Immanuel

When once I mourned a load of sin; When conscience felt a wound within; When all my works were thrown away; When on my knees I knelt to pray, Then, blissful hour, remembered well, I learned Thy love, Immanuel. When storms of sorrow toss my soul; When waves of care around me roll; When comforts sink, when joys shall flee; When hopeless griefs shall gape for me, One word the tempest's rage shall quell-- That word, Thy name, Immanuel.

When for the truth I suffer shame;

When foes pour scandal on my name;

When cruel taunts and jeers abound;

When "Bulls of Bashan" gird me round,

Secure within Thy tower I'll dwell--

That tower, Thy grace, Immanuel.

When hell enraged lifts up her roar;

When Satan stops my path before;

When fiends rejoice and wait my end;

When legioned hosts their arrows send,

Fear not, my soul, but hurl at hell

Thy battle-cry, Immanuel.

When down the hill of life I go;

When o'er my feet death's waters flow;

When in the deep'ning flood I sink;

When friends stand weeping on the brink,

I'll mingle with my last farewell

Thy lovely name, Immanuel.

When tears are banished from mine eye;

When fairer worlds than these are nigh;

When heaven shall fill my ravished sight;

When I shall bathe in sweet delight,

One joy all joys shall far excel,

To see Thy face, Immanuel.

by C. H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

(written at age eighteen)

"Emmanuel, 

which being interpreted is, God with us"

(Matthew 1:23).