III
He cheers my heart, my want supplies,
And says that I shall shortly be
Enthroned with him above the skies:
what a Friend is Christ to me!
IV
But ah! my inmost spirit mourns,
And well my eyes with tears may swim,
To think of my perverse returns;
I’ve been a faithless friend to him.
V
Often my gracious Friend I grieve,
Neglect, distrust, and disobey;
And often Satan’s lies believe
Sooner than all my Friend can say.
VI
He bids me always freely come,
And promises whate’er I ask;
But I am straiten’d, cold, and dumb,
And count my privilege a task.
VII
Before the world, that hates his cause,
My treach’rous heart has throbb’d with shame;
Loath to forego the world’s applause,
I hardly dare avow his name.
VIII
Sure, were not I most vile and base,
I could not thus my Friend requite!
And were not he the God of grace
He’d frown, and spurn me from his sight.
31
Ask What I Shall Give Thee
By Newton
1 Kings 3:5.
I
Come, my soul, thy suit prepare—
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay.
II
Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For his grace and power are such
None can ever ask too much.
III
With my burden I begin—
Lord, remove this load of sin!
Let thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.
IV
Lord! I come to thee for rest—
Take possession of my breast;
There thy blood-bought right maintain,
And without a rival reign.
V
As the image in the glass
Answers the beholder’s face,
Thus unto my heart appear,
Print thine own resemblance there.
VI
While I am a pilgrim here
Let thy love my spirit cheer;
As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
Lead me to my journey’s end:
VII
Show me what I have to do;
Every hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die thy people’s death.
32
Another
By Newton
I
If Solomon for wisdom pray’d,
The Lord before had made him wise;
Else he another choice had made,
And ask’d for what the worldings prize.
II
Thus he invites his people still—
He first instructs them how to choose,
Then bids them ask whate’er they will,
Assured that he will not refuse.
III
Our wishes would our ruin prove,
Could we our wretched choice obtain—
Before we feel the Saviour’s love
Kindle our love to him again:
IV
But when our hearts perceive his worth,
Desires, till then unknown, take place;
Our spirits cleave no more to earth,
But pant for holiness and grace.
V
And dost thou say, “Ask what thou wilt”?
Lord, I would seize the golden hour—
I pray to be released from guilt,
And freed from sin and Satan’s power.
VI
More of thy presence, Lord, impart;
More of thy image let me bear;
Erect thy throne within my heart,
And reign without a rival there.
VII
Give me to read my pardon seal’d,
And from thy joy to draw my strength—
To have thy boundless love reveal’d
In all its height and breadth and length.
VIII
Grant these requests—I ask no more,
But to thy care the rest resign;
Sick or in health, or rich or poor,
All shall be well if thou art mine.
33
Another
By Newton
I
Behold the throne of grace!
The promise calls me near;
There Jesus shows a smiling face,
And waits to answer pray’r.
II
That rich atoning blood
Which sprinkled round I see
Provides for those who come to God
An all-prevailing plea.
III
My soul, ask what thou wilt—
Thou canst not be too bold;
Since his own blood for thee he spilt,
What else can he withhold?
IV
Beyond thy utmost wants
His love and power can bless;
To praying souls he always grants
More than they can express.
V
Since ’tis the Lord’s command,
My mouth I open wide;
Lord, open thou thy bounteous hand,
That I may be supplied.
VI
Thine image, Lord, bestow,
Thy presence and thy love;
I ask to serve thee here below,
And reign with thee above.
VII
Teach me to live by faith,
Conform my will to thine;
Let me victorious be in death,
And then in glory shine.
VIII
If thou these blessings give,
And wilt my portion be,
Cheerful the world’s poor toys I leave
To them who know not thee.
34
Queen of Sheba
By Newton
1 Kings 10:1–9.
I
From Sheba a distant report
Of Solomon’s glory and fame
Invited the queen to his court,
But all was outdone when she came:
She cried with a pleasing surprise,
When first she before him appear’d,
“How much what I see with my eyes
Surpasses the rumour I heard!”
II
When once to Jerusalem come
The treasure and train she had brought,
The wealth she possessed at home
No longer had place in her thought:
His house, his attendants, his throne,
All struck her with wonder and awe;
The glory of Solomon shone
In every object she saw.
III
But Solomon most she admired,
Whose spirit conducted the whole—
His wisdom, which God had inspired,
His bounty, and greatness of soul.
Of all the hard questions she put
A ready solution he show’d—
Exceeded her wish and her suit,
And more than she ask’d him bestow’d.
IV
Thus I, when the gospel proclaim’d
The Saviour’s great name in my ears,
The wisdom for which he is famed,
The love which to sinners he bears,
I long’d, and I was not denied,
That I in his presence might bow;
I saw, and transported I cried,
“A greater than Solomon thou!”
V
My conscience no comfort could find,
By doubt and hard questions opposed;
But he restored peace to my mind,
And answer’d each doubt I proposed.
Beholding me poor and distress’d,
His bounty supplied all my wants;
My pray’r could have never express’d
So much as this Solomon grants.
VI
I heard and was slow to believe,
But now with my eyes I behold
Much more than my heart could conceive,
Or language could ever have told.
How happy thy servants must be
Who always before thee appear!
Vouchsafe, Lord, this blessing to me,
I find it is good
