The Rock

Self-condemned and abhorred

Author: John Berridge
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

1 Self-condemned and abhorr'd,
How shall I approach the Lord?
Hard my heart, and cold, and faint;
Full of every sad complaint.

2 What can soften hearts of stone?
Jesus’ precious blood alone;
When the Spirit it imparts,
That will soften hardest hearts.

3 This would bruise my bosom well,
Make it with God’s praises swell;
Squeeze my idols from my breast,
Bring the blessed gospel-rest.

4 O! the rock which Moses struck,
Soon would make my heart a brook;
Only this can make me feel;
Bring it with thy burial-seal.

5 With its oil my limbs anoint;
That will supple every joint.
Of its honey let me eat;
That will make my temper sweet.

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #702

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Author: John Berridge

Berridge, John, born at Kingston, Notis, March 1, 1716, and educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge. In 1749 he was ordained as curate to the parish of Stapleford, near Cambridge, and in 1755 he was preferred to the Vicarage of Everton, where he died Jan. 22, 1793. His epitaph, written by himself for his own tombstone (with date of death filled in), is an epitome of his life. It reads:— " Here lies the remains of John Berridge, late Vicar of Everton, and an itinerate servant of Jesus Christ, who loved his Master and His work; and after running on His errands for many years, was caught up to wait on Him above. Reader! art thou born again? (No salvation without a new birth.) I was born in sin, February, 1716; remained ignorant of my fallen sta… Go to person page >

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