Freedom

O HOLY FATHER, thou hast freely given thy Son,
O DIVINE SON, thou hast freely paid my debt,
O ETERNAL SPIRIT, thou has 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 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 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 has 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, Puritan Prayers and Devotions, p.100-101