Yet Jesus is ever the same,
A sun in the gloomiest day:
Though awhile I am cast in the fire,
"Tis only the gold to refine;
And be it my simple desire,
Though suffering, not to repine.
2 What can be the pleasures to me, Which earth in its fulness can boast? Delusive its vanities flee,
Enjoy'd for a moment at most:
And, if the Redeemer could part,
For me, with his throne in the skies,
Ah! why is so dear to my heart
What he in his wisdom denies ?
3 Though riches to others be given,
Their corn and their vintage abound;
Yet, if I have treasure in heaven,
Where should my affections be found?
Why stoop for the glittering sands
Which they are so eager to share,
Forgetting those wealthier lands
That form my inheritance there?
4 Do thou, Lord, my spirit refine,
My wand'ring affections recal;
Then-be there no fruit in the vine,
Deserted and empty the stall;
The long-labour'd olive may die,
The field may no harvest afford;
Yet under the gloomiest sky,
My soul shall rejoice in her Lord.
5 Yea, let the rude tempest assail,
The blast of adversity blow;
The haven, though distant, I hail,
Beyond this rough ocean of woe.
When safe on the heavenly strand,
I'll smile at the billows that foam;
Kind angels will hail me to land,
And Jesus will welcome me home.
367. Trusting in the Lord. L.M.
My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is
made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore,
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power
of Christ may rest upon me.-2 COR. xii. 9.
1 THY promise, Lord, just suits my case;
I sought assurance from thy mouth;
That one like me, so poor and base,
Would persevere to keep thy truth.
2 When to my heart I turn my eyes,
I see but motives to despair;
Whatever charm the world supplies,
It finds a kindred temper there.
3 Sufficient ground thy promise yields,
On which a worm may rest his hope;
And he who on thy promise builds,
May give his confidence full scope.
4 Thy strength in weakness is display'd:
My soul this truth can relish now :
A worm upon thy pow'r is stay'd;
The weaker he, the greater thou.
5 If of myself I henceforth speak, "Tis of infirmity alone;
I know that I am strong, tho' weak;
My strength is Christ, the Mighty One.
6 On everlasting arms I lean;
These only can sustain my hope;
These have till now my refuge been,
And these thro' life still hold me up.
[7 I can look forward now with joy,
Though in myself a feeble worm;
For Jesus will his pow'r employ,
And save my soul in ev'ry storm.]
368. Adoption. S.M.
Beloved, now are we the sons of GOD: and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure.-1 JOHN iii. 2, 3.
BEHOLD what wondrous grace
The Father has bestow'd
On sinners of a mortal race,
To call them Sons of God!
Nor doth it yet appear
How great we must be made;
But when we see our Saviour here,
We shall be like our head.
A hope so much divine
May trials well endure,
May purge our souls from sense and sin,
As Christ the Lord is pure.
If in my Father's love
I share a filial part,
Send down thy Spirit, like a dove,
To rest upon my heart.
5 No longer would we lie
Like slaves beneath the throne;
My faith shall Abba, Father, cry,
And thou the kindred own.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again, to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.-ROM. viii. 15.
1 HARK! for 'tis God's own Son that calls
To life and liberty;
Transported fall before his feet,
Who makes the pris'ners free.
2 The cursed bonds of sin he breaks,
And breaks off Satan's chain :
And deals those gracious pardons round Which free from endless pain.
3 Into the captive heart he pours
His spirit from on high:
We lose the terrors of the slave,
And Abba, Father, cry.
4 Shake off your bonds, and sing his grace,
The sinner's friend proclaim;
And call on all around to seek,
True freedom by his name.
5 Walk on at large, till you attain
Your Father's house above;
There shall you wear immortal crowns,
And sing redeeming love.
370. The Covenant of Grace unchangeable. L.M.
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise, the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us; which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.-HEB. vi. 17-19.
1 How oft have sin and Satan strove To rend my soul from thee, my God ; But everlasting is thy love,
And Jesus seals it with his blood.
2 The oath and promise of the Lord
Join to confirm the wondrous grace;
Eternal pow'r performs the word.
And fills all heav'n with endless prais
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