“A bruised reed shall He not bread, and the smoking flax shall He not Quench” (Isa. 42:3)
Poor, bruised sinner, sink not in despair,
Though tossed about with every puff of air;
Wounded within, and bruised in every part,
And daily vexed with an unsteady heart.
Though scorned by man, and by thyself abhorred,
Unable to walk worthy of thy Lord;
Thy faith to weak on Jesus to depend,
Nor canst thou dare to call Jehovah Friend.
Thy love’s like smoking flax, almost extinct,
Nor art thou able steadfastly to think
On Jesus’ sovereign mercy, grace and love,
Nor or a moment set thy heart above.
Though law, and hell, and sin oft make thee reel,
And every gleam of comfort from thee steal;
Though faith, and hope, and love, and every grace,
Are hid from view, and darkness veils thy face-
Yet listen to the voice of Christ thy God,
Nor doubt but He will make His promise good;
In mercy great to broken hearts He speaks,
“My gracious arm a bruised reed ne’er breaks.
“However weak or worthless ye may be,
No smoking flax shall be put out by Me;
'Tis Mine to save, and save alone by grace,
Nor will I e’er reject a mourner’s case.
"The work begun, I surely will perform,
And save completely from each threatened storm;
My grace shall set thy bruised heart at rest,
And raise a flame of love within thy breast.
“Thou shalt by faith on Me alone rely,
And I will all thy guilty fears destroy;
Thy great salvation I will ever be,
And thou shalt ever stand complete in Me.
“Look from thyself to My atoning blood,
Behold Me as t Advocate with God;
Here trembling soul I give Myself to thee,
And thou in endless bliss shalt reign with Me.
“What canst thou need, or what canst thou have more?
I am thy All, believe Me and adore;
Through floods and frames I will thy soul defend,
Heal all thy wounds, and love thee to the end
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William Gadsby (1773-1844)
From The Nazarene’s Songs