Lord’s Day

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

BE STILL
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

E still, my soul; Jehovah loveth thee;
   Fret not nor murmur at thy weary lot;
Though dark and lone thy journey seems to be,
   He ever loves; then trust him, trust Him still;
Let all thy care be this, in doing his will.

Thy hand in His, like fondest, happiest child,
   Place thou, nor draw it for a moment thence;
Walk thou with Him, a Father reconciled
   Till in His own good time He call thee hence.
Walk with Him now; so shall thy way be bright,
And all thy soul be filled with His most glorious light.

Fight the good fight of faith, nor turn aside
   Though fear of peril from or earth or hell;
Take to thee now the armour proved and tried,
   Take to thee the spear and sword; oh, wield them well;
So shall thou conquer here, so win the day,
So wear the crown when this hard live has passed away.

Take courage! Faint not, though the foe be strong;
   Christ is thy strength; He fighteth on thy side.
Swift be thy face; remember, ’tis not long,
   The goal is near; the prize He will provide.
And then from earthly toil thou restest ever;
Thy home on the fair banks of life’s eternal river!

He comes with His reward; ’tis just at hand;
   He comes in glory to His promised throne.
My soul, rejoice; ere long thy feet shall stand
   Within the city of the Blessed One.
Thy perils past, thy heritage secure,
Thy tears all wiped away, thy joy for ever sure!

—Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, First Series (James Nisbet & Co., 1878).

salme 67
(Geneva Bible)
To him that excelleth on Neginoth. A Psalme or song.
1 God be mercifull vnto vs, and blesse vs, and cause his face to shine among vs. Selah.
2 That they may know thy way vpon earth, and thy sauing health among all nations.
3 Let the people prayse thee, O God: let all the people prayse thee.
4 Let the people be glad and reioyce: for thou shalt iudge the people righteously, and gouerne the nations vpon the earth. Selah.
5 Let the people prayse thee, O God: let all the people prayse thee.
6 Then shall the earth bring foorth her increase, and God, euen our God shall blesse vs.
7 God shall blesse vs, and all the endes of the earth shall feare him.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Election

Holy Trinity,

All praise to thee for electing me
to salvation,
   by foreknowledge of God the Father,
   through sanctification of the Spirit,
   unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood
      of Jesus;
I adore the wonders of thy condescending love,
   marvel at the true believer’s high privilege
   within whom all heaven comes to dwell,
   abiding in God and God in him;
I believe it, help me experience it to the full.
Continue to teach me that Christ’s righteousness
   satisfies justice and evidences thy love;
Help me to make use of it by faith as the ground
   of my peace
   and thy favour and acceptance,
   so that I may live always near the cross.

It is not feeling the Spirit that proves
   my saved state but the truth of what
   Christ did perfectly for me;
All holiness in him by faith made mine.
   as if I had done it;
Therefore I see the use of his righteousness,
   for satisfaction to divine justice and making
      me righteous.
It is not inner sensation that makes Christ’s death
      mine
   for that may be delusion, being without the Word,
   but hes death apprehended by my faith,
   and so testified by Word and Spirit.
I bless thee for these lively exercises of faith,
   for the righteousness that is mine in Jesus,
   for grace to resign my will to thee;
I rejoice to think that all things are at thy disposal,
   and I love to leave them there.
Then prayer turns wholly into praise,
   and all I can do is to adore and love thee.
I want not the favour of man to lean upon,
   for I know that thy electing grace
      is infinitely better.

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

Psalme 74
(Geneva Bible)
A Psalme to give instruction, committed to Asaph.
1 O God, why hast thou put vs away for euer? why is thy wrath kindled against the sheepe of thy pasture?
2 Thinke vpon thy Congregation, which thou hast possessed of olde, and on the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed, and on this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3 Lift vp thy strokes, that thou mayest for euer destroy euery enemie that doeth euill to the Sanctuarie.
4 Thine aduersaries roare in the middes of thy Congregation, and set vp their banners for signes.
5 He that lifted the axes vpon the thicke trees, was renowmed, as one, that brought a thing to perfection:
6 But nowe they breake downe the carued worke thereof with axes and hammers.
7 They haue cast thy Sanctuarie into the fire, and rased it to the grounde, and haue defiled the dwelling place of thy Name.
8 They saide in their hearts, Let vs destroy them altogether: they haue burnt all the Synagogues of God in the land.
9 We see not our signes: there is not one Prophet more, nor any with vs that knoweth howe long.
10 O God, howe long shall the aduersarie reproche thee? shall the enemie blaspheme thy Name for euer?
11 Why withdrawest thou thine hand, euen thy right hand? drawe it out of thy bosome, and consume them.
12 Euen God is my King of olde, working saluation in the middes of the earth.
13 Thou didest deuide the sea by thy power: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14 Thou brakest the head of Liuiathan in pieces, and gauest him to be meate for the people in wildernesse.
15 Thou brakest vp the fountaine and riuer: thou dryedst vp mightie riuers.
16 The day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sunne.
17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
18 Remember this, that the enemie hath reproched the Lord, and the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
19 Giue not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto the beast, and forget not the Congregation of thy poore for euer.
20 Consider thy couenant: for the darke places of the earth are full of the habitations of the cruell.
21 Oh let not the oppressed returne ashamed, but let the poore and needie prayse thy Name.
22 Arise, O God: mainteine thine owne cause: remember thy dayly reproche by the foolish man.
23 Forget not the voyce of thine enemies: for the tumult of them, that rise against thee, ascendeth continually.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN 20. (C. M.)
Spiritual apparel. Isa. lxi. 10.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

WAKE, my heart; arise, my tongue,
   Prepare a tuneful voice;
In God, the life of all my joys,
   Aloud will I rejoice.

’Tis he adorned my naked soul,
   And made salvation mine;
Upon a poor polluted worm
   He makes his graces shine.

And lest the shadow of a spot
   Should on my soul be found,
He took the robe the Savior wrought,
   And cast it all around.

How far the heav’nly robe exceeds
   What earthly princes wear
These ornaments, how bright they shine!
   How white the garments are!

The Spirit wrought my faith, and love,
   And hope, and every grace;
But Jesus spent his life to work
   The robe of righteousness.

Strangely, my soul, art thou arrayed
   By the great Sacred Three!
In sweetest harmony of praise
   Let all thy powers agree.

—The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures (Soli Deo Gloria, 1997).

salme 81 Geneva Bible.
To him that excelleth upon Gittith.
A Psalme committed to Asaph.
1 Sing ioyfully vnto God our strength: sing loude vnto the God of Iaakob.
2 Take the song and bring forth the timbrel, the pleasant harpe with the viole.
3 Blowe the trumpet in the newe moone, euen in the time appointed, at our feast day.
4 For this is a statute for Israel, and a Law of the God of Iaakob.
5 Hee set this in Ioseph for a testimonie, when hee came out of the land of Egypt, where I heard a language, that I vnderstoode not.
6 I haue withdrawen his shoulder from the burden, and his handes haue left the pots.
7 Thou calledst in affliction and I deliuered thee, and answered thee in the secret of the thunder: I prooued thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
8 Heare, O my people, and I wil protest vnto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken vnto me,
9 Let there bee no strange god in thee, neither worship thou any strange god.
10 For I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide and I will fill it.
11 But my people would not heare my voyce, and Israel would none of me.
12 So I gaue them vp vnto the hardnesse of their heart, and they haue walked in their owne cousels.
13 Oh that my people had hearkened vnto me, and Israel had walked in my wayes.
14 I would soone haue humbled their enemies, and turned mine hand against their aduersaries.
15 The haters of the Lord should haue bene subiect vnto him, and their time should haue endured for euer.
16 And God would haue fedde them with the fatte of wheat, and with honie out of the rocke would I haue sufficed thee.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN IX
JACOB’S Ladder Gen. xxviii. 12.
by John Newton (1725-1807)

F the Lord our leader be,
We may follow without fear;
East or West, by land or sea,
Home, with him, is ev’ry where;
When from Esau Jacob fled,
Tho’ his pillow was a stone,
And the ground his humble bed,
Yet he was not left alone.

Kings are often waking kept,
Rack’d with cares on beds of state;
Never king like Jacob slept.
For he lay at heaven’s gate:
Lo! he saw a ladder rear’d,
Reaching to the heav’nly throne;
At the top the Lord appear’d,
Spake and claimed him for his own.

“Fear not, Jacob, thou art mine,
And my presence with thee goes;
On thy heart my love shall shine,
And my arm subdue thy foes:
From my promise comfort take;
For my help in trouble call;
Never will I thee forsake,
’Till I have accomplish’d all.”

Well does Jacob’s ladder suit
To the gospel throne of grace;
We are at the ladder’s foot,
Ev’ry hour, in ev’ry place
By affirming flesh and blood,
Jesus heav’n and earth unites;
We by faith ascend to God,
God to dwell with us delights.

They who know the Savior’s name,
Are for all events prepar’d
What can changes do to them,
Who have such a Guide and Guard?
Should they traverse earth around,
To the ladder still they come;
Ev’ry spot is holy ground,
God is there—and he’s their home.

—from Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

salme 88 (Geneva Bible) A song or Psalme of Heman the Ezrahite to give instruction, committed to the sonnes of Korah for him that excelleth upon Malath Leannoth.
1 O Lord God of my saluation, I cry day and night before thee.
2 Let my prayer enter into thy presence: incline thine eare vnto my cry.
3 For my soule is filled with euils, and my life draweth neere to the graue.
4 I am counted among them that go downe vnto the pit, and am as a man without strength:
5 Free among the dead, like the slaine lying in the graue, whome thou remembrest no more, and they are cut off from thine hand.
6 Thou hast layde me in the lowest pit, in darkenes, and in the deepe.
7 Thine indignation lyeth vpon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy waues. Selah.
8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance farre from me, and made mee to be abhorred of them: I am shut vp, and cannot get foorth.
9 Mine eye is sorowfull through mine affliction: Lord, I call dayly vpon thee: I stretch out mine hands vnto thee.
10 Wilt thou shewe a miracle to the dead? or shall the dead rise and prayse thee? Selah.
11 Shall thy louing kindenes be declared in the graue? or thy faithfulnes in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonderous workes be knowen in the darke? and thy righteousnes in the land of obliuion?
13 But vnto thee haue I cryed, O Lord, and early shall my prayer come before thee.
14 Lord, why doest thou reiect my soule, and hidest thy face from me?
15 I am afflicted and at the point of death: from my youth I suffer thy terrours, doubting of my life.
16 Thine indignations goe ouer me, and thy feare hath cut me off.
17 They came round about me dayly like water, and compassed me together.
18 My louers and friends hast thou put away from me, and mine acquaintance hid themselues.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

PETITIONARY HYMNS
POEM VII. In Sickness
Augustus Toplady (1740–1778)

esus, since I with thee am one,    Confirm my soul in thee, And still continue to tread down    The man of sin in me.

Let not the subtle foe prevail
   In this my feeble hour,
Frustrate all the hopes of hell
   Redeem from Satan’s pow’r.

Arm me, O Lord, from head to foot,
   With righteousness divine;
My soul in Jesus firmly root,
   And seal the Saviour mine.

Proportion’d to my pains below,
   O let my joys increase,
And mercy to my spirit flow
   In healing streams of peace.

In life and death be thou my God,
   And I am more than safe:
Chastis’d by thy paternal rod,
   Support me with thy staff.

Lay on me, Saviour, what thou wilt,
   But give me strength to bear:
Thy gracious hand this cross hath dealt,
   Which cannot be severe.

As gold refin’d may I come out,
   In sorrow’s furnace try’d;
Preserved from faithfulness and doubt,
   And fully purify’d.

When, overwhelm’d with sore distress,
   Out of the pit I cry,
On Jesus suffering in my place
   Help me to fix mine eye.

When marr’d with tears, and blood, and sweat,
   The glorious sufferer lay,
And in my stead sustain’d the heat
   And burden of the day.

The pangs which my weak nature knows
   Are swallow’d up in thine:
How numberless thy pondrous woes!
   How few, how light are mine!

O might I learn of thee to bear
   Temptation, pain and loss!
Give me a heart inur’d to prayer,
   And fitted to the cross.

Make me, O Lord, thy patient son;
   Thy language mine shall be:
“Father, thy gracious will be done,
   I take the cup from thee.”

While thus my soul is fixt on him
   Once fasten’d to the wood,
Safe shall I pass through Jordan’s stream,
   And reach the realms of God.

And when my soul mounts up to keep
   With thee the marriage feast,
I shall not die, but fall asleep
   On my Redeemer’s breast.

—The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady (Sprinkle Publications, 1987).

salme 95
(Geneva Bible)

1 Come, let vs reioyce vnto the Lord: let vs sing aloude vnto the rocke of our saluation.
2 Let vs come before his face with praise: let vs sing loude vnto him with Psalmes.
3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King aboue all gods.
4 In whose hande are the deepe places of the earth, and the heightes of the mountaines are his:
5 To whome the Sea belongeth: for hee made it, and his handes formed the dry land.
6 Come, let vs worship and fall downe, and kneele before the Lord our maker.
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheepe of his hande: to day, if ye will heare his voyce,
8 Harden not your heart, as in Meribah, and as in the day of Massah in the wildernesse.
9 Where your fathers tempted me, proued me, though they had seene my worke.
10 Fourtie yeeres haue I contended with this generation, and said, They are a people that erre in heart, for they haue not knowen my wayes.
11 Wherefore I sware in my wrath, saying, Surely they shall not enter into my rest.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Law and Gospel
Samuel Davies (1723–1761)

ith conscious fear and humble awe,
I view the terrors of the law;
Condemned at that tremendous bar
I shrink, I tremble, and despair.

But hark, salvation in my ears,
Sounds sweetly and dispels my fears;
Jesus appears, and by His cross,
Fulfills His Father’s broken laws.

Jesus, Saviour! Dearest name!
By Him alone salvation came;
Terror, destruction, and despair,
Where e’er I look besides appear.

Adam, my head and father fell,
and sunk his offspring down to hell;
And the dread sword of justice waits,
To guard me from the heavenly gates.

Unnumbered crimes of dreadful names
Call loud for everlasting flames;
And all the duties I have done,
Can neither merit, nor atone.

Yet weak and guilty as I am,
I fix my trust in Jesus name.
Jesus, whose righteousness alone
Can for the deepest crimes atone.

On Him, my soul, on Him rely;
The terms are fixed—Believe or die.
Thee let the glorious gospel draw,
Or perish by the fiery law.

—from Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

salme 102 (Geneva Bible)
A prayer of the afflicted, when he shall be in distresse, and pour forth his meditation before the Lord.
1 O Lord, heare my prayer, and let my crye come vnto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble: incline thine eares vnto me: when I call, make haste to heare me.
3 For my dayes are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burnt like an herthe.
4 Mine heart is smitten and withereth like grasse, because I forgate to eate my bread.
5 For the voyce of my groning my bones doe cleaue to my skinne.
6 I am like a pelicane of the wildernesse: I am like an owle of the deserts.
7 I watch and am as a sparrowe alone vpon the house top.
8 Mine enemies reuile me dayly, and they that rage against me, haue sworne against me.
9 Surely I haue eaten asshes as bread, and mingled my drinke with weeping,
10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast heaued me vp, and cast me downe.
11 My dayes are like a shadowe that fadeth, and I am withered like grasse.
12 But thou, O Lord, doest remaine for euer, and thy remembrance from generation to generation.
13 Thou wilt arise and haue mercy vpon Zion: for the time to haue mercie thereon, for the appointed time is come.
14 For thy seruants delite in the stones thereof, and haue pitie on the dust thereof.
15 Then the heathen shall feare the Name of the Lord, and all the Kings of the earth thy glory,
16 When the Lord shall build vp Zion, and shall appeare in his glory,
17 And shall turne vnto the prayer of the desolate, and not despise their prayer.
18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people, which shalbe created, shall prayse the Lord.
19 For he hath looked downe from the height of his Sanctuarie: out of the heauen did the Lord beholde the earth,
20 That he might heare the mourning of the prisoner, and deliuer the children of death:
21 That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Zion, and his prayse in Ierusalem,
22 When the people shalbe gathered together, and the kingdomes to serue the Lord.
23 He abated my strength in the way, and shortened my dayes.
24 And I sayd, O my God, take me not away in the middes of my dayes: thy yeeres endure from generation to generation.
25 Thou hast aforetime layde the foundation of the earth, and the heauens are the worke of thine hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: euen they all shall waxe olde as doeth a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
27 But thou art the same, and thy yeeres shall not fayle.
28 The children of thy seruants shall continue, and their seede shall stand fast in thy sight.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

LET US DRAW NEAR
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

WHY stand I lingering about,
In fear, and weariness, and doubt,
   When all is light within?
Thou, the new and living way,
The trembler’s Guide, the sinner's Stay,
   My High Priest, lead me in!

I know the mercy-seat is there,
On which thou sitt’st to answer prayer;
   I know the blood is shed;
The everlasting covenant sealed,
The everlasting grace revealed,
   And life has reached the dead!

Not the mere Paradise below;
The heaven of heavens is opened now,
   And we its bliss regain.
Guarded so long by fire and sword,
The gate stands wide, the way restored,
   The veil is rent in twain!

Without the cloud and gloom appear,
The peril and the storm are near,
   The foe is raging round;
Then let me boldly enter in,
There end my danger, fear, and sin,
   And rest on holy ground.

—Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, First Series (James Nisbet & Co., 1878).

Psalme 109
(Geneva Bible)
To him that excelleth. A Psalme of David.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN 21. (C. M.)
A vision of the kingdom of Christ among men. Rev. xxi. 1–4.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

LO! what a glorious sight appears
   To our believing eyes!
The earth and sea are passed away,
   And the old rolling skies.

From the third heav’n, where God resides,
   That holy, happy place,
The new Jerusalem comes down,
   Adorned with shining grace.

Attending angels shout for joy,
   And the bright armies sing—
“Mortals, behold the sacred seat
   Of your descending King.

“The God of glory down to men
   Removes his blest abode;
Men, the dear objects of his grace,
   And he the loving God.

“His own soft hand shall wipe the tears
   From every weeping eye,
And pains, and groans, and griefs, and fears,
   And death itself, shall die.”

How long, dear Savior! O how long
   Shall this bright hour delay?
Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time,
   And bring the welcome day.

—from The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures (Soli Deo Gloria, 1997).

Psalme 123
Geneva Bible.
A song of degrees.
1 I lift vp mine eyes to thee, that dwellest in the heauens.
2 Behold, as the eyes of seruants looke vnto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a mayden vnto the hand of her mistres: so our eyes waite vpon the Lord our God vntil he haue mercie vpon vs.
3 Haue mercie vpon vs, O Lord, haue mercie vpon vs: for we haue suffered too much contempt.
4 Our soule is filled too full of ye mocking of the wealthy, and of the despitefulnes of the proude.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN X
My name is JACOB. Gen. xxxii. 27.
by John Newton (1725-1807)

AY, I cannot let Thee go,
Till a blessing thou bestow;
Do not turn away thy face,
Mine’s an urgent pressing case.

Dost thou ask me, who I am?
Ah, my Lord, thou know’st my name!
Yet the question gives a plea,
To support my suit with thee.

Thou didst once a wretch behold,
In rebellion blindly bold;
Scorn thy grace, thy pow’r defy,
That poor rebel, Lord, was I.

Once a sinner near despair,
Sought thy mercy–seat by prayer;
Mercy heard and set him free,
Lord, that mercy came to me.

Many years have pass’d since then,
Many changes I have seen;
Yet have been upheld till now,
Who could hold me up but thou?

Thou hast help’d in every need,
This emboldens me to plead;
After so much mercy past,
Canst thou let me sink at last?

No—I must maintain my hold,
’Tis thy goodness makes me bold;
I can no denial take,
When I plead for Jesu’s sake.

—from Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

salme 130
(Geneva Bible)
A song of degrees.
1 Out of the deepe places haue I called vnto thee, O Lord.
2 Lord, heare my voyce: let thine eares attend to the voyce of my prayers.
3 If thou, O Lord, straightly markest iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
4 But mercie is with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
5 I haue waited on the Lord: my soule hath waited, and I haue trusted in his worde.
6 My soule waiteth on the Lord more then the morning watch watcheth for the morning.
7 Let Israel waite on the Lord: for with the Lord is mercie, and with him is great redemption.
8 And he shall redeeme Israel from all his iniquities.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

PETITIONARY HYMNS
POEM VIII. John xiv. 17. He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Augustus Toplady (1740–1778)

Savior, I thy word believe,
   My unbelief remove;
Now thy quick’ning Spirit give,
   The unction from above;
Shew me, Lord, how good thou art,
   My soul with all thy fulness fill:
Send the witness in my heart
   The Holy Ghost reveal.

Dead in sin ’till then I lie,
   Bereft of power to rise;
Till thy Spirit inwardly
   Thy saving blood applies:
Now the mighty gift impart,
   My sin erase, my pardon seal:
Send the witness, in my heart
   The Holy Ghost reveal.

Blessed Comforter, come down,
   And live and move in me;
Make my every deed thy own,
   In all things led by thee:
Bid my every lust depart,
   And with me O vouchsafe to dwell;
Faithful witness, in my heart
   Thy perfect light reveal.

Let me in thy love rejoice,
   Thy shrine, thy pure abode;
Tell me, by thine inward voice,
   That I’m a child of God:
Lord, I choose the better part,
   Jesus, I wait thy peace to feel;
Send the witness in my heart
   The Holy Ghost reveal.

Whom the world cannot receive,
   O manifest in me:
Son of God, I cease to live,
   Unless I live in thee
Now impute thy whole desert,
   Restore the joy from which I fell:
Breathe the witness, in my heart
   The Holy Ghost reveal.

—The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady (Sprinkle Publications, 1987).

Psalme 137
(Geneva Bible)

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

The Glorious Gospel of the Blessed God
by Samuel Stennett (1727–1795)

hat wisdom, majesty, and grace,
Through all the gospel shine!
’Tis God that speaks, and we confess
The doctrine most divine.

Down from His starry throne on high,
The almighty Savior comes;
Lays His bright robes of glory by,
and feeble flesh assumes.

The mighty debt that sinners owed,
Upon the cross He pays;
Then through the clouds ascends to God,
’Mid shouts of loftiest praise.

There He, our great High Priest, appears
before His Father’s throne;
Mingles His merits with our tears,
And pours salvation down.

Great God, with reverence we adore
Thy justice and Thy grace;
And on Thy faithfulness and pow’r
Our firm dependence place.

—from Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

salme 144
(Geneva Bible)
A Psalme of David.
1 Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth mine hands to fight, and my fingers to battell.
2 He is my goodnes and my fortresse, my towre and my deliuerer, my shield, and in him I trust, which subdueth my people vnder me.
3 Lord, what is man that thou regardest him! or the sonne of man that thou thinkest vpon him!
4 Man is like to vanitie: his dayes are like a shadow, that vanisheth.
5 Bow thine heauens, O Lord, and come downe: touch the mountaines and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth the lightning and scatter them: shoote out thine arrowes, and consume them.
7 Send thine hand from aboue: deliuer me, and take me out of the great waters, and from the hand of strangers,
8 Whose mouth talketh vanitie, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 I wil sing a new song vnto thee, O God, and sing vnto thee vpon a viole, and an instrument of ten strings.
10 It is he that giueth deliuerance vnto Kings, and rescueth Dauid his seruant from the hurtfull sworde.
11 Rescue me, and deliuer me from the hand of strangers, whose mouth talketh vanitie, and their right hand is a right hand of falshood:
12 That our sonnes may be as the plantes growing vp in their youth, and our daughters as the corner stones, grauen after the similitude of a palace:
13 That our corners may be full, and abounding with diuers sorts, and that our sheepe may bring forth thousands and ten thousand in our streetes:
14 That our oxen may be strong to labour: that there be none inuasion, nor going out, nor no crying in our streetes.
15 Blessed are the people, that be so, yea, blessed are the people, whose God is the Lord.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

WHO ARE THESE, AND WHENCE CAME THEY?
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

“Et de Hierosolymis et de Britannia aequaliter patet aula coelestis.”—Jerome. Ep. ad Paulinum.

Not from Jerusalem alone,
   To heaven the path ascends;
      As near, as sure, as straight the way
      That leads to the celestial day,
   From farthest realms extends;
Frigid or torrid zone.

What matters how or whence we start?
   One is the crown to all;
      One is the hard but glorious race,
      Whatever be our starting-place;—
   Kings round the earth the call
That says, Arise, Depart!

From the balm-breathing, sun-loved isles
   Of the bright Southern Sea,
      From the dead North‘s cloud-shadow‘d pole,
      We gather to one gladsome goal,—
   One common home in Thee,
City of sun and smiles!

The cold rough billow hinders none;
   Nor helps the calm, fair main;
      The brown rock of Norwegian gloom,
      The verdure of Tahitian bloom,
   The sands of Mizraim‘s plain,
Or peaks of Lebanon.

As from the green lands of the vine,
   So from the snow-wastes pale,
      We find the ever open road
      To the dear city of our God;
   From Russian steppe, or Burman vale,
Or terraced Palestine.

Not from swift Jordan‘s sacred stream
   Alone we mount above;
      Indus or Danube, Thames or Rhone,
      Rivers unsainted and unknown;—
   From each the home of love
Beckons with heavenly gleam.

Not from gray Olivet alone
   We see the gates of light;
      From Morven‘s heath or Jungfrau‘s snow
      We welcome the descending glow
   Of pearl and chrysolite,
And the unsetting sun.

Not from Jerusalem alone
   The Church ascends to God;
      Strangers of every tongue and clime,
      Pilgrims of every land and time,
   Throng the well-trodden road
That leads up to the throne.

—Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, First Series (James Nisbet & Co., 1878).

Psalme 122
(Geneva Bible)
A song of degrees, or Psalme of David.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Assurance

Almighty God,

I am loved with everlasting love,
clothed in eternal righteousness,
         my peace flowing like a river,
         my comforts many and large,
         my joy and triumph unutterable,
         my soul lively with a knowledge of salvation,
         my sense of justification unclouded.
I have scarce anything to pray for;
Jesus smiles upon my soul as a ray of heaven
   and my supplications are swallowed up in praise.
How sweet is the glorious doctrine of election
   when based upon thy Word
   and wrought inwardly within the soul!
I bless thee that thou wilt keep the sinner
      thou hast loved,
   and hast engaged that he will not forsake thee,
   else I would never get to heaven.
I wrong the grace in my heart
   if I deny my new nature and my eternal life.
If Jesus were not my righteousness and redemption,
   I would sink into nethermost hell
   by my misdoings, shortcomings, unbelief, unlove;
If Jesus were not by the the power of his spirit
   my sanctification,
   there is no sin I should not commit.
O when shall I have his mind!
   when shall I be conformed to his image?
All the good things of life are less than nothing
   when compared with his love,
   and with one glimpse of thy electing favor.
All the treasures of a million worlds could not
   make me richer, happier, more contented,
   for his unsearchable riches are mine.
One moment of communion with him, one view
   of his grace,
   is ineffable, inestimable.
But O God, I could not long after thy presence
   if I did not know the sweetness of it;
   and such I could not know except by the Spirit
   in my heart, nor love thee at all unless thou didst
   elect me,
   call me,
   adopt me,
   save me.
I bless thee for the covenant of grace.

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

Psalme 129
(Geneva Bible)
A song of degrees.
1 They haue often times afflicted me from my youth (may Israel nowe say)
2 They haue often times afflicted me from my youth: but they could not preuaile against me.
3 The plowers plowed vpon my backe, and made long furrowes.
4 But the righteous Lord hath cut the cordes of the wicked.
5 They that hate Zion, shalbe all ashamed and turned backward.
6 They shalbe as the grasse on the house tops, which withereth afore it commeth forth.
7 Whereof the mower filleth not his hand, neither the glainer his lap:
8 Neither they, which go by, say, The blessing of the Lord be vpon you, or, We blesse you in the Name of the Lord.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN 22 Part 1. (L. M.)
Christ the eternal life. Rom. ix. 5.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

JESUS, our Savior and our God,
Array’d in majesty and blood,
Thou art our life; our souls in thee
Possess a full felicity.

All our immortal hopes are laid
In thee, our surety and our head;
Thy cross, thy cradle, and thy throne,
Are big with glories yet unknown.

Let atheists scoff, and Jews blaspheme
Th’ eternal life and Jesus’ name;
A word of thy almighty breath
Dooms the rebellious world to death.

But let my soul for ever lie
Beneath the blessings of thine eye;
’Tis heav’n on earth, ’tis heav’n above,
To see thy face and taste thy love.

—from The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures (Soli Deo Gloria, 1997).

Psalme 150
(Geneva Bible)
1 Praise ye the Lord, because he is good: for his mercie endureth for euer.
2 Praise ye the God of gods: for his mercie endureth for euer.
3 Praise ye the Lord of Lords: for his mercie endureth for euer:
4 Which onely doeth great wonders: for his mercie endureth for euer:
5 Which by his wisedome made the heauens: for his mercie endureth for euer:
6 Which hath stretched out the earth vpon the waters: for his mercie endureth for euer:
7 Which made great lightes: for his mercie endureth for euer: 8 As the sunne to rule the day: for his mercie endureth for euer:
9 The moone and the starres to gouerne the night: for his mercie endureth for euer:
10 Which smote Egypt with their first borne, (for his mercie endureth for euer)
11 And brought out Israel from among them (for his mercie endureth for euer)
12 With a mightie hande and stretched out arme: for his mercie endureth for euer:
13 Which deuided the red Sea in two partes: for his mercie endureth for euer:
14 And made Israel to passe through the mids of it: for his mercie endureth for euer:
15 And ouerthrewe Pharaoh and his hoste in the red Sea: for his mercie endureth for euer:
16 Which led his people through the wildernes: for his mercie endureth for euer:
17 Which smote great Kings: for his mercie endureth for euer:
18 And slewe mightie Kings: for his mercie endureth for euer:
19 As Sihon King of the Amorites: for his mercie endureth for euer:
20 And Og the King of Bashan: for his mercie endureth for euer:
21 And gaue their land for an heritage: for his mercie endureth for euer:
22 Euen an heritage vnto Israel his seruant: for his mercie endureth for euer:
23 Which remembred vs in our base estate: for his mercie endureth for euer:
24 And hath rescued vs from our oppressours: for his mercie endureth for euer:
25 Which giueth foode to all flesh: for his mercie endureth for euer.
26 Praise ye the God of heauen: for his mercie endureth for euer.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN XI
Plenty in a time of dearth. Gen. xli. 56.
by John Newton (1725-1807)

Y soul once had its plenteous years,
And throve, with peace and comfort fill’d,
Like the fat kine and ripen’d ears,
Which Pharaoh in his dream beheld.

With pleasing frames and grace receiv’d,
With means and ordinances fed;
How happy for a while I liv’d,
And little fear’d the want of bread.

But famine came and left no sign,
Of all the plenty I had seen;
Like the dry ears and half–starv’d kine,
I then looked wither’d, faint and lean.

To Joseph the Egyptians went,
To Jesus I made known my case;
He, when my little stock was spent,
Opened his magazine of grace.

For he the time of dearth foresaw,
And made provision long before;
That famish’d souls, like me, might draw
Supplies from his unbounded store.

Now on his bounty I depend,
And live from fear of dearth secure,
Maintain’d by such a mighty friend,
I cannot want till he is poor.

O sinners hear his gracious call!
His mercy’s door stands open wide,
He has enough to feed you all,
And none who come shall be denied.

—from Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

salme 143
(Geneva Bible)
A Psalme of David.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and hearken vnto my supplication: answere me in thy trueth and in thy righteousnes.
2 (And enter not into iudgement with thy seruant: for in thy sight shall none that liueth, be iustified)
3 For the enemie hath persecuted my soule: he hath smitten my life downe to the earth: he hath layde me in the darkenes, as they that haue bene dead long agoe:
4 And my spirit was in perplexitie in me, and mine heart within me was amased.
5 Yet doe I remember the time past: I meditate in all thy workes, yea, I doe meditate in the workes of thine hands.
6 I stretch forth mine hands vnto thee: my soule desireth after thee, as the thirstie land. Selah.
7 Heare me speedily, O Lord, for my spirit fayleth: hide not thy face from me, els I shall be like vnto them that go downe into the pit.
8 Let me heare thy louing kindenes in the morning, for in thee is my trust: shewe mee the way, that I should walke in, for I lift vp my soule vnto thee.
9 Deliuer me, O Lord, from mine enemies: for I hid me with thee.
10 Teach me to doe thy will, for thou art my God: let thy good Spirit leade me vnto the land of righteousnes.
11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Names sake, and for thy righteousnesse bring my soule out of trouble.
12 And for thy mercy slay mine enemies, and destroy all them that oppresse my soule: for I am thy seruant.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

PETITIONARY HYMNS
POEM IX. On War
Augustus Toplady (1740–1778)

Great God, whom heav’n, and earth, and sea
With all their countless hosts, obey,
Upheld by whom the nations stand,
And empires fall at thy command:

Beneath thy long suspended ire
Let papal Antichrist expire;
Thy knowledge spread from sea to sea,
’Till every nation bows to thee.

Then shew thyself the prince of peace,
Make every hostile efforts cease:
All with thy sacred love inspire,
And burn their chariots in the fire.

In sunder break each warlike spear;
Let all the Saviour’s liv’ry wear;
The universal Sabbath prove,
The utmost rest of Christian love!

The world shall then no discord know,
But hand in hand to Canaan go,
Jesus, the peaceful king, adore,
And learn the art of war no more.

—The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady (Sprinkle Publications, 1987).

Psalme 150
(Geneva Bible)

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

A Song of Praise for Deliverance
by John Mason (1645–1694)

that I am drawn out of the depth,
Will sing upon the shore;
I that in hill’s dark suburbs lay,
Pure mercy will adore.
The terrors of the living God
My soul did so affright,
I feared lest I should be condemned
To an eternal night.

Kind was the pity of my friends,
But could not ease my smart;
Their words, indeed, did reach my case,
But could not reach my heart.
Ah, then, what was this world to me,
To whom God’s Word was dark;
Who in my dungeon could not see
One beam or shining spark?

What, then, were all the creatures’ smiles,
When the Creator frowned?
My days were nights, my life was death,
My being was my wound.
Tortured and racked with hellish fears,
When God the blow should give;
Mine eyes did fail, my heart did sink;
Then mercy bid me live.

God’s furnace doth in Zion stand,
But Zion’s God sits by;
As the refiner views his gold
With an observant eye,
God’s thoughts are high, His love is wise,
His wounds a cure intend;
And though He doth not always smile,
He loves unto the end.

Thy love is constant to its line,
Though clouds oft come between;
Oh, could my faith but pierce these clouds,
It might be always seen.
But I am weak, and forced to cry,
Take up my soul to Thee;
Then, as Thou ever art the same,
So shall I ever be.

Then shall I ever, ever sing,
While Thou dost ever shine;
I have Thine own dear pledge for this,
Lord Thou art ever mine.

—Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

salme 7
(Geneva Bible) Shigaion of Dauid, which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the wordes of Chush the sonne of Iemini.
1 O Lord my God, in thee I put my trust: saue me from all that persecute me, and deliuer me,
2 Least he deuoure my soule like a lion, and teare it in pieces, while there is none to helpe.
3 O Lord my God, if I haue done this thing, if there be any wickednes in mine handes,
4 If I haue rewarded euill vnto him that had peace with mee, (yea I haue deliuered him that vexed me without cause)
5 Then let the enemie persecute my soule and take it: yea, let him treade my life downe vpon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
6 Arise, O Lord, in thy wrath, and lift vp thy selfe against the rage of mine enemies, and awake for mee according to the iudgement that thou hast appointed.
7 So shall the Congregation of the people compasse thee about: for their sakes therefore returne on hie.
8 The Lord shall iudge the people: Iudge thou me, O Lord, according to my righteousnesse, and according to mine innocencie, that is in mee.
9 Oh let the malice of the wicked come to an ende: but guide thou the iust: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reines.
10 My defence is in God, who preserueth the vpright in heart.
11 God iudgeth the righteous, and him that contemneth God euery day.
12 Except he turne, he hath whet his sword: he hath bent his bowe and made it readie.
13 Hee hath also prepared him deadly weapons: hee will ordeine his arrowes for them that persecute me.
14 Beholde, hee shall trauaile with wickednes: for he hath conceiued mischiefe, but he shall bring foorth a lye.
15 Hee hath made a pitte and digged it, and is fallen into the pit that he made.
16 His mischiefe shall returne vpon his owne head, and his crueltie shall fall vpon his owne pate.
17 I wil praise the Lord according to his righteousnes, and will sing praise to the Name of the Lord most high.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

PRAISE
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

Praises to Him who built the hills;
Praises to Him the streams who fills;
Praises to Him who lights each star
That sparkles in the blue afar!

Praises to Him who wakes the morn,
And bids it glow with beams new-born;
Who draws the shadows of the night,
Like curtains, o’er our wearied sight!

Praises to Him whose love has given,
In Christ His Son, the life of heaven;
Who for our darkness gives us light,
And turns to day the deepest night!

Praises to Him, in grace who came
To bear our woe, and sin, and shame;
Who lived to die, who died to rise,
The God-accepted sacrifice!

Praises to Him the chain who broke,
Opened the prison, burst the yoke,
Sent forth its captives, glad and free,
Heirs of the endless liberty!

Praises to Him who shed abroad
Within our hearts the love of God;
The Spirit of all truth and peace,
Fountain of joy and holiness!

To Father, Son and Spirit now
The hands we lift, the knees we bow;
To Jah-Jehovah thus we raise
The sinner’s endless song of endless praise!

—Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, First Series (James Nisbet & Co., 1878).

Psalme 14
(Geneva Bible)
To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid.

1 The foole hath said in his heart, There is no God: they haue corrupted, and done an abominable worke: there is none that doeth good. 2 The Lord looked downe from heauen vpon the children of men, to see if there were any that would vnderstand, and seeke God. 3 All are gone out of the way: they are all corrupt: there is none that doeth good, no not one. 4 Doe not all the workers of iniquitie know that they eate vp my people, as they eate bread? they call not vpon the Lord. 5 There they shall be taken with feare, because God is in the generation of the iust. 6 You haue made a mocke at the counsell of the poore, because the Lord is his trust. 7 Oh giue saluation vnto Israel out of Zion: when the Lord turneth the captiuitie of his people, then Iaakob shall reioyce, and Israel shall be glad.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

A Convert’s First Prayer

My Father,

I could never have sought my happiness
in thy love,
   unless thou had’st first loved me.
Thy Spirit has encouraged me by grace to seek thee,
   has made known to me thy reconciliation in Jesus,
   has taught me to believe it,
   has helped me to take thee for my God
      and portion.
May he grant me to grow in the knowledge
      and experience of thy love,
   and walk in it all the way to glory.
Blessed for ever be thy fatherly affection,
   which chose me to be one of thy children
   by faith in Jesus:
I thank thee for giving me the desire to live as such.
In Jesus, my brother, I have my new birth,
      every restraining power,
      every renewing grace.
It is by thy Spirit I call thee Father,
      believe in thee, love thee;
Strengthen me inwardly for every purpose
      of my Christian life;
Let the Spirit continually reveal to me my interest
      in Christ,
      and open to me the riches of thy love in him;
May he abide in me that I may know my union
      with Jesus,
      and enter into constant fellowship with him;
By thy Spirit may I daily live to thee,
      rejoice in thy love,
      find it the same to me as to thy Son,
      and become rooted and grounded in it
         as a house on rock;
I know but little —
      increase my knowledge of thy love in Jesus,
      keep me pressing forward for clearer discoveries
         of it,
      so that I may find its eternal fullness;
Magnify thy love to me according to its greatness,
      and not according to my deserts or prayers,
      and whatever increase thou givest,
      let it draw out greater love to thee.

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

Psalme 21
(Geneva Bible)
To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid.
1 The King shall reioyce in thy strength, O Lord: yea how greatly shall he reioyce in thy saluation!
2 Thou hast giuen him his hearts desire, and hast not denyed him the request of his lips. Selah.
3 For thou diddest preuent him with liberall blessings, and didest set a crowne of pure gold vpon his head.
4 He asked life of thee, and thou gauest him a long life for euer and euer.
5 His glory is great in thy saluation: dignitie and honour hast thou laid vpon him.
6 For thou hast set him as blessings for euer: thou hast made him glad with the ioy of thy countenance.
7 Because the King trusteth in the Lord, and in the mercie of the most High, he shall not slide.
8 Thine hand shall finde out all thine enemies, and thy right hand shall finde out them that hate thee.
9 Thou shalt make them like a fierie ouen in time of thine anger: the Lord shall destroy them in his wrath, and the fire shall deuoure them.
10 Their fruite shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seede from the children of men.
11 For they intended euill against thee, and imagined mischiefe, but they shall not preuaile.
12 Therefore shalt thou put them aparte, and the strings of thy bowe shalt thou make readie against their faces.
13 Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thy strength: so will we sing and prayse thy power.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN 22 Part 2. (C. M.)
Flesh and spirit. Rom. xiii. 1.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

WHAT vain desires and passions vain
Attend this mortal clay!
Oft have they pierced my soul with pain,
And drawn my heart astray.

How have I wander‘d from my God!
And, following sin and shame,
In this vile world of flesh and blood
Defiled my nobler frame!

For ever blessed be thy grace
That form‘d my soul anew,
And made it of a heav‘n-born race,
Thy glory to pursue.

My spirit holds perpetual war,
And wrestles and complains;
But views the happy moment near
That shall dissolve its chains.

Cheerful in death I close my eyes
To part with ev‘ry lust;
And charge my flesh, whene‘er it rise,
To leave them in the dust.

My purer spirit shall not fear
To put this body on;
Its tempting powers no more are there,
Its lusts and passions gone!

—from The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures

Psalme 28
Geneva Bible.
A Psalme of David.
1 Unto thee, O Lord, doe I crie: O my strength, be not deafe toward mee, lest, if thou answere me not, I be like them that goe downe into the pit.
2 Heare the voyce of my petitions, when I crie vnto thee, when I holde vp mine handes towarde thine holy Oracle.
3 Drawe mee not away with the wicked, and with the woorkers of iniquitie: which speake friendly to their neighbours, when malice is in their hearts.
4 Reward them according to their deedes, and according to the wickednes of their inuentions: recompense them after the woorke of their handes: render them their reward.
5 For they regarde not the woorkes of the Lord, nor the operation of his handes: therefore breake them downe, and builde them not vp.
6 Praised be the Lord, for he hath heard the voyce of my petitions.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shielde: mine heart trusted in him, and I was helped: therfore mine heart shall reioyce, and with my song will I praise him.
8 The Lord is their strength, and he is the strength of the deliuerances of his anointed.
9 Saue thy people, and blesse thine inheritance: feede them also, and exalt them for euer.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN XII
Joseph made known to his Brethren. Gen. xlv. 3, 4.
by John Newton (1725-1807)

hen Joseph his brethren beheld,
Afflicted and trembling with fear;
His heart with compassion was filled,
From weeping he could not forbear.
Awhile his behavior was rough,
To bring their past sin to their mind;
But when they were humbled enough,
He hasted to show himself kind.

How little they thought it was he,
Whom they had ill treated and sold!
How great their confusion must be,
As soon as his name he had told!
“I am Joseph, your brother, he said,
And still to my heart you are dear,
You sold me, and thought I was dead,
But God, for your sakes, sent me here.”

Though greatly distressed before,
When charged with purloining the cup;
They now were confounded much more,
Not one of them durst to look up.
“Can Joseph, whom we would have slain.
Forgive us the evil we did?
And will he our households maintain?
O this is a brother indeed!”

Thus dragged by my conscience, I came,
And laden with guilt, to the Lord;
Surrounded with terror and shame,
Unable to utter a word.
At first he looked stern and revere,
What anguish then pierced my heart!
Expecting each moment to hear
The sentence, “Thou cursed, depart!”

But O! what surprise when he spoke,
While tenderness beamed in his face;
My heart then to pieces was broke,
O’erwhelmed and confounded by grace:
“Poor sinner, I know thee full well,
By thee I was sold and was slain;
But I died to redeem thee from hell,
And raise thee in glory to reign.

I am Jesus, whom thou hast blasphemed,
And crucified often afresh;
But let me henceforth be esteemed,
Thy brother, thy bone, and thy flesh:
My pardon I freely bestow,
Thy wants I will fully supply;
I’ll guide thee and guard thee below,
And soon will remove thee on high.

Go, publish to sinners around,
That they may be willing to come,
The mercy which now you have found,
And tell them that yet there is room.”
O, sinners, the message obey!
No more vain excuses pretend;
But come, without farther delay,
To Jesus our brother and friend.

—from Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

salme 35
(Geneva Bible)
A Psalme of Dauid.
1 Pleade thou my cause, O Lord, with them that striue with me: fight thou against them, that fight against me.
2 Lay hand vpon the shielde and buckler, and stand vp for mine helpe.
3 Bring out also the speare and stop the way against them, that persecute me: say vnto my soule, I am thy saluation.
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seeke after my soule: let them be turned backe, and brought to confusion, that imagine mine hurt.
5 Let them be as chaffe before the winde, and let the Angel of the Lord scatter them.
6 Let their way be darke and slipperie: and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them.
7 For without cause they haue hid the pit and their net for me: without cause haue they digged a pit for my soule.
8 Let destruction come vpon him at vnwares, and let his net, that he hath laid priuilie, take him: let him fall into the same destruction.
9 Then my soule shalbe ioyfull in the Lord: it shall reioyce in his saluation.
10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like vnto thee, which deliuerest the poore from him, that is too strong for him! yea, the poore and him that is in miserie, from him that spoyleth him!
11 Cruell witnesses did rise vp: they asked of me things that I knewe not.
12 They rewarded me euill for good, to haue spoyled my soule.
13 Yet I, when they were sicke, I was clothed with a sacke: I humbled my soule with fasting: and my praier was turned vpon my bosome.
14 I behaued my selfe as to my friend, or as to my brother: I humbled my selfe, mourning as one that bewaileth his mother.
15 But in mine aduersitie they reioyced, and gathered them selues together: the abiects assembled themselues against me, and knewe not: they tare me and ceased not,
16 With the false skoffers at bankets, gnashing their teeth against me.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou beholde this? deliuer my soule from their tumult, euen my desolate soule from the lions.
18 So will I giue thee thankes in a great Congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
19 Let not them that are mine enemies, vniustly reioyce ouer mee, neyther let them winke with the eye, that hate mee without a cause.
20 For they speake not as friendes: but they imagine deceitfull woordes against the quiet of the lande.
21 And they gaped on mee with their mouthes, saying, Aha, aha, our eye hath seene.
22 Thou hast seene it, O Lord: keepe not silence: be not farre from me, O Lord.
23 Arise and wake to my iudgement, euen to my cause, my God, and my Lord.
24 Iudge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousnesse, and let them not reioyce ouer mee.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, O our soule reioyce: neither let them say, We haue deuoured him.
26 Let them bee confounded, and put to shame together, that reioyce at mine hurt: let them bee clothed with confusion and shame, that lift vp themselues against me.
27 But let them be ioyful and glad, that loue my righteousnesse: yea, let them say alway, Let the Lord be magnified, which loueth the prosperitie of his seruant.
28 And my tongue shall vtter thy righteousnesse, and thy praise euery day.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

PETITIONARY HYMNS
POEM X. Desiring to be given up to God
Augustus Toplady (1740–1778)

O that my heart was right with thee,
And lov’d thee with a perfect love!
O that my Lord would dwell in me,
And never from his seat remove!
Jesus, remove th’ impending load,
And set my soul on fire for God!

Thou seest I dwell in awful night
Until thou in my heart appear;
Kindle the flame, O Lord, and light
Thine everlasting candle there:
Thy presence puts the shadows by;
If thou art gone, how dark am I!

Ah! Lord, how should thy servant see,
Unless thou give me seeing eyes?
Well may I fall, if out of thee;
If out of thee, how should I rise?
I wander, Lord, without thy aid,
And lose my way in midnight’s shade.

Thy bright, unerring light afford,
A light that gives the sinner hope;
And from the house of bondage, Lord,
O bring the weary captive up,
Thine hand alone can set me free
And reach my pardon out to me.

O let my prayer acceptance find,
And bring the mighty blessing down;
With eye-salve, Lord, anoint the blind,
And seal me thine adopted son:
A fallen, helpless creature take,
And heir of thy salvation make.

—The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady (Sprinkle Publications, 1987).

Psalme 42 (Geneva Bible)
To him that excelleth. A Psalme to give instruction, committed to the sonnes of Korah.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

God Saying to the Soul, that He is its Salvation
by Philip Doddridge (1702–1751)

alvation, oh, melodious sound,
 To wretched dying men;
Salvation, that from God proceeds,
And leads to God again.

Rescued from hell’s eternal gloom,
From fiends, and fires, and chains;
Raised to the paradise of bliss,
Where love and glory reigns.

But, oh, may a degenerate soul,
Sinful and weak as mine,
Presume to raise a trembling eye
To blessing so divine?

The luster of so bright a bliss
My feeble heart o’er bears;
And unbelief almost perverts
The promise into tears.

My Savior God, no voice but Thine,
These dying hopes can raise;
Speak Thy salvation so my soul,
And turn its tears to praise.

My Savior God, this broken voice,
Transported shall proclaim;
And call on the angelic harps,
To sound so sweet a name.

—Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

salme 49
(Geneva Bible) To him that excelleth.
A Psalme committed to the sonnes of Korah.
1 Heare this, all ye people: giue eare, all ye that dwell in the world,
2 As well lowe as hie, both rich and poore.
3 My mouth shall speake of wisdome, and the meditation of mine heart is of knowledge.
4 I will incline mine eare to a parable, and vtter my graue matter vpon the harpe.
5 Wherefore should I feare in the euil dayes, when iniquitie shall compasse me about, as at mine heeles?
6 They trust in their goods, and boast them selues in the multitude of their riches.
7 Yet a man can by no meanes redeeme his brother: he can not giue his raunsome to God,
8 (So precious is the redemption of their soules, and the continuance for euer)
9 That he may liue still for euer, and not see the graue.
10 For he seeth that wise men die, and also that the ignorant and foolish perish, and leaue their riches for others.
11 Yet they thinke, their houses, and their habitations shall continue for euer, euen from generation to generation, and call their lands by their names.
12 But man shall not continue in honour: he is like the beastes that die.
13 This their way vttereth their foolishnes: yet their posteritie delite in their talke. Selah.
14 Like sheepe they lie in graue: death deuoureth them, and the righteous shall haue domination ouer them in the morning: for their beautie shall consume, when they shall goe from their house to graue.
15 But God shall deliuer my soule from the power of the graue: for he will receiue me. Selah.
16 Be not thou afrayd when one is made rich, and when the glory of his house is increased.
17 For he shall take nothing away when he dieth, neither shall his pompe descende after him.
18 For while he liued, he reioyced himselfe: and men will prayse thee, when thou makest much of thy selfe.
19 He shall enter into the generation of his fathers, and they shall not liue for euer.
20 Man is in honour, and vnderstandeth not: he is like to beasts that perish.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

PRAISE TO CHRIST
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

Jesus, the Christ of God,
   The Father’s blessed Son,
The Father’s bosom Thine abode,
   The Father’s love Thine own.

Jesus, the Lamb of God,
   Who us from hell to raise,
Hast shed Thy reconciling blood;
   We give Thee endless praise.

God, and yet man, Thou art,
   True God, true man art Thou;
Of man, and of man’s earth a part,
   One with us Thou art now.

Great sacrifice for sin,
   Giver of life for life,
Restorer of the peace within,
   True ender of the strife.

To Thee, the Christ of God,
   Thy saints exulting sing,
The bearer of our heavy load,
   Our own anointed King!

True lover of the lost,
   From heaven Thou camest down,
To pay for souls the righteous cost,
   And claim them for Thine own.

Rest of the weary, Thou!
   To Thee, our rest, we come;
In Thee to find our dwelling now,
   Our everlasting home.

—Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, First Series (James Nisbet & Co., 1878).

Psalme 56 (Geneva Bible) To him that excelleth. A Psalme of David on Michtam, concerning the dumme doue in a farre countrey, when the Philistims tooke him in Gath.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

The Life Look

O God,

I bless thee for the happy moment
when I first saw thy love fulfilled in Christ;
   wrath appeased, death destroyed, sin forgiven,
      my soul saved.
Ever since, thou hast been faithful to me:
   daily have I proved the power of Jesus‘ blood,
   daily have I known the strength on the Spirit,
      my teacher, director, sanctifier.
I want no other rock to build upon than that I have,
   desire no other hope than that of gospel truth,
   need no other look than that which gazes
      on the cross.
Forgive me if I have tried to add anything
      to the one foundation,
   if I have unconsciously relied upon my knowledge,
   experience, deeds, and not seen them
      as filthy rags,
   if I have attempted to complete what is perfect
      in Christ;
May my cry be always, Only Jesus! only Jesus!
In him is freedom from condemnation,
   fullness in his righteousness,
   eternal vitality in his given life,
   indissoluble union in fellowship with him;
In him I have all that I can hold;
   enlarge me to take in more.
If I backslide,
   let me like Peter weep bitterly and return to him;
If I am tempted, and have no wit,
   give me strength enough to trust in him;
If I am weak,
   may I faint upon his bosom of eternal love;
If in extrremity,
   let me feel that he can deliver me;
If driven to the verge of hope and to the pit
      of despair,
   grant me grace to fall into his arms.
O God, hear me, do for me more
   than I ask, think or dream.

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

Psalme 63
(Geneva Bible)
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN 23 Part 1. (L. M.)
Absent from the body, and present with the Lord. 2 Cor. v. 8.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

ABSENT from flesh! O blissful thought!
What unknown joys this moment brings!
Freed from the mischiefs sin has brought,
From pains, and fears, and all their springs.

Absent from flesh! illustrious day!
Surprising scene! triumphant stroke
That rends the prison of my clay;
And I can feel my fetters broke.

Absent from flesh! then rise, my soul,
Where feet nor wings could never climb,
Beyond the heav’ns, where planets roll,
Measuring the cares and joys of time.

I go where God and glory shine,
His presence makes eternal day:
My all that’s mortal I resign,
For angels wait and point my way.

—from The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures

Psalme 70
Geneva Bible.
To him excelleth. A Psalme of David to put in remembrance.
1 O God, haste thee to deliuer mee: make haste to helpe me, O Lord.
2 Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seeke my soule: let them bee turned backewarde and put to rebuke, that desire mine hurt.
3 Let them be turned backe for a rewarde of their shame, which said, Aha, aha.
4 But let all those that seeke thee, be ioyfull and glad in thee, and let all that loue thy saluation, say alwaies, God be praised.
5 Nowe I am poore and needie: O God, make haste to me: thou art mine helper, and my deliuerer: O Lord, make no tarying.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN XIII
The Bitter waters. Ex. xv. 23—25.
by John Newton (1725-1807)

ITTER, indeed, the waters are.
   Which in this desart flow;
Though to the eye they promise fair,
   They taste of sin and woe.

Of pleasing draughts I once could dream,
   But now, awake, l find,
That sin has poison’d ev’ry stream,
   And left a curse behind.

But there’s a wonder-working wood,
   I’ve heard believers say,
Can make these bitter waters good,
   And take the curse away.

The virtues of this healing tree
   Are known and priz’d by few;
Reveal this secret, Lord, to me,
   That I may prize it too.

The cross on which the Savior died,
   And conquer’d for his saints;
This is the tree, by faith apply’d,
   Which sweetens all complaints.

Thousands have found the bless’d effect,
   Nor longer mourn their lot;
While on his sorrows they reflect,
   Their own are all forgot.

When they, by faith, behold the cross,
   Tho many griefs they meet;
They draw again from ev’ry loss,
   And find the bitter sweet.

—from Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

salme 70
(Geneva Bible) For the excellent musician Ieduthun.
A Psalme committed to Asaph.
1 My voyce came to God, when I cryed: my voyce came to God, and he heard me.
2 In the day of my trouble I sought ye Lord: my sore ranne and ceased not in the night: my soule refused comfort.
3 I did thinke vpon God, and was troubled: I praied, and my spirit was full of anguish. Selah.
4 Thou keepest mine eyes waking: I was astonied and could not speake.
5 Then I considered the daies of olde, and the yeeres of ancient time.
6 I called to remembrance my song in the night: I communed with mine owne heart, and my spirit searched diligently.
7 Will the Lord absent him selfe for euer? and will he shewe no more fauour?
8 Is his mercie cleane gone for euer? doeth his promise faile for euermore?
9 Hath God forgotten to be mercifull? hath he shut vp his teder mercies in displeasure? Selah.
10 And I sayde, This is my death: yet I remembred the yeeres of the right hand of the most High.
11 I remembred the workes of the Lord: certainely I remembred thy wonders of olde.
12 I did also meditate all thy woorkes, and did deuise of thine actes, saying,
13 Thy way, O God, is in the Sanctuarie: who is so great a God as our God!
14 Thou art ye God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy power among the people.
15 Thou hast redeemed thy people with thine arme, euen the sonnes of Iaakob and Ioseph. Selah.
16 The waters sawe thee, O God: the waters sawe thee, and were afraide: yea, the depths trembled.
17 The cloudes powred out water: the heauens gaue a sounde: yea, thine arrowes went abroade.
18 The voyce of thy thunder was rounde about: the lightnings lightened the worlde: the earth trembled and shooke.
19 Thy way is in the Sea, and thy paths in the great waters, and thy footesteps are not knowen.
20 Thou diddest leade thy people like sheepe by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

PETITIONARY HYMNS
POEM XI. Matt. viii. 25. Lord, save us, we perish.
Augustus Toplady (1740–1778)

Pilot of the soul, awake,
Save us for thy mercies’ sake;
Now rebuke the angry deep,
Save, O save thy sinking ship!

Stand at the helm, our vessel steer,
Mighty on our side appear
Saviour, teach us to descry
Where the rocks and quicksands lie.

The waves shall impotently roll,
If thou ’rt the anchor of the soul:
At thy word the wind shall cease,
Storms be hush’d to perfect peace.

Be thou our haven of retreat,
A rock to fix our wav’ring feet,
Teach us to own thy sovereign sway,
Whom the winds and seas obey.

—The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady (Sprinkle Publications, 1987).

Psalme 84 (Geneva Bible)
To him that excelleth upon Gittith.
A Psalme committed to the sonnes of Korah.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN 19. (C. M.)
The song of Simeon; or, Death made desirable. Luke ii. 27, &c.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

LORD, at thy temple we appear,
   As happy Simeon came,
And hope to meet our Savior here;
   O make our joys the same!

With what divine and vast delight
   The good old man was filled,
When fondly in his withered arms
   He clasped the holy child!

“Now I can leave this world,” he cried,
   “Behold, thy servant dies;
I've seen thy great salvation, Lord,
   And close my peaceful eyes.

“This is the light prepared to shine
   Upon the Gentile lands,
Thine Isr’el’s glory, and their hope
   To break their slavish bands.”

[Jesus! the vision of thy face
   Hath overpowering charms;
Scarce shall I feel death’s cold embrace,
   If Christ be in my arms.

Then while ye hear my heart-strings break,
   How sweet my minutes roll!
A mortal paleness on my cheek,
   And glory in my soul.]

—The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures (Soli Deo Gloria, 1997).

Psalme 91
Geneva Bible.
1 Who so dwelleth in the secrete of the most High, shall abide in the shadowe of the Almightie.
2 I will say vnto the Lord, O mine hope, and my fortresse: he is my God, in him will I trust.
3 Surely he will deliuer thee from the snare of the hunter, and from the noysome pestilence.
4 Hee will couer thee vnder his winges, and thou shalt be sure vnder his feathers: his trueth shall be thy shielde and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraide of the feare of the night, nor of the arrowe that flyeth by day:
6 Nor of the pestilence that walketh in the darkenesse: nor of the plague that destroyeth at noone day.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and tenne thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come neere thee.
8 Doubtlesse with thine eyes shalt thou beholde and see the reward of the wicked.
9 For thou hast said, The Lord is mine hope: thou hast set the most High for thy refuge.
10 There shall none euill come vnto thee, neither shall any plague come neere thy tabernacle.
11 For hee shall giue his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes.
12 They shall beare thee in their handes, that thou hurt not thy foote against a stone.
13 Thou shalt walke vpon the lyon and aspe: the yong lyon and the dragon shalt thou treade vnder feete.
14 Because he hath loued me, therefore will I deliuer him: I will exalt him because hee hath knowen my Name.
15 He shall call vpon me, and I wil heare him: I will be with him in trouble: I will deliuer him, and glorifie him.
16 With long life wil I satisfie him, and shew him my saluation.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Cords of Love
by Ralph Erskine (1685–1752)

Seek God while yet He may be found,
Call on Him while He’s near;
While graces trump, the joyful sound
Of mercy strikes your ear.

Oh, let the wicked change his way,
And the unrighteous man,
His thoughts, and legal hopes, that stray,
Cross to the gospel plan.

And let him now return to God,
The Lord our righteousness;
Who, through the merit of His blood,
In mercy will him bless.

To our God let him run betimes,
For gracious will He be;
And for his multitude of crimes
Will pardons multiply.

Let, saith the Lord, My boundless grace
Move guilty souls to come,
And trust Me with their desp’rate case
When hopeless thoughts do roam.

Because My thoughts and ways divine
Are not as yours; for why?
All yours are base and low, but Mine
Immensely great and high.

For as the heav’ns, in height and space,
Transcend your earthly boors;
Much more My thoughts and ways of grace
Surmount all thoughts of yours.

Great God, then bid the mountains move;
Our sins that reach the sky,
Be melted down with flames of love,
More infinitely high.

—Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

Psalme 98
Geneva Bible
A Psalme.
1 Sing vnto the Lord a newe song: for hee hath done marueilous things: his right hand, and his holy arme haue gotten him the victorie.
2 The Lord declared his saluation: his righteousnes hath he reueiled in the sight of ye nations.
3 He hath remembred his mercy and his trueth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth haue seene the saluation of our God.
4 All the earth, sing ye loude vnto the Lord: crie out and reioyce, and sing prayses.
5 Sing prayse to the Lord vpon the harpe, euen vpon the harpe with a singing voyce.
6 With shalmes and sound of trumpets sing loude before the Lord the King.
7 Let the sea roare, and all that therein is, the world, and they that dwell therein. 8 Let the floods clap their hands, and let the mountaines reioyce together
9 Before the Lord: for he is come to iudge the earth: with righteousnesse shall hee iudge the world, and the people with equitie.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

THE CROSS AND THE CROWN
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

NO blood, no altar now:
   The sacrifice is o‘er;
   No flame, no smoke, ascends on high;
      The Lamb is slain no more!
But richer blood has flowed from nobler veins,
To purge the soul from guilt, and cleanse the
         reddest stains.

   We thank Thee for the blood,
      The blood of Christ, Thy Son;
   The blood by which our peace is made,
      Our victory is won;
Great victory o’er hell, and sin, and woe,
That needs no second fight, and leaves no
         second foe.

   We thank Thee for the grace
      Descending from above,
   That overflows our widest guilt,
      The eternal Father’s love:
Love of the Father’s everlasting Son,
Love of the Holy Ghost, Jehovah, three in
         One.

   We thank Thee for the hope,
      So glad, and sure, and clear;
   It holds the drooping spirit up
      Till the long dawn appear:
Fair hope! with what a sunshine does it cheer
Our roughest path on earth, our dreariest desert
         here!

   We thank Thee for the crown
      Of glory and of life;
   ’Tis no poor with’ring wreath of earth,
      Man’s prize in mortal strife:
’Tis incorruptible as is the throne,
The kingdom of our God and his Incarnate
         Son.

—Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, First Series (James Nisbet & Co., 1878).

Psalme 119:1–8
(Geneva Bible)
Aleph.
1 Blessed are those that are vpright in their way, and walke in the Lawe of the Lord.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Victory

O Divine Redeemer,

Great was thy goodness
in undertaking my redemption,
         in consenting to be made sin for me,
         in conquering all my foes;
Great was thy strength
   in enduring the extremities of divine wrath
   in taking away the load of my iniquities
Great was thy love
   in manifesting thyself alive,
   in showing thy sacred wounds,
      that every fear might vanish,
      and every doubt be removed;
Great was thy mercy
   in ascending to heaven
   in being crowned and enthroned
      there to intercede for me,
      there to succour me in temptation,
      there to open the eternal book,
      there to receive me finally to thyself;
Great was thy wisdom
   in devising this means of salvation;
Bathe my soul in rich consolations
   of thy resurrection life;
Great was thy grace
   in commanding me to come hand in hand
      with thee to the Father,
      to be knit to him eternally,
      to discover in him my rest,
      to find in him my peace,
      to behold his glory,
      to honor him who is alone worthy;
   in giving me the Spirit as teacher, guide,
      power,
   that I may live repenting of sin,
   conquer Satan,
   find victory in life.
When thou art absent all sorrows are here,
When thou art present all blessings are mine.

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

Psalme 119:9–16
(Geneva Bible)
Beth.
9 Wherewith shall a yong man redresse his waie? in taking heede thereto according to thy woorde.
10 With my whole heart haue I sought thee: let me not wander from thy commandements.
11 I haue hid thy promise in mine heart, that I might not sinne against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teache mee thy statutes.
13 With my lippes haue I declared all the iudgements of thy mouth.
14 I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and consider thy waies.
16 I will delite in thy statutes, and I will not forget thy worde.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN 23 Part 2. (L. M.)
A hopeful youth falling short of heaven. Mark x. 21.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

MUST all the charms of nature, then,
So hopeless to salvation prove?
Can hell demand, can heav’n condemn,
The man whom Jesus deigns to love?

The man who sought the ways of truth,
Paid friends and neighbors all their due;
A modest, sober, lovely youth,
And thought he wanted nothing new.

But mark the change; thus spake the Lord—
“Come, part with earth for heav’n today:”
The youth, astonished at the word,
In silent sadness went his way.

Poor virtues that he boasted so,
This test unable to endure;
Let Christ, and grace, and glory go,
To make his land and money sure!

Ah, foolish choice of treasures here!
Ah, fatal love of tempting gold!
Must this base world be bought so dear?
Are life and heav’n so cheaply sold?

In vain the charms of nature shine,
If this vile passion govern me:
Transform my soul, O love divine!
And make me part with all for thee.

—from The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures

Psalme 119:17–24
(Geneva Bible)
Gimmel.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN XIV
JEHOVAH–ROPHI, I am the Lord that healeth thee. Ex. xv.
by William Cowper (1731–1800)

HEAL us, Emmanuel, here we are,
   Waiting to feel thy touch;
Deep wounded souls to thee repair,
   And, Savior we are such.

Our faith is feeble we confess,
   We faintly trust thy word;
But wilt thou pity us the less?
   Be that far from thee, Lord!

Remember him who once apply’d
   With trembling for relief;
“Lord, I believe, with tears he cry’d,
   help my unbelief.”

She too, who touch’d thee in the press,
   And healing virtue stole;
Was answer’d, “Daughter, go in peace,
   Thy faith hath made thee whole.”

Conceal’d amid the gath’ring throng,
   She would have shunn’d thy view;
And if her faith was firm and strong,
   Had strong misgivings too.

Like her, with hopes and fears, we come,
   To touch thee if we may;
O! send us not despairing home,
   Send none unheal’d away.

—from Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

Psalme 119:25–32
(Geneva Bible)
Daleth.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

PETITIONARY HYMNS
POEM XII. O that my ways were made so direct, &c.
Augustus Toplady (1740–1778)

O that my ways were made so strait,
   And that the lamp of faith
Would, as a star, direct my feet
   Within the narrow path!

O that thy strength might enter now,
   And in my heart abide,
To make me as a faithful bow
   That never starts aside!

O that I all to Christ were given,
   (From sin and earth set free)
Who kindly laid aside his heaven,
   And gave himself for me!

Not more the panting hart desires
   The cool, refreshing stream
Than my dry, thirsty soul aspires
   At being one with him.

Set up thine image in my heart;
   Thy temple let us be,
Bid every idol now depart
   That fain would rival thee.

Still keep me In the heavenly path
   Bestow the inward light;
And lead me by the hand till faith
   Is ripened into sight.

—The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady (Sprinkle Publications, 1987).

Psalme 119:33–40
(Geneva Bible)
He.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

The Free Gospel
by Ralph Erskine (1685–1752)

Ho, every thirsty soul and all
That poor and needy are;
Here’s water of salvation well
For you to come and share.

Here’s freedom both from sin and woe,
And blessings all divine;
Here streams of love and mercy flow,
Like floods of milk and wine.

Approach the fountainhead of bliss,
That’s open like the sea,
To buyers that are moneyless,
To poorest beggars free.

Why spend you all your wealth and pains,
For that which is not bread,
And for unsatisfying gains,
On which no soul can feed?

While vain ye seek, with earthly toys,
To fill an empty mind,
You lose immortal solid joys,
And feed upon the wind.

Incline your heart, and come to me;
Hear, and your soul shall live;
For mercies sure, as well as free,
I bind myself to give.

—Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

Psalme 119:41–48
(Geneva Bible)
Vav.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lorde Jesus Christ.

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

THE END OF THE DAY
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

COME, for thy day, thy wasted day, is closing,
   With all its joy and sun;
Bright, loving hours have passed thee by unheeded;
   Thy work on earth undone,
   And all thy race unrun.

Folly and pleasure hast thou still been chasing,
   With the world’s giddy throng,
Beauty and love have been thy golden idols;
   And thou hast rushed along,
   Still list’ning to their song.

Sorrow and weeping thou hast cast behind thee,
   For what were tears to thee?
Life was not life without the smile and sunshine;
   Only in revelry
   Did wisdom seem to be.

Unclasp, O man, the syren hand of pleasure,
   Let the gay folly go!
A few quick years will bring the unwelcome ending;
   Then whither dost thou go,
   To endless joy or woe?

Clasp a far truer hand, a kinder, stronger,
   Of Him the crucified;
Let in a deeper love into thy spirit,
   The love of Him who died,
   And now is glorified!

—Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, First Series (James Nisbet & Co., 1878).

Psalme 119:49–56
(Geneva Bible)
Zain.
49 Remember the promise made to thy seruant, wherein thou hast caused me to trust.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lorde Jesus Christ.

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.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN 24 (L. M.)
The rich sinner dying. Psa. xlix. 6, 9; Eccl. viii. 8; Job iii. 14, 15.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

In vain the wealthy mortals toil,
And heap their shining dust in vain,
Look down and scorn the humble poor,
And boast their lofty hills of gain.

Their golden cordials cannot ease
Their pained hearts or aching heads,
Nor fright nor bribe approaching death
From glitt’ring roofs and downy beds.

The ling’ring, the unwilling soul
The dismal summons must obey,
And bid a long, a sad farewell
To the pale lump of lifeless clay.

Thence they are huddled to the grave,
Where kings and slaves have equal thrones;
Their bones without distinction lie
Amongst the heap of meaner bones.

—from The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures

Psalme 119:65–72
(Geneva Bible)
Teth.
65 O Lord, thou hast delt graciously with thy seruant according vnto thy woorde.
66 Teach me good iudgement and knowledge: for I haue beleeued thy commandements.
67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but nowe I keepe thy woorde.
68 Thou art good and gracious: teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud haue imagined a lie against me: but I wil keepe thy precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is fatte as grease: but my delite is in thy Lawe.
71 It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted, that I may learne thy statutes.
72 The Lawe of thy mouth is better vnto me, then thousands of golde and siluer.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN XV
MANNA. Ex. xvi. 18.
by John Newton (1725–1807)

Manna to Israel well supply’d
   The want of other bread;
While God is able to provide,
   His people shall be fed.

(Thus though the corn and wine should fail,
   And creature-streams be dry;
The prayer of faith will still prevail,
   For blessings from on high.)

Of his kind care how sweet a proof!
   It suit’d every taste;
Who gather’d most, had just enough,
   Enough, who gather’d least.

’Tis thus our gracious Lord provides
   Our comforts and our cares;
His own unerring hand provides,
   And gives us each our shares.

He knows how much the weak can bear,
   And helps them when they cry;
The strongest have no strength to spare,
   For such he’ll strongly try.

Daily they saw the Manna come,
   And cover all the ground;
But what they try’d to keep at home,
   Corrupt’d soon was found.

Vain their attempt to store it up,
   This was to tempt the Lord;
Israel must live by faith and hope,
   And not upon a hoard.

—from Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

Psalme 119:73–80
(Geneva Bible)
Iod.
73 Thine hands haue made me and fashioned me: giue mee vnderstanding therefore, that I may learne thy commandements.
74 So they that feare thee, seeing mee shall reioyce, because I haue trusted in thy worde.
75 I knowe, O Lord, that thy iudgements are right, and that thou hast afflicted me iustly.
76 I pray thee that thy mercie may comfort me according to thy promise vnto thy seruant.
77 Let thy tender mercies come vnto me, that I may liue: for thy Lawe is my delite.
78 Let the proude be ashamed: for they haue dealt wickedly and falsely with me: but I meditate in thy precepts.
79 Let such as feare thee turne vnto me, and they that knowe thy testimonies.
80 Let mine heart bee vpright in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

PETITIONARY HYMNS
POEM XIII.
Augustus Toplady (1740–1778)

Father, to thee In Christ I fly,
What tho’ my sins of crimson dye
   For thy resentment call?
My crimes he did on Calv’ry bear,
The blood that flow’d for sinners there
   Shall cleanse me from them all.

Spirit divine, thy pow’r bring in,
O raise me from this depth of sin,
   Take off my guilty load:
Now let me live through Jesu’s death,
And being justified by faith,
   May I have peace with God!

Foul as I am, deserving hell,
Thou cans’t not from thy throne repel
   A soul that leans on God:
My sins at thy command shall be
Cast as a stone into the sea—
   The sea of Jesu’s blood.

—The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady (Sprinkle Publications, 1987).

Psalme 119:81–88
(Geneva Bible)
Caph.
81 My soule fainteth for thy saluation: yet I waite for thy worde.
82 Mine eyes faile for thy promise, saying, when wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am like a bottell in the smoke: yet doe I not forget thy statutes.
84 Howe many are the dayes of thy seruant? When wilt thou execute iudgement on them that persecute me?
85 The proude haue digged pittes for mee, which is not after thy Lawe.
86 All thy commandements are true: they persecute me falsely: helpe me.
87 They had almost consumed me vpon the earth: but I forsooke not thy precepts.
88 Quicken me according to thy louing kindnes: so shall I keepe the testimony of thy mouth.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

The Fountain
(The Invitation of the Gospel)
Samuel Davies (1723–1761)

Today the living streams of grace
Flow to refresh the thirsty soul;
Pardon and life and boundless bliss
In plenteous rivers round us roll.

Ho, ye that pine away and die,
Come, and your raging thirst allay;
Come all that will, here’s rich supply,
A fountain that shall ne’er decay.

“Come all,” the blessed Jesus cries,
“Freely My blessing I will give.”
The spirit echoes back the voice,
And bids us freely drink and live.

The saints below, that do but taste,
And saints above, who drink at will,
Cry jointly, “Thirsty sinners! haste,
and drink, the spring’s exhaustless still.”

Let all that hear the joyful sound,
To spread it though the world unite;
From house to house proclaim it round,
Each man his fellow man invite.

Like thirsty flocks, come let us go;
Come ever color, every age;
And while the living waters flow,
Let all their parching thirst assuage.

—Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

Psalme 119:89–96
(Geneva Bible)
Lamed.
89 O Lord, thy worde endureth for euer in heauen.
90 Thy trueth is from generation to generation: thou hast layed the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
91 They continue euen to this day by thine ordinances: for all are thy seruants.
92 Except thy Lawe had bene my delite, I should now haue perished in mine affliction.
93 I wil neuer forget thy precepts: for by them thou hast quickened me.
94 I am thine, saue me: for I haue sought thy precepts.
95 The wicked haue waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
96 I haue seene an ende of all perfection: but thy commandement is exceeding large.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lorde Jesus Christ.

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

CONFESSION
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

O this soul, how dark and blind!
O this foolish, earthly mind;
This ever froward, selfish will,
Which refuses to be still!

O these ever roaming eyes,
Upward that refuse to rise;
These still wayward feet of mine,
Found in every path but thine!

O these pulses felt within,
Beating for the world and sin,
Sending round the fevered blood,
In a fierce and carnal flood!

O this stubborn, prayerless knee,
Hands so seldom clasped to Thee,
Longings of the soul, that go,
Like the wild wind, to and fro;

To and fro without an aim,
Returning idly whence they came,
Bringing in no joy, no bliss,
Adding to my weariness!

Giver of the heavenly peace,
Bid, O bid, these tumults cease;
Minister Thy holy balm,
Fill me with Thy Spirits calm!

Thou the life, the truth, the way,
Leave me not in sin to stray;
Bearer of the sinners guilt,
Lead me, lead me, as thou wilt!

—Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, First Series (James Nisbet & Co., 1878).

Psalme 119:97–104
(Geneva Bible)
Mem.
97 Oh howe loue I thy Lawe! it is my meditation continually.
98 By thy commandements thou hast made mee wiser then mine enemies: for they are euer with mee.
99 I haue had more vnderstading then all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I vnderstoode more then the ancient, because I kept thy precepts.
101 I haue refrained my feete from euery euil way, that I might keepe thy word.
102 I haue not declined from thy iudgements: for thou didest teach me.
103 Howe sweete are thy promises vnto my mouth! yea, more then hony vnto my mouth.
104 By thy precepts I haue gotten vnderstanding: therefore I hate all the wayes of falshoode.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lorde Jesus Christ.

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

Belonging to Jesus

O Heavenly Father.

Teach me to see
that if Christ has pacified thee and
            satisfied divine justice
      he can also deliver me from my sins;
   that Christ does not desire me, now justified,
      to live in self-confidence in my own strength,
      but gives me the law of the spirit of life
      to enable me to obey thee;
   that the spirit and his power are mine
      by resting on Christ’s death;
   that the spirit of life within answers to
      the law without;
   that if I sin not I should thank thee for it;
   that if I sin I should be humbled daily under it;
   that I should mourn for sin more than other
         men do,
      for when I see I shall die because of sin,
         that makes me mourn;
      when I see that sin caused Christ’s death,
         that makes me mourn;
   that sanctification is the evidence of reconciliation,
      proving that faith has truly apprehended Christ;
Thou hast taught me
   that faith is nothing else than receiving thy
      kindness;
   that it is an adherence to Christ, a resting on him,
      love clinging to him as a branch to a tree,
      to seek life and vigor to him.
I thank thee for showing me the vast difference
   between knowing things by reason,
   and knowing them by the spirit of faith.
By reason I see a thing is so;
   by faith I know it is as it is.
I have seen thee by reason and have not
   been amazed,
I have seen thee as thou art in thy Son and have
   been ravished to behold thee.
I bless thee that I am thine in my Savior,
   Jesus.

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

Psalme 119:105–112
(Geneva Bible)
Nun.
105 Thy worde is a lanterne vnto my feete, and a light vnto my path.
106 I haue sworne and will performe it, that I will keepe thy righteous iudgements.
107 I am very sore afflicted: O Lord, quicken me according to thy word.
108 O Lord, I beseeche thee accept the free offerings of my mouth, and teach mee thy iudgements.
109 My soule is continually in mine hande: yet doe I not forget thy Lawe.
110 The wicked haue layed a snare for mee: but I swarued not from thy precepts.
111 Thy testimonies haue I taken as an heritage for euer: for they are the ioy of mine heart.
112 I haue applied mine heart to fulfill thy statutes alway, euen vnto the ende.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN 25 (L. M.)
A vision of the Lamb. Rev. v. 6—9.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

All mortal vanities, begone,
Nor tempt my eyes, nor tire my ears;
Behold, amidst th’ eternal throne,
A vision of the Lamb appears.

[Glory his fleecy robe adorns,
Mark’d with the bloody death he bore;
Seven are his eyes, and seven his horns,
To speak his wisdom and his power.

Lo! he receives a sealed book
From him that sits upon the throne;
Jesus, my Lord, prevails to look
On dark decrees and things unknown.]

All the assembling saints around
Fall worshipping before the Lamb,
And in new songs of gospel sound
Address their honours to his name.

[The joy, the shout, the harmony,
Flies o’er the everlasting hills
“Worthy art thou alone,” they cry,
“To read the book, to loose the seals.”]

Our voices join the heav’nly strain,
And with transporting pleasure sing—
“Worthy the Lamb that once was slain,
To be our Teacher and our King!”

His words of prophecy reveal
Eternal counsels, deep designs;
His grace and vengeance shall fulfil
The peaceful and the dreadful lines.

Thou hast redeem’d our souls from hell
With thine invaluable blood;
And wretches that did once rebel
Are now made fav’rites of their God.

Worthy for ever is the Lord,
That died for treasons not his own,
By ev’ry tongue to be ador’d,
And dwell upon his Father’s throne!

—from The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures

Psalme 119:113–120
(Geneva Bible)
Samech.
113 I hate vaine inuentions: but thy Lawe doe I loue.
114 Thou art my refuge and shield, and I trust in thy worde.
115 Away from mee, yee wicked: for I will keepe the commandements of my God.
116 Stablish me according to thy promise, that I may liue, and disappoint me not of mine hope.
117 Stay thou mee, and I shall be safe, and I will delite continually in thy statutes.
118 Thou hast troden downe all them that depart from thy statutes: for their deceit is vaine.
119 Thou hast taken away all ye wicked of the earth like drosse: therefore I loue thy testimonies.
120 My flesh trembleth for feare of thee, and I am afraide of thy iudgements.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN XVI
Manna hoarded. Ex. xvi. 20.
by John Newton (1725–1807)

THE manna favor’d Israel’s meat,
   Was gather’d day by day;
When all the host was serv’d, the heat
   Melted the rest away.

In vain to hoard it up they try’d,
   Against to-morrow came;
It then bred worms and putrify’d
   And prov’d their sin and shame.

’Twas daily bread and would not keep,
   But must be still renew’d;
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 as last,
   Unless supply’d again.

Dear Lord, while we in pray’r are found,
   Do thou the Manna give;
Oh! Let it fall on all around,
   That we may eat and live.

—from Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

Psalme 119:121–128
(Geneva Bible)
Ain.
121 I haue executed iudgement and iustice: leaue me not to mine oppressours.
122 Answere for thy seruant in that, which is good, and let not the proude oppresse me.
123 Mine eyes haue failed in waiting for thy saluation, and for thy iust promise.
124 Deale with thy seruant according to thy mercie, and teache me thy statutes.
125 I am thy seruant: graunt mee therefore vnderstanding, that I may knowe thy testimonies.
126 It is time for thee Lord to worke: for they haue destroyed thy Lawe.
127 Therefore loue I thy commandements aboue golde, yea, aboue most fine golde.
128 Therefore I esteeme all thy precepts most iust, and hate all false wayes.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

PETITIONARY HYMNS
POEM XIV.
Augustus Toplady (1740–1778)

SUPREME High Priest, the pilgrim’s light,
   My heart for thee prepare,
Thine image stamp, and deeply write
   Thy superscription there.

Ah! let my forehead bear thy seal,
   My arm thy badge retain,
My heart the inward witness feel
   That I am born again!

Thy peace, O Saviour, shed abroad,
   That every want supplies:
Then from its guilt my soul renew’d,
   Shall, phœnix like, arise.

Into thy humble mansion come.
   Set up thy dwelling here:
Possess my heart, and leave no room
   For sin to harbour there.

Ah! give me, Lord, the single eye,
   Which aims at nought but thee:
I fain would live, and yet not I—
   Let Jesus live in me.

Like Noah’s dove, no rest I find
   But in thy ark of peace;
Thy cross the balance of my mind,
   Thy wounds my hiding-place.

In vain the tempter spreads the snare,
   If thou my keeper art:
Get thee behind me, God is near,
   My Saviour takes my part!

On him my spirit I recline,
   Who put my nature on;
His light shall in my darkness shine,
   And guide me to his throne.

O that the penetrating sight,
   And eagle’s eye were mine
Undazzled at the boundless light
   I’d see his glory shine!

Ev’n now , by faith, I see him live
   To crown the conquering few;
Nor let me linger here, but strive
   To gain the prize in view.

Add, Saviour, to the eagle’s eye,
   The clove’s aspiring wing,
To bear me upwards to the sky,
   Thy praises there to sing!

—The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady (Sprinkle Publications, 1987).

Psalme 119:129–136
(Geneva Bible)
Pe.
129 Thy testimonies are wonderfull: therefore doeth my soule keepe them.
130 The entrance into thy wordes sheweth light, and giueth vnderstanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted, because I loued thy commandements.
132 Looke vpon mee and bee mercifull vnto me, as thou vsest to doe vnto those that loue thy Name.
133 Direct my steppes in thy worde, and let none iniquitie haue dominion ouer me.
134 Deliuer mee from the oppression of men, and I will keepe thy precepts.
135 Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruant, and teache me thy statutes.
136 Mine eyes gush out with riuers of water, because they keepe not thy Lawe.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Praise for Conversion
Samuel Stennett (1727–1795)

Come, ye that fear the Lord,
And listen, while I tell
How narrowly my feet escaped
The snares of death and hell.

The flattering joys of sense
Assailed my foolish heart,
While Satan with malicious skill
Guided the poisonous dart.

I fell beneath the stroke,
But fell to rise again;
My anguish roused me into life,
And pleasure sprung from pain.

Darkness and shame and grief,
Oppressed my gloomy mind;
I looked around me for relief,
But no relief could find.

At length to God I cried;
He heard my plaintive sigh;
He heard, and instantly he sent
Salvation from on high.

My drooping head he raised;
My bleeding wounds he healed;
Pardoned my sins, and, with a smile,
The gracious pardon sealed.

Oh, may I never forget
The mercy of my God;
Nor ever want a tongue to spread
His loudest praise abroad.

—Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

Psalme 119:137–144
(Geneva Bible)
Tsaddi.
137 Righteous art thou, O Lord, and iust are thy iudgements.
138 Thou hast commanded iustice by thy testimonies and trueth especially.
139 My zeale hath euen consumed mee, because mine enemies haue forgotten thy wordes.
140 Thy word is prooued most pure, and thy seruant loueth it.
141 I am small and despised: yet do I not forget thy precepts.
142 Thy righteousnesse is an euerlasting righteousnes, and thy Lawe is trueth.
143 Trouble and anguish are come vpon me: yet are thy commandements my delite.
144 The righteousnes of thy testimonies is euerlasting: graunt me vnderstanding, and I shall liue.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lorde Jesus Christ.

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

THE MEETING-PLACE.
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

Where the faded flower shall freshen,—
   Freshen never more to fade;
Where the shaded sky shall brighten,—
   Brighten never more to shade:
Where the sun-blaze never scorches;
   Where the star-beams cease to chill;
Where no tempest stirs the echoes
   Of the wood, or wave, or hill:
Where the morn shall wake in gladness,
   And the moon the joy prolong,
Where the daylight dies in fragrance,
   ’Mid the burst of holy song:
      Brother, we shall meet and rest
      ’Mid the holy and the blest!

Where no shadow shall bewilder,
   Where life’s vain parade is o’er,
Where the sleep of sin is broken,
   And the dreamer dreams no more:
Where the bond is never severed;—
   Partings, claspings, sob and moan,
Midnight waking, twilight weeping,
   Heavy noontide,— all are done:
Where the child has found its mother,
   Where the mother finds the child,
Where dear families are gathered.
   That were scattered on the wild:
      Brother, we shall meet and rest
      ’Mid the holy and the blest!

Where the hidden wound is healed,
   Where the blighted light re-blooms.
Where the smitten heart the freshness
   Of its buoyant youth resumes:
Where the love that here we lavish
   On the withering leaves of time,
Shall have fadeless flowers to fix on
   In an ever spring bright clime:
Where we find the joy of loving,
   As we never loved before,—
Loving on, unchilled, unhindered,
   Loving once and evermore:
      Brother, we shall meet and rest,
      ’Mid the holy and the blest!

Where a blasted world shall brighten
   Underneath a bluer sphere,
And a softer, gentler sunshine
   Shed its healing splendor here:
Where earth’s barren vales shall blossom,
   Putting on their robe of green,
And a purer, fairer Eden
   Be where only wastes have been:
Where a King in kingly glory,
   Such as earth has never known,
Shall assume the righteous sceptre,
   Claim and wear the holy crown:
      Brother, we shall meet and rest,
      ’Mid the holy and the blest.

—Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, First Series (James Nisbet & Co., 1878).

Psalme 119:145–152
(Geneva Bible)
Koph.
145 I haue cried with my whole heart: heare me, O Lord, and I will keepe thy statutes.
146 I called vpon thee: saue mee, and I will keepe thy testimonies.
147 I preuented the morning light, and cried: for I waited on thy word.
148 Mine eyes preuent the night watches to meditate in thy word.
149 Heare my voyce according to thy louing kindenesse: O Lord, quicken me according to thy iudgement.
150 They drawe neere, that follow after malice, and are farre from thy Lawe.
151 Thou art neere, O Lord: for all thy commandements are true.
152 I haue knowen long since by thy testimonies, that thou hast established them for euer.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lorde Jesus Christ.

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

Living for Jesus

O Saviour of Sinners,

Thy name is excellent,
thy glory high,
        thy compassions unfailing,
        thy condescension wonderful,
        thy mercy tender.
I bless thee for the discoveries, invitations,
      promises of the gospel
   for in them is pardon for rebels,
      liberty for captives,
      health for the sick,
      salvation for the lost.
I come to thee in thy beloved name of Jesus;
   re-impress thy image upon my soul;
Raise me above the smiles and frowns of the world,
   regarding it as a light thing to be judged by men;
May thy approbation be my only aim,
   thy Word my one rule.
Make me to abhor that which grieves thy
      Holy Spirit,
   to suspect consolations of a worldly nature,
   to shun a careless way of life,
   to reprove evil,
   to instruct with meekness those who oppose me,
   to be gentle and patient towards all men,
   to be not only a professor but an example
      of the gospel,
   displaying in every relation, office, and condition
      its excellency, loveliness and advantages.
How little have I illustrated my principles
   and improved my privileges!
How seldom I served my generation!
How often have I injured and not recommended
   my Redeemer!
How few are those blessed through me!
In many things I have offended,
   in all come short of thy glory;
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

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

Psalme 119:153–160
(Geneva Bible)
Resh.
153 Beholde mine affliction, and deliuer mee: for I haue not forgotten thy Lawe.
154 Pleade my cause, and deliuer me: quicken me according vnto thy word.
155 Saluation is farre from the wicked, because they seeke not thy statutes.
156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy iudgements.
157 My persecutours and mine oppressours are many: yet doe I not swarue from thy testimonies.
158 I saw the transgressours and was grieued, because they kept not thy worde.
159 Consider, O Lord, how I loue thy preceptes: quicken mee according to thy louing kindenesse.
160 The beginning of thy worde is trueth, and all the iudgements of thy righteousnesse endure for euer.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN 26 (C. M.)
Hope of heaven by the resurrection of Christ. 1 Pet. i. 3—5.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Bless’d be the everlasting God,
   The Father of our Lord;
Be his abounding mercy prais’d,
   His majesty ador’d.

When from the dead he rais’d his Son,
   And call’d him to the sky,
He gave our souls a lively hope
   That they should never die.

What though our inbred sins require
   Our flesh to see the dust,
Yet as the Lord our Savior rose,
   So all his followers must.

There’s an inheritance divine
   Reserved against that day;
’Tis uncorrupted, undefil’d,
   And cannot waste away.

Saints by the power of God are kept
   Till the salvation come;
We walk by faith as strangers here,
   Till Christ shall call us home.

—from The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures

Psalme 119:161–168
(Geneva Bible)
Schin.
161 Princes haue persecuted mee without cause, but mine heart stood in awe of thy wordes.
162 I reioyce at thy worde, as one that findeth a great spoyle.
163 I hate falshoode and abhorre it, but thy Lawe doe I loue.
164 Seuen times a day doe I praise thee, because of thy righteous iudgements.
165 They that loue thy Law, shall haue great prosperitie, and they shall haue none hurt.
166 Lord, I haue trusted in thy saluation, and haue done thy commandements.
167 My soule hath kept thy testimonies: for I loue them exceedingly.
168 I haue kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my wayes are before thee.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

HYMN XVII
JEHOVAH-NISSI,
The Lord my banner. Ex. xvii. 15.
by William Cowper (1731–1800)

BY whom was David taught,
   To aim the dreadful blow,
   When he Goliath fought,
      And laid the Gittite low?
No sword nor spear the stripling took,
But chose a pebble from the brook.

   ’Twas Israel’s God and king,
      Who sent him to the fight;
   Who gave him strength to fling,
      And skill to aim aright.
Ye feeble saints your strength endures,
Because young David’s God’s is yours.

   Who ordered Gideon forth,
      To storm th’ invaders’ camp,
   With arms of little worth,
      A pitcher and a lamp?
The trumpets made his coming known,
And all the host was overthrown.

   Oh! I have seen the day,
      When with a single word,
   God helping me to say,
      My trust is in the Lord;
My soul has quell’d a thousand foes,
Fearless of all that could oppose.

   But unbelief, self–will,
      Self–righteousness and pride,
   How often do they steal
      My weapon from my side?
Yet David’s Lord, and Gideon’s friend,
Will help his servant to the end.

—from Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

Psalme 119:169–176
(Geneva Bible)
Tav.
169 Let my complaint come before thee, O Lord, and giue me vnderstanding, according vnto thy worde.
170 Let my supplication come before thee, and deliuer me according to thy promise.
171 My lippes shall speake praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
172 My tongue shall intreate of thy word: for all thy commandements are righteous.
173 Let thine hand helpe me: for I haue chosen thy precepts.
174 I haue longed for thy saluation, O Lord, and thy Lawe is my delite.
175 Let my soule liue, and it shall praise thee, and thy iudgements shall helpe me.
176 I haue gone astraye like a lost sheepe: seeke thy seruant, for I doe not forget thy commandements.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

PETITIONARY HYMNS
POEM XV. Self Dedication.
Augustus Toplady (1740–1778)

Jesus, my Saviour, fill my heart
   With nothing else but thee;
Now thy saving pow’r exert,
   And more than conquer me:
Each intruding rival kill,
   That Minders or obstructs thy reign:
All thy glorious might reveal,
   And make me pure within.

Through my soul in mercy shine,
   Thine Holy Spirit give;
Let him witness, Lord, with mine
   That I in Jesus live;
Set me free from Satan’s load,
   The gift of Liberty dispense,
In my heart O shed abroad
   Thy quick’ning influence.

Let the gifts bestow’d on me,
   Live to thy praise alone;
Lord, the talents lent by thee
   Are thine and not my own:
May I in thy service spend
   All the graces thou has given,
Taken up, when time shall end,
   To live and reign in heaven.

—The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady (Sprinkle Publications, 1987).

Having finished the Psalms from the Geneva Bible, I am now going to begin the Gospel of John. I’ll be using the NASB, and including commentary from J. C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels.

The Gospel According to John

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

The Gospel of John, which begins with these verses, is in many respects very unlike the other three Gospels. It contains many things which they omit. It omits many things which they contain. Good reason might easily be shown for this unlikeness. But it is enough to remember that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote under the direct inspiration of God. In the general plan of their respective Gospels, and in the particular details,—in everything that they record, and in everything that they do not record,—they were all four equally and entirely guided by the Holy Spirit.
   About the matters which John was specially inspired to relate in his Gospel, one general remark will suffice. The things which are peculiar to his Gospel are among the most precious possessions of the Church of Christ. No one of the four Gospel-writers has given us such full statements about the divinity of Christ,—about justification by faith,—about the offices of Christ,—about the work of the Holy Ghost,—and about the privileges of believers, as we read in the pages of St. John. On none of these great subjects, undoubtedly, have Matthew, Mark, and Luke been silent. But in St. John’s Gospel, they stand out prominently on the surface, so that he who runs may read.
   The five verses now before us contain a statement of matchless sublimity concerning the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. He it is, beyond all question, whom St. John means, when he speaks of “the Word.” No doubt there are heights and depths in that statement which are far beyond man’s understanding. And yet there are plain lessons in it, which every Christian would do well to treasure up in his mind.
   We learn, firstly, that our Lord Jesus Christ is eternal. St. John tells as that “in the beginning was the Word.” He did not begin to exist when the heavens and the earth were made. Much less did He begin to exist when the Gospel was brought into the world. He had glory with the Father “before the world was.” (John xvii. 5.) He was existing when matter was first created, and before time began. He was “before all things.” (Col. i. 17.) He was from all eternity.
   We learn, secondly, that our Lord Jesus Christ is a Person distinct from God the Father, and yet one with Him. St. John tells us that “the Word was with God.” The Father and the Word, though two persons, are joined by an ineffable union. Where God the Father was from all eternity, there also was the Word, even God the Son,—their glory equal, their majesty co-eternal, and yet their Godhead one This is a great mystery! Happy is he who can receive it as a little child, without attempting to explain it.
   We learn, thirdly, that the Lord Jesus Christ is very God. St. John tells us that “the Word was God.” He is not merely a created angel, or a being inferior to God the Father, and invested by Him with power to redeem sinners. He is nothing less than perfect God,—equal to the father as touching His Godhead,—God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds.
   We learn, fourthly, that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things. St. John tells us that “by Him were all things made, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” So far from being a creature of God, as some heretics have falsely asserted, He is the Being who made the worlds and all that they contain. “He commanded and they were created.” (Psalm xl. 8.)
   We learn, lastly, that the Lord Jesus Christ is the source of all spiritual life and light. St. John tells us, that “in Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” He is the eternal fountain, from which alone the sons of men have ever derived life. Whatever spiritual life and light Adam and Eve possessed before the fall, was from Christ. Whatever deliverance from sin and spiritual death any child of Adam has ever enjoyed since the fall, whatever light of conscience or understanding any one has obtained, all has flowed from Christ. The vast majority of mankind in every age have refused to know Him, have forgotten the fall, and their own need of a Savior. The light has been constantly shining "in darkness." The most have "not comprehended the light." But if any men and women out of the countless millions of mankind have ever had spiritual life and light, they have owed all to Christ.
   Such is a brief summary of the leading lessons which these wonderful verses appear to contain. There is much in them, without controversy, which is above our reason but there is nothing contrary to it. There is much that we cannot explain, and must be content humbly to believe. Let us however never forget that there are plain practical consequences flowing from the passage, which we can never grasp to firmly, or know too well.
   Would we know, for one thing, the exceeding sinfulness of sin? Let us often read these first five verses of St. John’s Gospel. Let us mark what kind of Being the Redeemer of mankind must needs be, in order to provide eternal redemption for sinners. If no one less than the Eternal God, the Creator and Preserver of all things, could take away the sin of the world, sin must be a far more abominable thing in the sight of God than most men suppose. The right measure of sin’s sinfulness is the dignity of Him who came into the world to save sinners. If Christ is so great, then sin must indeed be sinful!
   Would we know, for another thing, the strength of a true Christian’s foundation for hope? Let us often read these first five verses of St. John’s Gospel. Let us mark that the Saviour in whom the believer is bid to trust is nothing less than the Eternal God, One able to save to the uttermost all that come to the Father by Him. He that was “with God,” and “was God,” is also “Emmanuel, God with us.” Let us thank God that our help is laid on One that is mighty. (Psalm lxxxix. 19.) In ourselves we are great sinners. But in Jesus Christ we have a great Saviour. He is a strong foundation-stone, able to bear the weight of a world’s sin. He that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. (1 Peter ii. 6.)

—J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Baker Books, 2007) [Westminster (PB) | Amazon (HC)], 3:1–4

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Room at the Gospel Feast
Philip Doddridge (1702–1751)

The King of heaven His table spreads,
And dainties crown the board;
Not paradise with all its joys
Could such delight afford.

Pardon and peace to dying men,
And endless life are given,
And the rich blood that Jesus shed
To raise the soul to heaven.

Ye hungry poor, that long have strayed
In sins’ dark mazes, come.
Come from the hedges and highways,
And grace shall find you room.

Millions of souls, in glory now,
Were fed and feasted here;
And millions more, still on the way,
Around the board appear.

Yet is his house and heart so large,
That millions more may come;
Nor could the wide assembling world
Overfill the spacious room.

All things are ready; come away,
Nor weak excuses frame.
Crowd to your places at the feast,
And bless the Founder’s name.

—Worthy Is the Lamb (Soli Deo Gloria, 2004).

John 1:6–13
   6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
   9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

St. John, after beginning his gospel with a statement of our Lord’s nature as God, proceeds to speak of His forerunner, John the Baptist. The contrast between the language used about the Saviour, and that used about His forerunner, ought not to be overlooked. Of Christ we are told that He was the eternal God,—the Creator of all things,—the source of life and light. Of John the Baptist we are told simply, that “there was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”
   We see, firstly, in these verses, the true nature of a Christian minister’s office. We have it in the description of John the Baptist: “He came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe.”
   Christian ministers are not priests, nor mediators between God and man. They are not agents into whose hands men may commit their souls, and carry on their religion by deputy. They are witnesses. They are intended to bear testimony to God’s truth, and specially to the great truth that Christ is the only Saviour and light of the world. This was St. Peter’s ministry on the day of Pentecost.—“with many other words did he testify.” (Acts ii. 40.) This was the whole tenor of St. Paul’s ministry.—“He testified both to the Jews and to the Greeks repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts xx. 21.) Unless a Christian minister bears full testimony to Christ, he is not faithful in his office. So long as he does testify of Christ, he has done his part, and will receive his reward, although the hearers may not believe his testimony. Until a minister’s hearers believe on that Christ of whom they are told, they receive no benefit from the ministry. They may be pleased and interested; but they are not profited until they believe. The great end of the minister’s testimony is “that through him, men may believe.”
   We see, secondly, in these verses, one principal position which our Lord Jesus Christ occupies towards mankind. We have it in the words, “He was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
   Christ is to the souls of men what the sun is to the world. He is the centre and source of all spiritual light, warmth, life, health, growth, beauty, and fertility. Like the sun, He shines for the common benefit of all mankind,—for high and for low, for rich and for poor, for Jew and for Greek. Like the sun, He is free to all. All may look at Him, and drink health out of His light. If millions of mankind were mad enough to dwell in caves underground, or to bandage their eyes, their darkness would be their own fault, and not the fault of the sun. So, likewise, if millions of men and women love spiritual “darkness rather than light,” the blame must be laid on their blind hearts, and not on Christ. “Their foolish hearts are darkened.” (John iii. 19; Rom. i. 21.) But whether men will see or not, Christ is the true sun, and the light of the world. There is no light for sinners except in the Lord Jesus.
   We see, thirdly, in these verses, the desperate wickedness of man’s natural heart. We have it in the words, Christ “was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.”
   Christ was in the world invisibly, long before He was born of the Virgin Mary. He was there from the very beginning, ruling, ordering, and governing the whole creation. By Him all things are held together. (Coloss. i. 17.) He gave to all life and breath, rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons. By Him kings reigned, and nations were increased or diminished. Yet men knew Him not, and honoured Him not. They “worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator.” (Rom. i. 25.) Well may the natural heart be called “wicked!”
   But Christ came visibly into the world, when He was born at Bethlehem, and fared no better. He came to the very people whom He had brought out from Egypt, and purchased for His own. He came to the Jews, whom He had separated from other nations, and to whom He had revealed Himself by the prophets. He came to those very Jews who had read of Him in the Old Testament Scriptures,—seen Him under types and figures in their temple services,—and professed to be waiting for His coming. And yet, when He came, those very Jews received Him not. They even rejected Him, despised Him, and slew Him. Well may the natural heart be called “desperately wicked!”
   We see, lastly, in these verses, the vast privileges of all who receive Christ, and believe on Him. We are told that “as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become you sons of God, even to those who believe on His name.”
   Christ will never be without some servants. If the vast majority of the Jews did not receive Him as the Messiah, there were, at any rate, a few who did. To them He gave the privilege of being God’s children. He adopted them as members of His Father’s family. He reckoned them His own brethren and sisters, bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh. He conferred on them a dignity which was ample recompense for the cross which they had to carry for His sake. He made them sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty.
   Privileges like these, be it remembered, are the possession of all, in every age, who receive Christ by faith, and follow Him as their Savour. They are “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. iii. 26.) They are born again by a new and heavenly birth, and adopted into the family of the King of kings. Few in number, and despised by the world as they are, they are cared for with infinite love by a Father in heaven, who, for His Son’s sake, is well pleased with them. In time He provides them with everything that is for their good. In eternity He will give them a crown of glory that fades not away. These are great things! But faith in Christ gives men an ample title to them. Good masters care for their servants, and Christ cares for His.
   Are we ourselves sons of God? Have we been born again? Have we the marks which always accompany the new birth,—sense of sin, faith in Jesus, love of others, righteous living, separation from the world? Let us never be content until we can give a satisfactory answer to these questions.
   Do we desire to be sons of God? Then let us “receive Christ” as our Savour, and believe on Him with the heart. To every one that so receives Him, He will give the privilege of becoming a son of God.

—J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Baker Books, 2007) [Westminster (PB) | Amazon (HC)], 3:13–17

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

THE HOME SICKNESS.
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

   “civitas sancta, civitas speciosa, de longinquo te saluto,
ad te clamo, te requiro.”—Augustine, De Spir. et Anim.

And whence this weariness,
      This gathering cloud of gloom?
   Whence this dull weight of loneliness,
      These greedy cravings for the tomb?
   These greedier cravings for the hopes that lie
   Beyond the tomb, beyond the things that die;
   Beyond the smiles and joys that come and go,
   Fevering the spirit with their fitful flow;
   Beyond the circle where the shadows fall;
   Within the region where my God is all.

It is not that I fear
      To breast the storm or wrestle with the wave,
      To swim the torrent or the blast to brave,
      To toil or suffer in this day of strife
      As He may will who gave this struggling life,—
But I am homesick!

It is not that the cross
      Is heavier than this drooping frame can bear,
      Or that I find no kindred heart to share
      The burden, which, in these last days of ill,
      Seems to press heavier, sharper, sorer still,—
But I am homesick!

It is not that the snare
      Is laid around for my unwary feet.
      And that a thousand wily tempters greet
      My slippery steps and lead me far astray
      From that safe guidance of the narrow way,—
But I am homesick!

It is not that the path
      Is rough and perilous, beset with foes,
      From the first step down to its weary close,
      Strewn with the flint, the briar, and the thorn.
      That wound my limbs and leave my raiment torn,
But I am homesick!

It is not that the sky
      Is darkly sad, and the unloving air
      Chills me to fainting; and the clouds that there
      Hang over me seem signal clouds unfurled,
      Portending wrath to an unready world,—
But I am homesick!

It is not that the earth
      Has grown less bright and fair,—that these grey hills,
      These ever-lapsing, ever-lulling rills,
      And these breeze-haunted woods, that ocean clear,
      Have now become less beautiful, less dear,—
But I am homesick!

   Let me, then, weary be!
      I shrink not, murmur not;
   In all this homelessness I see
      The Church’s pilgrim-lot;
   Her lot until her absent Lord shall come,
   And the long homeless here, shall find a home.

   Then no more weariness!
      No gathering cloud of gloom;
   Then no dull weight of loneliness,
      No greedy cravings for the tomb:
   For death shall then be swallowed up of life,
   And the glad victory shall end the strife!

—Horatius Bonar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, First Series (James Nisbet & Co., 1878).

John 1:14
   14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The passage of Scripture now before us is very short, if we measure it by words. But it is very long, if we measure it by the nature of its contents. The substance of it is so immensely important that we shall do well to give it separate and distinct consideration. This single verse contains more than enough matter for a whole exposition.
   The main truth which this verse teaches is the reality of our Lord Jesus Christ’s incarnation, or being made man. St. John tells us that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”
   The plain meaning of these words is, that our divine Saviour really took human nature upon Him, in order to save sinners. He really became a man like ourselves in all things, sin only excepted. Like ourselves, he was born of a woman, though born in a miraculous manner. Like ourselves, He grew from infancy to boyhood, and from boyhood to man’s estate, both in wisdom and in stature. (Luke ii. 52.) Like ourselves, he hungered, thirsted, ate, drank, slept, was wearied, felt pain, wept, rejoiced, marvelled, was moved to anger and compassion. Having be come flesh, and taken a body, He prayed, read the Scriptures, suffered being tempted, and submitted His human will to the will of God the Father. And finally, in the same body, He really suffered and shed His blood, really died, was really buried, really rose again, and really ascended up into heaven. And yet all this time He was God as well as man!
   This union of two natures in Christ’s one Person is doubtless one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian religion. It needs to be carefully stated. It is just one of those great truths which are not meant to be curiously pried into, but to be reverently believed. . . .
   But while we do not pretend to explain the union of two natures in our Lord Jesus Christ’s Person, we must not hesitate to fence the subject with well-defined cautions. While we state most carefully what we do believe, we must not shrink from declaring boldly what we do not believe. We must never forget, that though our Lord was God and man at the same time, the divine and human natures in Him were never confounded. One nature did not swallow up the other. The two natures remained perfect and distinct. The divinity of Christ was never for a moment laid aside, although veiled. The manhood of Christ, during His life-time, was never for a moment unlike our own, though by union with the Godhead, greatly dignified. Though perfect God, Christ has always been perfect man from the first moment of His incarnation. He that is gone into heaven, and is sitting at the Father’s right hand to intercede for sinners, is man as well as God. Though perfect man, Christ never ceased to be perfect God. He that suffered for sin on the cross, and was made sin for us, was “God manifest in the flesh.” The blood with which the Church was purchased, is called the blood “of God.” (Acts xx. 28.) Though He became “flesh” in the fullest sense, when He was born of the Virgin Mary, He never at any period ceased to be the Eternal Word. To say . . . that at any instant of His earthly ministry He was not fully and entirely God, is nothing less than heresy.
   The cautions just given may seem at first sight needless, wearisome, and hair-splitting. It is precisely the neglect of such cautions which ruins many souls. This constant undivided union of two perfect natures in Christ’s Person is exactly that which gives infinite value to His mediation, and qualifies Him to be the very Mediator that sinners need. Our Mediator is One who can sympathize with us, because He is very man. And yet, at the same time, He is One who can deal with the Father for us on equal terms, because He is very God.—It is the same union which gives infinite value to His righteousness, when imputed to believers. It is the righteousness of One who was God as well as man.—It is the same union which gives infinite value to the atoning blood which He shed for sinners on the cross. It is the blood of One who was God as well as man.—It is the same union which gives infinite value to His resurrection. When He rose again, as the Head of the body of believers, He rose not as a mere man, but as God.—Let those things sink deeply into our hearts. The second Adam is far greater than the first Adam was. The first Adam was only man, and so he fell. The second Adam was God as well as man, and so He completely conquered.
   Let us leave the subject with feelings of deep gratitude and thankfulness. It is full of abounding consolation for al who know Christ by faith, and believe on Him.
   Did the Word become flesh? Then He is One who can be touched with the feeling of His people’s infirmities, because He has suffered Himself, being tempted. He is almighty because He is God, and yet He can feel with us, because He is man.
   Did the Word become flesh? Then He can supply us with a perfect pattern and example for our daily life. Had He walked among us as an angel or a spirit, we could never have copied Him. But having dwelt among us as a man, we know that the true standard of holiness is to “walk even as He walked.” (1 John ii. 6.) He is a perfect pattern, because He is God. But He is also a pattern exactly suited to our wants, because He is man.
   Finally, did the Word become flesh? Then let us see in our mortal bodies a real, true dignity, and not defile them by sin. Vile and weak as our body may seem, it is a body which the Eternal Son of God was not ashamed to take upon Himself, and to take up to heaven. That simple fact is a pledge that He will raise our bodies at the last day, and glorify them together with His own.

—J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Baker Books, 2007) [Westminster (PB) | Amazon (HC)], 3:24–28

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Kept by God

Jehovah God,

Thou Creator, Upholder, Proprietor of all
things,
I cannot escape from thy presence or control,
   nor do I desire to do so.
My privilege is to be under the agency of
   omnipotence, righteousness, wisdom,
   patience, mercy, grace.
Thou art love with more than parental affection;
I admire thy heart, adore thy wisdom,
   stand in awe of thy power, abase myself before
      thy purity.
It is the discovery of thy goodness alone that can
   banish my fear,
   allure me into thy presence,
   help me to bewail and confess my sins.
When I review my past guilt
   and am conscious of my present unworthiness
      I tremble to come to thee,
      I whose foundation is in the dust,
      I who have condemned thy goodness,
         defied thy power,
         trampled upon thy love,
         rendered myself worthy of eternal death.
But my recovery cannot spring from any cause
   in me,
   I can destroy but cannot save myself.
Yet thou hast laid help on One that is mighty,
   for there is mercy with thee,
   and exceeding riches in thy kindness
      through Jesus.
May I always feel my need of him.
Let thy restored joy be my strength;
May it keep me from lusting after the world,
   bear up heart and mind in loss of comforts,
   enliven me in the valley of death,
   work in me the image of the heavenly,
   and give me to enjoy the first fruits of spirituality,
      such as angels and departed saints know.

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

John 1:15–18
15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

The passage before us contains three great declarations about our Lord Jesus Christ. Each of the three is among the foundation principles of Christianity.
   We are taught, firstly, that it is Christ alone who supplies all the spiritual wants of all believers. It is written that “of his fulness have we all received, and grace for grace.”
   There is an infinite fulness in Jesus Christ. As St. Paul says, “It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.”—“In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Coloss. i. 19; ii. 8.) There is laid up in Him, as in a treasury, a boundless supply of all that any sinner can need, either in time or eternity. The Spirit of Life is His special gift to the Church, and conveys from Him, as from a great root, sap and vigour to all the believing branches. He is rich in mercy, grace, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Out of Christ’s fulness, all believers in every age of the world, have been supplied. They did not clearly understand the fountain from which their supplies flowed, in Old Testament times. The Old Testament saints only saw Christ afar off, and not face to face. But from Abel downwards, all saved souls have received all they have had from Jesus Christ alone. Every saint in glory will at last acknowledge that he is Christ’s debtor for all he is. Jesus will prove to have been all in all.
   We are taught, secondly, the vast superiority of Christ to Moses, and of the Gospel to the Law. It is written that “the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
   Moses was employed by God “as a servant,” to convey to Israel the moral and ceremonial law. (Heb. iii. 5.) As a servant, he was faithful to Him who appointed him, but he was only a servant. The moral law, which he brought down from Mount Sinai, was holy, and just, and good. But it could not justify. It had no healing power. It could wound, but it could not bind up. It “worked wrath.” (Rom. iv. 15.) It pronounced a curse against any imperfect obedience.—The ceremonial law, which he was commanded to impose on Israel, was full of deep meaning and typical instruction. Its ordinances and ceremonies made it an excellent schoolmaster to guide men toward Christ. (Gal. iii. 24.) But the ceremonial law was only a schoolmaster. It could not make him that kept it perfect, as pertaining to the conscience. (Heb. ix. 9.) It laid a grievous yoke on men’s hearts, which they were not able to bear. It wag a ministration of death and condemnation. (2 Cor. iii 7—9.) The light which men got from Moses and the law was at best only starlight compared to noon-day.
   Christ, on the other hand, came into the world “as a Son,” with the keys of God’s treasury of grace and truth entirely in His hands. (Heb. iii. 6.) Grace came by Him, when He made fully known God’s gracious plan of salvation, by faith in His own blood, and opened the fountain of mercy to all the world.—Truth came by Him, when He fulfilled in His own Person the types of the Old Testament, and revealed Himself as the true Sacrifice, the true mercy-seat, and the true Priest. No doubt there was much of “grace and truth” under the law of Moses. But the whole of God’s grace, and the whole truth about redemption, were never known until Jesus came into the world, and died for sinners.
   We are taught, thirdly, that it is Christ alone who has revealed God the father to man. It is written that “no man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
   The eye of mortal man has never beheld God the Father. No man could bear the right. Even to Moses it was said, “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (Exod. xxxiii. 20.) Yet all that mortal man is capable of knowing about God the Father is fully revealed to us by God the Son. He, who was in the bosom of the Father from all eternity, has been pleased to take our nature upon Him, and to exhibit to us in the form of man, all that our minds can comprehend of the Father’s perfections. In Christ’s words, and deeds, and life, and death, we learn as much concerning God the Father as our feeble minds can at present bear. His perfect wisdom,—His almighty power,—His unspeakable love to sinners,—His incomparable holiness,— His hatred of sin, could never be represented to our eyes more clearly than we see them in Christ’s life and death. In truth, “God was manifest in the flesh,” when the Word took on Him a body. “He was the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of His person.” He says Himself, “I and my Father are one.” “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” “In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Coloss. ii. 9.) These are deep and mysterious things. But they are true. (1 Tim. iii. 16; Heb. i. 3; John x. 30; xiv. 9.)
   And now, after reading this passage, can we ever give too much honour to Christ? Can we ever think too highly of Him? Let us banish the unworthy thought from our minds for ever. Let us learn to exalt Him more in our hearts, and to rest more confidingly the whole weight of our souls in His hands. Men may easily fall into error about the three Persons in the holy Trinity if they do not carefully adhere to the teaching of Scripture. But no man ever errs on the side of giving too much honour to God the Son. Christ is the meeting-point between the Trinity and the sinner’s soul. “He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which sent Him.” (John v. 23.)

—J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Baker Books, 2007) [Westminster (PB) | Amazon (HC)], 3:34–37

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

HYMN 27 (C. M.)
Assurance of heaven. 2 Tim. iv. 6—8, 18.
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Death may dissolve my body now,
   And bear my spirit home;
Why do my minutes move so slow,
   Nor my salvation come?

With heav’nly weapons I have fought
   The battles of the Lord;
Finished my course, and kept the faith,
   And wait the sure reward.]

God has laid up in heav’n for me
   A crown which cannot fade;
The righteous Judge at that great day
   Shall place it on my head.

Nor hath the King of grace decreed
   This prize for me alone;
But all that love and long to see
   Th’ appearance of his Son.

Jesus the Lord shall guard me safe
   From every ill design;
And to his heav’nly kingdom keep
   This feeble soul of mine.

God is my everlasting aid,
   And hell shall rage in vain;
To him be highest glory paid
   And endless praise—Amen.

—from The Psalms & Hymns of Isaac Watts. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Book I: Collected from the Holy Scriptures

John 1:19–28
   19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
   24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27 It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The verses we have now read begin the properly historical part of John’s Gospel. Hitherto we have been reading deep and weighty statements about Christ’s divine nature, incarnation, and dignity. Now we come to the plain narrative of the days of Christ’s earthly ministry, and the plain story of Christ’s doings and sayings among men. And here, like the other Gospel-writers, John begins at once with “the record” or testimony of John the Baptist. (Matt. iii. 1; Mark i. 2; Luke iii. 2.)
   We have, for one thing, in these verses, an instructive example of true humility. That example is supplied by John the Baptist himself.
   John the Baptist was an eminent saint of God. There are few names which stand higher than his in the Bible calendar of great and good men. The Lord Jesus Himself declared that “Among those who are born of woman there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” (Matt. xi. 11.) The Lord Jesus Himself declared that he was “a burning and a shining light.” (John v. 35.) Yet here in this passage we see this eminent saint lowly, self-abased, and full of humility. He puts away from himself the honor which the Jews from Jerusalem were ready to pay him. He declines all flattering titles. He speaks of himself as nothing more than the “voice of one crying in the wilderness,” and as one who “baptized with water.” He proclaims loudly that there is One standing among the Jews far greater than himself, One whose shoe-latchet he is not worthy to unloose. He claims honor not for himself but for Christ. To exalt Christ was his mission, and to that mission he steadfastly adheres.
   The greatest saints of God in every age of the Church have always been men of John the Baptist’s spirit. In gifts, and knowledge, and general character they have often differed widely. But in one respect they have always been alike;—they have been “clothed with humility.” (1 Pet. v. 5.) They have not sought their own honor. They have thought little of themselves. They have been ever willing to decrease if Christ might only increase, to be nothing if Christ might be all. And here has been the secret of the honor God has put upon them. “He that humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Luke xiv. 11.)
   If we profess to have any real Christianity, let us strive to be of John the Baptist’s spirit. Let us study humility. This is the grace with which all must begin, who would be saved. We have no true religion about us, until we cast away our high thoughts, and feel ourselves sinners.—This is the grace which all saints may follow after, and which none have any excuse for neglecting. All God’s children have not gifts, or money, or time to work, or a wide sphere of usefulness; but all may be humble.—This is the grace, above all, which will appear most beautiful in our latter end. Never shall we feel the need of humility so deeply, as when we lie on our deathbeds, and stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. Our whole lives will then appear a long catalogue of imperfections, ourselves nothing, and Christ all.
   We have, for another thing, in these verses, a mournful example of the blindness of unconverted men. That example is supplied by the state of the Jews who came to question John the Baptist.
   These Jews professed to be waiting for the appearance of Messiah. Like all the Pharisees they prided themselves on being children of Abraham, and possessors of the covenants. They rested in the law, and made their boast of God. They professed to know God’s will, and to believe God’s promises. They were confident that they themselves were guides of the blind, and lights of those who sat in darkness. (Rom. ii. 17—19.) And yet at this very moment their souls were utterly in the dark. “There was standing among them,” as John the Baptist told them, “One whom they knew not.” Christ Himself, the promised Messiah, was in the midst of them, and yet they neither knew Him, nor saw Him, nor received Him, nor acknowledged Him, nor believed Him. And worse than this, the vast majority of them never would know Him! The words of John the Baptist are a prophetic description of a state of things which lasted during the whole of our Lord’s earthly ministry. Christ “stood among the Jews,” and yet the Jews knew Him not, and the greater part of them died in their sins.
   It is a solemn thought that John the Baptist’s words in this place apply strictly to thousands in the present day. Christ is still standing among many who neither see, nor know, nor believe. Christ is passing by in many a parish and many a congregation, and the vast majority have neither an eye to see Him, nor an ear to hear Him. The spirit of slumber seems poured out upon them. Money, and pleasure, and the world they know; but they know not Christ. The kingdom of God is close to them; but they sleep. Salvation is within their reach; but they sleep. Mercy, grace, peace, heaven, eternal life, are so near that they might touch them; and yet they sleep. “Christ stands among them and they know him not.” These are sorrowful things to write down. But every faithful minister of Christ can testify, like John the Baptist, that they are true. What are we doing ourselves? This, after all, is the great question that concerns us. Do we know the extent of our religious privileges in this country, and in these times? Are we aware that Christ is going to and fro in our land, inviting souls to join Him and to be His disciples? Do we know that the time is short and that the door of mercy will soon be closed for evermore? Do we know that Christ rejected will soon be Christ withdrawn? Happy are they who can give a good account of these inquiries and who “know the day of their visitation!” (Luke xix. 44.) It will be better at the last day never to have been born, than to have had Christ “standing among us” and not to have known Him.

—J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Baker Books, 2007) [Westminster (PB) | Amazon (HC)], 3:43–46

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

HYMN XVIII
The Golden Calf    Ex. xxxii. 4, 31.
by John Newton (1725–1807)

WHEN Israel heard the fiery law,
   From Sinai’s top proclaim’d;
Their hearts seemed full of holy awe,
   Their stubborn spirits tam’d.

Yet, as forgetting all they knew,
   Ere forty days were past;
With blazing Sinai still in view,
   A molten calf they cast.

Yea, Aaron, God’s anointed priest,
   Who on the mount had been
He durst prepare the idol–beast,
   And lead them on to sin.

Lord, what is man! and what are we,
   To recompense thee thus!
In their offence our own we see,
   Their story points at us.

From Sinai we have heard thee speak,
   And from mount Calv’ry too;
And yet to idols oft we seek,
   While thou art in our view.

Some golden calf, or golden dream,
   Some fancy’d creature–good,
Presumes to share the heart with him,
   Who bought the whole with blood.

Lord, save us from our golden calves,
   Our sin with grief we own;
We would no more be thine by halves,
   But live to thee alone.

—from Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

John 1:29–34
John’s Witness at Christ’s Baptism
Mt. 3:13–17; Mk. 1:9–11; Lk. 3:21, 22

This passage contains a verse which ought to be printed in great letters in the memory of every reader of the Bible. All the stars in heaven are bright and beautiful, and yet one star exceeds another star in glory. So also all texts of Scripture are inspired and profitable, and yet some texts are richer than others. Of such texts the first verse before us is preeminently one. Never was there a fuller testimony borne to Christ upon earth, than that which is here borne by John the Baptist.
   Let us notice, firstly, in this passage, the peculiar name which John the Baptist gives to Christ. He calls Him “The Lamb of God.”
   This name did not merely mean, as some have supposed, that Christ was meek and gentle as a lamb. This would be truth no doubt, but only a very small portion of the truth. There are greater things here than this! It meant that Christ was the great sacrifice for sin, who was come to make atonement for transgression by His own death upon the cross. He was the true Lamb which Abraham told Isaac at Moriah God would provide. (Gen. xxii. 8.) He was the true Lamb to which every morning and evening sacrifice in the temple had daily pointed. He was the Lamb of which Isaiah had prophesied, that He would be “brought to the slaughter.” (Isaiah liii. 7.) He was the true Lamb of which the passover lamb in Egypt had been a vivid type. In short, He was the great propitiation for sin which God had covenanted from all eternity to send into the world. He was God’s Lamb.
   Let us take heed that in all our thoughts of Christ, we first think of Him as John the Baptist here represents Him. Let us serve him faithfully as our Master. Let us obey Him loyally as our King. Let us study His teaching as our Prophet. Let us walk diligently after Him as our Example. Let us look anxiously for Him as our coming Redeemer of body as well as soul. But above all, let us prize Him as our Sacrifice, and rest our whole weight on His death as an atonement for sin. Let His blood be more precious in our eyes every year we live. Whatever else we glory in about Christ, let us glory above all things in His cross. This is the corner-stone, this is the citadel, this is the rule of true Christian theology. We know nothing rightly about Christ, until we see him with John the Baptist’s eyes, and can rejoice in Him as “the Lamb that was slain.”
   Let us notice, secondly, in this passage, the peculiar work which John the Baptist describes Christ as doing. He says that “he taketh away the sin of the world.”
   Christ is a Saviour. He did not come on earth to be a conqueror, or a philosopher, or a mere teacher of morality. He came to save sinners. He came to do that which man could never do for himself,—to do that which money and learning can never obtain,—to do that which is essential to man’s real happiness,—He came to “take away sin.”
   Christ is a complete Saviour. He “takes away sin.” He did not merely make vague proclamations of pardon, mercy, and forgiveness. He “took” our sins upon Himself, and carried them away. He allowed them to be laid upon Himself, and “bore them in His own body on the tree.” (1 Pet. ii. 24.) The sins of every one that believes on Jesus are made as though they had never been sinned at all. The Lamb of God has taken them clean away.
   Christ is an almighty Saviour, and a Saviour for all mankind. He “takes away the sin of the world.” He did not die for the Jews only, but for the Gentile as well as the Jew. He did not suffer for a few people only, but for all mankind. The payment that He made on the cross was more than enough to make satisfaction for the debts of all. The blood that He shed was precious enough to wash away the sins of all. His atonement on the cross was sufficient for all mankind, though efficient only to those who believe. The sin that He took up and bore on the cross was the sin of the whole world.
   Last, but not least, Christ is a perpetual and unwearied Saviour. He “takes away” sin. He is daily taking it away from every one that believes on Him,—daily purging, daily cleansing, daily washing the souls of His people, daily granting and applying fresh supplies of mercy. He did not cease to work for His saints, when He died for them on the cross. He lives in heaven as a Priest, to present His sacrifice continually before God. In grace as well as is providence, Christ works still. He is ever taking away sin.
   These are golden truths indeed. Well would it be for the Church of Christ, if they were used by all who know them! Our very familiarity with texts like these is one of our greatest dangers. Blessed are they who not only keep this text in their memories, but feed upon it in their hearts!
   Let us notice, lastly, in this passage, the peculiar office which John the Baptist attributes to Christ. He speaks of Him as Him “who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”
   The baptism here spoken of is not the baptism of water. It does not consist either of dipping or sprinkling. It does not belong exclusively either to infants or to grown up people. It is not a baptism which any man can give, Episcopalian or Presbyterian, Independent or Methodist, layman or minister. It is a baptism which the great Head of the Church keeps exclusively in His own hands. It consists of the implanting of grace into the inward man. It is the same thing with the new birth. It is a baptism, not of the body, but of the heart. It is a baptism which the penitent thief received, though neither dipped nor sprinkled by the hand of man. It is a baptism which Ananias and Sapphira did not receive, though admitted into church-communion by apostolic men.
   Let it be a settled principle in our religion that the baptism of which John the Baptist speaks here, is the baptism which is absolutely necessary to salvation. It is well to be baptized into the visible Church; but it is far better to be baptized into that Church which is made up of true believers. The baptism of water is a most blessed and profitable ordinance, and cannot be neglected without great sin. But the baptism of the Holy Spirit is of far greater importance. The man who dies with his heart not baptized by Christ can never be saved.
   Let us ask ourselves, as we leave this passage, Whether we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, and whether we have any real interest in the Lamb of God? Thousands, unhappily, are wasting their time in controversy about water baptism, and neglecting the baptism of the heart. Thousands more are content with a head-knowledge of the Lamb of God, or have never sought Him by faith, that their own sins may be actually taken away. Let us take heed that we ourselves have new hearts, and believe to the saving of our souls.

—J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Baker Books, 2007) [Westminster (PB) | Amazon (HC)], 3:54–58.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

PETITIONARY HYMNS
POEM XVII.
Augustus Toplady (1740–1778)

O may I never rest
   Till I find rest in thee;
’Till of my pardon here possess’d
   I feel thy love to me!
Unseal my darken’d eyes,
   My fetter’d feet unbind,
The lame shall, when thou say’st “Arise,”
   Run swifter than the hind.

O draw the alien near,
   Bend the obdurate neck,
O melt the flint into a tear,
   And teach the dumb to speak:
Turn not thy face away.
   Thy look can make me clean;
Me in thy wedding robe array,
   And cover all my sin.

Tell me, my God, for whom
   Thy precious blood was shed;
For sinners! Lord, as such I come,
   For such the Saviour bled:
Then raise a fallen wretch,
   Display thy grace in me!
I am not out of mercy’s reach,
   Nor too far gone for thee.

Thou quickly wilt forgive,
   My Lord will not delay;
Jesus, to thee the time I leave,
   And wait the accepted day:
I now rejoice in hope
   That I shall be made clean:
Thy grace shall surely lift me up
   Above the reach of sin.

Hast thou not died for me,
   And call’d me from below!
O help me to lay hold on thee,
   And ne’er to let ,thee go!
Though on the billows toss’d,
   My Saviour I’ll pursue:
Awhile submit to bear his cross,
   Then share his glory too.

—The Complete Works of Augustus Toplady (Sprinkle Publications, 1987).

John 1:35–42
Andrew and Peter follow Christ

These verses ought always to be interesting to every true Christian. They describe the first beginnings of the Christian Church. Vast as that church is now, there was a time when it consisted of only two weak members. The calling of those two members is described in the passage which is now before our eyes.
   We see, for one thing, in these verses, what good is done by continually testifying of Christ.
   The first time that John the Baptist cried, “Behold the Lamb of God,” no result appears to have followed. We are not told of any who heard, inquired, and believed. But when he repeated the same words the next day, we read that two of his disciples “heard him speak and followed Jesus.” They were received most graciously by Him whom they followed. “They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day.” Truly it was a day in their lives most eventful, and most blessed! From that day they became fast and firm disciples of the new-found Messiah. They took up the cross. They continued with Him in His temptations. They followed Him wherever He went. One of them at least, if not both, became a chosen apostle, and a master builder in the Christian temple. And all was owing to John the Baptist’s testimony, “Behold the lamb of God.” That testimony was a little seed. But it bore mighty fruits.
   This simple story is a pattern of the way in which good has been done to souls in every age of the Christian Church. By such testimony as that before us, and by none else, men and women are converted and saved. It is by exalting Christ, not the church,—Christ, not the sacraments,—Christ, not the ministry,—it is by this means that hearts are moved, and sinners are turned to God. To the world such testimony may seem weakness and foolishness. Yet, like the ram’s horns, before whose blast the walls of Jericho fell down, this testimony is mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. The story of the crucified Lamb of God has proved in every age, the power of God unto salvation. Those who have done most for Christ’s cause in every part of the world, have been men like John the Baptist. They have not cried, Behold me, or Behold the church, or Behold the ordinances, but “Behold the Lamb.” If souls are to be saved, men must be pointed directly to Christ.
   One thing, however, must never be forgotten. There must be patient continuance in preaching and teaching the truth, if we want good to be done. Christ must be set forth again and again, as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” The story of grace must be told repeatedly,—line upon line, and precept upon precept. It is the constant dropping which wears away the stone. The promise shall never be broken, that “God’s word shall not return unto him void.” (Isaiah lv. 11.) But it is nowhere said that it shall do good the very first time that it is preached. It was not the first proclamation of John the Baptist, but the second, which made Andrew and his companion follow Jesus.
   We see, for another thing, what good a believer may do to others, by speaking to them about Christ.
   No sooner does Andrew become a disciple, than he tells his brother Simon what a discovery he has made. Like one who has unexpectedly heard good tidings, he hastens to impart it to the one nearest and dearest to him. He says to his brother, “We have found the Messias,” and he “brings him to Jesus.” Who can tell what might have happened if Andrew had been of a silent, reserved, and uncommunicative spirit, like many a Christian in the present day? Who can tell but his brother might have lived and died a fisherman on the Galilean lake? But happily for Simon, Andrew was not a man of this sort. He was one whose heart was so full that he must speak.
   And to Andrew’s out-spoken testimony, under God, the great apostle Peter owed the first beginning of light in his soul.
   The fact before us is most striking and instructive. Out of the three first members of the Christian Church, one at least was brought to Jesus, by the private, quiet word of a relative. He seems to have heard no public preaching. He saw no mighty miracle wrought. He was not convinced by any powerful reasoning. He only heard his brother telling him that he had found a Saviour himself, and at once the work began in his soul. The simple testimony of a warm-hearted brother was the first link in the chain by which Peter was drawn out of the world, and joined to Christ. The first blow in that mighty work by which Peter was made a pillar of the Church, was struck by Andrew’s words, “We have found the Christ.”
   Well would it be for the Church of Christ, if all believers were more like Andrew! Well would it be for souls if all men and women who have been converted themselves, would speak to their friends and relatives on spiritual subjects, and tell them what they have found! How much good might be done! How many might be led to Jesus, who now live and die in unbelief! The work of testifying the Gospel of the grace of God ought not to be left to ministers alone. All who have received mercy ought to find a tongue, and to declare what God has done for their souls. All who have been delivered from the power of the devil, ought to “go home and tell their friends what great things God has done for them.” (Mark v. 19.) Thousands, humanly speaking, would listen to a word from a friend, who will not listen to a sermon. Every be