in thee!”
God’s well-beloved Son,
Christ Jesus, speaks of me!
“Thou art all fair, my Love!”
He loved me, and He gave
Himself to taste of death
My worthless soul to save.
4 “Thou art all fair, my Love!”
His nail-pierced hands embrace
And draw me to His heart
With cords of deathless grace
“Thou art all fair, my Love!”
On Jesu’s riven breast,
My weary soul would lean,
And find in Him my rest.
5 “Thou art all fair, my Love!”
Mine eye in wonder scans
His visage, crowned with thorns,
More marred than any man’s:
“Thou art all fair, my Love!”
The words impart a kiss
In raptured faith received—
A taste of endless bliss!
6 “Thou art all fair, my Love!”
We all with open face
As through a darkling glass
Upon King Jesus gaze:
“Thou art all fair, my Love!”
Transfigured by His Word,
The Spirit fits the Bride
In likeness to her Lord.
7 “Thou art all fair, my Love!”
When Christ shall come again,
Upon His glorious Bride
No spot shall then remain.
“This is my Spouse Beloved,
My Father, and my Guide!”
With God the Three in One
We ever shall abide.
6.6.6.6.D
Preparatory Reading: Old Testament: Exodus 5; New Testament: Romans 1; Psalm: 29
1 Timothy 2:11–15
11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Let the woman learn: Modern minds can scarcely realize what a word the Holy Spirit has moved Paul to pen here. The Christian woman is commanded to learn—not merely permitted—but mandated as a full disciple of Christ, baptized into the Name of God Triune, to be taught to observe the Lord Jesus’ commandments, secured in the better part of sitting at Jesu’s feet to hear His Word (Matt 28:18–20; John 8:31–32; Luke 10:38, 42; Acts 8:12). Her intellect and conscience are recognized and devoted to read, reason, reflect and respond to Truth incarnate.
But more: this word falls from the Apostle Paul. As Saul of Tarsus he sat at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3); after the strictest, straitest sect of his religion he lived a Pharisee, exceeding zealous of tradition (Acts 23:6; 26:4–5; Gal 1:14). The traditions of the rabbis forbad women to learn the Law; but Paul, in whom God has revealed His Son to preach Him among the Gentiles, says, Let the woman learn (Gal 1:15–16; 1 Tim.2:7). The Savior who saved and sent Paul has given womankind a Word that sets us free. The Bible confirms the created order of man and woman: equal in God’s image; distinctive in glory; consecrated to reflect the unity and diversity of the Triune Godhead (1 Cor 11:1–4; (Gen 1:28).
This word has divine guidelines: let the woman learn in silence, with all subjection. Her subjection, as under the Law, is betokened by her silence (1 Cor 14:33–36). She enters the same silent subjection of faith which moved the blessed virgin Mary to say, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy Word” (Luke 11:38) and then to ponder all things in her heart (Luke 2:19, 51). Her faith made her blessed (Luke 1:45; 11:27–28).
When Paul says, Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection, he calls her into subjection not to man in himself, but to man under the Lord, and so at last to the Lord Himself (1 Cor 11:3,11–12). She expresses in her own unique way the silent subjection of all the Church to Christ, of the Bride to the Lamb. “Be still, and know that I am God” “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” “It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord” “But the Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.” (Ps 46:10; Isa 30:15; Lam 3:25–28; Zech 2:13; Hab 2:20).
30. For Me to live is Christ
1 For me to live is Christ,
To die is but my gain:
To live and die to Him
His love my heart constrains.
2 For me to live is Christ,
Who gave Himself for me
In love, that I might live
In Him from sin set free.
3 For me to live is Christ,
Who shed His precious Blood,
And died for the unjust,
To bring me back to God.
4 For me to live is Christ,
Who ever lives to plead
Before the Throne of grace
In every time of need.
5 For me to live is Christ:
My heart with longing burns
To see Him face to face:
Lord Jesus, soon return!
6 My life is hid with God
In Christ, who reigns above:
His Spirit in my heart
Sheds forth the Father’s love.
7 O Father, by Thy Son,
