To cut the barren fig-trees down.
IV
How difficult his post,
What pangs his bowels move,
To find his wishes cross’d,
His labours useless prove!
His last relief is earnest prayer,
“Lord, spare them yet another year.
V
“Spare them, and let me try
What further means may do;
I’ll fresh manure apply,
My digging I’ll renew:
Who knows but yet they fruit may yield?
If not—’tis just, they must be fell’d.”
VI
If under means of grace
No gracious fruits appear,
It is a dreadful case,
Though God may long forbear:
At length he’ll strike the threaten’d blow,12
And lay the barren fig-tree low.
104
The Prodigal Son
By Newton
Luke 15:11–24.
I
Afflictions, though they seem severe,
In mercy oft are sent;
They stopp’d the prodigal’s career,
And forced him to repent.
II
Although he no relentings felt
Till he had spent his store,
His stubborn heart began to melt
When famine pinch’d him sore.
III
“What have I gain’d by sin,” he said,
“But hunger, shame, and fear?
My father’s house abounds with bread
While I am starving here.
IV
I’ll go and tell him all I’ve done,
And fall before his face;
Unworthy to be call’d his son,
I’ll seek a servant’s place.”
V
His father saw him coming back,
He saw and ran and smiled,
And threw his arms around the neck
Of his rebellious child.
VI
“Father, I’ve sinn’d—but O forgive!”
“I’ve heard enough,” he said;
“Rejoice, my house—my son’s alive
For whom I mourn’d as dead.
VII
“Now let the fatted calf be slain,
And spread the news around:
My son was dead, but lives again—
Was lost, but now is found.
VIII
’Tis thus the Lord his love reveals
To call poor sinners home;
More than a father’s love he feels.
And welcomes all that come.
105
The Rich Man and Lazarus
By Newton
Luke 16:19–25.
I
A worlding spent each day
In luxury and state,
While a believer lay
A beggar at his gate.
Think not the Lord’s appointment strange,
Death made a great and lasting change.
II
Death brought the saint release
From want, disease, and scorn;
And to the land of peace
His soul, by angels borne,
In Abraham’s bosom safely placed,
Enjoys an everlasting feast.
III
The rich man also died,
And in a moment fell
From all his pomp and pride
Into the flames of hell:
The beggar’s bliss, from far beheld,
His soul with double anguish fill’d.
IV
“O, Abra’m, send,” he cries,
(But his request was vain,)
“The beggar from the skies
To mitigate my pain!
One drop of water I entreat,
To sooth my tongue’s tormenting heat.”
V
Let all who worldly pelf
And worldly spirits have
Observe, each for himself,
The answer Abra’m gave:
“Remember thou wast fill’d with good,
While the poor beggar pined for good.
VI
“Neglected at thy door,
With tears he begg’d his bread;
But now he weeps no more—
His griefs and pains are fled:
His joys eternally will flow,
While thine expire in endless woe.”
VII
Lord, make us truly wise,
To choose thy people’s lot,
And earthly joys despise,
Which soon will be forgot:
The greatest evil we can fear,
Is to possess our portion here!
106
The Importunate Widow.13
By Newton
Luke 18:1–7.
I
Our Lord, who knows full well
The heart of every saint,
Invites us, by a parable.
To pray and never faint.
II
He bows his gracious ear,
We never plead in vain;
Yet we must wait till he appear,
And pray, and pray again.
III
Though unbelief suggest,
Why should we longer wait?
He bids us never give him rest,
But be importunate.
IV
’Twas thus a widow poor,
Without support or friend,
Beset the unjust judge’s door,
And gain’d, at last, her end.
V
For her he little cared,
As little for the laws;
Nor god nor man did he regard,
Yet he espoused her cause.
VI
She urged him day and night,
Would no denial take;
At length he said, “I’ll do her right,
For my own quiet’s sake.”
VII
And shall not Jesus hear
His chosen when they cry?
Yes, though he may a while forbear,
He’ll help them from on high.
VIII
His nature, truth, and love,
Engage him on their side;
When they are grieved, his bowels move,
And can they be denied?
IX
Then let us earnest be,
And never faint in prayer;
He loves our importunity,
And makes our cause his care.
107
Zaccheus
By Newton
Luke 19:1–6.
I
Zaccheus climb’d the tree,
And thought himself unknown;
But how surprised was he
When Jesus call’d him down!
The Lord beheld him, though conceal’d,
And by a word his power reveal’d.
II
Wonder and joy at once
Were painted in his face;
“Does he my name pronounce,
And does he know my case?
Will Jesus deign with me to dine?
Lord, I, with all I have, are thine.”
III
Thus, where the gospel’s preach’d,
And sinners come to hear,
The hearts of some are reach’d
Before they are aware:
The word directly speaks to them,
And seems to point them out by name.
IV
’Tis curiosity
Oft brings them in the way,
Only the man to see
And hear what he can say;
But how the sinner starts to find
The preacher knows his inmost mind!
V
His long-forgotten faults
Are brought again in view,
And all his secrets thoughts
Reveal’d in public too.
Though compass’d with a crowd about,
The searching word has found him out.
VI
While thus distressing pain
And sorrow fill his heart,
He hears a voice again,
That bids his fears depart,
Then like Zaccheus he is blest,
And Jesus deigns to be his guest.
108
The Believer’s Danger, Safety, and Duty
By Newton
Luke 22:31–32.
I
“Simon beware,”
