"The Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day-time, and in the
night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my
life." - Psalm 42:8
Both night and day open sources of comfort, when Jesus is present, and
when Jesus sanctifies. How, indeed, my soul, canst thou be otherwise
than comfortable, while Jesus is with thee, and manifesting himself
unto thee? And do observe, my soul, the sweet expression in this verse.
Thy Lord, thy Jesus, will both create blessings and command them. His
loving-kindness, which is better than life itself will make daylight in
the soul, when otherwise it is night. And his love will shine, as the
stars in the darkest night sparkle with more lustre, with increasing
brightness, when dark providences are around. Nay, Jesus will give
songs in the night, when all things else are out of tune. Do thou,
Lord, do thou, my Lord, command then thy loving-kindness both by day
and night, and my prayer and praise shall both go forth to thee, the
God of my life; and "It shall put more gladness in my heart, than when
corn, and wine, and oil increase."
1 Corinthians 3:22-23
"All are yours; and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." - 1 Corinthians 3:22-23
Oh what a rich inventory is here. All things, all blessings, all gifts, all grace, all mercy; all, all the Christian's. And observe, my soul, on what it is suspended - "If ye are Christ's." And whose art thou, my soul, but his? Hath not the Father given thee to him? And hath not the Son of God bought thee with a price? Hast thou not made a voluntary surrender of thyself to Jesus, and given thyself to him in an everlasting covenant which cannot be broken? Oh yes, yes, all this is certain. Lord, grant me grace and faith in lively exercise, that I may now take to myself all the blessedness of it by anticipation; until I come to realize the whole in absolute enjoyment in glory. Christ is mine, and with him, heaven is mine. God the Father is mine, the Holy Ghost is mine, all covenant blessings are mine; ordinances, means of grace, the holy book of God, all are mine here, and will be my portion for evermore. Hallelujah.
Oh what a rich inventory is here. All things, all blessings, all gifts, all grace, all mercy; all, all the Christian's. And observe, my soul, on what it is suspended - "If ye are Christ's." And whose art thou, my soul, but his? Hath not the Father given thee to him? And hath not the Son of God bought thee with a price? Hast thou not made a voluntary surrender of thyself to Jesus, and given thyself to him in an everlasting covenant which cannot be broken? Oh yes, yes, all this is certain. Lord, grant me grace and faith in lively exercise, that I may now take to myself all the blessedness of it by anticipation; until I come to realize the whole in absolute enjoyment in glory. Christ is mine, and with him, heaven is mine. God the Father is mine, the Holy Ghost is mine, all covenant blessings are mine; ordinances, means of grace, the holy book of God, all are mine here, and will be my portion for evermore. Hallelujah.
Colossians 3:11
"Christ is all, and in all." - Colossians 3:11
Hail, thou great, thou glorious, thou universal Lord. To thee, blessed Jesus, every knee shall bow. Thou art all in all in creation, redemption, providence, grace, glory. Thou art all in all in thy church, and in the hearts of thy people: in all their joys, all their happiness, all their exercises, all their privileges. Thou art the all in all in thy word, ordinances, means of grace, the sum and substance of the whole bible. Speak we of promises? - Thou art the first promise in the sacred word, and the whole of every promise that follows- for all in thee are yea and amen. Speak we of the law? "Thou art the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." Speak we of sacrifices? "By thy one sacrifice thou hast forever perfected them that are sanctified." Speak we of the prophecies? - "To thee give all the prophets witness, that whosoever believeth in thee shall receive remission of sins." Yes, blessed, blessed Jesus, thou art the all in all. Be thou to me, Lord, the all in all I need in time, and then surely thou wilt be my all in all to all eternity.
Hail, thou great, thou glorious, thou universal Lord. To thee, blessed Jesus, every knee shall bow. Thou art all in all in creation, redemption, providence, grace, glory. Thou art all in all in thy church, and in the hearts of thy people: in all their joys, all their happiness, all their exercises, all their privileges. Thou art the all in all in thy word, ordinances, means of grace, the sum and substance of the whole bible. Speak we of promises? - Thou art the first promise in the sacred word, and the whole of every promise that follows- for all in thee are yea and amen. Speak we of the law? "Thou art the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." Speak we of sacrifices? "By thy one sacrifice thou hast forever perfected them that are sanctified." Speak we of the prophecies? - "To thee give all the prophets witness, that whosoever believeth in thee shall receive remission of sins." Yes, blessed, blessed Jesus, thou art the all in all. Be thou to me, Lord, the all in all I need in time, and then surely thou wilt be my all in all to all eternity.
Isaiah 65:20
"There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that
hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old,
but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. " - Isaiah 65:20
My soul, contemplate this morning the auspicious and blessed effects brought into the circumstances of mankind by the gospel. Not only shall there be new heavens, and a new earth, but new hearts, new minds, new dispositions to enjoy them. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, and all things are become new." And among the many blessed changes that shall take place in consequence of Jesus's salvation, all untimely deaths are done away. Indeed, there can be no such thing as an untimely death to those who are in Christ: for a voice from heaven pronounces all blessed that die in the Lord. A child new born, if born also in Christ, an ‘infant. of a day, if a gracious day, is as ripe for glory as if an hundred years had passed over him. Indeed, he is an hundred years old in Jesus. Sweet thought! what a blessedness, dearest Jesus, hath thy great salvation introduced into the circumstances of thy people. But what an awful thought - the life of an unawakened, unregenerated sinner, though protracted to an hundred years, is lengthened only to misery. As he came into the world, so he goes through it, and so he goes out of it - an unrenewed sinner. Oh distinguishing grace! Oh great salvation!
My soul, contemplate this morning the auspicious and blessed effects brought into the circumstances of mankind by the gospel. Not only shall there be new heavens, and a new earth, but new hearts, new minds, new dispositions to enjoy them. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, and all things are become new." And among the many blessed changes that shall take place in consequence of Jesus's salvation, all untimely deaths are done away. Indeed, there can be no such thing as an untimely death to those who are in Christ: for a voice from heaven pronounces all blessed that die in the Lord. A child new born, if born also in Christ, an ‘infant. of a day, if a gracious day, is as ripe for glory as if an hundred years had passed over him. Indeed, he is an hundred years old in Jesus. Sweet thought! what a blessedness, dearest Jesus, hath thy great salvation introduced into the circumstances of thy people. But what an awful thought - the life of an unawakened, unregenerated sinner, though protracted to an hundred years, is lengthened only to misery. As he came into the world, so he goes through it, and so he goes out of it - an unrenewed sinner. Oh distinguishing grace! Oh great salvation!
Exodus 2:24
"And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant." - Exodus 2:24
This is a precious scripture. My soul, put a note upon it. No sigh, no groan, no tear of God's people can pass unobserved. He putteth the tears of his people in his bottle. Surely then he can never overlook what gives vent to those tears, the sorrows of the soul. Our spiritual afflictions Jesus knows, and numbers all. How sweet the thought! the Spirit maketh intercession for the saints with the groanings which they cannot utter. And do, my soul, observe the cause of deliverance. Not our sighs, nor our groanings, nor our brokenness of heart; not these, for what benefit can these render to an holy God? But God hath respect in all to his own everlasting covenant. Yes, Jesus is the all in all of the covenant. God the Father hath respect to him. For his sake, for his righteousness, for his atoning blood, the groanings of his people find audience at the mercy-seat and redress. And God hath respect to his own word, his oath, his promises to his dear Son. Oh blessed assurance - Oh precious security! How shall any poor groaning child of God go unheard, unpardoned, unrelieved, who hath double security in the glory of God the Father's sovereign grace, and covenant word and oath to depend upon; and the everlasting covenant righteousness, and atoning blood of God the Son, to be found in? Here, my soul, rest, forever rest, thy sure claim to grace and glory.
This is a precious scripture. My soul, put a note upon it. No sigh, no groan, no tear of God's people can pass unobserved. He putteth the tears of his people in his bottle. Surely then he can never overlook what gives vent to those tears, the sorrows of the soul. Our spiritual afflictions Jesus knows, and numbers all. How sweet the thought! the Spirit maketh intercession for the saints with the groanings which they cannot utter. And do, my soul, observe the cause of deliverance. Not our sighs, nor our groanings, nor our brokenness of heart; not these, for what benefit can these render to an holy God? But God hath respect in all to his own everlasting covenant. Yes, Jesus is the all in all of the covenant. God the Father hath respect to him. For his sake, for his righteousness, for his atoning blood, the groanings of his people find audience at the mercy-seat and redress. And God hath respect to his own word, his oath, his promises to his dear Son. Oh blessed assurance - Oh precious security! How shall any poor groaning child of God go unheard, unpardoned, unrelieved, who hath double security in the glory of God the Father's sovereign grace, and covenant word and oath to depend upon; and the everlasting covenant righteousness, and atoning blood of God the Son, to be found in? Here, my soul, rest, forever rest, thy sure claim to grace and glory.
Jeremiah 33:13
"And in the cities of Judah shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the Lord." - Jeremiah 33:13
See, my soul, what a blessed scripture is here. Meditate upon it, this morning. Whose hands can these be but Jesus's? For whose are the flocks but his? Is he not in all the scripture said to be a Shepherd, and the good Shepherd that giveth his life for the sheep? And would he give his life for sheep lie knew not? Surely that is impossible. Moreover, did not the Father give them to him? Did he not receive them from the Father? And did he not know them and count them over, when he received them? "I know my sheep," saith Jesus, "and am known of mine." And observe, the flocks are said to pass again under his hands. A plain proof that they have all passed before. Nay, is it not said, that he telleth them? Yes, "He calleth them all by name, and, leadeth them forth, and goeth before them." And he saith himself, "Of all thou hast given me, I have lost none." Precious scripture of a most precious Saviour! How then can any be lost? If Jesus knew them when he received them, counted them over, set his seal upon them, and they must all pass again under his Almighty hand, how shall one, even one, be found wanting, when he maketh up his jewels? Poor weather-beaten shorn lamb of Jesus's fold, whosoever thou art, think of these things, when wandering, or cold, or in darkness, or on the mountains. Jesus will seek thee out in the dark and cloudy day. He will bring thee home, and thou shalt lie in his bosom, and by and by dwell with him forever; for he is, he must, he will still be, Jesus.
Song of Solomon 1:11
"We will make thee borders of gold, with studs of silver." - Song of Solomon 1:11
My soul, ponder over these words. What borders of gold shall be made for the believer, but the robe of Jesus's righteousness? And what silver, but the garment of his salvation? If thou art clothed with this, my soul, thou wilt shine indeed with more lustre than all the embroidery of gold and precious stones, which perish with using. But mark, my soul, who it is that makes them, and who puts them on thee - surely none but God. And observe how all the persons of the Godhead are engaged in this work. "We will make thee," is the language. Yes, Jehovah, Elohim, who said, "Let us make man," at the original creation; the same now saith, at the new creation, "We will make thee borders of gold, with studs of silver." And is it not the hand of God the Father in this blessed, gracious act, in the gift of his Son to the poor sinner? Is it not Jesus who hath wrought out a robe of salvation for the poor sinner? And is it not the Holy Ghost who puts on the blessed adorning upon the poor sinner, in taking of the things of Jesus, and shewing unto him? Oh precious testimony of a precious God in Christ! Be it unto me, Lord, according to thy word. Let me be thus clothed and adorned, and I shall be happy now, and happy to all eternity.
My soul, ponder over these words. What borders of gold shall be made for the believer, but the robe of Jesus's righteousness? And what silver, but the garment of his salvation? If thou art clothed with this, my soul, thou wilt shine indeed with more lustre than all the embroidery of gold and precious stones, which perish with using. But mark, my soul, who it is that makes them, and who puts them on thee - surely none but God. And observe how all the persons of the Godhead are engaged in this work. "We will make thee," is the language. Yes, Jehovah, Elohim, who said, "Let us make man," at the original creation; the same now saith, at the new creation, "We will make thee borders of gold, with studs of silver." And is it not the hand of God the Father in this blessed, gracious act, in the gift of his Son to the poor sinner? Is it not Jesus who hath wrought out a robe of salvation for the poor sinner? And is it not the Holy Ghost who puts on the blessed adorning upon the poor sinner, in taking of the things of Jesus, and shewing unto him? Oh precious testimony of a precious God in Christ! Be it unto me, Lord, according to thy word. Let me be thus clothed and adorned, and I shall be happy now, and happy to all eternity.
Philippians 4:3
"Whose names are in the book of life." - Philippians 4:3
How is this known? It must be a blessed privilege this, and highly desirable to attain, if there be a truly scriptural testimony to it. That there is a book of life, in which the record is made of the people of the Lamb, is without all dispute, from many parts of scripture. The church of the first-born are said to have their names written in heaven; such as are chosen of God in Christ before the world began. But these are secret things which belong to the Lord our God. Yet it is said, "the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his covenant." Hence therefore, is not the bible a copy of this book of life? Are there not scriptural marks and characters given, by which the correspondence is proved? In both, they are distinguished by one and the same name and character. They are called the people, the seed, the offspring of Jesus. They are his, by gift, by purchase, by conquest, by a voluntary surrender. They are known by the character as well as by name. They seek salvation only in Jesus. God is their Father, Jesus their Redeemer, the Holy Ghost their sanctifier. My soul, see thy name in bible characters answering to this persuasion, and be assured that the original writing of the book of life in heaven, and the book of God for life upon earth, is his written word, is in exact correspondence. Blessed Jesus! give me in this way to know whose I am and to whom I belong, and then assured shall I be that my name is in the book of life.
How is this known? It must be a blessed privilege this, and highly desirable to attain, if there be a truly scriptural testimony to it. That there is a book of life, in which the record is made of the people of the Lamb, is without all dispute, from many parts of scripture. The church of the first-born are said to have their names written in heaven; such as are chosen of God in Christ before the world began. But these are secret things which belong to the Lord our God. Yet it is said, "the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his covenant." Hence therefore, is not the bible a copy of this book of life? Are there not scriptural marks and characters given, by which the correspondence is proved? In both, they are distinguished by one and the same name and character. They are called the people, the seed, the offspring of Jesus. They are his, by gift, by purchase, by conquest, by a voluntary surrender. They are known by the character as well as by name. They seek salvation only in Jesus. God is their Father, Jesus their Redeemer, the Holy Ghost their sanctifier. My soul, see thy name in bible characters answering to this persuasion, and be assured that the original writing of the book of life in heaven, and the book of God for life upon earth, is his written word, is in exact correspondence. Blessed Jesus! give me in this way to know whose I am and to whom I belong, and then assured shall I be that my name is in the book of life.
Luke 10:19
"Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy." - Luke 10:19
Astonishing the mercy, and wonderful the privilege manifested to the followers of the Lamb! Poor, and weak, and helpless, as they are in themselves, yet how strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus! My soul, never lose sight of these blessed things. In Jesus thou art not only a conqueror, but more than conqueror. As the armies in heaven overcame by the blood of the Lamb, so here below, it is all in him, and by him, the victory is obtained. God will bruise-Satan under our feet shortly; but it is God that must bruise him, and it is he that must put him under our feet. Oh for grace to see where our strength is, and as cheerfully to ascribe all to him; that He, in whom we are made to tread on serpents and scorpions, may have the glory due to his name, that He who gives the strength may have the praise.
Astonishing the mercy, and wonderful the privilege manifested to the followers of the Lamb! Poor, and weak, and helpless, as they are in themselves, yet how strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus! My soul, never lose sight of these blessed things. In Jesus thou art not only a conqueror, but more than conqueror. As the armies in heaven overcame by the blood of the Lamb, so here below, it is all in him, and by him, the victory is obtained. God will bruise-Satan under our feet shortly; but it is God that must bruise him, and it is he that must put him under our feet. Oh for grace to see where our strength is, and as cheerfully to ascribe all to him; that He, in whom we are made to tread on serpents and scorpions, may have the glory due to his name, that He who gives the strength may have the praise.
Hebrews 7:22
"Jesus made a surety." - Hebrews 7:22
My soul, look at Jesus as a Surety, and as "made the Surety" this morning! Blessed view, if so be the Holy Ghost will enlighten thine eyes to see him under all these characters. First; a Surety. "We are all ruined by a debt incapable of ever being paid by any, or by all, the fallen sons of Adam. Jesus steps in, becomes a Surety for our debt, and pays the whole by his obedience and death. But we owe a duty also, as well as a debt. Jesus becomes here again the Surety. He will put his Spirit in us, and we shall live. He becomes also a Surety for promises, that all God hath promised for his sake, shall be fulfilled in him, and in us for him. But he is not only a Surety, but made a Surety; for the Father's name, and the Father's authority, is in him. It is God the Father which saith, I have given trim for a covenant. Precious thought for faith to act upon! And, my soul, is not Jesus thy Surety? Yes, if while the Father thus freely gives, thou as fully receivest, and art looking to no other. Say then, my soul, is it not so with thee? Is not Jesus thy all in all, thy Surety, thy Sponsor, thy Redeemer? And cost thou not say, Thou shalt answer for me, Oh Lord my God! Oh comprehensive word, Jesus made a Surety.
My soul, look at Jesus as a Surety, and as "made the Surety" this morning! Blessed view, if so be the Holy Ghost will enlighten thine eyes to see him under all these characters. First; a Surety. "We are all ruined by a debt incapable of ever being paid by any, or by all, the fallen sons of Adam. Jesus steps in, becomes a Surety for our debt, and pays the whole by his obedience and death. But we owe a duty also, as well as a debt. Jesus becomes here again the Surety. He will put his Spirit in us, and we shall live. He becomes also a Surety for promises, that all God hath promised for his sake, shall be fulfilled in him, and in us for him. But he is not only a Surety, but made a Surety; for the Father's name, and the Father's authority, is in him. It is God the Father which saith, I have given trim for a covenant. Precious thought for faith to act upon! And, my soul, is not Jesus thy Surety? Yes, if while the Father thus freely gives, thou as fully receivest, and art looking to no other. Say then, my soul, is it not so with thee? Is not Jesus thy all in all, thy Surety, thy Sponsor, thy Redeemer? And cost thou not say, Thou shalt answer for me, Oh Lord my God! Oh comprehensive word, Jesus made a Surety.
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