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Lord’s Day 29, 2008

I reioyced, when they sayd to me, We wil go into the house of the Lord. (Psalme 122:1 Geneva Bible)

CHRISTIAN CALLING

O Lord God,

he first act of calling is by thy command
in thy Word,
   ‘Come unto me, return unto me’;
The second is to let in light
   so that I see that I am called particularly,
   and percieve the sweetness of thy command
      as well as its truth,
   in regard to thy great love of the sinner
   by inviting him to come, though vile,
   in regard to the end of the command,
      which is fellowship with thee, in regard to thy
   promise in the gospel,
   which is all of grace.
Therefore, Lord,
   I need not search to see if I am elect, or loved
   for if I turn, thou wilt come to me;
   Christ has promised me fellowship if I take him,
   and the Spirit will pour himself out on me,
      abolishing sin and punishment,
      assuring me of strength to persevere.
It is thy pleasure to help all that pray for grace,
   and come to thee for it.
When my heart is unsavoury with sin, sorrow,
   darkness, hell,
   only thy free grace can help me act
   with deep abasement under a sense
      of unworthiness
Let me lament for fogetting daily to come to thee,
   and cleanse me from the deceit of of bringing
      my heart to a duty
   because the act pleased or appealed to reason.
Grant that I may be salted with suffering,
   with every exactment tempered to my soul,
   every rod excellently fitted to my back,
      to chastise, humble, break me.
Let me not overlook the hand that holds the rod,
   as thou didst not let me forget the rod that fell
      on Christ
      and drew me to him.

—from The Valley of Vision, Arthur Bennett, editor (Banner of Truth Trust, 2002).

salme 116
(Geneva Bible)

1 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voyce and my prayers.
2 For he hath inclined his eare vnto me, whe I did call vpon him in my dayes.
3 When the snares of death copassed me, and the griefes of the graue caught me: when I founde trouble and sorowe.
4 Then I called vpon the Name of the Lord, saying, I beseech thee, O Lord, deliuer my soule.
5 The Lord is mercifull and righteous, and our God is full of compassion.
6 The Lord preserueth the simple: I was in miserie and he saued me.
7 Returne vnto thy rest, O my soule: for the Lord hath bene beneficiall vnto thee,
8 Because thou hast deliuered my soule from death, mine eyes from teares, and my feete from falling.
9 I shall walke before the Lord in the lande of the liuing.
10 I beleeued, therefore did I speake: for I was sore troubled.
11 I said in my feare, All men are lyers.
12 What shall I render vnto the Lord for all his benefites toward me?
13 I will take the cup of saluation, and call vpon the Name of the Lord.
14 I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord, euen nowe in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saintes.
16 Beholde, Lord: for I am thy seruant, I am thy seruant, and the sonne of thine handmaide: thou hast broken my bondes.
17 I will offer to thee a sacrifice of prayse, and will call vpon the Name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vowes vnto the Lord, euen nowe in the presence of all his people,
19 In the courtes of ye Lords house, euen in the middes of thee, O Ierusalem. Praise ye the Lord.