Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

There they are crowned. Racers were crowned. Conquerors were crowned. Benefactors, who had saved the life of a fellow-citizen, were crowned. Bridegrooms were crowned-Solomon's mother crowned him in the day of his espousals. Princes, on their ascension, were crowned. The saints on high are every one of these, in themselves; and the crown each wears is called "a crown of righteousness;" "a crown of life;" "a crown of glory that fadeth not away;" a crown divinely superior to the prize of mortal ambition-"Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible."

[ocr errors]

But if they are thus honoured, "they cast their crowns before the throne" they arproach; testifying by this action, from whom they have received them, and confessing that they deem themselves unworthy to wear the honour "before the presence of his glory"-all, all in conformity with the peculiar design of the Gospel-constitution, "that no flesh should glory in his presence," but," according as it is written, he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord."

It is no easy thing to bring a man to this temper of mind. It is not natural to him. Naturally, he is as proud as he is poor. Therefore he would be wise, though born as a wild ass's colt. Therefore, though poverty itself, he says, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. Therefore, though without strength, he trusts in his own heart; and though guilty before God, he goes about to establish his own righteousness. Therefore, he is impatient under his affliction, as if he had a right to complain; and unthankful under his mercies, as if he deserved them.

The day of conviction is a day of self-abasement; and in that day the lofty looks of man are brought low. Then he submits himself to God, and begins to walk humbly with him: he admires the patience that has borne with him, and adores the abundant

mercy that has saved and called him.

The more he advances in the divine life, the more he sinks in his ow estimation. "I, who am but dust and ashes." "Behold, I am vile." "Who am I, and what is my father's house?" "I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies." "I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof." The "latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose." "I am not worthy to be called an apostle." "I am less than the least of all saints."These have been the self-annihilations of men who were all great in the sight of the Lord: and these must be the best proofs, as they will be the certain effects of our growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.

Ignorance is the pedestal of pride; throw down the basis, and the figure falls. But here our knowledge is not complete; hereafter we shall see things in God's own light. Then we shall have other views than we now have, of the exceeding sinfulness of sin; of the number and aggravations of our offences; of the greatness of our guilt and desert; of the vastness of our obligations; of the wonders of that love that passeth knowledge in every part of our salvation. Thence will result that fine ingenuous feeling that shrinks back, and is ready to decline a distinguished privilege-not from dislike or unwillingness to be under obligation; but from a sense of unworthiness, increased by immediate contrast with the object. Did Peter wish to be abandoned of Christ? Yea, he placed all his happiness in his presence-but it was under this feeling, on the sight of the miracle, he exclaimed, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

Some would not think of such abdications, were they to enter heaven with their present principles and dispositions; they would rather view their crowns as of their own deserving, and their own procuring and feel the spirit of a late emperor,

who, too proud to receive his diadem from any other hand than his own, placed himself the crown upon his head. But that world is a world of humility and gratitude. All the dignitaries there cast their crowns before the throne of the Saviour in whose righteousness they are exalted-still praising him, and saying-" not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give glory, for thy mercy and thy truth's sake."

Now, whatever Heaven is, we must be disposed and prepared for it before we can enter it. Has then God wrought us for the self-same thing? Has he brought down the pride of our nature, and made us willing to "submit ourselves unto the righteousness of God?" Are we saying, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ?" Is the leading sentiment of the BLESSED, now living in our hearts, and reigning in our lives? "BY THE GRACE OF God I AM WHAT I AM. NOT I, BUT THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS WITH ME."

JAN. 6.—“ Unite my heart to fear thy Name."

Ps. lxxxvi. 11.

THE fear of God does not here mean a particular grace of the Spirit, but religion at large. It is common to all writers to express the whole of a thing, by a part; but then it ought to be an essential, and a distinguishing part. And "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;" and "we perfect holiness, in the fear of God."

Religion is nothing without the heart. Yet naturally the heart is alienated from the life of God, and hangs off loosely and carelessly from all the spiritualities of his service. But it must be drawn and

attached to divine things; and God alone can accomplish this union. Without his agency indeed, there may be an outward, and professional union; but the ligatures of faith and love which are in Christ Jesus, will be wanting. To him therefore must we give the glory of the work, if it has been effected, and to him we must repair if we desire to experience it; encouraged by the assurance that he will not fail to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.

But how may I know that he has united my heart to his fear? When we are attached to a thing, we love to hear of it; we think much of it; speak much of it: we delight to remember it. If we are cordially united to an individual, he shares our sympathy; we feel his interests to be our own; we weep when he weeps; and rejoice when he rejoices. It is the same with a man that is cordially attached to religion; he feels himself to be one with it: when it is assailed, he will endeavour to defend it; when it is wounded in the house of its friends, he will feel the pain: the reproach of it will be his burden; he will pray for its success; he will exult in its prosperity. Are we cordially united to any one? In the same degree we dislike absence, and dread separation. Thus the attached Ruth said to Naomi, "Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God. Where thou diest, I will die, and there will I be buried." And what is the language of a soul under this divine influence? "Why shouldst thou be a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?" "Hide not thy face from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation." "Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me."

But was not David's heart united to the fear of

God BEFORE? It was. wishes for the day. He in whom the good work is begun, will always pray, "Perfect that which concerneth me." Who can say, I have attained, I am already perfect? David, as a blackslider, prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me:" but there was no period in his life, or advancement in his religion, at which he would not have used the very same prayer.

But he who has the dawn,

"Whoever says,
'I want no more,'
"Confesses he has none."

The Christian, as long as he feels any reluctance to duty; any dulness in his work; any distractions in his worship; any law in his members warring against the law of his mind; any reason to sigh, "When I would do good, evil is present with me, and how to perform that which is good I find not"-will not cease to pray, "Unite my heart to fear thy Name."

"Weak is the effort of my heart,
"And cold my warmest thought;
"But when I see Thee as thou art,
"I'll praise Thee as I ought."

JAN. 7.-"Salute my well-beloved Epenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia unto Christ."

Rom. xvi. 5.

PAUL here remembers many, and speaks of them all with affection; but he salutes Epenetus as his WELL-beloved. We are not bound to love all in the same manner, or in the same degree.

convert, "fruits unto Yet he had been the the knowledge of the

The Apostle calls this Christ"-not unto himself. means of bringing him to truth. But Paul knew that he had not redeemed

[blocks in formation]
« EdellinenJatka »