin I dwell,
But leave my guilty nature's tomb,
Thy Spirit's quickening virtue feel,
And forth at Thy command I come;
Yet bound I in Thy sight appear,
Of death the fatal tokens have,
And recent from the sepulchre,
Expect Thy farther power to save.

I wait till Thou my Lord repeat
And seal the word of pardoning love,
Loose by Thy word my hands and feet,
The bandage from my sight remove:
My God I then shall clearly see,
Perform the works of righteousness,
And walk in glorious liberty,
And run with joy the heavenly race.

If ministers Thy grace ordain
And use their instrumental power,
Yet Thee great Ransomer of men,
Thee only shall my soul adore:

481

Thy truth that makes me free indeed,
Thy word it is that sanctifies,
And faithful in Thy steps I tread,
To find my Life beyond the skies.

1998.

[Jesus, we testify Thy power]

He that was dead came forth. —xi. 44.

Jesus, we testify Thy power
From all degrees of death to save,
Thee, Lord of life, our souls adore,
Raised from the bed, the bier, the grave!

1999.

[How good to visit Jesus' friends]

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, &c. —xi. 45.

How good to visit Jesus' friends,
How happily the visit ends!
A mourner sad they come to cheer,
And find the heavenly Comforter;
His gracious miracles they see,
Proofs of the' incarnate Deity;
The precious gift of faith receive,
And raised themselves to God they live.

2000.

[Self-righteous Pharisees]

If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe, &c. —xi. 48.

Self-righteous Pharisees
The sinner's Friend oppose,
And priests in every age increase
The number of His foes;
While yet they might receive
The' eternal Son of God,
They neither will themselves believe,
Nor suffer us that would.

Ye venerable men
Who 'gainst your Saviour fight,
Imaginary ills ye feign,
And real dangers slight:

482

Lest Rome your church o'erthrow
Affectedly ye fear,
And thoughtless of your hellish foe
Ye dread his successor.

Strangers to Jesu's blood
Ye no conviction have,
Rejecting Him by God bestow'd,
Your sinful souls to save;
But tremble at the day
Which shall His wrath reveal,
When Satan takes your souls away,
And shuts them up in hell.

2001.

[As patriots wise and good]

It is expedient for us, that one man should die, &c. —xi. 50.

As patriots wise and good
Fired for the nation's weal,
The' ambitious, covetous, and proud
Their base designs conceal:
Their credit wealth and power,
To' ensure is all their aim,
And when the wolves the flock devour,
They use religion's name.

Religion is their care,
Yet still themselves they seek,
The temple of the Lord they are,
Yet thus their actions speak,
“Let truth and justice die
With every righteous one;
So we may live install'd on high,
And rule the church alone.”

483

2002.

[Wisdom and power to God belong!]

This spake he not of himself: but being, &c. —xi. 51, 52.

Wisdom and power to God belong!
Thou dost o'errule the pontiff's tongue,
Beyond himself to prophesy:
The year of Thy redeem'd is come,
Thy outcasts must be gather'd home,
And One for all the people die.

Such Thy unchangeable decree,
Thy Son the sacrifice shall be,
And bleed in a whole nation's place;
He dies, but not for Jews alone,
His blood shall ransom and atone
For every child of Adam's race.

He hath for all been offer'd up,
The world's Desire, the nation's Hope,
Partition's wall hath broken down;
His death's effects we all partake,
Gentiles and Jews His body make,
Gather'd and sanctified in one.

Thou dost to every longing heart
The Spirit of Thy Son impart
Through which we Abba Father cry,
While in the power of simple love
The fellowship of saints we prove,
And join Thy church beyond the sky.

CHAPTER XII.

2003.

[Life to a soul if Jesus give]

Then Jesus . . . came to Bethany, where Lazarus, &c. —xii. 1.

Life to a soul if Jesus give
He will not then neglect and leave
His Lazarus restored,

484

But visits and confirms the grace,
The tender life of righteousness,
And feeds him with the word.

The sinner saved is Jesu's guest,
(Whose presence makes the' angelic feast,
Whose glory fills the skies,)
He banquets on redeeming love,
Nor envies those he left above,
The saints in paradise.

2004.

[Money with God of no esteem]

He was a thief, and had the bag. —xii. 6.

Money with God of no esteem
He doth to thieves and traitors trust,
But precious souls are kept by Him,
Are safe with Jesus Christ the just:
Judas the church's goods may steal,
He cannot make our souls his prey,
Though help'd by him who comes from hell
The sheep to spoil, and kill, and slay.

2005.

[The world who only seek their own]

Then said Jesus, Let her alone (Gr. Forgive her). —xii. 7.

The world who only seek their own,
Compassion for the poor pretend,
But judge who live for God alone,
And all on their Redeemer spend:
They may external works approve
Whene'er the needy we relieve,
But our excess of zealous love
To Christ, they never can forgive.

2006.

[The things we most affect and prize]

Against the day of My burying hath she kept this. —xii. 7.

The things we most affect and prize
We offer Christ in sacrifice,

485

His costliest gifts to Him restore,
And wish our utmost all were more.

2007.

[We bless Thee Saviour for the grace]

The poor always ye have with you. —xii. 8.

We bless Thee Saviour for the grace
Which left Thy deputies behind:
The poor on earth supply Thy place
That man may still to God be kind:
Our alms expecting to receive
The Head we in the members see;
And what to them we do or give,
We give, or do it, Lord to Thee.

2008.

[Ye who curiously desire]

They came not for Jesus' sake only, &c. —xii. 9.

Ye who curiously desire
The works of Christ to see,
Come; but farther grace require,
And His disciples be:
Him who raised us from the dead,
Expect your sinful souls to raise;
Feel the Spirit of our Head,
And live to Jesu's praise.

2009.

[The people still go forth to meet]

Much people . . . took branches of palm-trees, &c. —xii. 12, 13.

The people still go forth to meet,
And Jesus with Hosannahs greet,
The King of saints, the God supreme,
His Sender comes reveal'd in Him.

Receive Him in Jehovah's name,
Jehovah is with Christ the same,
Receive Him in His Spirit bestow'd,
The fulness of the triune God!

486

He comes, He comes, on earth to reign,
He brings us back our power again,
The sovereignty which Adam lost,
With Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

In us who Christ our God adore,
He doth His kingdom here restore,
And in our faithful hearts we prove
The reigning power of Jesu's love.

The Author of our joy we bless,
The King of peace and righteousness,
Triumphant in the earnest given,
For present love is present heaven.

We soon shall meet Him in the sky,
And ceaseless Hallelujah cry,
Palms in our hands, as conquerors, bear,
And glory on our foreheads wear.

2010.

[Pomp and magnificence He leaves]

Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King, &c. —xii. 15.

Pomp and magnificence He leaves
To kings who need their weakness hide,
No dignity from man receives,
Who comes but to encounter pride,
To make the world and sin submit,
And trample death beneath His feet.

Meekness and love compose His train,
Sion, rejoice thy King to see;
He comes o'er willing hearts to reign,
By patience and humility;
Ye need not fear the sinner's Friend
Who comes your sins and fears to end.

487

Sinners by gentleness He wins,
And sweetly bends them to His sway;
Receive your mild pacific Prince,
Enjoy the happiness to' obey,
Delight His easy yoke to prove,
And bless His law of life and love.

2011.

[Ah, Lord, my ignorance I own]

These things understood not His disciples, &c. —xii. 16.

Ah, Lord, my ignorance I own,
Thy mind I cannot yet conceive,
But wait till Thou, to make it known
Thy own revealing Spirit give,
Thy lively oracles to' explain,
And plant Thy reigning power in man.

I read, but cannot comprehend
The depth of Thy mysterious word;
But when Thou dost Thy Spirit send,
I there shall find my pardoning Lord,
By Thy own light discover Thee,
And born of God, Thy kingdom see.

Enthroned again above the skies,
Thou hast obtain'd the Comforter,
Who opens our enlighten'd eyes,
By humble faith, and childlike fear,
Brings to our mind Thy words of grace,
And all Thy depths of love displays.

The veil removed we then perceive,
The' inexplicable book unseal'd,
Thy sovereign Deity believe,
In whom the Scriptures are fulfill'd,

488

Who dost Thy gracious sway maintain,
And in our hearts triumphant reign.

2012.

[Fain would I my Redeemer see]

We would see Jesus. —xii. 21.

Fain would I my Redeemer see,
As when extended on the tree
He groan'd beneath my sinful load,
He pour'd out all His sacred blood:
Above, I want this only sight,
To view the Lamb by His own light,
To' admire the lustre of those scars,
Which brightens all the morning stars!

2013.

['Tis all my longing soul's desire]

'Tis all my longing soul's desire
To see whom earth and heaven admire,
Whom saints and angels love,
On Him with eyes of faith to gaze,
And then behold His blissful face
With all His saints above.

Thee, King of kings, I pant to see,
Array'd with power and majesty,
The Father's and Thy own,
To see transported at the sight,
And fall with all the sons of light
Before Thy azure throne.

Some token, gracious Lord, impart,
And now let my believing heart
The earnest sure receive;
Myself that I may loathe and hate,
In me the seeing eye create,
The life eternal give.

489

That plainly in the gospel-glass
Beholding Thee with open face,
I in Thy light may shine;
Transform'd into Thine image here,
And then before my God appear,
My God for ever mine!

2014.

[How pleasing is the harmony]

Philip . . . telleth Andrew . . . Andrew and Philip, &c. —xii. 22.

How pleasing is the harmony
When Jesu's ministers agree,
In bringing souls to Him conspire,
And point them to the world's Desire;
His followers true, no envious zeal,
No vain self-preference they feel;
His glory seek, and not their own,
And live to' exalt their Lord alone.

2015.

[Son of man, the hour is come]

The hour is come, that the Son of man should, &c. —xii 23.

Son of man, the hour is come
To glorify Thy name,
Call the world of sinners home,
Thy goodness to proclaim:
Is not this Thy proper praise
The dead to' awake, the lost to find?
Jesus, glorify Thy grace
By saving all mankind.

2016.

[The Father's Fellow, and His Son]

Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground, &c. —xii. 24.

The Father's Fellow, and His Son
On His everlasting throne
Did long alone abide;
But fell when God became a man,
Into our earth, a heavenly grain,
And here the Saviour died.

490

The church's Principle and Seed,
Jesus for a season dead
Sprung up out of the grave;
He did through His own virtue rise
And re-ascended to the skies,
Our sinful world to save.

He yields the infinite increase,
Millions of His witnesses
Out of His passion shoot,
Through Jesu's quickening power believe,
Life from their Saviour's death receive,
And fill the world with fruit.

In them the' immortal seed remains,
Them the Bread of life sustains
And feeds, and multiplies,
Till that eternal harvest come,
And raise their bodies from the tomb,
And store them in the skies.

2017.

[Jesus, while yet a Man of woe]

Where I am, there shall also My servant be, &c. —xii. 26.

Jesus, while yet a Man of woe
On earth Thou saidst “In heaven I am!”
And all who in Thy footsteps go
Thy place above by promise claim,
Feeble and faint, yet following on,
Thy servant shall ascend Thy throne.

The least of Thy disciples I
Of all that ever knew Thy love,
On Thy most faithful word rely,
And wait till Thou my soul remove,
To see the house Thou hast prepared,
To win through grace Thy own reward.

491

2018.

[Jesus, how great Thy servants are!]

If any man serve Me, him will My Father honour. —xii. 26.

Jesus, how great Thy servants are!
What dignity on man bestow'd!
We, who rejoice Thy yoke to bear,
Are honour'd with the' esteem of God,
Thy praise, Thy glory we obtain,
And kings we in Thy kingdom reign.

2019.

[In trouble I dare not complain]

Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I, &c. —xii. 27.

In trouble I dare not complain,
When Jesus Himself is distress'd,
O'erwhelm'd by a sight of His pain,
With grief above measure oppress'd!
He seems at a loss what to say:
But rescue He will not desire,
Consumed by the wrath of that day,
Baptized with a torrent of fire!

Who all our infirmities knows
Doth all our infirmities feel,
And when the dread cup overflows,
Submitting His innocent will,
The cup from His Father receives
That I my vocation may see:
To me an ensample He leaves,
He leaves of His patience to me.

Supernally strengthen'd to bear
The sight of the terrible hour,
My weakness I humbly declare,
My Lord in the furnace adore;
Thy cross I accept and embrace,
Thy death I no longer decline,
So Thou, who hast died in my place,
Preserve me eternally Thine.

492

2020.

[The lasting peace of mind]

Father, glorify Thy name. —xii. 28.

The lasting peace of mind,
The true tranquillity,
In trouble's lowest deep I find
By leaving all to Thee:
Father, Thy will be done,
In Thy bless'd hands I am,
And live and die for this alone,
To glorify Thy name.

2021.

[Thou hast in me display'd]

I have both glorified it, and will, &c. —xii. 28.

Thou hast in me display'd
The glory of Thy power,
And wilt again reveal Thine aid
In Thine appointed hour;
Returning from the sky
My fears and sins remove,
And save my soul, to magnify
Thine own almighty love.

2022.

[Amidst the worldly noise]

The people . . . said that it thundered: others, &c. —xii. 29.

Amidst the worldly noise
And hurrying strife below,
How few the comfortable voice
Of their Creator know!
But all His voice may hear
Who still His Son imparts,
And sends the heavenly Comforter
To teach within our hearts.

2023.

[For me the answer came]

This voice came . . . for your sakes. —xii. 30.

For me the answer came,
Thou wilt to me make known
Thy nature, attributes, and name,
Through Thine incarnate Son;

493

Wilt for His sake forgive,
In honour of Thy grace,
And bid a pardon'd sinner live
To Thine eternal praise.

2024.

[Now that the world our God arraign]

Now is the judgement of this world: now shall, &c. —xii. 31.

Now that the world our God arraign,
The world are tried themselves and cast,
Now that the Lord of life is slain,
The tyranny of hell is pass'd:
Jesus by His expiring breath
Doth Satan's earthly throne o'erthrow,
Destroys who had the power of death,
And drives him to the realms below.

2025.

[The promise made our fallen race]

I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw, &c. —xii. 32.

The promise made our fallen race,
And by the blood of Jesus seal'd,
The word of all-attracting grace,
I find ten thousand times fulfill'd:
But, Lord, I want the sight above,
The grace to saints triumphant given;
Draw by the cords of perfect love,
And draw me to Thyself in heaven.

2026.

[From the tribunal of Thy cross]

This He said, signifying what death He, &c. —xii. 33.

From the tribunal of Thy cross
Satan and sin Thou dost condemn,
But vindicate Thy people's cause,
And merit saving grace for them:
Thy cross to us a gracious throne,
The instrument of good we find,
The source of every blessing own,
And life procured for all mankind.

494

2027.

[Seeming contrarieties]

And how sayest thou, The Son of Man must, &c. —xii. 34.

Seeming contrarieties
Faith with readiness receives:
Lifted up from earth He is,
Dies, and yet for ever lives!
Thus His suffering saints beneath
Shame their way to glory see,
Find in the cold arms of death
Death is immortality.

2028.

[Traveller, see thy gracious day]

Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness, &c. —xii 35.

Traveller, see thy gracious day
Swiftly drawing to an end!
Mend thy pace, pursue thy way,
Ere the shades of night descend;
Fear to lose a moment's space,
Walk, advance, and hasten on,
And when death concludes thy race,
Dying shout “The work is done.”

2029.

[Who Himself to babes reveals]

These things spake Jesus, and departed, &c. —xii. 36.

Who Himself to babes reveals,
Justly from the proud departs,
Leaves the stubborn infidels
To the blindness of their hearts,
Quite withdraws His light and power,
Since they neither would receive:
Then their gracious day is o'er,
Then they never can believe.

Jesus, Light of life Divine,
Do not hide Thyself from me,
Me who would be wholly Thine,
Would be always led by Thee,

495

Me who trust Thy only love,
Who Thy Spirit's law obey,
In Thy face unveil'd above,
Show me that eternal day.

2030.

[The messengers rejected]

Who hath believed our report? and to whom, &c. —xii. 38.

The messengers rejected
May cry in every nation
How few embrace
The word of grace,
The gospel of salvation!
Not all His outward wonders
Can force us to believe Him,
Till Jesus' love
The veil remove;
And then our hearts receive Him.

The arm of the Almighty
We plainly then discover,
And Christ the Power
Of God adore,
Our souls' eternal Lover;
Who manifests the Father,
Restores us to His favour,
To end our sin
His mind brings in
And lives in man for ever.

2031.

[He offer'd them sufficient light]

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened, &c. —xii. 40.

He offer'd them sufficient light
Which when they could but would not see,
He left them in their nature's night,
Their unbelief's obscurity:
He offer'd them His softening grace,
And when its power they scorn'd to feel,

496

Forsook the sick self-harden'd race
Who would not suffer Him to heal.

2032.

[Are there not still who would receive]

Among the chief rulers also many believed, &c. —xii. 42.

Are there not still who would receive
Thy truth and witnesses,
Who Thee their pardoning Lord believe,
But tremble to confess?
Rulers themselves with faith and fear
Thy works of wonder see,
But dare not in Thy cause appear,
Or give up all for Thee.

Their horror of assured disgrace
Of man's forbidding frown,
Their love of wealth, and pomp, and praise,
Detains and keeps them down;
So much to sell for Thee they have,
They will not quit their sins,
What but Thine utmost power can save
A prelate, or a prince?

2033.

[His public ministry to close]

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on, &c. —xii. 44.

His public ministry to close
He lifts His voice amidst His foes,
By neither earth nor hell dismay'd;
Virtue, He with His voice exerts
To reach His weak disciples' hearts,
And thus their cowardice upbraid.

Sent from Jehovah in the skies,
Jesus His office magnifies:
The dignity of faith displays,
Which makes the depths of Godhead known,
Discerns the Father in the Son
With all His majesty and grace.

497

2034.

[Inseparably one with Thee]

He that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me. —xii. 45.

Inseparably one with Thee
The Sender in the Sent we see,
The' express Similitude Divine,
His power and wisdom from above,
His truth and holiness and love,
Throughout Thy life and doctrine shine.

Beholding as with open face
In Thee we on Thy Father gaze
Transform'd by the transporting sight,
We praise the Godhead visible,
Come down with sinful men to dwell
And triumph in Thy glorious light.

2035.

[The Light into the world is come]

I am come a Light into the world, &c. —xii. 46.

The Light into the world is come,
And darts into our nature's gloom
The first Divine enlivening ray;
Happy who in the Light believes,
And with that glimmering ray receives
The promise of eternal day.
He shall not long in sin abide,
The Light will bring him forth and guide
His feet into the way of peace,
With still increasing lustre shine
And fill his soul with love Divine,
With all the life of heavenly grace.

2036.

[What profits it alas, to hear]

If any man hear My words, and believe not, &c. —xii. 47, 48.

What profits it alas, to hear
Thy sayings with a careless ear
Unless Thy sayings I obey,

498

In vain I call Thee God or Lord;
Neglecting to perform Thy word,
Thy word shall judge me in that day:
Thy gospel which I now despise,
Against me shall in judgment rise
And aggravate my fearful doom:
Unless I feel my guilty load,
A sinner dying in my blood,
And to the Friend of sinners come.

A sinner now I come to Thee,
For pardon life and liberty
Thy reconciling word receive:
Thou cam'st at first to show Thy grace,
Not to condemn our sinful race,
And diedst that all mankind might live.
In Thee an Advocate I have,
And answering Thy design to save
My humble confidence hold fast;
Bless'd with the faith that works by love,
Henceforth in all Thy paths I move,
And reach my Father's house at last.

2037.

[Thy great commission to fulfil]

For I have not spoken of Myself; but the, &c. —xii. 49.

Thy great commission to fulfil
And answer all Thy Father's will
His word Thou hast declared to man,
His word is not distinct from Thine,
But Father, Son, and Spirit join
To make the hidden mystery plain:
The whole Divine economy
Appointed and prescribed to Thee
Saviour, Thou hast display'd below;

499

And still Thou dost Thy grace impart,
And still in every faithful heart
The way to heavenly glory show.

2038.

[Thou in the gospel hast made known]

And I know that His commandment is life, &c. —xii. 50.

Thou in the gospel hast made known
The way by Thy great Father shown,
And thither Thy commandments tend,
The sum of all Thy teachings this,
Obedience leads to perfect bliss,
Obedience shall in glory end.
Jesus, Thy promise I embrace,
Fulness of evangelic grace,
Sufficient strength derive from Thee;
My soul upon Thy word is stay'd;
Thy word believed, beloved, obey'd,
Is life, eternal life to me.

CHAPTER XIII.

2039.

[Objects of His constant care]

Having loved His own which were in, &c. —xiii. 1.

Objects of His constant care,
The Shepherd of the sheep
Them as in His arms did bear,
And in His bosom keep;
Them with persevering love
He died from suffering to redeem,
Then resumed His place above,
And claim'd their thrones for them.

2040.

[Saviour, am not I Thine own?]

Saviour, am not I Thine own?
Throughout my evil days,
Surely Thou on me hast shown
The riches of Thy grace:

500

Thee, the sinner's constant Friend,
In life, and death I trust on Thee;
Love me, Lord, when time shall end,
Through all eternity.

2041.

[My God, my God was ever love]

Jesus knowing that the Father had given, &c. —xiii. 3.

My God, my God was ever love
Was ever lowliness like Thine!
Conscious of what Thou art above
Supreme in majesty Divine,
Thy Father ere the world began
Into Thy hands had all things given,
And sanctified the Son of man,
The sovereign Lord of earth and heaven.

Who didst from Him Thy mission know,
Returning to Thy Father's breast,
How could Thy greatness stoop so low,
God over all, by all confess'd!
Contemplating Thy glorious state
Which mortal eye had never seen
Thou didst on Thy own creatures wait,
And serve the sinful sons of men.

See then ye haughty worms of earth,
The strange humility unknown,
Who boast your power, or pomp, or birth,
Behold Jehovah's only Son!
The sight might kings themselves convert,
God only could so far submit:
Satan is in the traitor's heart,
The Lord most high is at his feet.

2042.

[But stranger far, and more profound]

He . . . laid aside His garments; and took, &c. —xiii. 4, 5.

But stranger far, and more profound
That first abasement of our God,

501

When with eternal glory crown'd
A man to men Himself He show'd!
He laid His dazzling robes aside,
His greatness and majestic grace,
And pleased with sinners to abide,
Put on our nature's sordid dress.

Jehovah in our form appears
With frail humanity endued,
Washes His servants in His tears
And purifies us by His blood:
Our souls immersed in guilt and clay
And by His sacred flesh made clean,
He wipes our earthly minds away,
And all the filth of inbred sin.

2043.

[Incomprehensible to man]

Peter . . . said unto Him, Lord, dost Thou, &c. —xiii. 6.

Incomprehensible to man
The strange humility Divine
Till Jesus doth Himself explain
His own mysterious love's design:
Wondering we ask how can it be,
That God should wait on man below,
That the Most-High should stoop to me,
And wash the sinner white as snow!

When Jesus at his feet he saw,
Peter might well repeat the word
“From a vile sinful man withdraw,
Holy and just and heavenly Lord!”
But therefore will the Saviour stay
For this in human likeness born,
To purge our guilty stains away,
And to a saint a sinner turn.

502

2044.

[Do what Thou wilt; it should be so]

What I do thou knowest not now, &c. —xiii. 7.

Do what Thou wilt; it should be so;
If now I cannot sound Thy mind,
Thy work I shall hereafter know,
The meaning of Thy conduct find:
Death shall ere long unwind the maze,
The' impenetrable cloud remove,
And then I see that all Thy ways
Were wisdom, faithfulness, and love.

2045.

[We have no benefit from Thee]

If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me. —xiii. 8.

We have no benefit from Thee,
Unless Thy blood by faith applied
Redeem from all iniquity,
And throughly cleanse Thy ransom'd bride:
But if Thy blood to flesh convert
This unbelieving heart of stone,
Mine own assuredly Thou art,
Thou art eternally mine own.

2046.

[Fountain of purity Divine]

Peter saith unto Him, Lord, not my feet only, &c. —xiii. 9.

Fountain of purity Divine,
No longer I refuse Thy grace
But give up my own will to Thine,
But waive my own unworthiness;
Since Thou so freely dost forgive,
And wash and seal me for Thine own,
My pardon I with joy receive,
And share the blessings of Thy throne.

2047.

[If bathed in Thine atoning blood]

He that is washed needeth not save to wash, &c. —xiii. 10.

If bathed in Thine atoning blood
Am I not every whit made clean,
Completely justified with God,
Redeem'd from all the guilt of sin?

503

My conscience is no more defiled,
Sprinkled and purified my heart,
I know my Father reconciled,
I know that Thou my Saviour art.

Thy Spirit, Lord, the water pure
Together with Thy blood applied,
Hath made my peace and pardon sure,
Hath plunged me in the mingled tide:
My care is now to wash my feet,
And if I humbly walk in Thee
Sin I need never more repeat,
Or lose my faith and purity.

2048.

[Didst Thou not leave Thy Father's throne]

And ye are clean. —xiii. 10.

Didst Thou not leave Thy Father's throne
To save Thy people from their sin?
Assure our hearts, the work is done,
And tell us Lord, we now are clean;
Cleansed by the Spirit and the word
Give us in all Thy steps to tread,
As followers of our holy Lord,
As members of our sinless Head.

2049.

[Not all who saving faith profess]

But not all. —xiii. 10.

Not all who saving faith profess,
Are wash'd in Thy all-cleansing blood;
There lurks among Thy witnesses
Some Judas false to man and God!
Searcher of hearts, Thou seest alone
Our unperceived hypocrisy:
Make the perfidious traitor known,
And show me Lord, if I am he!

504

2050.

[No: without Thy farther light]

Know ye what I have done to you? —xiii. 12.

No: without Thy farther light,
My ignorance I own;
Cannot understand aright
The things which Thou hast done:
Give mine inmost soul to know
The depth of Thy humility,
What Thy love hath wrought below,
And daily doth for me.

2051.

[Master Thee we call, and Lord]

Ye call Me Master and Lord: and ye say, &c. —xiii. 13

Master Thee we call, and Lord,
Performing what we say
When our lives fulfil Thy word,
And when our hearts obey;
O that thus we always might
Ourselves Thy true disciples prove,
Find like Thee our whole delight
In works of humble love.

2052.

[No; the letter profits nought]

If I then, your Lord and Master, have, &c. —xiii. 14.

No; the letter profits nought
And few could that fulfil;
But we all by Jesus taught
May know and do His will;
All to all may helpful prove
To meanest offices submit:
Thus we humbly serve in love,
And wash each other's feet.

2053.

[Jesus, Lord, I fain would stoop]

I have given you an example, that ye should, &c. —xiii. 15.

Jesus, Lord, I fain would stoop
With Thy humility,

505

Take Thy sacred burden up
And meekly follow Thee:
Lowly both in mind and deed
Thou hast a perfect pattern given;
Give me in Thy steps to tread,
And bear Thy cross to heaven.

2054.

[What avails it, Lord, to know]

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. —xiii. 17.

What avails it, Lord, to know,
And not to do Thy will?
This is all my joy below,
Thy pleasure to fulfil,
This my pure delight above;
This happiness to me be given,
To do the will of Him I love,
I ask no other heaven.

2055.

[A pastor should his flock prepare]

Now I tell you before it come, that, when, &c. —xiii. 19.

A pastor should his flock prepare,
And arm against the trying hour;
Forewarn'd the rude assault they bear,
Their Lord's Divinity and power
With stronger confidence confess,
With fuller joy their Saviour bless.

2056.

[The body and the Head are one]

He that receiveth whomsoever I send, &c. —xiii. 20.

The body and the Head are one,
One Spirit in all the members lives,
And whatsoe'er to them is done
Jesus as done to Him receives,
Strangely partakes of their distress,
And suffers with His witnesses

But stricter still the union is
'Twixt Christ and those He doth ordain;

506

Their mission is a part of His,
His place and office they sustain,
With His authority endued,
As envoys from the living God!

2057.

[Troubled at heart and grieved within]

Jesus . . . was troubled in spirit, &c. —xiii. 21.

Troubled at heart and grieved within
The Lord of all vouchsafes to be,
He mourns His own disciple's sin,
His own disciple's perfidy,
And feels with voluntary pain
The misery of ungrateful man.

Pastors and priests to avarice sold
Who Jesus and His truth betray,
Basely intrude into the fold
To make immortal souls their prey,
They to the fiend admittance give
And still the soul of Jesus grieve.

2058.

[Sinners redeem'd, yet still inclined]

Then the disciples looked one on another, &c. —xiii. 22.

Sinners redeem'd, yet still inclined
To sin, should tremble at the name;
The evils we in others find
Ourselves may soon commit the same;
And I shall act the traitor's part,
If e'er I trust my treacherous heart.

2059.

[On his Redeemer's breast reclined]

Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom, &c. —xiii. 23.

On his Redeemer's breast reclined,
And taken up with Christ alone,
No more he calls himself to mind,
By nought but Jesus' kindness known;
Regardless of reproach and praise,
If blamed by mortals or approved;

507

His name, his talents, and his grace,
Lost in—the man by Jesus loved!

The modest man, the meek in heart
May still be dignified and bless'd
With the beloved disciple's part,
May with his dear Redeemer rest:
And those that their own name forget,
Cast their ambitious pride away,
And lay themselves at Jesus' feet,
Jesus will in His bosom lay.

2060.

[The secret of the Lord is known]

Peter . . . beckoned to him, that he should ask, &c. —xiii. 24.

The secret of the Lord is known
To saints whose hearts are kept above,
Who cleave by faith to Christ alone,
And humbly fear, because they love;
Jesus, on whom their souls rely,
Their every prayer and sigh receives;
Nothing He can to such deny,
And more than all they ask He gives.

2061.

[My most indulgent Saviour]

He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto, &c. —xiii. 25.

My most indulgent Saviour,
I long Thy love to find,
To triumph in Thy favour,
And know Thy Spirit's mind:
This grace to me be given,
I nothing more request,
I want no other heaven
Than leaning on Thy breast.

The place of John I covet
More than a seraph's throne,
To rest in my Beloved,
And breathe my final groan;

508

On Thee alone relying
To lose my sin and pain,
And on Thy bosom dying,
My life eternal gain.

2062.

[Jesus His benefits bestows]

He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, &c. —xiii. 26.

Jesus His benefits bestows
On open friends and secret foes,
Or these to those prefers;
The sop, the outward gift He gives
To traitors, hypocrites, and thieves,
To Satan's ministers.

Gifts will not evidence our grace,
Or riches in their shining face
The marks of goodness show;
We can by no external sign
Discern the favourites Divine,
Or John from Judas know.

2063.

[How hopeless is a sinner's case]

Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, &c. —xiii. 27.

How hopeless is a sinner's case,
No more restrain'd by Jesus' grace
Left to the fiend alone,
The reprobate by God abhorr'd,
The slave with his indwelling lord
Is now for ever one!

Lest this my dreadful end should be,
My Saviour go not far from me;
Who hast my rescue been,
Still with Thy tempted servant stay,
And hedge about with thorns my way,
And hold me back from sin.

509

2064.

[Doth Jesus still the traitor spare]

Now no man at the table knew for what, &c. —xiii. 28.

Doth Jesus still the traitor spare,
And patient to the end forbear
To' expose His basest foe?
O may I thus behave to mine,
And all the tenderness Divine
To harden'd sinners show.

O that like His disciples, I
Might to myself His word apply:
With candid charity
The traitor undisclosed receive,
Nor evil of the worst believe
Till forced by what I see!

2065.

[Christ and His friends the poor relieve]

Some of them thought, . . . Jesus had said, &c. —xiii. 29.

Christ and His friends the poor relieve,
Alms from their little stock they give,
And shall not I afford
My love in poverty to show,
And gladly the last mite bestow
To feed my hungry Lord.

2066.

[Who hears His warnings with disdain]

He then having received the sop went, &c. —xiii. 30.

Who hears His warnings with disdain,
And Jesus' gifts receives in vain,
Must fall from sin to sin:
No time in Satan's service lose,
No hellish drudgery refuse,
Till Tophet takes him in.

2067.

[Horrible night for murder made!]

And it was night. —xiii. 30.

Horrible night for murder made!
Beneath whose execrable shade
Demons their treason hide!

510

Betray'd was God's eternal Son,
The darkest deed that e'er was done,
The blackest parricide!

Most lovely night with blessings crown'd!
When Jesus sold, the ransom found,
Consenting to be slain!
The brightest deed that e'er was done!
He made our foulest sins His own,
He gave His life for man!

He left on this auspicious night
The death-commemorating rite
Which life Divine imparts,
The feast which all our wants relieves,
And Christ with all His fulness gives
Into our longing hearts.

2068.

[Enter'd upon His final scene]

Now is the Son of Man glorified, &c. —xiii. 31.

Enter'd upon His final scene
He sees the joy before Him set,
O'erlooks the shame and pain between,
And hastes His great reward to meet;
The victory is already won,
Already of the prize possess'd
He reigns as on His Father's throne,
He triumphs in His Father's breast.

Redemption's wondrous work is wrought,
(The Lamb from earth's foundation died,)
The debt is paid, the pardon bought,
The righteous God is satisfied:
His wrongs repaid, His law fulfill'd,
His power and wisdom from above,

511

His truth shines forth in Christ reveal'd,
His perfect holiness and love.

2069.

[That strange excess of love unknown]

A new commandment I give unto you, &c. —xiii. 34.

That strange excess of love unknown
Bestow'd on those Thou call'st Thine own,
Bestow it now on me,
And rendering back what I receive,
My life a sacrifice I give
For all Thy saints and Thee.

2070.

[O put it in our inward parts]

O put it in our inward parts,
Write Thy new precept on our hearts
In characters Divine,
Inspire us with Thy Spirit's love;
Stronger than death it then shall prove,
A copy, Lord, of Thine.

2071.

[The love impartial and sincere]

By this shall all men know that ye are, &c. —xiii. 35.

The love impartial and sincere
The' inimitable character
On genuine saints impress'd
O that I in myself could find,
Endued with my Redeemer's mind,
With His affection bless'd!

Enlarged beyond the narrow space
Of those that their own sect embrace,
And none besides approve,
I would to liberty restored
Love all the lovers of my Lord,
And all who seek His love.

Jesus the gospel-grace impart
To mine and every longing heart!
Take us into Thy fold,

512

The truth of pure religion give,
That all who bear Thy name may live,
And love like those of old.

The mark on every face impress,
That like Thy first-born witnesses
We hand in hand may move:
And ready each for each to die,
Constrain the world for each to cry,
“See how these Christians live!”

2072.

[Jesus must first for Peter die]

Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down, &c. —xiii. 38.

Jesus must first for Peter die,
And purchase the courageous grace,
Must His own Godhead testify
That Peter may his Lord confess:
The Son of God, the martyrs' Head
Doth power for His disciples claim,
And gives us, dying in our stead,
The strength to suffer for His name.

2073.

[How deep and unperceived in man]

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock, &c. —xiii. 38.

How deep and unperceived in man
The wound of self-presuming pride!
Only the great Physician can
Reveal what nature strives to hide;
Righteous, and wise, and gracious too,
He lets His loved apostle fall,
Lays the wound open to our view,
And thus provides a cure for all.

University of Virginia Library

XI. VOLUME XI.

HYMNS ON THE FOUR GOSPELS, AND ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

INCLUDING SUCH “SHORT HYMNS” AS WERE PUBLISHED IN 1762.

S. MARK.

CHAPTER VII.

914.

[Let Pharisees affect]

915.

[Strangers to Jesus and His grace]

916.

[We ought to wash before we eat]

917.

[What multitudes to God draw near]

918.

[Ye shepherds of the Romish fold]

919.

[The gift which our own flesh we owe]

920.

[Yes, by faith's enlighten'd eye]

921.

[False we must ourselves confess]

922.

[Vile and wretched as the worst]

923.

[One possess'd of Jesus' mind]

924.

[By his tyrannising sin]

925.

[A poor worthless penitent]

926.

[Devils must at Christ's command]

927.

[We see not why the Man Divine]

928.

[How sad the state of fallen man!]

929.

[Happy whom Jesus takes aside]

930.

[O Saviour let Thy pitying love]

931.

[They did not keep Thy charge enjoin'd]

932.

[Made capable through Jesus' word]

933.

[Lord, I by faith my seal set to]

CHAPTER VIII.

934.

[Still with bowels of compassion]

935.

[In this barren wilderness]

936.

[Lord, on Thee Thy people wait]

937.

[Jesus multiplies to give]

938.

[When in Jesus' name we pray]

939.

[No proofs will for the men suffice]

940.

[When the captious Pharisee]

941.

[Christ no further effort makes]

942.

[Happy Thy faithful followers, Lord]

943.

[From spiritual to sensual good]

944.

[On whom doth Jesus' censure fall?]

945.

[Worldlings ye may, but will not see]

946.

[How dark the night which sin hath spread]

947.

[Blind to ourselves by nature we]

948.

[Out of the crowd He first must take]

949.

[Me by the hand Thy grace hath took]

950.