7 Kindly he caught me by the hand,
And said, "Why dost thou fear,
"Since thou art come at my command,
"And I am always near?
Upon my promise rest thy hope,
"And keep my love in view;
"I stand engag'd to hold thee up,
"And guide thee safely through."
LXXXVIII. Woman of Canaan. Chap. xv. 22-28.
1 PRAY'R an answer will obtain,
Though the Lord a while delay;
None shall seek his face in vain,
None be empty sent away.
2 When the woman came from Tyre,
And for help to Jesus sought;
Though he granted her desire,
Yet at first he answer'd not.
3 Could she guess at his intent,
When he to his foll'wers said,
"I to Israel's sheep am sent,
"Dogs must not have children's bread."
4 She was not of Israel's seed,
'But of Canaan's wretched race;
Thought herself a dog indeed:
Was not this a hopeless case?
5 Yet although from Canaan sprung,
Though a dog herself she styl'd,
She had Israel's faith and tongue,
And was own'd for Abr'ham's child.
6 From his words she draws a plea:
Though unworthy children's bread, ""Tis enough for one like me,
"If with crumbs I may be fed."
7 Jesus then his heart reveal'd:
"Woman, canst thou thus believe?
"I to thy petition yield;
"All that thou canst wish, receive."
8 Tis a pattern set for us,
How we ought to wait and pray;
None who plead and wrestle thus
Shall be empty sent away.
LXXXIX. What think ye of Christ? Chap. xxii. 42.
1 WHAT think you of Christ? is the test,
To try both your state and your scheme;
You cannot be right in the rest,
Unless you think rightly of him.
As Jesus appears in your view,
As he is beloved or not;
So God is disposed to you,
And mercy or wrath are your lot.
Some take him a creature to be,
A man, or an angel at most:
Sure these have not feelings like me,
Nor know themselves wretched and lost.
So guilty, so helpless am I,
I durst not confide in his blood,
Nor on his protection rely,
Unless I were sure he is God.
3 Some call him Saviour, in word,
But mix their own works with his plan;
And hope he his help will afford,
When they have done all that they can:
If doings prove rather too light,
(A little, they own, they may fail),
They purpose to make up full weight,
By casting his name in the scale.
4 Some style him the pearl of great price,
And say he's the fountain of joys;
Yet feed upon folly and vice,
And cleave to the world and its toys:
Like Judas, the Saviour they kiss,
And while they salute him, betray;
Ah! what will profession like this
Avail in his terrible day?
5 If ask'd, what of Jesus I think,
Though still my best thoughts are but poor,
I say, he's my meat and my drink,
My life, and my strength, and my store;
My Shepherd, my Husband, my Friend,
My Saviour from sin and from thrall;
My hope from beginning to end,
My portion, my Lord, and my All.
XC. The foolish Virgins*. Chap. xxv. 1.
1 WHEN, descending from the sky,
The Bridegroom shall appear,
And the solemn midnight cry
Shall call professors near,
How the sound our hearts will damp!
How will shame o'erspread each face!
If we only have a lamp,
Without the oil of grace.
2 Foolish virgins then will wake,
And seek for a supply;
But in vain the pains they take
To borrow or to buy:
Then with those they now despise,
Earnestly they'll wish to share;
But the best among the wise
Will have no oil to spare.
3 Wise are they, and truly blest,
Who then shall ready be!
But despair will seize the rest,
And dreadful misery:
Once they'll cry, we scorn'd to doubt,
Though in lies our trust we put;
Now our lamp of hope is out,
The door of mercy shut.
4 If they then presume to plead,
"Lord, open to us now;
"We on earth have heard and pray'd, "And with thy saints did bow:"
He will answer from his throne,
Though you with my people mix'd, "Yet to me you ne'er were known; Depart, your doom is fix'd."
5 O that none who worship here
May hear that word, "Depart!"
Lord, impress a godly fear
On each professor's heart;
Help us, Lord, to search the camp,
Let us not ourselves beguile!
Trusting to a dying lamp,
Without a stock of oil.
XCI. Peter sinning and repenting. Chap. xxvi. 75.
1 WHEN Peter boasted, soon he fell,
Yet was by grace restor❜d;
His case should be regarded well
By all who fear the Lord.
2 A voice it has, and helping hand,
Backsliders to recall;
And cautions those who think they stand,
Lest suddenly they fall.
3 He said, "Whatever others do,
"With Jesus I'll abide;"
Yet soon amidst a murd'rous crew
His suffering Lord deny'd.
4 He who had been so bold before,
Now trembled like a leaf;
Not only lied, but curs'd and swore,
To gain the more belief.
5 While he blasphem'd, he heard the cock,
And Jesus look'd in love;
At once, as if by lightning struck,
His tongue forbore to move.
6 Deliver'd thus from Satan's snare,
He starts, as from a sleep;
His Saviour's look he could not bear,
But hasted forth to weep.
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