1 WHEN Joshua, by God's command,
Invaded Canaan's guilty land,
Gibeon, unlike the nations round,
Submission made, and mercy found.
2 Their stubborn neighbours who, enrag'd,
United war against them wag'd,
By Joshua soon were overthrown,
For Gibeon's cause was now his own.
3 He from whose arm they ruin fear'd,
Their leader and ally appear'd;
An emblem of the Saviour's grace,
To those who humbly seek his face.
4 The men of Gibeon wore disguise,
And gain'd their peace by framing lies
For Joshua had no power to spare,
If he had known from whence they were.
5 But Jesus invitations sends,
Treating with rebels as his friends;
And holds the promise forth in view,
To all who for his mercy sue.
6 Too long his goodness I disdain'd,
Yet went at last and peace obtain'd;
But soon the noise of war I heard,
And former friends in arms appear'd.
7 Weak in myself, for help I cried,
"Lord, I am press'd on ev'ry side;
"The cause is thine, they fight with me,
But ev'ry blow is aim'd at thee."
8 With speed to my relief he came,
And put my enemies to shame;
Thus sav'd by grace I live to sing
The love and triumphs of my King.
XXII. C. Jehovah Shalem,-The Lord send Peace.
Chap. vi. 24.
1 JESUS, whose blood so freely stream'd
To satisfy the law's demand,
By thee from guilt and wrath redeem'd,
Before the Father's face I stand.
2 To reconcile offending man,
Make justice drop her angry rod;
What creature could have forni'd the plan,
Or who fulfil it but a God?
3 No drop remains of all the curse,
For wretches who deserv'd the whole;
No arrows dipt in wrath, to pierce
The guilty, but returning soul.
4 Peace by such means so dearly bought,
What rebel could have hop'd to sce?
Peace, by his injur'd Sov'reign wrought,
His Sov'reign fasten'd to a tree.
5 Now, Lord, thy feeble worm prepare!
Fer strife with earth and hell begins;
Confirm and gird me for the war,
They hate the soul that hates his sins.
6 Let them in horrid league agree!
They may assault, they may distress;
But cannot quench thy love to me,
Nor rob me of the Lord my peace.
XXIII. Gideon's Fleece. Chap. vi. 37-40.
1 THE signs which God to Gideon gave, His holy sov'reignty made known, That He alone has pow'r to save,
And claims the glory as his own.
2 The dew which first the fleece had fill'd,
When all the earth was dry around,
Was from it afterwards withheld,
And only fell upon the ground.
3 To Israel thus the heavenly dew
Of saving-truth was long restrain'd;
Of which the Gentiles nothing knew,'
But dry and desolate remain'd.
4 But now the Gentiles have receiv'd
The balmy dew of Gospel peace;
And Israel, who his Spirit griev❜d,
Is left a dry and empty fleece.
5 This dew still falls at his command,
To keep his chosen plants alive;
They shall, though in a thirsty land,
Like willows by the waters thrive°.
6 But chiefly when his people meet,
To hear his word and seek his face;
The gentle dew, with influence sweet,
Descends and nourishes their grace.
7 But, ah! what numbers still are dead,
Though under means of grace they lie!
The dew still falling round their head,
And yet their heart untouch'd and dry.
8 Dear Saviour, hear us when we call,
To wrestling pray'r an answer give;
Pour down thy dew upon us all,
That all may feel, and all may live.
XXIV. Samson's Lion. Chap. xiv. 8.
1 THE lion that on Samson roar'd
And thirsted for his blood,
With honey afterwards was stor❜d,
And furnish'd him with food.
2 Believers, as they pass along,
With many lions meet,
But gather sweetness from the strong,
And from the eater, meat.
3 The lions rage and roar in vain,
For Jesus is their shield;
Their losses prove a certain gain,
Their troubles comfort yield.
4 The world and Satan join their strength, To fill their souls with fears:
But crops of joy they reap at length,
From what they sow in tears.
5 Afflictions make them love the word,
Stir up their hearts to pray'r;
And many precious proofs afford
Of their Redeemer's care.
6 The lions roar, but cannot kill;
Then fear them not, my friends,
They bring us, though against their will,
The honey Jesus sends.
XXV. Hannah; or, the Throne of Grace. Chap. i. 18. 1 WHEN Hannah, press'd with grief, Pour'd forth her soul in pray'r,
She quickly found relief,
And left her burden there:
Like her, in ev'ry trying case,
Let us approach the throne of
2 When she began to pray,
Her heart was pain'd and sad,
But, ere she went away,
Was comforted and glad:
In trouble, what a resting-place
Have they who know the throne of grace!
3 Though men and devils rage,
And threaten to devour;
The saints, from age to age,
Áre safe from all their pow'r;
Fresh strength they gain to run their race,
By waiting at the throne of grace.
4 Eli her case mistook;
How was her spirit mov'd
By his unkind rebuke?
But God her cause approv'd.
We need not fear a creature's face,
While welcome at a throne of grace.
5 She was not fill'd with wine,
As Eli rashly thought;
But with a faith divine,
And found the help she sought:
Though men despise, and call us base,
Still let us ply the throne of grace.
|