VII
Since all our secret ways
Are mark’d and known by thee,
Afford us, Lord, thy light of grace,
That we ourselves may see.
134
Looking Unto Jesus
By Newton
Hebrews 12:2.
I
By various maxims, forms, and rules,
That pass for wisdom in the schools,
I strove my passion to restrain;
But all my efforts proved in vain.
II
But since the Saviour I have known,
My rules are all reduced to one,
To keep my Lord by faith in view;
This strength supplies and motives too.
III
I see him lead a suff’ring life,
Patient amidst reproach and strife;
And from his pattern courage take
To bear and suffer for his sake.
IV
Upon the cross I see him bleed,
And by the sight from guilt am freed;
This sight destroys the life of sin,
And quickens heav’nly life within.
V
To look to Jesus as he rose,
Confirms my faith, disarms my foes;
Satan I shame and overcome,
By pointing to my Saviour’s tomb.
VI
Exalted on his glorious throne,
I see him make my cause his own;
Then all my anxious cares subside,
For Jesus lives, and will provide.
VII
I see him look with pity down,
And hold in view the conq’ror’s crown.
If press’d with griefs and cares before,
My soul revives, nor asks for more.
VIII
By faith I see the hour at hand,
When in his presence I shall stand;
Then it will be my endless bliss
To see him where and as he is.
135
Love Tokens
By Newton
Hebrews 12:5–11.
I
Afflictions do not come alone,
A voice attends the rod;
By both he to his saints is known,
A Father and a God.
II
“Let not my children slight the stroke
I for chastisement send,
Nor faint beneath my kind rebuke,
For still I am their Friend.
III
“The wicked I perhaps may leave
Awhile, and not reprove;
But all the children I receive,
I scourge, because I love.
IV
“If therefore you were left without
This needful discipline,
You might with cause admit a doubt
If you indeed were mine.
V
“Shall earthly parents then expect
Their children to submit?
And will not you, when I correct,
Be humbled at my feet?
VI
“To please themselves they oft chastise,
And put their sons to pain;
But you are precious in my eyes,
And shall not smart in vain.
VII
“I see your hearts at present fill’d
With grief and deep distress;
But soon these bitter seeds shall yield
The fruits of righteousness.”
VIII
Break through the clouds, dear Lord, and shine!
Let us perceive thee nigh!
And to each mourning child of thine
These gracious words apply.
136
Ephesus
By Newton
Revelation 2:1–7.
I
Thus saith the Lord to Ephesus,
And thus he speaks to some of us—
“Amidst my churches, lo, I stand,
And hold the pastors in my hand.
II
“Thy works to me are fully known,
Thy patience and thy toil I own;
Thy views of gospel truth are clear,
Nor canst thou other doctrine bear.
III
“Yet I must blame while I approve;
Where is thy first, thy fervent love?
Dost thou forget my love to thee,
That thine is grown so faint to me?
IV
“Recall to mind the happy days
When thou wast fill’d with joy and praise;
Repent—thy former works renew—
Then I’ll restore thy comforts too.
V
“Return at once, when I reprove,
Lest I thy candlestick remove;
And thou too late thy loss lament:
I warn before I strike—Repent.”
VI
Hearken to what the Spirit saith,
“To him that overcomes by faith,
The fruit of life’s unfading tree
In paradise his food shall be.”
137
Smyrna
By Newton
Revelation 2:11.
I
The message first to Smyrna sent,
A message full of grace,
To all the Saviour’s flock is meant
In every age and place.
II
Thus to his church, his chosen bride,
Saith the great First and Last,
Who ever lives, though once he died,
“Hold thy profession fast.
III
“Thy works and sorrow well I know,
Perform’d and borne for me;
Poor though thou art, despised and low,
Yet who is rich like thee?
IV
“I know thy foes, and what they say,
How long they have blasphemed;
The synagogue of Satan they,
Though they would Jews be deem’d.
V
“Though Satan for a season rage,
And prisons be your lot,
I am your Friend, and I engage
You shall not be forgot.
VI
“Be faithful unto death, nor fear
A few short days of strife;
Behold! the prize you soon shall wear,
A crown of endless life!”
VII
Hear what the Holy Spirit saith,
Of all who overcome;
“They shall escape the second death,
The sinner’s awful doom!”
138
Sardis
By Cowper
Revelation 1–6.
I
“Write to Sardis,” (saith the Lord,)
And write what he declares,
He whose Spirit and whose word
Upholds the seven stars:
“All thy works and ways I search,
Find thy zeal and love decay’d;
Thou art call’d a living church,
But thou art cold and dead.
II
“Watch, remember, seek, and strive,
Exert thy former pains:
Let thy timely care revive,
And strengthen what remains:
Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend,
Former times to mind recall,
Lest my sudden stroke descend,
And smite thee once for all.
III
“Yet I number now in thee
A few that are upright;
These my Father’s face shall see,
And walk with me in white:
When in judgment I appear,
They for mine shall be confess’d,
Let my faithful servants hear,
And woe be to the rest!”
139
Philadelphia
By Newton
Revelation 3:7–13.
I
Thus saith the Holy One and true,
To his beloved faithful few,
“Of heaven and hell I hold the keys,
To shut or open as I please.
II
“I know thy works, and I approve,
Though small thy strength, sincere thy love;
Go on, my word and name to own,
For none shall rob thee of thy crown.
III
“Before thee see my mercy’s door
Stands open wide to shut no more;
Fear not temptation’s fiery day,
For I will be thy strength and stay.
IV
“Thou hast
