5 Poems about the Assurance of Salvation
Samuel Whitelock Gandy (1780-1851)
I hear the accuser roar, of ills that I have done;
I know them well, and thousands more; Jehovah findeth none.
Sin, Satan, death, press near, to harass and to appall;
Let but my risen Lord appear, backward they go and fall.
Before, behind, around, they set their fierce array,
To fight and force me from my ground, along Immanuel’s way.
I meet them face to face, through Jesus’ conquest blest;
March in the triumph of His grace, right onward to my rest.
There, in His book I bear, a more than conq’ror’s name,
A soldier, son, and fellow-heir, who fought and overcame.
His be the Victor’s name Who fought our fight alone;
Triumphant saints no honour claim, their conquest was His own.
By weakness and defeat He won the meed and crown
Trod all our foes beneath His feet, by being trodden down.
He hell in hell laid low; made sin, He sin o’erthrew;
Bowed to the grave, destroyed it so, and death, by dying, slew.
Bless, bless the Conq’ror slain! Slain in His victory!
Who lived, who died, who lives again, for thee, my soul, for thee!
Charitie Lees Bancroft (1841-1923)
Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea.
A Great High Priest whose name is love, Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died, my sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied, to look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there the risen Lamb, my perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM, the King of glory and of grace.
One with Himself I cannot die; my soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high, with Christ my Saviour and my God!
Martha Snell Nicholson
I sinned. And straightway, post haste, Satan flew
Before the presence of the Most High God,
And made a railing accusation there.
He said, “This soul, this thing of clay and sod, has sinned.
‘Tis true that he has named Thy name, but I demand his death,
for Thou hast said, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Shall not Thy sentence be fulfilled? Is justice dead?
Send now this wretched sinner to his doom.
What other thing can a righteous ruler do?”
And thus he did accuse me day and night,
And every word he spoke, O God, was true!
Then quickly One rose up from God’s right hand,
Before whose glory angels veiled their eyes,
He spoke, “Each jot and tittle of the Law must be fulfilled;
The guilty sinner dies!
But wait – suppose his guilt were all transferred to Me,
And that I paid his penalty!
Behold My hands, My side, My feet!
One day I was made sin for him, and died that he
Might be presented faultless at Thy throne!”
And Satan fled away.
Full well he knew that he could not prevail against such love,
For every word my dear Lord spoke was true!
The veil is rent! Lo! Jesus stands, before the throne of grace;
And clouds of incense from His hands fill all that glorious place.
His precious blood is sprinkled there, before and on the throne;
And His own wounds in heav’n declare, His work on earth is done.
‘Tis finished! on the cross He said, in agonies and blood;
‘Tis finished: now He lives to plead before the face of God.
’Tis finished! here our souls can rest, His work can never fail;
By Him, our Sacrifice and Priest, we enter through the veil.
Within the holiest of all, cleansed by His precious blood,
Before Thy throne Thy children fall, and worship Thee, our God.
Boldly our heart and voice we raise, His Name, His blood, our plea;
Assured our prayers and songs of praise, ascend by Him to Thee.
I have a foe who seeks to do me ill,
Lurks in the deep recesses of my heart,
And strives with vanity my mind to fill;
Longing to tempt my soul from Christ apart,
…………………………………………Sin is that foe.
I have a friend more mighty than that foe,
Who lives and loves me better than His life;
A friend who leadeth me where’er I go;
Girds me with strength and arms me for the strife,
…………………………………………That friend is Christ.
I have a foe who triumphs in my shame,
Who darkens all my intercourse with God;
Who fain would draw my thoughts from His dear name,
And turn my heart from resting on the blood,
…………………………………………That foe is sin.
But I’ve a friend who keepeth guard within,
And soon shall reign triumphant in my breast;
Who soothes my sorrow, sorrows for my sin;
Gives strength when feeble, and when weary rest,
…………………………………………Christ is that friend.
He who is now my foe, I thought my friend;
Him once I served though hating me the while;
I was his willing slave, nor feared the end,
But kissed my chains, and loved his traitor smile,
…………………………………………Sin was my friend.
But one who loved me though I loved Him not,
Gave but a look and broke my heart of stone;
The shepherd found the wanderer He sought;
And now I follow Him and Him alone,
…………………………………………Jesus! my friend!
Comments: info@webtruth.org