II
Pity the anguish I endure,
See how I mourn and pine;
For never can I hope a cure
From any hand but thine.
III
I would disclose my whole complaint,
But where shall I begin?
No words of mine can fully paint
That worst distemper, sin.
IV
It lies not in a single part,
But through my frame is spread;
A burning fever in my heart,
A palsy in my head.
V
It makes me deaf and dumb and blind,
And impotent and lame;
It overclouds and fills my mind
With folly, fear, and shame.
VI
A thousand evil thoughts intrude
Tumultuous in my breast;
Which indispose me for my food,
And rob me of my rest.
VII
Lord, I am sick, regard my cry,
And set my spirit free:
Say, canst thou let a sinner die,
Who longs to live to thee?
84
Satan Returning
By Newton
Matthew 12:43–45.
I
When Jesus claims the sinner’s heart,
Where Satan ruled before,
The evil spirit must depart,
And dares return no more.
II
But when he goes without constraint,
And wanders from his home,
Although withdrawn, ’tis but a feint—
He means again to come.
III
Some outward change perhaps is seen
If Satan quit the place;
But though the house seem swept and clean.
’Tis destitute of grace.
IV
Except the Saviour dwell and reign
Within the sinner’s mind,
Satan, when he returns again,
Will easy entrance find.
V
With rage and malice sevenfold
He then resumes his sway;
No more by checks to be control’d,
No more to go away.
VI
The sinner’s former state was bad,
But worse the latter far;
He lives possessed, blind, and mad,
And dies in dark despair.
VII
Lord, save me from this dreadful end!
And from this heart of mine
O drive and keep away the fiend
Who fears no voice but thine.
85
The Sower
By Cowper
Matthew 13:3.
I
Ye sons of earth, prepare the plough,
Break up your fallow ground!
The sower is gone forth to sow,
And scatter blessings round.
II
The seed that finds a stony soil
Shoots forth a hasty blade;
But ill repays the sower’s toil—
Soon wither’d, scorch’d, and dead.
III
The thorny ground is sure to baulk
All hopes of harvest there;
We find a tall and sickly stalk,
But not the fruitful ear.
IV
The beaten path and highway-side
Receive the trust in vain;
The watchful birds the spoil divide,
And pick up all the grain.
V
But where the Lord of grace and power
Has bless’d the happy field,
How plenteous is the golden store
The deep-wrought furrows yield!
VI
Father of mercies, we have need
Of thy preparing grace;
Let the same hand that gives the seed
Provide a fruitful place.
86
The Wheat and Tares
By Newton
Matthew 13:37–42.
I
Though in the outward church below
The wheat and tares together grow,
Jesus ere long will weed the crop,
And pluck the tares in anger up.
II
Will it relieve their horrors there
To recollect their stations here—
How much they heard, how much they knew,
How long amongst the wheat they grew?
III
Oh! this will aggravate their case;
They perish’d under means of grace;
To them the word of life and faith
Became an instrument of death.
IV
We seem alike when thus we meet,
Strangers might think we all are wheat;
But to the Lord’s all-searching eyes
Each heart appears without disguise.
V
The tares are spared for various ends;
Some for the sake of praying friends,
Others the Lord, against their will,
Employs his counsels to fulfill.
VI
But though they grow so tall and strong,
His plan will not require them long;
In harvest, when he saves his own,
The tares shall into hell be thrown.
87
Peter Walking Upon the Water
By Newton
Matthew 14:28–31.
I
A word from Jesus calms the sea,
The stormy wind controls,
And gives repose and liberty
To tempest-tossed souls.
II
To Peter on the waves he came,
And gave him instant peace;
Thus he to me reveal’d his name,
And bade my sorrows cease.
III
Then fill’d with wonder, joy, and love.
Peter’s request was mine;
Lord, call me down, I long to prove
That I am wholly thine.
IV
Unmoved at all I have to meet
On life’s tempestuous sea,
Hard shall be easy, bitter sweet,
So I may follow thee.
V
He heard and smiled, and bade me try;
I eagerly obey’d;
But when from him I turn’d my eye,
How was my soul dismay’d!
VI
The storm increased on every side,
I felt my spirit shrink!
And soon, with Peter, loud I cried,
“Lord, save me, or I sink.”
VII
Kindly he caught me by the hand,
And said, “Why dost thou fear
Since thou art come at my command.
And I am always near?
VIII
“Upon my promise rest thy hope,
And keep my love in view;
I stand engaged to hold thee up,
And guide thee safely through.”
88
The Woman of Canaan
By Newton
Matthew 15:22–28.
I
Prayer an answer will obtain,
Though the Lord awhile delay;
None shall seek his face in vain,
None be empty sent away.
II
When the woman came from Tyre,
And for help to Jesus sought,
Though he granted her desire,
Yet at first he answer’d not.
III
Could she guess at his intent
When he to his foll’wers said,
“I to Israel’s sheep am sent;
Dogs must not have children’s bread’?
IV
She was not of Israel’s seed,
But of Canaan’s wretched race;
Thought herself a dog indeed;
Was not this a hopeless case?
V
Yet although from Canaan sprung,
Though a dog herself she styled,
She had Israel’s faith and tongue,
And was own’d for Abram’s child.
VI
From His word she draws a plea:
“Though unworthy children’s bread,
’Tis enough for one like me
If with crumbs I may be fed.”
VII
Jesus then his heart reveal’d:
“Woman, canst thou thus believe?
I to thy petition yield,
All that thou canst wish receive.”
