He was buffeted, tempted, and slain;
And at length he will surely appear,
Though he leaves me awhile to complain.
V
While I dwell in an enemy’s land,
Can I hope to be always in peace?
’Tis enough that my Shepherd’s at hand,
And that shortly this warfare will cease:
For ere long he will bid me remove
From this region of sorrow and pain,
To abide in his presence above,
And then I no more shall complain.
31
Return, O Lord, How Long?
By Newton
I
Return to bless my waiting eyes,
And cheer my mourning heart, Lord!
Without thee all beneath the skies
No real pleasure can afford.
II
When thy loved presence meets my sight
It softens care and sweetens toil,
The sun shines forth with double light,
The whole creation wears a smile.
III
Upon thine arm of love I rest,
Thy gracious voice forbids my fear;
No storms disturb my peaceful breast,
No foes assault when thou art near.
IV
But, ah! since thou hast been away,
Nothing but trouble have I known;
And Satan marks me for his prey,
Because he sees me left alone.
V
My sun is hid, my comforts lost,
My graces droop, my sins revive;
Distress’d, dismay’d, and tempest-toss’d,
My soul is only just alive!
VI
Lord, hear my cry, and come again!
Put all mine enemies to shame;
And let them see ’tis not in vain
That I have trusted in thy name.
32
Cast Down, but Not Destroyed
By Newton
I
Though sore beset with guilt and fear,
I cannot, dare not, quite despair;
If I must perish, would the Lord
Have taught my heart to love his word:
Would he have given me eyes to see
My danger and my remedy;
Reveal’d his name, and bid me pray,
Had he resolved to say me nay?
II
No though cast down, I am not slain!
I fall, but I shall rise again;
The present, Satan, is thy hour,
But Jesus shall control thy pow’r:
His love will plead for my relief,
He hears my groans, he sees my grief;
Nor will he suffer thee to boast
A soul that sought his help was lost,
III
’Tis true, I have unfaithful been,
And grieved his Spirit by my sin;
Yet still his mercy he’ll reveal,
And all my wounds and follies heal:
Abounding sin I must confess,
But more abounding is his grace:
He once vouchsafed for me to bleed,
And now he lives my cause to plead.
IV
I’ll cast myself before his feet,
I see him on his mercy-seat,
(’Tis sprinkled with atoning blood);
There sinners find access to God:
Ye burden’d souls, approach with me,
And make the Saviour’s name your plea:
Jesus will pardon all who come,
And strike your fierce accuser dumb.
33
The Benighted Traveler
By Newton
I
Forest beasts that live by prey,
Seldom show themselves by day;
But when day-light is withdrawn,
Then they rove and roar till dawn.
II
Who can tell the trav’ler’s fears
When their horrid yells he hears?
Terror almost stops his breath,
While each step he looks for death.
III
Thus, when Jesus is in view,
Cheerful I my way pursue;
Walking by my Saviour’s light
Nothing can my soul affright.
IV
But when he forbears to shine,
Soon the trav’ler’s case is mine;
Lost, benighted, struck with dread,
What a painful path I tread!
V
Then my soul with terror hears,
Worse than lions, wolves, or bears,
Roaring loud in every part,
Through the forest of my heart.
VI
Wrath, impatience, envy, pride,
Satan and his host beside,
Press around me to devour;
How can I escape their power?
VII
Gracious Lord, afford me light,
Put these beasts of prey to flight;
Let thy pow’r of love be shown;
Save me, for I am thine own!
34
The Prisoner
By Newton
I
When the poor pris’ner, through a grate,
Sees others walk at large,
How does he mourn his lonely state,
And long for a discharge!
II
Thus I, confined in unbelief,
My loss of freedom mourn;
And spend my hours in fruitless grief
Until my Lord return.
III
The beam of day, which pierces through
The gloom in which I dwell,
Only discloses to my view
The horrors of my cell.
IV
Ah! how my pensive spirit faints
To think of former days!
When I could triumph with the saints,
And join their songs of praise!
V
But now my joys are all cut off,
In prison I am cast;
And Satan, with a cruel scoff,
Says, “Where’s your God at last?”
VI
Dear Saviour, for thy mercy’s sake,
My strong, my only plea,
These gates and bars in pieces break,
And set the pris’ner free!
VII
Surely my soul shall sing to thee,
For liberty restored;
And all thy saints admire to see
The mercies of the Lord.
35
Perplexity Relieved
By Newton
I
Uncertain how the way to find
Which to salvation led,
I listen’d long, with anxious mind,
To hear what others said.
II
When some of joys and comforts told,
I fear’d that I was wrong;
For I was stupid, dead, and cold—
Had neither joy nor song.
III
The Lord my lab’ring heart relieved,
And made my burden light;
Then for a moment I believed,
Supposing all was right.
IV
Of fierce temptations others talk’d,
Of anguish, and dismay—
Through what distresses they had walk’d
Before they found the way.
V
Ah! then I thought my hopes were vain,
For I had lived at ease;
I wish’d for all my fears again,
To make me more like these.
VI
I had my wish: the Lord disclosed
The evils of my heart,
And left my naked soul exposed
To Satan’s fiery dart.
VII
Alas! “I now must give it up,”
I cried in deep despair;
How could I dream of drawing hope
From what I cannot bear?
VIII
Again my Saviour brought me aid,
And when he set me free,
“Trust simply on my word,” he said,
“And leave the rest to me.”
36
Prayer Answered by Crosses
By Newton
I
I ask’d the Lord, that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace,
Might more of his salvation
