Zion's Bank
The following quaint verses are supposed to have been written by Roland Hill at a time when public credit in Great Britain was shaken by the failure of several banks.
I have a never-failing bank,
A more than golden store;
No earthly bank is half so rich;
How, then, can I be poor?
'Tis when my stock is spent and gone
And I without a groat,
I'm glad to hasten to my bank
And beg a little note.
Sometimes my Banker, smiling, says:
"Why don't you oftener come?
And when you draw a little note,
Why not a larger sum?
"Why live so niggardly and poor?
Your bank contains a plenty.
Why come and take a one-pound note,
When you might have a twenty?
"Yea, twenty thousand ten times told
Is but a trifling sum
To what your Father has laid up
Secure in Christ, his Son."
Since, then, my Banker is so rich,
I have no cause to borrow;
I'll live upon my cash today,
And draw again tomorrow.
I've been a thousand times before,
And never was rejected;
Sometimes my Banker gives me more
Than asked for or expected.
Sometimes I've felt a little proud
I've managed things so clever;
But ah! before the day is gone
I've felt as poor as ever.
Should all the banks in Britain break,
And that of England smash,
Bring in your notes to Zion's bank;
You'll surely have your cash.
And if you have but one small note,
Fear not to bring it in;
Come boldly to the bank of Grace;
The Banker is within.
All forged notes will be refused;
Man-merits are rejected;
There not a single note will pass
That God has not accepted.
This bank is full of precious notes,
All signed and sealed and free,
Though many a doubting soul may say,
"There is not one for me."
The leper had a little note—
"Lord, if you will you can";
The Banker cashed this little note,
And healed the sickly man.
We read of one young man, indeed,
Whose riches did abound;
But in this Banker's book of grace
This man was never found.
But see the wretched dying thief
Hang by the Banker's side;
He cried, "Dear Lord, remember me";
He got his cash and died.