IF we sin, our heavenly Father will correct us, in order to reclaim us; His strokes often fall heavy, and the effects remain for a long time. But He will not always chide; when we repent and confess, He pardons and restores. His anger is but for a moment; but His mercy is everlasting. He loves when He frowns, and pities while He reproves. "The Lord is gracious, full of compassion, and plenteous in mercy; He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities, for as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him." Let us not therefore despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when we are rebuked of Him; for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. In a little wrath He may hide His face from us for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will He have mercy on us, and prove Himself our Redeemer. His frowns are transient, but His love is everlasting. His strokes are few and light, but He daily loadeth us with benefits, and crowns the year with His bounty.
God will not always chide; And when His strokes are felt, His strokes are fewer than our crimes And lighter than our guilt: He chides us with a Father's heart, That we from Him may not depart.
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.
IF we sin, our heavenly Father will correct us, in order to reclaim us; His strokes often fall heavy, and the effects remain for a long time. But He will not always chide; when we repent and confess, He pardons and restores. His anger is but for a moment; but His mercy is everlasting. He loves when He frowns, and pities while He reproves. "The Lord is gracious, full of compassion, and plenteous in mercy; He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities, for as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him." Let us not therefore despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when we are rebuked of Him; for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. In a little wrath He may hide His face from us for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will He have mercy on us, and prove Himself our Redeemer. His frowns are transient, but His love is everlasting. His strokes are few and light, but He daily loadeth us with benefits, and crowns the year with His bounty.
God will not always chide; And when His strokes are felt, His strokes are fewer than our crimes And lighter than our guilt: He chides us with a Father's heart, That we from Him may not depart.