on Spiritual Subjects
1692-1765
"Here is a feast for souls who desire to feed on Christ; to have His glories opened out before them, and the riches of divine grace in all their fullness and freeness set forth. Here, too, is food for the 'lambs of the flock,' comfort for the sorrowing, and encouragement for the weak and trembling ones. There is in these letters a union of doctrinal, experimental, and practical teaching, rarely found in combination."
This monster, pride—this hellish sin
We live in a world of changes!
A sweet soft bosom to rest our weary heads
Weeping may endure for a night
Live, and bathe, and dive, to a blessed eternity!
Our Captain-Leader, the Lord our Lover
Worth infinitely more than millions of worlds!
Who makes you differ from thousands?
Why was not our lot with devils and damned spirits?
It is a sweet thing to suffer with Christ
Remaining enmity, sin, and ungodliness
Lie down in the bosom of Christ
Our light and momentary troubles
The bosom of His eternal Love!
My ingratitude, unkindness, and unfruitfulness
We live in a world of snares and sins
Bottomless, boundless, endless love!
Oh, the heights, depths, lengths, and breadths of grace!
Transcendent, soul-attracting glories
The Lord can work by whom He will.
Does the lion of hell roar at you?
Heart-ravishing and soul-attracting
The soft embraces of those sweet arms
The cup of damnation and salvation
Oh, why me, the chief of sinners
Really a work of grace or not?
Oh, why was not I left among the ignorant
Oh, I am confounded at my own vileness
Adore the grace which opens our eyes
The sweet clusters of Canaan's grapes
The valley of the shadow of death
This frowning, emptying providence
Not a trouble could touch you!
The wonder and joy of heaven and earth
Oh, what a heap of empty vanities and cruel vexations
In the sweet bosom, in the kind arms
And lead us not into temptation
Overcome us! Melt us! Draw us!
The most weak and unfit instruments
Religious parentage and education