THE glory of grace is its FREENESS: it fixes upon objects that are most unworthy; bestows upon them the richest blessings; raises them to the highest honour; promises them the greatest happiness; and all for its own glory. Nothing can be freer than grace, the glory of grace is its POWER: it conquers the stubbornest sinner; subdues the hardest hearts; tames the wildest wills; enlightens the darkest understandings; breaks off the strongest fetters; and invariably conquers its objects. Grace is omnipotent. The glory of grace is its BENEVOLENCE: it never injured one; it has delivered, supplied, conducted, supported, and glorified thousands; it brings the inexhaustible fulness of God to supply the creature's wants; it opens the treasury of heaven, to enrich poor, miserable, and wretched creatures on earth. Grace gives away all it has, reserving nothing for itself but the praise and glory of its acts. Jesus is grace personified; in Him it may be seen, in all its beauty, excellency, and loveliness; by Him it is displayed in all its native dignity. O Jesus! glorify Thy free powerful, and benevolent grace in me!
O grace, thou bottomless abyss, My sins are swallow'd up in thee; Cover'd is my unrighteousness; From condemnation I am free: For Jesus' blood, through earth and skies, Mercy, eternal mercy, cries.
Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.
James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841-1850. He also ministered with great blessing in Cheltenham. His devotional, The Believer's Daily Remembrancer, subtitled Pastor's Morning and Evening Visit, was very popular in its own day, and has received a new lease of life through recent republication.
THE glory of grace is its FREENESS: it fixes upon objects that are most unworthy; bestows upon them the richest blessings; raises them to the highest honour; promises them the greatest happiness; and all for its own glory. Nothing can be freer than grace, the glory of grace is its POWER: it conquers the stubbornest sinner; subdues the hardest hearts; tames the wildest wills; enlightens the darkest understandings; breaks off the strongest fetters; and invariably conquers its objects. Grace is omnipotent. The glory of grace is its BENEVOLENCE: it never injured one; it has delivered, supplied, conducted, supported, and glorified thousands; it brings the inexhaustible fulness of God to supply the creature's wants; it opens the treasury of heaven, to enrich poor, miserable, and wretched creatures on earth. Grace gives away all it has, reserving nothing for itself but the praise and glory of its acts. Jesus is grace personified; in Him it may be seen, in all its beauty, excellency, and loveliness; by Him it is displayed in all its native dignity. O Jesus! glorify Thy free powerful, and benevolent grace in me!
O grace, thou bottomless abyss, My sins are swallow'd up in thee; Cover'd is my unrighteousness; From condemnation I am free: For Jesus' blood, through earth and skies, Mercy, eternal mercy, cries.