The Excellency of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ As a right, easy, and happy way of coming to a true, constant strength and establishment, in the Christian Life. By the Rev. John Liborius Zimmermann, Professor of Divinity in the University of Hall in Saxony. With a Supplementary Extract of the celebrated Professor Franck, on the Subject. Translated by Moses Browne ... (To which is added) in two parts, By way of Illustration, practical Direction, and Use, Experiences and Evidences of a very valuable divine, deceased |
 | THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST.
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 | The Excellency of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ |  |
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THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST.
Divided into EIGHT PARTS or PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS.
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LUTHER's HYMN;
With the Original, and Latin Version.
I.
'Tis not a hard, too high an aim,
Secure, thy part in Christ to claim;
The sensual instinct to controul,
And warm with purer fires the soul.
Secure, thy part in Christ to claim;
The sensual instinct to controul,
And warm with purer fires the soul.
Nature will raise up all her strife,
Foe to the flesh-abasing life,
Loth in a Saviour's death to share;
Her daily cross compell'd to bear.
Foe to the flesh-abasing life,
Loth in a Saviour's death to share;
Her daily cross compell'd to bear.
But Grace omnipotent—at length
Shall arm the Saint with saving strength;
Thro' the sharp war with aids attend,
And his long conflict sweetly end.
Shall arm the Saint with saving strength;
Thro' the sharp war with aids attend,
And his long conflict sweetly end.
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II.
Act but the Infant's gentle part,
Give up to love thy willing heart;
No fondest parent's melting breast,
Yearns like thy God's to make thee blest.
Give up to love thy willing heart;
No fondest parent's melting breast,
Yearns like thy God's to make thee blest.
Taught its dear mother soon to know,
The simplest babe its love can show;
Bid bashful, servile fear retire:
The task no labour will require.
The simplest babe its love can show;
Bid bashful, servile fear retire:
The task no labour will require.
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III.
The Sovereign Father, good and kind,
Wants but to have his child resign'd;
Wants but thy yielded heart—no more,
With his rich gifts of grace to store.
Wants but to have his child resign'd;
Wants but thy yielded heart—no more,
With his rich gifts of grace to store.
He to thy soul no anguish brings,
From thine own stubborn Will it springs;
That foe but crucify, thy bane,
Nought shalt thou know of frowns, nor pain.
From thine own stubborn Will it springs;
That foe but crucify, thy bane,
Nought shalt thou know of frowns, nor pain.
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IV.
Shake from thy soul, o'erwhelm'd, deprest,
Th'incumbring load that galls its rest,
That wastes her strength in bondage, vain;
With courage break th'enslaving chain.
Th'incumbring load that galls its rest,
That wastes her strength in bondage, vain;
With courage break th'enslaving chain.
Let Faith exert its conqu'ring power;
Say, in thy fearing, trembling hour,
“Father! thy pitying help impart”—
'Tis done—a sigh can reach his heart.
Say, in thy fearing, trembling hour,
“Father! thy pitying help impart”—
'Tis done—a sigh can reach his heart.
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V.
Yet, if more earnest plaints to raise,
Awhile His succours He delays,
Tho' His kind hand thou can'st not feel,
The smart let lenient Patience heal.
Awhile His succours He delays,
Tho' His kind hand thou can'st not feel,
The smart let lenient Patience heal.
Or if corruption's strength prevail,
And oft' thy pilgrim-footsteps fail;
Lift, for His grace, thy louder cries:
So, shalt thou, cleans'd and stronger, rise.
And oft' thy pilgrim-footsteps fail;
Lift, for His grace, thy louder cries:
So, shalt thou, cleans'd and stronger, rise.
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VI.
If, haply, still thy mental shade,
Deep as the midnight-gloom be made,
On the sure, faithful Arm-Divine,
Firm, let thy fast'ning trust recline.
Deep as the midnight-gloom be made,
On the sure, faithful Arm-Divine,
Firm, let thy fast'ning trust recline.
The gentle Sire, the best of friends,
To thee nor loss, nor harm intends;
Tho' tost on the most boist'rous main,
No wreck thy vessel shall sustain.
To thee nor loss, nor harm intends;
Tho' tost on the most boist'rous main,
No wreck thy vessel shall sustain.
Should there remain of rescuing grace
No glimpse, no shadow left to trace;
Hear thy Lord's voice, 'tis Jesu's will,
“Believe, thou dark, lost pilgrim still!”
No glimpse, no shadow left to trace;
Hear thy Lord's voice, 'tis Jesu's will,
“Believe, thou dark, lost pilgrim still!”
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VII.
Then, thy sad night of terrors past,
Tho' the dread season long may last;
Sweet Peace shall, from the smiling skies,
Like a new dawn before thee rise.
Tho' the dread season long may last;
Sweet Peace shall, from the smiling skies,
Like a new dawn before thee rise.
Then shall thy Faith's bright grounds appear;
Its eyes shall view Salvation clear.
Be hence encourag'd more, when try'd
On the best Father to confide.
Its eyes shall view Salvation clear.
Be hence encourag'd more, when try'd
On the best Father to confide.
O—my too blind, yet nobler part!
Be mov'd! be won by these, my heart!
See, of how rich a lot—how blest,
The true Believer stands possest.
Be mov'd! be won by these, my heart!
See, of how rich a lot—how blest,
The true Believer stands possest.
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VIII.
Come, backward soul! to God resign;
Peace, His best blessing, shall be thine:
Boldly recumbent on His care,
Cast thy felt burden only there.
Peace, His best blessing, shall be thine:
Boldly recumbent on His care,
Cast thy felt burden only there.
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