|
Thanks for Shane's excellent siteand stupendous articles scanned by his industrious efforts! (Eventually, I'll get my own scanner!)
These are public domain and may be freely copied and distributed.
It is incredible comparing the old Protestant (Reformed) poems and literature with the giants of modern Evangelicalism; they just do not stand a chance with the Davids of yesteryear. The old Reformed of the Puritan era and the First and Second Great Awakenings were not afraid to integrate great and strong truths with the beauty of meter and rhyme.
The first s
 et of poems are by Ralph Erskine (1685-1752):
Arminianism's Legalism
Death to the Law
The second set are from William Cowper a friends of Newton. William Cowper appears in The works of The Rev. John Newton (Nathan Whiting, 1826), vol. 2.(New Haven, CT:) In the preface to the Olney Hymns, Newton himself remarks that all the hymns marked with a "C" indicate that they were written by his frie
 nd and associate William Cowper.
Jehovah Series
Covenant Praises
Old Gospel
Walking With God
Arminian doctrine, which aboundeth in our day, makes the efficacy of the gospel depend upon man's free will; but we have not so learned Chirst; he hath made surer work, and all the efficacy to depend upon his free grace. The Father's promise to the Son secures it; "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power."
Let Arminians maintain at their peril their universal redemption, but we must maintain at our peril the universal offer. The Arminian doctrine is to be rejected as robbing Christ of the glory of his free grace, in electing from eternity, and effectually calling in time, ascribing so much to man's free will.
No wonder Paul the legal spirit curse,
Of fatal errors such a feeding nurse.
He, in JEHOVAH's great tremendous name,
Condemns perverters of the gospel-scheme.
He damn'd the sophist rude, the babbling priest
Would venture to corrupt it in the least;
Yea, curst the heav'nly angel down to hell,
That daring would another gospel tell.
Which crime is charg'd on these that dare dispense
The self-same gospel in another sense.
Christ is not preach'd in truth, but in disguise,
If his bright glory half absconded lies.
When gospel-soldiers, that divide the word,
Scarce brandish any but the legal sword.
While Christ the author of the law they press,
More than the end of it for righteousness;
Christ as a seeker of our service trace,
More than a giver of enabling grace.
The king commanding holiness they show,
More than the Prince exalted to bestow;
Yea, more on Christ the sin-revenger dwell,
Than Christ Redeemer both from sin and hell.
With legal spade the gospel-field he delves,
Who thus drives sinners in unto themselves;
Halving the truth that should be all reveal'd,
The sweetest part of Christ is oft conceal'd.
We bid men turn from sin, but seldom say,
Behold the Lamb that takes all sin away!
Christ, by the gospel rightly understood,
Not only treats a peace but makes it good.
Those suitors therefore of the bride, who hope
By force to drag her with the legal rope,
Nor use the drawing cord of conqu'ring grace,
Pursue with flaming zeal a fruitless chase;
In vain lame doings urge, with solemn awe,
To bribe the fury of the fiery law:
With equal success to the fool that aims
By paper walls to bound devouring flames.
The law's but mock'd by their most graceful deed,
That wed not first the law-fulfilling Head;
It values neither how they wrought nor wept,
That flight the ark wherein alone 'tis kept.
Yet legalists, DO, DO, with ardour press,
And with prepost'rous zeal and warm address,
Would seem the greatest friends to holiness:
But vainly (could such opposites accord)
Respect the law, and yet reject the Lord.
They shew not Jesus as the way to bliss,
But Judas-like betray him with a kiss
Of boasted works, or mere profession puft,
Law-boasters proving but law-breakers oft.
( From A Legal Strain of Doctrine, found in Erskine's Gospel Sonnets)
The more proud nature bears a legal sway,
The more should preachers bend the gospel-way:
Oft in the church arise destructive schisms
From anti-evangelic aphorisms;
A legal spirit may be justly nam'd
The fertile womb of ev'ry error damn'd.
Hence dare Arminians too, with brazen face,
Give man's free-will the throne of God's free grace;
Whose self-exalting tenets clearly shew
Great ignorance of law and gospel too.
(From: A Legal Spirit the Root of Damnable Errors, found in Erskine's Gospel Sonnets)
(The following is a specimen of the Arminian's Address to Sinners, and the Answer to it):
The Arminian's Address
Arise, ye dead, Arminius cries,
Arise, ye dead in sin;
Unstop your ears, unclose your eyes,
And a new life begin.
Why will ye die, ye wretched souls?
Ye dead, why will ye die?
Quicken and make your spirits whole,
To life eternal fly.
The Answer
Deluded seer! but man will lie
Still senseless as a stone!
And you yourself stand fooling by,
Till both are quite undone:
Unless Almighty power be moved
By God's free will, not thine,
To quicken both and make his love
On both your hearts to shine.
From "The Beauties of Erskine" (1745).
TOP
What sort of Death, this Death to the Law is:
(The Beaties of Erskine)
1. It is an universal death: I do not mean that it is common to all the children of men, though it be a common death, to the children of God, and to every
one of, them; yea it is a rare death to the children of men. The world lies in wickedness, and are dead in trespasses and sins. Few are dead in this sense:
but what I mean by its being universal, is, that the man that is dead to the law in point of justification; he is dead to every part of the law in its old
covenant form, to the precept of it, ,to the penalty of it, so as he is not to be justified by the one nor condemned by the other. His gospel obedience
thereto is no part of his righteousness for justification before God; if he should obedience to the law as a rule of life in the hand of a Mediator, any part
of his righteousness for justification, he so far turns the covenant of grace, and the duties therein required, into a covenant of works, and he seeks to live
unto that, to which he is and should be dead. It is true the law as a rule of life does not require obedience for justification; but Yet this corrupt nature is
prone to turn to the old bias, and to turn the rule of obedience into a rule of acceptance. If a man make faith itself an act, or any act or fruit of it, the
matter of his justification he turns it to a covenant of works: the believer is dead to faith itself in this respect; yea, he renounces itself, and all things else,
but the righteousness of Christ for justification. In this sense he is dead to repentance, love, and other graces; he is dead to all obedience to the law as a
covenant of works; to his natural legal obedience before his conversion, and to his spiritual gospel obedience after his conversion; which though it be a
righteousness which God works, yet because it is the believer that is the subject, and made the actor thereof, it is called his own righteousness, or
conformity to the law; all which lie renounces in. the matter of justification, desiring to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness that is after
the law, but the righteousness which is of God by faith.
2. It is a lingering death. It is not easy to get the law killed; something of a legal disposition remains even in the believer while he is in this world. Many a
stroke does self and self- righteousness get, but still it revives again. If he were wholly dead to -the law, he would be wholly dead to sin; but so far as
the law lives, so far sin lives. They that think they know the gospel well enough, bewray their ignorance; no man can be too evangelical; it will take all his
lifetime to get a legal temper destroyed. Though the believer be delivered from the law, in its commanding an condemning power and authority, or in its
rightful power over all that are under it; yet he is not de. livered wholly from its usurped power, which takes place many times upon him, while here,
through remaining unbelief.
3. It is a painful death; it is like the cutting off the right hand and plucking out the right eye. The man hath no inclination to part with the law. It is as
natural for him to expect God's favour upon his doing so and so, and to expect life and salvation by his own obedience or doing as well as he can as it is
natural for him to draw his breath. If we do our best God will accept us, is the natural language of every one who is wedded to the Do and Live of the
first covenant. And, 0 what a pain is it to be brought off from that way? To die to the law is most unnatural, strange doctrine; and legal pangs, and pains
of conviction, and humiliation must be borne, before a right thought. of dying to the law can be brought forth.
4. It is an honourable death: to be dead to the law is a death that brings honour to God, to Christ, to the Jaw, and to the believer. It brings honour to
God's holiness, which is now satisfied by Christ's dying and honour to God's justice which is now satisfied by Christ's dying. It brings honour to Christ,
for now the man values the righteousness of Christ, as being indeed the righteousness of God, and a full, sufficient perfect righteousness. It brings honour
to the law, when instead of our imperfect obedience, we bring an obedience better than men' or angels in their best estate could give it, even the
Lawgiver's obedience; which indeed doth magnify the law and make it honourable. It also brings honour to the believer himself: he is honoured and
beautified with a law-biding righteousness truly meritorious and every way glorious: this is the honour of all the saints.
5. It is a profitable death; it is profitable both for happiness and holiness; profitable both for justification and sanctification. Our legal righteousness is
unprofitable; "I will declare thy righteousness and thy works, for they shall not profit thee." Isa. lvii. 12. It is unprofitable for justification; for by the
deeds of the law shall no flesh living be justified it is unprofitable for sanctification; for his filthy rags do rather pollute than sanctify him. But the
righteousness which is of God by faith, is profitable every way: they are happy that have it; for they are justified from all things from which they could not
be justified by the law of Moses; they are holy that have it. Being dead to the law, is the way to live unto God.
Thus doth the Husband by his Father's will,
Both for and in his bride the law fulfil:
For her, as 'tis a covenant; and then
In her, as 'tis a rule of life to men.
First all law-debt he most completely pays;
Then of law-duties all the charge defrays,
Does first assume her guilt, and loose her chains;
And then with living water wash her stains:
Her fund restore, and then her form repair,
And make his filthy bride a beauty fair;
His perfect righteousness most freely grant,
And then his holy image deep implant.
TOP
JEHOVAH- SERIES
-Jireh
-Rophi
-Nissi
-Shalem
-Righteousness
-Shammah 1
-Shammah 2
Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord will provide (Genesis, xxii.14)
The saints should never be dismay'd,
Nor sink in hopeless fear;
For when they least expect His aid,
The Saviour will appear.
This Abraham found: he raised the knife;
God saw, and said, "Forbear!
Yon ram shall yield his meaner life;
Behold the victim there."
Once David seem'd Saul's certain prey;
But hark! the foe's at hand;
Saul turns his arms another way,
To save the invaded land.
When Jonah sunk beneath the wave,
He thought to rise no more;
But God prepared a fish to save,
And bear him to the shore.
Blest proofs of power and grace divine,
That meet us in His word!
May every deep-felt care of mine
Be trusted with the Lord.
Wait for His seasonable aid,
And though it tarry, wait:
The promise may be long delay'd,
But cannot come too late.
Book I, Hymn 6, page 469
Jehovah Rophi, I am the Lord that healeth thee (Exodus, xv)
Heal us, Emmanuel! here we are,
Waiting to feel Thy touch:
Deep-wounded souls to Thee repair
And, Saviour, we are such.
Our faith is feeble, we confess,
We faintly trust Thy word;
But wilt Thou pity us the less?
Be that far from Thee, Lord!
Remember him who once applied,
With trembling, for relief;
"Lord, I believe," with tears he cried,
"Oh, help my unbelief!"
She too, who touch'd Thee in the press,
And healing virtue stole,
Was answer'd, "Daughter, go in peace,
Thy faith hath made thee whole."
Conceal'd amid the gathering throng,
She would have shunn'd Thy view;
And if her faith was firm and strong,
Had strong misgivings too.
Like her, with hopes and fears we come,
To touch Thee, if we may;
Oh! send us not despairing home,
Send none unheal'd away!
Book I, Hymn 14, page 472
Jehovah Nissi, The Lord my banner (Exodus, xvii.15)
By whom was David taught
To aim the deadly blow,
When he Goliath fought,
And laid the Gittite low?
Nor sword nor spear the stripling took,
But chose a pebble from the brook.
'Twas Israel's God and King
Who sent him to the fight;
Who gave him strength to sling,
And skill to aim aright.
Ye feeble saints, your strength endures,
Because young David's God is yours.
Who order'd Gideon forth,
To storm the invaders' camp.
With arms of little worth,
A pitcher and a lamp?
The trumpets made his coming known
And all the host was overthrown.
Oh! I have seen the day,
When with a single word,
God helping me to say,
"My trust is in the Lord,"
My soul hath quell'd a thousand foes
Fearless of all that could oppose.
But unbelief, self-will,
Self-righteousness, and pride,
How often do they steal
My weapon from my side!
Yet David's Lord, and Gideon's friend,
Will help his servant to the end.
Book I, Hymn 17, page 473
Jehovah Shalem, The Lord send peace (Judges, vi.25)
Jesus! whose blood so freely stream'd
To satisfy the law's demand;
By Thee from guilt and wrath redeem'd,
Before the Father's face I stand.
To reconcile offending man,
Make Justice drop her angry rod;
What creature could have form'd the plan,
Or who fulfil it but a God?
No drop remains of all the curse,
For wretches who deserved the whole;
No arrows dipt in wrath to pierce
The guilty, but returning soul.
Peace by such means so dearly bought,
What rebel could have hoped to see?
Peace by his injured Sovereign wrought,
His Sovereign fasten'd to a tree.
Now, Lord, Thy feeble worm prepare!
For strife with earth and hell begins;
Conform and gird me for the war;
They hate the soul that hates his sins.
Let them in horrid league agree!
They may assault, they may distress;
But cannot quench Thy love to me,
Nor rob me of the Lord my peace.
Book I, Hymn 22, page 475
Jehovah our Righteousness (Jeremiah, xxiii. 6)
My God, how perfect are Thy ways!
But mine polluted are;
Sin twines itself about my praise,
And slides into my prayer.
When I would speak what Thou hast done
To save me from my sin,
I cannot make Thy mercies known,
But self-applause creeps in.
Divine desire, that holy flame
Thy grace creates in me;
Alas! impatience is its name,
When it returns to Thee.
This heart, a fountain of vile thoughts.
How does it overflow,
While self upon the surface floats,
Still bubbling from below.
Let others in the gaudy dress
Of fancied merit shine;
The Lord shall be my righteousness,
The Lord forever mine.
Book I, Hymn 67, page 492-93
Jehovah-Shammah (Ezekial, xlviii.35)
As birds their infant brood protect,
And spread their wings to shelter them,
Thus saith the Lord to His elect,
"So will I guard Jerusalem."
And what then is Jerusalem,
This darling object of His cares?
Where is its worth in God's esteem?
Who built it? who inhabits there?
Jehovah founded it in blood,
The blood of His incarnate Son;
There dwell the saints, once foes to God
The sinners whom He calls His own.
There, though besieged on every side,
Yet much beloved and guarded well,
From age to age they have defied
The utmost force of earth and hell.
Let earth repent, and hell despair,
This city has a sure defence;
Her name is call'd, "The Lord is there,"
And who has power to drive him hence?
Book I, Hymn 72, page 494
Jehovah-Shammah (Zechariah, xiii.1)
There is a fountain fill'd with blood,
Drawn from Emmanuel's veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there have I, as vile as he,
Wash'd all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransom'd church of God
Be saved, to sin no more.
E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I'll sing Thy power to save;
When this poor lisping stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave.
Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared
(Unworthy though I be)
For me a blood-bought free reward,
A golden harp for me!
'Tis strung and tuned for endless years,
And form'd by power divine,
To sound in God the Father's ears
No other name but Thine.
Book I, Hymn 79, page 497
TOP
The Covenant (Ezekiel, xxxvi. 25-28)
The Lord proclaims His grace abroad!
"Behold, I change your hearts of stone;
Each shall renounce his idol-god,
And serve, henceforth, the Lord alone.
"My grace, a flowing stream, proceeds
To wash your filthiness away;
Ye shall abhor your former deeds,
And learn my statutes to obey.
"My truth the great design ensures,
I give myself away to you;
You shall be mine, I will be yours,
Your God unalterably true.
"Yet not unsought or unimplored,
The plenteous grace I shall confer;
Noyour whole hearts shall seek the Lord,
I'll put a praying spirit there.
"From the first breath of life divine
Down to the last expiring hour,
The gracious work shall all be mine,
Begun and ended in my power."
Book I, Hymn 71, page 494
TOP
Old Testament Gospel (Hebrews, iv. 2)
Israel in ancient days
Not only had a view
Of Sinai in a blaze,
But learn'd the Gospel too;
The types and figures were a glass,
In which thy saw a Saviour's face.
The paschal sacrifice
And blood-besprinkled door,
Seen with enlighten'd eyes,
And once applied with power,
Would teach the need of other blood,
To reconcile an angry God.
The Lamb, the Dove, set forth
His perfect innocence,
Whose blood of matchless worth
Whould be the soul's defence;
For he who can for sin atone,
Must have no failings of His own.
The scape-goat on his head
The people's trespass bore,
And to the desert led,
Was to be seen no more:
In him our Surety seem'd to say,
"Behold, I bear your sins away."
Dipt in his fellow's blood,
The living bird went free;
The type, well understood,
Express'd the sinner's plea;
Described a guilty soul enlarged,
And by a Saviour's death discharged.
Jesus, I love to trace,
Throughout the sacred page,
The footsteps of Thy grace,
The same in every age!
Oh, grant that I may faithful be
To clearer light, vouchsaf'd to me!
Book I, Hymn 132, page 520
TOP
Walking with God (Genesis, v. 24)
Oh! for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame;
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!
Where is the blessedness I knew
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul-refershing view
Of Jesus and his word?
What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill.
Return, O holy Dove, return!
Sweet the messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made thee mourn
And drove thee from my breast.
The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.
So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
Book I, Hymn 3, page 468
TOP
|
