I hasted to the means of grace,
Where sweets I knew were stored.
V
Little I thought of danger near,
That soon my joys would ebb;
But ah! I met a spider there,
Who caught me in his web.
VI
Then Satan raised his pois’nous sting,
And aim’d his blows at me:
While I, poor helpless trembling thing.
Could neither fight nor flee.
VII
But oh! the Saviour’s pitying eye
Relieved me from despair;
He saw me at the point to die,
And broke the fatal snare.
VIII
My case his heedless saints should warn,
Or cheer them if afraid;
May you from me your danger learn,
And where to look for aid!
93
The Tamed Lion
By Newton
I
A lion, though by nature wild,
The art of man can tame;
lie stands before his keeper mild
And gentle as a lamb.
II
He watches, with submissive eye,
The hand that gives him food,
As if he meant to testify
A sense of gratitude.
III
But man himself, who thus subdues
The fiercest beasts of prey,
A nature more unfeeling shows
And far more fierce than they.
IV
Though by the Lord preserved and fed,
He proves rebellious still;
And while he eats his Maker’s bread
Resists his holy will.
V
Alike in vain, of grace that saves,
Or threat’ning law, he hears;
The savage scorns, blasphemes, and raves,
But neither loves nor fears.
VI
O Saviour! how thy wondrous power
By angels is proclaim’d!
When in thine own appointed hour
They see this lion tamed!
VII
The love thy bleeding cross displays
The hardest heart subdues!
Here furious lions, while they gaze,
Their rage and fierceness lose.
VIII
Yet we are but renew’d in part,
The lion still remains;
Lord, drive him wholly from my heart,
Or keep him fast in chains.
94
Sheep
By Newton
I
The Saviour calls his people sheep,
And bids them on his love rely;
For he alone their souls can keep,
And he alone their wants supply.
II
The bull can fight, the hare can flee,
The ant in summer food prepare;
But helpless sheep, and such are we,
Depend upon the shepherd’s care.
III
Jehovah is our Shepherd’s name,
Then what have we, though weak, to fear?
Our sin and folly we proclaim
If we despond while he is near.
IV
When Satan threatens to devour,
When troubles press on every side,
Think on our Shepherd’s care and power,
He can defend, He will provide.
V
See the rich pastures of his grace,
Where in full streams salvation flows!
There he appoints our resting-place,
And we may feel secure from foes.
VI
There, ’midst the flock, the Shepherd dwells,
The sheep around in safety lie;
The wolf in vain with malice swells,
For he protects them with his eye.
VII
Dear Lord, if I am one of thine,
From anxious thoughts I would be free;
To trust and love and praise is mine,
The care of all belongs to thee.
95
The Garden
By Newton
I
A garden contemplation suits,
And may instruction yield
Sweeter than all the flow’rs and fruits
With which the spot is fill’d.
II
Eden was Adam’s dwelling-place
While blest with innocence;
But sin o’er whelm’d him with disgrace?
And drove the rebel thence.
III
Oft as the garden-walk we tread
We should bemoan his fall;
The trespass of our legal head
In ruin plunged us all.
IV
The garden of Gethsemane
The second Adam saw
Oppress’d with woe, to set us free
From the avenging law.
V
How stupid we, who can forget,
With gardens in our sight,
His agonies and bloody sweat
In that tremendous night!
VI
His church as a fair garden stands,
Which walls of love enclose;
Each tree is planted by his hands,
And by his blessing grows.
VII
Believing hearts are gardens too,
For grace has sown its seeds
Where once, by nature, nothing grew
But thorns and worthless weeds.
VIII
Such themes to those who Jesus love
May constant joys afford,
And make a barren desert prove
The garden of the Lord.
96
For a Garden-Seat or Summer-House
By Newton
I
A shelter, from the rain or wind,
A shade from scorching heat,
A resting-place you here may find,
To ease your weary feet,
II
Enter, but with a serious thought,
Consider who is near!
This is a consecrated spot—
The Lord is present here!
III
A question of the utmost weight,
While reading, meets your eye;
May conscience witness to your state,
And give a true reply!
IV
Is Jesus to your heart reveal’d
As full of truth and grace?
And is his name your hope and shield,
Your rest and hiding-place?
V
If so, for all events prepared,
Whatever storms may rise,
He whom you love will safely guard,
And guide you to the skies.
VI
No burning sun or storm or rain
Will there your peace annoy;
No sin, temptation, grief, or pain,
Intrude to damp your joy.
VII
But if his name you have not known,
Oh, seek him while you may!
Lest you should meet his awful frown
In that approaching day.
VIII
When the avenging Judge you see
With terrors on his brow,
Where can you hide, or whither flee,
If you reject him now?
97
The Creatures in the Lord’s Hands
By Newton
I
The water stood like walls of brass,
To let the sons of Isr’el pass,
And from the rock in rivers burst,
At Moses pray’r, to quench their thirst.
II
The fire, restrain’d by God’s commands,
Could only burn his people’s bands;
Too faint, when he was with them there,
To singe their garments or their hair.
III
At Daniel’s feet the lions lay
Like harmless lambs, nor touch’d their prey;
And ravens, which on carrion fed,
Procured Elijah flesh and bread.
IV
Thus creatures only can fulfill
Their great Creator’s holy will;
And when his servants need their aid,
His purposes must be obey’d.
V
So, if his blessing he refuse,
Their pow’r to help they quickly lose;
Sure as on
