Exposed to open air.
IV
But this with boldness I proclaim,
Nor care if thousands hear,
Sweet is the ointment of his name,
Not life is half so dear.
V
And can you frown, my former friends.
Who knew what once I was;
And blame the song that thus commends
The Man who bore the cross?
VI
Trust me, I draw the likeness true,
And not as fancy paints;
Such honour may he give to you,
For such have all his saints.
48
Joy and Peace in Believing
By Cowper
I
Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
With healing in his wings.
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.
II
In holy contemplation,
We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God’s salvation,
And find it ever new:
Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E’en let th’ unknown to-morrow
Bring with it what it may.
III
It can bring with it nothing
But he will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing
Will clothe his people too:
Beneath the spreading heavens
No creature but is fed;
And He who feeds the ravens
Will give his children bread.
IV
Though vine nor fig-tree neither
Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there:
Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice;
For, while in him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.
49
True Pleasure
By Cowper
I
Lord, my soul with pleasure springs
When Jesus name I hear,
And when God the Spirit brings
The word of promise near:
Beauties too, in holiness,
Still delighted I perceive;
Nor have words that can express
The joys thy precepts give.
II
Clothed in sanctity and grace,
How sweet it is to see
Those who love thee, as they pass,
Or when they wait on thee!
Pleasant too, to sit and tell
What we owe to love divine;
Till our bosoms grateful swell
And eyes begin to shine.
III
Those the comforts I possess,
Which God shall still increase:
All his ways are pleasantness,
And all his paths are peace.
Nothing Jesus did or spoke,
Henceforth let me ever slight;
For I love his easy yoke,
And find his burden light.
50
The Christian
By Cowper
I
Honour and happiness unite
To make the Christian’s name a praise;
How fair the scene, how clear the light,
That fill the remnant of his days!
II
A kingly character he bears,
No change his priestly office knows;
Unfading is the crown he wears,
His joys can never reach a close.
III
Adorn’d with glory from on high,
Salvation shines upon his face;
His robe is of th’ethereal dye,
His steps are dignity and grace.
IV
Inferior honours he disdains,
Nor stoops to take applause from earth:
The King of kings himself maintains
Th expenses of his heavenly birth.
V
The noblest creature seen below,
Ordain’d to fill a throne above;
God gives him all he can bestow
His kingdom of eternal love!
VI
My soul is ravish’d at the thought!
Methinks from earth I see him rise!
Angels congratulate his lot,
And shout him welcome to the skies!
51
Lively Hope and Gracious Fear
By Cowper
I
I was a grov’ling creature once,
And basely cleaved to earth;
I wanted spirit to renounce
The clod that gave me birth.
II
But God has breathed upon a worm,
And sent me from above
Wings, such as clothe an angel’s form,
The wings of joy and love.
III
With these to Pisgah’s top I fly,
And there delighted stand,
To view, beneath a shining sky,
The spacious promised land.
IV
The Lord of all the vast domain
Has promised it to me;
The length and breadth of all the plain,
As far as faith can see.
V
How glorious is my privilege!
To thee for help I call;
I stand upon a mountain’s edge,
Oh, save me, lest I fall!
VI
Though much exalted in the Lord,
My strength is not my own;
Then let me tremble at his word,
And none shall cast me down.
52
Confidence
By Newton
I
Yes! since God himself has said it,
On the promise I rely;
His good word demands my credit,
What can unbelief reply;
He is strong, and can fulfill;
He is truth, and therefore will.
II
As to all the doubts and questions
Which my spirit often grieve,
These are Satan’s sly suggestions,
And I need no answer give.
He would fain destroy my hope,
But the promise bears it up.
III
Sure the Lord thus far has brought me
By his watchful tender care;
Sure ’tis he himself has taught me
How to seek his face by pray’r:
After so much mercy past,
Will he give me up at last?
IV
True, I’ve been a foolish creature,
And have sinn’d against his grace!
But forgiveness is his nature,
Though he justly hides his face;
Ere he call’d me, well he knew
What a heart like mine would do.
V
In my Saviour’s intercession
Therefore I will still confide;
Lord, accept my free confession,
I have sinn’d but thou hast died:
This is all I have to plead,
This is all the plea I need.
53
Peace Restored
By Newton
I
Oh! speak that gracious word again,
And cheer my drooping heart;
No voice but thine can soothe my pain,
Or bid my fears depart.
II
And canst thou still vouchsafe to own
A wretch so vile as I?
And may I still approach thy throne,
And Abba, Father, cry?
III
Oh then let saints and angels join,
And help me to proclaim
The grace that heal’d a breach like mine,
And put my foes to shame!
IV
How oft did Satan’s cruel boast
My troubled soul affright!
He told me I was surely lost,
And God had left me quite.
V
Guilt made me fear, lest all were true
The lying tempter said;
But now the Lord
