These waters always move;
Sinners in every age and clime
Their vital influence prove.
V
Yet numbers daily near them lie,
Who meet with no relief;
With life in view they pine and die
In hopeless unbelief.
VI
’Tis strange they should refuse to bathe.
And yet frequent the pool;
But none can even wish for faith,
While love of sin bears rule.
VII
Satan their consciences has seal’d
And stupifies their thought;
For were they willing to be heal’d,
The cure would soon be wrought.
VIII
Do thou, dear Saviour, interpose,
Their stubborn wills constrain;
Or else to them the water flows
And grace is preached in vain.
114
The Disciples at Sea.15
By Newton
John 6:16–21.
I
Constrain’d by their Lord to embark,
And venture without him to sea,
The season tempestuous and dark,
How grieved the disciples must be!
But though he remain’d on the shore,
He spent the night for them in pray’r;
They still were as safe as before,
And equally under his care.
II
They strove, though in vain, for awhile
The force of the waves to withstand,
But when they were wearied with toil
They saw their dear Saviour at hand:
They gladly received him on board,
His presence their spirits revived,
The sea became calm at his word,
And soon at their port they arrived.
III
We, like the disciples, are toss’d,
By storms on a perilous deep;
But cannot be possibly lost,
For Jesus has charge of the ship:
Though billows and winds are enraged,
And threaten to make us their sport;
This pilot his word has engaged
To bring us in safety to port.
IV
If sometimes we struggle alone,
And he is withdrawn from our view,
It makes us more willing to own
We nothing without him can do:
Then Satan our hopes would assail,
But Jesus is still within call,
And when our poor efforts quite fail
He comes in good time and does all.
V
Yet, Lord, we are ready to shrink
Unless we thy presence perceive;
save us, (we cry,) or we sink;
We would, but we cannot believe!
The night has been long and severe,
The winds and the seas are still high,
Dear Saviour, this moment appear,
And say to our souls, “It is I!”16
115
Will Ye Also Go Away?
By Newton
John 6:67–69.
I
When any turn from Zion’s way—
Alas! what numbers do!—
Methinks I hear my Saviour say,
“Wilt thou forsake me too?”
II
Ah, Lord! with such a heart as mine,
Unless thou hold me fast,
I feel I must, I shall decline,
And prove like them at last.
III
Yet thou alone hast power, I know,
To save a wretch like me;
To whom, or whither, could I go,
If I should turn from thee?
IV
Beyond a doubt I rest assured
Thou art the Christ of God,
Who hast eternal life secured
By promise and by blood.
V
The help of men and angels join’d
Could never reach my case;
Nor can I hope relief to find
But in thy boundless grace.
VI
No voice but thine can give me rest,
And bid my fears depart;
No love but thine can make me bless’d.
And satisfy my heart.
VII
What anguish has that question stirr’d,
If I will also go?
Yet, Lord, relying on thy word,
I humbly answer—No.
116
The Resurrection and the Life
By Newton
John 11:25.
I
“I am,” saith Christ, “your glorious head,”
(May we attention give,)
“The resurrection of the dead,
The life of all that live.
II
“By faith in me the soul receives
New life, though dead before;
And he that in my name believes,
Shall live to die no more.
III
“The sinner, sleeping in his grave,
Shall at my voice awake;
And when I once begin to save,
My work I ne’er forsake.”
IV
Fulfill thy promise, gracious Lord,
On us assembled here;
Put forth thy Spirit with the word,
And cause the dead to hear.
V
Preserve the power of faith alive
In those who love thy name;
For sin and Satan daily strive
To quench the sacred flame.
VI
Thy power and mercy first prevail’d
From death to set us free;
And often since our life had fail’d,
If not renew’d by thee.
VII
To thee we look, to thee we bow,
To thee for help we call;
Our life and resurrection thou,
Our hope, our joy, our all.
117
Weeping Mary
By Newton
John 20:11–16.
I
Mary to her Saviour’s tomb
Hasted at the early dawn;
Spice she brought, and sweet perfume;
But the Lord she loved was gone.
For awhile she weeping stood,
Struck with sorrow and surprise,
Shedding tears, a plenteous flood,
For her heart supplied her eyes.
II
Jesus, who is always near,
Though too often unperceived,
Came, his drooping child to cheer,
Kindly asking, “Why she grieved?”
Though at first she knew him not,
When he call’d her by her name
Then her griefs were all forgot,
For she found he was the same.
III
Grief and sighing quickly fled
When she heard his welcome voice:
Just before she thought him dead,
Now he bids her heart rejoice.
What a change his word can make,
Turning darkness into day!
You who weep for Jesu’s sake,
He will wipe your tears away.
IV
He who came to comfort her,
When she thought her all was lost,
Will for your relief appear,
Though you now are tempest-toss’d:
On his word your burden cast,
On his love your thoughts employ;
Weeping for awhile may last,
But the morning brings the joy.
118
Lovest Thou Me?
By Cowper
John 21:16.
I
Hark, my soul! it is the Lord;
’Tis thy Saviour, hear his word;
Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee:
“Say, poor sinner, lov’st thou me?
II
“I deliver’d thee when bound,
And, when bleeding, heal’d thy wound—
Sought thee wand’ring, set thee right,
Turn’d thy darkness into light.
III
“Can a woman’s tender care
Cease towards the child she bare?
Yes, she may forgetful be,
Yet will I remember thee.
IV
“Mine is an unchanging love,
Higher than the heights above,
Deeper than the depths beneath,
Free and faithful, strong as death.
V
“Thou shalt see my glory
