Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
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GOD CHALLENGETH THE PROOF OF HIS GOODNESS. |
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GOD CHALLENGETH THE PROOF OF HIS GOODNESS.
“Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house, that there may be
meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord
of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour
you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive
it.”
—Malachi, iii. 10.
Thus, though to many a doubtful ear,
Spoke the divinely gifted seer;
And such, to many a faultering will,
May be Truth's living language still.
Spoke the divinely gifted seer;
And such, to many a faultering will,
May be Truth's living language still.
Are there not, gracious Lord, whom thou
Hadst crown'd with blessings long ere now,
Had but obedience to thy grace
With knowledge kept proportion'd pace?
Hadst crown'd with blessings long ere now,
Had but obedience to thy grace
With knowledge kept proportion'd pace?
But disobedience, like a blight,
Hath made us dwarfish in thy sight,
Nipt bud and blossom, leaf and shoot,
And robb'd thee of thy promis'd fruit.
Hath made us dwarfish in thy sight,
Nipt bud and blossom, leaf and shoot,
And robb'd thee of thy promis'd fruit.
149
And hence of word, of deed, of thought,
We to thy house no tithes have brought,
'Till, keeping back thy just demand,
We dwell as in a thirsty land.
We to thy house no tithes have brought,
'Till, keeping back thy just demand,
We dwell as in a thirsty land.
Yet e'en from us, so far aloof,
Thy goodness deigns to challenge proof;
Still thou art calling for thine own,
Only to make Thy bounty shown.
Thy goodness deigns to challenge proof;
Still thou art calling for thine own,
Only to make Thy bounty shown.
Your tithes into my storehouse bring,
Confess me as your Priest and King;
The riches of my grace shall prove
The plenitude of pardoning love.
Confess me as your Priest and King;
The riches of my grace shall prove
The plenitude of pardoning love.
Heav'n's windows I will open wide,
Pour blessings down on every side,
'Till, in your overflowing store,
Your hearts can find no room for more.
Pour blessings down on every side,
'Till, in your overflowing store,
Your hearts can find no room for more.
Such was the challenge from on high,
Of Him whose word can never lie;
Not only, Lord! that word renew,
But give the faith to prove it true.
Of Him whose word can never lie;
Not only, Lord! that word renew,
But give the faith to prove it true.
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