I WILL LOVE THEE, O LORD, MY STRENGTH

 

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
Psalm 18:1
 

REAL religion flows from God’s love to us,
and consists in our love to God.
 
Our love is excited and drawn forth by
  the displays of God’s love to us.
 
When he pardons our sins,
  speaks peace to our consciences,
  conquers our fears,
  relieves our distresses,
  supplies our wants,
  gives us victory over our foes, and
  enables us to call him our Father, then we love him.
 
Our love is sincere and hearty,
  supreme and abiding.
 
Not but it is interrupted in its exercise, and
  sometimes appears buried under the rubbish of our corruptions;
  but it will revive again,
  it will break forth anew.
 
Though damped, it never dies;
  it is like its author, immortal.
 
O to love God more!
 
O to enjoy his love shed abroad in our hearts more!
 
The Lord was David’s strength, deliver, and defence;
  he had proved the Lords power, faithfulness, and love;
  therefore he said, “I will love thee O Lord, my strength.”
 
Our God has been our strength,
  he is now our strength;
  let us therefore devoutly and earnestly pray
  the Holy Spirit to enable us to love;
     that so we may say, …
 

Thee will I love, my strength, my tower,

Thee will I love, my joy, my crown,

Thee will I love with all my power,

In all thy works, and thee alone,

Thee will I love till the pure fire,

Fill my whole soul with strong desire.

 
James Smith 1849