Old Sandals

I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad. Ps. 119:96

Your commandments, O Lord, are very comprehensive. You are Lord of all.

Life is full of different pursuits, different specialties, different interests. But no one of them is an end in itself.  A man may be a classical pianist who, through years of study and practice, is able to play even the most complicated pieces perfectly. And yet the piano is not the telos of his existence.

The LORD is the telos. “For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things, to Whom be the glory forever.”

 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath. Ps. 90:9

We are all the children of wrath. We are all dying. But Christ has conquered death. He has borne our sins in his own body on the tree, that, having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. Acts 7:57-58

The martyrdom of Stephen was a very evil act. And violently so.

The root of all evil is unbelief. Sometimes unbelief wears a bloody cloak. Sometimes a filthy cloak. More often, however, unbelief is more politely dressed. No matter the outward garb, the root—-the evil heart of unbelief—-is the same.

While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care, and everywhere that man can be, Thou, God, art present there.
Isaac Watts

“Lift up your eyes, and look on fields…”

Lord, help me—help us—to that.

Behold us, Lord, before Thee met
Whom each bright angel serves and fears,
Who on Thy throne rememberest yet
Thy spotless boyhood’s quiet years;
Whose feet the hills of Nazareth trod,
Who art true Man and perfect God.

To Thee we look, in Thee confide,
Our help is in Thine own dear Name;
For who on Jesus e’er relied,
And found not Jesus still the same?
Thus far Thy love our souls hath brought:
O stablish well what Thou hast wrought.

From Thee was our baptismal grace,
The holy seed by Thee was sown;
And now before our Father’s face
We make the three great vows our own,
And ask, in Thine appointed way,
Confirm us in Thy grace today.

We need Thee more than tongue can speak,
’Mid foes that well might cast us down;
But thousands, once as young and weak,
Have fought the fight, and won the crown;
We ask the help that bore them through;
We trust the Faithful and the True.

So bless us with the gift complete
By hands of Thy chief pastors giv’n,
That awful Presence kind and sweet,
Which comes in sevenfold might from Heav’n;
Eternal Christ, to Thee we bow:
Give us Thy Spirit here and now.

William Bright
1865

Blessed Savior, Who hast taught me
I should live to Thee alone,
All these years Thy hand hath brought me
Since I first was made Thine own.
At the font my vows were spoken
By my parents in the Lord;
That my vows shall be unbroken
At the altar I record.

I would trust in Thy protecting
Wholly rest upon Thine arm,
Follow wholly Thy directing,
O my only Guard from harm.
Meet me now with Thy salvation
In Thy Church’s ordered way;
Let me feel Thy confirmation
In Thy truth and fear today,

So that might and firmness gaining,
Hope in danger, joy in grief,
Now and evermore remaining
In the one and true belief,
Resting in the Savior’s merit,
Strengthened with the Spirit’s strength
With Thy saints I may inherit
All my Father’s joy at length.

John Mason Neale

Savior, sprinkle many nations,
Fruitful let Thy sorrows be;
By Thy pains and consolations
Draw the Gentiles unto Thee.
Of Thy Cross the wondrous story,
Be it to the nations told;
Let them see Thee in Thy glory
And Thy mercy manifold.

Let to mortals all be given
Thee to know and life to gain,
Thee, the very God of heaven,
Thee, the Man for sinners slain.
Speak Thou hope to ev’ry mortal
Thro’ the Gospel, sweet and blest;
Lead them thro’ Thy kingdom’s portal
To eternal peace and rest.

Great the need in ev’ry nation,
Dense the darkness of sin’s night;
Let Thy Spirit bring salvation,
Love’s pure flame, and wisdom’s light.
Give the Word, Thy preachers strengthen
With the prophets’ pow’r of old,
Help them Zion’s cords to lengthen,
All Thy wand’ring sheep to fold.

Arthur C. Coxe
1851

O Lord, you are my inheritance and my cup…” Ps. 16:5

My inheritance. My heritage. My past (I am forgiven), my present (I am blessed), my future (I am in awe!).

Jesus sinners doth receive;
Oh, may all this saying ponder
Who in sin’s delusions live
And from God and heaven wander!
Here is hope for all who grieve–
Jesus sinners doth receive.

We deserve but grief and shame,
Yet His words, rich grace revealing,
Pardon, peace, and life proclaim.
Here their ills have perfect healing
Who with humble hearts believe–
Jesus sinners doth receive.

Sheep that from the fold did stray
No true shepherd e’er forsaketh:
Weary souls that lost their way
Christ, the Shepherd, gently taketh
In His arms that they may live–
Jesus sinners doth receive.

Come, ye sinners, one and all,
Come, accept His invitation;
Come, obey His gracious call,
Come and take His free salvation!
Firmly in these words believe:
Jesus sinners doth receive.

I, a sinner, come to Thee
With a penitent confession;
Savior, mercy show to me
Grant for all my sins remission.
Let these words my soul relieve:
Jesus sinners doth receive.

Oh, how blest it is to know;
Were as scarlet my transgression,
It shall be as white as snow
By Thy blood and bitter Passion:
For these words I now believe:
Jesus sinners doth receive.

Now my conscience is at peace,
From the Law I stand acquitted;
Christ hath purchased my release
And my every sin remitted.
Naught remains my soul to grieve,–
Jesus sinners doth receive.

Jesus sinners doth receive.
Also I have been forgiven;
And when I this earth must leave,
I shall find an open heaven.
Dying, still to Him I cleave–
Jesus sinners doth receive.

Erdmann Neumeister
Early 18th century

God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ!
He, because I could not pay it, gave my full redemption price.
Do I need earth’s treasures many?  I have one worth more than any
That brought me salvation free, Lasting to eternity!

Sin, disturb my soul no longer: I am baptized into Christ!
I have comfort even stronger: Jesus’ cleansing sacrifice.
Should a guilty conscience seize me, since my baptism did release me
In a dear forgiving flood, sprinkling me with Jesus’ blood?

Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ!
Drop your ugly accusation; I am not so soon enticed.
Now that to the font I’ve traveled, all your might has come unraveled,
And, against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with me!

Death, you cannot end my gladness: I am baptized into Christ!
When I die, I leave all sadness to inherit paradise!
Though I lie in dust and ashes faith’s assurance brightly flashes:
Baptism has the strength divine to make life immortal mine.

There is nothing worth comparing to this lifelong comfort sure!
Open-eyed my grave is staring: Even there I’ll sleep secure.
Though my flesh awaits its raising, still my soul continues praising:
I am baptized into Christ; I’m a child of paradise!

Erdmann Neumeister
Early 18th century