The manna favored Israel’s meat,
          Was gathered day by day;

Ex 16:20

The manna favored Israel’s meat,
          Was gathered day by day;
When all the host was served, the heat
          Melted the rest away.

In vain to hoard it up they tried,
          Against tomorrow came;
It then bred worms and putrefied,
          And proved their sin and shame.

’Twas daily bread and would not keep,
          But must be still renewed;
Faith should not want a hoard or heap,
          But trust the LORD for food.

The truths by which the soul is fed,
          Must thus be had afresh;
For notions resting in the head,
          Will only feed the flesh.

However true, they have no life,
          Or unction to impart;
They breed the worms of pride and strife,
          But cannot cheer the heart.

Nor can the best experience past,
          The life of faith maintain;
The brightest hope will faint at last,
          Unless supplied again.

Dear Lord, while we in prayer are found,
          Do thou the Manna give;
O! let it fall on all around,
          That we may eat and live.

~ John Newton

Another poem by John Newton:
Manna