Though threaten’d with the lions’ den.
IV
Secure they might refuse
Compliance with such laws;
For what had they to lose
When God espoused their cause?
He made the hungry lions crouch;
Nor durst the fire his children touch.
V
The Lord is still the same,
A mighty shield and tower,
And they who trust his name
Are guarded by his power;
He can the rage of lions tame,
And bear them harmless through the flame.
VI
Yet we too often shrink
When trials are in view,
Expecting we must sink,
And never can get through:
But could we once believe indeed,
From all these fears we should be freed.
74
Belshazzar
By Newton
Daniel 5:5–6.
I
Poor sinners! little do they think
With whom they have to do!
But stand securely on the brink
Of everlasting woe.
II
Belshazzar thus, profanely bold,
The Lord of hosts defied;
But vengeance soon his boasts control’d,
And humbled all his pride.
III
He saw a hand upon the wall
(And trembled on his throne),
Which wrote his sudden dreadful fall
In characters unknown.
IV
Why should he tremble at the view
Of what he could not read?
Foreboding conscience quickly knew
His ruin was decreed.
V
See him o’erwhelm’d with deep distress;
His eyes with anguish roll;
His looks and loosen’d joints express
The terrors of his soul.
VI
His pomp and music, guests and wine,
No more delight afford:
O sinner, ere this case be thine,
Begin to seek the Lord.
VII
The law like this hand-writing stands,
And speaks the wrath of God;
But Jesus answers its demands,
And cancels it with blood.
75
The Gourd
By Newton
Jonah 4:6–8.
I
As once for Jonah, so the Lord,
To sooth and cheer my mournful hours,
Prepared for me a pleasing gourd,
Cool was its shade, and sweet its flowers.
II
To prize this gift was surely right;
But through the folly of my heart,
It hid the Giver from my sight,
And soon my joy was changed to smart.
III
While I admired its beauteous form,
Its pleasant shade and grateful fruit,
The Lord, displeased, sent forth a worm,
Unseen to prey upon the root.
IV
I trembled when I saw it fade,
But guilt restrain’d the murm’ring word;
My folly I confess’d, and pray’d—
Forgive my sin, and spare my gourd.
V
His wondrous love can ne’er be told—
He heard me and relieved my pain;
His word the threat’ning worm control’d,
And bid my gourd revive again.
VI
Now, Lord, my gourd is mine no more,
’Tis thine, who only couldst it raise;
The idol of my heart before
Henceforth shall flourish to thy praise.
76
Prayer for the Lord’s Promised Presence
By Newton
Zechariah 2:10.
I
Son of God, thy people shield!
Must we still thine absence mourn?
Let thy promise be fulfill’d,
Thou hast said, “I will return!”
II
Gracious leader, now appear,
Shine upon us with thy light!
Like the spring, when thou art near,
Days and suns are doubly bright.
III
As a mother counts the days
Till her absent son she see,
Longs and watches, weeps and prays,
So our spirits long for thee.
IV
Come and let us feel thee nigh,
Then thy sheep shall feed in peace;
Plenty bless us from on high,
Evil from amongst us cease.
V
With thy love and voice and aid,
Thou canst every care assuage;
Then we shall not be afraid,
Though the world and Satan rage.
VI
Thus each day for thee we’ll spend,
While our callings we pursue;
And the thoughts of such a friend
Shall each night our joy renew.
VII
Let thy light be ne’er withdrawn,
Golden days afford us long!
Thus we pray at early dawn,
This shall be our evening song.
77
A Brand Plucked Out of the Fire
By Newton
Zechariah 3:1–5.
I
With Satan, my accuser, near,
My spirit trembled when I saw
The Lord in majesty appear,
And heard the language of his law.
II
In vain I wish’d and strove to hide
The tatter’d filthy rags I wore:
While my fierce foe insulting cried,
“See what you trusted in before!”
III
Struck dumb, and left without a plea,
I heard my gracious Saviour say,
“Know, Satan, I this sinner free—
I died to take his sins away.
IV
“This is a brand which I in love
To save from wrath and sin design;
In vain thy accusations prove;
I answer all, and claim him mine.”
V
At this rebuke the tempter fled;
Then He removed my filthy dress;
“Poor sinner, take this robe,” He said,
“It is thy Saviour’s righteousness.
VI
“And see a crown of life prepared!
That I might thus thy head adorn;
I thought no shame of suff’ring hard,
But wore for thee a crown of thorn.”
VII
O, how I heard these gracious words!
They broke and heal’d my heart at once;
Constrained me to become the Lord’s,
And all my idol-gods renounce.
VIII
Now, Satan, thou hast lost thy aim;
Against this brand thy threats are vain;
Jesus has pluck’d it from the flame,
And who shall put it in again?
78
On One Stone Shall Be Seven Eyes
By Newton
Zechariah 3:9.
I
Jesus Christ, the Lord’s Anointed,
Who his blood for sinners spilt,
Is the Stone by God appointed,
And the church is on him built:
He delivers all who trust him from their guilt.
II
Many eyes at once are fix’d
On a person so divine;
Love, with awful justice mix’d,
In his great redemption shine:
Mighty Jesus! give me leave to call thee mine.
III
By the Father’s eye approved,
Lo, a voice is heard from heaven,
“Sinners, this is my Beloved,
For your ransom freely given:
All offences for his sake shall be forgiven,”
IV
Angels with their eyes pursued him
When he left his glorious throne;
With astonishment they view’d him
Put the form of servant on;
Angels worshipp’d Him who was on earth unknown.
V
Satan and his host, amazed,
Saw this Stone in Zion laid;
Jesus, though to death abased,
Bruised the subtle Serpent’s head
When, to save us,
