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. I want that grace that springs from thee, For sure, of all the plants that share LIV. LOVE CONSTRAINING TO OBEDIENCE. No strength of nature can suffice To serve the Lord aright: How long beneath the law I lay 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. Then, all my servile works were done A righteousness to raise ; Now, freely chosen in the Son, I freely choose his ways. "What shall I do," was then the word, To see the law by Christ fulfill'd, LV. THE HEART HEALED AND CHANGED SIN enslaved me many years, And make the Lord my friend ?" *Romans iii. 31. Friends and ministers said much But my blindness still was such, I chose a legal course: Much I fasted, watch'd, and strove, Thus afraid to trust his grace, Then my stubborn heart he broke, By a simple word he spoke, HOLY Lord God! I love thy truth, Nor dare thy least commandment slight; Yet pierced by sin, the serpent's tooth, But, though the poison lurks within, Had I a throne above the rest, Where angels and archangels dwell, One sin, unslain, within my breast, Would make that heaven as dark as hell. The prisoner, sent to breathe fresh air, Would mourn, were he condemn'd to wear 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. 1 LVII. THE NEW CONVERT. THE new-born child of gospel grace, Like some fair tree when summer's nigh, Beneath Emmanuel's shining face Lifts up his blooming branch on high. No fears he feels, he sees no foes, No conflict yet his faith employs, Nor has he learnt to whom he owes The strength and peace his soul enjoys. But sin soon darts its cruel sting, And comforts sinking day by day : What seem'd his own, a self-fed spring, Proves but a brook that glides away. When Gideon arm'd his numerous host, The Lord soon made his numbers less; And said, "Lest Israel vainly boast,* My arm procured me this success.' Thus will he bring our spirits down, And draw our ebbing comforts low, That, saved by grace, but not our own, We may not claim the praise we owe. LVIII. TRUE AND FALSE COMFORTS. Not such as hypocrites suppose, Intoxicating joys are theirs, Who, while they boast their light, And seem to soar above the stars, Are plunging into night. Lull'd in a soft and fatal sleep, They sin, and yet rejoice; Were they indeed the Saviour's sheep, Would they not hear his voice? * Judges vii. 2. |