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Hymns on The Christian Life
by John Newton (1725-1807)
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Praise for Redeeming Love (Book III, Hymn 82, page 597)
Let us love and sing and wonder,
Let us praise the Savior's Name!
He has hushed the law's loud thunder,
He has quenched Mount Sinai's flame.
He has wash'd us with His blood,
He has brought us nigh to God.Let us love the Lord Who bought us,
Pity'd us when enemies,
Called us by His grace, and taught us,
Gave us ears and gave us eyes:
He has wash'd us with His blood,
He presents our souls to God.Let us sing, though fierce temptation
Threaten hard to bear us down!
For the Lord, our strong Salvation,
Holds in view the conqueror's crown:
He who washed us with his blood
Soon will bring us home to God.Let us wonder, grace and justice
Join, and point to mercy's store;
When, through grace, in Christ our trust is,
Justice smiles and asks no more:
He who wash'd us with his blood
Has secured our way to God.Let us praise, and join the chorus
Of the saints enthron'd on high;
Here they trusted him before us,
Now their praises fill the sky;
"Thou hast wash'd us with thy blood,
"Thou art worthy, Lamb of God!"Hark! the name of Jesus sounded
Loud, from golden harps above!
Lord, we blush, and are confounded,
Faint our praises, cold our love!
Wash our sols and songs with blood,
For by thee we come to God.
The Waiting
Soul (Book III, Hymn 10, page 569)
Breathe from the gentle south, O Lord,
And cheer me from the north;
Blow on the treasures of thy word,
And call the spices forth!I wish, Thou knowest, to be resign'd,
And wait with patient hope;
But hope delay'd fatigues the mind,
And drinks the spirits up.Help me to reach the distant goal;
Confirm my feeble knee;
Pity the sickness of a soul
That faints for love of Thee!Cold as I feel this heart of mine,
Yet, since I feel it so,
It yields some hope of life divine
Within, however low.I seem forsaken and alone,
I hear the lion roar;
And every door is shut but one,
And that is Mercy's door.There, till the dear Deliverer come,
I'll wait with humble prayer;
And when He calls His exile home,
The Lord shall find him there.
Seeking the
Beloved (Book III, Hymn 13, page 570-71)
To those who love the Lord I speak;
Is my Beloved near?
The Bridegroom of my soul I seek,
Oh! when will He appear?Though once a man of grief and shame,
Yet now He fills a throne,
And bears the greatest, sweetest name,
That earth or heaven have known.Grace flies before, and love attends
His steps wheree'er he goes;
Though none can see Him but His friends,
And they were once his foes.He speaks; obedient to His call
Our warm affections move:
Did He but shine alike on all,
Then all alike would love.Then love in every heart would reign,
And war would cease to roar;
And cruel and bloodthirsty men
Would thirst for blood no more.Such Jesus is, and such His grace;
Oh, may He shine on you!
And tell him, when you see His face,
I long to see Him, too.
Joy and Peace
in Believing (Book
III, Hymn 48, page 584)
Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
With healing on His wings;
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.In holy contemplation
We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's salvation,
And find it ever new;
Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E'en let the unknown to-morrow
Bring with it what it may!It can bring with it nothing,
But He will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing,
Will clothe His people too;
Beneath the spreading heavens
No creature but is fed;
And He who feeds the ravens
Will give His children bread.Though vine nor fig tree neither
Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there:
Yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice;
For, while in Him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.