Delight In the Saviour’s Charms

VANITY OF THE WORLD*

God gives his mercies to be spent;
Your hoard will do your soul no good;
Gold is a blessing only lent,
Repaid by giving others food.

The world’s esteem is but a bribe,
To buy their peace you sell your own;
The slave of a vain-glorious tribe,
Who hate you while they make you known.

The joy that vain amusements give,
Oh! sad conclusion that it brings!
The honey of a crowded hive,
Defended by a thousand stings.

‘Tis thus the world rewards the fools
That live upon her treacherous smiles:
She leads them blindfold by her rules,
And ruins all whom she beguiles.

God knows the thousands who go down
From pleasure into endless woe;
And with a long despairing groan
Blaspheme their Maker as they go.

O fearful thought! be timely wise:
Delight but in {the} Saviour’s charms,
And God shall take you to the skies,
Embraced in everlasting arms.

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* Olney Hymns, William Cowper,

Can Two Walk Together …

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Amos 3:3

The distinguishing favours of God to us, if they do not restrain from sin, shall not exempt from punishment. They could not expect communion with God, unless they first sought peace with him. Where there is not friendship, there can be no fellowship. God and man cannot walk together, except they are agreed. Unless we seek his glory, we cannot walk with him. Let us not presume on outward privileges, without special, sanctifying grace. The threatenings of the word and providence of God against the sin of man are certain, and certainly show that the judgments of God are at hand. Nor will God remove the affliction he has sent, till it has done its work. The evil of sin is from ourselves, it is our own doing; but the evil of trouble is from God, and is his doing, whoever are the instruments. This should engage us patiently to bear public troubles, and to study to answer God’s meaning in them. The whole of the passage shows that natural evil, or troubles, and not moral evil, or sin, is here meant. The warning given to a careless world will increase its condemnation another day. Oh the amazing stupidity of an unbelieving world, that will not be wrought upon by the terrors of the Lord, and that despise his mercies!1/

My Lord, what a mourning!
My Lord, what a mourning
O my Lord, what a mourning!
When the stars begin to fall.

You’ll hear a sinner mourn
To wake the nations underground
Looking to my God’s right hand
When the stars begin to fall.

You’ll hear a sinner pray
To wake the nations underground
Looking to my God’s right hand
When the stars begin to fall.

You’ll hear a Christian shout
To wake the nations underground
Looking to my God’s right hand
When the stars begin to fall.

You’ll hear a Christian sing
To wake the nations underground
Looking to my God’s right hand
When the stars begin to fall.

Oh, you will hear the trumpet sound
To wake the nations underground,
Looking to my Lord’s right hand
When the stars begin to fall.

Oh, you will see my Jesus come,
His glory shining like the sun,
Looking to my Lord’s right hand
When the stars begin to fall.

Oh, you will hear the Christians shout,
‘Cause there’s a new day come about,
Looking to my Lord’s right hand
When the stars begin to fall.2/

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1/  Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary
2/ Black Spiritual Hymn