Conceal'd amid the gath`ring throng,
She would have shunn'd thy view;
And if her faith was firm and strong,
Had strong misgivings too.

Like her, with hopes and fears, we come,
To touch thee if we may;

Oh! send us not despairing home,
Send none unheal'd away.

IV. [ВK. I. xvii.]

JEHOVAH-NISSI, THE LORD MY BANNER
Exod. xvii. 15

By whom was David taught,
To aim the deadly blow,
When he Goliath fought,

And laid the Gittite low?

Nor sword nor spear the stripling took,
But chose a pebble from the brook.

'Twas Israel's GOD and King,
Who sent him to the fight;
Who gave him strength to sling,

And skill to aim aright.

Ye feeble saints, your strength endures,

Because young David's GOD is yours.

Who order'd Gideon forth,

To storm th' invaders' camp',

With arms of little worth,

A pitcher and a lamp?

The trumpets made his coming known,

And all the host was overthrown.

Oh! I have seen the day,

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When with a single word,

GOD helping me to say,

My soul has quell'd a thousand foes,

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My trust is in the LORD;

Fearless of all that could oppose.

But unbelief, self-will,

How often do they steal,

Self-righteousness and pride,

My weapon from my side?

Yet David's LORD, and Gideon's friend,

Will help his servant to the end.

1 Judges vii. 20.

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V. [BK. I. xxii.]

JEHOVAH-SHALOM, THE LORD SEND PEACE
Judges vi. 24

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.

For wretches who deserv'd the whole;
No arrows dipt in wrath to pierce
The guilty, but returning soul.

Peace by such means so dearly bought,
What rebel could have hop'd to see?
Peace, by his injur'd sovereign wrought,
His Sov'reign fast'ned to a tree.

Now, LORD, thy feeble worm prepare!
For strife with earth and hell begins;
Confirm and gird me for the war;
They hate the soul that hates his sins.
Let them in horrid league agree!
They may assault, they may distress;
But cannot quench thy love to me,

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Nor rob me of the LORD my peace.

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VI. [BK. I. lii.]

WISDOM. Prov. viii. 22-31

ERE GOD had built the mountains,
Or 'rais'd the fruitful hills;
Before he fill'd the fountains
That feed the running rills;
In me, from everlasting,
The wonderful I AM

Found pleasures never wasting,
And Wisdom is my name.

When, like a tent to dwell in,
He spread the skies abroad;
And swath'd about the swelling
Of ocean's mighty flood;

V-Title] Jehovah-Shalem 1779.

He wrought by weight and measure,

And I was with him then;

Myself the Father's pleasure,

And mine, the sons of men.

Thus wisdom's words discover
Thy glory and thy grace,
Thou everlasting lover
Of our unworthy race!
Thy gracious eye survey'd us
Ere stars were seen above;
In wisdom thou hast made us,
And died for us in love.

And couldst thou be delighted

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With creatures such as we!

Who when we saw thee, slighted
And nail'd thee to a tree?

Unfathomable wonder,

And mystery divine!

The Voice that speaks in thunder,

Says, "Sinner I am thine!"

VII. [BK. I. lv.]

VANITY OF THE WORLD

GOD gives his mercies to be spent ;
Your hoard will do your soul no good:
Gold is a blessing only lent,

Repaid by giving others food.

The world's esteem is but a bribe,

To buy their peace you sell your own;

The slave of a vain-glorious tribe,

Who hate you while they make you known. 8

The joy that vain amusements give,

Oh! sad conclusion that it brings!
The honey of a crowded hive,
Defended by a thousand stings.

'Tis thus the world rewards the fools
That live upon her treach'rous smiles;
She leads them, blindfold, by her rules,
And ruins all whom she beguiles.

GOD knows the thousands who go down
From pleasure, into endless woe:
And with a long despairing grone
Blaspheme their Maker as they go.

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O fearful thought! be timely wise;
Delight but in a Saviour's charms:
And GOD shall take you to the skies,
Embrac'd in everlasting arms.

VIII. [BK. 1. lviii.]

O LORD, I WILL PRAISE THEE. Isa. xii.

I WILL praise thee ev'ry day
Now thine anger's turn'd away!
Comfortable thoughts arise
From the bleeding sacrifice.

Here in the fair gospel field,
Wells of free salvation yield
Streams of life, a plenteous store,
And my soul shall thirst no more.
JESUS is become at length
My salvation and my strength;
And his praises shall prolong,
While I live, my pleasant song.

Praise ye, then, his glorious name,
Publish his exalted fame!

Still his worth your praise exceeds,
Excellent are all his deeds.

Raise again the joyful sound,

Let the nations roll it round!

Zion shout! for this is he,

GOD the Saviour dwells in thee!

IX. [BK. 1. lxiv.]

THE CONTRITE HEART.

Isa. lvii. 15

THE LORD will happiness divine

On contrite hearts bestow :

Then tell me, gracious GOD, is mine

A contrite heart, or no?

I hear, but seem to hear in vain,
Insensible as steel;

If ought is felt, 'tis only pain,

To find I cannot feel.

I sometimes think myself inclin'd
To love thee, if I could;

But often feel another mind,
Averse to all that's good.

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My best desires are faint and few,
I fain would strive for more;

But when I cry, "My strength renew,"
Seem weaker than before.

Thy saints are comforted I know,
And love thy house of pray'r;
I therefore go where others go,
But find no comfort there.

Oh make this heart rejoice, or ache;
Decide this doubt for me;
And if it be not broken, break,
And heal it, if it be.

X. [BK. I. lxv.]

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THE FUTURE PEACE AND GLORY OF THE
CHURCH. Isa. lx. 15-20

HEAR What GOD the LORD hath spoken :-
O my people, faint and few;
Comfortless, afflicted, broken,
Fair abodes I build for you:
Thorns of heart-felt tribulation
Shall no more perplex your ways;
You shall name your walls Salvation,
And your gates shall all be Praise.

There, like streams that feed the garden,
Pleasures, without end, shall flow;
For the LORD, your faith rewarding,
All his bounty shall bestow;
Still in undisturb'd possession,

Peace and righteousness shall reign;
Never shall you feel oppression,
Hear the voice of war again.

Ye no more your suns descending,
Waning moons no more shall see;
But, your griefs for ever ending,
Find eternal noon in me:

GOD shall rise, and shining o'er you,
Change to day the gloom of night;
He, the LORD, shall be your glory,
God your everlasting light.

2 faint] weak MS. letter of Newton, quoted by J. E. B. Mayor. 5 Thorns] Themes 1779, 1781.

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