Then at last to him we cry.
II
Thus the ruler, when his daughter
Suffer’d much, though Christ was nigh,
Still deferr’d it till he thought her
At the very point to die:
Though he mourn’d for her condition,
He did not entreat the Lord
Till he found that no physician
But himself could help afford.
III
Jesus did not once upbraid him,
That he had no sooner come;
But a gracious answer made him,
And went straightway with him home:
Yet his faith was put to trial
When his servants came, and said,
Though he gave thee no denial,
’Tis too late—the child is dead.”
IV
Jesus, to prevent his grieving,
Kindly spoke, and eased his pain;
“Be not fearful, but believing—
Thou shalt see her live again.”
When he found the people weeping,
“Cease,” he said, “no longer mourn;
For she is not dead, but sleeping:”
Then they laughed him to scorn.
V
O thou meek and lowly Saviour,
How determined is thy love!
Not this rude unkind behaviour
Could thy gracious purpose move.
Soon as he the room had enter’d,
Spoke, and took her by the hand,
Death at once his prey surrender’d,
And she lived at his command.
VI
Fear not then, distress’d believer,
Venture on his mighty name;
He is able to deliver,
And his love is still the same:
Can his pity or his power
Suffer thee to pray in vain?
Wait but his appointed hour,
And thy suit thou shalt obtain.
94
But One Loaf.11
By Newton
Mark 8:14.
I
When the disciples cross’d the lake
With but one loaf on board,
How strangely did their hearts mistake
The caution of their Lord!
II
“The leaven of the Pharisees
Beware,” the Saviour said;
They thought, It is because he sees
We have forgotten bread.
III
It seems they had forgotten too
What their own eyes had view’d—
How, with what scarce sufficed for few,
He fed a multitude.
IV
If five small loaves, by his command,
Could many thousands serve,
Might they not trust his gracious hand.
That they should never starve?
V
They oft his power and love had known,
And doubtless were to blame;
But we have reason good to own
That we are just the same.
VI
How often has he brought relief,
And every want supplied!
Yet soon, again, our unbelief
Says, “Can the Lord provide?”
VII
Be thankful for one loaf to-day,
Though that be all your store:
To-morrow, if you trust and pray,
Shall timely bring you more.
95
Bartimeus
By Newton
Mark 10:47–48.
I
“Mercy, thou son of David!”
Thus blind Bartimeus pray’d;
“Others by thy word are saved,
Now to me afford thine aid.”
Many for his crying chid him,
But he call’d the louder still,
Till the gracious Saviour bid him
“Come, and ask me what you will.”
II
Money was not what he wanted,
Though by begging used to live;
But he ask’d, and Jesus granted
Alms which none but he could give:
“Lord, remove this grievous blindness,
Let my eyes behold the day;”
Straight he saw and, won by kindness,
Follow’d Jesus in the way.
III
Oh! methinks I hear him praising,
Publishing to all around,
“Friends, is not my case amazing?
What a Saviour I have found!
Oh! that all the blind but knew him,
And would be advised by me;
Surely they would hasten to him,
He would cause them all to see.”
96
The House of Prayer
By Cowper
Mark 11:17.
I
Thy mansion is the Christian’s heart,
O Lord, thy dwelling-place secure!
Bid the unruly throng depart,
And leave the consecrated door.
II
Devoted as it is to thee,
A thievish swarm frequents the place;
They steal away my joys from me,
And rob my Saviour of his praise.
III
There too a sharp designing trade,
Sin, Satan, and the world maintain;
Nor cease to press me, and persuade,
To part with ease and purchase pain.
IV
I know them, and I hate their din,
Am weary of the bustling crowd;
But while their voice is heard within
I cannot serve thee as I would.
V
Oh! for the joy thy presence gives—
What peace shall reign when thou art here!
Thy presence makes this den of thieves
A calm delightful house of prayer.
VI
And if thou make thy temple shine,
Yet, self-abased, will I adore;
The gold and silver are not mine—
I give thee what was thine before.
97
The Blasted Fig-Tree
By Newton
Mark 11:20.
I
One awful word which Jesus spoke
Against the tree which bore no fruit,
More piercing than the lightning’s stroke,
Blasted and dried it to the root.
II
But could a tree the Lord offend,
To make him show his anger thus!
He surely had, a further end—
To be a warning word to us.
III
The fig-tree by its leaves was known;
But having not a fig to show,
It brought a heavy sentence down—
“Let none hereafter on thee grow.”
IV
Too many, who the gospel hear,
Whom Satan blinds and sin deceives
We to this fig-tree may compare,
They yield no fruit, but only leaves
V
Knowledge and zeal and gifts and talk.
Unless combined with faith and love,
And witnessed by a gospel-walk,
Will not a true profession prove.
VI
Without the fruit the Lord expects,
Knowledge will make our state the worse;
The barren trees he still rejects,
And soon will blast them with his curse.
VII
O Lord, unite our hearts in prayer!
On each of us thy Spirit send,
That we the fruits of grace may bear,
And find acceptance in the end.
98
The Two Debtors
By Newton
Luke 7:47.
I
Once a woman silent stood
While Jesus sat at meat;
From her eyes she pour’d a flood,
To wash his sacred feet:
Shame and wonder, joy and love,
All at once possess’d her mind,
That she e’er so vile could prove,
Yet now forgiveness find.
II
“How came this vile woman here?
Will Jesus notice such?
Sure, if he a prophet were,
He would disdain her touch!”
Simon thus, with scornful heart,
Slighted one whom Jesus loved;
But her Saviour took her part,
And thus his pride reproved:
III
“If two men in debt were bound,
One less, the other more,
Fifty, or five hundred pound,
And both alike were poor;
Should the lender both forgive
When
