331. Father, Thy Sovereign Love Has Sought

L.M.
by J.N. Darby, 1880
1
Father, Thy sovereign love has sought
 
Captives to sin, gone far from Thee;
 
The work that Thine own Son hath wrought
 
Has brought us back in peace and free.
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Romans 6:14-22)
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
2
And now as sons before Thy face,
 
With joyful steps the path we tread,
 
Which leads us on to that blest place
 
Prepared for us by Christ our Head.
“To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4:5)
“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18)
3
Thou gav’st us, in eternal love,
 
To Him to bring us home to Thee,
 
Suited to Thine own thought above,
 
As sons like Him, with Him to be
“I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.” (John 17:6)
4
In Thine own house. There love divine
 
Fills the bright courts with cloudless joy;
 
But ’tis the love that made us Thine,
 
Fills all that house without alloy.
5
Oh boundless grace! what fills with joy
 
Unmingled all that enter there,
 
God’s nature, love without alloy,
 
Our hearts are given e’en now to share.
6
God’s righteousness with glory bright,
 
Which with its radiance fills that sphere,
 
E’en Christ, of God the power and light,
 
Our title is that light to share.
7
Oh mind divine, so must it be
 
That glory all belongs to God:
 
Oh love divine, that did decree
 
We should be part, through Jesus’ blood.
8
Oh keep us, love divine, near Thee,
 
That we our nothingness may know,
 
And ever to Thy glory be
 
Walking in faith while here below.
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Little Flock Hymnbook Index