The words
Stanza 1. A Worldling spent each dayIn luxury and state;While a believer lay,A beggar at his gate:Think not the LORD’S appointments strange,Death made a great and lasting change.
Stanza 2. Death brought the saint releaseFrom want, disease, and scorn;And to the land of peace,His soul, by angels borne,In Abraham’s bosom safely placed,Enjoys an everlasting feast.
Stanza 3. The rich man also died,And in a moment fellFrom all his pomp and prideInto the flames of hell:The beggar’s bliss from far beheld,His soul with double anguish filled.
Stanza 4. “O Abram send, he cries,(But his request was vain)The beggar from the skiesTo mitigate my pain!One drop of water I entreat,To soothe my tongue’s tormenting heat.”
Stanza 5. Let all who worldly pelf,And worldly spirits have,Observe, each for himself,The answer Abram gave:“Remember, thou wast filled with good,While the poor beggar pined for food.
Stanza 6. Neglected at thy doorWith tears he begged his bread;But now, he weeps no more,His griefs and pains are fled:His joys eternally will flow,While thine expire in endless woe.”
Stanza 7. LORD, make us truly wise,To choose thy peoples’ lot;And earthly joys despise,Which soon will be forgot:The greatest evil we can fear,Is to possess our portion here!
Olney Hymns (1779), Book 1, Hymn 105. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/1-105
