John Newton:

What think you of Christ? is the test,

To try both your state and your scheme:

You cannot be right in the rest

Unless you think rightly of him.

As Jesus appears in your view,

As 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 or lost:

So guilty, so helpless am I,

I durst not confide in his blood,

Nor on his protection rely

Unless I was sure He is God.

Some call him Saviour, 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 own, they may fail)

They purpose to make up full weight

By casting his name in the scale.

Some style him the pearl of great price

And say He’s the fountain of joys,

Yet feed upon folly and vice

And cleave to the world and its toys;

Like Judas the Saviour they kiss

And while they salute him, betray;

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