Love Lustres At Calvary

My Father,
 Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips,
 supply words that proclaim 'Love lustres at Calvary.'
There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on Thy Son,
    made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me;
There the sword of Thy justice smote the man,
   Thy fellow;
There Thy infinite attributes were magnified,
  and infinite atonement was made;
There infinite punishment was due,
  and infinite punishment was endured.
Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,
  cast off that I might be brought in,
   trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend,
  surrendered to hell's worst that I might attain heaven's best,
  stripped that I might be clothed,
  wounded that I might be healed,
  athirst that I might drink,
  tormented that I might be comforted,
  made a shame that I might inherit glory,
  entered darkness that I might have eternal light.
My Saviour wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
  groaned that I might have endless song,
  endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
   bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem,
   bowed His head that I might uplift mine,
   experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
   closed His eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness,
   expired that I might for ever live.
O Father, who spared not Thine only Son that Thou mightest spare me,
All this transfer Thy love designed and accomplished;
Help me to adore thee by lips and life.
O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise,
my every step bouyant with delight, as I see my enemies crushed,
   Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed,
  sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood,
  hell's gates closed, heaven's portal open.
 Go forth, O conquering God, and show me
    the cross, might to subdue, comfort, and save."

from The Valley of Vision

The Precious Blood

"Blessed Lord Jesus,
     Before Thy cross I kneel and see
     the heinousness of my sin,
     my iniquity that caused Thee to be 'made a curse',
     the evil that excites the severity of divine wrath.
 Show me the enormity of my guilt by the
    crown of thorns,
    the pierced hands and feet,
    the bruised body,
   the dying cries.
Thy blood is the blood of incarnate God,
  its worth infinite, its value beyond all thought.
Infinite must be the evil and guilt that demands such a price.
Sin is my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper,
   born in my birth,
   alive in my life,
   strong in my character,
   dominating my faculties,
   following me as a shadow,
   intermingling with my every thought,
   my chain that holds me captive in the empire of my soul.
Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light, 
   the air supply breath,
   the earth bear my tread,
   its fruits nourish me,
   its creatures subserve my ends?
Yet Thy compassions yearn over me,
      Thy heart hastens to my rescue,
      Thy love endured my curse,
      Thy mercy bore my deserved stripes,
      Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths of humiliaton,
           bathed in Thy blood,
           tender of conscience,
           triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation."

from The Valley of Vision
     

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Remember, O My Soul,
 It is thy duty and priviledge to rejoice in God:
 He requires it of thee for all His favours of grace.
 Rejoice then in the Giver and His goodness,
 Be happy in Him, O my heart, and in nothing but God,
 for whatever a man trusts in,
 from that he expects happiness"

from "A Colloquy on Rejoicing" The Valley of Vision

"Thou Great and Only Potentate,
Thou hast made summer and winter, day and night;
each of these revolutions serves our welfare
and is full of Thy care and kindness.
Thy bounty is seen in the relations that train us,
The laws that defend us,
the homes that shelter us,
the food that builds us,
the raiment that comforts us,
the continuance of our health, members, senses, understading, memory, affection, will.
But as stars fade before the rising sun,
Thou hast eclipsed all these benefits
in the wisdom and grace that purposed
redemption by Jesus Thy Son.
Blessed be Thy mercy that laid help on
    one that si mighty and willing,
   one that is able to save to the uttermost.
Make us deeply sensible of our need of His saving grace,
          of the blood that cleanses,
          of the rest He has promised."

from "Bounty" Valley of Vision

"Jesus My Glory"

"O Lord God,
Thou hast commanded me to believe in Jesus;
  and I would flee to no other refuge,
            wash in no other fountain,
            build on no other foundation,
            receive from no other fulness,
            rest in no other relief.
His waterand blood were not severed in their flow at the cross,
   may they never be separated in my creed and experiences;
May I be equally convinced of the guilt and pollution of sin,
            feel my need of a prince and savior,
            implore of Him repentence as well as forgiveness,
            love holiness, and be pure in heart,
            have the mind of Jesus, and tread in His steps.
Let me not be at my own disposal,
 but rejoice that I am under the care of One who is too wise to err,
            too kind to injure,
            too tender to crush.
May I scandalized none by my temper and conduct, but
   recommend and endear Christ to all around,
   bestow good on every one as circumstances permit,
  and decline no opportunity of usefulness.
Grant that I may value my substance,
  not as the medium of pride and luxury,
  but as the means of my support and stewardship.
Help me to guide my affections with discretion,
to owe no man anything,
       to be able to give to him that needeth,
       to feel it my duty and pleasure to be merciful and forgiving,
        to show to the world the likeness of Jesus."

Valley of Vision