"What think ye of Christ?" is the test
To try both your state and your scheme;
You cannot be right in the rest
Unless you think rightly of Him.
Some take Him a creature to be,
A man, or an angel at most;
But they have not feelings like me,
Nor know themselves helpless 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 Savior 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.
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 Savior they kiss
And while they salute Him, betray;
Oh 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 trust and my Friend,
My Savior from sin and from thrall;
My hope from beginning to end,
My portion, my Lord and my all."
John Newton