1 Alas, what mean those fears,
That dry and withered look;
That head besprinkled with gray hairs,
And hands with palsy shook?
2 Thy heart once all a flame,
Fed well on Jesus’ store,
But starved now, and sick, and lame,
Thou seemest sadly poor.
3 Be sure thou hast been slack,
And settling on thy lees,
The Bible cast behind thy back,
And seldom on thy knees.
4 To Jesus thou art grown
A stranger once again;
No wonder He has made thee moan,
And look like any Cain.
5 Come, lift the feeble hand,
And shake the drowsy mind,
Gird up thy loins for Canaan’s land,
And fast thy sandals bind.
6 To Jesus yet return,
And Jesus will receive;
Awhile He makes the rambler mourn,
And then His peace will give.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #13702
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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