Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
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A NEW HEART, AND A NEW SPIRIT. |
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127
A NEW HEART, AND A NEW SPIRIT.
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put
within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your
flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”
—Ezekiel, xxxvi. 26.
Christian, behold a simple test,
Which, in the light of truth, makes known,
As God can only manifest,
Who are, and who are not his own.
Which, in the light of truth, makes known,
As God can only manifest,
Who are, and who are not his own.
What know'st thou of a heart thus chang'd?
Or is thine what it was of old,
From God and things divine estrang'd,
Obdurate, earthy, stony, cold?
Or is thine what it was of old,
From God and things divine estrang'd,
Obdurate, earthy, stony, cold?
What know'st thou of the holy birth
Of this new spirit, born within?
Is thine still fetter'd to the earth,
The sport of folly, slave of sin?
Of this new spirit, born within?
Is thine still fetter'd to the earth,
The sport of folly, slave of sin?
Trust not a name, whate'er it be,
If still thy nature be the same:—
The faith which wins no more for thee
Will prove, indeed, an empty name.
If still thy nature be the same:—
The faith which wins no more for thee
Will prove, indeed, an empty name.
128
Turn inward to the work afresh,
Waiting and watching unto prayer;
So may'st thou know a heart of flesh
Thy stony one supplanting there.
Waiting and watching unto prayer;
So may'st thou know a heart of flesh
Thy stony one supplanting there.
Humbly implore, for Jesu's sake,
Whose name is yet with power endued,
That through His grace thou may'st partake
A spirit livingly renew'd.
Whose name is yet with power endued,
That through His grace thou may'st partake
A spirit livingly renew'd.
No outward homage of the lip
Can christian fellowship impart;
The badge of true discipleship
Is change of spirit, and of heart.
Can christian fellowship impart;
The badge of true discipleship
Is change of spirit, and of heart.
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