As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.... Pet. ii. 2. "WHAT I cannot comprehend shall never be the object of my faith," is the weak language of a proud sceptic. "Where I cannot comprehend, I silently adore; what I cannot explain, yet I humbly believe, because divine truths bear the impress, "The Lord hath spoken." This is the language of an humble, gracious heart. "Marvellous are thy works, O Lord, in wisdom hast thou made them all." Glorious is thy grace in Christ Jesus; in love hast thou revealed it to the children of men. Here is the wisdom of saints, to learn from the images of nature the mysteries of grace. From the book of the former we are taught sweet and precious instructions in the latter. How kindly has the God of nature provided for the infant cry of the new-born babe! It soon discovers its wants; and though as sensible of the provision it has brought, and its right unto it, it scarce breathes the air, but it hunts for the breast of its parent, and its tender appetite is drawn out after the milk. No less pleased and delighted is the affectionate mother to administer to its wants and relieve its sorrows, and nourish and strengthen her new-born infant. Dwelleth such love in parents to their offspring? Infinitely greater is the love of God to his babes in Christ. Dwelleth such a disposition in the babe of nature after milk? So also is this exemplified in every child of grace in his love to and hunting after the milk of God's word. Hath the God of nature made such suitable provision for the children of this world? Glory to his grace, so hath he richly provided spiritual milk for the children of his kingdom. Desire it, saith he, and grow thereby; feed on it and be strengthened: but the Spirit of wisdom hath given us a caution to try the milk, to see that it be sincere milk; not any milk, but the pure and unmixed milk of God's word and truth; Jesus is the very essence and substance of it. If the nourishing doctrines of God's everlasting love and election in Christ, pardon by his blood, clothing by his righteousness, and final salvation of all his dear people through him, are omitted by ministers, they administer skimmed milk, which has lost its strengthening and nourishing qualities: hence, it will not edify and cause the soul to "grow strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus." When from the word of God its rich qualities are extracted, carnal reason is set up, human pride is established, creature righteousness is exalted: hence, instead of "growing up unto Christ in all things," professors grow into self-complacency and vain confidences. O, love the revealed word above all human teaching; prize and attend upon the faithful ministers of Jesus, that thou mayest be "nourished up in the words of faith and of good doc trine."....1 Tim. 4. 6. Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust, that he will yet deliver us....2 Cor. i. 10. DIVINE Confidence is founded upon God's revealed truth; it arises in the heart in proportion to the discovery which is made of free-grace promises to sinners in Christ Jesus. Faith looks at nothing in nature, nor in the creature; it stands not upon any human probability or rational possibility; but, as the queen of graces, faith looks wholly to the king of glory, consults the word of his truth, relies on his promises and oath, and trusts in the power of an omnipotent Lord. Past experience of former deliverances sweetly encourage the soul to trust God for future. So the apostles reasoned upon temporal deliverances from the persecuting powers of earth and hell, which were engaged against them. All hope and help from the right hand and left were cut off. In themselves they had the sentence of death. They were like malefactors in their own apprehension, doomed to certain execution. But God had delivered them in time past! He did deliver them at the present; hence, their trust was excited for future deliverance. Just so they taught and gloried in a salvation equally as extensive, through all the periods of time past, present, and to come; which should certainly issue in everlasting glory. O believer, here is a mode of reasoning for thy soul. Exercise thy faith on things past, present, and to come. Call to mind how God in time past delivered thy soul from thy great death in trespasses and sins. In how many dangers has he kept thee? From how many snares has he delivered thee? And art thou this present hour a saved sinner, living by faith on the Son of God? O, see thy Lord's past mercies! O, consider thy Lord's present blessings! Thence honor him with the faith of thy heart, the trust of thy soul, that he will yet deliver thee from every enemy. Art thou harassed by temptations? Remember, "thy Lord knoweth how and when to deliver out of them!"....2 Pet. ii. 9. Art thou groaning under a body of sin and death? Crying out, O, wretched that I am? Consider the everlasting love and almighty power of thy precious deliverer; exult and triumph with, "thanks be to God who giveth the victory through Jesus Christ." Thus daily study, O soul, to live in an habitual view of thy God and Saviour; pray and wrestle for constant applications of Jesus' grace, daily feelings of his love by the Spirit; so shall every lust of thy nature be subdued, satan shall fly from the resistings of faith, victory shall be obtained over the world, holiness will be delightful to thy heart, and heaven desirable and longed for by the soul. Ever remember "it is God who worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleasure, as the only enlivening confidence to encourage thee to work out thy salvation with fear and trembling."....Phil. ii. 12, 13. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth....John xvii. 17. WITH What confidence and joy are we assured of our sanctification, both from the prayer of Jesus on earth, and his intercession in glory! Man cannot sanctify himself, it is the work of the Lord the Spirit; he effects it by his sovereign power; earth and hell shall not prevent it. O special mercy! Not to be left to act with the generality of professors, who, like Pilate, demand "What is truth?" and then turn away from it as offensive, and hate and oppose it. Yet, if there is but kept up a great cry and vehement zeal for good works and holiness, it is enough; no matter what principles they spring from. Nay, under pretence for these, truth is trampled under foot. But not so Jesus prayed, nor taught; nor are his members thus sanctified. Jesus is essentially the truth. We are sanctified to God no other way than in him, and by the faith of him. "We are chosen from the beginning through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth." "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,"....John viii. 32....saith Jesus; free from the deceitful hopes and vain confidences that are natural to us. Souls sanctified through the truth, are no longer left to deny the foundation truths of God's word; his sovereign, everlasting, electing love of sinners in Christ Jesus this essential truth, of their sins being atoned by the precious blood, and their persons justified by the perfect righteousness of Jesus imputed to them; the certain perseverance and sure glorification of every believing member of Christ. Thus our judgments are sanctified in truth, in opposition to the false notions of self-righteousness and sinless perfection. These proceed from self-ignorance, blindness to God's law, and leave its professors under a fatal error; nor are we left to dream of universal redemption which detracts from the glory of God by ascribing salvation to free-will; nor to reject the sovereign agency of the holy Spirit, which reduces the gospel of grace to a covenant of works. Glory to our Lord, not only are we sanctified as to a right judgment in all things, but our affections are also sanctified to love the truth and cleave to it, seeing all our hopes center in it, and deriving all our comforts from it; and it is the delight and joy of our souls to live in conformity to the truth. Jesus hath our hearts. Fellowship with him is our heaven upon earth. What is contrary to that is hateful to us. Sin is become the burden, and holiness most pleasant to the sanctified soul. To fancy thyself perfectly freed from all sin, is a mark, not of a soul sanctified through the truth, but deceived by lies: but daily to feel a holy striving against sin, fervent desires after greater conformity to Jesus, and abiding in the truth of his word, is a full proof" of the sanctification of his Spirit unto obedience.".... 1 Pét. i. 2. By the grace of God, I am what I am....1 Cor. xv. 10, IT, would be one great means of preventing complaints and murmurings, if christians' hearts were more in meditation upon what they once were, still are, and what they deserve. Such was the conduct of the once Jesus-persecuting, but afterwards Jesus-exalting Paul. The same grace that reached his heart, has continued to run through the many revolving periods down to this day, and effects the same blessed work on poor sinners now. Thou therefore, O disciple of Jesus, hast the same cause as Paul had, daily to sing of rich, free, sovereign, distinguishing grace; the eternal love, free favor, and unmerited good-will of God to thy soul in Christ Jesus. Grace shines with resplendent lustre, in the person of Jesus. Grace operates with sovereign, irresistible power, in the hearts of his members. Hence, it triumphs over all the resisting powers, rebellious motives, carnal workings, and perverse obstinacy of proud nature. Publicans and harlots are often raised and beautified by grace, while self-righteous Pharisees, are left buried in the ruins of nature. Hell-deserving soul! What hast thou to boast of? Wherein canst thou glory? Art thou converted to Jesus? Verily of this thou hast-greatest cause of glory and triumph. But ever know the cause. Study daily to give all the glory where it is only due, even to the free favor of thy God. Wilt thou ever open the mouth of thy obedience, thy fulfilling terms and conditions, by which thou hast obtained the prize? Ever know Jesus hath done all this. Hence grace freely flowed to thee. In the height of thy rebellion, in the depth of thy destruction, the voice of eternal love spoke to thy soul. The power of almighty grace challenged thee, as its blood-bought purchase; seized thee as its lawful captive, and snatched thee as a brand from the fire of destruction. O wondrous love! Should not amazement strike thy heart, and the fire of love and gratitude ever burn in thy soul? What shall we say to these things? Truly grace, that dwelt in the heart of God from eternity, has sovereignly reached thy heart in time. Therefore art thou turned to Jesus by repentance; hast remission of sins through faith in his blood. This is given, by the exalted prince of grace and peace, to thine heart. Hast thou a love to holiness, and a hatred to sin? This is contrary to nature, and is given through the grace of the Spirit. "By the grace of God I am what I am," is the confession of saints in earth. By the grace of God I am where I am, is the triumphant song of saints in heaven. For "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."....Rom. v. 20. 'Tis not by works of righteousness, 'Tis from mere mercy of our God That all our hopes begin: Our souls are wash'd from sin. Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.... Luke v. 5. * WHATEVER one engages in, success gives pleasure, but disappointment causes dejection. The passing over of a black cloud is often followed by the brighter shining of the sun. Naturalists observe, it is always darkest just before the break of day. So here these poor fishermen had toiled through a tedious night of disappointment; not one fish came to net: yet, at Christ's word they let down the net. Behold the event! The greatest success they ever met with succeeded their fruitless toil: their nets were too weak to hold the miraculous draught of fishes they had taken. O, how adorable is Jesus' power and godhead! The occupation of a fisherman is not unlike that of the christian's vocation. It is his employ to fish in the wide and deep ocean of God's eternal love and grace revealed in his word of truth. What he taketh here he is to live upon day by day. It is sometimes his lot to toil through a dark night of disappointment, and take nothing which may refresh his spirit and rejoice his soul. Here "patience must have its perfect work." Not one, nor many nights bad success, makes the fisherman quit his trade and forsake his calling. So the christian should consider he has need of patience, that after he has done the will of God he might receive the fulfilment of the promises. These are blessed encouragements for him ever to fish in the great and wide sea of God's covenant love and faithfulness. In his word are blessings innumerable. Ever remember, "He that believeth shall not make haste:" that is, be in a hurry and confusion, as one in surprise and fear in time of trouble. Though God's mercies are not styled swift, yet they are called "sure mercies,”.. Isa. lv. 3. Where the grace of faith is in the front, perseverance shall be in the centre, and glory shall be in the rear. The soul thirsting after comfort, shall in God's time be refreshed with the plentiful showers of heavenly consolation. Some souls have been so filled herewith, even like these disciples' nets that broke with the great draught of fishes, that they have cried out, "Lord, stay thine hand; my brittle vessel can hold no more." Live upon the word of God's truth, and thou shalt be sure to enjoy the comforts of God's faithfulness. Whatever fails, his word is sure; his promises certain; his covenant immutable; his oath irreversible. Consolation, yea "strong consolation from God, awaits every soul who has fled to Jesus for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before him."....Heb. vi. 18. Our anchor's cast within the vail We walk by faith and live by hope: M. |