Pensive, doubting, fearful heart

Pensive, doubting, fearful heart,
Hear what CHRIST the Saviour says;
Every word should joy impart,
Change thy mourning into praise:
Yes, he speaks, and speaks to thee,
May he help thee to believe!
Then thou presently wilt see,
Thou hast little cause to grieve.

“Fear thou not, nor be ashamed,
All thy sorrows soon shall end
I who heav’n and earth have framed,
Am thy husband and thy friend
I the High and Holy One,
Israel’s GOD by all adored;
As thy Savior will be known,
Thy Redeemer and thy Lord.

For a moment I withdrew,
And thy heart was filled with pain;
But my mercies I’ll renew,
Thou shalt soon rejoice again:
Though I scorn to hide my face,
Very soon my wrath shall cease;
‘Tis but for a moment’s space,
Ending in eternal peace.

When my peaceful bow appears
Painted on the wat’ry cloud;
‘Tis to dissipate thy fears,
Lest the earth should be o’erflowed:
‘Tis an emblem too of grace,
Of my cov’nant love a sign;
Though the mountains leave their place,
Thou shalt be for ever mine.

Though afflicted, tempest-tossed,
Comfortless awhile thou art,
Do not think thou canst be lost,
Thou art graven on my heart
All thy walls I will repair,
Thou shalt be rebuilt anew;
And in thee it shall appear,
What a God of love can do.

(John Newton, HT Cat)

John Newton: not just an amazing grace.

Luther and Paul on experience

Luther refers to six things that makes a person a theologian, one of which is experience (p.17, Oswald Bayer, Martin Luther's Theology: A Contemporary Interpretation).

When Luther refers to "experience", he does not refer primarily to an actio but to a passio, not primarily to the experiences that I am in charge of, but in connection with that which I suffer. It is - to take it to the highest level - the experience that is mine in the agonizing struggle [Anfechtung] with the Word of God. This is the real point of Luther's famous statement: "sola experientia facit theologum" [only experience makes a theologian], which is admittedly most generally applied incorrectly, since it is not experience as such that makes one a theologian, but experience with the Holy Scripture.

(italics original, pp.21-22, ibid)

I read that yesterday and today we read Romans 15:4 in church:

whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Slightly different but connected. It reminds me of this John Newton hymn though.

How we grow

I'm feeling the force of this hymn right now...

I ask’d the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer;
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favour’d hour
At once He’d answer my request,
And by His love’s constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart,
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea, more, with His own hand He seem’d
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Cross’d all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourd, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this: I trembling cried,
Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death: ‘
‘Tis in this way,’ the Lord replied,
‘I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou may’st seek thy all in Me.’

(John Newton. Olney Hymns (1799), Book III, 36)

We have a strange God.

The Look

Thanks to Sovereign Grace Music for bringing this old hymn alive with a modern setting (you can download the mp3 free here). I didn't know the hymn before but the words are amazing.

In evil long I took delight,
    Unawed by shame or fear;
Till a new object struck my sight,
    And stopped my wild career.

I saw one hanging on a tree,
    In agonies and blood;
Who fixed his languid eyes on me,
    As near his cross I stood.

Sure, never till my latest breath,
    Can I forget that look;
It seemed to charge me with his death,
    Though not a word he spoke.

My conscience felt, and owned the guilt,
    And plunged me in despair;
I saw my sins his blood had spilt,
    And helped to nail him there.

Alas! I knew not what I did,
    But now my tears are vain;
Where shall my trembling soul be hid?
    For I the LORD have slain.

A second look he gave, which said,
    "I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid,
    I die, that thou may’st live."

Thus, while his death my sin displays,
    In all its blackest hue;
(Such is the mystery of grace)
    It seals my pardon too.

With pleasing grief and mournful joy,
    My spirit now is filled;
That I should such a life destroy,
    Yet live by him I killed.

One of the best things about blogs is you can save stuff for yourself at a later date.