The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

The book (let all bow down and read),
The book of God to sinners given,
The birth of Abraham's blessed Seed,
Of David's Son, sent down from heaven!
Stupendous mystery Divine,
Gospel to ages past unknown!
Heathens and Jews through Jesus join,
And God and man in Christ are one.

Father of Jesus Christ, our Lord,
Our Father through His birth Thou art;
Thy Spirit testifies the Word
Made flesh, to every faithful heart;
In us Thy new-born Son reveal,
Thy Son from all eternity,
And give Him still on earth to dwell,
By faith conceived and form'd in me.

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2. [Hosannah to the Son]

The Son of David. —i. 1.

Hosannah to the Son
Of David on His throne!
David's Son and King Thou art,
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Reign in every human heart,
Sovereign, everlasting Lord!

3. [Through earth the blessing spread]

The Son of Abraham. —i. 1.

Through earth the blessing spread:
Derived from Abraham's seed,
Abraham's promised Son and God,
God in us Thyself reveal,
Jesus, come, on all bestow'd,
All with grace and glory fill!

4. [Christ, the true anointed Seer]

Who is called Christ. —i. 16.

Christ, the true anointed Seer,
Messenger from the Most High,
Thy prophetic character
To my conscience signify:
Signify Thy Father's will;
By that unction from above,
Mysteries of grace reveal,
Teach my heart that God is love.

Thou who didst for all atone,
Dost for all incessant pray,
Make Thy priestly office known,
Take my cancell'd sin away:
Let me peace with God regain,
Righteousness from Thee receive;
Through Thy meritorious pain,
Through Thy intercession, live.

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Sovereign, universal King,
Every faithful soul's desire,
Into me Thy kingdom bring,
Into me Thy Spirit inspire:
From mine inbred foes release;
Here erect Thy gracious throne;
King of righteousness and peace,
Reign in every heart alone.

O that all were taught of God,
All anointed by Thy grace;
Kings and priests redeem'd with blood,
Born again to sound Thy praise;
An elect, peculiar seed,
Offspring of the Deity;
Christians both in name and deed,
One, entirely one, with Thee!

5. [Let all adore the' immortal King]

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. —i. 18.

Let all adore the' immortal King,
Maker of heaven and earth!
Angels and men, rejoice and sing
For your Creator's birth.
A Son is born, a Child is given,
That mortals born again
May in the new-created heaven
With God in glory reign.

6. [Salvation from our sins we found]

Thou shalt call His name Jesus, &c. —i. 21.

Salvation from our sins we found,
Through Jesu's grace forgiven;
And Jesu's grace doth more abound,
And makes us meet for heaven:

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The hallowing virtue of His name
Our spotless souls shall prove,
And to the utmost saved, proclaim
Our Lord's almighty love.

7. [Jesus from, not in, our sins]

Jesus from, not in, our sins
Doth still His people save:
Him our Advocate and Prince,
Our Priest and King we have;
Strength in Him with righteousness,
With pardon purity, we gain,
Priests His praying Spirit possess,
And kings for ever reign.

8. [Celebrate Immanuel's name]

They shall call His name Immanuel. —i. 23.

Celebrate Immanuel's name,
The Prince of life and peace;
God with us, our lips proclaim,
Our faithful hearts confess:
God is in our flesh reveal'd;
Heaven and earth in Jesus join;
Mortal with immortal fill'd,
And human with Divine.

Fulness of the Deity
In Jesu's body dwells,
Dwells in all His saints and me,
When God His Son reveals:
Father, manifest Thy Son,
And, conscious of the' incarnate Word,
In our inmost souls make known
The presence of the Lord.

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Let the Spirit of our Head
Through every member flow;
By our Lord inhabited,
We then Immanuel know:
Then He doth His name express,
And God in us we truly prove,
Fill'd with all the life of grace,
And all the power of love.

CHAPTER II.

9. [Happy the place, but happier still]

Jesus was born in Bethlehem. —ii. 1.

Happy the place, but happier still
The heart where Christ is born:
The heart which He vouchsafes to fill
Need neither sin nor mourn;
No city could with Bethlehem share
The honour of His birth,
But every soul by faith may bear
The Lord of heaven and earth.

10. [Mine eyes have seen His orient star]

We have seen His star in the east, and are come, &c. —ii. 2.

Mine eyes have seen His orient star,
And sweetly drawn I come from far,
Leaving the world behind;
His Spirit gently leads me on
A stranger in a land unknown,
The new-born King to find.

The word of all-preventing grace
Marks out the Saviour's natal place;
And follower of the word,
I keep His glimmering star in sight,
Which by its sure unerring light
Conducts me to my Lord.

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11. [Thou dost in all Thy people dwell]

Out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule, &c. —ii. 6.

Thou dost in all Thy people dwell;
Come, Lord, and reign in me alone,
Set up Thy kingdom now, and seal
My heart Thine everlasting throne:
My Governor, if here Thou art,
And rulest me by the power of love,
Thou wilt Thy glorious power impart,
And crown with all Thy joys above.

12. [The comfort lost, and soon restored]

When they saw the star, they rejoiced, &c. —ii. 10.

The comfort lost, and soon restored,
Doth more transporting bliss afford,
And makes my joy o'erflow;
I bless the' enlightening word that brings
My soul to' adore the King of kings,
God manifest below.

13. [Hail, holy, heaven-descended Child]

They saw the young Child, and fell down, &c. —ii. 11.

Hail, holy, heaven-descended Child,
Who God and man hast reconciled,
Whom angels bow before!
Whate'er I have of good to give,
To Thee, from whom I first receive,
I thankfully restore.

To Thee my heart I open wide,
The myrrh of passions mortified,
The gold of charity,
The incense sweet of humble prayer,
Jesus, Thy prostrate worshipper,
I now present to Thee.

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14. [Who Herod did of old inspire]

Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him. —ii. 13.

Who Herod did of old inspire,
Doth still inspire his sons
With aim malicious to inquire
“Where are the perfect ones?”
Suffice that known to God they are,
Nor will themselves proclaim,
Kept ever, watching unto prayer
And hid in Jesus' name.

15. [The Son obeys the will Divine]

Being warned of God, he turned aside, &c. —ii. 22.

The Son obeys the will Divine,
Conducted step by step below;
But we our Father's whole design
Concerning us at once would know:
The Word, the true essential Light,
Doth still, as taught of God, proceed;
But darker than Egyptian night
We boldly aim ourselves to lead.

In honour of the Infant-God,
Henceforth I His obedience trace,
The light by just degrees bestow'd
Attend the providential grace;
Observant of a Father's word,
Led with a child's docility,
Jesus, my Pattern and my Lord,
In life and death I follow Thee.

CHAPTER III.

16. [Far from a world of noisy care]

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, &c. —iii. 3.

Far from a world of noisy care,
I to the wilderness repair,
In silence and retreat

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Roused by the soul-awakening cry,
I hear the news of Jesus nigh,
And His forerunner meet.

I feel the voice that cries “Repent,”
And struck with conscious grief, lament
The sins which I confess,
In hope to find at last restored
The kingdom of my heavenly Lord,
The justice, joy, and peace.

Allured and strengthen'd from above
I every obstacle remove,
With every idol part;
The Spirit is His Harbinger,
And Jesus doth Himself prepare
His way into my heart.

Repentance is His work before,
And wrought to this I wait the power
Of faith and love Divine:
Come Lord, and bring Thy kingdom in,
Destroy the tyranny of sin,
And reign for ever mine.

17. [Sons of the church, yourselves who deem]

Think not to say within yourselves, We have, &c. —iii. 9.

Sons of the church, yourselves who deem
The temple of the Lord,
Awake out of your fatal dream,
And tremble at the word;
Howe'er your privileges ye boast,
On outward helps rely,
Ye all must finally be lost,
Who unconverted die.

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Long as the things of earth ye love,
Nor will from sin depart,
Your own pretensions ye disprove,
Poor heathens still in heart;
Members of the true church in vain,
Unchanged and unforgiven,
Unless ye all are born again,
Ye cannot enter heaven.

18. [Supreme, incarnate Deity]

God is able of these stones to raise up children, &c. —iii. 9.

Supreme, incarnate Deity,
Display Thy sovereign power in me,
Stone into flesh Thou canst convert,
A slave's into a filial heart:
Speak; and begotten by the word,
I magnify my quickening Lord,
Though dead in sin, I rise forgiven,
A child of grace, an heir of heaven.

19. [Ye high in gifts, who lift your head]

Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, &c. —iii. 10.

Ye high in gifts, who lift your head,
As trees their leafy honours spread,
Ye barren souls who flourish fair,
And words in large abundance bear,
If still ye want the humble root,
If still ye bear no gracious fruit,
The righteous axe ye soon shall feel,
Cut down to feed the flames of hell.

20. [Pure baptismal Fire Divine]

He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, &c. —iii. 11.

Pure baptismal Fire Divine,
All Thy heavenly powers exert,
In my deepest darkness shine,
Spread Thy warmth throughout my heart;

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Come, seraphic Spirit, come,
Comforter through Jesus given,
All my earthly dross consume,
Fill my soul with love from heaven.

Love in me intensely burn,
Love mine inmost essence seize,
All into Thy nature turn,
All into Thy holiness;
Spark of Thy celestial flame,
Then my soul shall upward move,
Trembling on with steady aim
Seek, and join its Source above.

21. [Barren, light, and void, and vain]

He will burn up the chaff. —iii. 12.

Barren, light, and void, and vain
Shall I still as chaff remain,
Flexible my heart and mind
Borne about with every wind?

Jesus, turn the chaff to wheat,
Make me for Thy garner meet,
Fruitful, fraught with virtue pure,
Firm the sifting test to' endure.

Me, and every precious grain,
Winnow with Thy Spirit's fan;
Make Thy tempted people clean,
Throughly separate us from sin:

Then our ready souls remove
To the granary above,
Mix'd with all Thy saints to rest,
Bread for God's eternal feast.

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22. [Yes, the purest saint below]

I have need to be baptized of Thee. —iii. 14.

Yes, the purest saint below
Needs to be baptized of Thee,
Needs Thy farther grace to know,
Needs Thy perfect purity:
Wash'd, we must be wash'd again,
Still perceive the blood applied,
Daily by Thy cross remain,
Dwell securely in Thy side.

Foulest of the sinful race
Unto Thee my wants I tell,
My continual want of grace,
Lord, I every moment feel:
Me into Thy death baptize,
Plunge, re-plunge me in Thy blood,
Till out of the grave I rise,
Rise with Thee, and reign with God.

23. [Clothed in our flesh and blood]

It becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. —iii. 15.

Clothed in our flesh and blood,
Saviour, Thou didst fulfil
The holy righteous law of God,
And answer all His will:
And we shall do the same,
Begotten from above,
Fill'd with the virtues of Thy name,
Inspired with purest love.

24. [Father, Thy heavenly voice I own]

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, &c. —iii. 17.

Father, Thy heavenly voice I own,
Thy gracious majesty;
In Jesus Thy beloved Son
Thou art well-pleased with me;

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But our whole race to Christ unite;
And by His Spirit join'd
Thou wilt eternally delight
In all the ransom'd kind.

25. [Father, in Thy beloved Son]

Father, in Thy beloved Son
Thou art well-pleased, in Christ alone
Thou find'st Thy joy supreme;
Yet doth Thy soul in man delight,
If loving faith to Christ unite,
And make us parts of Him.

Not one of our rebellious race
Could e'er obtain Thy pardoning grace
Or good from Thee receive,
Hadst Thou not Him on all bestow'd,
That all who trust the dying God
Might in Thy favour live!

That Thou may'st kindly smile on me,
Father I bring Thy Son to Thee,
With Him approach Thy throne:
His death my powerful plea I make,
Accept me for the only sake
Of Thy beloved Son.

Nothing I ask but in His name,
Nothing but through His merits claim,
Who pleads my cause above:
My feeble prayers to His I join;
Regard my Advocate Divine,
And me in Jesus love.

Who in His Spirit walk and live,
My works as Jesu's works receive,
And all I have and am,

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With Him, that all my works hath wrought,
With Him, that gives my every thought,
Mysteriously the same.

26. [Father, Thy heavenly voice I own]

Father, Thy heavenly voice I own,
Propitious through Thy favourite Son
I know Thou art to me:
Clothed with His blood and righteousness,
Accepted in His worth, I bless
Thy gracious Majesty.

But did He not our nature take,
Thy grace and favour for His sake
That every soul might find?
To Jesus our whole race unite,
And then eternally delight
In all the ransom'd kind.

CHAPTER IV.

27. [Conscious of our infirmity]

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit, &c. —iv. 1.

Conscious of our infirmity,
We wisely from the world retreat,
The hazardous temptation flee,
And shun the shock we dread to meet:
But Jesus to the desert goes,
For us to conquer all our foes.

He wears our feeble flesh, within
Full of His own almighty grace,
Divinely sure the fight to win,
Himself exposes in our place,
That we on all our foes may tread
Already vanquish'd by our Head.

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28. [Whom God pronounced His favourite Son]

When the tempter came to Him, he said, &c. —iv. 3.

Whom God pronounced His favourite Son
Can Christ His Father's word disown?
Whom God acknowledged from above,
Can Christ suspect His Father's love?
As left in the distressing hour,
Mistrust His providential power?
And kept for forty days unfed,
Despair of life for want of bread?

In vain for Christ the tempter spread
The snare for the first Adam laid;
Urging our Lord to disbelieve
He could not God Himself deceive:
In vain doth hell with heaven contend:
He proves His Godhead on the fiend,
Opposes by the written word,
And foils him by the Spirit's sword.

29. [Teach me, O Lord, to fight like Thee]

He answered and said, It is written. —iv. 4.

Teach me, O Lord, to fight like Thee;
With weapons from Thine armoury
The foe I then shall quell,
Skilful to use Thy two-edged sword,
Victorious through Thy written word
O'er all the powers of hell.

30. [Jesus, the word, by which alone]

Man shall not live by bread alone, &c. —iv. 4.

Jesus, the word, by which alone
We live, doth from Thy mouth proceed:
The bread, unbless'd by Thee, is stone,
The stone which Thou hast bless'd, is bread:

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Life of the death-devoted race,
The bread of life vouchsafe to give,
And quicken'd by Thy word of grace
The life of holiness we live.

31. [When Satan fails the souls to shake]

Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, &c. —iv. 5.

When Satan fails the souls to shake
Who in their God confide,
Sudden he changes his attack,
And urges them to pride:
He tempts them in the holy place,
That lifted up with joy,
And trusting in their gifts or grace,
They may themselves destroy.

Still to the pinnacle he brings
The men who Jesus know,
Superior to all earthly things
Who see the world below:
Disciples of a tempted Lord
He sets them up on high,
That those who cannot doubt the word
May by presumption die.

32. [By Satan, or his instrument]

Cast Thyself down. —iv. 6.

By Satan, or his instrument
I cannot be compell'd;
They may solicit my consent,
And I refuse to yield,
Firmly resist, enticed in vain,
To Christ the tempted fly,
And all the wiles of hell disdain,
And all the strength defy.

153

33. [False confidence the tempter gives]

If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down. —iv. 6.

False confidence the tempter gives,
To rob us of the true,
And oft unwary souls deceives
His wiles who never knew:
He fills us with presumption vain,
Who needless dangers dare,
Exalts, to cast us down again,
And sink us in despair.

34. [One, by his hellish father taught]

The devil saith, It is written. —iv. 6.

One, by his hellish father taught,
May take the tempter's place,
(His head with Scripture notions fraught,
His mouth with Scripture phrase,)
May carry on the fiend's design
The faithful to pervert,
And talk in language most Divine,
With Satan in his heart.

35. [Us in their hands the angels bear]

He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee, &c. —iv. 6.

Us in their hands the angels bear
In all our lawful ways:
But shall we from His precepts err,
And tempt the God of grace?
Ourselves as from the summit cast,
The' appointed means neglect,
And think we hold His promise fast
Who His command reject?

In vain the promise of our Lord
The disobedient pleads,
God never contradicts His word,
Or wills what He forbids:

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Father, Thy whole recorded will
Doth every part explain,
And none but who the terms fulfil
The promised good shall gain.

36. [O may I tempt my God no more]

Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. —iv. 7.

O may I tempt my God no more
By needless trials of Thy power,
But humbly in Thy ways attend,
And through the means expect the end,
Nor wonders seek, Thy truth to prove,
Nor ask a sign that God is love.

37. [O may I tempt my God no more]

O may I tempt my God no more,
Or wantonly demand
Unneeded tokens of Thy power,
And Thy protecting hand;
But humbly safe in all my ways
On Thee my Lord attend,
And through the channels of Thy grace
Expect the promised end.

No powers extraordinary I claim
To help in time of need,
Assured I in Thy favour am,
And by Thy Spirit led:
A child of Providence Divine
Thy constant care I prove,
Nor ask a miracle or sign
To show that God is love.

38. [Let not the follower of the Lord]

Again, the devil taketh Him. —iv. 8.

Let not the follower of the Lord
Think all temptation pass'd,
The most severe, and most abhorr'd
May buffet him at last;

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Satan, before his warfare end,
The hoary saint may try,
May tempt him to adore the fiend,
To curse his God and die.

39. [Sin enter'd by the eye, and made]

The devil . . . sheweth Him all the kingdoms, &c. —iv. 8.

Sin enter'd by the eye, and made
Its way to Adam's heart;
Satan, who thus our sire betray'd,
On Jesus tries his art:
But vain the serpent's hope to move
The Son of God Most High,
Who built those glorious worlds above,
Who fills both earth and sky.

40. [To damn us by our own desires]

To damn us by our own desires,
Satan the world employs;
With avarice, and ambition fires,
And visionary joys,
By pomp, and state, and pageantry
Allures us to his shrine,
And tells my soul, “Bow down to me
And all my world is thine.”

But we a kingdom here receive,
A kingdom from above,
Which only Christ hath power to give,
Which never can remove:
The devil's proffers we disdain,
Who worship Christ alone,
Partakers of His patience reign,
Partakers of His throne.

156

41. [Who teach their children to admire]

Who teach their children to admire
The pomp which earth displays,
And bid them from their birth aspire
To riches, power, and praise;
They blindly take the murderer's part,
To him their offspring sell,
Poison their unexperienced heart,
And train them up for hell.

42. [Inspire me, Saviour, with that power]

Get thee hence, Satan. —iv. 10.

Inspire me, Saviour, with that power
Which cast the tempter down,
So shall I bear the fiery hour,
And bid the fiend be gone!
Quell'd by the Spirit of Thy grace
Again the foe shall flee:
He cannot stand before my face,
When Thou residest in me.

43. [I shall, when Thou bestow'st the power]

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, &c. —iv. 10.

I shall, when Thou bestow'st the power,
In spirit and in truth adore,
And serve my God, like those above,
With perfect purity and love.

44. [Lost by the first, the second Man]

Then the devil leaveth Him. —iv. 11.

Lost by the first, the second Man
Jehovah did the fight regain,
Single He foil'd our hellish foe,
Who fled to' escape the deadly blow,
Nor could the serpent save his head,
For ever crush'd—when Jesus bled!

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45. [When shall I share, O Lord, with Thee]

When shall I share, O Lord, with Thee
That full, and final victory?
When shall my painful conflicts end?
Avenge me, Saviour, of the fiend,
Satan with all his works destroy,
And seal mine everlasting joy.

Weary of earth, my soul receive,
With Thee in glorious rest to live:
O might I serve my Saviour there,
The' unutterable rapture share,
And sing with all Thy hosts above,
And feast for ever on Thy love!

46. [Jehovah from Jehovah sent]

Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, &c. —iv. 17.

Jehovah from Jehovah sent
Calls to a sinful world, Repent!
His mercy's powerful motive this,
Repent, and gain eternal bliss,
Repent, and take the blessing given,
The kingdom, and the King of heaven.

47. [The schools of scribes, and courts of kings]

Jesus . . . saw two brethren . . . casting a net into the sea. —iv. 18.

The schools of scribes, and courts of kings,
The learn'd and great He passes by,
Chooses the weak and foolish things,
His power and grace to testify;
Plain simple men His call endues
With power and wisdom from above;
And such He still vouchsafes to use,
Who nothing know but Jesus' love.

48. [Jesus, Thy minister ordain]

He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will, &c. —iv. 19.

Jesus, Thy minister ordain,
By first redeeming me from sin,

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And give me heavenly skill to gain
Poor souls, and for Thyself to win:
Then shall I seek not theirs, but them,
Shall cast the net on the right side,
And nothing know, desire, esteem,
Or preach, but Jesus crucified.

Made willing by Thy powerful call,
My faith I by obedience show,
For Thy dear sake abandon all,
And cheerful in Thy footsteps go,
The Man of love and sorrow trace,
My calling in Thy sufferings see,
And freely ministering Thy grace
In life and death I follow Thee.

49. [Fishers of men 'tis Thine to make]

I will make you fishers of men. —iv. 19.

Fishers of men 'tis Thine to make;
O for Thy truth and mercy sake
Instruct, whom Thou dost call,
To cast the net on the right side,
And tell mankind that Thou hast died
And purchased life for all.

50. [Happy the soul who casts behind]

They straightway left their nets, and followed Him. —iv. 20.

Happy the soul who casts behind
The world and its entangling snares!
By simple faith to Jesus join'd
He only for his Master cares:
Whate'er he for his Master leaves,
Whether his stock be large or small,
A grateful sacrifice he gives,
And much forsakes, who quits his all.

159

51. [The God of love our nature bore]

He saw other two brethren, James . . . and John, &c. —iv. 21.

The God of love our nature bore,
Not to destroy it, but restore:
The Friend of human race
Delights to make His goodness known,
And joins a pair by nature one
In closer ties of grace.

Whom nature joins He often parts,
To claim our undivided hearts,
Our faithfulness to prove,
To manifest His grace below,
That feeble worms may feel, and know
The wonders of His love.

52. [There is a time for souls to toil]

There is a time for souls to toil,
To cast our nets into the sea:
But call'd apart, to rest awhile,
Fishers of men employ'd by Thee,
Jesus, our labours we suspend,
And know the time our nets to mend.

We gain, in solitude and prayer,
Strength to pursue Thy love's design,
Ourselves for dangers fresh prepare,
And fortified by grace Divine,
We boldly launch into the main,
And cast the gospel-net again.

53. [Their sacred charge who undertakes]

They immediately left the ship and their father, &c. —iv. 22.

Their sacred charge who undertakes
The' apostles' genuine successor,
He all his earthly hopes forsakes,
With all his fond attachments here,
Puts off his nature's soft excess,
And only lives his God to please.

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Lord, we Thy Spirit's call obey,
The servants of the church below,
Without regret, without delay,
Our friends, our all, for Thee forego,
And find, enrich'd by poverty,
Our more than all restored by Thee.

54. [Jesus, Thee Thy works proclaim]

Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching, &c. —iv. 23.

Jesus, Thee Thy works proclaim
Omnipotently good;
Moses Thy forerunner came,
And mighty works he show'd:
Minister of wrath Divine,
His wonders plagued the sinful race:
Works of purest love are Thine,
And miracles of grace.

All Thy cures are mysteries,
And prove Thy power to heal
Every sickness and disease
Which now our spirits feel:
Good Physician of mankind,
Thou wilt repeat Thy sovereign word,
Chase the evils of our mind,
And speak our souls restored.

Who of other help despair,
And would Thy word receive,
Us Thou makest Thy tenderest care,
And kindly dost relieve:
Every soul-infirmity,
And plague of heart, Thou dost remove;
Heal'st whoe'er apply to Thee,
With balm of bleeding love.

Still Thou go'st about to teach,
And desperate souls to cure;

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Still Thou dost the kingdom preach
Which always shall endure;
Publishest the power of grace,
Which pardon and perfection brings,
Saves our fallen dying race,
And lifts us into kings.

55. [Drawn by Thine extended fame]

His fame went throughout all Syria, &c. —iv. 24.

Drawn by Thine extended fame,
Saviour, I come to Thee,
Sick of every vice I am,
And sinful malady:
Now a palsied soul I groan;
In rage I act the madman's part;
Torn by devilish pride I own
The legion in my heart.

But my most inveterate ill
Shall fly before Thy word;
Nothing can withstand the will
Of an almighty Lord:
Faith in Thine all-healing power
If by Thy gracious gift I have,
Speak, and in this welcome hour
The chief of sinners save.

Health into my spirit speak
Through Thy balsamic blood,
Then I shall go forth and seek
The sin-sick multitude.
Then I in Thy steps shall tread,
The tidings of great joy proclaim,
Wander everywhere to spread
Mine utmost Saviour's name.

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CHAPTER V.

56. [I leave a careless world below]

And seeing the multitudes, He went up into, &c. —v. 1, 2.

I leave a careless world below,
Mix'd with the multitudes I go,
By faith the mount ascend,
In strong desire to Christ draw near,
And wait in humble hope to hear
The sinner's heavenly Friend.

Open Thy mouth, celestial Lord,
Open my heart to catch the word
Which still proceeds from Thee;
And let Thy lips replete with grace
Drop peace and joy and righteousness
On all Thy church and me.

57. [Jesus, on me the want bestow]

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the, &c. —v. 3.

Jesus, on me the want bestow,
Which all who feel shall surely know
Their sins on earth forgiven;
Give me to prove the kingdom mine,
And taste in holiness Divine
The happiness of heaven.

58. [Turn, into flesh the stony turn]

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be, &c. —v. 4.

Turn, into flesh the stony turn;
And while for Thee alone I mourn,
The consolation send;
O come Thyself, my soul to' embrace,
And let my cheerful life of grace
In glorious comfort end.

59. [Meeken my soul, Thou heavenly Lamb]

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit, &c. —v. 5.

Meeken my soul, Thou heavenly Lamb,
That I in the new earth may claim
My hundred-fold reward;

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My rich inheritance possess,
Co-heir with the great Prince of peace,
Co-partner with my Lord.

60. [Me with that restless thirst inspire]

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst, &c. —v. 6.

Me with that restless thirst inspire,
That strength of infinite desire,
And feast my hungry heart;
Less than Thyself cannot suffice,
My soul for all Thy fulness cries,
For all Thou hast, and art.

61. [Mercy who show shall mercy find]

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. —v. 7.

Mercy who show shall mercy find:
Thy pitiful and tender mind
Be, Lord, on me bestow'd:
So shall I still the blessing gain,
And to eternal life retain
The mercy of my God.

62. [Jesus, the crowning grace impart]

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. —v. 8.

Jesus, the crowning grace impart,
Bless me with purity of heart;
That now beholding Thee,
I soon may view Thine open face,
On all Thy dazzling beauties gaze,
And God for ever see!

63. [Lord, give me that pacific mind]

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be, &c. —v. 9.

Lord, give me that pacific mind,
Which spreads Thy peace throughout mankind,
And knits them all in one;
So shall He own me for His child,
Who all through Thee hath reconciled,
And take me to His throne.

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64. [Not for my fault, or folly's sake]

Blessed are they which are persecuted, &c. —v. 10.

Not for my fault, or folly's sake,
The name, or mode, or form I take,
But for true holiness,
Let me be wrong'd, reviled, abhorr'd,
And Thee my sanctifying Lord
In life and death confess.

65. [Call'd to sustain the hallow'd cross]

Blessed are ye, when men shall . . . persecute you, &c. —v. 11.

Call'd to sustain the hallow'd cross,
And suffer for Thy righteous cause,
Pronounce me doubly bless'd,
And let Thy glorious Spirit, Lord,
Assure me of my great reward
In heaven's eternal feast.

66. [The prophets old, and rough, and true]

So persecuted they the prophets which were before you. —v. 12.

The prophets old, and rough, and true
Our patient types we see:
The prophets smooth, and false, and new
Protest “it need not be!”
But all who would in Jesus live
A daily death must die,
His portion upon earth receive,
His portion in the sky.

67. [Still may the preachers of Thy word]

Ye are the salt of the earth. —v. 13.

Still may the preachers of Thy word,
May the disciples be
Dispensers of Thy Spirit, Lord,
In faith and charity:
Apostles to the ransom'd race,
Let all Thy church be join'd
To spread throughout the earth Thy grace,
To season all mankind.

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68. [Ah, Lord, with trembling I confess]

If the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall, &c. —v. 13.

Ah, Lord, with trembling I confess
A gracious soul may fall from grace,
The salt may lose its seasoning power,
And never, never find it more!
Lest this my fearful case should be,
Each moment knit my soul to Thee,
And lead me to Thy mount above
Through the low vale of humble love.

69. [Darkness in ourselves, we shine]

Ye are the light of the world. —v. 14.

Darkness in ourselves, we shine
With lustre not our own,
Cheer the world with light Divine
Reflected from that Sun,
Till that Sun of righteousness
All His heavenly rays display,
Universal nature bless
With everlasting day.

70. [Can we from the world conceal]

A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. —v. 14.

Can we from the world conceal
A church that's built on Thee?
Seated on Thy holy hill
They must the city see:
Pride may frown, and prudence chide,
Bid us keep our faith unknown;
Faith its light no more can hide
Than the meridian sun.

71. [Not for ourselves the light of grace]

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel. —v. 15.

Not for ourselves the light of grace
Didst Thou on us bestow,
But for the whole benighted race
Thy darken'd house below:

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The candlesticks Thy churches are,
The Spirit in them design'd
Thy truth and goodness to declare,
To lighten all mankind.

72. [The light in us must shine]

Let your light so shine before men, that they may, &c. —v. 16.

The light in us must shine;
Thou, Lord, direct the rays,
So shall it show its Source Divine,
And glorify Thy grace,
So shall our works of faith
The charm'd beholders move,
To' extol, like us, in life and death
Our heavenly Father's love.

73. [Saviour, inspire with unknown awe]

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, &c. —v. 17.

Saviour, inspire with unknown awe
The souls who fondly dream
Thou camest to' abolish Thy own law,
Fulfilling it for them:
Put them in fear; and then display
The counsel of Thy will,
The law Thou didst for man obey,
In man again fulfil.

74. [Can a law from God proceed]

Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle, &c. —v. 18.

Can a law from God proceed,
Useless soon, and null, and void?
No; when earth and heaven are fled,
This continues undestroy'd:
On the hearts of all mankind
Graven by its Author's hand,
Copy of the' eternal Mind
Firm it must for ever stand!

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75. [Yes, the law is like its Giver]

One tittle shall in no wise pass. —v. 18.

Yes, the law is like its Giver,
Holy heaven-descended word,
Word of Him that lives for ever,
Stands co-eval with its Lord:
Firmer than the earth's foundation
This survives the starry host,
In the wreck of all creation
Not one tittle shall be lost.

76. [Whoe'er the' authority impeach]

Whosoever shall do and teach them, the same, &c. —v. 19.

Whoe'er the' authority impeach
Of Thy commanding word,
Still let my life and practice teach
Obedience to my Lord:
Master, to me the blessing give
Thy least commands to love,
Till from Thy mercy I receive
My great reward above.

77. [No partial, outward righteousness]

Except your righteousness shall exceed, &c. —v. 20.

No partial, outward righteousness
Can make me meet to see Thy face,
But such as in Thyself did shine,
Internal, perfect, and Divine:
The faith which works by holiest love
Shall join me to Thy saints above,
The righteousness from heaven sent down
Shall form mine everlasting crown.

78. [Which of the old prophets dared]

But I say unto you. —v. 22.

Which of the old prophets dared
So high a style assume?
Who by them His way prepared,
The Lord Himself is come!

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“I, the great Jehovah say!”
Open, Lord, this heart of mine,
All Thy words to hear, obey,
And prove them all Divine.

79. [Lord, Thou forbiddest me in vain]

Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be, &c. —v. 22.

Lord, Thou forbiddest me in vain
By anger, or contempt to kill,
Unless Thou dost at once explain,
And strengthen me to' obey, Thy will:
The spiritual command I see;
But O, Thy Spirit's power impart,
And planting Thy own love in me,
Expel the murderer from my heart.

80. [In vain with angry hearts we dare]

First be reconciled to thy brother, and then come, &c. —v. 24.

In vain with angry hearts we dare
Nigh to Thine altar move,
Since neither sacrifice, nor prayer
Atones for want of love:
O may we each with each agree
Through Thine uniting grace,
Our gift shall then accepted be,
Our life of love and praise.

81. [Can they discharge the debt in hell]

Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means, &c. —v. 26.

Can they discharge the debt in hell,
Or satisfy Thy justice there?
They must with endless burnings dwell,
They must eternal torments bear,
For ever and for ever prove
That God is truth, as well as love.

82. [Can a true follower of Thine]

Thou shalt not commit adultery. —v. 27.

Can a true follower of Thine
Such horrid crimes commit?

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One moment left by grace Divine,
We sink into the pit:
Ah, do not, dearest Lord, depart
One moment from Thine own,
But purify, and keep the heart
That would be Thine alone.

83. [But will not our almighty Lord]

He hath committed adultery in his heart. —v. 28.

But will not our almighty Lord
The evil heart remove,
And fill us through His hallowing word
With His own heavenly love?
According to our faith in Thee,
To us it shall be done:
Holy and pure we then shall be,
And love our God alone.

84. [Forbid it, Lord, that I should strive]

If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast, &c. —v. 29.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should strive
Mine idols to conceal,
Or keep one bosom-lust alive,
And carry it to hell:
Rather from all I leave behind
My naked soul shall flee,
And lose its life on earth, to find
Its heavenly life in Thee.

85. [The world against their Maker cry]

I say unto you, Swear not at all. —v. 34.

The world against their Maker cry,
Ye must for every trifle swear,
Oaths without end they multiply,
The weak and ignorant ensnare,
Transgressions, perjuries increase,
And harden Satan's witnesses.

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By oaths they learn their God to scorn,
By oaths their souls for nought they sell,
By oaths they cause the land to mourn,
By oaths rejoice and people hell,
And thus their property secure,
And make their own damnation sure.

86. [Heaven's magnificence declares]

Neither by heaven, for it is God's throne: &c. —v. 34, 35.

Heaven's magnificence declares
Jehovah's brightest seat,
Earth with its productions bears
The impress of His feet:
Him we by the creatures know,
His goodness and His power revere;
All His works, above, below
Proclaim, that God is here!

87. [The trodden worm will turn again]

Resist not evil. —v. 39.

The trodden worm will turn again,
And nature hurt resent the smart,
Unless Thy gentleness restrain,
Unless Thy love o'ercome my heart:
The precept, and the pattern mild,
Thou givest; but add the patient power,
And changed into a little child
Thy follower shall resist no more.

88. [Whate'er to magistrates belong]

Whate'er to magistrates belong,
Who bear the sword and not in vain,
I dare not render wrong for wrong,
Or grief for grief, or pain for pain:
The spirit of fierce vindictive Jews
I hate, when Jesus' mind I know,
And goods, and life itself would lose
Rather than hurt my deadliest foe.

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89. [O could I view them with those eyes]

Love your enemies. —v. 44.

O could I view them with those eyes
Which wept the bloody Salem's fall,
And echo back the Saviour's cries,
And on My heavenly Father call,
“Forgive them, O My God, forgive,
I thirst—to die, that they may live!”

Send forth the Spirit of Thy Son,
Which turns the leopard to a lamb,
So shall I put His bowels on,
Who hellish hate by love o'ercame,
Who made His murderers His care,
And saved them through His dying prayer.

90. [Loving my friends I freely pay]

Loving my friends I freely pay
The debt that nature owes,
But how shall I Thy word obey
And love my mortal foes?

Hard struggling to comply in vain,
Throughout my soul I feel
This to an unregenerate man
Is quite impossible.

Doth Justice then to man enjoin
The thing that cannot be?
It cannot; but through grace Divine,
Through Jesu's strength in me,

If Thou the power of faith impart,
Lord, I can all things do,
And love my foes with all my heart,
When Thou hast made it new.

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If still my heart be unrenew'd,
The fault is all my own:
One drop of Thy redeeming blood
Can melt the hardest stone:

The balm for every soul-disease
Ready Thou art to' apply,
And when I call for grace and peace
Thou answer'st “Here am I.”

Come then, with all Thy wounds confess'd,
My Saviour from above,
And pour into my vanquish'd breast
Thy sweet forgiving love:

Then when I feel Thy Spirit mine,
The mighty change I know,
And can like Thee my life resign,
To save my deadliest foe.

91. [The causeless curse is lost on me]

Bless them that curse you. —v. 44.

The causeless curse is lost on me:
But shall I bless my foes in vain?
I bless them authorized by Thee!
The utmost good ordain'd for man
Be to my persecutors given:
Thy grace on earth, Thy joy in heaven!

92. [My mortal foe, whom for Thy sake]

Pray for them which despitefully use you. —v. 44.

My mortal foe, whom for Thy sake,
Saviour, for Thine alone, I love,
Humbled into Thy favour take,
Prepare him for a place above,
Call him with me Thy throne to share,
And join us in Thy praises there.

93. [How may we resemble God]

That ye may be the children of your Father, &c. —v. 45.

How may we resemble God,
His genuine children prove?

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Jesus, Thou the way hast show'd
In universal love:
Let Thy love implanted be,
Pure, impartial, unconfined;
Then mankind in us shall see
The Father of mankind.

94. [Evil, or good, Thou lovest us all]

He maketh His sun to rise on the evil, &c. —v. 45.

Evil, or good, Thou lovest us all,
And dost to all Thy blessings give:
Thy sun doth rise, Thy rain doth fall,
On those who will not more receive,
Who might be water'd by Thy grace,
(Incessant showers of love Divine,)
And see that Sun of righteousness,
And bright from Him for ever shine.

95. [Wouldst Thou require what cannot be?]

Be ye . . . perfect.—[Ye shall be perfect. Gr.] —v. 48.

Wouldst Thou require what cannot be?
The thing impossible to me
Is possible with God:
I trust Thy truth to make me just,
The' omnipotence of love I trust,
The virtue of Thy blood.

Perfection is my calling's prize,
To which on duty's scale I rise;
And when my toils are pass'd,
And when I have the battle won,
Thou in Thy precious Self alone
Shalt give the prize at last.

96. [If, taught of Him, I understand]

If, taught of Him, I understand
My Saviour's most benign command,
I shall be fully bless'd;

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True is the promise of my Lord,
The duty is its own reward,
And crown of all the rest.

“Ye shall be perfect” here below,
He spake it, and it must be so;
But first He said, “Be poor;
Hunger, and thirst, repent, and grieve,
In humble, meek obedience live,
And labour, and endure.”

Thus, thus may I the prize pursue,
And all the' appointed paths pass through
To perfect poverty:
Thus let me, Lord, Thyself attain,
And give Thee up Thine own again,
Absorb'd and lost in Thee.

CHAPTER VI.

97. [Jesus, if Thou Thy servant guard]

Take heed that ye do not your alms [Practise not your righteousness. Gr.] before men, &c. —vi. 1.

Jesus, if Thou Thy servant guard,
I shall obey Thy laws,
Nor seek from man my base reward,
Nor aim at his applause:
O may I cast the world behind,
While in Thy work employ'd,
And only bear it in my mind
That I am seen of God.

98. [Through false pretence of honouring Thee]

They have their reward. —vi. 2.

Through false pretence of honouring Thee
Whoe'er themselves proclaim

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Indulge their secret vanity,
And cloak it with Thy name;
For all their works and righteousness,
The hypocrites abhorr'd
In human, momentary praise
Receive their whole reward.

99. [Saviour, remove the vanity]

Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand, &c. —vi. 3.

Saviour, remove the vanity,
Which poisons all I do for Thee,
O make me studious to conceal
What boastful nature would reveal;
My good be to the world unknown,
Or publish'd for Thy praise alone.

A time, I know there is to' obey,
And act for God in open day:
O that I then with single eye
Thee, only Thee may glorify,
The least in my own eyes appear,
And always pray and always fear!

100. [Father, the good in secret done]

Himself shall reward thee openly. —vi. 4.

Father, the good in secret done
Will find acceptance at Thy throne;
Thine eye the hidden virtue sees,
Thy voice shall openly confess,
Thyself the recompence shalt be
Of all who humbly act for Thee.

101. [Lord, Thou know'st, I would be seen]

They love to be seen of men. —vi. 5.

Lord, Thou know'st, I would be seen
Doing good by foolish men,
Nature still usurps a part,
More than shares with Thee my heart:

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Jesus, set my nature right,
Shut the creature from my sight,
Thou mine only Object be,
More than all the world to me.

102. [Their reward they have, not Thine]

They have their reward. —vi. 5.

Their reward they have, not Thine,
Human honours for Divine,
Have their aim, by man admired,
Have the thing their hearts desired:
When Thou dost as Judge appear,
Who received their portion here,
Stripp'd of all their earthly gains,
Only hell for them remains.

103. [Father, for power I groan]

Pray to thy Father which is in secret. —vi. 6.

Father, for power I groan
In secret prayer to spend
My few sad hours with Thee alone
Shut up, till life shall end:
I think of no reward,
But wail my follies pass'd,
And humbly hope, through Christ my Lord,
I may escape at last.

104. [How great our gain that serve a King]

How great our gain that serve a King
Whom by petitioning we please,
Who numbers the requests we bring,
And counts them faithful services,
Our begging confidence approves,
And most the boldest suitor loves.

Our Father's goodness we adore,
Who doth our praying hearts inspire,

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Bestows whate'er we ask, and more,
More than our most enlarged desire,
And after all His blessings given,
Rewards our prayer itself with heaven.

105. [Prayer is the language of the heart]

When ye pray, use not vain repetitions. —vi. 7.

Prayer is the language of the heart,
By humble faith to Heaven address'd,
Above the studied rules of art,
And more in groans than words express'd,
Groans by the wrestling Spirit bestow'd,
Groans which affect the heart of God.

Father, the prayer Thou dost require
Through Jesus I present to Thee,
In vehemence of inflamed desire,
In faith's resign'd simplicity,
In hope Thy promised grace to prove,
In speechless eloquence of love.

106. [For the' Omniscient's information]

Your Father knoweth what things ye have need, &c. —vi. 8.

For the' Omniscient's information
Need we formal prayers repeat?
To excite His slow compassion,
God, the gracious God, entreat?
Lord, our hearts are bare before Thee,
Lord, to all Thy bowels move;
Help us, for our wants implore Thee,
Love us with a Father's love.

107. [We must in our requests succeed]

After this manner . . . . . . pray ye. —vi. 9.

We must in our requests succeed,
When Jesus teaches us to plead,
We must receive our granted prayer
Who in His words our wants declare:

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Himself did the petition pen,
His Spirit seconds it in men,
And still the everlasting Son
To God presents it as His own.

108. [Father of earth and sky]

Our Father which art in heaven, &c. —vi. 9–13.

Father of earth and sky,
Thy name we magnify:
O that earth and heaven might join
Thy perfections to proclaim,
Praise the attributes Divine,
Fear, and love Thy awful name!

When shall Thy Spirit reign
In every heart of man?
Father, bring the kingdom near,
Honour Thy triumphant Son,
God of heaven, on earth appear,
Fix with us Thy glorious throne.

Thy good and holy will,
Let all on earth fulfil:
Men with minds angelic vie,
Saints below with saints above,
Thee to praise and glorify,
Thee to serve with perfect love.

This day with this day's bread
Thy hungry children feed,
Fountain of all blessings, grant
Now the manna from above,
Now supply our bodies' want,
Now sustain our souls with love.

Our trespasses forgive;
And when absolved we live,

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Thou our life of grace maintain;
Lest we from our God depart,
Lose Thy pardoning love again,
Grant us a forgiving heart.

In every fiery hour
Display Thy guardian power,
Near in our temptation stay,
With sufficient grace defend,
Bring us through the evil day,
Make us faithful to the end.

Father, by right Divine,
Assert the kingdom Thine;
Jesus, Power of God, subdue
Thine own universe to Thee;
Spirit of grace and glory too,
Reign through all eternity.

109. [Father who art in heaven]

Father who art in heaven,
The' omnipotent I AM,
Homage Divine be given
To Thy most holy name;
Thine attributes and nature
Let all Thy works display,
And praise their great Creator
Through one eternal day.

Our first and last desire
That all our God may own,
Thy majesty admire,
And worship at Thy throne;
That all may bow before Thee,
Jesus, Thy power assume,
And manifest Thy glory,
And let Thy kingdom come.

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The virtue of Thy Spirit
To every soul impart,
And let us here inherit
The kingdom in our heart,
The evangelic blessing,
Inviolable peace,
Celestial joy increasing,
And finish'd holiness.

Thy kingdom's restoration
O might we feel within,
Thine uttermost salvation
Exterminating sin!
Let sin and Satan's power
At Thy appearing fall,
And all on earth adore
The glorious Lord of all.

Thy Spirit of inspiration
Pour out on all below,
And perfect renovation
Our ruin'd earth shall know,
The nations all shall bless Thee
In that millennial day,
And every tongue confess Thee,
And every heart obey.

The fulness of Thy graces,
Of Thy own Godhead give,
And in Thy kind embraces
Our fallen race receive:
Through love's most large effusion
Let us the Promise find,
The general restitution,
The life of all mankind.

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Thy kingdom's fruits mature
O that we all may bring,
Obedience full and pure,
And worthy of our King!
Thy holy will be ours,
Thy holy will alone,
As by the heavenly powers,
By all on earth be done.

No pause or intermission
The' angelic service knows,
While the transporting vision
Their vast reward bestows,
With that enraptured choir
Let every creature gaze,
And earth and heaven conspire
In Thy eternal praise.

While in the flesh we tarry,
We ask our daily bread:
With all things necessary
Thy crying children feed:
And while Thou spread'st a table
Our bodies to supply,
With meat imperishable
Sustain us from the sky.

Father, for Jesus' merit
To the unworthy give
That strength-restoring Spirit,
By whom we truly live;
Send down the gracious shower,
The manna from above,
And now and evermore
Refresh our souls with love.

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On us bestow the pardon
Bought by His precious blood,
Who paid the utmost farthing
We to Thy justice owed;
The peace and consolation
Incomprehensible,
The knowledge of salvation
To all our hearts reveal.

Pardon'd without condition,
Our debtors we release,
With free and full remission
Of all their trespasses:
The bowels of our Saviour
As we to them extend,
Preserve us in Thy favour
And pardon to the end.

From trials unexempted
Thy dearest children are;
But let us not be tempted
Above what we can bear;
Exposed to no temptation
That may our souls o'erpower,
Be Thou our strong salvation
Through every fiery hour.

Ah! leave us not to venture
Within the verge of sin;
Or if the snare we enter
Thy timely help bring in:
And if Thy wisdom try us,
Till pain and life are pass'd,
Almighty Love stand by us,
And save from first to last.

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Deliver us from evil,
From every evil here,
The world, the flesh, the devil,
His works and character:
A total abolition
Of all his works I see
Comprised in this petition,
And promised, Lord, to me.

Fain would we cease from sinning,
In thought and word and deed,
From sin in its beginning
We languish to be freed:
From every base desire,
Our fallen nature's shame,
Jesus, we dare require
Deliverance in Thy name.

For every sinful action
Thou hast atonement made,
The rigid satisfaction
Thy precious blood has paid;
But take entire possession;
To make an end of sin,
To finish the transgression,
Most holy God, come in.

The mind of earthly savour,
The carnal enmity,
Which hates our God and never
Can subject prove to Thee,
The old rebellious nature
With all its relics slay,
Appear our New-Creator,
And bring the perfect day.

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Fulfilling Thy own prayer,
Destroy this fleshly mind;
Sin by the roots uptear,
No evil leave behind.
This huge enormous mountain
Of inbred guilt remove,
Dry up corruption's fountain,
And fill our souls with love.

Essence of holinesses,
Jesus, Thou only art
With plenitude of graces
Inhabiting the heart:
'Tis thus Thou dost deliver
Thine own in Thee secure,
And keepest us for ever
From all pollution pure.

110. [Lead me not into temptation]

Lead us not into temptation. —vi. 13.

Lead me not into temptation,
Father, leave me not alone,
Thou, to whom my every passion,
Every secret thought is known:
If Thy providence forsake me
In the dark, unguarded hour,
Sin is sure to overtake me,
Hell is ready to devour.

In the feebleness of nature,
Never from Thy charge depart,
Infinitely good, and greater
Than the evil of my heart:
Watch, and hold me back from sinning,
Self-inclined from Thee to stray,
Stop me at the first beginning,
Turn my tempted heart away.

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With mine enemies surrounded,
Sin, the world, and Satan's snare,
Let me never be confounded,
Tempted more than I can bear:
Rather from the dread occasion,
Thy poor, helpless creature hide,
Bind the sinful inclination,
Turn my stronger foe aside.

Conflicts I cannot require,
Who myself can nothing do;
If Thou bring into the fire,
Surely Thou shalt bring me through:
Shalt from every ill deliver,
That I may Thy glory see,
Magnify Thy name for ever,
Saved through all eternity.

111. [Wouldst thou be truly mortified?]

Appear not unto men to fast. —vi. 18.

Wouldst thou be truly mortified?
Be only to thyself severe.
Far from the surly Stoic's pride,
And Pharisaic character:
The sorrows of thy heart conceal,
Afflicted by a Father's rod,
Nor tell what thou art forced to feel,
Nor stumble those who know not God.

112. [The' example which to man we owe]

The' example which to man we owe
Surely there is a time to pay;
Then, only then, ourselves we show,
To guide them in the heavenly way:
There is a time when urged by pride
We would the' applause of man obtain;

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We then should our own goodness hide,
To save ourselves from endless pain.

113. [Father, create my heart again]

Father, create my heart again,
That dead to the esteem of men,
Contentedly unknown,
In all I think, or speak, or do,
I humbly may the praise pursue
Which comes from God alone.

114. [Let heathens mock what God enjoin'd]

Thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward, &c. —vi. 18.

Let heathens mock what God enjoin'd,
Or fools explain away,
I find it good, I soon shall find
It glorious, to obey:
The secret fast, observed to Thee,
Who hast the precept given,
Shall openly rewarded be
With the full feast of heaven.

115. [Suffice, O Lord, the season pass'd]

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth. —vi. 19.

Suffice, O Lord, the season pass'd;
Henceforth I every good refuse,
To this vile earth which ties me fast,
Which nature would regret to lose,
I set my heart on things above,
And want no treasure but Thy love.

116. [Assist me, Lord, against that day]

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. —vi. 20.

Assist me, Lord, against that day
In heaven to secure
Riches that cannot flee away,
Substance that must endure:
Thou art my fund infallible,
My portion here Thou art:

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O let Thy Spirit now reveal
The earnest in my heart!

117. [If with my all I cannot part]

Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. —vi. 21.

If with my all I cannot part,
Cannot a child, or friend forego,
In vain I would disguise my heart;
My heart and treasure are below.

118. [Happy the man who knows]

Happy the man who knows
His heart is not his own,
And cheerfully what God bestows
Restores to God alone:
Not on the world misplaced,
Not to the creatures given,
His heart which hath the Lord embraced
Enjoys a constant heaven.

Jesus I own my heart
Was made for only Thee;
Worthy of all its love Thou art,
Its whole capacity:
O never let me rest,
Till I Thyself receive,
And with Thy joyous presence bless'd
The life of angels live.

119. [O for that single eye]

If . . . thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be, &c. —vi. 22.

O for that single eye
For ever fix'd on Thee!
Jesus, my want supply
Of true simplicity,
And then throughout my nature shine,
And fill my soul with light Divine.

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120. [Then let the' unrighteous mammon go]

Ye cannot serve God and mammon. —vi. 24.

Then let the' unrighteous mammon go;
Suffice for me, that God I know,
And Jesu's richest grace:
My heart and treasure is above,
And all my joy to taste Thy love,
Till I behold Thy face.

121. [Labouring as one that labours not]

Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, &c. —vi. 25.

Labouring as one that labours not,
My wants industrious to supply,
Renouncing every anxious thought,
I would on God alone rely;
His blessing trust, His promise plead,
And ask of Him my daily bread.

Father, instruct my childlike heart
On Thee for all things to depend:
The Giver of my life Thou art,
And wilt support it to the end,
Thy banish'd one on earth sustain,
And bring me to Thyself again.

122. [Will man be diligent to serve]

Your heavenly Father feedeth the fowls of the air. —vi. 26.

Will man be diligent to serve
His fowls, and let his children starve?
Much less can God the ravens feed,
And let His nobler creatures need:
Doubtless He will our wants supply,
Who feeds His tenants of the sky,
Provides for all their plenteous food,
And fills the universe with good.

123. [Greatest of all His works below]

Are ye not much better than they? —vi. 26.

Greatest of all His works below
Man only can his Maker know,

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Can love, and live of God possess'd,
Supremely and completely bless'd:
After so rich a gift bestow'd
What may we not expect from God?
His plenitude of love Divine,
Even all He is in Christ is mine.

124. [Unprofitable all and vain]

Which of you by taking thought can add one, &c. —vi. 27.

Unprofitable all and vain,
Away this soul-distracting care!
I cannot lengthen out my span,
I cannot change a single hair:
Then let me hang upon His word
Who keeps His saints in perfect peace,
My burden cast upon the Lord,
And only care my God to please.

125. [Who bids the careless lilies grow]

Why take ye thought for raiment? Consider, &c. —vi. 28.

Who bids the careless lilies grow
My scanty substance can augment,
Sufficiency of food bestow,
And raiment, and therewith content:
Who stoops to clothe a fading flower
Will every needful blessing give,
And fit the creature of an hour
An endless life with Him to live.

126. [The cause of my misgiving fear]

Shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of, &c. —vi. 30.

The cause of my misgiving fear,
Lord, I my unbelief confess:
Author of faith, in me appear,
And bid my doubts and terrors cease:
Rich is the man of faith possess'd;
And when to me the grace is given,
I bear the earnest in my breast
Of all Thou hast in earth and heaven.

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127. [Heathens, whatever call'd, they are]

After all these things do the Gentiles seek. —vi. 32.

Heathens, whatever call'd, they are,
A murmuring, self-tormenting race,
Who never seek relief in prayer,
Who pine for earthly happiness,
Their whole of comfort here receive,
Labouring for perishable food,
As atheists in the world they live,
And thus proclaim, There is no God!

128. [My Father knows the things I need]

Your . . . Father knoweth that ye have need of all, &c. —vi. 32.

My Father knows the things I need,
My Father knows, let that suffice:
I trust Him now, to clothe and feed
His child, who on His care relies:
I in Thy providence believe,
Its charge and proper business prove,
And daily from Thy hands receive
The manna of Thy heavenly love.

129. [I seek the kingdom first]

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His, &c. —vi. 33.

I seek the kingdom first,
The gracious joy and peace,
Thou know'st, I hunger, Lord, and thirst
After Thy righteousness;
My chief, and sole desire
Thine image to regain,
And then to join Thine heavenly choir,
And with Thine ancients reign.

130. [My God will add the rest]

And all these things shall be added unto you. —vi. 33.

My God will add the rest,
Will outward good provide:
But with Thy kingdom in my breast,
I nothing want beside:

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Glory begun in grace
Delightfully I prove,
And earth and heaven at once possess
In Thy sufficient love.

131. [The past no longer in my power]

Take . . . no thought for the morrow. —vi. 34.

The past no longer in my power:
The future who shall live to see?
Mine only is the present hour,
Lent, to be all laid out for Thee:
Now, Saviour, with Thy grace endow'd
Now let me serve and please my God.

132. [Why should I ask the future load]

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. —vi. 34.

Why should I ask the future load
To aggravate my present care?
Strong in the grace to-day bestow'd,
The evil of to-day I bear;
And if to-morrow's care I see,
Fresh grace shall still suffice for me.

CHAPTER VII.

133. [Jesus, rebuke my fiery zeal]

Judge not, that ye be not judged. —vii. 1.

Jesus, rebuke my fiery zeal
And bid it all depart,
This rash, censorious pride expel,
This Satan from my heart;
That only to myself severe,
When others I reprove,
My censure may to all appear
The meek result of love.

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134. [“Shall I my righteous zeal suppress]

With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged. —vii. 2.

“Shall I my righteous zeal suppress,
Or openly the truth declare?”
The rigorous, rash, unjust excess
You must in pitying love forbear,
Your bitterness and wrath forego,
To sin severe, to sinners kind;
For mercy who refuse to show,
Shall judgment without mercy find.

135. [Intentions, hearts to God are known]

With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured, &c. —vii. 2.

Intentions, hearts to God are known,
The Judge that always judges right:
Usurp not then His awful throne
To brand the secret hypocrite;
Or God in righteousness extreme
To mark what thou hast done amiss,
Shall thee with hypocrites condemn
To Tophet's bottomless abyss.

136. [Blind to our own through selfish love]

Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy, &c. —vii. 3.

Blind to our own through selfish love,
Another's sin we plainly see,
Another's sin with haste reprove,
But spare our own infirmity;
By nature and the serpent taught,
Our grossest evils we disguise,
But aggravate our neighbour's fault;
And malice gives us piercing eyes.

137. [While faults in others I reprove]

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of, &c. —vii. 5.

While faults in others I reprove,
If my own sins I cloak and love,
I may with self-importance swell,
And boast the bold reformer's zeal;
But God denominates me aright
A blind, censorious hypocrite.

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138. [Ye partisans of every sect]

Ye partisans of every sect,
Who smallest motes in others see,
But never once yourselves suspect,
Stark blind with zeal and bigotry;
Reformers of the world who seem,
And judge as cannot all beside,
Ye have not yet cast out the beam
Of fierce uncharitable pride.

139. [If wilful sin hath blinded me]

Then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote, &c. —vii. 5.

If wilful sin hath blinded me,
My brother's faults I cannot see,
But if I have cast out the beam,
I may discern the mote in him,
And kindly help him to remove
The smaller hindrances of love.

140. [Sin cannot duty supersede]

Sin cannot duty supersede,
Nor am I from reproving freed:
A sinner, still I must reprove
Sinners in lowliness of love,
But ask, when ready to condemn
The mote, have I cast out the beam?

Assist me, Lord, to lay aside
The zeal of novices untried,
The unreform'd reformer's haste
Too fierce, too violent to last,
And let me with myself begin
By now renouncing my own sin.

My bosom sin I would not hide
With fig-leaves of delusive pride,

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With envious, quick, discerning eye
My neighbour's faults I would not spy;
My gentleness on them be shown,
My harshness on myself alone.

O may I strive and not in vain,
Personal holiness to' attain,
First judge myself with shame and grief
The least of saints, of sinners chief,
And then another's faults reprove
With candour, equity, and love.

141. [O may we never more expose]

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, &c. —vii. 6.

O may we never more expose
Thy holy things Divine
To men profane, Thine open foes,
Resembling dogs and swine:
Saviour, repress our forward zeal
A scorner to reprove,
To tell the world what Christians feel,
And boast our perfect love.

142. [If Thou the power of asking give]

Ask, and it shall be given you. —vii. 7.

If Thou the power of asking give,
The blessings ask'd shall all be given:
I ask, expecting to receive,
Thy grace, Thine image, and Thy heaven.

143. [Oft have I pray'd Thee to remove]

Oft have I pray'd Thee to remove
The sin through which I long have grieved;
Oft have I ask'd Thy precious love,
Nor yet the heavenly gift received:
But still in weariness and pain
I seem to plead Thy truth in vain.

195

Now on the verge of life I cry,
Jesus, on me the grace bestow,
I tremble at the point to die,
Nor can, unless Thy love I know,
Enter into that holy place,
Or stand before Thy glorious face.

Be mindful of Thy promise Lord,
And think how short my time beneath,
Assure me by Thy pardoning word
That love hath quicker wings than death,
And speak, before I bow my head,
My soul from sin completely freed.

144. [Thou bidd'st me ask, and while Thy word]

Thou bidd'st me ask, and while Thy word
Conveys the power to pray,
I ask the mercy of my Lord
To take my sins away:
The sins with which I cannot part
I pray Thee to remove,
And calm, and purify my heart
By Thy forgiving love.

If my obduracy impede
The current of Thy grace,
If unlamented crimes forbid
And will not let Thee bless;
The contrite sense, the grief Divine
Who only canst bestow,
Strike this hard rocky heart of mine,
And let the waters flow.

Repentance permanent and deep
To Thy poor suppliant give,
Indulge me at Thy feet to weep,
When Thou hast bid me live;

196

When Thou record'st my sins no more,
O may I still lament,
A sinner, saved by grace adore,
A pardon'd penitent.

Thou will'st Thy followers to request
Fulness of joy in Thee,
To covet gifts the chief, the best;
But grief seems best for me:
My sins I never can forget,
Even when Thy face appears,
Or covet but to kiss Thy feet,
And wash them with my tears.

I ask not aught whereof to boast,
But let me feel applied
The blood that ransom'd sinners lost,
And by Thy cross abide;
Myself the chief of sinners know,
Till all my griefs are pass'd,
And of my gracious acts below
Repentance be the last.

145. [Jesus, directed by Thy word]

Seek, and ye shall find. —vii. 7.

Jesus, directed by Thy word,
I seek a kingdom from above,
And I shall find it soon restored
In perfect power and perfect love.

146. [Father, I all Thy fulness want]

Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. —vii. 7.

Father, I all Thy fulness want:
The door of true repentance give,
The door of faith and mercy grant,
And let me in Thine image live;

197

When instant I in prayer abide,
When all Thy hallowing grace is given,
To' admit my soul, throw open wide
The everlasting doors of heaven.

147. [Every one who Thee believes]

Every one that asketh receiveth. —vii. 8.

Every one who Thee believes
And at Thy bidding prays,
Soon, or later, Lord, receives
The fulness of Thy grace:
Praying on while life remains,
Glad he lays his body down,
Gasps his final prayer, and gains
A never-fading crown.

148. [Have I not ask'd, and ask'd again]

Have I not ask'd, and ask'd again
And pray'd ten thousand times in vain
For power and liberty,
A man of lips and heart unclean?
Yet still I cannot cease from sin,
Yet still I am not free.

How can it be most gracious Lord,
If Thou art faithful to Thy word?
The sole exception I,
I seem of all the ransom'd race
Alone excluded from Thy grace,
And left in sin to die.

Do I not still for mercy pray?
Take this oppressive sin away,
This unbelief remove;
My desperate misery relieve,
And peace and power and freedom give
By giving me Thy love.

198

Why do I not receive it now?
Righteous in all Thy judgments Thou
Explain the mystery;
Or let me still in darkness own,
Howe'er unseen, howe'er unknown,
The hindrance is in me.

Could I but ask, and ask aright,
My Saviour soon would give me light,
Would soon Himself impart:
O for that supplicating power!
O might I from this happy hour
Obtain a praying heart!

Indulge me in this one request,
And lo, I trust Thee for the rest,
Thou God of faithful love,
And sure of all Thou canst bestow,
In sorrow or in joy I go
To praise Thy truth above.

149. [Away my faithless fear]

He that seeketh findeth. —vii. 8.

Away my faithless fear
That I shall seek in vain!
I must regain Thine image here,
I must Thyself regain;
Thy nature, and Thy mind,
Thy purity and love
I shortly upon earth shall find,
And then my place above.

150. [Have I not sought a length of years]

Have I not sought a length of years
And blindly follow'd on,
With joy and grief, with hopes and fears
Pursued the God unknown,

199

Through every means unwearied roved,
And search'd the desert round?
Yet still by me He is not loved,
By me He is not found.

How can I lose, if God is true,
My unavailing pain?
What is it keeps Him from my view,
And makes me seek in vain?
If every earnest seeker finds
The smiling Deity,
It must be sin my spirit blinds,
And hides my God from me.

The mountain dark that stands between
I cannot heave away,
Remove the separating sin
Or struggle into day;
I cannot find the hindrance out
With all my searching care,
But wander on in endless doubt
And sink in sad despair.

Thou great Incomprehensible,
To whom my heart is known,
Whose absence from my soul I feel,
And painfully bemoan;
The' obstructing thing, the secret bar
Discover by Thy light,
And now at last my soul prepare
To seek Thy face aright.

Thou bidd'st me seek, and Thy command
Confers the power to' obey:
And all in Thee may understand
The true and living Way:

200

Thy Father, Lord, to me reveal,
The faith Divine impart,
And then I see the' Invisible,
I find Him—in my heart.

151. [Thou art the Door: I knock at Thee]

To him that knocketh it shall be opened. —vii. 8.

Thou art the Door: I knock at Thee,
To be redeem'd from sin;
And soon Thy heart shall open'd be,
To take the suppliant in:
Thus will I all my life employ,
And wait the welcome word,
Enter into celestial joy,
And triumph with Thy Lord.

152. [Pleading in prayer the faithful word]

Pleading in prayer the faithful word,
The blessing I implore;
Open to me, most gracious Lord,
The penitential door:
At God's right hand with glory crown'd,
If crown'd for me Thou art,
By one kind look my spirit wound,
And break my flinty heart.

Strengthen'd by Thee to persevere,
In ceaseless prayer to pray,
Jesus, Thy earnest suppliant hear,
And mercy's door display;
The door of faith and pardoning grace
Now let it open'd be,
To' admit into the children's place
The chief of sinners, me.

An entrance through Thy speaking blood
Into the holiest give,

201

And bring me back by faith to God,
And with Thy saints receive:
Yet will I, Lord, my suit repeat,
For more abundant love,
Till Thou my urgent soul admit
Into Thy fold above.

153. [When undistinguishing I pray'd]

What man is there of you, whom if his son, &c. —vii. 9.

When undistinguishing I pray'd
For worldly good, instead of bread
I fondly ask'd a stone;
But for a stone, my loving God
Hath the true Bread on me bestow'd
By giving me His Son.

154. [Father, I ask in Jesu's name]

How much more shall your Father which, &c. —vii. 11.

Father, I ask in Jesu's name,
My hungry spirit feed,
With humble confidence I claim
The true immortal Bread:
As by His promise bound Thou art,
Thy Son bestow on me,
And fill with Christ my longing heart,
With all that is in Thee.

155. [Jesus, Thy Spirit's power exert]

Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, &c. —vii. 12.

Jesus, Thy Spirit's power exert,
Write the commandment on my heart,
And all my righteous life shall prove
The perfect law fulfill'd in love.

156. [Yet every one that seeks, shall find]

Few there be that find it. —vii. 14.

Yet every one that seeks, shall find
The gate display'd for all mankind,
(Who strive with unremitting strife,)
And passable the road to life,

202

A narrow, but an open road,
Quite open—through the wounds of God.

157. [Who like the thoughtless many live]

Who like the thoughtless many live
In worldly cares, or pleasures vain,
May their own wretched souls deceive,
But dead in sin they still remain,
The way to life they have not known,
Nor yet their Christian course begun.

Led blindfold by the blindfold guide,
Who boldly contradicts his God,
Down a broad beaten way they glide,
An easy, fashionable road;
Too late their fatal error feel,
Fallen into the ditch of hell.

158. [If few that find the narrow way]

If few that find the narrow way,
Fewer that enter'd in appear;
But fewer still the souls that stay,
That walk, hold on, and persevere,
And reach their Father's house above,
And gain the life of ripest love.

The way I through Thy grace have found,
Jesus, and shall herein remain:
But let Thy grace yet more abound,
And through Thy after-grief and pain
From step to step conduct me on,
To live a partner of Thy throne.

159. [Teach me the prophets smooth to shun]

Beware of false prophets. —vii. 15.

Teach me the prophets smooth to shun
Who wrap their words in softest love,
But lead their fond disciples down
A spacious way to joys above:

203

O may I still my station keep,
Hold fast Thy word, and cross, and mind,
Beware the clothing of the sheep,
Beware the language of the blind!

160. [Whoe'er for sin and Satan plead]

Ye shall know them by their fruits. —vii. 16.

Whoe'er for sin and Satan plead
Fruits of the flesh they surely bear,
To hell, not heaven, their doctrines lead;
And these the specious prophets are!
These by the beastly mark we know
(The mark Thou hast Thyself assign'd)
And on we to perfection go,
And leave the prophets false behind.

161. [Evil I then must be]

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. —vii. 18.

Evil I then must be
Who bring forth evil fruit:
Corrupt the fruit, corrupt the tree,
And most corrupt the root:
Whatever gift or grace
Thou hast on me bestow'd,
Lord, I with all my soul confess
That yet I am not good.

162. [Who teach that the most righteous man]

Who teach that the most righteous man
Must sin in thought, and word, and deed,
As Satan's advocates maintain
That evil doth from good proceed,
And boldly give our God the lie,
And Truth Himself in Christ deny.

163. [Must we not then with patience wait]

By their fruits ye shall know them. —vii. 20.

Must we not then with patience wait,
False to distinguish from sincere?

204

Or can we on another's state
Pronounce, before the fruits appear?
Can we the witnesses receive
Who of their own perfection boast,
The fairest words as fruit receive?
The fairest words are leaves at most.

How shall we then the spirits prove?
Their actions with their words compare,
And wait—till humblest meekest love
Their perfect nothingness declare:
But if the smallest spark of pride,
Or selfishness, break out at last,
Set the false-witnesses aside;
Yet hold the truth for ever fast.

164. [Canst thou with specious words deceive]

Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, &c. —vii. 21.

Canst thou with specious words deceive
The Searcher of thy reins and heart?
Fair words thou may'st to mortals give,
Persuading them how good thou art,
May'st perfect love to Christ profess;
But God thine inmost substance sees.

Actions He more than words requires,
Actions with right intention done,
Good works the fruit of good desires,
Obedience to His will alone,
Pure hope which seeks the things above,
Practical faith, and real love.

Who Jesus for their Lord receive
With all His dear commands comply;
To God, and not themselves, they live,
Their God in Christ they glorify;

205

And such their Lord shall own for His,
And crown with everlasting bliss.

165. [Master, (in faith I call Thee so]

Master, (in faith I call Thee so,
In faith which works by patient love,)
I now the plain distinction know,
Whom Thou dost judge, and whom approve;
The good man lives to serve Thy will,
The wicked doth his own fulfil.

Thy will, O Lord, whate'er I do,
My principle of action be:
Thy will I would through life pursue
Impell'd, restrain'd, and ruled by Thee,
And only think, and speak, and move,
As taught, and guided by Thy love.

While with my lips I call Thee Lord,
Thee let me with my heart confess,
Led by Thy Spirit and Thy word,
In all the paths of righteousness,
Fully on earth perform Thy will,
And rest upon Thy holy hill.

166. [We preach in Jesus' name in vain]

Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, &c. —vii. 22, 23.

We preach in Jesus' name in vain,
We write as champions of our Lord,
His kingdom's mysteries explain,
And do great wonders through His word;
If casting off the godly fear,
In crooked paths of sin we run,
We save the gracious souls that hear,
But lose, for ever lose our own.

Shall I be of that wretched crowd
Those workers of unrighteousness,

206

Rejected by an angry God,
And justly banish'd from Thy face?
Or now, while mercy may be found,
From all iniquity depart,
In all the fruits of grace abound,
And serve Thee with a loving heart?

167. [Let the rain descend, the flood]

It fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. —vii. 25.

Let the rain descend, the flood
And vehement wind assail,
Built on the eternal God
The house can never fail:
Built on Christ the Rock it stands:
Stablish'd in obedience sure,
Man, who keeps his God's commands,
Shall as his God endure.

Who on Jesus' love rely,
And keep His word of grace,
We the rain and storm defy,
And floods of wickedness:
Troubles pouring from above,
Men and fiends, like floods and wind,
Never can the house remove,
The soul on Christ reclined.

168. [Ah, foolish man, who hears Thy word]

It fell: and great was the fall of it. —vii. 27.

Ah, foolish man, who hears Thy word,
But doth not what Thy laws command,
Who fondly calls Thee Lamb, or Lord,
Till his house tumbles on the sand!
How infinite the ruin is
Of a lost soul, cut off from Thee!
He falls into the dark abyss,
He falls—to all eternity!

207

CHAPTER VIII.

169. [Jesus, I come to Thee]

Behold, there came a leper and worshipped, &c. —viii. 2.

Jesus, I come to Thee
In humble faith and prayer,
My loathsome leprosy
With conscious shame declare,
I own the greatness of my fall,
And at Thy feet for mercy call.

Thy grace invisible,
(If Thou Thy grace exert,)
Can all my sickness heal,
My sinfulness convert;
Thy power can make itself obey'd,
And save the soul Thy hands have made.

But shall I doubt Thy will,
Acknowledging Thy power?
Thou art a Saviour still,
Whom prostrate I adore,
Till by Thine healing touch I prove
My Saviour is almighty love.

170. [Thou canst not want the power]

Thou canst not want the power,
Almighty as Thou art,
Thou canst not want the will this hour
To purify my heart:
Thou must be ready, Lord,
The evil to remove,
For O, to all who trust Thy word
Thou art both power and love.

Myself I cannot heal,
Or put away my sin,
And nature's unregenerate will.
Refuses to be clean.

208

I never shall consent
To' accept the grace Divine
Unless Thy will omnipotent
O'errule and conquer mine.

But hope I have in Thee,
(Hope springing from despair,)
Thou canst, Thou wilt my Saviour be
Who didst my nature share;
Who suffer'dst for my sin,
Thou wilt remove the load,
And re-create me pure within
Through Thine all-hallowing blood.

Thou wilt; but why not now?
So ignorant and blind,
In darkness at Thy feet I bow,
And wait Thy love to find:
Manner and time I leave;
But graven on Thy heart,
I look Thy fulness to receive,
And see Thee as Thou art.

171. [Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst from sin]

Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. —viii. 2.

Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst from sin
Make both my life and nature clean:
Lord, if Thou canst, Thou wilt exert
The powers that purify my heart.

Self-loathing at Thy feet I lie,
Till Thou Thy hallowing blood apply,
And purged from inbred sin I prove
The virtue of almighty love.

209

The blessings which through faith I claim
I find them, Jesus, in Thy name;
Salvation in Thy name is given,
Forgiveness, holiness, and heaven.

Now then put forth Thy hand of grace,
And meet to see Thy blissful face
My spotless soul from earth remove,
To triumph with Thy saints above.

172. [Thou wouldst that I should holy be]

I will; be thou clean. —viii. 3.

Thou wouldst that I should holy be,
Partaker of Thy purity;
O bid this leprosy depart,
Apply Thy blood to cleanse my heart.

173. [O might Thy word take place]

O might Thy word take place,
Thy hallowing word in me;
Partaker of Thy grace,
And spotless purity;
O bid this leprosy depart,
Apply Thy blood to cleanse my heart.

I wait the word Divine,
Sinner be heal'd, be pure,
One sovereign word of Thine
Confirms the pardon sure,
Cleanses my guilt-infected soul,
And makes my dying spirit whole.

174. [My painful sin and misery]

Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. —viii. 3.

My painful sin and misery
In humble prayer I own to Thee,
Who know'st what I endure,
Who bidd'st me now believe Thy word,
And wait the coming of my Lord
My leprous soul to cure.

210

With shame and sorrow I confess
The depth of my unworthiness;
Yet O, Thyself reveal,
By one kind word of pardoning love
My impotence to good remove,
My bent to evil heal.

According to my faith bestow'd
By Thee, the true eternal God,
It shall to me be done;
I shall the healthful mind receive,
Restored to perfect soundness live
And serve my Lord alone.

175. [Whene'er Thou dost Thy grace bestow]

See thou tell no man. —viii. 4.

Whene'er Thou dost Thy grace bestow,
Lest proudly I the blessing show,
A second grace impart,
“Tell it to none”—with vain delight,
“Tell it to none,”—in mercy write
Upon my broken heart.

176. [Order'd by Thee, O Lord, I go]

Go, . . . show thyself to the priest. —viii. 4.

Order'd by Thee, O Lord, I go,
And to the priest myself I show
Changed by a touch of Thine,
That when the priest Thy witness sees,
Convinced, he may himself confess
My Healer is Divine.

177. [Saviour hear a sinner's prayer]

There came unto Him a centurion, &c. —viii. 5, 6.

Saviour hear a sinner's prayer:
A poor paralytic I
Unto Thee my case declare,
Grievously tormented cry;

211

Destitute of peace and power
Simply I my want confess,
Tell Thee what Thou knew'st before,
I have need of healing grace.

178. [O how gracious is my Lord]

I will come and heal him. —viii. 7.

O how gracious is my Lord,
Listening for a sigh or word!
When He hears the sinner's cry,
O how ready to reply!
“Jesus, come, Thy servant heal,”
Jesus answers me, “I will.”

179. [Will the' almighty God of grace]

Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest, &c. —viii. 8.

Will the' almighty God of grace
Take up His abode with me,
Me, who all my sins confess,
All my imbecility?
When Thou dost so greatly stoop,
When Thou into me art given,
Purify by faith and hope,
Then transport Thy house to heaven.

180. [Yes, I steadfastly believe]

Speak the word only, and my servant, &c. —viii. 8.

Yes, I steadfastly believe
Absolute in power Thou art,
Canst by one kind word forgive,
Heal my feebleness of heart:
Strength unknown Thy word supplies,
Clothes the weak with vigour new;
Speak, and out of sin I rise;
Speak, and I can all things do.

212

181. [But doth it, Lord, Thy wonder raise]

Jesus . . . marvelled. —viii. 10.

But doth it, Lord, Thy wonder raise,
The faith Thou hast Thyself bestow'd?
O what a mystery of grace!
The Man in Christ admires the God!
Thou wonder'st at Thy Father's deeds,
That we may praise what He hath done,
From whom our every good proceeds,
And all receive through faith alone.

182. [Who in the faith of Abraham tread]

Many shall come from the east and west, &c. —viii. 11.

Who in the faith of Abraham tread,
Like Isaac unto death obey,
With God, like wrestling Jacob plead,
And wait to see my Saviour's day,
I shall with them in heaven sit down,
And wear a patriarchal crown.

183. [What Christian crowds the kingdom lose]

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast, &c. —viii. 12.

What Christian crowds the kingdom lose,
Which heathens and barbarians gain!
The church's sons their Head refuse,
They will not in His glory reign,
Will not the cross and crown receive,
Or die with Christ, with Christ to live.

A moment's joy they dearly buy,
Consign'd to endless pains in hell,
Gnaw'd by the worm that cannot die,
Scorch'd by the fire unquenchable,
Who might have sung on seraphs' thrones,
They justly pour eternal groans.

184. [As I have believed, O Lord]

As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. —viii. 13.

As I have believed, O Lord,
It shall be done to me,

213

Saved by trusting in Thy word,
From all iniquity;
Freed from sin's tormenting pain,
When re-begotten from above,
I shall in Thyself regain
The perfect health of love.

185. [Lord, I believe Thy sprinkled blood]

He touched her hand, and the fever left her. —viii. 15.

Lord, I believe Thy sprinkled blood
Can quench the fever's fiercest fire:
My thirst of praise, and creature-good,
Now let it at Thy touch retire,
Now let me rise, through faith restored,
And serve the servants of my Lord.

186. [The scorching fever of desire]

The scorching fever of desire,
Never, never will retire,
Till Christ approach the soul,
By purity of heavenly love
Its foul concupiscence remove,
And touch the sinner whole.

But when He undertakes to heal
Passions most incurable,
Languor and slothfulness
With every evil habit flies;
And lo, redeem'd from sin I rise
To tend the sons of grace.

187. [How great the goodness of our Lord]

He . . . healed all that were sick. —viii. 16.

How great the goodness of our Lord,
Not to reject one sin-sick soul!
How great the virtue of His word
Pronouncing every patient whole!

214

Away this infidel despair!
From sin's inveterate malady
The' omnipotent Physician's care
Shall by His grace recover me.

188. [The truth of each prophetic word]

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken, &c. —viii. 17.

The truth of each prophetic word
Fulfill'd in Christ we see;
Our sins from us to Him transferr'd
He carried on the tree:
Charged with the universal load
In that vindictive day,
The' atoning Lamb, the dying God
Bore all our sins away.

Jesus, the soul's and body's ills
Thou only canst remove,
Thy blood the wounded conscience heals,
Applied by sovereign love:
O might Thy wounds the balm impart
For which alone I sigh!
Heal the diseases of my heart,
And let my body die.

189. [Was ever charity like Thine!]

Was ever charity like Thine!
Lord, when it doth in me remain,
With pure benevolence Divine
I claim the whole of human pain;
Join'd to the wretched for Thy sake,
My spirit answers groan for groan,
Their griefs on me by love I take,
And pity makes them all my own.

215

190. [Away this soft, luxurious pride!]

The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air, &c. —viii. 20.

Away this soft, luxurious pride!
A pilgrim rather let me rove,
Poor with the Son of Man abide,
And have no comfort, but His love!

191. [Poorest of men, with comfort see]

Poorest of men, with comfort see
Thy God more indigent than thee;
He had not where to rest:
But if thou in His footsteps tread,
He bids thee lean thy weary head
On thy Redeemer's breast.

Ye rich who bear the Christian name,
Behold with self-abasing shame
Your God by heaven adored,
Ye who increased with goods appear,
O how unlike your Pattern here,
Your poor, afflicted Lord!

He knew not where to lay His head:
But ye in delicacies bred,
In soft luxurious ease,
From earthly things expect content,
And fresh conveniences invent,
And live yourselves to please.

All hail, Thou suffering Son of Man,
Who freely didst for me sustain
The depth of poverty,
I bless my self-denying Lord,
More destitute than beast or bird,
And come to follow Thee.

216

Detach'd from every good below
I meekly in Thy footsteps go,
Thy poor disciple I,
My Master's lot with joy receive,
Thy life of want and sorrow live,
Till on Thy cross I die.

192. [But I without delay]

Another of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, &c. —viii. 21.

But I without delay
My Saviour's voice obey,
No pretended duty plead
Summon'd by the gospel word,
Let the dead entomb their dead,
Let the living serve the Lord.

193. [Excused from every needless care]

Let the dead bury their dead. —viii. 22.

Excused from every needless care,
My privilege I see,
Jesus, Thine only burden bear,
And live, to follow Thee.

194. [Save, Lord, because unsaved by Thee]

Lord, save us: we perish. —viii. 25.

Save, Lord, because unsaved by Thee
Unsaved I must for ever be:
Without Thine utmost grace undone
I venture on a God unknown,
And boldly now my soul I dart
Into the centre of Thine heart.

195. [Throughout my sinful soul I know]

Throughout my sinful soul I know,
And every moment feel,
If Jesus let the sinner go,
I sink unchanged to hell;
If with this unregenerate heart
I out of life retire,
I must, O Lord, from Thee depart
Into eternal fire.

217

This strong propensity to ill
Thou only canst remove,
And conquer my rebellious will
By Thy almighty love:
My last resource, my total hope
Is in Thy power to save;
Thou canst redeem and lift me up,
While rushing to the grave.

Thou, the great Power of God in man,
The whole salvation art;
To save my soul from endless pain,
Descend into my heart,
By entering in, my heart renew,
The' indwelling God of grace,
And fit me for the blissful view,
And show me all Thy face.

196. [Saviour, Thou know'st us all]

Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? —viii. 26.

Saviour, Thou know'st us all
In our imperfect state:
Because our faith is small,
Our fear alas is great!
Yet shall the grain the mount remove,
If Thou our faith increase,
Our faith shall work by perfect love,
And fear for ever cease.

197. [What kind of man is this]

What manner of man is this! —viii. 27.

What kind of man is this,
Obey'd by wind and seas,
Whose powerful word controls
The tempest in our souls!
A Man, who built both earth and sky,
A Man, whose name is God Most High!

218

198. [See the wretchedness of sin!]

There met Him two possessed with devils, &c. —viii. 28.

See the wretchedness of sin!
See the fiend's tormenting rage!
Man admits the legion in,
Makes his heart a devilish cage;
Then by furious lusts possess'd,
Wounds himself, and cuts, and beats,
Spreads the hell within his breast,
Tears and tortures all he meets.

In the dark abodes of death
Long he dwells, and hates the light,
Hastening to his place beneath,
Mansions of eternal night:
Never can his soul be freed,
Till to him the Saviour comes:
Then he leaves the doubly dead,
Then he issues from the tombs.

199. [What have devils to do with Thee?]

What have we to do with Thee? —viii. 29.

What have devils to do with Thee?
Thou didst not their nature take;
Clothed with our humanity,
Us Thy hallow'd mansion make;
That Thy mind in me may dwell
Partner of my flesh Thou art;
All the adverse powers expel,
Fill Thyself my loving heart.

200. [Sinners, in that grovelling herd]

There was a good way off from them, &c. —viii. 30.

Sinners, in that grovelling herd
Mark your own resemblance true,
Receptacles fit prepared
For the whole infernal crew!

219

Swine, who bear the shape of men,
Slaves of every foul desire,
Plunged in beastly lusts unclean,
Wallowing in your sinful mire.

Lo, the fiends expect their prey,
Legion waits to enter in,
Waits to hurry you away
O'er the precipice of sin!
When the Judge pronounces, Go,
Rush ye down the fatal steep,
To that flaming lake ye go,
Hell's unfathomable deep!

201. [Bound in chains of hidden night]

The devils besought Him, saying, . . . Suffer, &c. —viii. 31.

Bound in chains of hidden night,
Stragglers from the' infernal pit,
Devils cannot wreak their spite,
Till our sovereign Lord permit:
Jesus covers us and ours,
Who on His great name depend,
Limits hell's malicious powers,
Saves His people to the end.

202. [All are Gergesenes in heart]

They besought Him to depart out of their coasts. —viii. 34.

All are Gergesenes in heart,
Who their time refuse to know,
All who with their Saviour part,
Rather than their sins forego;
Visited by Christ in vain,
Who their swine before Him choose,
Sensual lusts and worldly gain;
Christ, and heaven, and all they lose.

220

But His presence we implore,
Meeting Him in this our day:
Jesus, in Thy saving power
Condescend with us to stay:
Thou art all good things in one;
Never from our souls remove,
Fill us with Thy love alone,
Perfect, all-sufficient love.

CHAPTER IX.

203. [Wilt Thou not, Lord, the word repeat]

Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. —ix. 2.

Wilt Thou not, Lord, the word repeat
To all who prostrate at Thy feet
Thy pardoning grace implore?
Thou dost the helpless sinner cheer,
Thou dost dismiss my guilty fear,
And bid me sin no more.

204. [No, ye blind scribes of learning proud]

The scribes said, . . . This man blasphemeth. —ix. 3.

No, ye blind scribes of learning proud:
This Man is the eternal God,
Who doth your souls reprieve:
His power and Deity confess,
Believe ten thousand witnesses
That Jesus can forgive.

205. [The men of human learning proud]

The men of human learning proud,
Through envy blind, the truth malign,
Through unbelief pervert the good,
And circumscribe the power Divine,
Harden'd in ours, in every age,
Against a pardoning God they rage.

221

But Christ, who the abuse foresees,
Performs the good which scribes oppose:
And following Him, we dare displease
By acts of love our murmuring foes,
By righteous works offend their sight,
And blind them through the hateful light.

206. [Who in his nature's weakness lies]

Then saith He to the sick of the palsy, Arise, &c. —ix. 6.

Who in his nature's weakness lies
Grovelling on earth, and cannot rise,
Or lift his heart to heaven,
A feeble paralytic soul,
He is not yet through Christ made whole,
He is not yet forgiven.

But when a penitent we see
Walking in paths prescribed by Thee,
With even steady pace
Returning to his house above,
Lord, we adore Thy saving love,
And Thy forgiving grace.

207. [All glory to God]

When the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, &c. —ix. 8.

All glory to God
Whose love hath bestow'd
Such virtue on men,
On Jesus in human similitude seen!
His goodness and power
The simple adore,
If the learned repine,
We are glad to acknowledge the Finger Divine.

Thou Jesus alone
The wonder hast done,
By Thy nature reveal'd,
Our nature's extreme inability heal'd;

222

Thy life-giving grace
Appears in our days,
And the impotent soul
Through the word of Thy power is made perfectly whole.

208. [Vanquish'd by the word Divine]

Jesus saw a man, named Matthew, sitting, &c. —ix. 9.

Vanquish'd by the word Divine,
Drawn by One they never knew,
Worldlings still their gains resign,
Still our heavenly Lord pursue;
Hate the money-getting vice,
Only for salvation care,
Seek a kingdom in the skies,
Lay up all their treasure there.

Jesus, evermore the same,
Nothing is too hard for Thee;
Through the virtue of Thy name
Wonders wrought we daily see,
Sinful souls of every kind
Come at Thine almighty call,
Bless'd with faith in Thee they find
Grace, sufficient grace for all.

209. [The publicans may still draw near]

As Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, &c. —ix. 10.

The publicans may still draw near
To God's incarnate Son,
Join'd to His followers appear,
And sit with Jesus down:
The house, the church will all contain,
The meanest and the least,
And every sinful child of man
May be his Saviour's guest.

223

210. [Our Master doth with sinners eat]

Why eateth your Master with publicans, &c. —ix. 11.

Our Master doth with sinners eat,
To satisfy our wants,
To fill our souls with heavenly meat,
And change us into saints:
Sinners He kindly doth receive,
That nourish'd by His love,
On earth we without sin may live,
And share His feast above.

211. [I have need of a physician]

They that be whole need not a physician, &c. —ix. 12.

I have need of a physician;
Jesus, my physician be:
Help me in my lost condition,
Sin's severe extremity:
Sick to death of pride and passion,
Desperate, Lord, to Thee I cry:
With Thine uttermost salvation
Save, or I for ever die.

212. [Jesus, Thou seest Thy creature's pain]

Jesus, Thou seest Thy creature's pain,
Thou hear'st me of my plague complain,
In every power and faculty
I feel, I feel my need of Thee:
Faint is my head and sick my heart;
But Thou the good Physician art,
And soon, I trust, Thy gracious skill
Shall all my soul-distempers heal.

213. [To whom should Thy disciples go]

Go ye, and learn what that meaneth, &c. —ix. 13.

To whom should Thy disciples go,
Of whom should they be taught, but Thee?
Thy Spirit must Thy meaning show;
O might He show it now to me!

224

Blessings Thou dost to sinners give,
Not sacrifice from us receive:
Thy grace to all doth freely move,
Thy favourite attribute is love.

214. [Then Thou art come for me]

I am not come to call the righteous, &c. —ix. 13.

Then Thou art come for me:
Thou call'st me to repent,
And by a look from Thee
My rocky heart is rent:
But deepen, Lord, the grief begun,
But heighten my distress,
And not till life's expiring groan
Let my repentance cease.

215. [Jesus, by faith approaching Thee]

There came a certain Ruler, and worshipped Him, &c. —ix. 18.

Jesus, by faith approaching Thee,
And bow'd in deep humility,
Thy Godhead I adore:
Thy pure humanity Divine
Can raise this dying soul of mine,
And perfectly restore.

Thy virtue, Lord, if Thou exert,
The merits of Thy death impart,
Though dead in trespasses
My soul shall suddenly revive
Obedient to Thy touch, and live
The sinless life of grace.

216. [Unclean, of life and heart unclean]

A woman, which was diseased with an issue, &c. —ix. 20, 21.

Unclean, of life and heart unclean,
How shall I in His sight appear!
Conscious of my inveterate sin
I blush and tremble to draw near;

225

Yet through the garment of His word
I humbly seek to touch my Lord.

The smallest things, the weakest means,
The mournful fast, the plaintive prayer,
His sanctifying power dispense,
His efficacious grace confer,
And through His sacramental clothes
The healing emanation flows.

Yet not in outward veils of grace,
But in Himself the virtue lies,
The' infusion of His righteousness
This fountain of corruption dries;
And sure as I in Christ believe,
I shall a perfect cure receive.

217. [Turn then, Thou good Physician turn]

Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw, &c. —ix. 22.

Turn then, Thou good Physician turn,
Thou Source of unexhausted love,
Sole Comforter of souls forlorn,
Who only canst my plague remove,
O cast a pitying look on me
Who dare not lift mine eyes to Thee.

Yet will I in my God confide,
Who mildly comes to meet my soul:
I wait to feel Thy blood applied;
Thy blood applied shall make me whole;
And lo! I trust Thy gracious power
To touch, to heal me—in this hour.

218. [The death of sin is but a sleep]

The maid is not dead, but sleepeth. —ix. 24.

The death of sin is but a sleep
Which cannot long its prisoner keep,
If Jesus saith, Restore;

226

If Christ resolves a soul to raise,
To' inspire with the new life of grace,
And bid him sin no more.

219. [Till Jesus' hand the sinner take]

He went in, and took her by the hand, &c. —ix. 25.

Till Jesus' hand the sinner take,
The dead in sin can never wake,
Or second life retrieve;
But touch'd by his Redeemer's hand,
And summon'd by his Lord's command
The dead shall hear and live.

Living and dead together join'd,
Sinners and God, we strangely find,
If Christ our righteousness
Enter, and touch the sinful will,
And give our senseless souls to feel
The quickening power of grace.

Grace, and the will through Christ alone
Concur, inseparably one;
Thy Spirit's energy,
Jesus we now by faith perceive,
And wake to righteousness, and live,
And move and act for Thee.

220. [Jesus, Thou Son of David, stay]

When Jesus departed thence, two blind men, &c. —ix. 27.

Jesus, Thou Son of David, stay,
As now Thou passest by;
For mercy unto Thee I pray,
And follow while I cry:
Thee Prophet, Priest, and King I own,
God-man to sinners given,
Who bring'st the blind by ways unknown
To worship Thee in heaven.

227

221. [The God of love, He oft delays]

And when He was come into the house, &c. —ix. 28.

The God of love, He oft delays,
Nor grants what we require,
To exercise our patient grace,
To heighten our desire,
To draw the clamorous beggar near,
Before His feet to cast,
And prove their confidence sincere,
And give them sight at last.

222. [I do believe Thou canst, Thou wilt]

Believe ye that I am able to do this? —ix. 28.

I do believe Thou canst, Thou wilt
Mine unbelief remove,
And purge out all my nature's guilt,
And perfect me in love:
Begin Thy work, restore my sight
By justifying grace,
And bid me walk with Thee in white,
To see my Father's face.

223. [When faith, almighty faith, is mine]

According to your faith be it unto you. —ix. 29.

When faith, almighty faith, is mine,
Fill'd with delightful peace,
The source of every gift Divine,
The measure I possess:
And when I perfectly believe,
My calling's prize I prove,
The length and breadth and height receive,
And depth of purest love.

224. [Nothing can Thy will withstand]

And their eyes were opened. —ix. 30.

Nothing can Thy will withstand:
Saviour, now Thy power exert,
Touch me with Thy Spirit's hand,
Heal the blindness of my heart:

228

When the sprinkling of Thy blood
Doth mine unbelief remove,
Then I see that Thou art God,
Then I feel that God is love.

225. [Taught by Thee, in doing well]

See that no man know it. —ix. 30.

Taught by Thee, in doing well,
Lord, I would with humble fear
Studiously myself conceal,
Shun the shining character;
For the good Thy grace hath wrought
No reward accept from men,
Quite neglected and forgot,
Till my Lord appears again.

226. [Poor helpless souls whom Satan keeps!]

They brought to Him a dumb man, &c. —xi. 32.

Poor helpless souls whom Satan keeps!
He stops their mouths, and seals their lips;
And while they him obey,
They never can their sins confess,
They never can our Saviour praise,
Or for His mercy pray.

His followers we their burden bear,
And bring them still, by faithful prayer
To our great Lord above,
Till Christ the silent fiend expel,
And give the dumb in songs to tell
The wonders of His love.

227. [An ignorant crowd Of sinners we join]

When the devil was cast out, the dumb spake, &c. —ix. 33.

An ignorant crowd Of sinners we join,
And publish aloud The wonders Divine,
With fix'd admiration We joyfully praise
The work of salvation, The triumph of grace.

229

It never was heard, It never was seen,
Till Jesus appear'd A man among men,
Who comes to inherit And dwells in His own,
Expels the dumb spirit, And rules us alone.

The Pharisees rage At Jesus's power;
Revived in our age, His work we adore;
Though with the blasphemer The learned agree,
Almighty Redeemer, We glorify Thee.

228. [Thou goest about in every age]

Jesus went about . . . teaching . . . and healing. —ix. 35.

Thou goest about in every age,
Dark, sin-sick souls to teach and heal;
The publish'd word, the written page
Conveys the balm infallible,
We now Thy Spirit of love receive,
Of power, and of a vigorous mind,
And still Thou in Thyself wouldst give
Life, health, and heaven, to all mankind.

229. [Dost Thou not, Lord, with pity see]

When He saw the multitudes, He was moved, &c. —ix. 36.

Dost Thou not, Lord, with pity see
Multitudes that know not Thee,
Or where for help to fly?
They cannot find the good they want,
Poor wandering souls, with hunger faint
And at the point to die.

Compassion for a dying race
First inclined the God of grace
To undertake our cause:
And still those yearning bowels move,
Which drew Thee from Thy throne above,
Which brought Thee to Thy cross.

230

The sheep Thou hast redeem'd of old,
Now to sin and Satan sold
Into Thine arms receive,
(For Thou the tender Shepherd art,)
And pastors after Thy own heart
To Israel's outcasts give.

Shepherds, and chosen labourers raise,
Freely to impart Thy grace,
And feed the flock of God;
Patient in all Thy steps to move,
And more than their own lives to love
The purchase of Thy blood.

230. [Master, for Thine we cannot own]

The labourers are few. —ix. 37.

Master, for Thine we cannot own
The workmen who themselves create,
Their call receive from man alone
As licensed servants of the state,
Who to themselves the honour take,
Nor tarry till Thy Spirit move,
But serve for filthy lucre's sake
The souls they neither feed nor love.

In vain in their own lying words
The haughty self-deceivers trust,
The harvest's and the vineyard's lords
In vain their true succession boast,
Their lawful property they claim
The apostolic ministry,
But only labourers in name
They prove they are not sent by Thee.

231

231. [Such power belongs to Thee alone]

Pray ye . . . the Lord of the harvest, &c. —ix. 38.

Such power belongs to Thee alone,
Fit instruments to raise,
Whose lives may make Thy goodness known,
And spread their Saviour's praise:
Now, Lord, the faithful workmen send,
With gifts and talents bless'd
To labour, till their work shall end
In everlasting rest.

CHAPTER X.

232. [Jesus in every age the same]

When He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, &c. —x. 1.

Jesus in every age the same,
Thou only dost Thy servants send,
To preach repentance in Thy name,
And peace with God till time shall end:
Thou dost their high commission give
The demons out of souls to chase,
Spiritual maladies relieve,
And minister Thy healing grace.

Thy virtue, O almighty Lord,
Ejects the stubborn spirit unclean,
Thou healest by Thy pardoning word
Habits of most inveterate sin:
And who Thy pardoning word dispense
Are still invested with Thy power,
Kept by Thy love's omnipotence,
And saved, till sin shall be no more.

232

233. [Not one of all the rich or great]

The names of the twelve apostles are these, &c. —x. 2.

Not one of all the rich or great,
The learn'd, the noble, or the wise,
Is chose to bear the sacred weight,
And help a fallen world to rise;
Not one the glorious charge shall share,
Or fill an apostolic chair.

'Tis thus our heavenly Master slights
The things most highly prized by men,
His church's independent rights,
His servants' dignity unseen,
His powers He shows divinely given,
His kingdom not of earth but heaven.

'Tis thus He blasts the pride of Rome,
Baffles their Antichristian plea,
Who pomp, and power, and state assume,
Who make the world and church agree,
His Spirit's with the civil sword,
And blend the' apostle with the Lord.

234. [Those who seem at first rejected]

Go not into the way of the Gentiles. —x. 5.

Those who seem at first rejected,
Vilest of the sinful race,
Gentiles in due time elected
Magnify the God of grace;
The glad tidings of salvation
Open profligates believe,
All the fruits of Jesus' passion
All the life of God receive.

235. [Preach the heavenly kingdom near]

Preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. —x. 7.

Preach the heavenly kingdom near,
The sure foundation lay,
Christ shall in the clouds appear,
And earth shall pass away:

233

First He comes to save mankind,
His Spirit's power He first imparts;
Sinners, turn, believe, and find
The kingdom in your hearts.

Ready is it to take place,
And now enrich the poor:
Heaven begun in gospel-grace
Is to believers sure:
God comes down on earth to reign,
With dazzling majesty confess'd:
Every happy pardon'd man
Contains Him in his breast.

236. [Still Thy genuine gospel, Lord]

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, &c. —x. 8.

Still Thy genuine gospel, Lord,
With signs and wonders seal,
Let Thine efficacious word
Distemper'd spirits heal;
Let it minister Thy grace
To make the inbred lepers clean,
Fiends out of their souls to chase,
And raise the dead in sin.

237. [Our life, and grace, and ministry]

Freely ye have received, freely give. —x. 8.

Our life, and grace, and ministry
We freely did receive,
And freely to Thy church and Thee
Our gifts and life we give:
Bishop of souls, we wait the day
Which shall reward our toil;
Appear, Thy servants to o'erpay
With one eternal smile.

234

238. [The' ambassador of Jesus see]

Provide neither gold, nor silver . . . nor, &c. —x. 9, 10.

The' ambassador of Jesus see
Who publish'd first the gospel-word!
His equipage is poverty,
His fund the promise of his Lord:
The gifts which freely he receives,
Freely he gives for Jesus' sake,
And to succeeding labourers leaves
A pattern few have hearts to take.

239. [He tramples on his Lord's command]

He tramples on his Lord's command,
His dread authority defies,
Who heaps up treasure as the sand,
Himself and house to aggrandize:
But naked as he enter'd in,
Out of the world he soon shall go,
Receive the wages of his sin,
And find the traitor's place below.

240. [Who labours in the church of God]

The workman is worthy of his meat. —x. 10.

Who labours in the church of God,
(Not who in sloth and pleasures lives,)
He justly challenges his food,
His food by right Divine receives;
And Jesus' ministers require
The labourer's, not the glutton's, hire.

Superfluous luxury they hate,
Inured to toil they suffer on,
On Jesus in His members wait,
Their servants for His sake alone;
And while they in His work abide,
They trust their Master to provide.

235

241. [The character a servant bears]

Whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire, &c. —x. 11.

The character a servant bears
He for his Master's sake maintains,
Regardless how on earth he fares,
If placed as Providence ordains:
From house to house he never roves,
Urged by a light voluptuous mind,
But sent by Him whose work he loves,
He runs, and leaves himself behind.

242. [Peace to the house I enter now!]

When ye come into an house, salute it, &c. —x. 12.

Peace to the house I enter now!
If sent with Thy commission, Thou
Shalt answer Lord for me,
Peace to the son of peace impart,
Set up Thy kingdom in his heart
Through faith which is in Thee.

In bliss assured and pardon seal'd,
Now let him find the word fulfill'd,
Of present heaven possess'd;
Thyself in him and his reveal,
Thyself in every bosom dwell,
Our everlasting Guest.

243. [Can a minister complain]

If it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. —x. 13.

Can a minister complain,
Can he ever want success?
If by each repulse he gain
Peace, confirm'd abundant peace;
If the peace which sinners spurn,
Heavenly, inconceivable,
Into his own breast return,
There with Christ for ever dwell?

236

Profit every way we find,
We, from whom our gracious Lord
Only asks a willing mind
Simply to declare His word:
Jesus, if employ'd by Thee,
Thou shalt teach us what to say,
Bid us prove our ministry,
Give both will and power to' obey.

244. [If such the punishment of those]

It shall be more tolerable for . . . Sodom and, &c. —x. 15.

If such the punishment of those
The ministers who barely slight,
Woe to the men who dare oppose
The truth, and with its Author fight,
The servants slay, the Lord blaspheme!
No hell is hot enough for them.

245. [Who arm'd with Christ's commission goes]

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst, &c. —x. 16.

Who arm'd with Christ's commission goes,
The world's fierce enmity to prove,
Will nothing to their rage oppose,
But meekness, innocence, and love:
'Tis thus we make the gospel known,
The wonders wrought by Jesus' name,
And force the wolves themselves to own,
“A Christian is a patient lamb.”

246. [Saviour, my double want I feel]

Be ye . . . wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. —x. 16.

Saviour, my double want I feel,
By fear, by innocence betray'd,
By prudence false, and blindfold zeal;
In pity hasten to my aid,
With wisdom pure of worldly art,
With harmless, undesigning love
Meeken, yet fortify, my heart,
And blend the serpent with the dove.

237

247. [Not through an all-suspecting fear]

Beware of men! —x. 17.

Not through an all-suspecting fear
Would we in deserts hide,
Nor yet unguardedly sincere
In faithless man confide:
Arm'd with Thy wise benevolent mind
Our course we safely run,
Honour and love the ransom'd kind,
But trust in God alone.

248. [Faith sends me, Jesus, in Thy name]

Ye shall be brought before governors and kings, &c. —x. 18.

Faith sends me, Jesus, in Thy name
To testify the truth Divine,
The great salvation to proclaim,
And tells my heart the cause is Thine;
Faith bids me look on earthly kings
As feeble worms too mean to fear,
And all Thy power and wisdom brings
Into Thy dauntless confessor.

249. [Whoe'er to Thee, O Christ, belong]

When they deliver you up, take no thought how, &c. —x. 19.

Whoe'er to Thee, O Christ, belong,
And nothing but Thy glory seek,
Thy Spirit rules their mind and tongue,
And gives them what and how to speak:
Thy witness need not fear surprise,
He never can be off his guard,
Who on Thy faithful word relies
Which always keeps his heart prepared.

250. [Welcome my Saviour's word to me]

He that endureth to the end shall be saved. —x. 22.

Welcome my Saviour's word to me,
The cross and crown annex'd I see,
And suffer on, till pain is pass'd
With life, and I am saved at last:

238

I wait, in death to hear Him say
Arise, My love, and come away,
Look up, for thou shalt weep no more,
Safe-landed on the heavenly shore.

251. [Master, I would no longer be]

It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master. —x. 25.

Master, I would no longer be
Loved by a world that hated Thee,
But patient in Thy footsteps go,
Entreated like my Lord below:
I would (but Thou must give the power)
With meekness meet the fiery hour,
The shame despise, the cross abide;
For Thou wast scourged, and crucified!

252. [Every deed, and word, and thought]

There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed. —x. 26.

Every deed, and word, and thought
Shall be into judgment brought:
Wherefore then should we conceal
What the day will soon reveal?
Let us in our Father's sight
Walk as children of the light,
Now prevent the general doom,
Triumph when the Judge is come.

253. [No shy reserve, or close disguise]

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light. —x. 27.

No shy reserve, or close disguise,
No dark, mysterious secrecy,
No art to blind Thy people's eyes,
Becomes a preacher sent by Thee:
We tell on the housetop whate'er
Thy Spirit and word to us have show'd,
And bold throughout the world declare
The utmost counsel of our God.

239

254. [Saviour, speak into my heart]

Fear not them which kill the body, but are not, &c. —x. 28.

Saviour, speak into my heart
Sacred intrepidity:
They that soul and body part
Can they part my soul from Thee?
Men and fiends my soul defies,
Join'd to God it never dies.

255. [Who would not dread the frown of Him]

Fear Him which is able to destroy both soul, &c. —x. 28.

Who would not dread the frown of Him
Whose anger burns unquenchable,
Whose breath like a sulphureous stream,
Kindles, and blows the flames of hell!
Our God is a consuming fire,
And fastening on the sinful soul,
Destroys what never can expire
Long as eternal ages roll.

256. [Father, how wide Thy glories shine]

The very hairs of your head are all numbered. —x. 30.

Father, how wide Thy glories shine,
God of the universe, and mine!
Thy goodness watches o'er the whole,
As all mankind were but one soul,
Yet keeps my every sacred hair,
As I remain'd Thy single care.

257. [What tongue the greatness can explain]

Ye are of more value than many sparrows. —x. 31.

What tongue the greatness can explain,
Or estimate the soul of man?
Its worth is only known to God,
Who purchased it with all His blood.

258. [Thy confessor in deed and word]

Whosoever . . . shall confess Me before men, &c. —x. 32.

Thy confessor in deed and word,
Before the sons of men,

240

In all the tempers of my Lord
I would Thy cause maintain:
And if my Lord I thus confess,
Thou wilt Thy servant own,
Present before Thy Father's face,
And place me on Thy throne.

259. [Ah, wretched souls, who urged by shame]

Whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will, &c. —x. 33.

Ah, wretched souls, who urged by shame
Desert your Master's cause,
Before the world deny His name,
And stumble at His cross!
Disown'd before the heavenly host,
Ye shall receive your hire,
Out from His glorious presence thrust
Into eternal fire.

260. [Not to indulge our sloth and ease]

Think not that I am come to send peace on, &c. —x. 34.

Not to indulge our sloth and ease,
Not to confirm our worldly peace,
Didst Thou on earth appear,
But that we might Thy kingdom know,
And find, cut off from all below,
The Lord our portion here.

Thou kindly camest to stand between,
To separate us from sinful men,
Us from our selves to part,
That rescued by Thy Spirit's power
Thy saints may cleave to earth no more,
But give Thee all their heart.

261. [Now, Lord, apply the powerful word]

I came not to send peace, but a sword. —x. 34.

Now, Lord, apply the powerful word,
Use upon us Thy Spirit's sword,
Who dare abide Thy day;

241

Thy people from the world divide,
Cut off our selfishness and pride,
Our sins for ever slay.

262. [The father hates his gracious child]

I am come to set a man at variance against his, &c. —x. 35.

The father hates his gracious child,
Himself unsaved, unreconciled,
Through Thy atoning blood;
The graceless son his father scorns,
If first the pious parent turns,
And meets a pardoning God.

Thy handmaid in the softer kind
Can no remorse or pity find,
If Thou hast set her free;
The mother never can forgive
The daughter who presumes to live
Devoted all to Thee.

The daughter gay both hates and fears
The mother who to Thee adheres,
With Thee in spirit one;
And none their dearest friends can bear
Who God to friends and life prefer,
Who seek Thy love alone.

263. [If Christ on me His grace bestows]

A man's foes shall be they of his own household. —x. 36.

If Christ on me His grace bestows,
I must expect my household-foes
To vex me for His sake:
Will they receive or credit mine,
While all the blessed words Divine
They cast behind their back?

I look for enmity and war,
Jesus, from those who Thee abhor,
And fly the irksome light:

242

Averse alike to Thine and Thee,
With us they never can agree
Who with our Saviour fight.

264. [Jesus competitors disdains]

He that loveth father or mother more than Me, &c. —x. 37, 38.

Jesus competitors disdains:
Where'er the love of Jesus reigns,
It takes up all the heart:
Or if my friends, by nature dear,
I dotingly to Christ prefer,
I bid my Lord depart.

A father if I more esteem,
Or happier in a child than Him,
Neglect the joy of grace,
My own unworthiness I show
And force my God to let me go
An outcast from His face.

Ah, Lord, preserve my soul from sin,
Nor let the pleasing bane steal in,
The soul-ensnaring ill;
I nothing can deserve from Thee,
Yet still impart Thyself to me,
And count me worthy still.

O might I daily in Thy cause
Take up, and bear Thy hallow'd cross
By Thine example led,
The pain endure, the shame despise,
Till ripe for heavenly joy I rise
To triumph with my Head.

265. [O could I so perfidious be]

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he, &c. —x. 39.

O could I so perfidious be,
Jesus, by once denying Thee,
My wretched life to save,

243

My life, which so preserved I find,
I soon should lose, by Thee consign'd
To that infernal grave.

But if I cheerfully forego
For Thy dear sake my life below,
My life conceal'd above
Shall I not find it, Lord, again,
And full felicity obtain
In Thine eternal love?

Thy faithful promise I receive,
And only for Thy glory live,
Till Thou my life require:
And if my heart Thy Spirit fill,
I gladly suffer all Thy will,
And on Thy cross expire.

266. [Who to His Saviour's messengers]

He that receiveth you receiveth Me, and he, &c. —x. 40.

Who to His Saviour's messengers
An hospitable welcome gives,
Receives, not angels unawares,
But Christ and God Himself receives:
Come then, and bring the Crucified,
Come all who preach His pardoning word,
My house, my arms I open wide,
My heart to entertain your Lord.

267. [Through zeal for piety sincere]

He that receiveth a righteous man in the name, &c. —x. 41.

Through zeal for piety sincere
I would receive, esteem, embrace
Thine every pious worshipper,
Who follows after righteousness:
Jesus, I make Thy brethren mine,
And serve in love's simplicity,

244

Till from those gracious lips Divine
I hear “Ye did it unto Me!”

268. [How small the gift it matters not]

Whosoever shall give unto one of these little, &c. —x. 42.

How small the gift it matters not
Given for the sake of Christ the Lord,
It cannot be by Christ forgot,
Or lose its infinite reward.
A cup of water shall procure
(Bestow'd for Jesu's sake alone)
Rivers of life, and raptures pure,
Which flow perennial from His throne.

CHAPTER XI.

269. [A prisoner for religion's sake]

When John had heard in the prison the works, &c. —xi. 2.

A prisoner for religion's sake
Will cast his own concerns behind,
No thought for his own safety take,
No comfort but in Jesus find;
Will ask and long to see restored
The kingdom of his heavenly Lord.

The interests of his Master dear
The servant's mind and heart engross;
He only thinks of Jesus near,
His works, His people, and His cause,
Glad to decrease, that Christ may grow,
And all the true Messiah know.

The souls committed to his trust
He suffers not with him to stay,
But sends them all to Christ the Just,
The Lamb who bears their sins away;

245

Points to that one great Sacrifice,
Leaves them in Jesus' hands, and dies.

270. [Give me, Lord, if Thou art He]

Art Thou He that should come, &c. —xi. 3.

Give me, Lord, if Thou art He,
Deaf to hear, and blind to see,
Lame, to walk in all Thy ways,
Dead, to live the life of grace;
Bid my leprosy depart,
Preach Thyself into my heart,
Satisfied, when Thou art given,
I seek no more in earth or heaven.

271. [Jesus, Thou art the' Anointed One]

Jesus, Thou art the' Anointed One,
The Saviour sent for man to' atone
And bring us back to God:
Thou know'st I for no other look
Than Thee, who all my sins hast took,
And bought me with Thy blood.

Who camest self-emptied from the sky,
Sinners to save and sanctify,
My full salvation be,
My sickly, dying spirit heal,
And all Thy work in me fulfil,
And take me up to Thee.

272. [Jesus on us in this our day]

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk. —xi. 5.

Jesus on us in this our day
Thyself the true Messiah prove,
Open our eyes to see the way
That leads us to the realms above,
Strengthen our souls to walk therein,
With even pace to persevere,
Till cleansed from nature's leprous sin,
We hear Thy voice, Be perfect here.

246

To all that life of righteousness
Dead sinners by Thy breath restore,
And still our poverty increase,
And still enrich the humble poor:
The gospel which Thou, Saviour, art,
The fulness of Thy grace unknown
Preach every moment to my heart,
Emptied and fill'd by Thee alone.

273. [Prepared by sacred poverty]

The poor have the gospel preached to them. —xi. 5.

Prepared by sacred poverty,
Jesus, the power of God in me
Unto salvation prove,
Preach to my troubled soul Thy peace,
Inspire with all Thy holiness,
With all Thy heavenly love.

274. [How mean He still on earth appears]

Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me. —xi. 6.

How mean He still on earth appears,
How poor His slighted worshippers.
The world our humble Lord despise,
The rich, the great, the learn'd, and wise;
They hate the strictness of His laws,
They stumble at His bleeding cross,
To gain His kingdom in the sky,
Like Him they will not live and die.

O may I never, never be
Offended at Thy words, or Thee!
Jesus the loving faith impart,
And lo, I give Thee all my heart,
Thee boldly before men confess,
A sinner saved by richest grace,
And unto death obedient prove
The blessedness of faithful love.

247

275. [First our Lord vouchsafes to praise]

Jesus began to say . . . concerning John, What, &c. —xi. 7.

First our Lord vouchsafes to praise
His servant's constancy:
Every minister of grace
Should thus unshaken be,
Stand the shock of earth and hell,
Firm as anvil to the stroke,
Steadfast and immovable
As that Eternal Rock.

276. [Nothing of softness or excess]

What went ye out for to see? A man, &c. —xi. 8.

Nothing of softness or excess
Should in a preacher's life appear,
Nothing of ornament or dress
Becomes a gospel-messenger:
His life should as his doctrine be,
And simply plain his mission show,
That all the man of God may see
Dead to the world and all below.

277. [More than all the prophets old]

Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. —xi. 9.

More than all the prophets old
Is Jesus' harbinger:
Jesus' coming they foretold,
The Baptist shows Him here,
Shows the Lamb that bears our load,
The all-atoning Sacrifice;
Shows Him while he lives to God,
And shows Him, while he dies.

Preachers of the gospel word
Should more than prophet be,
Point the hearers to their Lord,
And tell them, This is He!

248

Should, like John, retirement love,
The spirit of repentance breathe,
Firm through life, their zeal approve,
And faithful unto death.

278. [Who the high office can display]

Behold, I send My messenger [Gr. angel], &c. —xi. 10.

Who the high office can display
Of Jesus' gospel-messenger?
Sent to prepare his Saviour's way
Into the souls of all that hear,
The man should as an angel be
In knowledge, zeal, and purity.

O that the character were mine,
While active as seraphic flame
I spread that sacrifice Divine,
The presence of my Lord proclaim!
But He the stony must remove,
And bid the world believe and love.

Where'er Thou dost Thy servant send,
Jesus, the Power of God, be found,
Thyself vouchsafe my steps to' attend,
Thy sacred feet behind me sound,
And show to all the ransom'd race
Jehovah's glories in Thy face.

279. [Greatest of the prophetic race]

Among them that are born of women, &c. —xi. 11.

Greatest of the prophetic race,
He saw the Lamb with ravish'd eyes,
Jehovah full of truth and grace
Acknowledged from the opening skies:
To Moses His back parts were show'd,
But John beheld the face of God.

249

He preach'd the' incarnate God come down,
He reach'd the dawn of gospel-day;
Removed before the blaze of noon,
Before the veil was cast away,
Before the Comforter was given,
Proof of our God return'd to heaven.

The least apostle of the Lamb
Greater than John by this appears,
We all the death of God proclaim;
Meanest of Jesus' messengers,
Even I set forth the Crucified,
The blood which all may feel applied.

By office greater far than John,
Sent on a greater embassy,
We make the Saviour's passion known,
Who captive leads captivity,
And from His Father's throne imparts
The spirit of glory to our hearts.

280. [O might Thy powerful word]

The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, &c. —xi. 12.

O might Thy powerful word
Inspire a feeble worm
To rush into Thy kingdom, Lord,
And take it as by storm!
O might we all improve
The grace already given,
To seize the crown of perfect love,
And scale the mount of heaven!

281. [Thus may I the kingdom seize]

Thus may I the kingdom seize,
Where my Lord erects His throne,
Peace, and joy, and righteousness
Find comprised in Christ alone;

250

Labour thus with violent strife
Till the power I apprehend,
Grasp the true eternal Life,
Keep my Saviour to the end.

Now the holy violence give,
Let me of Thy strength lay hold,
Bid my fearful soul believe,
Bid my faithful soul be bold,
Bold Thy deepest cup to take,
Following on to Calvary,
Bold to suffer for Thy sake,
Bold to lose my all for Thee.

Strengthen'd by Thy Spirit's word
Let this feeble dying worm
Rush into Thy kingdom Lord,
Take the promises by storm:
O might all Thy grace improve,
Conscious of their sins forgiven,
Seize the crown of perfect love,
Scale in death the mount of heaven!

282. [The God of truth, and power, and love]

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. —xi. 15.

The God of truth, and power, and love,
Who bids us lend an ear,
Doth every obstacle remove,
And gives the grace to hear;
Our long-lost liberty restores,
Which we could ne'er regain,
And wills us then to use the powers
His death procured for man.

Sinners, by Jesus bought, obey
His universal call,
Who offers in your gospel-day
The hearing ear to all:

251

Made capable of faith, receive
The grace so freely given,
And hear, though dead, His voice, and live
On earth the life of heaven.

283. [With rigorous abstinence austere]

The Son of man came eating and drinking. —xi. 19.

With rigorous abstinence austere
We serve, while only led by fear;
But Jesus doth the yoke remove,
And shows the nobler way of love,
Instructs His blessings to employ,
And gives us all things to enjoy.

284. [The wise applaud; but all beside]

Wisdom is justified of her children. —xi. 19.

The wise applaud; but all beside
Condemn the wisdom from above;
It ever was by those decry'd
Who neither fear our God, nor love.

285. [Ye that of power and riches proud]

Thou, Capernaum, which art exalted, &c. —xi. 23.

Ye that of power and riches proud,
Above the race of mortals rise,
And scorn the low ignoble crowd,
And reign exalted to the skies,
Repent before the Judge appear,
Or read your fearful sentence here.

Ye gods of earth, expect to dwell
With fiends and spirits damn'd below,
To find your thrones prepared in hell,
Unless ye here your madness know,
Prostrate, condemn'd the Judge entreat,
And mercy find at Jesus' feet.

286. [Who will reject Thy richest grace]

It shall be more tolerable for . . . Sodom, &c. —xi. 24.

Who will reject Thy richest grace
Their own damnation seal,
And justly claim for their own place
The hottest place in hell.

252

287. [From the fools reputed wise]

Thou hast hid these things from the wise, &c. —xi. 25.

From the fools reputed wise
Justly, Lord, Thou hast conceal'd
Things Divine, which they despise,
Mysteries to babes reveal'd:
Father, me, even me convert,
Then the kingdom from above
Send into my childlike heart,
Peace, and joy, and righteous love.

288. [Sinners, in this great verity]

All things are delivered unto Me of My Father. —xi. 27.

Sinners, in this great verity
The science of salvation see!
Jehovah unto Christ alone,
His only co-eternal Son,
The whole disposing power hath given
Of all in earth, and all in heaven.

Absolute Lord, and Judge supreme,
All blessings are dispensed by Him;
The' economy of grace is His,
The ministry of glorious bliss,
And all which Christ from God receives
Received for man to man He gives.

289. [Jesus, the infinite I AM]

No man knoweth the Son, but the Father, &c. —xi. 27.

Jesus, the infinite I AM,
With God essentially the same,
With Him enthroned above all height,
As God of God, and Light of light,
Thou art by Thy great Father known,
From all eternity His Son.

Thou only dost the Father know,
And wilt to all Thy followers show,

253

Who cannot doubt Thy gracious will
His glorious Godhead to reveal:
Reveal Him now, if Thou art He,
And live, eternal Life, in me.

290. [Stupendous love of God Most High!]

Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy, &c. —xi. 28.

Stupendous love of God Most High!
He comes to meet us from the sky
In mildest majesty,
Full of unutterable grace
He calls the weary burden'd race,
Come all for help to Me.

Tired with the greatness of my way,
From Him I would no longer stray,
But rest in Jesus have,
Weary of sin, from sin would cease,
Weary of mine own righteousness,
And stoop myself to save.

Weary of passions unsubdued,
Weary of vows in vain renew'd,
Of forms without the power,
Of prayers, and hopes, complaints, and groans,
My fainting soul in silence owns
I can hold out no more.

Beneath this mountain-load of grief,
Of guilt and desperate unbelief,
Jesus, Thy creature see,
With all my nature's weight oppress'd,
I sink, I die, for want of rest,
Yet cannot come to Thee.

Mine utter helplessness I feel;
But Thou, who gavest the feeble will,
The' effectual grace supply:

254

Be Thou my strength, my light, my way,
And bid my soul the call obey,
And to Thy bosom fly.

Fulfil Thine own intense desire,
And now into my heart inspire
The power of faith and love;
Then Saviour, then to Thee I come,
And find on earth the life, the home,
The rest of saints above.

291. [Wretched in myself, I would]

Wretched in myself, I would
Come for happiness to Thee,
Find redemption in Thy blood,
Permanent tranquillity:
Jesus kind inviting Lord,
Thou art my substantial Rest:
Help me to believe Thy word,
Draw me burden'd to Thy breast.

Ere my weary eyes I close,
In that everlasting night
Bless me with the true repose,
Love's ineffable delight,
Love excluding sin and fear
With Thy precious Self impart;
In Thy garments dyed appear,
Show Thy wounds and break my heart.

Show my faith Thy hands and feet,
Point me to Thy streaming side;
Only love can love beget:
Lamb for rebels crucified,

255

Let Thy dying love constrain
My obduracy to yield,
Then I find my rest again,
Then I by Thy wounds am heal'd.

Gospel-faith on me bestow,
Faith Divine which works by love,
Then the pardoning God I know,
Taste the blessedness above,
'Stablish'd in my Lord, my Peace,
Triumphs then my meeken'd soul;
Never shall its triumphs cease
While eternal ages roll.

292. [Rest of my weary mind]

I will give you rest. —xi. 28.

Rest of my weary mind,
My burden'd spirit's ease
Coming to Thee I find:
But gasp in perfect peace
To live, of holiness possess'd,
To die into eternal rest.

293. [Lord, I fain would learn of Thee]

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, &c. —xi. 29.

Lord, I fain would learn of Thee
Meekness and humility;
In Thy gentleness of mind
In Thy lowliness of heart
Rest mine inmost soul shall find,
Rest that never can depart.

294. [When Thou the bond of sin hast broke]

When Thou the bond of sin hast broke,
Thine easy, light, and pleasant yoke
I cheerfully receive;

256

By the new, sacred load I bear
Disburden'd now from every care
Beneath Thy cross I live.

Redeem'd from passion's tyranny,
If Thou implant Thy mind in me,
If Thou Thy Spirit impart,
I learn the wisdom from above,
The meek simplicity of love,
Thy lowliness of heart.

Then, then the true repose I find
Of quiet humble souls reclined
On their Redeemer's breast,
Like them from my own actings cease,
And gain in Thee the perfect peace,
The everlasting rest.

CHAPTER XII.

295. [By miracle the crowd He fed]

His disciples were an hungered. —xii. 1.

By miracle the crowd He fed,
But let His own disciples need;
Present they their great Master see,
Yet feel the deepest poverty:
And shall a plaintive sinner faint,
As left in indigence and want,
When Christ doth us relief afford,
As quite forsaken of his Lord?

257

What if we pine for want of bread
When first we in His footsteps tread,
Better to share our Lord's distress,
Than plenty with the world possess:
Thankful the honour I receive,
Saviour, the needy life to live,
Sweet fellowship with Thee to prove,
And have no riches but Thy love.

296. [How few that saying understand]

If ye had known what this meaneth, I will, &c. —xii. 7.

How few that saying understand
Or practically know,
Mercy is the supreme command,
We first should mercy show:
The smiles of God we cannot gain
By outward sacrifice;
But genuine charity to man
He never will despise.

Our alms and works of righteousness,
Our abstinence and prayer,
Our sacraments can never please,
If mercy is not there:
But when His mercy we partake,
He must our spirit approve,
Who all mankind for Jesus' sake
In Jesus' bowels love.

297. [Saviour, Thy sacred day]

The Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath-day. —xii. 8.

Saviour, Thy sacred day
Is subject to Thy sway,
Made Thy pleasure to fulfil;
Thou the Son of Man alone
Canst, according to Thy will,
Abrogate or change Thine own.

258

Thy love the day design'd
A blessing to mankind:
But Thy more abundant grace,
Gospel-grace unsearchable,
Bade the Jewish feast give place,
Fix'd the Christian festival.

Lord of the hallow'd day,
Once more Thy power display;
Now returning from above,
Change it to that heavenly feast,
Sabbath of celestial love,
Sabbath of eternal rest.

298. [What words of horror can explain]

Wherefore it is lawful to do well. —xii. 12.

What words of horror can explain
The heart corrupt of sinful man,
Who strangely asks his God to prove
The lawfulness of saving love!

299. [The word of Christ alone]

Then saith He to the man, Stretch forth thine, &c. —xii. 13.

The word of Christ alone
New life and vigour gives
Who first our helplessness makes known,
And then our souls relieves:
Like wither'd hands they are,
Yet strength if He ordain,
We stretch them forth to God by prayer,
By alms and helps to man.

300. [Jesus, the grace re-give]

Jesus, the grace re-give,
Which I have cast away:
I cannot now, as once, believe,
I cannot, cannot pray:

259

Speak, and the wither'd hand
Of faith shall be restored,
Exert its power at Thy command,
And apprehend its Lord.

301. [How envy blinds the Pharisees!]

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council, &c. —xii. 14.

How envy blinds the Pharisees!
On Sabbaths 'tis a crime to heal,
On Sabbaths, if their God displease,
'Tis good in them their God to kill!

302. [The man of God, like Christ, gives place]

But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew, &c. —xii. 15.

The man of God, like Christ, gives place,
No longer useful in His cause,
Nor tempts a blindfold harden'd race,
But from the furious world withdraws,
The' occasion of their sin removes,
And leaves the foes he wisely loves.

303. [Can we follow Christ in vain?]

Great multitudes followed Him, and He healed, &c. —xii. 15.

Can we follow Christ in vain?
Can we follow Christ at all,
Him unless His love constrain
Us after Himself to call?
But the Friend of human race
Shows Himself our Saviour still,
Draws us by His powerful grace,
Draws whom He designs to heal.

Jesus truly doth forgive
Every weak distemper'd soul
Who to their Physician cleave,
Makes and keeps His patients whole:
But if Him we will forsake,
If He cease the balm to' apply,

260

We into our sins fall back,
Lose His love, despair, and die.

304. [Jesus, to Thee I cry]

I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He, &c. —xii. 18.

Jesus, to Thee I cry,
The worst of heathens I:
Manifest the gospel-grace,
Peace and joy and love Divine,
Show my heart Thy righteousness
Made by implantation mine.

Thou only canst confer
The promised Comforter;
That Thou might'st to sinners give,
God on Thee His Spirit bestow'd
That with Thee I might receive
All the plenitude of God.

305. [Thou lovely, meek, and gentle Lamb]

He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall, &c. —xii. 19.

Thou lovely, meek, and gentle Lamb,
Pattern of pure humility,
Call'd after Thy own name I am,
And fain I would resemble Thee,
'Scape from a world of noise and strife,
And fly the glare of public life.

Not brawling, popular, and loud,
But silent, as the Man of woe,
Instruct me to decline the crowd,
And meekly after Thee to go,
And quietly, like Thee, resign
My soul into the hands Divine.

306. [No, I find He never will]

A bruised reed shall He not break, and, &c. —xii. 20.

No, I find He never will,
(Jesus is a Saviour still,)

261

He who kindled my desire
Will not let the spark expire:
Love, that bears so long with me,
Shall obtain the victory,
All His power at last exert,
Fix the kingdom in my heart.

307. [His name is Jesus Christ the just]

In His name shall the Gentiles trust. —xii. 21.

His name is Jesus Christ the just,
My advocate with God:
In Him alone I put my trust
Who bought me with His blood;
A sinner of the Gentiles I
My pardoning Lord embrace,
And on His only name rely
For all His depths of grace.

A sinner still, though saved I am,
And this is all my boast;
I hang upon a God, who came
To seek and save the lost:
The Object of my love and fear,
Who hath my sins forgiven,
Shall sink me into nothing here,
And lift me up to heaven.

308. [How near ye to the confines run]

The Pharisees said, This fellow doth not, &c. —xii. 24.

How near ye to the confines run
Of sin unpardonably great,
God's finger who refuse to own
In men whom for their good ye hate!

309. [Whoe'er submits to sin's commands]

How can one enter into a strong man's house, &c. —xii. 29.

Whoe'er submits to sin's commands,
His soul into the tempter's hands
With full consent he gives,

262

He entertains the fiend abhorr'd,
And Satan as his lawful lord
Into his heart receives.

Fit mansion for the spirit impure,
He sleeps in sinful peace secure
Till the Redeemer come,
Till Christ omnipotent in grace
The' usurper from His palace chase,
And take up all the room.

Saviour, the human house is Thine,
To this poor captive soul of mine
Thy sovereign right assert,
Resume Thine own by entering in,
Bind the strong man entrench'd in sin,
And force him to depart.

My spirit's whole capacity
By double right belongs to Thee;
The tyrant now expel,
Thy purchased goods again possess,
And in this house of holiness,
My Lord for ever dwell.

310. [By not appearing on Thy side]

He that is not with Me is against Me. —xii. 30.

By not appearing on Thy side
I sided with Thy foes,
By not confessing I denied,
And dared my Lord oppose:
But lo, henceforward I abhor
The base neutrality,
Wage 'gainst Thy foes eternal war,
And live, and die with Thee.

263

311. [All kinds and all degrees of sin]

All manner of sin . . . shall be forgiven. —xii. 31.

All kinds and all degrees of sin
Wilt Thou indeed forgive?
Then I, even I may be made clean,
And in Thy presence live:
Lord, I expect Thy promised grace;
And when Thou hast forgiven,
Pardon shall lead to holiness,
And holiness to heaven.

312. [This is that sin of sins]

The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall, &c. —xii. 31.

This is that sin of sins,
That mortal blasphemy,
Ascribing to the devils' prince
The wonders wrought by Thee!
But from its guilt secure
In Thee our souls we hide;
And trust Thy blood to make us pure
From every sin beside.

313. [Are words the proof of sin forgiven?]

The tree is known by his fruit. —xii. 33.

Are words the proof of sin forgiven?
Then Satan might return to heaven,
And every Antinomian liar
Escape that everlasting fire:
His faith the pardon'd sinner shows,
While after holiness he goes,
And loves throughout his life to' express
The genuine fruits of righteousness.

314. [The grace if actions cannot prove]

The grace if actions cannot prove,
Will words demonstrate perfect love?
And if there no criterion be,
How shall we e'er discern the tree?

264

But actions evidently show
The stock distinct on which they grow,
The saint's, or sinner's heart explain;
Or God laid down a test in vain.

315. [I cannot speak a word, or do]

How can ye, being evil, speak good things? —xii. 34.

I cannot speak a word, or do
An action truly good,
Till Thou, O Lord, my heart renew,
And wash me in Thy blood:
But when in me Thy Spirit of grace
Doth power and utterance give,
I then shall speak my Saviour's praise,
And to Thy glory live.

316. [How then shall sinners meet the Lord]

Every idle word that men shall speak, they, &c. —xii. 36.

How then shall sinners meet the Lord,
Or His dread day abide,
If cast for every idle word,
Who can be justified?
The men who freely pardon'd here
On Jesu's death depend,
Shall boldly at the bar appear,
And find the Judge their Friend.

317. [Thee Jesus, our true Jonas, Thee]

As Jonas was three days and three nights, &c. —xii. 40.

Thee Jesus, our true Jonas, Thee
We own our great prophetic Lord,
The voluntary Victim see,
Out of the yawning deep restored,
Raised on the third triumphant morn
Thou didst to glorious life return.

Raised to Thine everlasting throne,
Thou didst the' apostate Jews forsake,

265

To preach Thy saving grace unknown,
The Gentiles for Thy church to take,
A world of Ninevites convert,
And break my poor rebellious heart.

318. [Greater than Solomon is He]

A Greater than Solomon is here. —xii. 42.

Greater than Solomon is He,
Whom with the eyes of faith I see
In mortal flesh appear:
For when He doth His Spirit impart,
And speaks in my believing heart,
Wisdom Himself is here.

319. [Whoe'er their indolent delight]

When he is come, he findeth it empty, &c. —xii. 44.

Whoe'er their indolent delight
In ease and pleasure take,
They the ejected fiend invite,
And court him to come back;
By pride and sloth to every sin
They open wide the door;
And lo, a legion enters in,
And never leaves them more.

That Satan never more may find
Into my heart his way,
I'll walk in all the paths enjoin'd,
And fast, and watch, and pray,
In all the works of righteousness
With humble zeal employ'd,
And keep the house, the hallow'd place
For ever fill'd with God.

320. [Yes, my Lord may justly leave me]

The last state of that man is worse than the first. —xii. 45.

Yes, my Lord may justly leave me,
Me who first my Lord forsook,

266

Never, never more forgive me,
Blot my name out of His book:
But if I, again forgiven,
Reach at last the happy shore,
How shall all the hosts of heaven
Shout, and wonder, and adore!

321. [Lord, what is man's distinguish'd race]

Behold My mother and My brethren! —xii. 49.

Lord, what is man's distinguish'd race,
Whom Thou dost for Thy brethren own,
Crown'd with a dignity and grace
To brightest seraphim unknown!
Who do on earth Thy Father's will,
Most closely to their Lord allied
Shall meet Thee on the heavenly hill,
And reign triumphant at Thy side.

322. [The Christian apostolic man]

Whosoever shall do the will of My Father, &c. —xii. 50.

The Christian apostolic man,
Loosed from the ties of flesh and blood,
Superior to desire and pain,
Labours and speaks and lives for God:
He lives his pleasure to fulfil:
And who their heavenly Father own,
And faithfully perform His will,
He knows and cleaves to them alone.

His passions changed and sanctified
With more than nature's warmth embrace
The precious souls, to his allied
By all the tenderest ties of grace:
Relations all in one he proves
To saints begot by Jesus' word,
And with Divine affection loves
The kindred of his dearest Lord.

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CHAPTER XIII.

323. [The heart unoccupied by God]

Some seeds fell by the way-side, and the, &c. —xiii. 4.

The heart unoccupied by God,
An open, high, frequented road,
Which every passenger may find,
Trampled, and foul'd by all mankind,
Long-harden'd by habitual sin,
Exposed to every spirit unclean,
Down to the gloomy realms it tends,
In bottomless perdition ends.

Such is the heart of those that hear
The gospel with a careless ear:
Thick-flocking fiends are always nigh
Usurpers of the lower sky,
Distractions, cares fly hovering round,
Pleasures the good desire confound,
Seize on the soul as birds of prey,
And bear the precious seed away.

324. [Lord, give us wisdom to suspect]

Forthwith they sprung up, because they had, &c. —xiii. 5.

Lord, give us wisdom to suspect
The sudden growths of seeming grace,
To prove them first, and then reject,
Whose haste their shallowness betrays;
Who instantaneously spring up,
Their own great imperfection prove:
They want the toil of patient hope,
They want the root of humble love.

325. [The heart of man, the ground accursed]

Other fell into good ground, and brought, &c. —xiii. 8.

The heart of man, the ground accursed
No difference knows of best or worst,

268

O'errun with nature's thorns and briars,
Fit fuel of infernal fires:
His only grace can make it good,
Who dearly bought it with His blood;
And if my heart be fertile ground,
The fruit to Jesus' praise is found.

326. [Man, sinful man, with blind desire]

Why speakest Thou unto them in parables? —xiii. 10.

Man, sinful man, with blind desire
Doth why and how of God inquire;
But first himself should know
Unworthy the least ray of light,
Darkness profound his only right,
And hell's eternal woe.

327. [Thou offerest, Lord, to all Thy love]

Whosoever hath, to him shall be given. —xiii. 12.

Thou offerest, Lord, to all Thy love:
Thy love may we retain,
With faithful diligence improve,
And farther blessings gain:
To us who grasp the things before,
Grace upon grace be given;
And when our souls can hold no more,
Bestow the joys of heaven.

328. [Why is my heart so dark and void]

Whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken, &c. —xiii. 12.

Why is my heart so dark and void,
And hardly feels its loss?
I have not what I once enjoy'd,
I am not what I was:
With Christ my suffering Lord one hour
I would not watch and pray,
And therefore He withdrew the power,
And took His gifts away.

269

329. [Saviour I still to Thee apply]

They seeing see not, and hearing they hear not, &c. —xiii. 13.

Saviour I still to Thee apply,
Before I read or hear,
Creator of the seeing eye,
And of the hearing ear:
The understanding heart bestow,
The wisdom from above,
So shall I all Thy doctrines know,
And all Thy sayings love.

330. [The world unknowingly fulfil]

In them is fulfilled the prophecy, &c. —xiii. 14, 15.

The world unknowingly fulfil
The Scriptures they deny,
Careless they hear and read them still
With unenlighten'd eye:
They see the Way from which they err,
Nor yet the Truth perceive,
Nor will the inward Prophet hear,
Nor will in Christ believe.

Their gross unfeeling heart oppose
And with the Saviour fight,
Their ears against His words they close,
Their eyes against His light;
By no decree of His compell'd
They spurn the' incarnate God,
Refuse to let their souls be heal'd
By their Redeemer's blood.

They might perceive that Christ is He,
And know the Shepherd's voice,
They might through faith converted be
And in His love rejoice:

270

But if they still their God defy,
Till mercy's day is pass'd
Unheal'd, unsaved they justly die,
Die in their sins at last.

331. [Happy the man who eyes receives]

Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and, &c. —xiii. 16.

Happy the man who eyes receives
To see his smiling Lord,
Who hears the voice of God, and lives
By Jesus' quickening word:
This happiness with Christ is ours
Who know our sins forgiven,
Partakers of the Spirit's powers,
Inspired with present heaven.

332. [The patriarchs and prophets view'd]

Many prophets and righteous men have, &c. —xiii. 17.

The patriarchs and prophets view'd
From far the gospel grace,
But never heard incarnate God,
Or saw Immanuel's face:
The wishful seers His day foretold,
And dying saints adored;
But we the Saviour come behold,
The glory of the Lord.

To us He doth His love reveal,
To us His Spirit imparts,
And speaks in peace and pardon still
To all believing hearts,
“Superior holiness and bliss
To you My friends is given,
Be perfect as your Father is,
And then come up to heaven.”

271

333. [Hear ye, to whom your God imparts]

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. —xiii. 18.

Hear ye, to whom your God imparts
The ear that hears, the eye that sees,
His truth discovers to your hearts,
And all His gospel mysteries:
With means abundantly supplied,
While others still in darkness stray,
The Spirit is your faithful guide,
The Word Himself marks out your way.

Conscious from whom your blessings flow,
Your faith's integrity approve,
By practising the truths ye know,
By humble zeal, and fervent love,
By all your God vouchsafes to give
Show forth the heavenly Giver's praise,
Only to spread His kingdom live,
And die to glorify His grace.

334. [Who hear, and cast the word behind]

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, &c. —xiii. 19.

Who hear, and cast the word behind,
To you the wicked one draws near,
With foreign thoughts to fill your mind,
Or in his whispering messenger
Comes your attention to divert,
And steals the seed out of your heart.

335. [What crowds in every age receive]

He . . . heareth the word, and . . . with joy, &c. —xiii. 20, 21.

What crowds in every age receive
The word with joyful forwardness,
Transported for a while believe,
And all the warmth of zeal express,
Yet shrinking in the evil day,
They faint, and fall, and die away.

272

The various shapes of worldly woe,
The conflicts dire of inbred sin,
These, only these can surely show
Who has or wants a root within:
And happy they, who always fear,
Till love, the perfect fruit appear.

O may I hear and taste the word,
And faithfully Thy grace retain,
Devoted to my pardoning Lord,
Stand all the assaults of sin and pain,
Rooted in humble love Divine,
And live, and die, entirely thine!

336. [Worldlings in vain the truth approve]

He . . . that received seed among the thorns is, &c. —xiii. 22.

Worldlings in vain the truth approve,
Who seek their rest and comforts here,
Who pleasure, praise, or riches love,
They cannot keep the godly fear,
Or faith in gracious acts express,
Or bear the fruits of righteousness.

337. [Whoe'er for happiness relies]

Whoe'er for happiness relies
On wealth, will never find it there,
But while the flattering shadow flies,
He sinks into the arms of care,
Reposes on a sleepless bed,
Or rests on thorns his aching head.

338. [What harm to raise a fortune fair]

The deceitfulness of riches, choke the word. —xiii. 22.

What harm to raise a fortune fair,
What harm a fortune fair to' increase?
The lust of gold, the thorns of care
Choke every seed of righteousness:

273

And when the fiend is enter'd in,
We cloke our covetous desire,
We justify our gainful sin,
Till Satan pays his slaves their hire.

339. [Riches with unsuspected art]

Riches with unsuspected art
Allure, and while they smile, betray,
Put out the eyes, harden the heart,
Steal all our real goods away,
Like Joab false, the sword conceal,
And kiss, and smile us into hell.

With anger, pride, and worldly love
The poor possessor's heart they fill,
They choke his hope of joys above,
The life of piety they kill,
His time, and thoughts and soul engross,
And make him hate the Saviour's cross.

Yet still the worldly fool desires,
And eagerly pursues his bane,
Till God a strict account requires,
Till stripp'd of all his fatal gain,
His soul into the pit descends;
And there the dire delusion ends.

340. [Only good proceeds from God]

His enemy . . . sowed tares. —xiii. 25.

Only good proceeds from God,
Evil from His enemy:
Pride, the seed of sins he sow'd,
All the sins we feel and see,
Cursed the field which God did bless,
Turn'd it to this wilderness!

274

341. [Rising with Thy chosen race]

Then appeared the tares also. —xiii. 26.

Rising with Thy chosen race
Token of the harvest near,
Lo, the' abusers of Thy grace,
Lo, the Gnostic tares appear
Yet with them we still grow on,
Mindful of Thy promise past,
Lord, we let the tares alone;
Thou shalt root them out at last.

342. [His blind exterminating zeal]

Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? —xiii. 28.

His blind exterminating zeal
The eager proselyte employs,
Sends all the tares at once to hell,
Nor sees that he the wheat destroys;
Till meeken'd by the light Divine
He his own hasty spirit perceives,
No more prevents his Lord's design,
But all to that great day he leaves.

343. [A grain of grace may we not see]

The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain, &c. —xiii. 31.

A grain of grace may we not see
This moment, and the next a tree?
Or must we patiently attend
To find the precious seed ascend?
Our Lord declares it must be so;
And striking deep our root, we grow,
And lower sink, and higher rise,
Till Christ transplant us to the skies.

344. [The principle of grace Divine]

The principle of grace Divine
Sown in this earthly heart of mine,
Is glorious joy, and heavenly peace,
And true implanted righteousness.
Though scarce perceptible the grain
It doth the tree of life contain,

275

The purity of saints above,
And all the powers of perfect love.

345. [That heavenly principle within]

The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven. —xiii. 33.

That heavenly principle within,
Doth it at once its power exert,
At once root out the seed of sin,
And spread perfection through the heart?
No; but a gradual life it sends,
Diffusive through the faithful soul,
To actions, words, and thoughts extends,
And slowly sanctifies the whole.

346. [Yes we joyfully confess]

He that soweth the good seed is the Son of Man. —xiii. 37.

Yes we joyfully confess,
Thou the Son of God and man
Giv'st the principle of grace,
Sow'st in all that heavenly grain,
Saints through Thy engrafted word
Rise, the planting of the Lord.

Till the grain becomes a tree
Striking deep the root below
Through Thy Spirit's energy,
Imperceptibly they grow;
Late to full perfection rise,
Sinking, till they reach the skies.

347. [Lord, we long to see Thy glory]

Then shall the righteous shine forth as, &c. —xiii. 43.

Lord, we long to see Thy glory
Made eternally our own,
Long with all Thy saints to' adore Thee,
Bright as the meridian sun:
Come, Redeemer,
Rap us to Thy Father's throne!

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In Thy Father's presence own us
Faithful witnesses of Thine,
Put Thy majesty upon us,
Let us in Thy lustre shine,
Bear Thine image
All immortal, all Divine.

348. [Have I not found that pearl Divine]

He . . . sold all that he had, and bought it. —xiii. 46.

Have I not found that pearl Divine,
That treasure in the field?
Yet still it is not surely mine,
My pardon is not seal'd:
The ascertaining terms I know,
And would with joy approve,
Sell all; myself, my life forego,
To buy Thy perfect love.

349. [A great net the gospel is]

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net. —xiii. 47.

A great net the gospel is,
Which cast into the sea
Sinners draws out of the' abyss
Of sin and misery.
Good and bad promiscuous hear,
The sacraments alike partake,
Till that final day appear,
And Christ the difference make.

Holy and unholy now
The outward church compose,
But our Lord the heavens shall bow,
And part His friends and foes:
Clothed with boundless power Divine,
We know Thou wilt to judgment come,
Severally to each assign
His just, eternal doom.

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350. [All these sacred words I read]

Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood, &c. —xiii. 51.

All these sacred words I read,
But have I understood,
Has my heart received indeed
The precious truths of God?
Let me by my actions say
That Christ I savingly have known,
Still believe, confess, obey,
And love my Lord alone.

351. [Every gospel-scribe should be]

Every scribe which is instructed unto the, &c. —xiii. 52.

Every gospel-scribe should be
With sacred knowledge stored,
Witnessing the mystery,
The power of Jesus' word,
Well instructed from above
The salutiferous grace to' impart,
Taught of God to teach His love,
His kingdom in the heart.

If in him it richly dwells
He doth the word dispense,
Speaks as God's own oracles,
And draws his treasures thence;
Old and new he doth produce,
The talents, gifts, on him bestow'd,
Spends them for the Master's use
And for the church of God.

Furnish'd thus, O Lord, by Thee,
I would employ Thy grace,
Serve Thy sacred family,
And feed the faithful race,

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Make Thy great salvation known,
Conduct them to a perfect man,
Nourish'd by Thy word alone,
Till meet with Thee to reign.

352. [Let the world my Lord despise]

They were offended in Him. —xiii. 57.

Let the world my Lord despise,
Let the world offended be,
Jesus, I Thy meanness prize,
Honour Thy humility;
Thee, a Man of low estate
Sole eternal God I own,
For Thy glorious kingdom wait,
Wait to share Thy heavenly throne.

353. [Only unbelief withstands]

He did not many mighty works there, &c. —xiii. 58.

Only unbelief withstands,
Binds the gracious Saviour's hands:
Saviour, let Thy power remove
The sole hindrance of Thy love:
Take our unbelief away,
Then Thy mercy's arm display,
Then repeat Thy wonders past,
Or give us the best wine at last.

CHAPTER XIV.

354. [Grant me that bold simplicity]

It is not lawful for thee to have her. —xiv. 4.

Grant me that bold simplicity
Sin in the greatest to reprove,
(“Ye must obey my God's decree,
Ye must the cursed thing remove,”)
And give me, if my life it cost,
To' exult in life for Jesus lost.

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355. [Whom the only fear of men]

When he would have put him to death, he, &c. —xiv. 5.

Whom the only fear of men
Feebly doth from sin restrain,
Soon the slender fence he breaks,
Finds the' occasion which he seeks;
Urged by pride, and stung by lust,
Murders whom he counted just,
Gratifies the' adulteress lewd,
Pays her with a martyr's blood.

356. [The ball, the feast, the flowing bowl]

When Herod's birthday was kept, the, &c. —xiv. 6.

The ball, the feast, the flowing bowl,
Do they not still ensnare the soul,
The passions fatally incite,
Poison the heart with vain delight,
The unsuspicious guests draw in,
Till partners of another's sin,
They quite throw off remorse and shame,
And mangle every virtuous name.

357. [May we not to Jesus go]

His disciples came, and took up the body, &c. —xiv. 12.

May we not to Jesus go,
Sore oppress'd with sin and pain,
Still to Him our trouble show,
Calmly at His feet complain,
Open our afflicted mind,
Tell Him of our ravish'd friends,
Comfort in His favour find,
Find a life that never ends!

358. [The servant by his Master led]

When Jesus heard of it, He departed thence. —xiv. 13.

The servant by his Master led
Knows when to stand and when recede,
Or to the rage of man gives place,
Or turns against the storm his face.

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359. [His pity for the body's pain]

Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, &c. —xiv. 14.

His pity for the body's pain
Its various maladies removes,
But O the sin-sick soul of man
With greater tenderness He loves:
The love which brought Him from the sky
Employs Him in our service still,
Who saves us at the point to die;
And died Himself our souls to heal.

360. [The rest we in the desert seek]

The rest we in the desert seek
We must for hopeless souls forego,
Go forth to tend the poor and weak,
And melt distress'd at human woe:
Our Master served the' afflicted crowd,
And bids us His example trace
In labouring for the people's good,
In ministering the gospel grace.

361. [A soul that hungers for the word]

The time is now past; send the multitude away. —xiv. 15.

A soul that hungers for the word,
Forgetful of the body's wants,
Stays in the presence of his Lord,
And follows Jesus till he faints,
And then the Bread of life receives,
And fill'd with Christ he truly lives.

362. [Not from a stock of ours but Thine]

Give ye them to eat. —xiv. 16.

Not from a stock of ours but Thine
Jesus, Thy flock we feed,
Thy unexhausted grace Divine
Supplies their every need:

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But if we trust Thy providence,
Thy power and will to save,
We have the treasure to dispense,
And shall for ever have.

363. [Jesus, if we aright confess]

They say unto Him, We have here but, &c. —xiv. 17.

Jesus, if we aright confess
Our heartfelt poverty,
We own the conscious want of grace
Itself a gift from Thee:
And who our poverty retain,
More gifts we shall receive,
Multiplied grace and blessings gain,
And all a God can give.

364. [Whatever knowledge from his Lord]

Whatever knowledge from his Lord,
Or talents he receives,
Poor is the preacher of the word,
And poor he always lives:
For fresh supplies of needful grace
His wants incessant call,
A sinner still, he nothing has,
And yet possesses all.

365. [Our scanty stock as soon as known]

He said, Bring them hither to Me. —xiv. 18.

Our scanty stock as soon as known
Our insufficiency,
For feeding famish'd souls we own,
And bring it, Lord, to Thee:
Our want received into Thy hand
Shall rich abundance prove,
Answer the multitude's demand,
And fill them with Thy love.

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366. [Jesus, the needy sinner's Friend]

He commanded the multitude to sit down on, &c. —xiv. 19.

Jesus, the needy sinner's Friend,
Command the crowd to sit,
Who hungry still on Thee attend,
And nothing have to eat:
They hear the word Thy lips have said,
Low at Thy feet they bow:
Distribute now the heavenly Bread,
And feed their spirits now.

367. [O'erwhelm'd with blessings from above]

Looking up to heaven, He blessed, &c. —xiv. 19.

O'erwhelm'd with blessings from above,
Father, before we taste
These freshest tokens of Thy love,
We thank Thee for the past:
Our eyes and hearts to heaven we lift,
And taught by Jesus, own
That every grace and every gift
Descends from Thee alone.

368. [The gospel by our Saviour bless'd]

The gospel by our Saviour bless'd
Doth efficacious prove,
The loaves a thousand-fold increased
Communicate His love:
We banquet on the heavenly Bread,
When Christ Himself imparts
By ministerial hands convey'd
To all believing hearts.

369. [The loaves by distribution grow]

They did all eat, and were filled: and they, &c. —xiv. 20.

The loaves by distribution grow
When we His guests relieve;
The more we on His poor bestow
The more we have to give.

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370. [Who waits for the applause of man]

Straightway Jesus constrained His disciples, &c. —xiv. 22.

Who waits for the applause of man
He loses his reward from God:
Thy prosper'd servants, Lord, constrain
To fly when we have fed the crowd;
Drive us away reluctant, hide
Our souls from all the baits of pride.

371. [Sequester'd from the noisy crowd]

He went up into a mountain apart to pray. —xiv. 23.

Sequester'd from the noisy crowd,
Fain would I pray apart,
Confess my sins and wants to God,
And pour out all my heart:
Now let me leave the world beneath,
Now to the mount repair,
Sink at the Saviour's feet, and breathe
My latest breath in prayer.

372. [Jesus, the church redeem'd by Thee]

The ship was now in the midst of the sea, &c. —xiv. 24.

Jesus, the church redeem'd by Thee,
A ship in a tempestuous sea,
Encompass'd with the world it lies,
While endless storms and troubles rise:
We tremble, by the billows toss'd,
And fear to be for ever lost.

Yet, when in faith the storm we bear,
The persecuting wind is fair,
When most it fills our hearts with dread,
It brings the Saviour to our aid,
It drives us swifter to His breast,
Our haven of eternal rest.

373. [Midst furious winds and raging seas]

In the fourth watch of the night Jesus went, &c. —xiv. 25.

Midst furious winds and raging seas
Will Jesus leave us in distress?

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He sees us seemingly forsook
To Him through thickest darkness look,
And by the favour of this night
He comes, and brings the saving light.

Left in the persecutor's power,
With Satan ready to devour,
Left at our last extremity
When death in all its forms we see,
When most the yawning gulf we fear,
Our faith perceives salvation near.

Behold Him walking on the wave,
Who comes our sinking souls to save!
When many a dreary hour is pass'd,
The' Omnipotent appears at last,
The Lord of heaven and earth, and sea,
My Saviour comes to rescue me.

374. [The proud mistake a dream for grace]

They were troubled, saying, It is a spirit, &c. —xiv. 26.

The proud mistake a dream for grace,
A phantom for true godliness;
The humble see their Lord appear,
And start, as from illusion near,
Till Christ, in answer to their cry
Assures their fluttering hearts, 'Tis I!

375. [Cheer'd by His word and Spirit's light]

Straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, &c. —xiv. 27.

Cheer'd by His word and Spirit's light,
We stand recover'd of our fright,
We know Him present by His word,
And glad cry out, It is the Lord,
Whose Spirit all His church inspires,
And gives the faith which He requires.

My Saviour if indeed Thou art,
Speak, Jesus, to this troubled heart,

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Tell me, 'Tis I, that died for thee;
Then the rough wind and boisterous sea,
As servants of Thy gracious power,
Shall bear me to the' eternal shore.

376. [Tell me “'Tis I—that died for thee,”]

It is I; be not afraid. —xiv. 27.

Tell me “'Tis I—that died for thee,”
And I shall fear no more,
Till the rough wind and boisterous sea
Hurry me to the shore.

377. [Saviour, Thou hast bid me come]

He said, Come. —xiv. 29.

Saviour, Thou hast bid me come,
But bid me come, again,
Till I reach my heavenly home
My sinking soul sustain:
Walking on at Thy command
O'er danger's most tempestuous sea,
Save me by Thine outstretch'd hand,
And save me up to Thee.

378. [O may I cry for help to Thee]

When he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, &c. —xiv. 30.

O may I cry for help to Thee
The moment I begin
To sink into the troubled sea,
Or yield to my own sin!
I know, in answer to my prayer,
Thou wouldst extend Thine hand,
My soul above the billows bear
To the celestial land.

379. [Still in every trial new]

Beginning to sink, he cried . . . Lord, save me. —xiv. 30.

Still in every trial new
My want of grace I feel,
Pray for fresh supplies to do
And suffer all Thy will:

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Need of Thy supporting word,
Continual need of prayer I have;
Save me now, most mighty Lord,
And every moment save.

380. [Saviour, when the storm is high]

Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught, &c. —xiv. 31.

Saviour, when the storm is high
And madding passions press,
More on them I fix mine eye,
Than on the power of grace;
Justly then Thou might'st the power
Withhold from this weak infidel,
Leave me in the dangerous hour,
And bid me sink to hell.

But Thou dost send forth the light
And comfort of Thy word,
Strengthen by Thy Spirit's might,
And bid me own my Lord:
In my nature's helplessness
The greatness of Thy strength I prove,
Lifted up with large increase
Of humble faith and love.

381. [Enter Lord this troubled heart]

When they were come into the ship, the, &c. —xiv. 32, 33.

Enter Lord this troubled heart,
And passion's storms shall cease,
Sin and unbelief depart,
And all my soul be peace:
Then I to Thy glory live,
And Thee the Son of God adore,
Till this shatter'd bark arrive
At that celestial shore.

382. [The men of a place Where Jesus hath been]

When the men of that place had knowledge, &c. —xiv. 35.

The men of a place Where Jesus hath been,
Acknowledge His grace Which saves them from sin,

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To others discover The power of His word,
And all the land over They publish their Lord.

The cure we have found Through faith in His name,
The country around We gladly proclaim,
The worst, if he pleases, To Christ may draw near,
Who heals our diseases Who pardons us here.

To those that believe Salvation is sure:
Come all and receive Your spiritual cure:
Ye now may approach Him, And calling Him Lord,
The moment ye touch Him Your souls are restored.

383. [Lord, I believe Thy power the same]

As many as touched were made perfectly whole. —xiv. 36.

Lord, I believe Thy power the same,
The same Thy truth and grace endure,
And in Thy blessed hands I am,
And trust Thee for a perfect cure:
Come, Saviour, come, and make me whole,
Who only canst my sins remove,
To perfect health restore my soul,
To perfect holiness and love.

CHAPTER XV.

384. [If only with our lips we pray]

This people draweth nigh unto Me with their, &c. —xv. 8.

If only with our lips we pray,
And want the grace within,
Our pious pains we cast away,
Our prayer is turn'd to sin:
Religion pure and undefiled
Unites the heart to God,
A God in Jesus reconciled,
Who bought us with His blood.

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The power of vital piety
To me, O God, impart,
So shall I gladly render Thee
The worship of the heart:
And when to Thee alone I cleave
With smiles Thou wilt approve
And kindly through Thy Son receive
The homage of my love.

385. [Jesus the formal teachers leaves]

He called the multitude, and said unto them, &c. —xv. 10.

Jesus the formal teachers leaves,
And to the multitude applies,
Them He instructs and undeceives,
And makes unto salvation wise:
And following our celestial Guide
His will we to the people show,
Set the false piety aside,
And teach their simpler hearts the true.

386. [The truth a Pharisee offends]

Knowest Thou that the Pharisees were offended, &c. —xv. 12.

The truth a Pharisee offends
Too proud instruction to receive:
He never his own faults amends,
Or bears that others should believe:
Yet will we still the truth declare
Which angry formalists reject;
Thus to offend we must not spare
But slight the whole self-righteous sect.

387. [Whate'er is not of God]

Every plant which My heavenly Father hath, &c. —xv. 13.

Whate'er is not of God
Is labour lost and vain:
The works of men, though men applaud,
They cannot long remain:

289

Exulting in their power,
Who seem to reach the sky
Shall bloom and wither in an hour,
With all their works shall die.

The adversary's seed
As thorns and briers abound,
The vineyard of our Lord o'erspread,
And clog the sacred ground.
But Jesus shall at last
Reveal His righteous ire,
And root up Satan's plants, and cast
Them all into the fire.

Who their own good declare,
Their height of grace possess,
May flourish for a season fair
As trees of righteousness;
But God did never plant,
Nor will for His approve
Men that the children's spirit want,
The meek and humble love.

388. [Let him alone, the blindfold guide]

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. —xv. 14.

Let him alone, the blindfold guide,
Stir not the hornet's nest,
Or rashly tempt the furious pride
Of a revengeful priest:
His ignorance you cannot heal,
His envious wrath avert,
Or help the stubbornness of will,
The blindness of his heart.

389. [Who dares religion's power deny]

If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall, &c. —xv. 14.

Who dares religion's power deny,
While for the forms he pleads,

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The men who on his word rely
To sure destruction leads:
The guide who will not Jesus know,
Is Satan's messenger,
Damns his own soul to endless woe,
And all the souls that hear.

390. [What numbers call the Saviour Lord]

Are ye also yet without understanding? —xv. 16.

What numbers call the Saviour Lord,
Spiritual guides in their own eyes.
Who slight His sanctifying word,
Nor see their holy calling's prize!
The perfect love they cannot gain,
“With sin's remains they cannot part,”
The' inherent righteousness attain,
The real purity of heart.

391. [Man, fallen man conceals within]

Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, &c. —xv. 19.

Man, fallen man conceals within
The principles of every sin;
But virtuous seed of every kind
We in the heart of Jesus find:
Jesus my evil heart remove,
Cleansed by Thy own imparted love;
And to preserve my purity,
Reside with all Thy grace in me.

392. [Lord, on Thy promise I rely]

These are the things which defile a man. —xv. 20.

Lord, on Thy promise I rely,
From all my filth to purify,
To pour Thy Spirit into my heart,
And make mine unbelief depart:
Thy blood which cleanses from all sin
Shall wash mine inmost nature clean,

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Spiritualize my spotless mind,
Nor leave one evil thought behind.

393. [The bowels of that Shepherd good]

Jesus went thence, and departed into the, &c. —xv. 21.

The bowels of that Shepherd good
Who purchased Israel with His blood
What tongue can fully tell?
He leaves the ninety-nine behind,
One single straggling sheep to find,
One tortured soul to heal.

394. [The image of a sinner see]

A woman of Canaan came out of the same, &c. —xv. 22.

The image of a sinner see,
Who pierced with his own misery
Doth from his home depart,
The' occasions of his sin forsakes,
Jesus his only refuge makes,
And prays with all his heart.

A sinner's penitential prayer
Doth humbly short his wants declare,
With faith in David's Son:
Nothing prescribes to God most high,
But mercy still persists to cry,
And trusts in that alone.

395. [If Jesus answers not a word]

But He answered her not a word. And His, &c. —xv. 23.

If Jesus answers not a word,
He urges still his silent Lord,
He will not let Him rest;
Resolved the Master to pursue,
He wearies out the servants too,
To second his request.

396. [Patient the rough repulse he bears]

He answered and said, I am not sent but, &c. —xv. 24, 25.

Patient the rough repulse he bears
Instant in unsuccessful prayers,
With deep humility,

292

With faith omnipotently great,
He groans at his Redeemer's feet,
“Extend Thy help to me.”

397. [Help me, Lord, on whom alone]

Lord, help me. —xv. 25.

Help me, Lord, on whom alone
Succour is for sinners laid,
Help me for Thine aid to groan,
Help me to accept Thine aid;
Still assist me by Thy grace
Helpless at Thy feet to lie,
Well to close my various race,
Well to suffer, and to die.

398. [I here beneath Thy feet confess]

He answered and said, It is not meet, &c. —xv. 26.

I here beneath Thy feet confess
Mine universal sinfulness;
Thy harshest word is true,
Nothing as of desert I claim,
A dog, and not a child I am,
And hell is all my due.

Forgiveness is the children's bread,
And let them first with grace be fed
With full felicity,
With true celestial bread supplied:
And when they all are satisfied
Enough remains for me.

399. [Jesus, beneath the sense I groan]

Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs. —xv. 27.

Jesus, beneath the sense I groan
Of my unworthiness,
Yet trust, the' unworthiness I own
Shall never bar Thy grace:
The children first be fed by Thee:
The dogs with crumbs supply:

293

Then if no more is left for me,
Let me through hunger die.

400. [That mighty faith on me bestow]

O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee, &c. —xv. 28.

That mighty faith on me bestow
Which cannot ask in vain,
Which holds, and will not let Thee go,
Till I my suit obtain;
Till Thou into my soul inspire
The perfect love unknown,
And tell mine infinite desire,
“Whate'er thou wilt, be done!”

401. [But how much greater, O my God]

But how much greater, O my God,
Thy mercy which the faith bestow'd
On all who now believe,
By violent importunity
To conquer, and extort from Thee
Whate'er Thou hast to give!

402. [See with what vehement eagerness]

Great multitudes came unto Him, having, &c. —xv. 30.

See with what vehement eagerness
What faith and hope and zeal
Distemper'd crowds to Jesus press
Who doth their bodies heal!
And shall not languid souls draw near,
To Christ for help apply,
Sentenced, unless He heal them here,
An endless death to die.

More desperately diseased than those
Who first embraced Thy feet,
Saviour, my evils I expose,
And for Thy grace entreat;

294

Spiritual health I seek from Thee
With unremitting strife,
With strongest importunity
I ask eternal life.

Feet on my helpless soul bestow
To walk in all Thy ways,
The eyes of faith my Lord to know
A tongue to sound Thy praise;
Thy Spirit's powerful skill exert,
My sicknesses remove,
And cure the evil of my heart
With balm of perfect love.

403. [Jesus, display Thy sovereign skill]

And cast them down at Jesus' feet; and He, &c. —xv. 30.

Jesus, display Thy sovereign skill,
Thine ancient miracles repeat:
Thou never canst refuse to heal
A gasping sinner at Thy feet:
Expiring at Thy feet I lie:
O let Thy yearning bowels move,
Forgive, or in my sins I die,
Restore me by Thy bleeding love.

404. [Canst Thou then without compassion]

I have compassion on the multitude. —xv. 32.

Canst Thou then without compassion
Me Thy faint disciple see,
Hungering after Thy salvation,
Perishing for want of Thee?
Dying, till the grace is given,
Only for Thy life I pine:
Feed me, Lord, with bread from heaven,
Fill my soul with love Divine.

295

405. [The world is one great wilderness]

Whence should we have so much bread, &c. —xv. 33.

The world is one great wilderness,
Which nothing doth contain
To fill, in his extreme distress,
The hungry soul of man:
Yet shall we not through hunger die,
If in His steps we tread,
Who gives Himself to satisfy
Our souls with living bread.

406. [God on man the grace bestows]

How many loaves have ye? And they said, &c. —xv. 34.

God on man the grace bestows
His own indigence to see:
Then the humbled sinner knows,
Owns his heart-felt poverty:
Then he doth himself abase,
Nothing in his own esteem,
Prizes the Redeemer's grace,
Seeks his whole of good in Him.

407. [Sinners form'd out of the ground]

He commanded the multitude to sit down, &c. —xv. 35.

Sinners form'd out of the ground,
Mindful of their low estate,
Should with lowliness profound
For the heavenly blessing wait;
Stooping to their Lord's commands,
Humbled in the dust receive
Food out of their Saviour's hands,
Food which none but God can give.

408. [Every gospel-minister]

He . . . brake, and gave to His disciples, and, &c. xv. 36.

Every gospel-minister
All his gifts from Christ receives,
Nothing have they to confer
But what first to them He gives:

296

Christ it is who breaks the bread,
Gives the word by faith applied:
Then the multitude is fed,
Then our souls are satisfied.

409. [Whom the Lord vouchsafes to feed]

They did all eat, and were filled. —xv. 37.

Whom the Lord vouchsafes to feed,
They alone are truly fill'd,
Banquet on immortal Bread,
Pardon'd, sanctified, and seal'd:
Yet His gifts our want increase,
Poorer for His grace we prove,
Till we all His joy possess,
Feast on all His heavenly love.

410. [Who on Providence depend]

They that did eat were four thousand men, &c. —xv. 38.

Who on Providence depend,
Unconcern'd for numbers I
All my stock for Jesus spend,
All His followers' wants supply:
Can a stock exhausted be,
Still replenish'd from above?
Jesus is my Treasury,
Truth Divine, and Power, and Love.

411. [Can a servant of the Lord]

Can a servant of the Lord
Dread his family's increase?
Trusting in the Saviour's word,
Daily miracles he sees,
Children, blessings multiplied,
Mouths and meat together given:
Jesus doth for all provide,
All maintains with bread from heaven.

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412. [An instrument of Jesus' grace]

He sent away the multitude, and took ship, &c. —xv. 39.

An instrument of Jesus' grace,
Who some applauded work hath done,
Withdraws to' escape the people's praise,
And hides him in a coast unknown:
Yet there he imitates his Lord,
Yet there the' esteem of man he flies,
And works, expecting no reward,
Till caught to Jesus in the skies.

CHAPTER XVI.

413. [Who fiercely with each other fight]

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, &c. —xvi. 1.

Who fiercely with each other fight,
Against the truth agree,
The formal and profane unite,
Lord, in opposing Thee:
Contending sects their feuds suspend,
Thy people to suppress,
And never shall their battles end
With real godliness.

414. [Let us, Lord, with humblest care]

Take heed and beware of the leaven of the, &c. —xvi. 6.

Let us, Lord, with humblest care
Observe the caution given,
Start from shows and seemings fair,
(That Pharisaic leaven,)
Self-respects, and human praise,
And human righteousness disown,
Glory in the God of grace,
And trust in Thee alone.

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415. [Of those who learned and austere]

Of those who learned and austere,
Devout and spiritual appear,
As the chief guides to heaven,
Few keep themselves entirely free
From envy, pride, hypocrisy,
The Pharisaic leaven.

But while we Pharisees condemn
We rush into a worse extreme,
Ourselves for nothing sell,
With Sadducees our shame declare,
Live like unthinking brutes, and care
For neither heaven nor hell.

Yet guarded by Thy word alone,
Jesus the double snare we shun,
We seek the joys above,
With humble faith we follow Thee
With undisguised simplicity,
And undissembled love.

416. [Praise He bestows on faith alone]

Jesus . . . said unto them, O ye of little faith, —xvi. 8.

Praise He bestows on faith alone,
And only blames its littleness,
To teach us all depends on one,
The fruits, the works, the life of grace,
Doth all from faith alone arise,
And nothing its defects supplies.

Author of faith, the pregnant grace
In measure large on me confer,
Proud reason then shall know its place,
Nor e'er usurp the sacred chair,
But meekly to Thy word submit,
And lie subservient at Thy feet.

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417. [A loose morality proceeds]

Then understood they how that He bade them, &c. —xvi. 12.

A loose morality proceeds
Unseen, from the corrupted heart,
Insensibly, as leaven spreads,
By slow degrees, through every part,
Till the whole church depraved we see
With pride, or infidelity.

Still the two clashing sects appear,
Who Jesus and His truth oppose.
The formal Pharisees severe,
Humility's eternal foes,
Exact in every outward rite;
The tombs are beautifully white.

With specious shows, and state, and ease,
They court, and keep the crowd in awe,
But hate the power of godliness,
The Christian life, the Spirit's law,
The faith, the wisdom from above,
The pure morality of love.

Behold the adverse sect arise,
The careless Sadducees profane!
Religions all alike they prize,
Content the things of earth to gain;
No pleasures they but bestial know,
And seek their only heaven below.

United in a common cause
Prelates and infidels admire!
But while to fight against the cross,
All in the holy league conspire,
Atheists and formalists proclaim
The world in every age the same.

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418. [Not honours, power, or pleasures vain]

Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona. —xvi. 17.

Not honours, power, or pleasures vain,
Not all the wealth on earth he sees,
Compose the happiness of man,
Or give the soul a taste of peace:
But soon as Jesus Christ we know,
The everlasting life we live,
And Him from whom all blessings flow,
With heaven into our hearts receive.

Father, to me the faith impart
Which makes and seals the blessing mine,
Discover to my longing heart
Thy Son in majesty Divine,
That knowing Him, my soul may prove
The rapturous sense of sin forgiven,
And through the bliss of perfect love
Pass to the endless bliss of heaven.

419. [We cannot know the' eternal Son]

Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, &c. —xvi. 17.

We cannot know the' eternal Son
By all our reasoning powers,
Till God vouchsafes to make Him known,
And shows that Christ is ours:
The Father must the Son reveal
As bleeding on the tree,
And give my sprinkled heart to feel,
My God—He dies for me!

If now I know the Crucified,
Thy Spirit still bestow,
So shall I in the faith abide,
And in the knowledge grow:

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And when Thou fill'st the measure up,
Father, my soul remove,
And swallow up my faith and hope
In beatific love.

420. [Not on a frail sinful creature]

Upon this Rock I will build My church. —xvi. 18.

Not on a frail sinful creature
Dost Thou build Thy church below:
Thee, the Rock, divinely greater,
Basis of our faith we know!
Rooted in Thy love and grounded
Still Thy people shall prevail,
Shout to see their foes confounded,
Triumph o'er the gates of hell.

421. [The rich and great in every age]

He must . . . suffer many things of the elders, &c. —xvi. 21.

The rich and great in every age
Conspire to persecute their God,
Ambitious priests against Him rage,
And scribes, of empty learning proud,
They grieve Him by His members' pain,
And scourge, and crucify again.

422. [Whate'er we can of Jesus know]

Whate'er we can of Jesus know,
His followers, here comprised we see,
His life of pain and grief below,
His bleeding passion on the tree,
His sacrifice our souls to save,
His rise and triumph o'er the grave.

We now who Jesus' Spirit breathe
The ills of life with patience bear,
With joy receive the stroke of death,
With faith expect His rise to share,

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His victory o'er the gaping tomb,
And live His endless life to come.

423. [So late enlighten'd from above]

He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee, &c. —xvi. 23.

So late enlighten'd from above,
Bless'd with the faith that works by love,
He falls, our hearts to show.
Falls into reason's dark abyss,
Offensive to his Lord he is
As the infernal foe.

In Peter's faith and fall I see
The difference 'twixt myself and me
When fortified by grace,
Or suddenly, alas, bereft
Of all support Divine, and left
To my own helplessness.

Ah give me, Lord, to use aright
The gracious strength, the heavenly light,
Which will so soon depart
Unless with meek humility
I every moment hang on Thee
The Keeper of my heart.

424. [Whoe'er the cross of Christ oppose]

Whoe'er the cross of Christ oppose
He justly numbers with His foes;
And we should do the same:
Who turns us from the narrow road,
The Saviour's death, the ways of God,
Is worthy Satan's name.

False friendship in its last excess
With only carnal tenderness
Can our weak hearts inspire:

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And such is contrary to Thee,
Whose love enjoins that daily we
Should on Thy cross expire.

425. [To suffer, and abstain]

If any man will come after Me, let him deny, &c. —xvi. 24.

To suffer, and abstain
My calling here I see,
Renounce myself, my Lord to gain,
And die, to live with Thee:
With Thee I daily die,
Thy welcome burden bear,
And follow after to the sky,
And claim a kingdom there.

The law which Jesus gives
Who will not yet obey,
A burden to himself he lives,
Nor finds the narrow way:
But who himself denies,
And keeps the patient word,
Charged with the cross he runs, he flies,
To meet his heavenly Lord.

426. [If for a world a soul be lost]

What is a man profited, if he shall gain the, &c. —xvi. 26.

If for a world a soul be lost,
Who can the loss supply!
More than a thousand worlds it cost
One precious soul to buy.

427. [O might we see our Saviour shine]

The Son of Man shall come in the glory of, &c. —xvi. 27.

O might we see our Saviour shine
With all the attributes Divine,
Descending with His angel-train
In everlasting pomp to reign!
Jehovah's co-eternal Son,
Appear triumphant on Thy throne,

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And show the bride Thy heavenly face,
And plunge us in the glorious blaze!

428. [Eternal Judge of quick and dead]

Then He shall reward every man according, &c. —xvi. 27.

Eternal Judge of quick and dead,
On me the salutary dread
Of Thy great day bestow,
That now I may obedient be,
Take up my cross, and follow Thee
And die to all below.

These are the works Thou dost require;
Who to that heavenly bliss aspire
Must live in these employ'd:
For only such the prize shall gain,
Meet the descending Son of Man,
And see the face of God.

CHAPTER XVII.

429. [Master of His own gifts, He takes]

Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John, &c. —xvii. 1.

Master of His own gifts, He takes
His chosen up the rapturous hill,
A difference in His servants makes,
Exalts, and favours whom He will,
That none may claim his colleagues' place,
Or envy their superior grace.

His glory He on Tabor shows
To none but the distinguish'd few,
Design'd his agonizing throes
On gloomy Olivet to view,
To' adore Him in His power and pain,
Eternal God, and mortal man.

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430. [To all the souls He owns for His]

And was transfigured before them: and, &c. —xvii. 2.

To all the souls He owns for His
Our Master graciously imparts
An antepast of heavenly bliss,
A glimpse of glory in our hearts:
And thus prepared for grief and loss,
We die with Jesus on the cross.

431. [Moses and the prophets speak]

Behold, there appeared unto them Moses, &c. —xvii. 3.

Moses and the prophets speak
And witness to our Lord,
Him and only Him we seek
Throughout the sacred word:
When we find the Saviour there,
The figures and predictions shine,
Seen with Christ, they all declare
The Majesty Divine.

432. [Good for us, Thy joy to share]

It is good for us to be here. —xvii. 4.

Good for us, Thy joy to share,
And Tabor's glory see,
Better still, Thy cross to bear,
And bleed on Calvary:
Best of all, when nature dies
Echoing back Thy final groan:
Then to Zion's heights we rise,
And hail Thee on Thy throne!

433. [O that all mankind might hear Him]

Hear ye Him. —xvii. 5.

O that all mankind might hear Him,
Teacher, Friend of all mankind,
Every ransom'd soul revere Him,
In His blood redemption find!
Sinners, know your present Saviour,
Listen to His love's advice,

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Find in Him the Father's favour,
Find the way to paradise.

434. [Jesus, extend Thine hand of grace]

Jesus came and touched them, and said, &c. —xvii. 7.

Jesus, extend Thine hand of grace
And let me feel Thee near;
Thy only touch my soul can raise,
Can banish all my fear:
Thy only touch shall make me clean,
My nature purify,
Expel the unbelieving sin,
And raise me to the sky.

435. [Confounded by Thy glory near]

Confounded by Thy glory near,
Saviour, to dissipate my fear,
Apply Thine outstretch'd hand,
Bid this poor abject soul arise,
Behold my Lord before mine eyes,
And in Thy presence stand.

O that I none beside might see,
Left by Thy saints alone with Thee!
I ask no other grace;
Visions and ecstasies forego,
My whole delight Thy love to know,
And see Thy smiling face.

Put forth the virtue of Thy love,
Which only can my guilt remove,
My conscience purify;
Expel the unbelieving sin,
Make all my heart and nature clean,
And lift me to the sky.

436. [A time there is to live alone]

Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision, &c. —xvii. 9.

A time there is to live alone,
A time to' appear in open day,

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A time to make the vision known,
And all the heavenly truth display:
But when to speak and when forbear,
Who wait the motions of our Lord,
Taught by His providence we are,
Led by His Spirit, and His word.

437. [Not to surprise our Lord intends]

Elias truly shall first come, and restore all, &c. —xvii. 11.

Not to surprise our Lord intends,
But waken those to whom He sends,
And every gospel-harbinger
Should sinners for His grace prepare:
Repent, as charged by Him they say,
Repent, and find the living Way,
Lay down your arms, to Christ submit,
And gasp for mercy at His feet.

438. [In every age, the Saviour's grace]

Elias is come already. —xvii. 12.

In every age, the Saviour's grace
Doth preachers of repentance raise,
Some zealous saint the law restores,
Confounds the idol-worshippers,
Compels the great themselves to hear,
Thunders in every thoughtless ear,
Alarms us by a serious call,
And shows the perfect way to all.

439. [The portion this, the lot appears]

But have done unto him whatsoever they, &c. —xvii. 12.

The portion this, the lot appears
Of Christ, and all His ministers,
Abandon'd to the cruel will
Of those who can the body kill:
Yet will we speak in Jesus' name,
Forerunners, followers of our God
Who seal'd His record with His blood.

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440. [See the murderer's rage and power]

There came to Him a certain man, &c. —xvii. 14, 15.

See the murderer's rage and power
O'er feeble sinful man!
He would all our kind devour,
If Christ did not restrain:
Still himself the fiend abhorr'd,
In causes natural conceals,
Till our near-approaching Lord
The latent foe reveals.

Then the slaves of Satan know
Their souls possess'd by him,
Feel diversity of woe,
And every dire extreme:
Then by fire and water tried,
His utmost tyranny they bear,
Cast into the flames of pride,
And plunged in deep despair.

Willing to be rescued now,
To Jesus they draw nigh,
Tortured in His presence bow,
And meet His pitying eye;
Now their misery they confess,
With humble confidence display
All their sinful helplessness,
And for His mercy pray.

441. [The Saviour oft His help denies]

I brought him to Thy disciples, and they, &c. —xvii. 16.

The Saviour oft His help denies,
Nor gives His ministers success,
That small and vile in their own eyes
They may their want of faith confess,

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Of power and good the Fountain own,
And all expect from Christ alone.

442. [Sinners, that doubt His healing love]

Jesus . . . said, O faithless and perverse, &c. —xvii. 17.

Sinners, that doubt His healing love,
The Saviour's indignation raise,
Whose bowels of compassion move
To all who feel their helplessness,
Who came from heaven the fiend to' expel,
And shed His blood our souls to heal.

443. [Though harshness in His words appears]

Though harshness in His words appears,
His heart is full of tenderness:
He chides His faithless ministers
Who could not heal their own disease,
Kindly their unbelief reproves,
He once condemns it, and removes.

444. [How long wilt Thou with us abide]

How long shall I be with you? how long shall, &c. —xvii. 17.

How long wilt Thou with us abide,
How long our froward manners bear?
Till hallow'd by Thy blood applied,
Stamp'd with Thy spotless character,
Our perfect nothingness we see,
And find our all of good in Thee.

445. [Brought to Thy followers in vain]

Bring him hither to Me. —xvii. 17.

Brought to Thy followers in vain,
By Satan and his sin possess'd,
Unclean, unsaved, I still remain;
But draw me, Saviour, to Thy breast,
But come Thyself into my soul,
And then Thy presence makes me whole.

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446. [Through faith our friends we bring to Thee]

Through faith our friends we bring to Thee,
(Ourselves by Satan long possess'd,)
Pity and set the captives free,
Drive the foul fiend out of their breast,
The world and sin Thyself expel,
And in their souls for ever dwell.

447. [Satan the instrument defies]

Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out, &c. —xvii. 18.

Satan the instrument defies,
Unarm'd with that almighty power,
Which cast him flaming from the skies,
And reigns throughout his dreary hour:
But quits us at our Lord's command;
For Christ he never can withstand.

Some desperate souls the God of grace
Reserves to make His goodness known,
He cures them in peculiar ways,
He all performs Himself alone
Without His ministers, to show
They without Him can nothing do.

Instructed thus, from man we cease,
Through ministers to Jesus look,
Our only refuge in distress,
Who all our sin and sickness took,
Whose power effects whate'er He wills,
Whose mercy in an instant heals.

448. [Author of faith, on me confer]

If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, &c. —xvii. 20.

Author of faith, on me confer
The all-obtaining grace,
Which wrestles and receives in prayer
Thy largest promises;

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The faith unfeign'd and unreproved,
Which can the test abide
From false humility removed,
And self-deluding pride.

A perfect confidence inspire
From all presumption free,
A holy boldness to desire
The thing prepared for me;
A wisdom to discern and know
The time by God design'd,
A strength that will not let Thee go
Till I the blessing find.

Empower me by Thy Spirit within
To bid the weight depart,
The mountain of Adamic sin
To drive out of my heart:
I trust Thee in due season, Lord,
My nature to remove,
And by Thine own almighty word
Renew my soul in love.

449. [Nothing impossible shall be]

Nothing shall be impossible unto you. —xvii. 20.

Nothing impossible shall be
To God's effectual power,
To Christ the power of God in me,
To me who Christ adore;
To all who on the Truth rely,
Who dare my God believe,
All things are possible, and I
Here without sin shall live.

450. [The spirit unclean will still remain]

This kind goeth not out, but by prayer, &c. —xvii. 21.

The spirit unclean will still remain
In every careless heart,

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But prayer and fasting shall constrain
The tempter to depart;
The prayer and fast which God hath chose
Whole legions shall expel
Of beastly lusts, and devilish foes,
And chase them back to hell.

451. [Sinners should lament and wail]

The Son of Man shall be betrayed, &c. —xvii. 22, 23.

Sinners should lament and wail
Sunk so near the' abyss of hell,
Nothing from that gaping grave
But the death of God could save!
Sinners should with comfort rise,
Lift to heaven their thankful eyes,
Glad, that God, through love extreme,
Died Himself to ransom them!

452. [Master, I want Thy tenderness]

Lest we should offend them. —xvii. 27.

Master, I want Thy tenderness,
Thy boundless charity,
Not to offend, not to displease
The men that know not Thee:
Rather than stumble friend or foe,
I too would wrong sustain,
And every privilege forego,
One precious soul to gain.

453. [Our Lord's humility we praise]

That take, and give unto them for Me, &c. —xvii. 27.

Our Lord's humility we praise,
Who doth our needy nature take
And every ordinance obeys
Of man, as subject, for our sake:

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Our Saviour's goodness we adore,
Who pays the debt He never owed,
While by an act of sovereign power
His greatness pays it, as a God.

454. [The condescending grace Divine]

The condescending grace Divine,
The mind of Jesus who receive,
Their rights into His hands resign,
And by His meek example live:
O could I gain His liberty,
O could I His obedience prove,
By faith from every creature free,
But subjected to all by love!

CHAPTER XVIII.

455. [Usurpers of the Christian name]

Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, &c. —xviii. 3.

Usurpers of the Christian name,
Slaves to the proud ambitious sin,
Heaven as your own howe'er ye claim
Unchanged ye cannot enter in,
Unless your inmost spirit prove
The humbling power of childlike love.

Ye must, ye must be born again,
Converted by a change entire,
A child's simplicity attain,
Or sink in everlasting fire;
The Truth, the Truth Himself hath spoke
The word He never will revoke.

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456. [See the true evangelic child]

Whosoever . . . shall humble himself as this little, &c. —xviii. 4.

See the true evangelic child,
So ready at the Father's call!
Harmless, and tractable, and mild,
Placid, benevolent to all,
Nor wealth nor honour he desires,
Nor proudly to be first aspires.

Directed by the Father's will
What to eschew, what to approve,
Simple, and ignorant of ill,
He speaks with unreflecting love,
A stranger to the colouring art;
And truth flows genuine from his heart.

This is the soul divinely great,
To spotless innocence restored,
Establish'd in his first estate,
Born in the image of his Lord,
With Jesus' little ones to rise,
And reign immortal in the skies.

457. [Let the world profusely vain]

Whoso shall receive one such little child in, &c. —xviii. 5.

Let the world profusely vain,
At each luxurious feast
Glory, that they entertain
The great or wealthy guest:
Glad His blessings to restore,
His gifts as He appoints to give,
Present in the pious poor
My Saviour I receive.

Happy, when by faith I can
My needy Saviour spy,
Feed Him in the humble man,
And all His wants supply:

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What I do, most gracious Lord,
For Thine, as done for Thee approve;
With one smiling look reward
My hospitable love.

458. [Woe to the man, eternal woe]

Woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! —xviii. 7.

Woe to the man, eternal woe
To him by whom the' offence doth come!
His lot and portion is below,
His sentence is the' apostate's doom;
Plunged in the depths of grief unless
With broken heart his crime he feel,
A load of guilt shall soon depress
His soul to the profoundest hell.

Ah, Saviour, keep my trembling heart
Which feels its own infirmity;
One moment, Lord, if Thou depart,
The dire offence will come by me:
But if myself I always fear,
Thou wilt display Thy guardian love,
And give me grace to persevere,
Till safe with Thee I rest above.

459. ['Tis not enough, at Thy command]

If thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them, &c. —xviii. 8.

'Tis not enough, at Thy command
The eye to shut, the hand to stay,
The eye I must pluck out, the hand
Cut off, and cast them both away,
The' occasions dear far off remove,
The objects of my sinful love.

Not without grief an eye is lost,
Torn from its seat with lingering smart:
And will it less of anguish cost
To tear a passion from the heart?

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Jesus, my helplessness I see,
And ask the violent grace from Thee.

460. [To save the lost He came]

The Son of Man is come to save that which, &c. —xviii. 11.

To save the lost He came:
The lost was all mankind:
And I through Jesu's name
Do now salvation find,
And publish it the world around
That grace doth more than sin abound.

461. [We two, O Lord, on earth agree]

If two of you shall agree on earth as, &c. —xviii. 19.

We two, O Lord, on earth agree
Touching a thing to ask of Thee,
And trust it shall for us be done:
We ask to be preserved from sin,
Kept by the power of God within,
Till saved, and perfected in one.

To ask a second grace we join;
Answer in us Thine own design,
When life's important hour is o'er,
(The end for which we here did meet,)
Place us together on Thy seat;
Do this, and we can ask no more.

462. [United to our Head]

United to our Head,
When round the throne of grace,
We all are in our suit agreed,
'Tis Christ Himself that prays!
His meritorious love
Whate'er we ask requires,
His bowels sound and softly move,
And echo our desires.

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His heart it is that bleeds
In His afflicted ones,
His blood that speaks and intercedes,
Mix'd with His Spirit's groans!
The Father hears His Son
And by His grace reveal'd
Assures our inmost souls 't is done,
And Jesus' prayer is seal'd!

463. [Can we believe this precious word]

Where two or three are gathered together, &c. —xviii. 20.

Can we believe this precious word,
And not assemble in Thy name,
Sure, if we meet, to meet our Lord,
And catch Thy whisper, “Here I am!”
Where two or three with faithful heart
Unite to plead the promise given,
As truly in the midst Thou art,
As with the countless hosts of heaven.

464. [How difficult the task we find]

Then came Peter . . . and said, Lord, how oft, &c. —xviii. 21.

How difficult the task we find
To blot and banish from the mind
The evils we receive!
Nature of injuries afraid
Would by a thousand arts evade
The duty to forgive.

'Tis always nature's cautious care
In duty not to go too far:
And niggardly self-love
The law would cheaply satisfy,
And do but just enough to buy
The meanest place above.

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465. [Devoted to eternal fire]

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, &c. —xviii. 22.

Devoted to eternal fire,
If Thy Divine compassion end,
Shall sinners, Lord, of Thee inquire
How far their mercy shall extend,
How oft a sinner to receive,
How much of injury forgive?

O that I could like Thee forget
Whate'er to me my brother owes,
Remit the re-contracted debt,
A thousand times embrace my foes,
And still forgive with charity
Unbounded, as Thy love to me!

Me when an enemy to God,
Thou didst with arms of love embrace,
Though infinite the debt I owed,
Thy free, immeasurable grace
Forgave: and still Thou daily art
Inscribing pardon on my heart.

466. [Immensely great the debt of man]

One was brought unto him, which owed him, &c. —xviii. 24.

Immensely great the debt of man
Compell'd we are to own
When all we have, and are, and can
Belongs to God alone;
Our time and thoughts are His, not ours,
Our actions, words, desires,
And all our faculties and powers
He as His due requires.

467. [Justice severe demands the whole]

He had not to pay. —xviii. 25.

Justice severe demands the whole:
What shall the sinner say

319

But—spare a poor insolvent soul,
Who nothing has to pay!
No: if the worth and righteousness
Of all the saints were mine,
I could not answer, or appease
The Creditor Divine.

468. [God never alienates His right]

His lord commanded him to be sold. —xviii. 25.

God never alienates His right
To souls He loves so well;
They sell themselves for sin's delight
To Satan and to hell:
And who in Christ can have no share
They must tormented be,
And groan without redemption there
Through all eternity.

469. [Thy debtor at Thy feet I fall]

Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. —xviii. 26.

Thy debtor at Thy feet I fall:
But can I ever pay Thee all?
Or for a single sin atone?
No, Lord: I leave it to Thy Son.

470. [Sinners the Lord our God receives]

And loosed him, and forgave him the debt. —xviii. 27.

Sinners the Lord our God receives,
And never partially forgives,
Whate'er our sins He pardons all,
The great as freely as the small,
When humbly we confess the debt,
And beg forbearance at His feet.

471. [Master, Thou didst the same by me]

Master, Thou didst the same by me,
When at Thy feet I lay;
Thy grace forgave, and set me free,
And left me nought to pay:

320

The full discharge of all my debt
I thankfully receive,
And thus my fellow-servants treat,
And thus like Thee forgive.

472. [An hundred pence! how small the debt]

The same servant went out, and found one, &c. —xviii. 28.

An hundred pence! how small the debt,
(How slight the injury,)
Against ten thousand talents set
But now remitted me!
The pardon I from Christ receive
Still may I bear in mind,
And gladly for His sake forgive
The wrongs of all mankind.

473. [A sinner, though he truly know]

His fellow-servants . . . were very sorry, &c. —xviii. 31.

A sinner, though he truly know
His sins through Jesus' grace forgiven,
If mercy he refuse to show,
He irritates both earth and heaven;
The saints in that great day shall rise
'Gainst every soul implacable,
And praise the vengeance of the skies
Which dooms the merciless to hell.

474. [Ye pitiless, hard-hearted men]

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion, &c. —xviii. 33.

Ye pitiless, hard-hearted men,
Pardon to others who deny,
Ye lose your grace, received in vain,
And soon ye in your sins shall die:
Harsh to your fellow-servants here
Who rigorously exact your due
When Christ doth in the clouds appear
Judgment alone remains for you.

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475. [O may I never sadly prove]

So . . . shall My heavenly Father do also unto you. —xviii. 35.

O may I never sadly prove
A child can lose his Father's love,
A soul implacable,
Whose countless sins were once forgiven,
May justly from Thy face be driven,
To pay his debt—in hell!

CHAPTER XIX.

476. [Our Pattern if we rightly know]

When Jesus had finished these sayings, He, &c. —xix. 1.

Our Pattern if we rightly know,
In seeking souls we cannot rest,
Like Him, whose whole delight below
Was, calling sinners to His breast;
Scatter'd throughout the desert wide
In quest of wandering souls we run,
Our thirst is never satisfied,
Our work of love is never done.

Employment for our active zeal
We gladly find in every place,
Our meat to do the Saviour's will,
And please by ministering His grace:
The end of one accepted deed
Beginning to another gives;
And thus in all His steps we tread,
Till Christ our spotless souls receives.

477. [We wish our children rich and great]

Then were there brought unto Him little, &c. —xix. 13.

We wish our children rich and great,
Rather than good and wise,

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Yet wonder that they virtue hate,
And chase the paths of vice:
Our children in their earliest days
Would we to Christ commend,
His love would bless, support, embrace
And keep them to the end.

478. [Jesus in earth and heaven the same]

Jesus in earth and heaven the same
Accept a parent's vow,
To Thee, baptized into Thy name
I bring my children now:
Thy love permits, invites, commands
My offspring to be bless'd:
Lay on them, Lord, Thy gracious hands,
And hide them in Thy breast.

To each the hallowing spirit give
Even from their infancy,
And pure into Thy church receive
Whom I devote to Thee:
Committed to Thy faithful care,
Protected by Thy blood,
Preserve by Thine unceasing prayer,
And bring them all to God.

479. [Who simple innocence approves]

Who simple innocence approves,
Jesus the little children loves,
And marks the character
Which fits us for that heavenly place,
Where innocents behold His face,
And bright like Him appear.

Saviour to us through faith impart
The deep humility of heart
That hangs on Thee alone;

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The truth of love's simplicity
Which leads us to partake with Thee
An everlasting throne.

480. [Passing through life in every stage]

Passing through life in every stage,
Our childhood and maturer age
Upon Himself he took,
Every estate to sanctify
And save whoe'er to Him apply
And for His blessing look.

Our Model, the meek Son of Man,
Did here the characters sustain
Of youth and infancy:
Old age alone did not become
The God who did my flesh assume,
And died a Lamb for me.

481. [Ah! Lord, we must with shame confess]

Ah! Lord, we must with shame confess,
Though Thou art ready still to bless
Few in their harmless infancy
Will let their babes be brought to Thee:
We tremble lest Thy gracious touch
Should make them righteous overmuch,
Defeat our worldly hopes, and aim,
And brand them with their Master's shame.

We fear lest when Thy grace o'erpowers,
Our children should be Thine, not ours:
Should unto God their hearts resign,
And only seek the things Divine:
We never shall devote our race,
Or yield them up to Thine embrace;

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O'erwhelm'd with our own misery
Unless we come ourselves to Thee.

482. [The Partner of our flesh and blood]

Why callest thou Me good? —xix. 17.

The Partner of our flesh and blood,
Whom all His heavens cannot contain,
Refused to be entitled good
By one who counted Him but man,
That we our nothingness might own,
And good ascribe to God alone.

Shall a saved sinner then receive
His foolish fellow-creatures' praise?
If good and pure from sin he is,
Whate'er he is, he is by grace,
Nor dares the wondering crowd admit
To fall, and worship at his feet.

Applause from man he cannot bear;
Much less will he himself commend,
Himself supremely good declare,
Boldly the highest seat ascend,
And thence to all mankind proclaim
“I have attain'd, I perfect am!”

483. [None is originally good]

There is none good but One, that is, God. —xix. 17.

None is originally good,
Good from himself, but Thee:
The good Thou hast on man bestow'd,
Is not his property:
And just (by Thee accounted just)
Himself he cannot call,
But still confesses in the dust
That God is all in all.

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484. [God is the plenitude of good]

God is the plenitude of good,
The Source, the Pattern, and the End;
The goodness on mankind bestow'd
Doth as a drop from Him descend,
And daily, if we still believe,
Out of His fulness we receive.

By faith we our Example trace,
And more and more like God appear,
Beholding Him with open face,
Transform'd into His image here;
Yet still we by reflection shine,
And own the glory is Divine.

To Him in all our steps we tend,
And fresh degrees of glory gain,
Living and acting for this end,
Till full perfection we attain,
Till of ourselves we cease to be,
Absorb'd in His immensity.

485. [Fain would I, Lord, admittance find]

If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. —xix. 17.

Fain would I, Lord, admittance find
Among that church of the first-born,
But Thou must change my heart and mind,
Into a saint a sinner turn,
Inspiring with the strength of grace
To walk in all Thy righteous ways.

All Thy commands I shall fulfil,
Bless'd with the faith that works by love,
Meet Thee on that celestial hill,
Enter the holy gates above,

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Eat the immortalizing Tree,
And live supremely bless'd in Thee.

486. [Himself how shall a sinner know?]

What lack I yet? —xix. 20.

Himself how shall a sinner know?
Jesus, to Thee I cry,
Thou only all my wants canst show,
Thou only canst supply.

487. [Holy, Thou know'st, I fain would be]

If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast. —xix. 21.

Holy, Thou know'st, I fain would be,
I languish to sell all for Thee;
And when the power is given,
Of self annihilating love,
I shall triumphantly remove
To find my wealth in heaven.

488. [Forbid it, Lord, that I should be]

He went away sorrowful. —xix. 22.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should be
Grieved to sell all and follow Thee:
Ah, never leave me to depart,
But keep possession of my heart:
Left to myself, too well I know,
That I away from Thee shall go,
Withhold my heart so dearly bought,
And sell my soul and God for nought.

489. [Who of the rich will e'er believe]

Then said Jesus unto His disciples, Verily, &c. —xix. 23.

Who of the rich will e'er believe
That riches are a fatal ill,
Can no content or comfort give,
With foolish lusts the owners fill,
And, when the golden mountains rise,
Block up our passage to the skies?

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In vain the Truth Himself hath sworn:
They slight a poor rejected Lord,
From Jesus the deaf adders turn,
And never will receive His word,
Unless He His great power exert,
And break and change the worldly heart.

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

It is easier for a camel to go through the, &c. —xix. 24.

A rich man saved! it cannot be
But by a more abundant grace;
Superior love must set him free,
Or justly doom'd to his own place,
The vile idolater shall feel
That riches were the gate of hell.

491. [O what a speaking look was there!]

His disciples . . . were exceedingly amazed, &c. —xix. 25, 26.

O what a speaking look was there!
Cast it in pitying love on me,
To chase the clouds of anxious care,
Set my tumultuous spirit free,
Compose the storm that works within,
And save me from my bosom sin.

492. [Impossible it is with man]

With men this is impossible; but with God, &c. —xix. 26.

Impossible it is with man
To save the rich who riches love,
But the almighty Jesus can
The plague out of their heart remove,
Root up the covetous desire,
And snatch a miser from the fire.

493. [Lest nature of itself despair]

Lest nature of itself despair,
I triumph in the strength of grace,

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Mine utter impotence declare,
Mine inability confess,
And bless this inability,
Which makes me look for all from Thee.

No evil, Lord, can I eschew,
Unless Thy mighty grace restrain,
No good without Thy Spirit do,
A feeble helpless child of man:
But absolute in power Thou art,
And greater than my sinful heart.

494. [A proud philosopher forsakes]

Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed, &c. —xix. 27.

A proud philosopher forsakes
His all, but doth not Christ pursue,
A Christian false the Saviour takes
For Guide, but keeps the world in view;
A Christian saved to find his Lord
His all foregoes, himself denies,
And wins the hundred-fold reward,
And reigns eternal in the skies.

495. [The first will prove the last]

Many that are first shall be last; and the, &c. —xix. 30.

The first will prove the last,
Unless they still contend,
Their humble confidence hold fast,
And keep it to the end:
The first have well begun,
But this cannot suffice;
The persevering grace alone
Ensures the' immortal prize.

496. [Is there a sinner here]

Is there a sinner here
So desperately undone,

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To whom I dare myself prefer
Before my course is run?
That desperate sinner may
A saint or martyr prove,
When I have left the heavenly way
And lost my Saviour's love.

CHAPTER XX.

497. [Out of Himself the God of love]

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man, &c. —xx. 1.

Out of Himself the God of love
Went forth in His creating grace:
Again He left His throne above,
Made flesh to save our fallen race:
He came from heaven on earth to reign,
That we might His salvation know,
And hires the ransom'd sons of men
To serve Him in His church below.

The church His Spirit's kingdom stands,
Where God is known, revered, adored,
Where all submit to love's command
And bow before their heavenly Lord:
The church His fruitful vineyard lies,
By day and night its Planter's care,
Each moment water'd from the skies:
And all are call'd to labour there.

The soul of man is Jesus' due,
And should to Him itself resign,
His vineyard and His kingdom too
We live to' obey the will Divine,

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To work out our salvation here,
And labour on with restless pain,
With active zeal and humble fear
That Jesus in our hearts may reign.

He promises in life's short day
Our bountiful almighty Lord,
No servile sublunary pay
But heaven's unspeakable reward:
He calls so loud that all may hear,
(When reason first exerts its power,)
To work with simple heart sincere;
And childhood is the earliest hour.

498. [The Master comes and speaks again]

He went out about the third hour, and saw, &c. —xx. 3, 4.

The Master comes and speaks again
To sinners in their youthful prime,
Who careless in diversions vain
Idly misspend their choicest time:
Before we hear His inward call,
What can we for salvation do?
But soon or late He summons all,
And bids us work with heaven in view.

499. [Men labourers in their manly age]

Again he went out about the sixth and, &c. —xx. 5.

Men labourers in their manly age,
And more in feeble life's decline,
His grace continues to engage,
That all may in His service join:
And never while on earth we live,
His Spirit's invitations cease,
Who stirs us up to act and strive
And toil for everlasting bliss.

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To work at His command we go,
Whose word confers the' obedient grace;
Awake my heart though dull and slow,
To walk, O Lord, in all Thy ways;
Me by Thy secret love incline,
And after Thee my soul shall run,
My will shall swiftly follow Thine,
Till Thine be here completely done.

500. [Thou call'st us at our latest hour]

About the eleventh hour he went out, and found, &c. —xx. 6.

Thou call'st us at our latest hour,
When life is ready to depart,
Thou show'st Thine all-sufficient power
On the decrepit sinner's heart:
He wakes; the work of life begins,
Before its final hour is pass'd,
And old and dying in his sins
Repents, and lives to God at last.

Merciful God, what crowds receive
A gift whose use they will not know,
Till just as life the triflers leave,
Thou show'st them their great task below!
To labour doom'd, to labour born,
They idle all day long remain;
Yet if even then to Thee they turn,
Thy grace will not reject them then.

501. [Till Jesus come to seek and send]

They say unto him, Because no man hath, &c. —xx. 7.

Till Jesus come to seek and send,
Till us He in His work employs,
Our days in vanity we spend,
In useless cares or sinful joys:

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But saving grace to all appears,
But mercy wills that all should live,
And young or old, the soul that hears
The call, shall the reward receive.

Alas, shall I stand idle still,
In sin, in Satan's works employ'd,
Or now begin to serve Thy will,
And labour for my gracious God?
Hired long ago I surely was
At Jordan's consecrated flood,
And sign'd the servant of Thy cross
And claim'd the purchase of Thy blood.

502. [No respite or repose we know]

So when even was come, the lord of the, &c. —xx. 8.

No respite or repose we know
From love's unwearied services,
By suffering as by action show,
Accepted zeal our Lord to please;
We labour even by standing still,
In patient pain His will attend,
In all we do and all we feel,
Till toil and life together end.

O were the happy evening come,
Commencement of that endless day,
When Jesus shall His power assume,
And all His faithful labourers pay!
Distributing rewards to all,
The weakest first He bids draw near,
Who last obey'd the gospel-call,
And labour'd in the vineyard here.

503. [Heaven is for all alike prepared]

They came that were hired about the eleventh hour, &c. —xx. 9.

Heaven is for all alike prepared,
And one short moment may suffice

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To win the infinite reward
To' ensure the never-fading prize:
But let not the presumptuous fool
Repentance to the last defer;
Nor let a poor despairing soul
Of mercy even in death despair.

504. [A life of piety severe]

But when the first came, they supposed, &c. —xx. 10, 11.

A life of piety severe,
A distance from external vice
May cherish pride in the sincere,
And tempt them others to despise,
Of favour'd rivals to complain
With murmuring jealousy of heart,
As God indebted were to man,
And paid him less than his desert.

How great the pardoning grace Divine,
Which envy in a saint can raise!
Left to themselves, the just repine
That Jesus is so rich in grace;
So rich above all human thought,
So plenteous in benignity,
So kind to those who merit nought,
So good to publicans—and me!

505. [Not on our own laborious pain]

These last have wrought but one hour, and, &c. —xx. 12.

Not on our own laborious pain,
But the mere mercy of our Lord,
We build our confidence to' obtain
The promised undeserved reward:
From whom we every grace receive
Only on Jesus we rely,
Unprofitable servants live,
Unprofitable servants die.

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506. [Thee, Lord, I just and faithful own]

But he answered one of them, and said, &c. —xx. 13, 14.

Thee, Lord, I just and faithful own,
Rewarded for Thy mercy sake,
Happy in God, I envy none
Who of Thy joy with me partake:
Less than the least of saints I am,
Who less than all, Thy grace improve,
No recompence by merit claim,
And bring no title but Thy love.

507. [Thee, Lord, I joyfully confess]

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will, &c. —xx. 15.

Thee, Lord, I joyfully confess
The sole disposer of Thine own,
If equal or superior grace
Thou freely hast to others shown:
Their gifts with a malignant eye,
An envious wish I cannot see;
But humbly on Thy death rely
For all the good it bought for me.

If those who after me are come
Be honour'd and preferr'd before,
I will not to complain presume,
But humbled at Thy feet adore:
I dare not in Thy presence plead
My labours or my sufferings pass'd,
Happy if, while I bow my head,
My soul is scarcely saved at last.

508. [Let none presume, let none despair]

So the last shall be first, and the first last, &c. —xx. 16.

Let none presume, let none despair,
But leave it to the day supreme,
When Jesus' sentence shall declare
Who most or least resembled Him!

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The heart of man to men unknown
Is only naked to Thy view:
And let it then, my Lord, be shown,
That I was of that chosen few.

509. [The number of the call'd is great]

Many be called, but few chosen. —xx. 16.

The number of the call'd is great,
But that of the elected small,
Invited to the gospel-treat
So few will answer to the call,
So few the proffer'd blessing take,
And faithful to the end endure,
Giving all diligence to make
Conditional election sure.

510. [A type of modern parents see!]

Grant that these my two sons may sit, &c. —xx. 21.

A type of modern parents see!
Our Saviour's meanness we forget,
His death and passion on the tree,
Through haste to make our children great:
Ambitious that the highest prize
Our sons with Zebedee's should share,
We wish them in the church to rise,
And win the first preferments there.

511. [Such was our ignorant desire]

Ye know not what ye ask. —xx. 22.

Such was our ignorant desire,
Our zeal above the rest to' aspire,
While babes, the father's joy to prove!
Ambitious at Thy side to reign,
The rest without the toil to gain,
We ask'd the crown of perfect love:

Blindly we ask'd for pain and loss,
A deeper cup, an heavier cross;
And still we all Thy grace implore:

336

But humbly waiting to receive,
Manner and time to Thee we leave,
Thy will be done, we ask no more.

512. [Advancement in Thy kingdom here]

Advancement in Thy kingdom here
Whoe'er impatiently desire,
They know not, Lord, the pangs severe,
The trials which they first require:
They all must first Thy sufferings share,
Ambitious of their calling's prize,
And every day Thy burden bear,
And thus to late perfection rise.

Nature would fain evade, or flee
That sad necessity of pain;
But who refuse to die with Thee,
With Thee shall never, never reign:
The sorrow doth the joy ensure,
The crown for conquerors prepared;
And all who to the end endure,
Shall grasp through death the full reward.

“Ye know not what is implied in being advanced in My kingdom, and necessarily prerequired thereto: all who share in My kingdom must first share in My sufferings.” —The Rev. Mr. John Wesley's “Notes on the New Testament.”

513. [Not in a king's, but servant's form]

The Son of Man came not to be ministered, &c. —xx. 28.

Not in a king's, but servant's form
Our Lord appear'd beneath,
To wait on every sinful worm,
And save them by His death:
But we shall see Him come from high
The glorious Son of Man,
And all the angels of the sky
Triumphant in His train.

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514. [As many as in Adam fell]

And to give His life a ransom for many. —xx. 28.

As many as in Adam fell,
And wander'd from salvation wide,
To ransom from sin, death, and hell,
For them the Second Adam died;
Even those unhappy souls He bought
Who their redeeming Lord deny,
Will not by Him to life be brought
But self-destroy'd resolve to die.

515. [Jesus, who now art passing by]

Behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, &c. —xx. 30.

Jesus, who now art passing by,
Our Prophet, Priest, and King, Thou art:
Hear a poor unbeliever's cry,
And heal the blindness of my heart:
Urging my passionate request
Thy pardoning mercy I implore,
Whoe'er rebuke I will not rest
Till Thou my spirit's sight restore.

516. [Stopp'd by my persevering prayer]

Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, &c. —xx. 32.

Stopp'd by my persevering prayer
Stand still, and call my soul to Thee,
Attend, while I my wants declare
My want of eyes Thy love to see:
My blindness seeks to David's Lord,
My poverty Thy help requires,
And O before I speak the word,
Thou know'st the thing my heart desires.

517. [In pitying tenderness of love]

So Jesus had compassion on them, and, &c. —xx. 34.

In pitying tenderness of love,
Saviour apply Thy hand of grace,
These scales of unbelief remove,
And show the Godhead in Thy face:

338

My Lord I then shall see and know,
When mercy hath my sins forgiven,
Through faith in all Thy footsteps go,
And pass by Calvary to heaven.

CHAPTER XXI.

518. [Gentle and meek He comes to those]

Thy King cometh unto thee, meek, &c. —xxi. 5.

Gentle and meek He comes to those
In compassing His death employ'd,
His furious, unrelenting foes
Who thirsted for their Saviour's blood:
Gives Himself up to satisfy
Their rage and for His murderers die!

O how unlike the kingdoms here
Thy kingdom open'd in Thine own!
Meekness and peace and lowly fear,
And righteousness support Thy throne,
Patience in death, resembling Thine,
And love invincibly Divine.

519. [Where are the learned and rich and great?]

A very great multitude spread their garments, &c. —xxi. 8.

Where are the learned and rich and great?
None their triumphant Saviour meet
Of worldly honours proud;
Enough the learned already know,
The rich will not their wealth forego,
The great disdain the crowd.

The simple despicable poor
A poor rejected Lord adore;
And still with joy receive

339

Whom still the wealthy and the wise,
And noble infidels despise,
And to the vulgar leave.

520. [Hosanna to Him, Whom angels adore]

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He, &c. —xxi. 9.

Hosanna to Him, Whom angels adore,
In glory supreme, In goodness and power!
With glad acclamation Our voices we raise,
Ascribing salvation To Jesus's grace!

His Father's Delight He comes for our sake,
To challenge His right His kingdom to take:
He comes in the Spirit Of power from above,
That man may inherit A kingdom of love.

How welcome to man The kingdom He brings!
His people we reign Both subjects and kings;
And while we His praises Exult to repeat
In heavenly places With Jesus we sit.

Our Lord from the skies Again shall come down,
And bid us arise And compass His throne,
With fix'd adoration Transported to gaze,
And see our salvation Reveal'd in His face.

521. [The world is at His coming moved]

When He was come into Jerusalem, all the, &c. —xxi. 10.

The world is at His coming moved
Whose kingdom turns them upside down:
Disturb'd by Him they never loved,
They tremble at a God unknown,
Who comes to suffer for their cause
And nail their passions to His cross.

Of Him they casually inquire,
When shouting crowds His presence show;
They ask; alas, with no desire
His kingdom or Himself to know

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They will not see, through envy blind,
Or God Most High in Jesus find.

But shall the men that call Him Lord,
His followers, “Who is this” demand?
We that have heard His gospel-word
Have seen the wonders of His hand,
Shall we forget His power to heal
Or doubt as unbelievers still?

Our base ingratitude forgive,
Jesus whom prostrate we adore:
And now let all our hearts receive
The Prince of peace, the God of power,
The King of saints to sinners given
The sovereign Lord of earth and heaven!

522. [The crowd in every age and place]

The multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet. —xxi. 11.

The crowd in every age and place
Are readiest Jesus to confess,
But ah, how soon are they removed
Who testify a faith unproved!
His confessors Hosanna cry
To-day; to-morrow Crucify!

523. [Saviour, who dost with anger see]

Jesus . . . cast out all them that sold and bought, &c. —xxi. 12.

Saviour, who dost with anger see
The lusts which steal my heart from Thee,
The thieves out of Thy temple chase,
And plant Thy Spirit in their place,
And when my God inhabits there,
My heart shall be a house of prayer.

524. [Who avarice with religion veil]

Who avarice with religion veil
Our Saviour's indignation raise,

341

Who trade in spirituals, and sell
And buy, as in the holy place;
The altar touch with hands impure,
Present, collate, resign, restore,
Employments in the church procure,
And change and barter less for more.

Servants of souls, they take the pay
Rapacious, but the work refuse;
They steal, (while meaner hirelings pray,)
And rob the church, whose goods they use;
We read their sacrilege profane
Recorded in the sacred leaves,
Who make the house of God a den
Of Reverend and Right Reverend thieves!

525. [Blind to Thee, O Lord, and lame]

And the blind and the lame came to Him, &c. —xxi. 14.

Blind to Thee, O Lord, and lame
I into Thy temple came:
There I first received from Thee
Strength to walk, and sight to see,
There I found my pardon seal'd,
There my unbelief was heal'd.

526. [Teachers and priests perversely blind]

The chief priests and scribes . . . were, &c. —xxi. 15.

Teachers and priests perversely blind,
Ambitious, covetous, and proud,
Matter of sore displeasure find
In all the wondrous works of God:
They rage to see His kingdom near,
While new-born babes their voices raise,
With Jesus' name torment their ear,
And fill the church with hymns of praise.

342

527. [To Jesus's name Hosanna we sing]

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, &c. —xxi. 16.

To Jesus's name Hosanna we sing,
And gladly proclaim Our heavenly King:
Poor justified sinners, His glory we raise,
Who teaches beginners To perfect His praise.

While Jesus receives The grace He imparts,
The gladness He gives, And draws from our hearts,
We welcome the blessing He brings from above,
With thanks never-ceasing, And rapturous love.

528. [The Christian who to Christ affords]

When He saw a fig-tree in the way, He came, &c. —xxi. 19.

The Christian who to Christ affords
Mere, fruitless, impotent desires,
Or the fair leaves of barren words,
His Lord's severest curse requires,
The curse of withering as a tree
Dried up to all eternity.

O may we tremble at their doom
From whom the Lord withdraws His grace,
And watch, and labour till He come,
To seek in us true righteousness,
And strive our fruitfulness to prove
By all the works of humble love.

529. [Who ever of a mountain heard]

Ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou, &c. —xxi. 21.

Who ever of a mountain heard
By faith removed into the sea?
The literal miracle absurd:
The truth my Lord hath wrought in me:
Saviour, the sin I served and loved,
Thou hast commanded to depart,
Far from my soul the guilt removed,
And cast the power out of my heart.

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530. [Faith is the source of prayer]

All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, &c. —xxi. 22.

Faith is the source of prayer,
And measures our success,
And prayer is faith's interpreter,
And doth its source increase:
By faithful prayer we gain
Whatever God can give,
And more than earth and heaven contain
In Jesus we receive.

531. [Jesus, the truth of simple love]

Jesus answered . . . unto them, I also will, &c. —xxi. 24.

Jesus, the truth of simple love
Refuses a direct reply,
The' ensnaring tempters to reprove,
Whose hearts are naked to His eye,
Their foul hypocrisy to' expose,
And baffle His most crafty foes.

532. [How doth a single word of Thine]

But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the, &c. —xxi. 26.

How doth a single word of Thine,
Saviour, the surest scheme o'erthrow,
Defeat the' insidious world's design,
Confound their wisdom from below,
And force their silence to confess
The truth their malice would suppress!

533. [Hear this, ye men of moral zeal]

The publicans and the harlots go into the, &c. —xxi. 31.

Hear this, ye men of moral zeal,
Ye women chaste of virtue proud,
Who scorn as abject slaves of hell
The vicious, mean, abandon'd crowd!
Harlots, and publicans accursed
The kingdom seize, and enter first.

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Ye rich in works of righteousness,
Who toil so hard to purchase heaven,
Ye scruple to be saved by grace,
Like vilest profligates forgiven:
But freely they the blessing gain
Which Pharisees would buy in vain.

Drunkards, and murderers, and thieves,
In Jesus for salvation trust:
Absolved the moment he believes,
The monster of unbridled lust
Exults the sinner's Friend to find,
And leaves your rigid pride behind.

O that ye might like them repent,
Cast all your loathsome rags away,
Humbly accept whom God hath sent,
On Tophet's brink for mercy pray,
The last, the worst to Jesus bow,
And take the heavenly kingdom now.

534. [Preachers of righteousness arise]

John came unto you in the way of, &c. —xxi. 32.

Preachers of righteousness arise,
And proofs of their own doctrine live,
And lo, the foulest slaves of vice
Their true report with joy receive!
But priests and Pharisees condemn,
Disdaining to be saved like them.

With unrelenting heart they see
The' amazing change on sinners wrought,
Reform'd themselves who will not be
Or to the arms of Jesus brought,
Alas for them! for us, we say!
The scripture is fulfill'd to-day!

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535. [The Householder in Canaan's land]

There was a certain householder, which, &c. —xxi. 33.

The Householder in Canaan's land
Planted a church, and hedged it round,
His law and providential hand
Was then its sure protection found:
The winepress digg'd where Salem stood,
The temple was their boasted tower,
The husbandmen were hired of God
Who left His vineyard in their power.

536. [He, when the time of fruit drew near]

When the time of the fruit drew near, &c. —xxi. 34–36.

He, when the time of fruit drew near,
His servants to the keepers sent,
And many a chosen messenger,
To gather in His righteous rent:
The keepers on His servants flew
Stopping their ears against the word,
Outraged, and beat, and stoned, and slew
The saints and prophets of their Lord.

537. [The heavenly Householder at last]

But last of all he sent unto them his son, &c. —xxi. 37–41.

The heavenly Householder at last
Vouchsafed to send His only Son:
They slew, out of the vineyard cast
The Heir, and seized it for their own:
Wherefore their Lord in vengeance came,
Those wicked husbandmen destroy'd:
And now they bear the Christian name
Who keep, and rule the church of God.

538. [Not all those other husbandmen]

He . . . will let out his vineyard unto other, &c. —xxi. 41.

Not all those other husbandmen
Have paid the fruits in season due,
But spitefully abused again,
And kill'd the messengers anew:

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Alas, they have in every age
Their persecuted Lord withstood,
Glutted their antichristian rage,
And drank, with Rome, the martyrs' blood.

The Householder in this our day
Hath servants to the keepers sent;
Yet will they not His word obey,
Or show by fruits that they repent:
Who now the chair of Moses fill,
The ruling husbandmen exclaim,
And cast out of the vineyard still
The men that speak in Jesus' name.

More servants to declare His word
He sends by His immediate call:
They preach the message of their Lord,
Repent, believe, they cry to all;
They urge the husbandmen in vain,
The Spirit's fruits of them require;
High-priests the vagabonds disdain
And fain would doom them to the fire.

God's servants true they will not hear
Without or with their orders sent,
But hate Him in His messenger,
His every faithful instrument:
And though the Lord His Son imparts,
And though with them His Spirit strives,
They chase Him from their worldly hearts,
And crucify Him by their lives.

On all who dare confess His sway
They their oppressive power make known,
As sworn the life of Christ to stay,
While Christ doth in His members groan;

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And should He now on earth appear
The lords who o'er His vineyard reign
To save their wealth and grandeur here
Would nail Him to His cross again.

539. [Christ the head and corner-stone]

The Stone which the builders rejected, the, &c. —xxi. 42.

Christ the head and corner-stone,
Thy sovereign power we see:
Jews and Gentiles now are one,
Are cemented by Thee:
Thee despised by sinful men,
Thee refused and crucified,
God hath raised to life again,
And seated at His side.

Object of our joy and hope
And admiration live,
Till Thou take Thy members up
Thy kingdom to receive:
Let us to the end endure,
Daily share Thy mortal pain,
Then the crown of life is sure
And then with Thee we reign.

540. [Lord, the builders still reject]

Lord, the builders still reject,
And will not Thee confess,
Brand Thy followers as a sect,
And hate Thy witnesses:
Come and fix Thy kingdom here,
That all mankind Thy sway may own,
See the church's Head appear,
And worship at Thy throne.

541. [Sinners the most abandon'd now]

The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, &c. —xxi. 43.

Sinners the most abandon'd now,
Ye need not sink in sad despair,

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Ye too to Jesus' cross may bow,
Ye too may Jesus' kingdom share,
Who still, as in the days of old,
Heathens receives into His fold.

Ye saints, the most advanced in grace
Be warn'd the rock of pride to fear
Who now the' elect peculiar race
The favourites of your God appear,
Remember ancient Israel's doom,
And dare not of your grace presume.

Jesus Thou seest my trembling heart:
Ah, never from my soul remove
Thy kingdom, or in wrath depart
To punish my defect of love:
But let my fruit of Thee be found,
And to Thy mercy's praise abound!

542. [Who hears the word and disbelieves]

Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be, &c. —xxi. 44.

Who hears the word and disbelieves,
He stumbles on this Stone,
And grievous hurt the soul receives
That will not Jesus own:
But if in unbelief he dies,
His doom how terrible
When Christ descending from the skies
Shall crush him into hell.

CHAPTER XXII.

543. [King of kings Jehovah made]

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain, &c. —xxii. 2.

King of kings Jehovah made
A marriage for His Son,
Jesus in our flesh array'd,
And Partner of His throne;

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Angels ask'd how could it be?
God Most High to worms allied
Fell in love with misery
And came to seek His bride.

544. [First His own peculiar race]

He sent forth his servants to call them that, &c. —xxii. 3.

First His own peculiar race
The Father sent to' invite,
Woo'd them Jesus to embrace,
And in His love delight:
Moses show'd the Bridegroom near,
The prophets all confirm'd the word:
Israel heard, yet would not hear,
Or turn to meet their Lord.

545. [God in mercy sent again]

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, &c. —xxii. 4.

God in mercy sent again
His gospel-ministers,
Tell them now that God is man,
And in their flesh appears!
Bless'd in Him, supremely bless'd,
To Jesus' name, ye sinners, bow;
Come and share the marriage feast,
For all is ready now.

546. [O the vile ungrateful race]

But they made light of it, and went their, &c. —xxii. 5, 6.

O the vile ungrateful race
His offers to despise!
Some to pleasure went their ways,
Some to their merchandise:
Sons of violent wickedness,
The rest His messengers abhorr'd,
Bold to mock, and wound, and seize,
And kill them with the sword.

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547. [The great King of earth and sky]

But when the king heard thereof, he was, &c. —xxii. 7.

The great King of earth and sky,
The wicked to consume,
Hasten'd at His martyrs' cry,
And seal'd the murderers' doom;
By His Roman armies slew
The men that dared His utmost ire,
Burn'd their city up, and threw
Their souls into the fire.

548. [Lo the wedding is prepared]

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding, &c. —xxii. 8.

Lo the wedding is prepared,
(He to His servants said,)
Call who will the call regard,
In faithless Israel's stead:
Bidden first since they refuse,
And all My invitations scorn,
Leave the reprobated Jews,
And to the Gentiles turn.

549. [To the broad frequented ways]

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as, &c. —xxii. 9.

To the broad frequented ways
With My commission go,
Tidings glad of pardoning grace
To wandering sinners show:
Every soul may be My guest:
Bring in every soul ye find,
Press them to the gospel-feast,
A feast for all mankind.

550. [Forth the zealous servants went]

So those servants went out into the highways. —xxii. 10.

Forth the zealous servants went,
And preach'd the welcome word:
Sinners heard with glad consent,
And ran to meet their Lord;

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Gentiles, Jews obey'd the call,
High and low, a countless crowd,
Rush'd into the nuptial hall,
And fill'd the church of God.

551. [When the King of Israel came]

And when the king came in to see the guests, &c. —xxii. 11.

When the King of Israel came
His joyful guests to view,
Looking with His eyes of flame,
He look'd the sinner through;
One observed with angry frown,
(One the type of millions more,)
Bold with Jesus to sit down,
And only seem to' adore.

Unadorn'd and unarray'd
With Jesus' righteousness,
In his filthy garments clad,
And destitute of grace,
Naked in his Maker's sight,
Without the covering from above,
Dress of saints, the linen white,
The robe of faith and love.

552. [Friend, how darest thou enter in]

And he saith unto him, Friend, how, &c. —xxi. 12, 13.

Friend, how darest thou enter in,
And unprepared intrude,
Show thyself, a slave of sin
Among the saints of God?
Hand and foot the' intruder bind
Through guilt impenitently dumb
Cast him out to woes consign'd,
And hell's eternal gloom.

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No more feet from wrath to flee,
Or hands to work for God,
No more light His face to see,
In that profound abode!
What doth now for souls remain
Cast out to be tormented there?
Darkness, grief and rage, and pain,
And blasphemous despair!

553. [Jesus prepare Thy meanest guest]

Jesus prepare Thy meanest guest,
Since Thou hast bid me to the feast,
Clothe with a covering from above,
The Spirit of Thy spotless love,
And make the wedding-garment mine,
That robe of righteousness Divine.

554. [Call'd by nature's glimmering light]

Many are called, but few are chosen. —xxii. 14.

Call'd by nature's glimmering light,
The law, and gospel word,
Few come in by faith, delight
In Christ, and keep their Lord;
Fewer still that persevere
To make their own election sure,
Gain the sinless character
And saints till death endure.

555. [Hell's ministers by Satan taught]

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel, &c. —xxii. 15.

Hell's ministers by Satan taught,
They just for a short season leave,
That in an hour unguarded caught
They may more easily deceive,
Tempt them to sin, by fraud prevail,
And thus destroy their souls in hell.

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The world would by my words ensnare:
O may I to my words take heed!
Help, Lord, who saidst of men “Beware,”
So shall I circumspectly tread,
Watch unto prayer; and humbly wise,
And kept by Thee, defy surprise.

556. [Jesus, if our faith be true]

Render . . . unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's. —xxii. 21.

Jesus, if our faith be true,
We must Thy words obey,
Tribute to whom tribute's due,
And fear, and homage pay:
Thee they impiously deny,
Who Cæsar of his right defraud,
Rebels 'gainst the Lord Most-High,
And traitors to their God.

557. [The double source of error see]

Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor, &c. —xxii. 29.

The double source of error see,
Ignorance of the word,
And blindfold incredulity
In an almighty Lord.
Who feel their want, to these alone
Knowledge Divine is given,
While worldly fools go wandering on,
And miss the way to heaven.

558. [The first and great command, we own]

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with, &c. —xxii. 37, 38.

The first and great command, we own,
Is the pure love of God alone:
First in antiquity; obey'd
In heaven, before this earth was made:
And when our lower world began,
Congenial with the soul of man,
Deep in his inmost essence found,
Engraved on an eternal ground.

354

How great in excellence, above
All other laws, the law of love,
Which doth to God directly tend,
And in its lovely Author end!
In the new covenant of grace
It challenges the highest place,
The spirit of piety imparts,
And breathes in all the children's hearts.

Love, only love in justice great
Renders to God His due complete,
Its Author worthily adores,
His universal good restores;
It teaches man his rank to know,
It lays the ransom'd creature low,
Constrains us at the throne to fall
And own that God is all in all.

Love, all-sufficient love alone
Reduces all our wants to one,
Richly that single want supplies,
And gives us back our paradise:
It makes and keeps us happy here,
And meet before His face to' appear;
It sets the jewels in our crown,
And lifts us to our Father's throne.

Great in Divine fecundity
Love is the life-imparting tree;
Love is the true, celestial root,
Which bears the ripe the perfect fruit,
The law on faithful hearts impress'd,
(A law comprising all the rest,)
Which every grace in man reveals,
Which every word of God fulfils.

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How great its efficacious power
Our lost dominion to restore!
It re-erects His throne in man,
And kings with Christ by love we reign;
Our souls it doth to Christ unite,
It makes Him in our souls delight,
And God is pleased with smiles to own
The Head and members are but one.

The saints alone can understand
How vast the reach of this command,
Which seizes, and refers to God
Whate'er on creatures is bestow'd!
How needful every heart may feel
This duty indispensable,
When God Himself and love are one,
When heaven depends on love alone.

The great command which here we know
Commensurate with life below,
We wait to comprehend above
In raptures of unbounded love,
With that triumphant host to join
In sweetest praise of love Divine
Which, when our mourning days are pass'd
Through all eternity shall last.

559. [O Love Divine, how can it be]

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt, &c. —xxii. 39.

O Love Divine, how can it be
That man should not be lost in Thee!
Yet ah, till Thou Thyself impart
He never finds Thee in his heart;
O could I catch that heavenly fire
Which burns in yon enraptured choir,

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And live on earth the life above,
The life of pure seraphic love!

O Love Divine, of Thee possess'd,
I find an heaven within my breast;
Expanded by Thy power I find
My heart drawn out to all mankind!
The warmth that in my bosom glows
Its origin celestial shows,
The Sun in the illustrious beam,
The Fountain in the crystal stream.

560. [The love of God is found again]

The love of God is found again,
Where'er we find the love of man,
The cause in its effect we see,
And by the fruit discern the tree;
From human to Divine ascend,
Its pattern, principle, and end,
And loving man in God alone,
We feel that both the loves are one.

561. [The two commands are one]

On these two commandments hang all the, &c. —xxii. 40.

The two commands are one:
Ah, give me Lord, to prove
Who loves his God alone
He must his neighbour love;
And what Thine oracles enjoin,
Is all summ'd up in love Divine.

562. [Poor, ignorant, illiterate men]

Poor, ignorant, illiterate men,
We cannot what we feel explain,
But taught, enlighten'd from above,
We know both God and man to love:
'Tis all our training here below,
'Tis all we want in heaven to know,

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'Tis gospel pure which Christ imparts,
'Tis Scripture written on our hearts.

563. [I think Him David's Son]

What think ye of Christ? —xxii. 42.

I think Him David's Son
Whom David Lord doth call:
I think Him God and man in one,
I think Him all in all.

I think Him the Most-High,
Sole, self-existing God,
Made flesh, a sinful world to buy,
And save us through His blood.

I think Him perfect Love
Who groan'd on Calvary:
I more than think His bowels move
To such a worm as me.

I think Him still the same,
My Ransomer Divine;
I think if His through life I am
He is for ever mine.

564. [Priests and infidels may join]

No man was able to answer Him a word. —xxii. 46.

Priests and infidels may join
Messiah to assail:
Great the power of Truth Divine,
And must at last prevail:
Every knee to David's Lord
Shall bow in worship at His throne,
Every tongue the praise record
Of God's eternal Son.

358

CHAPTER XXIII.

565. [The' appointed teachers now]

Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and, &c. —xxiii. 1–3.

The' appointed teachers now
The chair of Moses fill:
To them by Thy command I bow,
Respect, and hear them still:
I hear them read, or preach,
With reverential awe,
And gladly do whate'er they teach
Out of Thy sacred law.

But me Thy word forbids
Implicitly to' obey,
Or do according to their deeds
When from Thy paths they stray:
When Thee their lives despise,
Or contradict Thy word,
I stop my ears, and shut my eyes,
And only mind my Lord.

566. [Modest, not singular in dress]

They make broad their phylacteries, and, &c. —xxiii. 5.

Modest, not singular in dress
Becomes the Christian character:
We stem the torrent of excess,
But not like Pharisees appear:
We cannot scorn the crowd below,
Though simpler in our dress than them,
Or rigidly affect to show
Religion in our garment's hem.

Who boast their forms, without the power,
Their godliness in rituals place;
We seek the living God to' adore
In the true Spirit of His grace,

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By no external badges known
Who Jesus for our Lord receive,
By real holiness alone
Distinguish'd from the world we live.

567. [O may I never dare receive]

Be not ye called Rabbi. —xxiii. 8.

O may I never dare receive
From blind simplicity
The reverence which poor worms would give
To man, instead of Thee!
O may I still their praise reject
Who hang upon my word,
Refuse to lead the' implicit sect,
And send them to their Lord!

568. [Absolute faith, O Lord, I owe]

Call no man your father. —xxiii. 9.

Absolute faith, O Lord, I owe
To Thee and none beside,
Thine only word and Spirit know
My never-erring guide;
Submission absolute I pay
To no commands but Thine;
But taught through man, rejoice to' obey,
The' authority Divine.

569. [We in His ministers and word]

Neither be ye called masters: for One is your, &c. —xxiii. 10.

We in His ministers and word
To Christ alone attend,
Our Master and our only Lord,
Who did from heaven descend:
That Prophet sent of God we hear,
The true eternal Light,
Who gives to souls the hearing ear,
And always speaks aright.

360

Jesus, the Word, the Life, the Way,
The Truth itself Thou art:
Thy quickening voice with power to' obey
Inspires the willing heart;
The strength to walk in all Thy ways
Thou bring'st us from above,
And through the Spirit of Thy grace
We serve the God we love.

570. [Tremble, ye fond of human praise]

Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased. —xxiii. 12.

Tremble, ye fond of human praise,
Who seek, or love, the highest place,
Who rich in sacred honours rise!
Proud of your every grace and gift,
Like Lucifer, yourselves ye lift,
And set your thrones above the skies:

But the Most-High shall cast you down,
If now ye will not fear His frown,
His vengeful wrath ye soon shall feel,
Defeated of your glorious aim,
O'erwhelm'd with everlasting shame,
Debased into the lowest hell.

571. [Myself I cannot humble make]

He that shall humble himself shall be exalted. —xxiii. 12.

Myself I cannot humble make,
Yet may I, Lord, the succour take
Proffer'd, implied, in Thy command;
May lay my haughty looks aside,
Resist the thought engendering pride,
And stoop beneath Thy mighty hand:

If to Thy hand of power I stoop,
Thy hand of love shall lift me up
To heights of holiness unknown,

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Thy love's omnipotence shall raise
The vessel of Thy perfect grace,
And seat me on Thy azure throne.

572. [On simple souls sincere]

Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, &c. —xxiii. 13.

On simple souls sincere
Eight blessings He bestows;
The hypocrites He loads severe
With eight tremendous woes!
Their just desert declares,
Foretells their fearful doom
That warn'd their successors and heirs
May escape the wrath to come.

Ye Scribes and Pharisees,
Who sit in Moses' seat,
Your true succession we confess,
And to your sway submit:
Ye claim the rulers' chair,
But not their chair alone,
Their false religious character
Their woes are all your own.

Who feign a zeal for God,
The God ye never knew,
Ambitious, covetous, and proud,
Ye prove the charge is true:
Ye will not Christ obey,
By grace through faith forgiven,
But still obstruct the royal way,
And block us out of heaven.

The preachers ye defame,
Out of your church expel,

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Forbid to speak in Jesus' name,
And save poor souls from hell:
'Gainst those who flee from sin,
And would be truly poor,
And seek and strive to enter in,
Ye shut the gospel door.

573. [Long forms of prayer ye say]

Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, &c. —xxiii. 14.

Long forms of prayer ye say,
As purposed heaven to buy,
And challenge as your lawful prey
What should the poor supply:
Or lull'd in slothful ease
In honours, pomp, and power,
The church's patrimony seize
And greedily devour.

Insatiate still for more
Ye heap up treasures here;
Ye heap up wrath in larger store
And vengeance more severe.
Ye cast your God behind,
Your souls to Mammon sell,
And at your last translation find
The highest seats in hell.

574. [May I, observant of the least]

Ye . . . have omitted the weightier matters of the law. —xxiii. 23.

May I, observant of the least,
Most careful in the greatest prove,
And show throughout my life express'd
Justice, fidelity, and love.

575. [Hear this, who at a trifle strain]

Ye . . . strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. —xxiii. 24.

Hear this, who at a trifle strain,
So strict—and obstinate—and proud,
Who keep the private rules of men,
And break the open laws of God!

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576. [The witnesses ye praise]

Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, &c. —xxiii. 29–31.

The witnesses ye praise
Long since to glory gone,
Extol the saints of ancient days,
Of all, except your own:
Those murderers of the good
Your ancestors ye blame,
Who shed the blessed martyrs' blood;
And do yourselves the same.

“Ah, no: we disavow
The bloody Popish crew,
We tolerate all religions now,
Or all—except the true!”
Your malice ye deny
In words as smooth as theirs,
And thus yourselves ye testify
Their genuine sons and heirs.

577. [By turning now to Thee our Lord]

How can ye escape the damnation of hell? —xxiii. 33.

By turning now to Thee our Lord,
Though to the brink of Tophet driven,
We all may escape the dreadful word,
We all may fly from hell to heaven.

578. [Ye envious Scribes who tread]

That upon you may come all the righteous, &c. —xxiii. 35.

Ye envious Scribes who tread
The path your fathers trod,
Ye draw their guilt upon your head,
With all the martyrs' blood;
For judgment ripe at last
Ye bring the former down,
Renew the crimes of ages pass'd,
And make them all your own.

364

The blood of Abel cries
To raise your judgment higher;
The blood of Zachary replies,
And echoes back “Require!”
The long-continued chain
Of woes on you shall come,
And saints beneath the altar slain
Demand your instant doom.

579. [Thou Holy One and Just]

Thou Holy One and Just,
By envious brethren slain,
We in Thy blood of sprinkling trust
Which purges every stain;
Which speaks the better things,
Which speaks our sins forgiven,
And heaven to all our souls it brings,
And all our souls to heaven.

Our zealous great High-Priest
By Zachary foreshown,
Whom, for Thy love of truth oppress'd,
We our Redeemer own;
Thy goodness we admire
Which bade Thy murderers live;
The type in death cried out, Require,
The Antitype Forgive!

580. [How kindly, Lord, dost Thou lament]

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! —xxiii. 37.

How kindly, Lord, dost Thou lament
Their sinful misery,
Who will not, while they may, repent,
And Thy salvation see!

365

Jerusalem, whoe'er deny,
Jerusalem shall prove
Thou wouldst not have one sinner die
Excluded from Thy love.

581. [How often who can tell!]

How often would I have gathered thy children! —xxiii. 37.

How often who can tell!
The heights of love unknown,
The depths unsearchable
Are hid in Christ alone:
But shelter'd now within
My dear Redeemer's breast,
Secure from hell and sin
I shall for ever rest.

582. [“I would, and ye would not,”]

I would, . . . and ye would not. —xxiii. 37.

“I would, and ye would not,”
What daring blasphemy,
For reprobates so dearly bought
To charge their death on Thee!
But O, before they die,
The reprobates forgive,
And by Thy gracious will may I
With them for ever live.

583. [YOUR house, no longer Mine]

Behold; your house is left unto you desolate. &c. —xxiii. 38, 39.

YOUR house, no longer Mine,
Lo, to yourselves I leave,
My flock forsake, My charge resign,
And to destruction give!
The desolating curse
Doth still alas take place,
And hunts throughout the universe
The long-rejected race.

366

But O, they shall once more
Their slighted Saviour see,
With joyful hearts at last adore,
And own that Thou art He!
Come, Lord, and quickly come,
The long-lost sheep to find,
And call Thine ancient people home
To quicken all mankind.

CHAPTER XXIV.

584. [In justice to a sinful race]

There shall not be left . . . one stone upon, &c. —xxiv. 2.

In justice to a sinful race,
Their glorious temple He destroy'd,
In mercy He removed the place
Which kept them from their Saviour-God;
In mystery He the old o'erthrew,
Worship, and priests, and sacrifice,
Himself the House, the Victim new,
The great High-Priest who never dies.

585. [I ask not, Lord, when time shall end]

Tell us, when shall these things be? and what, &c. —xxiv. 3.

I ask not, Lord, when time shall end,
Assured it soon shall end with me:
But lo Thy coming I attend,
To fit me for eternity,
Before my soul and body part,
To fix Thy kingdom in my heart.

Let others, curious to inquire,
The signs of Thy appearing show;
Saviour, 'tis all my heart's desire,
Thy Spirit's reigning grace to know;

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O could I now my Lord obey,
O could I live for God to-day!

586. [Who slights the warning word]

Jesus . . . said, . . . Take heed that no man deceive you. —xxiv. 4.

Who slights the warning word,
And no deception fears,
Confounds the servants of the Lord
With Satan's messengers:
The prophets old and new,
The saints' and Gnostics' dream,
Apostles false, apostles true
Are all alike to him.

Jesus, Thy wisdom give,
And bid my heart beware
That no false witness may deceive,
Or take me in his snare:
O may I ne'er confide
In spirits unproved, unknown,
But trust in my unerring Guide,
And in Thy word alone.

587. [They call'd the miracles He wrought]

Many shall come in My name, saying, &c. —xxiv. 5.

They call'd the miracles He wrought
Illusions wrought by Satan's aid,
Living, a vile impostor thought,
And styled Him a deceiver, dead:
Their faith was all to Jesus due;
And when they would not Him receive,
Rejecting the Messiah true,
'Twas just they should the false believe.

588. [The grace if men refuse to' improve]

The grace if men refuse to' improve,
Nor will a gospel preacher heed,
Justice which doth the first remove,
Permits an hireling to succeed:

368

Them that despise a pastor good
The Lord to bold seducers leaves,
And then the headlong multitude
Satan instead of Christ receives.

589. [Pretenders to the Spirit rise]

Many false prophets shall rise, and shall, &c. —xxiv. 11.

Pretenders to the Spirit rise
In every age and place,
And prophets false who uttering lies
The Christian cause disgrace:
Many forget the snare foretold
And think their ravings true;
But who believe the prophets old
Will never trust the new.

590. [That universal love sincere]

The love of many shall wax cold. —xxiv. 12.

That universal love sincere
Where is it to be found?
Out of the mouth of most we hear
The word's unmeaning sound:
But O, how few the saints that know
Their Saviour's perfect mind,
Whose hearts with charity o'erflow
To all the ransom'd kind!

If my own party I approve,
And cleave to my own sect,
Holding the few with partial love,
The many I reject;
My nature's narrowness I feel,
Myself I blindly seek,
And still a slave in Babel dwell,
A shackled schismatic.

369

O that the Spirit of our Lord
Might set His prisoners free,
Might speak the sectaries restored
To glorious liberty!
O that the catholic love Divine
Shed in our hearts abroad
Might all our jangling parties join,
And swallow up all in God!

591. [The saving work Thou hast begun]

He that shall endure unto the end, the same, &c. —xxiv. 13.

The saving work Thou hast begun
Thou only, Lord, canst carry on
Unto the perfect day:
In humble hope to persevere
O may I always watch and fear,
O may I always pray.

On Thee I faithfully depend
To bless me with a peaceful end,
When all my griefs are pass'd:
In mercy then my soul require,
Let me be saved out of the fire,
Let me be saved at last.

592. [Good news of sin forgiven]

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached, &c. —xxiv. 14.

Good news of sin forgiven,
Of justice, joy, and peace,
The kingdom of an inward heaven,
With everlasting bliss,
This every soul may prove
Who hears the gospel call,
Which testifies the Father's love
That gave His Son to all.

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But O, what numbers turn
The blessing into bane,
The heavenly testimony scorn,
And Christ Himself disdain!
Through wilful malice blind,
The life is death to them,
The word to save their souls design'd
Serves only to condemn.

593. [While God His judgments sure defers]

Let him which is on the housetop not, &c. —xxiv. 17, 18.

While God His judgments sure defers,
Sinner, thy grasp of earth let go,
Nor load thyself with worldly cares,
Nor stop to seek thy good below;
The perishable goods forsake,
While yet thou may'st the mountain find,
Escape for life, nor once look back,
Nor leave one lingering wish behind.

594. [The sinner big with creature love]

Woe unto them that are with child, and to, &c. —xxiv. 19.

The sinner big with creature love,
With worldly hopes, designs, desires,
Will not from earth his heart remove,
Till God his wretched soul requires:
The soft, effeminate soul, employ'd
To nurse and please its body here,
How can it 'scape the wrath of God,
When summon'd at His bar to' appear!

595. [What fatal madness to delay]

Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, &c. —xxiv. 20.

What fatal madness to delay
Our flight from sin and wrath Divine,
To linger till the winter's day
And age's languishing decline!

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How shall we then the work begin,
Make ourselves ready to depart,
Or disengage from earth and sin
A barren, cold, inactive heart?

Saviour, Thy weak disciple hear,
Presenting my enjoin'd request:
I feel the chilling winter near,
And seek for shelter in Thy breast:
My soul with active faith supply,
Ere yet the helpless season come,
And let me to Thy bosom fly,
My Sun, my everlasting Home.

596. [The Lord to save His chosen care]

For the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. —xxiv. 22.

The Lord to save His chosen care,
Hasten'd devoted Salem's fate;
Lest press'd above what they could bear,
His church should faint beneath the weight,
He seal'd the bloody city's doom,
And let the sword and fire consume.

When Antichrist erects his throne
And fills the earth with daring crimes,
The Lord, in favour of His own
Exposed to those tremendous times,
Shall shorten the last pontiff's reign,
And chase him back to hell again.

How safe beneath Thy wings we rest,
The people that belong to Thee!
Jesus, with Thy protection bless'd,
The Christian world's apostasy
We see, long since begun, and grieve
And closer to Thy bosom cleave.

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Our strength shall with our trials last;
Thy word irrevocably sure
Shall keep till every storm is pass'd,
And make us faithful to endure,
Or from the dangerous day remove
The objects of Thy choicest love.

597. [They bear the spurious character]

Lo, here is Christ, or there. —xxiv. 23.

They bear the spurious character,
Who say that Christ is only here!
“We are the church of Christ possess'd;
Heathens and infidels the rest!”
But taught of God His people know
He freely doth Himself bestow,
On every church, to none confined,
Saviour, and Lord of all mankind.

598. [Wonders and signs by Satan's aid]

There shall arise false Christs, and false, &c. —xxiv. 24.

Wonders and signs by Satan's aid
The prophets false may show,
Our faithful souls on Jesus stay'd
They never shall o'erthrow:
They might the' elect themselves deceive,
Had He not spoke the word,
But now the tools of hell we leave
Contending with our Lord.

699. [Yes, Thou hast told Thy church before]

Behold, I have told you before. —xxiv. 25.

Yes, Thou hast told Thy church before,
And didst not warn in vain:
Thy warning brings us gracious power
The trial to sustain:
His agents still let Satan send
To preach or prophesy,

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We on Thy faithful love depend,
And all his wiles defy.

600. [Slight who ever bid you quit]

If they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in, &c. —xxiv. 26.

Slight who ever bid you quit
The work by God assign'd;
Christ thereby you cannot meet,
Or in the desert find:
Prophets false believe them not;
To gain your Lord ye need not dwell
In the lonely hermit's grot
Or close monastic cell.

Must you wander far and near
To see the lightning shine?
Anxious there inquire, and here,
To know that Christ is thine?
Christ descending from above
Shall find thee out where'er thou art;
Comes the kingdom of His love
To every waiting heart.

601. [The faith opposed by all mankind]

As the lightning cometh out of the east, &c. —xxiv. 27.

The faith opposed by all mankind,
By all the powers of hell,
Did soon a ready passage find
And o'er the earth prevail:
Resistless, swift from east to west
The gospel-lightning flew,
The proselyted world confess'd
The joyful tidings true.

But Christ shall work at His return
A speedier work of grace,
While nations by His Spirit born
Their Lord at once embrace:

374

Heathens and Turks shall both receive
Whom God to both hath given,
And Jews themselves shall then believe
The glorious sign from heaven.

602. [Quick as the darted lightning flies]

Quick as the darted lightning flies,
Flashing at once throughout the skies,
Saviour, Thou wilt on earth appear,
To 'stablish Thy dominion here:

Before the final, general doom,
We know, Thou wilt to judgment come,
Thy foes destroy, Thy friends maintain,
And glorious with Thine ancients reign.

Now, even now Thy saints attend,
To see Thee on the clouds descend!
Now, Lord, assert Thy right Divine,
And challenge all the world for Thine.

603. [Lured by the grateful scent of blood]

Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the, &c. —xxiv. 28.

Lured by the grateful scent of blood,
With instinct from above endued,
The eagles their commission knew,
To death-devoted Salem flew,
And gathering where the carcase lay,
The Roman hosts devour'd their prey.

But lo, a deeper mystery
We in yon sacred Body see!
The bleeding marks of death it bears,
'Tis cover'd still with glorious scars!
His wounded feet, and hands, and side,
And cross proclaim the Crucified!

Thither the saints shall soon repair
When flames His standard in the air,

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With bodies spiritual remove
From earth, and seek the realms above;
On eagles' wings mount up and fly
To Jesus gather'd in the sky.

604. [When shall the' imperial standard spread]

Then shall appear the sign of the Son of, &c. —xxiv. 30, 31.

When shall the' imperial standard spread
Its crimson through the skies?
To meet their great triumphant Head
When shall the members rise?
Gazing, Thy church, and listening stands:
We long to see Thee crown'd:
Now, Lord, send forth Thine angel-bands,
And bid the trumpet sound.

605. [I know the Judge is always near]

Know that it is near, even at the doors. —xxiv. 33.

I know the Judge is always near,
His summons vibrates in my ear,
While at His feet I bow;
Attentive to the solemn sound,
No more by noisy passions drown'd,
I hear the trumpet now.

O may I ever more advert
To mercy speaking in my heart,
By Jesus' word pursued,
Stirr'd up to never-ceasing prayer,
Warn'd by the voice that cries, Prepare,
Prepare to meet thy God!

Thus would I watch till life is o'er,
Till Jesus standing at the door
The door throws open wide,
A kingdom to His servant gives,
And every ready soul receives
To triumph at His side.

376

606. [Stands the promise of our Lord]

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but &c. —xxiv. 35.

Stands the promise of our Lord
On which our souls are cast,
Every sure prophetic word
Shall earth and heaven outlast:
Pass away the earth and sky,
Nothing shall our hopes confound;
All who trust His word rely
On an eternal ground.

When Thy Spirit we receive,
Thy sayings He reveals,
Truly Lord we then believe
The lively oracles,
Know, that thus the Lord hath said,
And vanquish'd by Thy truth and power,
Reason at Thy feet is laid,
And faith requires no more.

607. [Why hath God conceal'd the day]

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, &c. —xxiv. 36.

Why hath God conceal'd the day
When He will to judgment come?
That we every moment may
Stand prepared to meet our doom,
For the trumpet's sound attend,
Watch to see our Judge descend.

Yet the curious pride of man
Dares into the secret pry,
Listens to predictions vain,
Dreams which give our God the lie,
Prophets who the day foreshow,
Tell what only God can know.

Them Thy wrath, most righteous Lord,
To their own delusions leaves;

377

Every bold impostor's word
Then the' unstable souls deceives,
Doting, blind credulity
Plagues their unbelief of Thee.

Lord from such we turn away,
Trust to be through grace alone
Kept to that uncertain day,
To that awful hour unknown,
Following after righteousness,
Found at last in perfect peace.

608. [The watery flood destroy'd]

As the days of Noe were, so shall also, &c. —xxiv. 37.

The watery flood destroy'd
A world that knew not God:
But an heavier plague to come
Our flagitious crimes require;
Earth shall soon receive her doom,
Deluged with a flood of fire.

Thy judgment is reveal'd,
The time from man conceal'd;
Yet His saints the signs shall know
When their Lord will soon appear,
When the floods of sin o'erflow,
Then they find that Christ is near.

609. [Millions go smoothly on]

As in the days that were before the flood, &c. —xxiv. 38, 39.

Millions go smoothly on
By lawful things undone,
Life's most innocent affairs
Keep them fatally employ'd,
Pleasure, and bewildering cares
Make the world forget their God.

To earthly things they cleave,
The life of nature live,

378

Sleep in sin, till death oppress:
Judged they then lift up their eyes,
Toss'd on ever-flaming seas,
Gnaw'd by guilt that never dies!

O that my life might be
Devoted all to Thee!
Lord I would Thy warning take,
Tremble at Thy vengeful power,
Up to righteousness awake,
Stand in awe and sin no more.

Preserve my conscience pure,
And give me faith to' endure,
Humble hope and love sincere:
Then I cannot dread surprise,
Glad to see Thy judgments near,
Sure to meet Thee in the skies.

610. [The vigilance our Lord demands]

Watch therefore: for ye know not what, &c. —xxiv. 42.

The vigilance our Lord demands
Asks all our time, and hearts, and hands,
Our patient toil, our active zeal,
Our utmost strife to do His will:
By faith, and penitence, and prayer,
We for that unknown hour prepare,
By reaching toward the things above,
By humblest fear and warmest love.

611. [The felon comes our souls to steal]

If the goodman of the house had known, &c. —xxiv. 43.

The felon comes our souls to steal,
The hellish murderer to kill:
O may he find us still prepared
For ever standing on our guard!
Jesus preserve from sloth and sin,
Keep Thy own house by entering in:

379

The sole Proprietor Thou art,
The Lord and Master of my heart.

612. [Know the wise and faithful servant]

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, &c. —xxiv. 45.

Know the wise and faithful servant,
Mark the gospel minister!
Warm in zeal, in spirit fervent,
Watching till his Lord appear,
Fully proving his commission,
Ready at his Master's call,
Feeding souls with Christ's provision,
Ministering the grace to all.

613. [Full of earnest expectation]

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, &c. —xxiv. 46.

Full of earnest expectation,
Look we for our heavenly Lord,
Working out our own salvation,
Labouring for a full reward:
Happy, in the task assign'd us
If we still our lives employ,
Labouring on if Jesus find us,
We shall share our Master's joy.

614. [The servant faithful once and wise]

But and if that evil servant shall say, &c. —xxiv. 48, 49.

The servant faithful once and wise
Who forfeits all his faith and grace,
A fool in heart, his God denies,
If Christ his punishment delays,
And fearless of the' apostate's doom
The Judge, he cries, will never come.

As lord he o'er his fellows reigns,
With violence and oppressive power,
His proud authority maintains,
(As ravenous wolves the flock devour,)

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Compels his equals to submit
And treads the weak beneath his feet.

Companion to the world he lives,
The wealthy glutton's constant guest,
His jests profane with smiles receives,
And graces every drunken feast:
And thus for precious souls he cares,
And thus for his account prepares!

615. [To judge the wretch in sin secure]

The lord of that servant shall come, &c. —xxiv. 50, 51.

To judge the wretch in sin secure,
His angry unexpected Lord
Shall come in sudden death and sure,
Shall slay him with His righteous sword,
And send him to his place below,
The mansions of infernal woe.

Cut off from those he once oppress'd
His colleagues in the church of God,
Far from the saints and spirits bless'd,
He finds his suitable abode,
Condemn'd with hypocrites to dwell,
In fiercest flames of deepest hell.

What hypocrite so base as he
The slave of sloth and avarice,
Ambition, pride, and cruelty,
Of every lust and every vice;
Yet still audacious to declare
Himself—a Christian minister!

His life of soft luxurious ease,
Of sports and sensible delights,
Of mirth, and riotous excess,
Revolting days, and frantic nights,

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In fellowship with torturing fiends,
In endless lamentations ends!

616. [A wicked priest to hell consign'd]

A wicked priest to hell consign'd
Demands the hottest torments there:
But every soul his lot shall find,
Who makes not God and heaven his care:
And thou that evil servant art,
Who wilt not give to Christ thy heart.

Who dost that awful day forget,
As Christ thy Lord would ne'er appear,
Thy brethren wrongfully entreat,
And live in sin and pleasure here,
Surprised by death, expect thy hire,
Thy portion in eternal fire.

So dear thy sinful pleasures cost
Which but for one short moment last;
Thou know'st too late, that all is lost
When into flaming sulphur cast
To gnaw thy tongue, and gnash thy teeth,
And die that everlasting death.

CHAPTER XXV.

617. [Happy they and truly wise]

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. —xxv. 2.

Happy they and truly wise
Who for that day prepare,
Ready at Thy call to rise,
And meet Thee in the air:

382

Fools in misery they live
Who bear the Christian name in vain,
Seldom seek and never strive
Eternal life to gain.

618. [Who a bare profession make]

They that were foolish took their lamps, &c. —xxv. 3.

Who a bare profession make
Their want of wisdom prove,
Empty lamps alas, they take
Without the oil of love,
Hearts with holiness unstored;
Professors void of purity,
Such can never face their Lord,
Or God in glory see.

619. [Empty the lamp, till Thou impart]

And took no oil with them. —xxv. 3.

Empty the lamp, till Thou impart
Thy Spirit from above;
Now, Saviour, pour into my heart
The oil of joy and love.

620. [Son of God, 'tis Thine alone]

But the wise took oil in their vessels with, &c. —xxv. 4.

Son of God, 'tis Thine alone
The oil of joy to give:
Every soul Thou call'st Thine own
Doth out of Thee receive:
Empty is my vessel still
Till Thou the Comforter impart;
Out of Thine abundance fill
With grace my happy heart.

621. [Lo, the heavenly Bridegroom comes!]

At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, &c. —xxv. 6.

Lo, the heavenly Bridegroom comes!
Roused by the midnight cry,

383

Go ye forth out of your tombs,
And meet Him in the sky:
Sinners tremble at His voice,
Arraign'd before the Judge severe;
Saints with endless joy rejoice
To see your King appear.

622. [All, the awful Judge to see]

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed, &c. —xxv. 7.

All, the awful Judge to see,
Out of their graves shall rise;
Wise unto salvation he
Whom death cannot surprise:
Wretched souls that sleep in sin,
That unprepared till death remain!
All who then their work begin,
Begin their work in vain.

623. [Desperate is the sinner's case]

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give, &c. —xxv. 8.

Desperate is the sinner's case,
Whose soul and body part,
Then to know his want of grace,
His unbelief of heart.
Token of eternal night
To find within the hellish void,
Quench'd his every ray of light,
His every spark of God!

Fools themselves the just esteem
Whom once they counted mad,
Wish that they had lived like them
Who Jesus' word obey'd:
Fully now convinced they are,
And wisdom with her sons approve,

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Wish (but ah, too late) to share
Their humble faith and love.

624. [No; the rich in faith who most]

But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest, &c. —xxv. 9.

No; the rich in faith who most
Of Jesus' grace possess,
Chief of saints they dare not boast
Superfluous holiness;
All they can in life obtain
Will barely for themselves suffice,
Meet at last through Christ to gain
A mansion in the skies.

What would dying sinners give
To purchase charity!
Sinners when ye cease to live
On earth it cannot be;
Whither will ye turn at last,
Or which of all the saints implore?
Now your gracious day is pass'd,
And time is now no more.

625. [How dreadful is the sinner's fate]

The door was shut. —xxv. 10.

How dreadful is the sinner's fate,
Who wakes, to sleep no more,
Who knocks and calls, alas, too late,
When death hath shut the door!

626. [But we who now Thy grace implore]

Lord, Lord, open to us. —xxv. 11.

But we who now Thy grace implore
Shall now admitted be,
For if Thy justice shut the door,
Thy mercy keeps the key.

385

627. [God is love and holiness]

He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, &c. —xxv. 12.

God is love and holiness,
And only can approve
Saints who Jesus' mind express,
Who Him in Jesus love:
God doth in His Son delight
And all that His resemblance bear,
Leaves the rest to endless night
And blackness of despair.

628. [Left in dark uncertainty]

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the, &c. —xxv. 13.

Left in dark uncertainty
Of that tremendous day,
This our whole employment be
To watch, expect, and pray;
Son of Man, bestow the power,
And when Thou dost to judgment come,
Find us looking for the hour,
And take Thy servants home.

629. [Jesus the King of earth and heaven]

The kingdom of heaven is as a man, &c. —xxv. 14.

Jesus the King of earth and heaven
Returning from His realms below,
The gifts by His great Father given
Did on His servants here bestow:
He put His goods into their hands,
In trust to be for Him employ'd,
And faithful to their Lord's commands,
Bade all improve the gifts of God.

630. [After His own almighty power]

And unto one he gave five talents, to another, &c. —xxv. 15.

After His own almighty power
His riches He vouchsafed to give,
Distributing or less or more,
As each was able to receive:

386

Talents to some above the rest
The God of grace and nature gave:
But whoso hath obtain'd the least
Hath got a precious soul to save.

On every child of Adam's race
His Spirit He in part conferr'd,
That each might profit by the grace,
And gain an adequate reward:
Leaving the gifts received for men
He then ascended up on high;
“Till I appear on earth again,”
(His parting word was) “Occupy!”

631. [Happy who knows the Master's will]

Then he that had received the five talents, &c. —xxv. 16.

Happy who knows the Master's will,
His talents faithfully improves,
Exerts his utmost strength and skill,
To serve and please the God he loves:
His strength and skill are not his own,
His zeal industrious he receives,
And all the praise to Christ alone
Of talents, and their use he gives.

Who is that servant good and wise
That trades with most assured success?
The man who life and strength employs
To' advance the cause of godliness:
With gifts of nature or of grace
With learning or with wit endow'd
With wealth or power; in every place
He spends them all to serve his God.

632. [Who to the poor and needy gives]

Likewise he that had received two, he also, &c. —xxv. 17.

Who to the poor and needy gives,
Daily augments his sacred store:

387

Who uses well what he receives
From Christ is still receiving more:
Who grows in grace and Jesus' love,
May gladly count his present gain,
And when he sees his Lord above
Shall in that sight his heaven obtain.

633. [He that hath least to do for God]

But he that had received one, went, &c. —xxv. 18.

He that hath least to do for God,
And sunk in sloth will nothing do,
He keeps his talent unemploy'd,
His faith by works neglects to show:
His talent might another gain;
But one of small capacity,
He will not do the good he can:
Reader, is this the case with thee?

634. [God is not slack; if long He stay]

After a long time, the lord of those servants, &c. —xxv. 19.

God is not slack; if long He stay
He surely will return at last,
And call His servants in that day
To reckon for their actions past:
What have we gain'd ourselves, or done
For others, through His gifts enjoy'd,
Or how improved for Him alone
The various graces of our God?

635. [Who walking like their Saviour here]

And so he that had received five talents, came, &c. —xxv. 20.

Who walking like their Saviour here
Rejoiced in active good to live,
Shall boldly at His bar appear
Their joyful sentence to receive:
With more or fewer talents bless'd
Shall thankfully to Christ restore
The glory of His grace increased,
And prostrate at His throne adore.

388

636. [Happy whom God vouchsafes to praise]

His lord said unto him, Well done, &c. —xxv. 21.

Happy whom God vouchsafes to praise
As a wise steward of his Lord!
Faithful and good in more or less,
He wins a full immense reward:
And all the crown of life may gain,
Which freely Christ bestows on His,
And purchased by His mortal pain
Enter into their Master's bliss.

How disproportionate the toil
And recompence by mercy given,
When Christ doth on His servants smile,
And owns before the host of heaven!
Whate'er on earth we do or bear
With patience of unwearied love,
We count not worthy to compare
With all that rapturous joy above.

637. [My faithfulness I cannot see]

My faithfulness I cannot see,
My goodness is unknown to me,
And be it, Lord, unknown,
So Thou the Giver of all grace
In that great day Thy servant praise
For what Thyself hast done.

638. [Transporting word for all that hear!]

His lord said unto him . . . enter thou into, &c. —xxv. 23.

Transporting word for all that hear!
But none can hear it spoke below:
When Jesus bids His saints draw near,
They then His heavenly joy shall know:
The joy of Christ for ever bless'd
Is in His Father's bosom found:

389

And there we one with Christ shall rest,
With everlasting glories crown'd.

The earnest of that joy supreme
He here doth to His saints impart:
A drop of heaven derived from Him,
Enters the true believing heart:
But entering there our happiest state,
We bathe in that unbounded sea,
Immersed in bliss Divinely great,
Implunged through all eternity.

639. [He never knew his Lord aright]

I knew thee that thou art an hard man, &c. —xxv. 24.

He never knew his Lord aright
Who thinks Him rigorous and austere,
Who thinks our God can take delight
In mocking His poor creatures here,
Deny to most His special grace,
Impossibilities require,
And doom the non-performing race,
As Sovereign, to eternal fire.

640. [Nay; but His seed He often sows]

Reaping where thou hast not sown, &c. —xxv. 24.

Nay; but His seed He often sows
In hearts that yield Him no increase,
And gathers where His grace He strows,
No kindly fruits of righteousness:
A power his talent to improve
To every child of man He gave;
And all may serve the God of love,
And yield, that Christ their souls should save.

641. [How base the inconsistent fear]

And I was afraid, and went, and hid thy, &c. —xxv. 25.

How base the inconsistent fear
Of him that doth his talent hide!

390

He dreads a reckoning more severe,
Yet dares in ignorance abide:
Neglectful of his Lord's commands,
He aims at doing good to none,
And not till death he understands
That sloth and wickedness are one.

642. [The harmless inoffensive man]

His lord answered . . . Thou wicked and, &c. —xxv. 26.

The harmless inoffensive man
Is cast before the bar of God,
Cast by his own excuses vain
For not performing what he could:
And, burying that preventing grace,
Who justly perish unforgiven,
Shall mix'd with fiends in groans confess
They might have sung with saints in heaven.

643. [Master, I with shame confess]

Thou wicked and slothful servant. —xxv. 26.

Master, I with shame confess
Sloth is the worst wickedness;
The worst wickedness is mine,
Idle in the work Divine,
Doing neither good, nor ill,
If I hide my talent still,
Till I find the time is pass'd,
Perish in my sins at last.

644. [Why am I stripp'd of all my power?]

From him that hath not shall be taken, &c. —xxv. 29.

Why am I stripp'd of all my power?
My Lord by long neglect I grieved:
I would not use, or strive for more,
And lost by sloth the grace received:
I did not in His knowledge grow,
Or labour after holiness,

391

And thus I let my pardon go,
And thus I forfeited my peace.

645. [Why was he doom'd to endless pain?]

Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer, &c. —xxv. 30.

Why was he doom'd to endless pain?
He did not what he might have done,
Received the grace of God in vain,
As given him for himself alone:
His talent small he did not waste:
He did not use it for his Lord,
But loiter'd on till time was pass'd,
And found in hell his just reward.

The soul is unto Tophet thrust,
Consign'd to everlasting pain,
For that, on which the many trust
Assured salvation to obtain:
And O, what crowds his doom shall feel,
Who keep their talents unemploy'd,
Shut out from heaven, shut up in hell
For doing neither harm nor good!

646. [If God the slothful wretch reject]

If God the slothful wretch reject
That hides a single gift or grace,
What punishment may they expect
Who might do good to half our race!
Who all their time and fortune lose:
Who not contented to conceal,
Their talents manifold abuse;
They claim for theirs the deepest hell.

647. [Awed by the righteous doom of them]

Awed by the righteous doom of them
That perish through neglect of grace,
The time we labour to redeem,
Yet cannot boast our faithfulness:

392

If we Thy talents occupy
Useful to man we here may be;
But still, O God, we live and die
Unprofitable all to Thee.

648. [To fix the universal doom]

Then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory. —xxv. 31.

To fix the universal doom,
The Son of Man shall bow the sky,
With all His holy angels come,
With all His Father's majesty!
All nations in that day shall meet,
Arraign'd at His tremendous bar,
Behold Him on His judgment seat:
And O, my soul, shalt thou be there?

649. [The wicked and the just]

He shall separate them. —xxv. 32.

The wicked and the just
Till then together stay:
But O, the saints and sinners must
Be parted at that day;
Sever'd the tares and wheat,
The goats and sheep shall be,
Never again to mix, or meet
Through all eternity.

650. [They shall be number'd with the sheep]

He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but, &c. —xxv. 33.

They shall be number'd with the sheep,
And found on the right hand,
Who hear the Shepherd's voice, and keep
His every kind command.
Ah, give me now Thy voice to hear,
And mark me with Thy sign,
And when Thou dost as Judge appear,
Acknowledge me for Thine.

393

651. [Here on earth He bids us come]

Come, ye blessed. —xxv. 34.

Here on earth He bids us come
Weary to Himself for rest,
There receives His brethren home,
Makes, whom He pronounces, bless'd,
Crowns with immortality,
Gives the joy prepared for me.

Saviour now to Thee I cry,
Come, and all my heart possess,
Then returning in the sky
Call me to Thy happiness,
Bid me at Thy side sit down
Partner of Thy heavenly throne.

652. [Every charitable deed]

I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat. —xxv. 35.

Every charitable deed
Is then accounted good,
When it freely doth proceed
From faith in Jesus' blood:
All our works which flow from love
He owns as done unto the Lord,
With His smile vouchsafes to' approve,
And with His heaven reward.

Mercy's outward works who show
Their recompence receive:
Shall they unrewarded go,
Who needy souls relieve?
Those who ministering His grace
Supply the' immortal spirit's wants,
Labour for the sin-sick race,
And sinners turn to saints!

394

This till Christ pronounce me bless'd,
My whole employment be,
Still to succour the distress'd
In whom my Lord I see;
Strangers without clothes or food,
Into my house and heart to take,
Share the sickly prisoner's load
For my Redeemer's sake.

But I more than all would know
Afflicted souls to ease,
Grieved at every shape of woe
And spiritual distress,
Seek with sympathising care,
And kindly tend the sick of sin,
Feed the poor and clothe the bare,
And bring the wanderer in.

Joyful news I would proclaim
To spirits in prison bound,
Tell them, freedom through Thy name
And in Thy blood is found:
Jesus Thy compassion give,
And touch'd with sinners' misery,
All I shall assist, relieve,
By sending all to Thee.

For a moment's labour here
And by Thy Spirit done,
When Thou dost as Judge appear,
Thou wilt Thy servant own,
With the heavenly manna feed,
Bid me on Thy fulness feast,
Drinking at the fountain-head,
And lodging in Thy breast.

395

653. [I want that unreflecting love]

When saw we Thee an hungred? —xxv. 37.

I want that unreflecting love
Which simply Thy command obeys,
(Content, if Thou at last approve,)
Nor fondly on the action stays:
Still would I my own good forget,
Which is not, gracious Lord, my own,
Till Thou Thy servant's works repeat,
And praise me for what grace had done.

654. [To Christ who would not gladly give]

Ye have done it unto Me. —xxv. 40.

To Christ who would not gladly give
Raiment, or food, or ease,
And in His substitutes relieve
His Saviour in distress?
Saviour, where'er conceal'd Thou art,
Thee may I plainly see,
And always bear it on my heart,
“Ye did it unto Me!”

655. [Not for the wretched sons of men]

Prepared for the devil and his angels. —xxv. 41.

Not for the wretched sons of men
Was Tophet first prepared,
Intruders into hellish pain,
They snatch the fiends' reward:
If just, as well as good, Thou art,
Thy vengeance they require,
And force Thee, Lord, to say, “Depart
Into eternal fire!”

656. [Equal and just are all Thy ways!]

Ye did it not to Me. —xxv. 45.

Equal and just are all Thy ways!
For ever banish'd from Thy sight,
The wicked shall at last confess,
The Judge of all the earth doth right:

396

Justly Thine utmost wrath they prove,
Who would not Thy salvation see,
Refused the faith producing love,
And in Thy poor neglected Thee.

657. [Most gracious, most tremendous Lord]

These shall go away into everlasting, &c. —xxv. 46.

Most gracious, most tremendous Lord,
The sentence which proceeds from Thee,
For punishment, or for reward,
Must stand through all eternity:
Our states assign'd by wrath, or love,
Shall neither change, nor period know,
But long as saints rejoice above,
Unhappy souls shall howl below.

CHAPTER XXVI.

658. [He now had taught the favour'd race]

When Jesus had finished all these sayings, &c. —xxvi. 1.

He now had taught the favour'd race,
His final full instructions given,
Convinced by miracles of grace,
Mark'd out the' unerring way to heaven,
An all-complete example shown,
And lived on earth for them alone.

One only proof doth yet remain
His zeal for man to testify,
To crown His life of love and pain,
The Lamb prepares Himself to die,
To ransom sinners by His blood,
And bring them sanctified to God.

397

659. [Truth of the Paschal sacrifice]

Ye know that after two days is . . . the passover, &c. —xxvi. 2.

Truth of the Paschal sacrifice,
Both passovers He joins in one,
That all our offerings may arise
With His united to the throne,
That we may suffer with our Head,
And love the cross where Jesus bled.

660. [He with Divine tranquillity]

He with Divine tranquillity
Foretells His death of pain and shame,
But spares who nail Him to the tree,
Forbears His cruel foes to blame;
The Son of Man hereby confess'd
The Son of God, for ever bless'd.

O could we with His calmness meet
Our destined share of grief and woe,
Meek as our Lord the men entreat
With love, who bitter hatred show,
Only to God their names declare,
And bless them in our dying prayer.

661. [Love as generous as sincere]

There came . . . a woman having an alabaster, &c. —xxvi. 7.

Love as generous as sincere,
Not by words but actions proved,
Doth to Jesus minister,
Pours the oil on its Beloved:
Who the use of riches know,
Who a precious Christ esteem,
They their all on Him bestow,
All too mean a gift for Him.

662. [Men who never care for God]

They had indignation, saying, To what, &c. —xxvi. 8.

Men who never care for God
Never for His worship care,

398

Count as lost the gifts bestow'd
On the' external house of prayer:
Yet our Lord the nard receives
Author of religion pure,
Yet the precedent He leaves
Shall from age to age endure.

663. [The poor supply Thy place]

Ye have the poor always with you. —xxvi. 11.

The poor supply Thy place,
Deputed, Lord, by Thee,
To exercise our grace,
Our faith and charity,
And what to Thee in them is given,
Is laid up for ourselves in heaven.

664. [Let me thus her zeal record]

There shall also this . . . be told for a memorial, &c. —xxvi. 13.

Let me thus her zeal record,
Thus my own for Jesus prove,
Render to my dearest Lord
All I prize, and all I love,
Him embalm with contrite tears,
Him perfume with humble sighs,
Till the rising God appears,
Mounts, and draws me to the skies.

665. [Who would not start from avarice]

What will ye give me, and I will deliver, &c. —xxvi. 15.

Who would not start from avarice
Which paves the way to hell,
Which tempts us at so vile a price
Our Saviour-God to sell?
Thy only love can rescue me:
Jesus, Thy love impart,
And chase the cursed idolatry,
The Judas from my heart.

399

666. [When once we let the tempter in]

From that time he sought opportunity, &c. —xxvi. 16.

When once we let the tempter in
And cast our God behind,
The opportunity to sin
Sure as we seek we find:
Satan the' occasion will present,
Lead to the pleasing snare,
Employ his forward instrument,
And plunge us in despair.

667. [True followers of their Lord]

Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee, &c. —xxvi. 17.

True followers of their Lord,
To Christ who closest cleave,
They trust His providential word
For all they here receive:
Unknowing how or where
He will their wants supply,
In faith they cast on Him their care,
In peace they live, and die.

668. [The time of death and pain]

The Master saith, My time is at hand. —xxvi. 18.

The time of death and pain
Our Master calls His own,
Who came our sorrows to sustain,
And groan our mortal groan:
And we who call Him Head
In Jesus' footsteps move,
His suffering life on earth we lead,
His blissful life above.

669. [The root of every ill]

One of you shall betray Me. —xxvi. 21.

The root of every ill
Thine eye discerns in me,
The wandering of my sinful will,
My inbred treachery:

400

Do Thou my will restrain,
Nor suffer it to rove,
But save the feeblest child of man
By pure almighty love.

670. [Saviour, Thou seest the fear]

Lord, is it I? —xxvi. 22.

Saviour, Thou seest the fear
Which haunts me night and day,
My heart so weak, my sin so near,
Shall I not Thee betray?
Ah, do not let me live
To cause the dire offence,
Rather this instant now forgive,
And snatch me spotless hence.

671. [But if the everlasting pain]

It had been good for that man if he had not, &c. —xxvi. 24.

But if the everlasting pain
Were in a course of ages past,
Great good it would be to that man
To perish—and be saved at last.

672. [Tremendous words! they all contain]

Take, eat; this is My body. —xxvi. 26.

Tremendous words! they all contain,
Establishing the worship pure,
Delivering the new law to man
And making the new covenant sure!
They the last testament express
And kindness of our dying Friend,
Bequeath us life, and power and peace,
And endless joys when time shall end.

673. [As many as in Adam died]

This is My blood of the new testament, which, &c. —xxvi. 28.

As many as in Adam died,
In Christ may be restored,
And freely saved in Christ confide,
And love their bleeding Lord:

401

To purge the universal sin
The purple fountain flow'd,
To make our life and nature clean,
And bring us all to God.

His blood and body are the price
By which we all are freed,
The victim of our sacrifice
Which doth our spirits feed;
The bond of union with our Lord,
The seal of sins forgiven,
Our life of paradise restored,
Our antepast of heaven.

674. [Jesus, the true, immortal Vine]

I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the, &c. —xxvi. 29.

Jesus, the true, immortal Vine,
The plenitude of bliss is Thine,
The Father's co-eternal Son,
Sufficient in Thyself alone,
Thyself Thou dost to saints impart,
And heaven is found where'er Thou art.

Thou with Thy own perfection bless'd,
Dost in Thy love for ever rest;
And Thou hast promised, Lord, that we
Shall the new wine partake with Thee,
Shall drink it in Thy courts above
The wine of Thy eternal love.

Hasten the long-expected day
When heaven and earth shall pass away,
When all Thy church complete in one
Shall meet triumphant at Thy throne,
And drink the Spirit of their Head,
And on Thy glorious fulness feed.

402

675. [How can Thine own apostles fall?]

All ye shall be offended because of Me this, &c. —xxvi. 31.

How can Thine own apostles fall?
The' occasion of offence they take
From that Thou dost endure for all,
And basely all their Lord forsake:
And still there are who faith profess
Till call'd to suffer for Thy cause,
In times of trial and distress
They faint and stumble at Thy cross.

676. [The sheep their faithful Shepherd leave]

After I am risen again, I will go before, &c. —xxvi. 32.

The sheep their faithful Shepherd leave,
His life He doth a ransom give,
To bring the wanderers back;
And whom He makes His tenderest care
And whom He in His arms doth bear
He never will forsake.

Before us still, great Shepherd, go,
Cause every sheep Thy voice to know,
And risen from the dead
Thy feeble, scatter'd followers raise,
And cheer'd and fortified by grace
To life eternal lead.

677. [One moment, Lord, if Thou depart]

Though all men shall be offended because, &c. —xxvi. 33.

One moment, Lord, if Thou depart,
With like presumption I
Shall trust my own deceitful heart,
And give my God the lie:
Though all prove faithful to Thy cause,
Without Thy constant power
I only stumbling at Thy cross
Shall fall, and rise no more.

403

678. [Jesus, my desperate helplessness]

Jesus, my desperate helplessness
Forced by ten thousand falls to own,
With fear and trembling I confess
One hour I cannot stand alone;
I surely shall myself betray,
My Lord perfidiously deny,
Left to myself this very day,
And Judas-like despair and die.

679. [Who trust in a supposed decree]

Though I should die with Thee, yet will, &c. —xxvi. 35.

Who trust in a supposed decree,
Or your own perfect purity,
And cannot fall from grace,
Before your Master ye deny,
Before ye curse your God and die,
Remember Peter's case!

680. [The Man of sorrows now]

My soul is exceeding sorrowful. —xxvi. 38.

The Man of sorrows now
Thou dost indeed appear,
Beneath my guilty burden bow,
And tremble with my fear:
Thy pain is my relief,
And doth my load remove,
For O, if all Thy soul is grief,
Yet all Thy heart is love!

681. [What posture should I use, who see]

He . . . fell on His face, and prayed. —xxvi. 39.

What posture should I use, who see
The suffering Son of God
In tears, in mortal agony,
And bathed in His own blood?
A sense of Jesu's grief unknown,
Father, to me impart,

404

And hear His humble Spirit groan
In my poor, broken heart.

682. [A follower of Thy patient Son]

Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me. —xxvi. 39.

A follower of Thy patient Son,
I would the bitter cup decline,
Yet let Thy sovereign will be done,
My own I patiently resign,
And calmly rest, whate'er I feel,
Assured Thou art my Father still.

683. [The pastor good with pious care]

Watch, and pray, that ye enter not into, &c. —xxvi. 41.

The pastor good with pious care
Doth still his flock defend,
Exhorts to watchfulness and prayer,
And warns them to the end:
Thus may I imitate my Lord,
The people's pattern be,
Obey, enforce Thy warning word,
And live and die like Thee.

684. [Captain, God of my salvation]

Captain, God of my salvation,
How shall I Thy word obey,
Press'd, surrounded with temptation,
Wanting power to watch and pray?
Humbly I implore Thy blessing,
Watching, supplicating power;
Fill my heart with prayer unceasing,
Wake my soul to sleep no more.

Set my soul upon the tower,
While the world and sin are nigh,
Through the dark, distressing hour
Hear me in Thy Spirit cry:

405

Satan still desires to have me;
Lord, Thy ransom'd servant take,
Save, and every moment save me,
For Thy truth and mercy sake.

If I have with God found favour
Through Thy cries on Calvary,
Day and night my constant Saviour
Stand betwixt my heart and me;
If on Thee I boldly venture,
Thou my tempted soul restrain
That the snare I may not enter,
May not close with sin again.

Awed by Thy continual presence
Give me still on Thee to' attend,
Kept in faith but acquiescence,
Praying, watching to the end;
Till in life's extreme temptation
Calm I lay my burden down,
Sink a partner of Thy passion,
Rise a sharer of Thy crown.

685. [Thus may I with alternate care]

He went away again the second time, &c. —xxvi. 42.

Thus may I with alternate care
The flock and my own soul attend,
Thus have recourse to God in prayer,
When danger's blackest storms impend,
And urge Him with redoubled cry,
When trouble, pain, and death are nigh!

I now my meek Example see,
The Man of agonizing woe,
With humble importunity
Jesus to Thee my griefs I show,

406

With cries and tears my suit repeat,
Yet to Thy sovereign will submit.

Stand by me in this evil day,
My sorrows to Thy sorrows join;
(Thou hear'st me in Thy Spirit pray;)
With strength and fortitude Divine
Inspire me by that love unknown
Which put my fears and weakness on.

686. [Whole nights we to ambition give]

He came and found them asleep. —xxvi. 43.

Whole nights we to ambition give,
To avarice or diversions vain,
Yet grudge an hour for sin to grieve,
And prayer account a needless pain:
An hour for God we cannot spare,
(Who bids the sleeping soul arise,)
Or for our own salvation care,
Or watch to' ensure our paradise.

687. [O could I thus my wants declare]

He left them, and went away again, and prayed, &c. —xxvi. 44.

O could I thus my wants declare
In humble persevering prayer,
With true simplicity
Repeat my words reduced to one;
Or prostrate in a speechless groan
Present my heart to Thee!

688. [Holiness in sinners' hands]

The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands, &c. —xxvi. 45.

Holiness in sinners' hands
With indignation see!
Bound Himself who bursts our bands,
And sets our spirits free!

407

Who our Lord a prisoner made
Our anger against them be shown:
Sin the Son of Man betray'd
The sin I call my own.

689. [The world with courtesy like his]

He came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; &c. —xxvi. 49.

The world with courtesy like his
Doth Jesus' followers treat,
And calmly the perfidious kiss
We would, like Christ, admit;
But full of rancorous despite
They do not Jesus know,
Who cannot bear the speech or sight
Of an ungrateful foe.

690. [So gentle toward my basest foe]

Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore, &c. —xxvi. 50.

So gentle toward my basest foe
O might I always be,
A like return with Jesus show
To hellish treachery!
O might I keep His patient word,
His temper to the end,
Taught by the meekness of my Lord,
Who call'd the traitor Friend!

691. [The self-confiding man]

One of them . . . drew his sword, and struck, &c. —xxvi. 51.

The self-confiding man
Who will his Lord defend,
Exerts his zealous efforts vain,
Which in a moment end:
His hasty sword he draws
Against a troop, and flies,
Deserts the persecuted cause
And then his Lord denies.

408

The humble man of heart
Depends on God alone;
His zeal to take the Saviour's part,
His power is not his own:
With weapons from the word,
With wisdom from above,
He fights the battles of the Lord
In meek and patient love.

692. [Whene'er Thou leav'st me in distress]

But how then shall the scriptures be, &c. —xxvi. 54.

Whene'er Thou leav'st me in distress,
Thy wisdom graciously decrees
The sorrow, loss, or pain,
That I Thy hallowing will may prove,
And perfected in patient love
A crown immortal gain.

Entering into my God's design,
No longer I the cross decline,
With its annex'd reward,
Like Him for no deliverance pray,
But suffering until death obey
To triumph with my Lord.

693. [Thus in temptation I]

All the disciples forsook Him, and fled. —xxvi. 56.

Thus in temptation I
Shall from my Saviour fly;
Trembling, as the foe draws near,
Wavering, ready to desert,
Save me from the sin I fear,
Help mine unbelief of heart.

I cannot faithful be
But by a power from Thee:

409

Thee that I may not disown,
Vilely cast my shield away,
Jesus, leave me not alone,
With my soul for ever stay.

694. [What can feeble nature do?]

Peter followed Him afar off, unto the, &c. —xxvi. 58.

What can feeble nature do?
One who on its strength relies,
Hardly keeps his Lord in view;
Dares not die when Jesus dies;
Closely who to Christ adhere,
Who His humble spirit breathe,
Only they shall persevere
Firm, and faithful unto death.

695. [One that overwhelm'd with fear]

One that overwhelm'd with fear
Dreads his suffering Lord to own,
Jesus' distant worshipper,
Dares he into danger run?
Who perceives his heart like mine,
Who his nature's weakness knows,
He the world will never join,
Never mix with Jesus' foes.

696. [Power doth unto God belong]

Power doth unto God belong:
God's own power, O Christ, Thou art:
Out of weakness make me strong,
By Thy dwelling in my heart:
Then I shall my Lord confess,
Follow on to Calvary,
Close in all Thy footsteps press,
Gladly live and die with Thee.

697. ['Tis thus the world in every age]

The chief priests, and elders, and all the, &c. —xxvi. 59.

'Tis thus the world in every age
Doth Jesus in His members use:

410

To ruin us they first engage,
And then search out whereof to' accuse,
Fit means, howe'er unjust employ,
And seek a colour to destroy.

Jesus, Thou know'st our envious foes,
Before they cite us to their bar,
Thy people criminals suppose,
Thy people criminals declare;
And then our horrid crimes invent
To justify our punishment.

698. [Lord in Thy humanity]

This fellow said, I am able to destroy the, &c. —xxvi. 61.

Lord in Thy humanity,
To mortal eye display'd
We an holy Temple see
For Thy great Father made:
At Thine incarnation built
The house Divine was fill'd with God:
When Thy sacred blood was spilt
The Temple was destroy'd.

When Thou didst to life return,
The' immortal Son of Man,
On that third triumphant morn
The Temple rose again,
Rose rebuilt by hands Divine
And stands to be destroy'd no more,
Glorious everlasting Shrine
Which earth and heaven adore.

Temple of the Deity,
Thou art the Victim too:
Rising by Thy ruins, we
Our smiling Father view:

411

Jesus Thy destruction was
Salvation, life, for all mankind;
All ascending on Thy cross
May God in glory find.

699. [Saviour, at Thy command I speak]

The high priest . . . said unto Him, Answerest, &c. —xxvi. 62.

Saviour, at Thy command I speak,
Or suffering in the truth's defence,
I stand, like Thee, submissive, meek,
Nor plead my injured innocence:
Thy silence teaches me to waive
The vehement, vain apology;
Thy silence the example gave,
And bought the speechless grace for me.

700. [That silence of the' eternal Word]

But Jesus held His peace. —xxvi. 63.

That silence of the' eternal Word
Confounds our eagerness of pride,
Who will not imitate our Lord
Or man's unjust reproach abide:
With warm, self-vindicating zeal,
Impatient we throw off the blame,
Answer, reply, dispute, appeal,
And all, except ourselves, condemn.

701. [Innocence will not descend]

Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said. —xxvi. 64.

Innocence will not descend
Himself to justify,
Yet He doth the truth defend
For which He came to die;
Owns the truth (that I am He
The Christ, the' eternal Son of God)
Truth of His Divinity,
And seals it with His blood.

412

702. [How unlike the Person now]

Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man, &c. —xxvi. 64.

How unlike the Person now
Which He shall soon appear,
When He doth the heavens bow
In awful pomp severe!
Robed with majesty and power,
Seated on His Father's throne!
Hasten, Lord, that happiest hour,
Eternal Judge, come down!

703. [Jesus let all His saints revere]

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, &c. —xxvi. 65.

Jesus let all His saints revere
Treated as a blasphemer here!
Whom prostrate seraphim adore,
The blasphemous affront He bore,
That we may patiently endure,
May make the crown through sufferings sure,
He heard their charge without reply,
And stoop'd a silent lamb to die.

704. [And shall Thy followers, Lord, complain]

They answered and said, He is guilty of death. —xxvi. 66.

And shall Thy followers, Lord, complain,
Unjustly doom'd by sinful men,
Or patiently Thy cross receive,
Judged by the world “not fit to live”?

705. [Hail, Galilean King]

Then did they spit in His face, and buffeted, &c. —xxvi. 67.

Hail, Galilean King,
Thy humbled state we sing!
Mock'd, and spit upon below,
Smote by sacrilegious hands,
Man would not his Maker know;
Angels fly at Thy commands.

From spitting, shame, and scorn,
Thy face Thou didst not turn:

413

How unlike our Pattern we!
Sacred is our character,
Every trivial injury
Seems too great for life to bear.

Our quick-resenting pride
Henceforth we cast aside,
Lay our honour at Thy feet,
Meeken'd by Thy Spirit's power,
Like the Lamb of God submit,
Jesus on the cross adore.

706. [This dire concupiscence within]

He denied before them all. —xxvi. 70.

This dire concupiscence within
Which tempts me to the treacherous sin,
Saviour I always feel,
The darkness of my carnal mind
Which casts Thy benefits behind,
The weakness of my will.

My memory, Lord, cannot retain
Ten thousand vows renew'd in vain,
Ten thousand promises:
Tempted I shall Thyself deny,
Unless Thou giv'st me to rely
On Thine almighty grace.

But if Thy grace my soul defend,
But if I on Thy grace depend,
With bold fidelity
I shall to all Thy foes maintain,
To all the world, I know the Man
Who lived and died for me.

414

707. [Who weakly once to sin gives place]

And again he denied with an oath. —xxvi. 72.

Who weakly once to sin gives place,
Left to himself, by Jesus' grace
No longer now withheld,
Assail'd by sin's redoubled power,
His abject soul resists no more,
Or only fights to yield.

When rash into the snare we run,
One sin will draw a second on,
And to a third increase:
Fresh guilt chastises for the past
Till quite forsook we rise at last
To blackest perjuries.

708. [Not know the Man (that God below)]

I know not the Man. —xxvi. 74.

Not know the Man (that God below)
With whom so late thou vow'dst to die!
Alas, thyself thou didst not know,
Or wouldst not now thy Lord deny:
Go, Peter, weep thy shameful fall,
And let thy grief o'erwhelm us all.

709. [What end of man's apostasy]

What end of man's apostasy,
If still the' apostate Thou forsake?
But stopp'd, almighty Love, by Thee,
The wandering sinner is brought back:
Thy look the gracious power supplied,
Or Peter had like Judas died.

710. [But He who gave the slighted word]

Peter remembered the word of Jesus. —xxvi. 75.

But He who gave the slighted word,
Brought it again to Peter's mind,
The sinner's sleeping conscience stirr'd,
By shame and deep contrition join'd

415

For him who had his Lord forsook,
Jesus had pray'd before the throne,
And cast the kind upbraiding look
Which smote and broke his heart of stone.

711. [See, the sad fruit of sin appears]

He went out, and wept bitterly. —xxvi. 75.

See, the sad fruit of sin appears,
While Peter weeps a briny flood!
But that which costs the servant tears
Must cost the Lord His richest blood!
The sea of tears which Peter sheds
Can never purge his crimson sin,
But Jesus for the sinner pleads,
And pours His blood to make him clean.

712. [The dire occasion of my fall]

The dire occasion of my fall
O may I still, like Peter, fly,
My Saviour's words to mind recall,
And feel the influence of His eye!
My sins and past unfaithfulness
I would at Jesus' feet deplore,
Till comforted by pardoning grace
I rise, and trust my heart no more.

Jesus, almighty to convert,
On me Thy conquering mercy show,
Strike by Thy love this rocky heart,
And bid the contrite waters flow:
But let me still embrace Thy feet,
Weep on, when graciously forgiven,
Till Thou exalt me to Thy seat,
And dry these gracious tears in heaven.

416

CHAPTER XXVII.

713. [Thee, Jesus, Thee our hearts adore!]

When they had bound Him, they led Him, &c. —xxvii. 2.

Thee, Jesus, Thee our hearts adore!
Bound as a criminal profane,
Given up into the judge's power,
Thou brav'st the punishment of man;
Haled to the Lord's tremendous bar,
The Governor of earth and sky,
Worthy to be condemn'd we are,
Worthy the second death to die.

But loosed by Thy captivity
Thy meritorious bonds we bless,
Rejoice, while led away with Thee
To life and endless happiness:
Deliver'd from the Judge Divine
With all Thy family above,
With all Thy saints on earth we join
The triumph of redeeming love.

714. [My sins I may with horror own]

Judas . . . repented himself, and brought again, &c. —xxvii. 3.

My sins I may with horror own,
Break off, and the occasion shun,
My helpless case lament,
Restore my sinful ill-got gain,
Yet never feel that godly pain,
Or savingly repent.

In vain with guilty, slavish fear
I see the righteous Judge appear,
And shrink His wrath to bear:
Unless I in His mercy hope,
Dread of His wrath will shut me up
In damnable despair.

417

But when I all my sins confess,
My only refuge in distress
Is a most gracious God,
Who will not suffer me to die,
When self-condemn'd to Christ I fly,
And plead His speaking blood.

Father, I now the' atonement plead:
Through Him who suffer'd in my stead,
And did my guilt remove
Bold to Thy throne of grace I come,
And thus escape the traitor's doom,
And thus obtain Thy love.

715. [Such, miser, is thy end, or worse]

He cast down the pieces of silver in the, &c. —xxvii. 5.

Such, miser, is thy end, or worse,
Who wealth unjustly dost obtain,
By conscience gnaw'd with late remorse,
At death thou wouldst repent in vain,
In vain wouldst benefit the poor
By what thou canst no longer keep:
Self-murder'd soul, thy doom deplore,
And plunged in hell for ever weep!

716. [The conscience of chief-priests admire!]

The chief priests took the silver pieces, and, &c. —xxvii. 6.

The conscience of chief-priests admire!
So carefully a gnat they strain!
The price of blood, the traitor's hire
Their sacred offerings would profane:
But guiltless blood they boldly spill,
And no remorse the ruffians feel.

The children with their sires compare:
How closely in their steps they tread!
For small indifferent things they care,
For superstitious trifles plead,

418

But take the ancient murderer's part,
And hate their brethren in their heart.

With envious, fierce, vindictive pride,
Saviour, Thy servants they defame;
Cast out our names unheard, untried,
Resolved, impatient to condemn,
And in our innocence to' oppress
The truth with all its witnesses.

717. [Lo! the Son of Man appears]

Jesus stood before the governor. —xxvii. 11.

Lo! the Son of Man appears,
To bonds and death pursued,
In a wicked judge reveres
The' authority of God!
Subject to His foes' command,
Mark that humble Prisoner there!
All mankind shall shortly stand,
And tremble at His bar!

718. [Witness to the truth He bears]

Witness to the truth He bears
Which sets His prisoners free,
Simply to the world declares
His own Divinity:
This His good confession was,
That we His kingdom might confess,
All the virtue of His cross,
And all the strength of grace.

719. [When maliciously they seek]

When He was accused of the chief priests, &c. —xxvii. 12.

When maliciously they seek
Occasion to accuse,
Urged by clamorous foes to speak,
We lawfully refuse:

419

Innocence with generous scorn
May envious accusation slight,
Silence is the just return
To impotent despite.

720. [Speechless the Saviour stood]

Speechless the Saviour stood
Beneath my guilty load,
He answer'd not, for I
Have nothing to reply:
But when condemn'd and dumb
I before God become,
His mouth is open'd then for me,
His blood proclaims the sinner free.

721. [Yes; their slanderous lies I hear]

Hearest Thou not how many things they, &c. —xxvii. 13.

Yes; their slanderous lies I hear,
As one that hears them not,
Silent at the bar appear
Where truth is never sought:
Let them every evil say,
Against the servants testify:
Judged in man's unrighteous day,
I as my Lord reply.

722. [Jesus answer'd not a word]

He answered him to never a word. —xxvii. 14.

Jesus answer'd not a word
To furious calumny:
But the silence of my Lord
Distinctly speaks to me:
Taught by this I now forbear
My eagerness of self-defence,
Leave to God the cause and care
Of blacken'd innocence.

723. [Happy soul who Jesus knows]

The governor marvelled greatly. —xxvii. 14.

Happy soul who Jesus knows
By silence to proclaim!

420

Nothing more confounds his foes
Or glorifies the Lamb:
Speechless when we stand, alike
Unmoved by man's reproach or praise,
More than miracle we strike
And all the world amaze.

724. [The magistrate is oft inclined]

Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that, &c. —xxvii. 17.

The magistrate is oft inclined
Jesus's faithful flock to spare;
More mercy from the world we find
Than men of sacred character:
Pity for innocence oppress'd
May move a moral heathen's breast.

But those who bear the Christian's name,
And boast their form devoid of power,
They hate the followers of the Lamb,
(As wolves the harmless sheep devour,)
Christians they never can forgive,
Or let the true religion live.

725. [Pastors corrupt their flocks induce]

The chief priests and elders persuaded the, &c. —xxvii. 20.

Pastors corrupt their flocks induce
Sin before Jesus to prefer,
The world before their God to choose,
Riches before a life of prayer,
Pleasure to ask and sensual joy,
And the true life of Christ destroy.

726. [I too have oft preferr'd]

The governor . . . said, . . . Whether of the twain, &c. —xxvii. 21.

I too have oft preferr'd
To Christ my sin abhorr'd,

421

A robber and a murderer spared,
And crucified my Lord:
I spared the lust that stole
My heart, O God, from Thee,
The lust that would destroy my soul
To all eternity.

That just and holy One
Who suffer'd in my place
I would not for my Saviour own,
And kill'd His life of grace.
But Christ I now receive,
Myself not Him deny:
Henceforth in me let Jesus live,
And let Barabbas die.

727. [With Christ what shall I do?]

What shall I do then with Jesus which is, &c. —xxvii. 22.

With Christ what shall I do?
What use of Jesus make?
For wisdom, strength, and justice too,
And holiness I take:
My Advocate and Peace,
My Life which never dies,
My Hope, and Refuge in distress,
My Leader to the skies.

I take Him for my Lord,
My only God above,
To be with confidence adored,
And served with humble love:
In all things I employ
My Prophet, King, and Priest:
I take Him for my present Joy,
And my eternal Rest.

422

728. [With Christ what shall I do?]

With Christ what shall I do?
The Prince of life and peace
I will not crucify anew,
But yield to His release:
I will in Him believe,
By sin so long oppress'd,
Into mine arms of faith receive,
And cherish in my breast.

My Friend, my bosom Friend,
He never shall depart,
But stay and love me to the end,
And keep my faithful heart:
To Him I still will sue
For grace and purity,
And let Him reign, and let Him do
Whate'er He will with me.

729. [Why, what evil hath He done]

They cried out the more, saying, Let Him, &c. —xxvii. 23.

Why, what evil hath He done,
Asks the heathen judge in vain?
Crucify, for crimes unknown,
Crucify, they urge again!
No, there can be no reprieve;
Only blood will satisfy:
That our guilty souls may live,
Innocence itself must die.

730. [With full indignation fired]

With full indignation fired
Now my hateful sins I see,
Sins that Jesus' death required,
Sins that nail'd Him to the tree:

423

All the sins which I have done
Call'd and clamour'd for His blood:
Dying, by His blood alone
God could quench the wrath of God.

Shall I suffer them to live
Jesus' murderers abhorr'd?
No; to daily death I give
Sins that crucified my Lord:
Let the fleshly Adam bleed,
Nature, self, its life resign,
Till I rise entirely dead,
Fill'd with purest life Divine.

731. [Horrible wish! Thy murderers dare]

Then answered all the people, and said, &c. —xxvii. 25.

Horrible wish! Thy murderers dare
The blessing to a curse pervert:
We turn the curse into a prayer;
To cleanse our lives, and purge our heart,
In all its hallowing, blissful powers
Thy blood be, Lord, on us and ours!

On me, Thou bleeding Lamb, on me
Be pour'd the consecrating stream,
From all, from all iniquity
My life, my nature to redeem,
To fill with purity Divine,
And sign my soul for ever Thine.

732. [Me, the true Barabbas, me]

Then released he Barabbas unto them. —xxvii. 26.

Me, the true Barabbas, me,
Me, and every soul of man
Jesus bought, and set us free,
For a world of sinners slain:

424

Gladly I the grace receive,
I who shed my Saviour's blood,
Live, a pardon'd murderer, live
Ransom'd by the death of God.

733. [Scourged by wicked, cruel men]

When he had scourged Jesus, he delivered, &c. —xxvii. 26.

Scourged by wicked, cruel men,
When Thine only Son I see,
Father, shall I dare complain
Chasten'd for my sins by Thee?
Chasten'd for my good alone
To Thy gracious will I yield:
But let Jesus' blood atone,
Let me by His stripes be heal'd.

734. [Our meek, pacific Prince adore]

Then the soldiers . . . took Jesus. —xxvii. 27.

Our meek, pacific Prince adore,
Abandon'd to the soldiers' power,
A Lamb with leopards join'd;
That outraged by the men of war,
His church their violences may bear,
And peace in Jesus find.

735. [Jesus with eyes of faith I see]

They stripped Him, and put on Him a, &c. —xxvii. 28.

Jesus with eyes of faith I see,
Stripp'd of His seamless coat for me,
Exposed to shame and scorn,
That I may cast my sordid dress
And with His purest righteousness
My naked soul adorn.

736. [Still let the world with haughty pride]

They put a crown of thorns upon His head, &c. —xxvii. 29.

Still let the world with haughty pride
His suffering majesty deride,
And scoff His Spirit's power:

425

I glory with the Jews unseen
To serve a Lord refused by men
An humbled King to' adore.

I worship whom the world despise,
His scorn and ignominy prize,
His scarlet robe put on,
And crown'd with thorns my bleeding King
To His, to my great Father bring,
And claim a glorious crown.

Jesus, Thy patient power I feel:
Insulted in Thy members still,
A King of sorrows Thou:
With love's unfeign'd sincerity,
I bow mine inmost soul to Thee,
And shall for ever bow.

737. [Sight incomprehensible]

They spit upon Him, and took the reed, &c. —xxvii. 30.

Sight incomprehensible,
Which sense will ne'er conceive!
His mysterious grief who feel
They only can believe:
Humbled at His feet we pray:
Or lost in awe that dares not move,
Silent adoration pay,
Unutterable love!

738. [Kings of earth, from Christ alone]

Kings of earth, from Christ alone
Your royal power proceeds:
Taught by Him, with reverence own
Your sceptres are but reeds:
Use them for your heavenly King,
To' advance on earth His reigning power,
All into subjection bring
To Him your hearts adore.

426

Dare ye spurn the just command
Of your incarnate God?
Soon that reed in Jesus' hand
Shall prove an iron rod:
Him your sovereign Lord confess,
And Jesus shall His servants own,
Wave the sceptre of His grace,
And call you to His throne.

739. [Still we see our Lord below]

After that they had mocked Him, they . . . led, &c. —xxvii. 31.

Still we see our Lord below
Mock'd by hypocrites profane,
Mock'd with forms and empty show,
Mock'd with acts of worship vain:
Twice a week they bow the knee,
Zealous in religion's cause;
Then away to Calvary!
Then they nail Him to His cross!

740. [Followers of the silent Lamb]

Followers of the silent Lamb,
Keep we still our Lord in view,
Charged with His reproach and shame
Him to Calvary pursue:
Saviour, let Thy Spirit lead,
Let Thy cross the power supply:
Then in all Thy steps we tread,
Then we come with Thee to die!

741. [Soon as we truly willing are]

Simon . . . they compelled to bear His cross. —xxvii. 32.

Soon as we truly willing are
To serve the Saviour's cause,
Forced by an adverse world,
We bear the scandal of Thy cross:
At first we bear it through constraint,
Till sprinkled with Thy blood

427

No more we shrink, no more we faint,
But bless the welcome load.

742. [Worldly consolations see!]

They gave Him vinegar to drink mingled, &c. —xxvii. 34.

Worldly consolations see!
Mix'd with gall the wine they give!
But who dies the death for me,
Will not the support receive;
Will not lose one moment's pain;
Bears the full unlessen'd load,
Bears the rage of fiends and men,
Bears the utmost wrath of God!

743. [Men would charm it or remove]

Men would charm it or remove,
To their pain insensible:
Saints who Jesus' sufferings love,
All their own consent to feel,
Calmly fill their measure up,
Sure that all their griefs are His,
Drink His passion's deepest cup,
Die with Him in perfect peace.

744. [Happy might I station'd be]

And sitting down they watched Him there. —xxvii. 36.

Happy might I station'd be
Near the ignominious tree!
Lamb of God my suit admit,
Place me at Thy wounded feet:
Here I would through life abide,
Watching with the Crucified,
Fix'd in silent wonder gaze
On Thy marr'd yet heavenly face:

Humbly at Thy cross adore,
Feel its crucifying power,
Catch the sanctifying blood,
Die with an expiring God!

428

Give me thus Thy death to see,
Till my soul is all like Thee,
Meet to live the life above,
Swallow'd up in praise and love.

745. [Thee Jesus, Thee Thy foes confess]

They set up over His head His accusation, &c. —xxvii. 37.

Thee Jesus, Thee Thy foes confess,
Lord of lords and Prince of peace,
Beyond their own design:
King of the inward Jews Thou art;
Set up Thy kingdom in my heart,
And all my heart is Thine.

Thy right acquired by mortal pain
Over this poor worm maintain,
And challenge for Thine own,
And reign o'er every child of grace,
And fix in all the ransom'd race
Thine everlasting throne.

746. [Number'd with the transgressors, Thee]

Then were there two thieves crucified with, &c. —xxvii. 38.

Number'd with the transgressors, Thee,
Betwixt the felons crucified,
Coming again we soon shall see
The good and evil to divide,
To' assign their states unchangeable
In joys of heaven, or pains of hell.

I see Thee now to sinners join'd,
That sinners may Thy life partake,
That I may Thy salvation find,
And pardon'd for Thy passion's sake,
Be number'd with Thy saints above,
To' adore the depths of dying love.

429

747. [Man mocks a Saviour, and High-priest]

They that passed by reviled Him, &c. —xxvii. 39, 40.

Man mocks a Saviour, and High-priest
Who comes the temple to destroy,
His power that rescues the distress'd,
Who will not for Himself employ,
A Son of God the world deride,
A Man exposed and crucified.

But we our great High-priest admire,
Himself the temple fill'd with God,
The God who doth for man expire,
Who buys and saves us through His blood,
And bids us on His cross ascend
To reign with our immortal Friend.

748. [Himself He will not save, that we]

Himself He cannot save. —xxvii. 42.

Himself He will not save, that we
His saving grace may taste and see:
He dies, that His worst foes may find
His death the life of all mankind.

Himself, and us, He cannot save,
And therefore sinks into our grave,
A voluntary Victim dies,
That we may to His glory rise.

749. [Darkness the whole earth o'erspreads]

There was darkness over all the land. —xxvii. 45.

Darkness the whole earth o'erspreads,
And fills with sad affright,
While the' eclipse of death invades
That uncreated Light:
But that Sun shall soon appear,
All the gloom of hell disperse,
All the frown of heaven, and cheer
Our brighten'd universe.

430

750. [O Jesus, let Thy dying cry]

Jesus cried. —xxvii. 46.

O Jesus, let Thy dying cry
Pierce to the bottom of my heart,
Its evils cure, its wants supply,
And bid its unbelief depart,
Slay the dire root and seed of sin,
Prepare for Thee the holiest place;
Then, then essential Love, come in,
And fill Thy house with endless praise.

751. [Who comprehends the reason why]

My God, My God, why hast Thou, &c. —xxvii. 46.

Who comprehends the reason why,
Must God's whole mystery explain,
Must know how all in Adam die,
That all may live in Christ again;
Must God's eternal purpose see,
(A secret to His host above,)
And sound the depths of Deity,
The wisdom, righteousness, and love.

Hast Thou forgot, Thou Man of woe,
The end of all Thy sorrows here,
For whom Thou didst Thy heaven forego,
For whom in mortal flesh appear?
Didst Thou not thirst to drink the cup,
To' accomplish Thy great sacrifice,
And yield Thy spotless spirit up,
And draw us after to the skies?

'Tis not for sin which Thou hast done,
Thine angry Father hides His face,
But on Thine innocence is shown
The vengeance due to Adam's race;

431

Thou all our sin and curse hast took,
That we may bless'd and holy be;
Thou by Thy Father art forsook,
That God may ne'er abandon me.

752. [Jesus, was ever love like Thine!]

Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud, &c. —xxvii. 50.

Jesus, was ever love like Thine!
Thy life a scene of wonder is,
Thy death itself is all Divine,
While, pleased Thy spirit to dismiss,
Thou dost out of the flesh retire,
And, like the Prince of Life expire!

Thy death supports the dying saint:
Thy death my sovereign comfort be!
While feeble flesh and nature faint,
Arm with Thy mortal agony,
And fill, while soul and body part,
With life, immortal life, my heart.

O let Thy death's mysterious power
With all its sacred weight descend,
To consecrate my final hour,
To bless me with Thy peaceful end;
And breathed into the hands Divine
My spirit be received with Thine!

753. [Beneath my sins He bow'd His head]

Beneath my sins He bow'd His head,
My sins and those of all mankind!
His soul a victim in our stead
Into His Father's hands resign'd!
The' immortal God He breathed His last!
The sight all earth and heaven amazed;
Their silent harps aside they cast,
And angels trembled as they gazed.

432

754. [Rent by Thy expiring groan]

The veil of the temple was rent in twain. —xxvii. 51.

Rent by Thy expiring groan
The temple's veil I see,
Rent the flesh Thou didst put on,
Eternal God, for me:
Viewing now the heavens thrown wide,
I to my Father's house repair,
Boldly enter through Thy side,
And claim a mansion there.

755. [Saviour, let Thy dying love]

The earth did quake, and the rocks rent. —xxvii. 51.

Saviour, let Thy dying love
Its virtue still exert,
Earth to its foundations move,
And break the rocky heart:
Sinners by Thy passion shake,
The most obdurate spirits rent,
By Thy death the dead awake,
And bid the world repent.

756. [Earth explains the plaintive cry]

The graves were opened; and many, &c. —xxvii. 52, 53.

Earth explains the plaintive cry,
While to its centre shook,
Nature's works inform us why
Thou wast of God forsook:
Now the wondrous cause we trace,
Thy love in its effects we find,
Joyfully Thy death confess
The life of all mankind.

By Thy death the living way
Is open'd to the skies,
Judgments horribly display
The death that never dies!

433

Earth with conscious dread is fill'd!
But lo! the riven rocks proclaim
Penitential grace reveal'd
Through Thy almighty name.

Lo, the open'd graves declare
Thy death destroys our sin,
Doth on twice-dead souls confer
The life of God within:
Lo, the saints by rising show
That all may feel Thy quickening power,
May Thy resurrection know,
And wake to sleep no more.

Rising saints forsake the tomb,
To us, they testify
We our bodies shall resume,
And mount above the sky;
We shall leave the sepulchre
In that Jerusalem above,
Glad before Thy face to' appear,
And sing Thy dying love.

757. [Who knowingly the truth oppose]

Now when the centurion, and they that, &c. —xxvii. 54.

Who knowingly the truth oppose,
More distant from salvation stand,
More unconvincible than those
Blind instruments of their command,
That serve their execrable will,
And all their bloody mind fulfil.

The first effects of dying love
Wrought on the Pagan soldiers see!
Their hearts with conscious awe approve,
And own the suffering Deity,

434

To Jews a bless'd example give,
And bid the heathen world believe.

758. [Left to themselves the strong give place]

And many women were there beholding. —xxvii. 55.

Left to themselves the strong give place,
The weak are fortified by grace:
The men forsake their Lord and fly,
The women stand and see Him die!
His death its sovereign power imparts
With bolder faith to female hearts,
And bids the feebler vessels prove
The utmost strength of bleeding love.

759. [Christ and His truth when all desert]

He went to Pilate, and begged the body, &c. —xxvii. 58.

Christ and His truth when all desert
'T is then our time to take His part,
Ourselves with boldness to declare,
And show, that we His followers are,
Resolved to suffer by His side,
And die with Jesus crucified.

760. [Fain would I my affection show]

There was Mary Magdalene, and the other, &c. —xxvii. 61.

Fain would I my affection show,
Keep the sepulchre in view,
Nor ever hence remove:
Through life my whole employment be
To muse on Jesus' love for me,
On Jesus' dying love.

The friendship of my heavenly Friend
Death itself can never end:
The love on me bestow'd
Establish'd by His death I feel,
Confirm'd by His own Spirit's seal,
And cemented with blood.

435

Station'd by my Redeemer's grave,
Waiting for His power to save,
Adhering to His word,
I prove my firm fidelity,
Conceal'd with Him I cannot see,
And buried with my Lord.

To all who watch His sepulchre,
Jesus shall again appear,
His faithful followers own;
The Head shall bid the members rise,
And draw us after to the skies,
And seat us on His throne.

761. [How vain the care of Jesus' foes]

Command therefore that the sepulchre be, &c. —xxvii. 64.

How vain the care of Jesus' foes
The truth to bury and suppress!
The avenues of faith they close,
And thus confirm the witnesses,
By hindering serve our God's design,
And prove the prophecy Divine.

Can all the art of devilish man,
The stone, the soldiers, and the seal
Eternal life in death detain,
When Jesus bursts the gates of hell,
And bids at last the dead arise,
And meet their sentence in the skies?

CHAPTER XXVIII.

762. [Death and the grave can never cool]

As it began to dawn . . . came Mary Magdalene, &c. —xxviii. 1.

Death and the grave can never cool
The zeal of a believing soul:
With love to her Redeemer fired,
With earnest holy haste inspired,

436

Led to the cross who mourn'd to see
Her Saviour breathless on the tree,
Shall first at Jesus' sepulchre,
With joy behold her Lord appear.

763. [Omnipotence alone]

Behold, there was a great earthquake, &c. —xxviii. 2–4.

Omnipotence alone
Can roll away the stone,
The mountain-bar remove,
The obstacle to love,
The rock of infidelity,
And let my Lord arise in me.

O that this earth might quake,
And all the keepers shake!
O might I feel the fear
Which speaks my Saviour near!
Let nature now as dead become,
While Jesus rises from the tomb.

Even now a sketch I see
Of Jesus' victory,
My rising Lord I feel,
Who shakes both earth and hell,
His foes as slaves, aghast, submit,
And death expires beneath His feet!

764. [Reader of the trembling heart]

Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, &c. —xxviii. 5.

Reader of the trembling heart
Those who seek the Crucified,
Bid our every fear depart,
Bid us in Thy death abide,
Waiting at Thy tomb to see,
See, and share Thy victory.

437

Thee to seek by Thee inclined,
On Thy promise we depend
“Every one that seeks shall find,”
Shall out of Thy grave ascend,
To true holiness restored
Quicken'd with our rising Lord.

Thee we cannot trust in vain:
Thou wilt every bar remove,
Show Thyself alive again,
Show to us the life of love,
Fill our drooping hearts with peace,
Raise us up Thy witnesses.

765. [Who seek the Crucified]

He is not here: for He is risen, as He said, &c. —xxviii. 6.

Who seek the Crucified,
Dismiss your needless fear:
He once for sinners died,
But lives no longer here:
This is the third triumphant day:
Come see the place where Jesus lay.

Among the dead in vain
Ye seek your heavenly Lord:
He lives, He lives again
According to His word!
Receive the power His life imparts,
And find Him risen in your hearts.

766. [With Magdalene and me]

Go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is, &c. —xxviii. 7.

With Magdalene and me
Let every mourner come,
By faith behold and see
His late deserted tomb,

438

And swift to His disciples fly,
The joyful truth to testify.

Who now lament and grieve
As Christ would ne'er appear,
His witnesses believe,
And cast away your fear:
Him we have seen to life restored:
Rejoice in our immortal Lord.

No longer weep and mourn,
The Lord is risen indeed!
By faith to Jesus turn,
By Jesus' Spirit led,
With us to Galilee repair,
And see your living Saviour there.

767. [Joy unmix'd I would not know]

They departed quickly from the sepulchre, &c. —xxviii. 8.

Joy unmix'd I would not know:
When Thou dost to me appear,
Guard the joy Thou dost bestow,
Moderate it with humble fear;
Fear of my unworthiness,
Fear lest I Thy grace should hide,
Fear of nature's fond excess,
Fear of losing it by pride.

768. [To carry Thy disciples word]

As they went to tell His disciples, behold, &c. —xxviii. 9.

To carry Thy disciples word,
With trembling haste I move:
O come, and meet Thy servant, Lord,
And turn my fear to love:
The servile, base, tormenting dread
Is scatter'd by Thy voice,
Which bids me circumspectly tread,
And reverently rejoice.

439

769. [My Saviour lost if I have found]

My Saviour lost if I have found,
Again reveal'd in me,
Sent forth to spread the gospel-sound
O may I cleave to Thee:
I live to testify and praise
Thy goodness, truth, and power:
But let me still Thy feet embrace,
Thy majesty adore.

770. [Wilt Thou as such the cowards own]

Go tell My brethren. —xxviii. 10.

Wilt Thou as such the cowards own,
All who deserted Thee?
Then I am of Thy brethren one,
And mercy is for me.

771. [Whom Christ His brethren owns]

Whom Christ His brethren owns,
Are God's adopted sons:
Jesus with His brethren shares
All that God to Him hath given;
Join'd with Him, the sons are heirs,
Heirs to pompous thrones in heaven.

'Tis then we soon shall find
The joy for us design'd,
That inheritance receive
Purchased by our Brother's blood,
All His image bear, and live,
One with Christ, as Christ with God.

772. [They always, Lord, who money love]

So they took the money, and did as they, &c. —xxviii. 15.

They always, Lord, who money love
Thy bitterest persecutors prove:
The Pharisees Thy life pursued,
The traitor bargain'd for Thy blood:

440

The soldiers to conceal Thy rise,
For money sold their current lies;
And worldly priests their malice spend
On Thee and Thine, till time shall end.

773. [Jesus when by faith we see]

When they saw Him, they worshipped Him. —xxviii. 17.

Jesus when by faith we see,
His Father we confess,
Fulness of the Deity
Shines glorious in His face:
Open now my spirit's eyes,
And I Thy worshipper shall prove,
Bless the Lord of earth and skies,
And never doubt Thy love.

774. [Had they no true faith received]

But some doubted. —xxviii. 17.

Had they no true faith received,
Because they wanted more?
Have not I, O Lord, believed
Who groan for larger power,
Trust Thee, that my latest doubt
Thou wilt at Pentecost remove,
Cast, and keep the tempter out
By perfect peace and love?

775. [The power is on the Man bestow'd]

All power is given unto Me in heaven, &c. —xxviii. 18.

The power is on the Man bestow'd,
Not on the one eternal God:
And every messenger from Thee,
Clothed with Thy own authority,
Proclaims the world through Thee forgiven,
Thee, the great Lord of earth and heaven.

Fulness of power in heaven is Thine
Who giv'st the Comforter Divine:

441

Thy Spirit on our earth bestow'd
Descends to witness with the blood,
To fill us with Thy purity,
And draw Thy members up to Thee.

Our mighty Intercessor there,
For us Thou dost the place prepare,
Thine own redeem'd possession claim,
And mark a mansion with my name,
And purchased for Thy ransom'd ones
Thy hand shall fix us on our thrones.

Fulness of power in earth is Thine,
Who canst the sinful heart incline,
The virtue of Thy cross display
And bow the nations to Thy sway,
Make every soul of man submit,
And fall, and kiss Thy bleeding feet.

Thou by Thy energy of grace
Canst sanctify Thy chosen race,
Protect Thy little flock below,
And wash and keep us white as snow,
Thy love's omnipotence make known
By perfecting Thy saints in one.

God over all and Judge supreme,
Thou canst absolve us or condemn;
Thou wilt Thy dreadful power declare,
And doom the wicked at Thy bar,
Consign to flames unquenchable,
And seal them up with fiends in hell.

Jesus Thy saving power employ,
My evil nature to destroy,
Exterminate Thy foe in me,
And set my heart at liberty

442

To serve Thee, like Thy hosts above,
With perfect holiness and love.

O that with all Thy people I
Might prove Thy power in earth and sky!
Now by Thy power with God obtain
His Spirit in my heart to reign;
And with Thine heavenly Father come,
And claim Thine everlasting home.

776. [Great triune God, Thy servants own]

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, &c. —xxviii. 19.

Great triune God, Thy servants own,
And while they make Thy nature known,
Let them Thy promised presence find,
Sent to baptize into Thy name,
Sent a lost world for Thine to claim,
Sent to disciple all mankind:

With signs their high commission seal,
In every ordinance reveal
Thyself, and shed Thy love abroad,
Their apostolic labours crown,
Come Father, Son, and Spirit down,
And fill our universe with God.

777. [Adopted by the Father's grace]

Adopted by the Father's grace,
Incorporated with the Son,
Fill'd with the Spirit of holiness,
God One in Three, and Three in One,
Christians throughout their lives proclaim,
And bear the great Jehovah's name.

Partakers of His nature pure,
They all His words with joy receive,
His church, they labour and endure,
His saints, for God alone they live,

443

His host they see the glittering prize,
And fight their passage to the skies.

778. [No preachers of Thy gospel they]

Teaching them to observe all things, &c. —xxviii. 20.

No preachers of Thy gospel they,
Who teach believe, but not obey;
The faithful servants of their Lord
Enforce Thy every sacred word,
By precept and example press
True, universal righteousness.

Themselves instructed from above
Who preach the law of faith and love,
Whate'er they at Thy mouth receive
Who freely to Thy people give,
Thy Spirit owns their ministry,
Thy presence proves them sent by Thee.

779. [This is the word in every age]

And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto, &c. —xxviii. 20.

This is the word in every age
Which doth support and keep
From sin, the world, and Satan's rage,
The shepherds and the sheep:
Thy ministers and people too
On this alone depend,
Thou said'st “I always am with you,
Till time and death shall end.”

Jesus I faithfully receive
The promise made to me,
And happy in Thy service live,
To gather souls for Thee:
I trust Thy truth and love and power,
Thy messenger to bless,
Till brought through every fiery hour
Thou bidd'st me die in peace.

444

S. MARK.

CHAPTER I.

780. [Gospel indeed! the' eternal God]

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. —i. 1.

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

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

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

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

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

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

445

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

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

782. [A true forerunner of his Lord]

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

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

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

783. [What avails the outward sign]

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

What avails the outward sign,
Without the inward grace?

446

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

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

784. [That Spirit Divine, that Water clean]

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

785. [Where'er the pure baptismal rite]

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

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

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

447

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

786. [By the legal goat foreshow'd]

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

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

787. [Life a temptation is!]

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

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

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

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

448

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

788. [Sinners with true repentance turn]

Repent ye. —i. 15.

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

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

789. [Without reluctance or delay]

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

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

449

790. [Doth Christ the passive people lead]

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

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

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

791. [From servile fear and flatterers free]

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

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

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

792. [What violence and convulsive throes]

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

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

450

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

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

793. [Who soften and corrupt the word]

What new doctrine is this? —i. 27.

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

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

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

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

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

451

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

795. [In the houses of the great]

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

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

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

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

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

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

797. [Preventing the first dawn of day]

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

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

452

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

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

798. [An humble instrument of God]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

453

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

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

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

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

CHAPTER II.

800. [The forwardness of listening Jews]

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

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

454

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

801. [Few on their ministry attend]

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

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

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

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

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

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

803. [Saviour, Thou canst with equal ease]

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

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

455

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

804. [Jesus, the mortal Son of Man]

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

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

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

805. [Jesus, Thine eye with pity sees]

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

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

456

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

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

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

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

806. [Thee, almighty God, we praise]

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

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

457

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

807. [Servant of Christ, thy talent see]

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

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

808. [Lord, if I have indeed believed]

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

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

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

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

458

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

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

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

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

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

810. [Righteous in our own esteem]

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

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

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

459

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

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

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

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

812. [A Pharisee his neighbours blames]

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

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

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

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

460

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

813. [A pastor should consider long]

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

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

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

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

461

814. [A Pharisee the law defends]

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

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

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

815. [God in mercy to our race]

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

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

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

462

816. [Christ's is the religion pure]

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

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

CHAPTER III.

817 [Our weakness in this emblem we]

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

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

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

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

463

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

818. [The good which Pharisees gainsay]

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

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

819. [The' insidious foes of truth become]

They held their peace. —iii. 4.

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

820. [Such may all my anger be]

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

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

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

464

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

821. [Who follow Christ in good delight]

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

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

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

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

822. [What is an heart with envy fraught]

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

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

465

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

823. [Shall we by resistance vain]

Jesus withdrew Himself. —iii. 7.

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

824. [See the patience of our God]

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

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

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

466

825. [Our sovereign Priest above]

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

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

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

826. [Sent forth by Christ indeed]

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

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

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

467

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

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

The multitude cometh together again. —iii. 20.

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

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

828. [Dispensers of the joyful word]

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

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

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

829. [His body if a Christian slight]

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

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

468

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

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

830. [Jesus' blacken'd follower may]

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

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

831. [Foolish world, who brand the men]

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

469

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

832. [When Satan rules the simple heart]

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

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

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

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

833. [All! shall all forgiven be!]

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

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

470

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

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

834. [Whoe'er rejects Thy sacrifice]

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

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

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

835. [Who do the will Divine]

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

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

471

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

CHAPTER IV.

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

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

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

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

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

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

472

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

837. [He understands the word aright]

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

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

838. [Thy own word I bring to Thee]

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

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

839. [Reason's glimmering light is vain]

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

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

473

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

840. [Our ignorance 'tis Thine to show]

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

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

841. [The word in every one]

The sower soweth the word. —iv. 14.

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

842. [The bare external word]

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

474

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

843. [Who untried himself can know?]

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

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

844. [Saviour I in Thee confide]

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

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

845. [With humble joy the word who hear]

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

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

475

846. [Truth will not be suppress'd]

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

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

847. [Truth never shuns the light]

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

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

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

Take heed what ye hear. —iv. 24.

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

849. [The hope of Thy redeeming love]

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

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

476

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

477

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

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

852. [No turns of eloquence He seeks]

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

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

853. [Saviour, instruct us to declare]

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

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

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

854. [To men of their own knowledge proud]

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

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

478

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

479

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

856. [Master, can Thy follower be]

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

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

857. [O Jesus awake and be near]

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

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

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

858. [Peace of the tempestuous soul]

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

480

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

481

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHAPTER V.

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

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

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

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

482

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

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

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

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

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

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

863. [Where social virtue never comes]

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

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

483

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

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

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

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

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

865. [Legion the true infernal name]

My name is Legion. —v. 9.

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

866. [With sin we must entirely break]

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

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

484

867. [See the soul redeem'd indeed]

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

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

868. [Earthly things who counts his gain]

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

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

869. [Blacker far in my own eyes]

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

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

870. [Shall I through prudent fear forbear?]

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

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

485

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

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

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

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

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

871. [A fountain of infectious blood]

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

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

486

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

487

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

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

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

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

875. [Wisdom Himself surprised would be]

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

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

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

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

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

488

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

877. [Self-diffidence may souls abase]

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

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

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

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

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

879. [At first our wisely silent Lord]

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

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

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

489

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

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

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

880. [Vainest man affects applause]

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

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

881. [Sinners who bewail your dead]

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

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

490

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

882. [Still the faithless world deride]

They laughed Him to scorn. —v. 40.

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

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

Talitha cumi! —v. 41.

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

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

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

491

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

884. [What but Omnipotence can raise]

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

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

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

885. [The life by miracle restored]

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

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

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

492

CHAPTER VI.

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

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

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

887. [The world with spurious wisdom blind]

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

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

888. [The' ungrateful unbelieving crowd]

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

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

889. [Thou wonderest at our unbelief]

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

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

493

890. [Who sends His servants forth by pairs]

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

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

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

891. [True ministers of gospel grace]

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

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

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

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

494

892. [The more a preacher toils to save]

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

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

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

893. [The Baptist and his heavenly Lord]

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

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

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

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

495

894. [What though a Sadducee maintain]

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

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

895. [The servant of unbridled lust]

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

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

896. [In flattery nursed, the lawless great]

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

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

897. [The wicked may, through pride affect]

Herod feared John, &c. —vi. 20.

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

496

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

898. [A crime resolved upon]

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

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

899. [How can a child of God]

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

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

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

497

900. [How dire the ball, the feast]

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

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

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

901. [See the hypocrite profane]

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

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

902. [Can one of the soft gentle kind]

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

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

498

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

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

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

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

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

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

904. [Rest succeeding work is sweet]

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

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

499

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

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

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

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

906. [Troops of priests and doctors proud]

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

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

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

500

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

907. [Send the multitude away?]

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

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

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

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

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

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

501

909. [Calm retreat and fervent prayer]

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

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

910. [Jesus shall I always be]

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

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

911. [Saviour, till Thy face I see]

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

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

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

502

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

912. [We cannot rest, who Jesus know]

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

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

913. [God as He will His grace bestows]

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

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

University of Virginia Library

HYMNS ON THE FOUR GOSPELS, AND ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

INCLUDING SUCH “SHORT HYMNS” AS WERE PUBLISHED IN 1762.

S. MATTHEW.

CHAPTER I.

1.

[The book (let all bow down and read)]

2.

[Hosannah to the Son]

3.

[Through earth the blessing spread]

4.

[Christ, the true anointed Seer]

5.

[Let all adore the' immortal King]

6.

[Salvation from our sins we found]

7.

[Jesus from, not in, our sins]

8.

[Celebrate Immanuel's name]

CHAPTER II.

9.

[Happy the place, but happier still]

10.

[Mine eyes have seen His orient star]

11.

[Thou dost in all Thy people dwell]

12.

[The comfort lost, and soon restored]

13.

[Hail, holy, heaven-descended Child]

14.

[Who Herod did of old inspire]

15.

[The Son obeys the will Divine]

CHAPTER III.

16.

[Far from a world of noisy care]

17.

[Sons of the church, yourselves who deem]

18.

[Supreme, incarnate Deity]

19.

[Ye high in gifts, who lift your head]

20.

[Pure baptismal Fire Divine]

21.

[Barren, light, and void, and vain]

22.

[Yes, the purest saint below]

23.

[Clothed in our flesh and blood]

24.

[Father, Thy heavenly voice I own]

25.

[Father, in Thy beloved Son]

26.

[Father, Thy heavenly voice I own]

CHAPTER IV.

27.

[Conscious of our infirmity]

28.

[Whom God pronounced His favourite Son]

29.

[Teach me, O Lord, to fight like Thee]

30.

[Jesus, the word, by which alone]

31.

[When Satan fails the souls to shake]

32.

[By Satan, or his instrument]

33.

[False confidence the tempter gives]

34.

[One, by his hellish father taught]

35.

[Us in their hands the angels bear]

36.

[O may I tempt my God no more]