A GEM OF ANTIQUITY.
Jesus.
Thus said Jesus:—I will keep,
In safety my defenceless sheep,
From sin and endless misery,
Seeking soul, I will keep thee.
Isa. lv. 4.
John x. 11.
John x. 28.
John vi. 37.
Soul.
Lord, I believe, Thy word is sure,
But I am ignorant and poor;
My goodness reaches not to thee:—
For mercy’s sake, wilt thou keep me?
Ps. xciii. 5.
Rev. iii. 17.
Ps. xvi. 2.
Ps. cix. 26.
Jesus.
I passed by the rich and brave:—
Thee, needy soul, I came to save;
The poor in spirit blessed be—
Oh! trust me then, I will keep thee.
Mark ii. 17.
Luke xix. 10.
Matt. v. 3.
Isa. xxvi. 3, 4.
Soul.
But, Lord, I have a deeper wound,
An evil heart within I’ve found:—
My nature’s enmity with thee,
Offended king, wilt thou keep me?
Ps. li. 4.
Jer. xvii. 9.
Rom. viii. 7.
Isa. xxvii. 3.
Jesus.
Of old thy evil I beheld,
Yet was with love and pity filled:
I therefore died to set thee free—
For my own sake, I will keep thee.
Ps. liii. 2, 3.
Ezek. xvi. 5, 6.
1 Cor. xv. 3.
Ez. xxxvi. 21, 22.
Soul.
Yea, I have proved thy power, my God,
And thy efficacious blood;
But sin remains, though it I flee,
Wilt thou preserve backsliding me?
Eph. ii. 4, 5.
Eph. ii. 13.
Rom. vii. 18.
Jer. iii. 11.
Jesus.
Before I wrought upon thy will,
I knew how treacherous thou wouldst deal;
I did thy base transgressions see,
And yet resolved I would keep thee;
But thou shalt conqueror be at length:
Till then I will renew thy strength.
Sin shall not have the victory
Only believe—I will keep thee.
Phil. ii. 13.
Isa. xlviii. 8.
Amos v. 12.
Hos. xiv. 4.
Rom. viii. 37.
Isa. xl. 29-31.
Rom. vi. 14.
Isa. xli. 13, 14.
Soul.
Permit me once again to speak—
Sometimes thy face in tears I seek,
And oft a gloomy vail I see:
Canst thou be wroth, and yet keep me?
Job xl. 4, 5.
Jer. xxxi. 9.
Ps. lxxvii. 7-9.
Hos. v.
Jesus.
Let then this answer thee suffice :—
In anger I do not chastise;
More fervent be thy cry—thy plea—
And as I live I will keep thee;
But if thou forsake thy God,
Then will I visit with the rod,
I may correct to a degree,
Nevertheless I will keep thee.
2 Cor. xii. 9.
Heb. xii. 6.
Lam. ii. 19.
Rev. iii. 10.
Ps. lxxxix. 30.
Ps. lxxxix. 32.
Jer. xxx. 11.
Ps. lxxxix. 33.
Soul.
But ah! I feel temptation strong,
And if my journey should be long,
I fear I shall dishonour thee:
Wilt thou continue to keep me?
1 Cor. x. 13.
Isa. xl6. 4.
Ps. cxxi. 3.
Ps. cxxi. 7, 8.
Jesus.
Can I forsake my heart’s delight?
Thy end is precious in my sight,
I conquered Death on Calvary,
And from its sting’s I will keep thee.
I will be near thy dying bed—
Amid the waves sustain thy head,
My rod, my staff, thy help shall be,
In perfect peace I will keep thee.
I am the ark that goes before,
To guide the pilgrims safe to shore;
At my rebuke shall Jordan flee—
In life, in death, I will keep thee.
And I will bless thy house and thee,
And keep thee for eternity.
Then, then, my sister, then, my spouse,
I will fulfil my sacred vows:
And thou in bliss my glory see,
When on my throne I’ve placed thee.
Isa. xlix. 15, 16.
Ps. cxvi. 15.
Heb. ii. 14, 15.
1 Cor. xv. 55-57.
Isa. xxv. 8.
Isa. xliii. 2.
Ps. xxiii. 4.
Isa. xxvi. 3.
Josh. iv. 7-23.
John xiv. 3.
Ps. cxiv. 5-7.
Ps. xlvi. 10.
Song. iv. 10.
Eph. v. 26-27.
John xvii. 24.
Rev. iii. 21.
Soul.
It is enough :—My Lord! my Love!
The hills, the mountains must remove;
But I shall still unshaken be—
Thy word is passed, Thou wilt keep me.
Luke ii. 29, 30.
Isa. liv. 10.
Ps. xlvi. 2.
Rom. viii. 38, 39.