Which of them would you believe
Engaged to love him best?
IV
“Surely he who most did owe,”
The Pharisee replied:
Then our Lord, “By judging so,
Thou dost for her decide:
Simon, if like her you knew
How much you forgiveness need,
You like her had acted too,
And welcomed me indeed.
V
“When the load of sin is felt,
And much forgiveness known
Then the heart of course will melt,
Though hard before as stone:
Blame not then her love and tears,
Greatly she in debt has been;
But I have removed her fears,
And pardon’d all her sin.”
VI
When I read this woman’s case,
Her love and humble zeal,
I confess, with shame of face,
My heart is made of steel.
Much has been forgiven to me,
Jesus paid my heavy score;
What a creature must I be,
That I can love no more!
99
The Good Samaritan
By Newton
Luke 10:33–35.
I
How kind the good Samaritan
To him who fell among the thieves!
Thus Jesus pities fallen man,
And heals the wounds the soul receives.
II
Oh! I remember well the day
When, sorely wounded, nearly slain,
Like that poor man, I bleeding lay,
And groan’d for help, but groan’d in vain.
III
Men saw me in this helpless case,
And pass’d without compassion by;
Each neighbour turn’d away his face,
Unmoved by my mournful cry.
IV
But He whose name had been my scorn
(As Jews Samaritans despise)
Came, when he saw me thus forlorn,
With love and pity in his eyes.
V
Gently he raised me from the ground,
Press’d me to lean upon his arm,
And into every gaping wound
He pour’d his own all-healing balm.
VI
Unto his church my steps he led,
The house prepared for sinners lost,
Gave charge I should be clothed and fed,
And took upon him all the cost.
VII
Thus saved from death, from want secured,
I wait till he again shall come
(When I shall be completely cured,)
And take me to his heavenly home.
VIII
There, through eternal, boundless days,
When Nature’s wheel no longer rolls,
How shall I love, adore, and praise
This good Samaritan to souls!
100
Martha and Mary
By Newton
Luke 10:38–42.
I
Martha her love and joy express’d
By care to entertain her guest;
While Mary sat to hear her Lord,
And could not bear to lose a word.
II
The principle, in both the same,
Produced in each a different aim;
The one to feast the Lord was led,
The other waited to be fed.
III
But Mary chose the better part,
Her Saviour’s words refresh’d her heart,
While busy Martha angry grew,
And lost her time and temper too.
IV
With warmth she to her sister spoke,
But brought upon herself rebuke:
“One thing is needful, and but one,
Why do thy thoughts on many run?”
V
How oft are we like Martha vex’d,
Encumber’d, hurried, and perplex’d,
While trifles so engross our thought
The one thing needful is forgot!
VI
Lord, teach us this one thing to choose,
Which they who gain can never lose—
Sufficient in itself alone,
And needful, were the world our own.
VII
Let grov’ling hearts the world admire—
Thy love is all that I require!
Gladly I may the rest resign,
If the one needful thing be mine!
101
The Heart Taken
By Newton
Luke 11:21–22.
I
The castle of the human heart,
Strong in its native sin,
Is guarded well in every part
By him who dwells within.
II
For Satan there in arms resides,
And calls the place his own—
With care against assaults provides,
And rules as on a throne.
III
Each traitor thought on him, as chief,
In blind obedience waits;
And pride, self-will, and unbelief,
Are posted at the gates.
IV
Thus Satan for a season reigns,
And keeps his goods in peace;
The soul is pleased to wear his chains,
Nor wishes a release.
V
But Jesus, stronger far than he,
In his appointed hour
Appears, to set his people free
From the usurper’s power.
VI
“This heart I bought with blood,” he says,
“And now it shall be mine;”
His voice the strong one arm’d dismays—
He knows he must resign.
VII
In spite of unbelief and pride,
And self, and Satan’s art,
The gates of brass fly open wide,
And Jesus wins the heart.
VIII
The rebel soul that once withstood
The Saviour’s kindest call,
Rejoices now, by grace subdued,
To serve him with her all.
102
The Worldling
By Newton
Luke 8:16–21.
I
“My barns are full, my stores increase,
And now, for many years,
Soul, eat and drink, and take thine ease,
Secure from wants and fears.”
II
Thus while a worldling boasted once,
As many now presume,
He heard the Lord himself pronounce
His sudden awful doom.
III
“This night, vain fool, thy soul must pass
Into a world unknown;
And who shall then the stores possess
Which thou hast call’d thine own?”
IV
Thus blinded mortals fondly scheme
For happiness below,
Till death disturbs the pleasing dream,
And they awake to woe.
V
Ah! who can speak the vast dismay
That fills the sinner’s mind,
When, torn by Death’s strong hand away,
He leaves his all behind.
VI
Wretches, who cleave to earthly things,
But are not rich to God,
Their dying hour is full of stings,
And hell their dark abode.
VII
Dear Saviour, make us timely wise
Thy gospel to attend,
That we may live above the skies
When this poor life shall end.
103
The Barren Fig-Tree
By Newton
Luke 13:6–9.
I
The church a garden is,
In which believers stand
Like ornamental trees
Planted by God’s own hand!
His Spirit waters all their roots,
And every branch abounds with fruits.
II
But other trees there are
In this enclosure grow,
Which, though they promise fair,
Have only leaves to show:
No fruits of grace are on them found,
They stand but cumberers of the ground.
III
The under gardener grieves,
In vain his strength he spends,
For heaps of useless leaves
Afford him small amends:
He hears
