Part 29 (2/2)
”I love the holy day of rest, When Jesus meets his gathered saints: Sweet day, of all the week the best, For its return my spirit pants; Yet often, through my unbelief, It proves a day of guilt and grief.
”While on my Saviour I rely, I know my foes shall lose their aim; And therefore dare their power defy, a.s.sured of conquest through his name; But soon my confidence is slain, And all my fears return again.
”Thus different powers within me strive, And death and sin by turns prevail.
I grieve, rejoice, decline, revive, And victory hangs in doubtful scale; But Jesus has his promise pa.s.sed, That grace shall overcome at last.”
FLESH AND SPIRIT.
”What different powers of grace and sin Attend our mortal state: I hate the thoughts that work within, Yet do the works I hate.
”Now I complain, and groan, and die, While sin and Satan reign; Now raise my songs of triumph high, For grace prevails again.
”So darkness struggles with the light, Till perfect day arise; Water and fire maintain the fight, Until the weaker dies.
”Thus will the flesh and spirit strive, And vex and break my peace; But I shall quit this mortal life, And sin for ever cease.”
”Join all the names of love and power That ever men or angels bore; All are too mean to speak his worth, Or set Emmanuel's glory forth.
”But O, what condescending ways He takes to teach his heavenly grace: Mine eyes, with joy and wonder, see What forms of love he bears for me.
”The Angel of the covenant stands, With his commission in his hands; Sent from his Father's milder throne, To make his great salvation known.
”Great Prophet, let me bless thy name; By thee the joyful tidings came, Of wrath appeased and sins forgiven, Of h.e.l.l subdued, and peace with heaven.
”My bright Example, and my Guide, I would be walking by thy side; Oh, let me never run astray, Nor follow the forbidden way.
”I love my Shepherd, he shall keep My wandering soul among his sheep; He feeds his flock, he tells their names, And in his bosom bears the lambs.
”My Surety undertakes my cause, Answering his Father's broken laws: Behold my soul at freedom set, My Surety paid the dreadful debt.
”Jesus, my great High-priest, has died, I seek no sacrifice beside; His blood did once for all atone, And now it pleads before the throne.
”My Advocate appears on high, The Father lays his thunders by; Not all that earth or h.e.l.l can say, Shall turn my Father's heart away.
”My Lord, my Conqueror, and my King, Thy sceptre and thy sword I sing; Thine is the victory, and I sit A joyful subject at thy feet.
”Aspire, my soul, to glorious deeds, The Captain of salvation leads; March on, nor fear to win the day, Though death and h.e.l.l obstruct thy way.
”Though death and h.e.l.l, and powers unknown, Put all their forms of mischief on, I shall be safe, for Christ displays Salvation in more sovereign ways.”
”Be this my one great business here, With holy trembling, holy fear, To make my calling sure; Thine utmost counsel to fulfil, And suffer all thy righteous will, And to the end endure.
”Then, Saviour, then my soul receive, Transported from this vale, to live, And reign with thee above: Where faith is sweetly lost in sight, And hope in full supreme delight, And everlasting love.”
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