Love Constraining to Obedience

Now these lyrics have power! Though this song was written 200 years ago it has tremendous power today. I recently heard a contemporary rendition - very nice.

Think of Christ's words in John 15 "I call you no more servants...but friends..." To think that through the Son of God we can obtain a "righteousness freely chosen."

This is good stuff!

To see the Law by Christ fulfilled,
To hear His pardoning voice,
Changes a slave into a child
And duty into choice.

No strength of nature can suffice,
To serve the Lord aright
And what she has, she misapplies,
For want of clearer light.

How long beneath the Law I lay,
In bondage and distress
I toiled the precept to obey,
But toiled without success.

Then to abstain from outward sin
Was more than I could do
Now if I feel its power within
I feel I hate it too.

Then all my servile works were done,
A righteousness to raise
Now, freely chosen in the Son,
I freely choose His ways.

Lyrics: William Cowper (1731-1800)