Love Constraining To Obedience

by William Cowper

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

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

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

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

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

3. 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.

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

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

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

 

*Post script:  God’s redeeming love graciously imposes limitations – wherein the children of God find true liberty (e.g. like the limitation imposed on a fish in water …God’s Word, and God’s bride & body [the church], are to a Christian what water is to a fish.  A fish might nurture the notion, that to be liberated from the water [if only for a day or a week] would result in life, satisfaction, and security …but the fish would be gravely mistaken).  To embrace true Christian Liberty is to embrace and relish the loving limitations (the privileged parameters of obedience) of our Sovereign, Infinitely Wise & Gracious Lord.  See Hebrews 10:23-25; 12:7-11; 13:17, 20-21.