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Friday, April 03, 2009

Love to enemies

Psalm 35 Part 2 v.12-14, C. M.

Love to enemies; or, The love of Christ to sinners typify'd in David.

Behold the love, the generous love,
That holy David shows;
Behold his kind compassion move
To his afflicted foes!

When they are sick his soul complains,
And seems to feel the smart;
The spirit of the gospel reigns,
And melts his pious heart.

How did his flowing tears condole
As for a brother dead!
And fasting mortified his soul,
While for their life he prayed.

They groaned, and cursed him on their bed,
Yet still he pleads and mourns;
And double blessings on his head
The righteous God returns.

O glorious type of heavenly grace!
Thus Christ the Lord appears;
While sinners curse, the Savior prays,
And pities them with tears.

He, the true David, Israel's King,
Blest and beloved of God,
To save us rebels, dead in sin,
Paid his own dearest blood.


Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
The Psalms of David, 1719.

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