149    8.8.6.     J. Berridge
A Friend Closer than a Brother. Prov. 18. 24

1 There is a Friend, who sticketh fast,
  And keeps his love from first to last,
  And Jesus is his name;
  An earthly brother drops his hold,
  Is sometimes hot and sometimes cold,
  But Jesus is the same.

2 He loves his people, great and small,
  And, grasping hard, embraces all,
  Nor with a soul will part;
  No tribulations which they feel,
  No foes on earth, or fiends of hell,
  Shall tear them from his heart.

3 His love before all time began,
  And through all time it will remain,
  And evermore endure;
  Though rods and frowns are sometimes brought,
  And man may change, he changes not;
  His love abideth sure.

4 [A method strange this Friend has shown,
  Of making love divinely known
  To rebels doomed to die;
  Unasked, he takes our humblest form,
  And condescends to be a worm,
  To lift us up on high.]

5 [The law demanded blood for blood,
  And out he lets his vital flood
  To pay the mortal debt;
  He toils through life, and pants through death,
  And cries, with his expiring breath,
  “’Tis finished,” and complete!]

6 [Let all the ransomed of the Lord
  Exalt his love with one accord,
  And hallelujah sing;
  Adore the dying Friend of man,
  And bless him highly as you can;
  He is your God and King.]