Be mine the comforts that reclaim 'Tis joy enough, my All in All, LIX. A LIVING AND A DEAD FAITH. THE Lord receives his highest praise To walk as children of the day, With golden bells, the priestly vest, And rich pomegranates border'd round,* The need of holiness express'd, And call'd for fruit, as well as sound. * Exod. xxviii. 33. Easy, indeed, it were to reach A mansion in the courts above, If swelling words and fluent speech Might serve, instead of faith and love. But none shall gain the blissful place, Or God's unclouded glory see, Who talks of free and sovereign grace, Unless that grace has made him free! LX. ABUSE OF THE GOSPEL. Too many, Lord, abuse thy grace, And, while they boast they see thy face, Thy book displays a gracious light That can the blind restore; The pardon, such presume upon, Was it for this, ye lawless tribe, Ah, Lord, we know thy chosen few But these, the wretched husks they chew The liberty our hearts implore But still to wait at wisdom's door, Till LXI. THE NARROW WAY. WHAT thousands never knew the road! What thousands hate it when 'tis known! None but the chosen tribes of God Will seek or choose it for their own. A thousand ways in ruin end, One, only, leads to joys on high; No more I ask, or hope to find, That feeds where thorns and thistles grow. The joy that fades is not for me, I seek immortal joys above; There glory without end shall be The bright reward of faith and love. Cleave to the world, ye sordid worms, But God shall fight with all his storms LXII. DEPENDENCE. To keep the lamp alive, 'Tis water makes the willow thrive, The Lord's unsparing hand Beware of Peter's word,* "I never will deny thee, Lord," Man's wisdom is to seek His strength in God alone; And e'en an angel would be weak, Retreat beneath his wings, And in his grace confide; This more exalts the King of kings † *Matthew xxvi. 33. ↑ John vi. 29. In Jesus is our store, Grace issues from his throne; Whoever says, "I want no more," Confesses he has none. LXIII. NOT OF WORKS. GRACE, triumphant in the throne, Cast your idol works away. Works of man, when made his plea, Never shall accepted be; Fruits of pride (vain-glorious worm!) Are the best he can perform. Self, the god his soul adores, But when God the Judge shall come, Then for rocks and hills to hide Still the boasting heart replies, But the grace that never can. |