“The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, smith the Lord of Hosts, and in this place I will give peace, saith the Lord of Hosts.”
WHEN first the gospel of Thy grace,
O Lord, my God, my heart receiv’d,
I felt a calm, a heavenly peace,
For on the Saviour I believ’d.
But now, as years have rolled by,
How far more rich that gospel seems,
How vast its breadth, how deep, how high,
How with eternal love it beams!
And so the Saviour’s precious blood
At first I view’d with thankful praise,
But since I’ve learn’d its deeper good,
A higher strain I’m call’d to raise.
I thought a little of the cross,
And of the sorrows of my Lord,
Gladly for Him I suffer’d loss,
And shame I willingly endur’d.
But, oh, His sufferings and His pain,
His sorrows and His agony,
I prove them now my greatest gain,
And to His stripes for healing fly.
His word, like honey to my taste,
I sipp’d its comforts day by day,
Drank at its streams with eager haste,
And joyfully went on my way.
But now that word is like a mine
Of wealth, yet richer far than gold;
Where God’s eternal Counsels shine,
Which His own Spirit doth unfold.
I read afresh its “line” on “line,”
I praise, I worship, I adore;
For all the promises are mine,
A heavenly, everlasting store!
The love which Christ has shown for me,
The great salvation He hath wrought,
Pardon for guilt so full and free,
And life eternal which He brought.
These fill’d with holy joy my heart,
And made me feel how I was blest,
How I in things above had part,
How great the treasures I possess’d!
But now, to Him who gave them all,
E’en from His gifts I gladly turn,
Before Himself delight to fall,
And His perfections love to learn.
Oh, may that word Himself a chord
Awake within my grateful breast;
Himself! my Saviour! Shepherd! Lord!
Himself, my place of deepest rest!