"What Think You of Christ?" - John Newton

Check out the words of this great hymn, "What think you of Christ?" written by John Newton (1725-1807):

'What think you of Christ?' is the test to try both your state and your scheme;

You cannot be right in the rest until you think rightly of Him.

As Jesus appears in your view, and He is beloved or not,

So God is disposed to you, and mercy or wrath is your lot.

Some take Him a creature to be, a man, or an angel at most;

Sure, these have not feelings like me, nor know themselves wretched and lost:

So guilty, so helpless am I that I dare not confide in His blood,

Nor on His protection rely, unless I am sure he is God.

Some call Him a Savior, in word, but mix their own works with His plan;

And hope He His help will afford, when they have done all that they can:

If doings prove rather too light (a little, they admit, they may fail),

They purpose to make up full weight by casting Christ's name on the scale.

Some call Him the pearl of great price, and say He's the fountain of joys,

Yet feed upon folly and vice, and cling to the world and his toys;

Like Judas, the Savior they kiss, and, while they salute Him, betray;

Ah! What will profession like this avail in that terrible day?

If asked, what of Jesus I think, though still my best thoughts are but poor,

I say, He's my meat and my drink, my life, and my strength, and my store;

My Shepherd, my Husband, my Friend, my Savior from sin and the Fall,

My hope from beginning to end, my portion, my Lord, and my all.

Matthew 22:42