AND what were the people whom He loved? Poor, oppressed, rebellious, stiff-necked, hard-hearted, unworthy creatures. Just such are His people by nature now. Such are we. Yet He loves us; pities us; and distinguishes us from others around us. He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all; and with Him He will freely give us all things. Though He has not yet all His people with Him, yet He has Jesus sitting at His right hand, who is their Representative; the express image and exact likeness of His elect. All the rays of His love centre in Him, who is the Head of His body the Church. All the streams of delight empty themselves into Him and through Him flow down to every believer on earth. As He loveth Jesus so He loveth us; while He loveth Jesus, He will love us; for Christ and we are one. What is done to us, is done to Him; and what is done to, or bestowed upon Him, as man and Mediator, is done to and bestowed upon us. O glorious mystery of infinite and eternal love! O direct my heart into this love of God!
O love of unexampled kind! That leaves all thought so far behind; Where length, and breadth, and depth, and height, Are lost to my astonish'd sight: Lord shed abroad that love of Thine In this poor sinful heart of mine.
Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.
James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841-1850. He also ministered with great blessing in Cheltenham. His devotional, The Believer's Daily Remembrancer, subtitled Pastor's Morning and Evening Visit, was very popular in its own day, and has received a new lease of life through recent republication.
AND what were the people whom He loved? Poor, oppressed, rebellious, stiff-necked, hard-hearted, unworthy creatures. Just such are His people by nature now. Such are we. Yet He loves us; pities us; and distinguishes us from others around us. He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all; and with Him He will freely give us all things. Though He has not yet all His people with Him, yet He has Jesus sitting at His right hand, who is their Representative; the express image and exact likeness of His elect. All the rays of His love centre in Him, who is the Head of His body the Church. All the streams of delight empty themselves into Him and through Him flow down to every believer on earth. As He loveth Jesus so He loveth us; while He loveth Jesus, He will love us; for Christ and we are one. What is done to us, is done to Him; and what is done to, or bestowed upon Him, as man and Mediator, is done to and bestowed upon us. O glorious mystery of infinite and eternal love! O direct my heart into this love of God!
O love of unexampled kind! That leaves all thought so far behind; Where length, and breadth, and depth, and height, Are lost to my astonish'd sight: Lord shed abroad that love of Thine In this poor sinful heart of mine.