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 buoyant 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, mighty to subdue, comfort and save.
-from 'The Valley of Vision'
Wow. That is a beautiful, powerful prayer. There was a line in Spurgeon's Evening by Evening the other day... Let's see if I can find it...
"But Jesus is "yea, and...Amen" in all His offices. He was a Priest to pardon and cleanse once, and He is Amen as Priest still. He was a King to rule and reign for His people and to defend them with His mighty arm, and He is an Amen King, the same still. He was a Prophet of old to foretell good things to come, and His lips are sweet and drip with honey still. He is an Amen Prophet. He is Amen as to the merit of His blood, and He is Amen as to His righteousness. That sacred robe will remain fair and glorious although nature will decay. He is Amen in every single title that he bears; your Husband, never seeking a divorce; your Friend, sticking closer than a brother; your Shepherd, with you in death's dark vale. He is your help and your deliverer; your castle and your high tower; the horn of your strength, your confidence; your joy, your all in all, and in everything, your "yea, and...Amen."
Thank you so much for that, Abigail. :)
"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
What splendid majesty in abasement, what hope when all hope was lost! What all did it cost to redeem mankind and creation...? The thought is a sobering one. Yet so heady and uplifting! You cannot look unto Jesus in any part of him without feeling a sense of relieved smallness, of utter and happy dependence.
I'm also put in mind of Spurgeon's words, words he put in Satan's mouth, perhaps, but which are potent nonetheless"
"See," said Satan, "thou hast a friend nowhere! Thy Father hath shut up the bowels of His compassion against Thee. Not an angel in His courts will stretch out his hand to help Thee. All heaven is alienated from Thee. Thou art left alone. See the companions with whom Thou hast taken sweet counsel; what are they worth? Son of Mary, see there Thy brother James, see there Thy beloved disciple John, and Thy bold apostle Peter: how the cowards sleep when Thou art in Thy sufferings! Lo! Thou hast no friend left in heaven or earth. All hell is against Thee. I have stirred up mine infernal den. I have sent my missives throughout all regions, summoning every prince of darkness to set upon Thee this night, and we will spare no arrows, we will use all our infernal might to overwhelm Thee; and what wilt Thou do, Thou solitary one?"
What wilt Thou do, Thou solitary one?
Why, be crushed for us! and in his crushed estate redeem the lost, take back what is his own, break the death and the power of death, take captivity captive, and give gifts to men. Go forth, O conquering God, and show me the cross, mighty to subdue, comfort and save.
Amen.