Being With Jesus

Oh, for the same grace to rest upon me, as upon those faithful servants of my Lord; that, like them, I may manifest the sweet savor of Jesus’ Name, in every place; wherever I am, with whomsoever I converse, in every state, and upon every occasion, that all may witness for me, and everything bear witness to me, that I have been with Jesus! I would entreat thee, my honored Lord, that I may honor Thee so before men, that after my morning visits to Thy throne of grace, my mid-day communion, my evening and nightly fellowship, my return to the society of men might so be distinguished, as one that had just been with Jesus. And as it might be supposed, if an angel was to come from heaven that had seen Thy face, and heard Thy voice, and been an eyewitness of Thy glory; so Lord, having by faith enjoyed such views, I might delight to tell, as he would relate, to the inhabitants of the earth, the grace, and beauty, and love of Jesus.

Like Samuel Rutherford, Dr. Hawker became renowned for his relish of Christ, as this typical extract from his Evening Portion exemplifies.

And surely, Lord, if I have been with Thee, and Thou with me; if I know anything of Thy grace and salvation; will not, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speak? Shall I not delight to tell every one I meet what my Lord is in Himself, and what He is to His people? Shall I not speak with rapture of the glories of Thy person, and the infinite value and worth of Thy blood and righteousness? Surely in the circle of my acquaintance, I shall be daily speaking of Thy grace and salvation, for I know no end thereof. And especially in a day like the present, where the Name of my Lord and His cross are banished from all conversation. Oh, that it may be shewn that I have been with Jesus, in speaking for Jesus! Yes, Thou dear Lord! Thy truths I would espouse; Thy doctrines profess; salvation alone by Thy righteousness and cross would I bear before a whole world, with earnestness and with zeal; and if this brought upon me the laugh and derision, yea, the persecution of the proud, like Thy servants of old, I would rejoice in being counted worthy to suffer shame for Thy Name.

And chiefly, and above all, let it not only be noticed that I have been with Jesus, in speaking of Christ and for Christ, but let the sweet unction of Thy Holy Spirit be so abiding upon me, from continual intercourse and communion with Thee, that my whole life and conversation may be such as becometh the gospel of Christ. Oh, for the same blessed effect as Moses, whose face shone when he came down from the holy mount, that every one with whom I have to do may see the light of Thy grace, in all my transactions with the world, so shine before men, that they may glorify my Father which is in heaven! Precious Lord, grant me these unanswerable testimonies of vital godliness; then will it be proved indeed and in truth, that, like thy servants of old, I have been with Jesus.

Christ All in All

Lord, fill thy servant’s soul today
With pure seraphic fire,
And set his tongue at liberty,
And grant his soul’s desire.

Oh, may he preach the word of God
With energy and power;
May gospel bussing spread around,
Like a refreshing shower.

May God’s eternal love and grace
Be sweetly felt within;
While he is preaching Christ the Lord,
Who bore our curse and sin.

May burdened sinners lose their load,
And downcast souls rejoice;
May doubting souls believe today
They are Jehovah’s choice.

May Christ be first, and Christ belast,
And Christ be all in all,
Who died to make salvation sure,
And raise us from the fall.

Oh may thy servant now today
Proclaim salvation free.
As finished by the Son of God,
For such poor souls as we.

— Daniel Herbert

The Lord My Shepherd Is

The Lord my Shepherd is, I shall be well supplied;
Since He is mine and I am His, What can I want beside?
He leads me to the place Where heavenly pasture grows, Where living waters gently pass, And full salvation flows.
If e’er I go astray,

He doth my soul reclaim,
And guides me in His own right way,
For His most holy Name.
While He affords His aid,

I cannot yield to fear;
Though I should walk thro’death’s
dark shade,
My Shepherd’s with me there.

— Isaac Watts

Dr. Robert Hawker (1753–1827) was an experiential, Calvinist divine in the Church of England. His best known writings are: Sermons on the Divinity of Christ (London, 1792); The Poor Man’s Morning Portion (London, 1809); The Poor Man’s Commentary on the New Testament (4 vols., 1816); The Poor Man’s Evening Portion (1819); and The Poor Man’s Commentary on the Old Testament (6 vols., 1822). His Works, exclusive of the two commentaries, were edited, with a Memoir, by John Williams (10 vols., 1831).

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