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Lord’s Day 8, 2009

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

Freedom

O Holy Father, thou hast freely given thy Son,
O Divine Son, thou hast freely paid my debt,
O Eternal Spirit, thou hast freely bid me come,
O Triune God, thou dost freely grace me with salvation.

Prayers and tears could not suffice to pardon
my sins,
   nor anything less than atoning blood,
   but my believing is my receiving,
   for a thankful acceptance is no paying of the debt.
What didst thou see in me?
   that I a poor, diseased, despised sinner
      should be clothed in thy bright glory?
   that a creeping worm
      should be advanced to this high state?
   that one lately groaning, weeping, dying,
      should be as full of joy as my heart can hold?
   that a being of dust and darkness
   should be taken like Mordecai from captivity,
      and set next to the king?
   should be lifted like Daniel from a den
      and be made ruler of princes and provinces?
Who can fathom immeasurable love?
As far as the rational soul exceeds the senses,
   so does the spirit exceed the rational in its
      knowledge of thee.
Thou hast given me understanding to compass
      the earth,
   measure the sun, moon, stars, universe,
   but above all to know thee, the only true God.
I marvel that the finite can know the Infinite,
   here a little, afterwards in full-orbed truth;
Now I know but a small portion of what
      I shall know,
   here in part, there in perfection,
   here a glimpse, there a glory.
To enjoy thee is life eternal,
   and to enjoy is to know
Keep me in the freedom of experiencing thy
   salvation continually.

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

Psalme 119:57–64
(Geneva Bible)
Cheth.
57 O Lord, that art my portion, I haue determined to keepe thy wordes.
58 I made my supplication in thy presence with my whole heart: be mercifull vnto me according to thy promise.
59 I haue considered my waies, and turned my feete into thy testimonies.
60 I made haste and delaied not to keepe thy commandements.
61 The bandes of the wicked haue robbed me: but I haue not forgotten thy Lawe.
62 At midnight will I rise to giue thanks vnto thee, because of thy righteous iudgements.
63 I am companion of all them that feare thee, and keepe thy precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercie: teache me thy statutes.