My Father,
Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips,
Give me words that proclaim ‘Love shines at Calvary.’
There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on your Son,
made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me;
There the sword of your justice struck the man, your Son;
There your infinite attributes were magnified,
and infinite atonement was made;
There infinite punishment was due,
and infinite punishment was endured.
Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,
cast off that I might be brought in,
crushed as an enemy
that I might be welcomed as a friend,
surrendered to hell’s worst
that I might obtain heaven’s best,
stripped that I might be clothed,
wounded that I might be healed,
thirsty that I might drink,
tormented that I might be comforted,
made a shame that I might inherit glory,
entered darkness that I might have eternal light.
My Saviour wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
groaned that I might have endless song,
endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
bore a crown of thorns that I might have a crown of glory,
bowed his head that I might uplift mine,
experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness,
died that I might for ever live.
O Father, who spared not your only Son that you might spare me,
All this substitution your love designed and accomplished;
Help me to worship you with my lips and my life.
O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise,
my every step carefree with delight, as I see
my enemies crushed,
Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed,
sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood,
hell’s gates closed, heaven’s door’s open.
Go forth, O conquering God, and show me the cross,
mighty to subdue, comfort and save.
https://takeupcross.com
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