Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

me for ?"
Many foes array themselves against
the believer. They are powerful and well-skilled
in battle. His heart often trembles within him
at sight of them. He feels his own weakness, and
is conscious of his limited resources. He almost
shrinks from the encounter; and sometimes, per-
haps, thinks even of yielding the field without a
struggle. Then it is that faith comes to his re-
lief. He remembers the Almighty arm-the pro-
mises of help from above-the victories God has
achieved for his saints in every age-the scenes
where he has himself in the Divine name come off
more than a conqueror-and he engages the foes
which marshal themselves before him. The com-
bat begins-hotter and hotter it waxes-and pre-
sently the enemy, vanquished and ashamed, re-
treats from the field, and leaves him victorious.
Help me, Great Captain, to fight the good fight
of faith, and lay hold on eternal life!

Stand up my soul, shake off thy fears,
And gird thy gospel armour on;
March to the gates of endless joy,
Where thy great Captain-Saviour's gone,
Hell and thy sins resist thy course,
But hell and sin are vanquished foes;
Thy Jesus nailed them to the cross,
And sang the triumph when he rose.

FEB. 21. "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM." EXOD. iii. 14.

44HEN the Lord," observes Bishop Beveridge, "speaks of himself with regard to his creatures, and especially his people, he saith -IAM. He doth not say I am their Light, their Life, their Guide, their Strength, or their Tower, but only I AM. He sets his hands as it were to a

blank, that his people may write under it what they please, that is for their good. As if he should say, Are they weak? I AM strength-Are they in trouble? I AM Comfort-Are they poor? I' AM Riches-Are they sick ?-I AM Health-Are they dying? I'AM Life-Have they nothing? I AM all things-I AM Justice and Mercy-I AM Grace and Goodness-I AM Glory, Beauty, Holiness, Perfection, All-Sufficiency, Eternity, JEHOVAH.-I AM whatsoever is suitable to their nature, or convenient for them in their several conditions. I AM whatsoever is amiable in itself, or desirable in their souls; whatsoever is pure and holy; whatsoever is great and pleasant; whatsoever is good and needful to make them happy-that I AM. So that, in short, GOD here represents himself to us as one universal Good, and leaves us to make the application to ourselves, according to our several wants, capacities, and desires, by saying only in general-I AM."

I AM, it is a glorious name,
Still pregnant with delight:

It scatters round a cheerful beam,
To gild the darkest night.

FEB. 22. "The righteous hath hope in his death.” PROV. xiv. 32.

44

LESSED be God that I was born," exclaimed Halyburton, when dying. "I have a father and a mother and ten brethren and sisters in heaven, and I shall be the eleventh, O, blessed be the day that I was born! If there be such a glory in Christ's conduct towards me now, what will it be to see the Lamb in the midst of the throne! My peace has been like a river. Blessed be God that I was ever born." "O, when

will this good hour come ?" cried Robert Bolton;
"When shall I be with Christ ?" "I have got the
victory," shouted Rutherford, "and Christ is hold-
"As for
ing out both his arms to embrace me."
my death," said Edward Deering, “I bless God
I feel and find so much inward joy and comfort
to my soul, that if it were put to my choice whe-
ther I would die or live, I would a thousand times
rather choose death than life, if it may stand with
the holy will of God." "Farewell, my brethren!"
were the last words of John Tennent, "farewell,
father and mother! farewell world, with all thy
vain delights! Welcome God and Father! Wel-
come sweet Lord Jesus! Welcome death! Wel-
come eternity! Amen. Lord Jesus, come, Lord
Jesus!" And so he fell asleep in Christ. Have I
this hope? Am I ready for the coming of the
messenger? Help me, O Lord, so to live that I
may have hope in my death!

Oh, may such bright and blessed hopes
My longing spirit warm!
Living and dying may I be

Enclosed in Jesus' arm!

FEB. 23. "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan being burdened." 2 Cor. v. 4.

E are burdened with sin. Our corruptions frequently weigh us down to the earth; so that our souls cleave to the dust. We are burdened with temptations, that are sometimes heavier than we can bear. We are burdened with doubts and fears as to our interest in Christ. We are burdened with the troubles and trials of life. These last, however, we often magnify. John Newton somewhere says, "I compare the troubles

which we have to undergo to a great bundle of faggots, far too large for us to lift. But God does not require us to carry the whole at once; he mercifully unties the bundle, and gives us first one stick, which we are to carry to-day, and then another, which we are to carry to-morrow, and so on. This we might easily manage, if we would only take the burden appointed for us each day. But we choose to increase our troubles by carrying yesterday's stick over again to day, and adding to-morrow's burden to our load, before we are required to bear it." Take, my soul, all thy burdens to the throne of grace, and leave them with Him who hath said, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

Give to the winds thy fears;
Hope, and be undismayed;

God hears thy sighs, and counts thy tears;
God shall lift up thy head.

FEB. 24. "Charity never faileth." 1 COR. xiii. 8. HE Rev. John Elliott lived to the advanced

age of eighty-six. When on his death-bed, his colleague in the ministry inquired one day after his health. He replied, "Alas! I have lost every thing: my understanding leaves me-my memory fails me-my utterance fails me; but I thank God my charity holds out still. I find that rather grows than fails." All gifts must cease -all other graces die-but love lives for ever. As this is the perfection of all, so it will survive all. It is a flower that will increase in beauty as the Christian's character approaches completion; but its richest glories will be seen and its sweetest

odours shed abroad in the Heavenly Paradise! Would that believers were more careful to promote its growth, and that a correcter estimate were formed of its intrinsic and relative worth. Breathe daily this love, O God, into my soul! Help me to cultivate and cherish it! Let it guide all my conduct; and by its progressive influence over my entire nature, may it meeten me for the skies!

This is the grace that lives and sings
When faith and hope shall cease:
'Tis this shall strike our joyful strings
In the sweet realms of bliss.

FEB. 25. "They hated me without a cause." JOHN xv. 25.

LITTLE boy on his death-bed was urging his father to repentance, and fearing he had made no impression, said, "Father, I am going to heaven: what shall I tell Jesus is the reason why you won't love him ?" The father burst into tears; but before he could give the answer, his dear child had fallen asleep in Christ. It may be, dear reader, that you are no lover of Jesus. You have seen nothing to admire in him. He has not captivated your heart. You feel no gratitude for his compassion. You see no attractions in his person and character. He exercises no influence over your affections and life. Now, if you were asked why you do not love him, what reason could you give? He presents in himself and his salvation all that can command esteem or elicit gratitude. He has loved you as no other friend; and has given you such a proof of his love as no other friend has ever given. He is the only friend that

« FöregåendeFortsätt »