God’s Sanctifying Work through His Son (Hebrews 13:20-21)

"I asked the Lord that I might grow in faith and love and every grace,Might more of his salvation know, and seek more earnestly his face,I hoped that in some favored hour at once He’d answer my requestAnd, by his love’s constraining pow’r, subdue my sins and give me rest.Instead of this, He made me feel the hidden evils of my heartAnd let the angry pow’rs of hell assault my soul in every part.‘Lord, why is this,’ I trembling cried; “Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death?’’Tis in this way,’ the Lord replied, ‘I answer prayer for grace and faith.’These inward trials I employ from self and pride to set thee freeAnd break the schemes of earthly joy that thou may’st find thy all in Me.’”——John Newton