I HAVE LOVED THEE

 

FEBRUARY 27

I have loved thee with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

 

GOD’S love to his people, in every view of it,
  is wonderful.
 
They are so mean and insignificant, so sinful and depraved,
  that one can but wonder that he should at all regard them.
 
But his ways are not our ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts.
 
He loves his people,
  just because he will love them;
  not looking for anything in them
    to induce him to do so.
 
We cannot trace his love to its beginning, for its eternal;
  nor can we trace it to its close, for it is everlasting.
 
He ever did love us, he does love us now,
  and he ever will love us.
 
His love is sovereign, or freely exercise;
  his love is immutable, or never varies;
  his love is fruitful, or the source of it innumerable blessings;
  and his love is everlasting or will endure forever.
 
Beloved, if God loved us, no matter who hates us.
If God loves us, he will not allow any thing to harm us.
If God loves us, he will certainly supply us.
But if God loves us, he will expect us to love him in return;
  and if his love to us is so great,
  he will expect us to love him above every thing besides.
 

Since thy love had no beginning,

And shall never, never cease;

Keep, O keep me, Lord from sinning!

Guide me in the way of peace!

Make me walk in

All the paths of holiness.

 
 
James Smith 1849