CX. The Two Malefactors. Chap. xxiii. 39-43.

1 SOVEREIGN grace has pow'r alone
To subdue a heart of stone;
And the moment grace is felt,
Then the hardest heart will melt.

2 When the Lord was crucify'd,
Two transgressors with him dy'd;
One, with vile blaspheming tongue,
Scoff'd at Jesus as he hung.

3 Thus he spent his wicked breath,
In the very jaws of death;
Perish'd, as too many do,
With the Saviour in his view.

4 But the other, touch'd with grace,
Saw the danger of his case;

Faith receiv'd to own the Lord,

Whom the scribes and priests abhorr❜d.

5" Lord," he pray'd,

"remember me,

"When in glory thou shalt be:"-
"Soon with me," the Lord replies,
"Thou shalt rest in paradise."

6 This was wondrous grace indeed,
Grace vouchsaf'd in time of need!
Sinners, trust in Jesu's name,
You shall find him still the same.

7 But beware of unbelief,
Think upon the hard'ned thief;
If the Gospel you disdain,
Christ, to you, will die in vain.

JOHN.

CXI. The Woman of Samaria. Chap. iv. 28.

1 JESUS, to what didst thou submit

To save thy dear-bought flock from hell!
Like a poor traveller, see him sit,
Athirst and weary by the well.

2 The woman who for water came,
(What great events on small depend,)
Then learnt the glory of his name,

The well of life, the sinner's friend!

3 Taught from her birth to hate the Jews, And fill'd with party pride, at first Her zeal induc'd her to refuse

Water to quench the Saviour's thirst.

4 But soon she knew the gift of God;

And Jesus, whom she scorn'd before, Unask'd, that drink on her bestow'd,

Which whoso tastes shall thirst no more.

5 His words her prejudice remov'd,

Her sin she felt, relief she found;

She saw and heard, believ'd and lov'd,

And ran to tell her neighbours round:

6 O come, this wondrous man behold!
The promis'd Saviour! this is he,
Whom ancient prophecies foretold,
Born, from our guilt to set us free.

7 Like her, in ignorance content,

I worshipp'd long I knew not what ; Like her, on other things intent,

I found him when I sought him not.

8 He told me all that e'er I did,

And told me all was pardon'd too;
And now, like her, as he has bid,
I live to point him out to you.

CXII. The Pool of Bethesda*. Chap. v. 2-4.

1 BESIDE the Gospel pool

Appointed for the poor,

From year to year my helpless soul

Has waited for a cure.

2 How often have I seen

The healing waters move;

And others, round me, stepping in,
Their efficacy prove?

3 But my complaints remain ;

I feel the very same;

As full of guilt, and fear, and pain,

As when at first I came.

He knows how long I've languish'd here,

And what distress I feel.

5 How often have I thought

Why should I longer lie? Surely the mercy I have sought

Is not for such as I.

* Book III. Hymn 7.

6 But whither can I go?

There is no other pool

Where streams of sov'reign virtue flow
To make a sinner whole.

7 Here then, from day to day,

I'll wait, and hope, and try; Can Jesus hear a sinner pray, Yet suffer him to die?

8 No: he is full of grace;
He never will permit

A soul that fain would see his face,
To perish at his feet.

CXIII. Another.

1 HERE at Bethesda's pool, the poor,
The wither'd, halt, and blind,
With waiting hearts expect a cure,
And free admittance find.

2 Here streams of wondrous virtue flow,
To heal a sin-sick soul;

To wash the filthy white as snow,
And make the wounded whole.

3 The dumb break forth in songs of praise,
The blind their sight receive;
The cripple runs in wisdom's ways,
The dead revive and live!

4 Restrain❜d to no one case, or time,
These waters always move;

Sinners in every age and clime
Their vital influence prove.

2

5 Yet numbers daily near them lie,
Who meet with no relief;

With life in view they pine and die
In hopeless unbelief.

6 'Tis strange they should refuse to bathe,
And yet frequent the pool;
But none can even wish for faith,
While love of sin bears rule.

7 Satan their consciences has seal'd, And stupify'd their thought; For were they willing to be heal'd,

The cure would soon be wrought.

8 Do thou, dear Saviour, interpose, Their stubborn wills constrain; Or else to them the water flows, grace is preach'd, in vain.

And

CXIV. The Disciples at Sea*. Chap. vi. 16-21.
1 CONSTRAIN'D by their Lord to embark,
And venture, without him, to sea;
The season tempestuous and dark,
How griev'd the disciples must be!
But though he remain'd on the shore,
He spent the night for them in prayer;
They still were as safe as before,
And equally under his care.

2 They strove, though in vain, for a while, The force of the waves to withstand; But when they were weary'd with toil, They saw their dear Saviour at hand: * Book II. Hymn 87.