III
As by the light of op’ning day
The stars are all conceal’d;
So earthly pleasures fade away
When Jesus is reveal’d.
IV
Creatures no more divide my choice,
I bid them all depart;
His name and love and gracious voice
Have fix’d my roving heart.
V
Now, Lord, I would be thine alone,
And wholly live to thee;
But may I hope that thou wilt own
A worthless worm like me?
VI
Yes! though of sinners I’m the worst,
I cannot doubt thy will;
For if thou hadst not loved me first,
I had refused thee still.
60
The Power of Grace
By Newton
I
Happy the birth where grace presides,
To form the future life!
In wisdom’s path the soul she guides,
Remote from noise and strife.
II
Since I have known the Saviour’s name,
And what for me he bore;
No more I toil for empty fame,
I thirst for gold no more.
III
Placed by his hand in this retreat,
I make his love my theme,
And see that all the world calls great
Is but a waking dream.
IV
Since he has rank’d my worthless name
Amongst his favour’d few,
Let the mad world, who scoff at them,
Revile and hate me too.
V
O thou whose voice the dead can raise,
And soften hearts of stone,
And teach the dumb to sing thy praise,
This work is all thine own!
VI
Thy wond’ring saints rejoice to see
A wretch like me restored,
And point and say—“How changed is he
Who once defied the Lord!”
VII
Grace bid me live, and taught my tongue
To aim at notes divine;
And grace accepts my feeble song—
The glory, Lord, be thine!
61
My Soul Thirsteth for God
By Cowper
I
I thirst, but not as once I did,
The vain delights of earth to share;
Thy wounds, Emmanuel, all forbid
That I should seek my pleasures there.
II
It was the sight of thy dear cross
First wean’d my soul from earthly things,
And taught me to esteem as dross
The mirth of fools and pomp of kings.
III
I want that grace that springs from thee,
That quickens all things where it flows,
And makes a wretched thorn like me
Bloom as the myrtle or the rose.
IV
Dear fountain of delight unknown!
No longer sink below the brim;
But overflow, and pour me down
A living and life-giving stream!
V
For sure, of all the plants that share
The notice of thy Father’s eye,
None proves less grateful to his care,
Or yields him meaner fruit than I.
62
Love Constraining to Obedience
By Cowper
I
No strength of nature can suffice
To serve the Lord aright;
And what she has she misapplies,
For want of clearer light.
II
How long beneath the law I lay
In bondage and distress!
I toil’d the precept to obey,
But toil’d without success.
III
Then to abstain from outward sin
Was more than I could do:
Now, if I feel its power within,
I feel I hate it too.
IV
Then all my servile works were done
A righteousness to raise;
Now freely chosen in the Son,
I freely choose his ways.
V
What shall I do, was then the word.
That I may worthier grow?
What shall I render to the Lord?
Is my inquiry now.
VI
To see the law by Christ fulfill’d,
And hear his pard’ning voice,
Changes a slave into a child,
And duty into choice.
63
The Heart Healed and Changed by Mercy
By Cowper
I
Sin enslaved me many years,
And led me bound and blind,
Till at length a thousand fears
Came swarming o’er my mind.
Where, said I, in deep distress,
Will these sinful pleasures end?
How shall I secure my peace,
And make the Lord my friend?
II
Friends and ministers said much,
The gospel to enforce;
But my blindness still was such
I chose a legal course:
Much I fasted, watch’d, and strove,
Scarce would show my face abroad,
Fear’d almost to speak or move,
A stranger still to God.
III
Thus afraid to trust his grace,
Long time did I rebel,
Till, despairing of my case,
Down at his feet I fell:
Then my stubborn heart he broke,
And subdued me to his sway,
By a simple word he spoke,
“Thy sins are done away.”
64
Hatred of Sin
By Cowper
I
Holy Lord God! I love thy truth,
Nor dare thy least commandments slight;
Yet pierced by sin, the serpent’s tooth,
I mourn the anguish of the bite.
II
But though the poison lurks within,
Hope bids me still with patience wait;
Till death shall set me free from sin,
Free from the only thing I hate.
III
Had I a throne above the rest,
Where angels and archangels dwell,
One sin, unslain, within my breast,
Would make that heav’n as dark as hell.
IV
The pris’ner, sent to breathe fresh air,
And bless’d with liberty again,
Would mourn were he condemn’d to wear
One link of all his former chain.
V
But oh! no foe invades the bliss
When glory crowns the Christian’s head;
One view of Jesus as he is
Will strike all sin for ever dead.
65
The Child
By Newton
I
Quiet, Lord, my froward heart,
Make me teachable and mild,
Upright, simple, free from art,
Make me as a weaned child:
From distrust and envy free,
Pleased with all that pleases thee.
II
What thou shalt to-day provide,
Let me as a child receive;
What to-morrow may betide,
Calmly to thy wisdom leave:
’Tis enough that thou wilt care,
Why should I the burden bear?
III
As a little child relies
On a care beyond his own;
Knows he’s neither strong nor wise,
Fears to stir a step alone:
Let me thus with thee abide,
As my Father, Guard, and Guide,
IV
Thus preserved from Satan’s wiles,
Safe from dangers, free from fears,
May I live upon thy smiles,
Till the promised hour appears,
When the sons of God shall prove
All their Father’s boundless love.
66
True Happiness
By Newton
I
Fix my heart and eyes on thine!
What are
