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John Newton - The Little Book
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When the beloved disciple took
The angels` little open book,
Which by the Lord`s command he eat,
It tasted bitter after sweet. 

Thus when the gospel is embraced,
At first `tis sweeter to the taste
Than honey, or the honey-comb,
But there`s a bitterness to come. 

What sweetness does the promise yield,
When by the Spirit`s power sealed?
The longing soul is filled with good,
Nor feels a wish for other food. 

By these inviting tastes allured,
We pass to what must be endured;
For soon we find it is decreed,
That bitter must to sweet succeed. 

When sin revives and shows its pow`r.
When Satan threatens to devour,
When God afflicts and men revile,
We drag our steps with pain and toil. 

When thus deserted, tempest-tossed,
The sense of former sweetness lost;
We tremble lest we were deceived
In thinking that we once believed. 
 
The Lord first makes the sweetness known,
To win and fix us far his own;
And though we now some bitter meet,
We hope for everlasting sweet.
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