And seek more earnestly his face.
II
’Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
And he, I trust, has answer’d pray’r;
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.
III
I hoped that in some favour’d hour
At once he’d answer my request;
And by his love’s constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest.
IV
Instead of this, he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.
V
Yea more, with his own hand he seem’d
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Cross’d all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.
VI
Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt them pursue thy worm to death?
“ ’Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer pray’r for grace and faith.
VII
“These inward trials I employ,
From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy.
That thou may’st seek thy all in me.”
37
I Will Trust and Not Be Afraid
By Newton
I
Begone, unbelief,
My Saviour is near,
And for my relief
Will surely appear:
By pray’r let me wrestle,
And he will perform;
With Christ in the vessel,
I smile at the storm.
II
Though dark be my way,
Since he is my guide,
’Tis mine to obey,
’Tis his to provide;
Though cisterns be broken,
And creatures all fail,
The word he has spoken
Will surely prevail.
III
His love in time past
Forbids me to think
He’ll leave me at last
In trouble to sink;
Each sweet Ebenezer
I have in review
Confirms his good pleasure
To help me quite through.
IV
Determined to save,
He watch’d o’er my path,
When, Satan’s blind slave,
I sported with death;
And can he have taught me
To trust in his name,
And thus far have brought me,
To put me to shame?
V
Why should I complain
Of want or distress,
Temptation or pain?
He told me no less:
The heirs of salvation,
I know from his word,
Through much tribulation
Must follow their Lord.
VI
How bitter that cup,
No heart can conceive,
Which he drank quite up,
That sinners might live!
His way was much rougher
And darker than mine;
Did Jesus thus suffer,
And shall I repine?
VII
Since all that I meet
Shall work for my good,
The bitter is sweet,
The med’cine is food;
Though painful at present,
Twill cease before long,
And then, O! how pleasant
The conqueror’s song!
38
Questions to Unbelief
By Newton
I
If to Jesus for relief
My soul has fled by pray’r,
Why should I give way to grief,
Or heart-consuming care?
Are not all things in his hand?
Has he not his promise pass’d?
Will he then regardless stand,
And let me sink at last?
II
While I know his providence
Disposes each event,
Shall I judge by feeble sense,
And yield to discontent?
If he worms and sparrows feed,
Clothe the grass in rich array,
Can he see a child in need,
And turn his eye away?
III
When his name was quite unknown,
And sin my life employ’d,
Then he watch’d me as his own,
Or I had been destroy’d!
Now his mercy-seat I know.
Now by grace am reconciled;
Would he spare me while a foe,
To leave me when a child?
IV
If he all my wants supplied
When I disdain’d to pray;
Now his Spirit is my guide,
How can he say me nay?
If he would not give me up
When my soul against him fought.
Will he disappoint the hope
Which he himself has wrought?
V
If he shed his precious blood
To bring me to his fold,
Can I think that meaner good
He ever will withhold?
Satan, vain is thy device!
Here my hope rests assured,
In that great redemption price
I see the whole secured.
39
Good Effects by Weak Means
By Newton
I
Unbelief the soul dismays,
What objections will it raise!
But true faith securely leans
On the promise, in the means.
II
If to faith it once be known,
God has said, “It shall be done,
And in this appointed way,”
Faith has then no more to say.
III
Moses road, by faith uprear’d,
Through the sea a path prepared;
Jericho’s devoted wall
At the trumpet’s sound must fall.
IV
With a pitcher and a lamp
Gideon overthrew a camp:
And a stone, well aim’d by faith,
Proved the arm’d Philistine’s death.
V
Thus the Lord is pleased to try
Those who on his help rely;
By the means he makes it known
That the power is all his own.
VI
Yet the means are not in vain,
If the end we would obtain;
Though the breath of pray’r be weak,
None shall find but they who seek.
VII
God alone the heart can reach,
Yet the ministers must preach:
’Tis their part the seed to sow,
And ’tis his to make it grow.
40
Why Art Thou Cast Down?
By Newton
I
Be still, my heart! these anxious cares
To thee are burdens, thorns, and snares;
They cast dishonour on thy Lord,
And contradict his gracious word.
II
Brought safely by his hand thus far,
Why wilt thou now give place to fear?
How canst thou want if he provide,
Or lose thy way with such a guide?
III
When first before his mercy-seat
Thou didst to him thy all commit,
He gave the warrant from that hour,
To trust his wisdom, love, and power.
IV
Did ever trouble yet befall,
And he refuse to hear thy call?
And has he not his promise pass’d,
That thou shalt overcome at last?
V
Like David thou may’st comfort draw,
Saved from the bear’s and lion’s paw;
Goliath’s rage I may defy,
For God, my Saviour, still is nigh.
VI
He who has help’d me hitherto,
Will help me all my journey through,
And give me daily cause to raise
New Ebenezers to his praise.
VII
Though rough and thorny be the road,
It leads thee home apace to God;
Then count thy present trials small,
For heav’n will make amends for all.
41
The Way of Access
By Newton
I
One glance of thine, eternal Lord,
Pierces all nature through;
Nor heaven nor earth nor hell afford
A shelter from thy view!
II
The mighty whole, each smaller part,
At once before thee lies;
And every
