BONDAGE.
The bondage was heavy upon this people.—Nehemiah, v. 18.
They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free.—John, viii. 33.
And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land: and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.—Acts, vii. 6.
The creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.—Romans, viii. 21.
Put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.—Colossians, iii. 14.
Deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.—Hebrews, ii. 15.
Get up, my soul; redeem thy sluggish eyes
From drowsy bondage: O beware; be wise:
Thy foe’s before thee; thou must fight or fly:
Life lies most open in a closed eye.
Quarles.
Lamb of God, for sinners slain,
To thee I feebly pray;
Heal me of my grief and pain,
O take my sins away;
From this bondage Lord release;
No longer let me be opprest;
Jesus, Master, seal my peace,
And take me to thy breast.
Wesley.
My God, what silken cords are thine!
How soft, and yet how strong!
While power, and truth, and love combine,
To draw our souls along.
Thou sawest us crushed beneath the yoke
Of Satan and of sin:
Thy hand the iron bondage broke,
Our worthless hearts to win.
Drawn by such cords, we onward move,
Till round thy throne we meet;
And, captive in the chains of love,
Embrace our conqueror’s feet.
Doddridge.