For works with similar titles, see Patience.
Hymn XIX. Patience Christopher Smart
1771
HYMN XIX.
PATIENCE.
By sin and Satan un-intic't,
JOB, type of our Emmanuel Christ,
With all the gems he had in store,
None half so bright as Patience wore.[1]
5 JOB, son of Issachar, at length
Proves Patience is the child of Strength;[2]
Yet Jesus cou'd new pow'rs create,
And e'en in weakness made her great.
Long-suff'ring God, whose goodness can
10 Bear with, and bless provoking man;
Let us like thee attempt our parts,
And 'gainst false brethren arm our hearts.
Teach us in sickness to adore
Thine hand, and all our ills restore;
15 Or let us meditate in death,
On Thee — poor man of NAZARETH.
Teach me in poverty to think
Of Him[3] who drank on Cedron's brink;
But had nor[4] mansion-house, nor bread,
20 Or to repose him, or be fed.[5]
Teach me 'midst all the griefs below,
This transient State, this world of woe,
Submissive on my bended knee,
To take my cross and follow Thee.
1771
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Notes
Karina Williamson notes: "The patience of Christ in accepting incarnation and crucifixion is cited in the Collect for the Sunday before Easter as an example for Christians to follow".
- ↑ 3—4. See Job 28:16—19, where said that wisdom (but not patience) to be more precious than jewels.
- ↑ 5—6. See Jubilate Agno B405 and n.
- ↑ 18. Him — in some other editions (71, 72, 72a, 75) him.
- ↑ 19. had nor — in some other editions (72, 72a, 86) had not.
- ↑ 17—20. See 1 Kings 17:5—6, and John 18:1. Here Smart mixes Elijah in the wilderness (who drank of the brook) with Jesus (who crossed Cedron).
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This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. |
