For one beneath the yielding stream
A borrow’d axe had dropp’d.
V
“Alas! it was not mine,” he said;
“How shall I make it good?”
Elisha heard, and when he pray’d,
The iron swam like wood.
VI
If God in such a small affair
A miracle performs,
It shows his condescending care
Of poor unworthy worms.
VII
Though kings and nations in his view
Are but as motes and dust,
His eyes and ear are fix’d on you
Who in his mercy trust.
VIII
Not one concern of ours is small
If we belong to him.
To teach us this, the Lord of all
Once made the iron swim.
40
More with Us Than with Them
By Newton
2 Kings 6:16.
I
Alas! Elisha’s servant cried,
When he the Syrian army spied;
But he was soon released from care,
In answer to the prophet’s prayer.
II
Straightway he saw, with other eyes,
A greater army from the skies—
A fiery guard around the hill;
Thus are the saints preserved still.
III
When Satan and his host appear,
Like him of old, I faint and fear;
Like him, by faith, with joy I see
A greater host engaged for me.
IV
The saints espouse my cause by pray’r,
The angels make my soul their care;
Mine is the promise seal’d with blood,
And Jesus lives to make it good.
41
Faith’s Review and Expectation
By Newton
1 Chronicles 17:16–17.
I
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound!)
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found—
Was blind, but now I see.
II
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
III
Through many dangers, toils, and snares.
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
IV
The Lord has promised good to me—
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
V
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
VI
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be for ever mine.
42
The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength
By Newton
Nehemiah 8:10.
I
Joy is a fruit that will not grow
In Nature’s barren soil;
All we can boast till Christ we know
Is vanity and toil.
II
But where the Lord has planted grace,
And made his glories known,
There fruits of heavenly joy and peace
Are found, and there alone.
III
A bleeding Saviour seen by faith,
A sense of pard’ning love,
A hope that triumphs over death,
Give joys like those above.
IV
To take a glimpse within the veil,
To know that God is mine,
Are springs of joy that never fail,
Unspeakable! divine!
V
These are the joys which satisfy
And sanctify the mind;
Which make the spirit mount on high,
And leave the world behind.
VI
No more, believers, mourn your lot,
But if you are the Lord’s,
Resign to them that know him not
Such joys as earth affords.
43
Oh That I Were as in Months Past!
By Newton
Job 29:2.
I
Sweet was the time when first I felt
The Saviour’s pard’ning blood
Applied, to cleanse my soul from guilt,
And bring me home to God.
II
Soon as the morn the light reveal’d,
His praises tuned my tongue;
And when the evening shades prevail’d,
His love was all my song:
III
In vain the tempter spread his wiles,
The world no more could charm;
I lived upon my Saviour’s smiles,
And lean’d upon his arm.
IV
In pray’r my soul drew near the Lord,
And saw his glory shine;
And when I read his holy word
I call’d each promise mine.
V
Then to his saints I often spoke
Of what his love hath done:
But now my heart is almost broke,
For all my joys are gone.
VI
Now when the evening shade prevails,
My soul in darkness mourns;
And when the morn the light reveals,
No light to me returns.
VII
My pray’rs are now a chatt’ring noise,
For Jesus hides his face;
I read, the promise meets my eyes,
But will not reach my case.
VIII
Now Satan threatens to prevail,
And make my soul his prey;
Yet, Lord, thy mercies cannot fail:
O come without delay!
44
The Change.4
By Newton
I
Saviour, shine, and cheer my soul;
Bid my dying hopes revive;
Make my wounded spirit whole;
Far away the tempter drive;
Speak the word, and set me free;
Let me live alone to thee.
II
Shall I sigh and pray in vain,
Wilt thou still refuse to hear;
Wilt thou not return again;
Must I yield to black despair?
Thou hast taught my heart to pray,
Canst thou turn thy face away?
III
Once I thought my mountain strong,
Firmly fix’d, no more to move;
Then thy grace was all my song,
Then my soul was fill’d with love:
Those were happy golden days,
Sweetly spent in pray’r and praise.
IV
When my friends have said, “Beware,
Soon or late you’ll find a change,”
I could see no cause for fear,
Vain their caution seem’d and strange:
Not a cloud obscured my sky,
Could I think a tempest nigh?
V
Little then myself I knew,
Little thought of Satan’s power;
Now I find their words were true,
Now I feel the stormy hour!
Sin has put my joys to flight,
Sin has changed my day to night.
VI
Satan asks, and mocks my woe,
“Boaster, where is now your God?”
Silence, Lord, this cruel foe;
Let him know I’m bought with blood;
Tell him, since I know thy name,
Though I change, thou art the same.
45
Pleading for Mercy
By Newton
Psalm 6.
I
In mercy, not in wrath, rebuke
Thy feeble worm, my God!
My spirit
