The Word more precious than Gold

The Word more precious than Gold

- a hymn by John Newton-

Precious Bible! what a treasure
Does the word of God afford!
All I want for life and pleasure,
FOOD and MEDICINE, SHIELD and SWORD:
Let the world account me poor,
Having this I need no more.

FOOD to which the world's a stranger,
Here my hungry soul enjoys;
Of excess there is no danger,
Though it fills, it never cloys:
On a dying Christ I feed,
He is meat and drink indeed!

When my faith is faint and sickly,
Or when Satan wounds my mind,
Cordials to revive me quickly,
Healing MEDICINES here I find:
To the promises I flee,
Each affords a remedy.

In the hour of dark temptations
Satan cannot make me yield;
For the word of consolation
Is to me a mighty SHIELD:
While the Scripture-truths are sure,
From this malice I'm secure.

Vain his threats to overcome me,
When I take the Spirit's sword;
Then with ease I drive him from me,
Satan trembles at the word:
'Tis a SWORD for conquest made,
Keen the edge, and strong the blade.

Shall I envy then the miser,
Doating on his golden store?
Sure I am, or should be wiser,
I am rich, 'tis he is poor:
Jesus gives me in his word,
FOOD and MEDICINE, SHIELD and SWORD.

Psalms 19:8-11

Hymns about God

Here are a few stanzas from the hymn "Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise" written by Walter Chalmers Smith (pictured). This hymn was based on the prayer of Paul in 1 Timothy 1:17. Read through it and count how many attributes of God are mentioned.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.

In these short three stanzas, I count, in the ballpark, about 20 attributes of God, plus or minus. While not every hymn or song we sing will contain this many, the fact is that our songs of praise to God should be about God - His attributes, His character, His nature and His works of creation, providence and salvation. Let the music that God has gifted us with be used to proclaim His name until "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" Habakkuk 2:14.

Prayer for a Revival

Saviour, visit thy plantation
Grant us, Lord, a gracious rain!
All will come to desolation,
Unless thou return again;
Keep no longer at a distance,
Shine upon us from on high;
Lest, for want of thine assistance,
Every plant should droop and die.

Surely, once thy garden flourished,
Every part looked gay and green;
Then they word our spirits nourished,
Happy seasons we have seen!
But a drought has since succeeded,
And a sad decline we see;
Lord, they help is greatly needed;
Help can only come from thee.

Where are those we counted leaders,
Filled with zeal, and love, and truth?
Old professors, tall as cedars,
Bright examples to our youth!
Some, in whom we once delighted,
We shall meet no more below;
Some, alas! we fear are blighted,
Scarce a single leaf they show.

Younger plants - the sight how pleasant,
Covered thick with blossoms stood;
But they cause us grief at present,
Frosts have nipped them in the bud!
Dearest Saviour, hasten hither,
Thou canst make them bloom again;
Oh, permit them not to wither,
Let not all our hopes be vain!

Let our mutual love be fervent,
Make us prevalent in prayers;
Let each one esteemed thy servant
Shun the world's bewitching snares;
Break the tempter's fatal power,
Turn the stony heart to flesh;
And begin, from this good hour,
To revive thy work afresh.

----- John Newton

A Famine of the Word

Gladness was spread through Israel's host
When first they manna viewed;
They laboured who should gather most,
And thought it pleasant food.

But when they had it long enjoyed,
From day to day the same,
Their hearts were by the plenty cloyed,
Although from heaven it came.

Thus Gospel bread at first is prized,
And makes a people glad;
But afterwards too much despised,
When easy to be had:

But should the Lord, displeased, withhold
The bread his mercy sends;
To have our houses filled with gold
Would make but poor amends.

How tedious would the week appear,
How dull the Sabbath prove,
Could we no longer meet to hear
The precious truths we love?

How would believing parents bear,
To leave their heedless youth
Exposed to every fatal snare,
Without the light of truth?

The Gospel, and a praying few,
Our bulwark long have proved;
But Olney sure the day will rue
When these shall be removed.

Then sin in this once-favored town,
Will triumph unrestrained;
And wrath and vengeance hasten down,
No more by prayer detained:

Preserve us from this judgement, Lord,
For Jesus' sake we plead;
A famine of the Gospel word
Would be a stroke indeed!

----- John Newton

My Times Are In Thy Hand

My times are in Thy hand;
My God, I wish them there;
My life, my friends. my soul I leave
Entirely to Thy care.

My times are in Thy hand,
Whatever they may be;
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
As best may seem to Thee

My times are in Thy hand,
Jesus, the Crucified!
Those hands my cruel sins had pierced
Are now my guard and guide.

My times are in Thy hand,
I'll always trust in thee;
And, after death, at Thy right hand
I shall forever be.

----William F. Floyd