The doom of Sodom will be ours,
If to the earth we cleave:
Lord quicken all our drowsy pow'rs,
To flee to thee and live.
360. Jacob's Ladder. 7.
IF the Lord our leader be,
We may follow without fear;
East or west, by land or sea,
Home, with him, is ev'ry where:
When from Esau Jacob fled,
Though his pillow was a stone,
And the ground his humble bed,
Yet he was not left alone.
Kings are often waking kept,
Rack'd with cares on beds of state:
Never king like Jacob slept,
For he lay at heaven's gate:
Lo! he saw a ladder rear'd,
Reaching to the heav'nly throne;
At the top the Lord appear'd,
Spake, and claim'd him for his own.
"Fear not, Jacob, thou art mine,
"And my presence with thee goes;
"On thy heart my love shall shine,
"And my arm subdue thy foes:
"From my promise comfort take,
"For my help in trouble call
"Never will I thee forsake,
"Till I have accomplish'd all."
Well does Jacob's ladder suit,
To the gospel throne of grace;
We are at the ladder's foot,
Ev'ry hour, in ev'ry place;
By assuming flesh and blood,
Jesus heav'n and earth unites;
We by faith ascend to God,
God to dwell with us delights.
They who know the Saviour's name,
Are for all events prepar'd;
What can changes do to them,
Who have such a guide and guard?
Should they traverse earth around,
To the ladder still they come :
Ev'ry spot is holy ground,
God is there and he's their home.
361. 0 that I were as in months past. c. M.
SWEET was the time when first I felt
The Saviour's pard'ning blood
Apply'd, to cleanse my soul from guilt,
And bring me home to God.
Soon as the morn the light reveal'd,
His praises tun'd my tongue;
And when the ev'ning shades prevail'd,
His love was all my song.
In vain the tempter spreads his wiles,
The world no more can charm ;
I liv'd upon my Saviour's smiles,
And lean'd upon his arm.
In pray'r my soul drew near the Lord,
And saw his glory shine:
And when I read his holy word,
I call'd each promise mine.
Then to his saints I often spoke
Of what his love hath done;
But now my heart is almost broke,
For all my joys are gone.
Now when the ev'ning shade prevails,
My soul in darkness mourns;
And when the morn the light reveals,
No light to me returns.
My pray'rs are now a chatt'ring noise,
For Jesus hides his face;
I read, the promise meets my eyes,
But will not reach
Now Satan threatens to prevail,
And make my soul his prey;
Yet, Lord, thy mercies cannot fail:
O come without delay.
362. The Good Samaritan.
How kind the good Samaritan
To him who fell among the thieves!
Thus Jesus pities fallen man,
And heals the wounds the soul receives.
Oh I remember well the day,
When sorely wounded, nearly slain, Like that poor man, I bleeding lay,
And groan'd for help, but groan'd in vain.
Men saw me in this helpless case,
And pass'd without compassion by;
Each neighbour turn'd away his face,
Unmoved by my mournful cry.
But he whose name had been my scorn
(As Jews Samaritans despise)
Came, when he saw me thus forlorn,
With love and pity in his eyes.
Gently he rais'd me from the ground,
Press'd me to lean upon his arm,
And into ev'ry gaping wound
He pour'd his own all-healing balm.
Unto his church my steps he led,
The house prepar'd for sinners lost, Gave charge I should be cloth'd and fed, And took upon him all the cost. Thus sav'd from death, from want secur'd, I wait till he again shall come (When I shall be compleatly cur'd), And take me to his heav'nly home. There, through eternal boundless days, When Nature's wheel no longer rolls, How shall I love, adore, and praise, This good Samaritan of souls!
363. The Legion dispossessed. 8.7.
LEGION was my name by nature,
Satan rag'd within my breast,
Never misery was greater,
Never sinner more possess'd:
Mischievous to all around me,
To myself the greatest foe;
Thus I was, when Jesus found me,
Fill'd with madness, sin, and woe.
Yet in this forlorn condition,
When he came to set me free,
I reply'd to my Physician,
What have I to do with thee?"
But he would not be prevented,
Rescu'd me against my will;
Had he staid till I consented,
I had been a captive still.
Satan, though thou fain wouldst have it,
"Know this soul is none of thine;
"I have shed my blood to save it,
"Now I challenge it for mine:
"Though it long has thee resembled,
"Henceforth it shall me obey :"
Thus he spoke, while Satan trembled,
Gnash'd his teeth, and fled away.
Thus my frantic soul he healed,
Bid my sins and sorrows cease;
"Take," said he, my pardon sealed,
"I have sav'd thee-go in peace."
Rather take me, Lord, to heaven,
Now thy love and grace I know;
Since thou hast my sins forgiven,
Why should I remain below?
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