The Works of the Rev. John Newton ...

1 THOUGH Small the drops of falling | 5 One sin can raise, though small it

8 But, when the Holy Ghost imparts 5 By love's pure light we soon perceive A knowledge of the Saviour's

Our noblest bliss and proper end; And gladly ev'ry idol leave,

To love and serve our Lord and
Friend.

Thus, borne along by faith and hope, We feel the Saviour's words are

true;

"And I, if I be lifted up, [too."* "Will draw the sinner upwards

XCI. The Spider and Bee.

1 ON the same flow'r we often see The loathsome spider and the bee; But what they get by working there Is diff'rent, as their natures are.

2 The bee a sweet reward obtains,

And honey well repays his pains;
Home to the hive he bears the store,
And then returns in quest of more.

3 But no sweet flow'rs that grace the field

Can honey to the spider yield;
A cobweb all that he can spin,
And poison all he stores within.

4 Thus in that sacred field, the Word, With flow'rs of God's own planting stor'd,

XCII. The Bee saved from the Spider.

1 THE subtle spider often weaves
His unexpected snares
Among the balmy flow'rs and leaves,
To which the bee repairs.

2 When in his web he sees one hang,
With a malicious joy
He darts upon it with his fang,
To poison and destroy.

3 How welcome then some pitying friend,

To save the threaten'd bee!
The spider's treach'rous web to rend,
And set the captive free.

*John xii. 32.

4 My soul has been in such a case: When first I knew the Lord,

I hasted to the means of grace,

Where sweets I knew were stor❜d.

5 Little I thought of danger near,
That soon my joys would ebb;
But, ah! I met a spider there,
Who caught me in his web.

6 Then Satan rais'd his pois'nous sting, And aim'd his blows at me; While I, poor, helpless, trembling thing,

Could neither fight nor flee.

Book iii. Hymn 71.

7 But, oh! the Saviour's pitying eye
Reliev'd me from despair;
He saw me at the point to die,
And broke the fatal snare.

8 My case his heedless saints should

warn,

Or cheer them if afraid;
May you from me your danger learn,
And where to look for aid.

XCIII. The tamed Lion.

1 A LION, though by nature wild,
The art of man can tame;
He stands before his keeper, mild
And gentle as a lamb.

2 He watches, with submissive eye,
The hand that gives him food,
As if he meant to testify

A sense of gratitude.

3 But man himself, who thus subdues
The fiercest beasts of prey,
A nature more unfeeling shows,
And far more fierce than they.

4 Though by the Lord preserv'd and
fed,

He proves rebellious still;
And while he eats his maker's bread,
Resists his holy will.

5 Alike in vain, of grace that saves,
Or threat'ning law he hears;
The savage scorns, blasphemes, and
raves,

But neither loves nor fears.

6 O Saviour! how thy wondrous pow'r
By angels is proclaim'd,
When in thine own appointed hour,
They see this lion tam'd.

7 The love thy bleeding cross displays,
The hardest heart subdues;
Here furious lions, while they gaze,
Their rage and fierceness lose.*

8 Yet we are but renew'd in part,
The lion still remains;
Lord, drive him wholly from my
heart,

XCIV.

1 THE Saviour calls his people sheep, |
And bids them on his love rely;
For he alone their souls can keep,
And he alone their wants supply.

2 The bull can fight, the hare can flee,
The ant, in summer, food prepare;
But helpless sheep, and such are we,
Depend upon the shepherd's care.

3 Jehovah is our Shepherd's name ;t
Then what have we, tho' weak, to
fear?

Our sin and folly we proclaim,

If we despond while he is near.

4 When Satan threatens to devour,
When troubles press on ev'ry side,
Think of our Shepherd's care and
pow'r,

He can defend, he will provide.
*Isaiah, xi. 6.

Or keep him fast in chains.

Sheep.

See the rich pastures of his grace, Where, in full streams, salvation flows!

There he appoints our resting-place, And we may feed, secure from foes.

6 There, 'midst the flock, the Shepherd dwells,

The sheep around in safety lie; The wolf, in vain, with malice swells, For he protects them with his eye.‡

7 Dear Lord, if I am one of thine,
From anxious thoughts I would
be free;
[mine,
To trust, and love, and praise, is
The care of all belongs to thee.

+ Psalm xxiii. 1.

‡ Micah, v. 4.

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XCVI. For a Garden-Seat, or Summer-House.

1 A SHELTER from the rain or wind,† | 5 If so, for all events prepar'd,

A shade from scorching heat,
A resting-place you here may find,
To ease your weary feet.

Enter, but with a serious thought,
Consider who is near!
This is a consecrated spot,
The Lord is present here!

3 A question of the utmost weight, While reading, meets your eye; May conscience witness to your state,

And give a true reply!

4 Is Jesus to your heart reveal'd, As full of truth and grace?

And is his name your hope and shield,

Your rest and hiding-place?

Whatever storms may rise,
He, whom you love, will safely guard
And guide you to the skies.

6 No burning sun, or storm, or rain,
Will there your peace annoy;
No sin, temptation, grief, or pain,
Intrude to damp your joy.

7 But if his name you have not known, Oh, seek him while you may! Lest you should meet his awful frown,

In that approaching day.

8 When the avenging Judge you see,
With terrors on his brow,
Where can you hide, or whither flee,
If you reject him now?

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