mm % tract ^° THE BENSON LIBRARY OF HYMNOLOGY Endowed by the Reverend Louis Fitzgerald Benson, d.d. I LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 5oB Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library http://archive.org/details/oldoldstoryOOhank PUBLISHED BY THE American ^ract Society, *£> 130 Nassau-street. J^Iew York. (?^f)ELL me the old, old story, w$k\ Of unseen things above— ?M^ 0f Jesus an<1 liis % lory ' A Of Jesus and Lis love ■ k c ^ Tell me the story simply, As to a little child ; For I am weak and weary, And helpless, and defiled. THE OLD, OLD STORY. Tell me the story slowly, That I may f<.']:r it in — That wonderful Redemption, God's remedy for sin ! Tell me the story often, For I forget so soon ; The "early dew'' of morning- Has passed away at noon ! Tell me the story softly, With earnest tones and grave ; Remember, I'm the sinner Whom Jesus came to save. THE STORY WANTED. Tell me the story always, If you would really be. In any time of trouble, A comforter to me. Tell me the same old story "When you have cause to fear That this world's empty glory Is costing me too dear. THE OLD. OLD STOKY, Yes, and when that world's glory Shall dawn upon my soul, Tell me the old, old story, - Christ Jesus makes thee whole !" THE STORY TOLD. 11 'Or ads me for "the sfory Of unseen things above; Of Jesus and his glory. Of Jesus and his love." 12 THE OLD, OLD STORY. You want "the old, old story," And nothing else will do ; Indeed, I cannot wonder, It always seems so new! I often wish that some one Would tell it me, each day ; I never should get tired Of what he had to say. But I am wasting moments ! Oh ! how shall I begin To tell " the old, old story," How Jesus saves from sin ? NCE in a pleasant garden God placed a happy pair; And all within was' peaceful, And all around was fair. But oli ! they disobeyed Him ; The one thing He denied They longed for, took, and tasted- They ate it, and — they died ! THE STORY TOLD. 13 ^^^^^M^ Yet, in His love and pity, At once the Lord declared. How man. though lost and ruined, Might after all d. 14 THE OLD. OLD STORY. For one of Eve's descendants, Not sinful, like the rest, Should spoil the work of Satan, And man be saved and blest ! He should be son of Adam, But Son of God as well, And bring a full salvation From sin, and death, and hell. Four thousand years were over ; Adam and Eve had died, The following generation, And manv more beside. THE STORY TOLD. IS At last some shepherds, watching Beside their flocks at night, "Were startled in the darkness By strange and heavenly light : A light of dazzling splendor, Far brighter than the snn; They knew 'twas God's own glory That round about them shone. One of the liolv angels Had come from heaven above, To tell the true, true story Of Jesus and his love. He came to bring " glad tidings:" u You need not, must not fear; For Christ, your new-born Saviour, Lies in the village near !" 16 THE OLD, OLD STORY. And many other angels Took up the story then ; " To God on high be glory, Good-will and peace to men." i t THE STORY TOLD. 17 And was it true — that story? They went at once to see, And found Him in a manger, And knew that it was He. He whom the Father promised So many ages past, Had come to save poor sinners ; Yes. He had come at last ! THE OLD, OLD STORY. ^-Sir^^ g 'T was his " delight " to do it, To seek and save the lost, Although He knew beforehand — Knew all that it would cost. He lived a life most holy ; His every thought was love, And every action showed it, To man, and God above. 1 [HE BTORI COLD. 19 His path in life was lowly ; He was a " working-man:" "Who knows the poor man's trials So well as Jesus can ? His last three years were He could no more be hid : And time and strength would fail me To t^ll the good He did. He gave away no mca For He had none to give : But he had power of healing. And made dead people live. i 20 THE OLD, OLD STORY. He did kind things so kindly, It seemed His heart's delight To make poor people happy, From morning until night. He always seemed at leisure For every one who came : However tired or busy, They found Him just " the same. He heard each tale of sorrow With an attentive ear; And took away each burden Of suffering, sin, or fear. THE STORY TOLD. He was u a nian of sorrows/' And when He gave relief. He gave it like a brother, " Acquainted with " the " grief." Such was " The Man Christ Jesus !" The friend of sinful man But hush ! the tale grows sadder : I'll tell it— if I cant 22 THE OLD, OLD STORY. This gentle, holy Jesus, Without a spot or stain, By wicked hands was taken, And crucified, and slam! Look! look! — if you can bear it — Look at your dying Lord ! Stand near the cross and view him : "Behold the Lamb of God!" His hands and feet are pierced, He cannot hide his face ; And cruel men stand gazing, In crowds, about the place. THE STORY TOLD. 23 They laugh at him and moci him ! They tell him to "come down/ 5 And leaye that cross of suffering, And change it for a crown. 24 THE OLD, OLD STORY. ' Why did lie bear their mockings ? Was he "the mighty God"? And could he have destroyed them With one almighty word ? Yes, Jesus could have done it; But let me tell you why He would not use his power, But choose to stay and die. He had become our surety ; And what we could not pay, He paid instead, and for us, On that one dreadful clay. For you and me he suffered ; 'Twas for our sins he died; And " not for oar sins only," But " all the world's " beside ! And now, the w r ork is " finished !" The sinner's debt is paid, Because on "Christ the righteous" The sin of all was laid. THE ST011Y TOLD. 25 O wonderful redemption, God's remedy for sin, The door of heaven is open, And you may enter in. For God released our " Surety/' To show the work was done ; And Jesus' resurrection Declared the victory wan I And now, he has ascended, And sits upon the throne, u To be a prince and Saviour/ And claim us for his own. 4 26 THE OLD, OLD STOEY. But when lie left his people, He promised them to send " The Comforter " to teach them, And guide them, to the end. And that same Holy Spirit Is with us to this day, And ready now to teach us The "new and living way." ^ \ ^^