1 Well, canst thou read thy heart,
And feel the plague of sin?
Does Sinai’s thunder make thee start,
And conscience roar within?
2 Expect to find no balm
On nature’s barren ground;
All human medicines will do harm;
They only skin the wound.
3 To Jesus Christ repair,
And knock at mercy’s gate;
His blood alone can wash thee fair,
And make thy conscience sweet.
4 In season due he seals
A pardon on the breast;
The wounds of sin his Spirit heals,
And brings the gospel-rest.
5 [So comes the peace of God,
Which cheers the conscience well;
And love shed in the heart abroad,
More sweet than we can tell.]
6 Adopted sons perceive
Their kindred to the sky;
The Father’s pardoning love receive,
And “Abba, Father,” cry.
Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #81
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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