1 See Aaron, God's anointed priest,
Within the veil appear,
In robes of mystic meaning dressed,
Presenting Israel's prayer.
2 The plate of gold which crowns his brows,
His holiness describes;
His breast displays in shining rows,
The names of all the tribes.
3 With the atoning blood he stands
Before the mercy-seat,
And clouds of incense from his hands
Arise with odor sweet.
4 Through him, the eye of faith decries
A greater priest than he:
Thus Jesus pleads above the skies,
For you, my friends, and me.
5 He bears the names of all his saints,
Deep on his heart engraved;
Attentive to the state and wants
of all his love has saved.
6 In him a holiness complete,
Light and perfections shine,
And wisdom, grace, and glory meet;
A Savior all divine.
The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the most approved authors, 1799
John Newton (b. London, England, 1725; d. London, 1807) was born into a Christian home, but his godly mother died when he was seven, and he joined his father at sea when he was eleven. His licentious and tumultuous sailing life included a flogging for attempted desertion from the Royal Navy and captivity by a slave trader in West Africa. After his escape he himself became the captain of a slave ship. Several factors contributed to Newton's conversion: a near-drowning in 1748, the piety of his friend Mary Catlett, (whom he married in 1750), and his reading of Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ. In 1754 he gave up the slave trade and, in association with William Wilberforce, eventually became an ardent abolitionist. After becoming a tide… Go to person page >
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