תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

You think perhaps that your hardships and trials will recommend you to God; and you are often heard to say, "It is better to suffer here than hereafter." But you will suffer in both if you reject the council of God against yourselves, and adjudge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life. Christianity has indeed a most tender and a peculiar aspect towards the sons and daughters of want and wo"The poor have the Gospel preached unto them." But you must receive it in order to be benefited by it. Then indeed your privations will be sanctified; the Lord will bless your bread and your water; and your humble dwelling will become one of the palaces of Zion. There are some who have treasure on earth, but not in heaven. We inquire not how you obtained it. We will presume that the acquisition has left no stain upon your character, or sting in your conscience; and that you remember the Lord your God, that he it is that giveth you power to get wealth. Neither do we wish to depreciate the common bounties of his hand, as if they were not good in themselves, though so often abused. Some purposes they can answer; but it is not true without restriction that "money procureth all things." It cannot purchase health, or bribe off disease. Riches profit not in the day of wrath. They cannot purify the passions, or heal a wounded spirit. "A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Yea it renders him more responsible; excites envy and opposition; exposes him to temptations and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." The love of money is the root of all evil: wnica while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." I pity the man of the world who has his portion in this life, and no interest in a better. He is daily and hourly leaving behind him all he loves and idolizes, while he has nothing before him to excite hope or desire; what wonder therefore that his death is the effect of reluctance and compulsion? "He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of this world." The rabbinical Jews say that some of the words of Scripture, with which the angels receive the soul at death, and sing it down to hell, are these: "Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." We have no notion that these benevolent beings derive pleasure from the misery of any one, or that they would insult even a lost spirit. But every one at death will be clothed with shame who has preferred the mammon of unrighteousness to the true riches.

There are some who have treasure in heaven, but not on earth. This is the case with not a few of our Lord's followers: "I will leave in the midst of tnee a poor and an afflicted people." Silver and gold they have none. And they need not despair, or murmur, as if all importance, excellency, usefulness, and enjoyment were denied them with wealth. The Apostles themselves could say; "Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place." Even Jesus the Lord of all had not where to lay his head; and received the ministrations of widows. You have the honour of resembling the Saviour in condition, and the advantage of living more immediately by faith upon his providence, while he gives you day by day

your daily bread. He also says to you, as he did to the Church of Ephesus, "I know thy poverty; but thou art rich." Rich in faith and hope: rich in the exceeding great and precious promises: rich in the earnests and foretastes of life eternal. Angels are your attendants; you feed on the hidden manna; he has covered you with the robe of righteousness as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. And as far as they can subserve your welfare, all things are yours: "Whether Paul. or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

But there are some who have treasure in heaven and on earth too. ! The lines have fallen to them in pleasant places: they have a goodly heritage. The streams of the upper and of the nether springs flow within their borders. Is it nothing that you have not only the neces saries, but the conveniences, comforts, and indulgences of life? Is it nothing that you can largely enjoy the pleasures of benevolence? That you can draw down upon you the blessing of him that is ready to perish? That you can make the widow's heart to sing for joy? That you can aid in diffusing the Scriptures? in sending abroad the Gospel? and in every good work? Fall upon your knees, and thank the Giver of all good for the blessings of the life that now is. And then thank him far more that he has not put you off with these; or suffered you to be satisfied in them-" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

JULY 28.-" For now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth."-Micah v. 4.

THIS certainly refers to the Messiah, the Lord of glory, the Lord of all. He is always great in himself: and therefore is not aggrandized by accession, but by discovery. He must be known, and he only needs to be known, in order to be great. A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and among his own kindred. Upon the same principle it has been said that domestic greatness is unattainable. All feel a decrease of veneration, if not of love, from acquaintance and intimacy. But the more he is known the more will he be admired and adored. The reason is, because he is perfect, and divine. His excellences therefore are unbounded and infinite, and will admit of endless attention and praise.

This subject deeply concerns his people. They know the importance of the revelation of the Lord Jesus to their pariching fellow-creatures. It is by his huuwledge that he is to justify many. They are justified indeed by faith: but how can they believe on him of whom they have not heard? Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Their benevolence therefore leads them to pray that his way may be known on earth, his saving health among all nations. His people also love him supremely; and love delights in the glory of its object. When they consider what he is, and what he has done and suffered, every impulse of their heart cries, "Let the whole earth be filled with his glory." What affects them is not that they are so little known or noticed

[ocr errors]

-for what are they? but that He is so unknown, and neglected, and despised. He is great indeed already in the views and esteem of some, and they hope the number is increasing; but his admirers have been always few, compared with the multitude, and they are so still. Thousands and millions have never yet heard of him. Down to this hour, even where his religion is professed, the majority in no one county or village has been actuated by the true spirit of Christianity. At the thought of this two things comfort them. First, that it is not so in another world now. There he attracts every eye, and employs every tongue. A multitude which no man can number of glorified saints, and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of angels, are continually saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."

Secondly, that it will not be so in this world always. For it is written, and the Scripture cannot be broken, that "from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, his name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto him, and a pure offering." Then the nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of the Lamb-He shall sprinkle many nations— Yea, all nations shall fall down before him, and all kings shall serve him. O blessed day, when there shall be a godly prince on every throne, a godly judge on every bench, a godly pastor in every pulpit, a godly master in every family-when every author will write, and every merchant trade for Him-when the melody of his praise shall soften the labourer's toil, and the poor of the people shall trust in him. O glorious hour when it shall be said, without a figure, "Behold, the world is gone away after him!"

But who shall live when God doeth this! We often now exclaim, "Why are his chariot wheels so long in coming? Why does the whole creation groan and travail in pain together until now? How many are there waiting for an event that will loosen the last cord of life, and lead them to exult. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people." Yet the morning is spread upon the mountains. The day has dawned. Numberless agencies are in action, which, by the ordinary blessing of God upon them, must produce mighty results.

But who shall live when God doeth this? It is probable, even if he cut short his work in righteousness, that the clods of the valley will be sweet about many of us. Yet we shall die in faith, fully assured that he who died on the cross shall see his seed, and prolong his days, and that the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands. Perhaps we shall be permitted to look down, and see his spreading greatness. If not, we shall be acquainted with the beautifying fact. We shall be where the acclamation will commence which will be re-echoed back from earth: "Hallelujah, for the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever."

your daily bread. He also says to you, as he did to the Chr
Ephesus, "I know thy poverty; but thou art rich." Rich
and hope: rich in the exceeding great and precious prov
in the earnests and foretastes of life eternal. Angels
tendants; you feed on the hidden manna; he has cov
the robe of righteousness as a bridegroom decketh
naments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her
far as they can subserve your welfare, all things
ther Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world.
things present, or things to come; all are yours
and Christ is God's.

But there are some who have treasure in
The lines have fallen to them in pleasant pl
heritage. The streams of the upper and
within their borders. Is it nothing that
saries, but the conveniences, comforts
it nothing that you can largely enjoy
That you can draw down upon you
to perish? That you can make th
That you can aid in diffusing the
Gospel? and in every good work
the Giver of all good for the bl
then thank him far more that
suffered you to be satisfied
ther of our Lord Jesus Chris
hath begotten us again un
Christ from the dead."

JULY 28.-"For now shr

THIS certainly re of all. He is alw dized by accessi only needs to be out honour, sa Upon the sam unattainable acquaintanc will he be and divine and will This

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

The

[ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

4

receive This

[ocr errors]

with regard to Irom proud cavils nd every high thing of God, and bring into of Christ. After God has ese things be?" All our inquire, Is this the word of m? For nothing should then at. We make God a liar if we and cause he affirms it. Our faith At must be founded on knowledge. concerning, for instance, a place, a e it as soon as I have been there and

deem this an insult, either to your If we believe the testimony of man, ter. Men may delude us; but it is We must therefore "receive the king.

;" who never sets up himself against or questions the truth of his decisions: we must "become fools that we may be

my understanding? It is improving, d's intelligence to my own-" In his light

mission of the heart, as to the provisions ng of the Jews, the Apostle says, "They did ves to the righteousness which is of God; for the law for righteousness to every one that word seems strange. Should we say, a subject 1st to accept of an invitation to the king's table? instance in which, when a rebel taken in arms, de, was presented with a pardon, accompanied more than restoration to all his former estate, he mona and his sovereign was constrained to send his saa to beseech him to submit? Yet God beseeches and we pray them in Christ's stead to be reconciled d herein appears not only the insensibility of man, his yet self-righteous heart. He wishes to be saved way, and to be his own Saviour. He revolts at the

"being received on the same terms with the chief of sinnothing to glory in before God; to have no hand i he work, and no share of the glory; to declare,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

རིས***

11 that is commanded, I am an unprofitable

[ocr errors]

last, God be merciful to me a sinnerng-stone. Did Naaman receive with on times in Jordan and be clean? remedy fill him with resentrage, and would have missed upon him to submit-And he sy thing to induce men to bow od which God has appointed for ssed with a deep sense of the abso- ! we are enabled to see a little of its ly and gratefully accept of the graceand resolve to glory in nothing else. obedience of the life, as to the authority of Gospel not only assails self, but sin: it has a remedy, but the force of a law; and "whoso erfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he tful hearer, but a doer of the word, this man shall is deed." We naturally affect independence; and is, "Who is the Lord that we should obey his voice?" Itongues will we prevail, our lips are our own; who is er us?" But this disposition must be subdued. We must Ourselves, and choose the Lord for our master. We must reourselves entirely to his pleasure, asking, Lord, what wilt thou ave me to do? And without dictation, without murmuring or repining, without choice or preference as to the way in which we are to serve him, we shall implicitly refer ourselves to his will, and say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."

[ocr errors]

To us is the word of this salvation sent. We have it; we read it; we hear it. Do we thus meekly receive it? Do we honour it with our confidence? Do we bend to its designs? Do we yield to its demands? Do we obey from the heart the form of doctrine delivered us? Or do we receive the grace of God in vain?

JULY 30.-"I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life."-Rev. xxi. 6.

AND what can this fountain be, but himself? He is not a vessel or a reservoir, which, however capacious, is yet limited, and would soon be drained dry by continual drawing. But he is a fountain always full, always flowing, always fresh. For the streams poured forth from a fountain are very distinguishable from the stagnant contents of a pool: the latter are dead; the former, living water. And what is this water of life which springs from himself, but the blessings of the Gospel, the influences of his Holy Spirit, or, as the Scripture calls it, "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ?" Between this and living water there is an obvious and striking analogy. Each is of unspeakable importance: the one is as essential in the moral as the other in the material world. Yea, the one is more necessary to the soul than the other is to the body. There have been instances

VOL. II.

6

« הקודםהמשך »