A Friend Closer than a Brother. Prov. 18. 24
J. Berridge 8.8.6.
1
There is a Friend, who sticketh fast,
And keeps his love from first to last,
And Jesus is his name;
Is sometimes hot and sometimes cold,
An earthly brother drops his hold,
But Jesus is the same.
2
He loves his people, great and small,
And, grasping hard, embraces all,
Nor with a soul will part;
No tribulations which they feel,
No foes on earth, or fiends of hell,
Shall tear them from his heart.
3
His love before all time began,
And through all time it will remain,
And evermore endure;
Though rods and frowns are sometimes brought,
And man may change, he changes not;
His love abideth sure.
4
[A method strange this Friend has shown,
Of making love divinely known
To rebels doomed to die;
Unasked, he takes our humblest form,
And condescends to be a worm,
To lift us up on high.]
5
[The law demanded blood for blood,
And out he lets his vital flood
To pay the mortal debt;
He toils through life, and pants through death,
And cries, with his expiring breath,
“’Tis finished,” and complete!]
6
[Let all the ransomed of the Lord
Exalt his love with one accord,
And hallelujah sing;
Adore the dying Friend of man,
And bless him highly as you can;
He is your God and King.]
