What can changes do to them,
Who have such a guide and guard?
Should they traverse earth around,
To the ladder still they come:
Every spot is holy ground—
God is there, and he’s their home.
10
My Name Is Jacob
By Newton
Genesis 32:27.
I
Nay, I cannot let thee go
Till a blessing thou bestow:
Do not turn away thy face,
Mine’s an urgent, pressing case.
II
Dost thou ask me who I am?
Ah, my Lord, thou know’st my name!
Yet the question gives a plea
To support my suit with thee.
III
Thou didst once a wretch behold,
In rebellion blindly bold,
Scorn thy grace, thy power defy,
That poor rebel, Lord, was I.
IV
Once a sinner near despair
Sought thy mercy-seat by prayer;
Mercy heard and set him free—
Lord, that mercy came to me.
V
Many years have pass’d since then,
Many changes I have seen,
Yet have been upheld till now;
Who could hold me up but thou?
VI
Thou hast help’d in every need,
This emboldens me to plead;
After so much mercy past,
Canst thou let me sink at last?
VII
No—I must maintain my hold;
’Tis thy goodness makes me bold;
I can no denial take,
When I plead for Jesu’s sake.
11
Plenty in the Time of Dearth
By Newton
Genesis 41:56.
I
My soul once had its plenteous years,
And throve, with peace and comfort fill’d,
Like the fat kine and ripen’d ears
Which Pharaoh in his dream beheld.
II
With pleasing frames and grace received,
With means and ordinances fed,
How happy for a while I lived,
And little fear’d the want of bread!
III
But famine came, and left no sign
Of all the plenty I had seen;
Like the dry ears and half-starved kine,
I then look’d wither’d, faint, and lean.
IV
To Joseph the Egyptians went;
To Jesus I made known my case:
He, when my little stock was spent,
Open’d his magazine of grace.
V
For he the time of dearth foresaw,
And made provision long before;
That famish’d souls, like me, might draw
Supplies from his unbounded store.
VI
Now on his bounty I depend,
And live from fear of dearth secure:
Maintain’d by such a mighty friend,
I cannot want till he is poor.
VII
O sinners, hear his gracious call!
His mercy’s door stands open wide;
He has enough to feed you all,
And none who come shall be denied.
12
Joseph Made Known to His Brethren
By Newton
Genesis 45:3–4.
I
When Joseph his brethren beheld
Afflicted and trembling with fear,
His heart with compassion was fill’d;
From weeping he could not forbear.
Awhile his behaviour was rough,
To bring their past sins to their mind;
But when they were humbled enough,
He hasted to show himself kind.
II
How little they thought it was he
Whom they had ill-treated and sold!
How great their confusion must be,
As soon as his name he had told!
“I am Joseph, your brother,” he said,
“And still to my heart you are dear;
You sold me, and thought I was dead,
But God for your sakes sent me here.”
III
Though greatly distressed before,
When charged with purloining the cup,
They now were confounded much more—
Not one of them dared to look up.
“Can Joseph, whom we would have slain.
Forgive us the evil we did?
And will he our households maintain?
O this is a brother indeed!”
IV
Thus dragg’d by my conscience I came,
And laden with guilt, to the Lord,
Surrounded with terror and shame,
Unable to utter a word.
At first he look’d stern and severe,
What anguish then pierced my heart!
Expecting each moment to hear
The sentence, “Thou cursed, depart!”
V
But, O what surprise when he spoke,
While tenderness beam’d in his face!
My heart then to pieces was broke,
O’erwhelm’d and confounded by grace:
“Poor sinner, I know thee full well,
By thee I was sold and was slain;
But I died to redeem thee from hell,
And raise thee in glory to reign.
VI
“I am Jesus, whom thou hast blasphemed,
And crucified often afresh;
But let me henceforth be esteemed
Thy brother, thy bone, and thy flesh:
My pardon I freely bestow,
Thy wants I will fully supply;
I’ll guide thee and guard thee below,
And soon will remove thee on high.
VII
“Go, publish to sinners around,
That they may be willing to come,
The mercy which now you have found,
And tell them that yet there is room.”
O sinners, the message obey!
No more vain excuses pretend;
But come without further delay,
To Jesus, our brother and friend.
13
The Bitter Waters
By Newton
Exodus 15:23–25.
I
Bitter indeed the waters are
Which in this desert flow;
Though to the eye they promise fair,
They taste of sin and woe.
II
Of pleasing draughts I once could dream;
But now, awake, I find
That sin has poison’d every stream,
And left a curse behind.
III
But there’s a wonder-working wood,
I’ve heard believers say,
Can make these bitter waters good,
And take the curse away.
IV
The virtues of this healing tree
Are known and prized by few:
Reveal the secret, Lord, to me,
That I may prize it too.
V
The cross on which the Saviour died
And conquer’d for his saints,
This is the tree by faith applied,
Which sweetens all complaints.
VI
Thousands have found the bless’d effect,
Nor longer mourn their lot;
While on his sorrows they reflect,
Their own are all forgot.
VII
When they, by faith, behold the cross,
Though many griefs they meet,
They draw a gain from every loss,
And find the bitter sweet.
14
Jehovah-Rophi—I Am the Lord That Healeth Thee
By Cowper
Exodus 15.
I
Heal us, Emmanuel; here we are,
Waiting to feel thy touch:
Deep-wounded souls to thee repair,
And, Saviour, we are such.
II
Our faith is feeble, we confess—
We faintly trust thy word;
But wilt thou pity us the less?
Be that far from thee, Lord!
III
Remember him who once applied
With trembling for relief;
“Lord, I believe,” with tears he cried,
“0 help my unbelief!”
IV
She too who touch’d thee in the press,
And healing virtue stole,
Was answer’d, “Daughter, go in peace:
Thy faith hath made thee whole.”
