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.

University of Virginia Library

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.

[Thy previous grace, which now I feel]

951.

[O Saviour touch mine eyes again]