What think you of Christ? is the test
To try both your state and you scheme;
You cannot be right in the rest,
Unless you think rightly of him.
As Jesus appears in your view,
As he is beloved or not,
So God is desposed to you,
And mercy or wrath are your lot.
Some take him a creature to be,
A man, or an angel at most;
Sure these have not feelings like me,
Nor know themselves wretched and lost:
So guilty, so helpless, am I,
I durst not confide in his blood,
Nor on his protection rely,
Unless I were sure he is God.
Some call him a Saviour, in word,
But mix their own works with his plan;
And hope he his help will afford,
When they have done all that they can:
If doings prove rather too light
(A little, they own, they may fail)
They purpose to make up full weight,
By casting his name in the scale.
Some style him the pearl of great price,
And say he's the fountain of joys;
Yet feed upon folly and vice,
And cleave to the world and its toys:
Like Judas, the Saviour they kiss,
And, while they salute him, betray;
Ah! what will profession like this
Avail in his terrible day?
If asked what of Jesus I think?
Though still my best thoughts are but poor;
I say, he's my meat and my drink,
My life, and my strength, and my store,
My Shepherd, my Husband, my Friend,
My Saviour from sin and from thrall;
My hope from beginning to end,
My Portion, My LORD, and my All.
By John Newton, author of hymn "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound".
(John Newton was born to a godly mother, who died when he was young. He rebelled and ended up involved
in the slave trade. At one point he was a slave himself, and nearly died from bad treatment. He escaped
and continued his involvement in the slave trade. In a terrible storm at sea he promised his life to God,
if God would only spare him his life. God did spare him his life and he kept his promise. He went on to become a minister
of the gospel in Buckinghamshire, England and London and was a great encourager of William Wilberforce in his
battle against the Slave Trade.)
