Thus afraid to trust his grace, Down at his feet I fell: Then my stubborn heart he broke, By a simple word he spoke, 66 Thy sins are done away." LXI. [The hateful dominion of sin—the delights of spiritual freedom and purity as secured by a saving belief in Jesus.] HOLY Lord God! I love thy truth, Nor dare thy least commandment slight; But though the poison lurks within, Had I a throne above the rest, Where angels and archangels dwell; One sin, unslain, within my breast, Would make that heaven as dark as hell. The prisoner, sent to breathe fresh air, Would mourn were he condemn'd to wear But oh no foe invades the bliss, When glory crowns the Christian's head; One view of Jesus as he is, Will strike all sin for ever dead. LXII. [Conversion through grace. We are saved, and that not of ourselves.] THE new-born child of gospel grace, Like some fair tree when summer's nigh, Beneath Emmanuel's shining face, Lifts up his blooming branch on high. No fears he feels, he sees no foes, Nor has he learnt to whom he owes But sin soon darts its cruel sting, And comforts sinking day by day; When Gideon arm'd his numerous host, The Lord soon made his numbers less; Thus will he bring our spirits down, And draw our ebbing comforts low, LXIII. [True faith in its own deep quietness is content. The loud professor often but a tinkling cymbal. The whole is doctrinal and beautiful; but we dislike both the sentiment and the witticism in the fourth verse.] THE Lord receives his highest praise From humble minds and hearts sincere ; While all the loud professor says Offends the righteous Judge's ear. To talk as children of the day, Not words alone it cost the Lord, To purchase pardon for his own; Return the Saviour words alone. With golden bells, the priestly vest,* And call'd for fruit as well as sound. Easy, indeed, it were to reach A mansion in the courts above, But none shall gain the blissful place, LXIV. [Not all those who cry Lord, Lord, are true believers-the called many, but the chosen few.] Too many, Lord, abuse thy grace, In this licentious day; And while they boast they see thy face, They turn their own away. Thy book displays a gracious light, That can the blind restore ; * Exod. xxviii. 33. The pardon such presume upon, And when they plead it at thy throne, Was it for this, ye lawless tribe, Ah, Lord, ye know thy chosen few But these, the wretched husks they chew, The liberty our hearts implore, Is not to live in sin; But still to wait at Wisdom's door, Till Mercy calls us in. LXV, [Narrow is the way that leadeth unto life-vain pursuit of the world.] WHAT thousands never knew the road! What thousands hate it when 'tis known! None but the chosen tribes of God Will seek or choose it for their own. A thousand ways in ruin end, No more I ask or hope to find Sorrow may well possess the mind That feeds where thorns and thistles grow. The joy that fades is not for me, The bright reward of faith and love. Cleave to the world, ye sordid worms, LXVI. [Man's dependence is upon God alone-we are saved by grace through Jesus Christ.] To keep the lamp alive, With oil we fill the bowl; 'Tis water makes the willow thrive, The Lord's unsparing hand It is not at our own command, Beware of Peter's word,* “I never will deny thee, Lord,” Man's wisdom is to seek His strength in God alone; Retreat beneath his wings, And in his grace confide; This more exalts the King of kings,† In Jesus is our store, Grace issues from his throne; Whoever says, "I want no more," Confesses he has none. * Matt. xxvi. 33. † John, vi. 29. |