We are tied and bound by its
enslaving chain, by Henry Law. For you know that it was not
with perishable things, such as silver or gold, that you were
redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from
your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb
without blemish or defect, 1 Peter 1, 18 and 19. Blessed Jesus, we kneel before
your cross, humbly praying that through your Spirit power may
come forth from it to show us more deeply the heinousness of
our sin. We see you laden with our iniquities. What must iniquity be if there
can be no pardon except that you should thus expire in agony? we see the outgoing severity
of divine wrath. What must that evil be which
thus requires it? In that crown of thorns, in those
pierced hands and feet, in those bleeding wounds, in that bruised
frame, in that dying cry, we are taught the enormity of our
guilt. We know that the worth of your
blood is infinite. Its precious value exceeds all
thought. Infinite, therefore, must be
the evil for which it is the only ransom. Exceeding all thought
must be the guilt, which requires such a great price. In your death
we see the tremendous guilt of our sins. We see it, and we cast
ourselves in the lowliest humility before you. Sin is the malady
which so sorely afflicts us. It cleaves to us as our very
skin. It is born in our birth. It lives
in our lives. It adheres to us when we lie
down to die. It follows us as our very shadow. It intermingles in our every
thought. When we go forth, it is by our
side. When we come in, it still accompanies
us. We are tied and bound by its
enslaving chain. At your cross, we are taught
how terrible is the evil of sin. We see how unutterable is the
wrath which it so righteously deserves. laden with our mountains
of sins, we come to you for refuge, looking to you and striving to
estimate more and more the riches of redeeming grace. We loathe
and abhor ourselves as fully sin-soiled and polluted. We marvel that the sun consents
to give us light, The air consents to supply breath. The earth consents
to bear our tread. The fruit tree consents to nourish
us. Your creatures consent to serve
our use. Because of us, the whole creation
groans and travails. Justly might all things, animate
and inanimate, Rise in abhorrence of us. How much more do we marvel,
precious Jesus, That your compassionate heart yearned over us, That your
love hastened to our rescue? that you endured all our curse
and all our guilt. We bless you while we hide our
heads in deepest shame. Gracious Saviour, may the sight
of your unutterable sufferings excite in us due detestation
of this monster sin. O forbid it, that we should ever
daily with that foe which brought you to such anguish! Forbid it! that we should fondle in our
breasts that viper which stung you to death. Forbid it, that
we should lightly regard that sin which kindled the flames
of hell, from which nothing but your dying love could snatch
us. May we hate it with unrelenting hate. May we abhor it with abhorrence,
only exceeded by the infinite love with which we desire infinitely
to love you, our adorable Saviour. But while we pray that henceforth
we may increasingly abominate all evil, we know that Without
your grace, our traitorous hearts will look treacherously back.
It has often deceived us. It has often betrayed us. Bind
our truant heart more closely to yourself. Never allow it to
stray. You are our only Redeemer. You are our only help. Repentance and strength and pardon
are the free gifts of your grace. We adore you, that you are exalted
to be Lord and Saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of
sins to your people. Fill us, we beg you, with godly
sorrow. From the depths of our humiliation
we cry aloud to the heights of your mercy. Having died to deliver
us from the punishment of our sins, we trust you to deliver
us from their power. Hear us, we earnestly beseech
you. Amen. Search me, O God, and know my
heart. Test me, and know my anxious
thoughts. Point out anything in me that
offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139, 23, 24