The breaker is come up before them; they have broken up, and have passed through the gate; and their King (as the Author and Finisher of faith) shall pass before them, and the Lord on the head of them. Micah ii. 3. Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John xvi. 33; Heb. xii. 1, 2. SOMETIMES the enemy seems to get an advantage over us; but the battle is not over yet. At last thou shalt have the victory, and carry the day for all that. In hard struggles remember the power of Christ, who, in his resurrection, broke through every thing. With him thou canst also break through, and be more than conqueror. Yea, in every conflict, if thy faith be firm, thou canst be sure of victory beforehand; for faith engages Christ's power, and his power insureth victory; it is as impossible for thine enemies to keep thee always in bonds, as it was impossible that Christ could be kept in the grave by the stone, seal, and keepers. Nay, the greater their force is, the more glorious will be the victory of Christ over them. Hosannah to our conqu'ring King! The Prince of Darkness flies; There, bound in chains, the lions roar; Hosannah to our conqu'ring King! All hail, incarnate Love! To crown thy head above! Thy vict'ries and thy deathless fame The triumphs thou hast wone Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Amos iii. 3. THEY must be agreed in heart, in affection, in will, in their inclinations and pursuits, or they cannot walk together in any mutual confidence and comfortable communion. "What communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" 2 Cor. vi. 15. We cannot walk with Jesus without a living union with him, a hearty love to him, and a holy delight in him: nor can he walk with us on any other principles. We cannot walk with each other without mutual love. A living union with Jesus, cemented and sealed by his Holy Spirit, is the only bond of union and agreement between Christians, whereby they can walk together, to the honour of God and their own benefit. Alas! how much it is to be lamented that those who, thro' grace, are thus united, should be so visibly shy of each other, because they differ in lesser matters. O my dear Saviour! help me to be more agreed with thee, and to walk more closely with thee, and in more réal affection and love with all those who are really thine, to the praise and glory of thy grace! Amen and Amen. May the grace of Christ our Saviour, And the Father's boundless love, With the Holy Spirit's favour, Rest upon us from above! Thus shall we abide in union Let your moderation be known unto all men (Phil. iv. 5.); for Charity (that is, love) edifieth, 1 Cor. viii. 1. IF thou rebukest others, and wouldst have them to be like thee, thou oughtest to examine thyself first, whether it flows from a blind party-zeal, impatience, and self-will, or from a true principle of love; and whether thou art also much in prayer for them, both before and after. He who lays the long-sufferings of the Son of God truly to heart, and considers how gently he has treated him, and still treats him like the weakest child, must needs be moderate also towards all men, and think, "if nobody would bear with others, surely I must." Lord, give me the right spirit of meekness, to show all lenity to my fellowChristians! Watch o'er my lips, and guard them, Lord, Their gentle words, like ointment shed, Put thou my tears into thy bottle; are they not in thy book? Ps. lvi. 9. Divine Answer: They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Ps. cxxvi. 5, 6. BELIEVER, If thou art now reaping in joy, and singing hymns of tri umph, be thankful; but remember that this work belongs more to the next world than the present. Here weeping and rejoicing follow each other, and sorrow will oft find a lodging in the bosom of faith; for there is no retreat from the field of battle; and thine enemies will not leave thee while thou hast a breath to draw. Let this be a check to impatience: it is indeed needful to be humbled under a sense of thy misery, so as to sigh, groan, and weep often; and this is the true seed for eternity. Not a single tear and groan will be lost: they are all in the book ef the Lord. God counts the sorrows of his saints ; The Lord can clear the darkest skies, Make drops of sacred sorrow rise Let those who sow in sadness, wait They shall confess their sheaves are great, H The Lord hath heard my supplication: the Lord will receive my prayer. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time of trouble: and they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. Ps. vi. 9; and ix. 9, 10, 18. WHOEVER Would receive comfort from these words, must first be sensible of his poverty and misery, and show it by confessing his sins, and feeling nothing in himself but helplessness and unworthiness. He must come with all his poverty to a rich Saviour, and daily entreat his mercy, carefully remembering, that the Lord has promised to supply all our wants, however great our poverty and misery may be; therefore beware of unbelief, and do not suspect the Lord's kindness, but seek to Him, and hope in Him, and expect all good things from Him; assuring thyself, that neither thy hope, nor thy prayer, nor a single sigh of thine will be lost. O my God! grant me faith, that I may say the Lord heareth my supplication! the Lord receiveth my prayer! Praised be God, who hath not rejected my prayer, nor turned away his goodness from me, but is my Protector and my Hope! God hears when dust and ashes speak; He saves us for his mercy's sake, He pities all our groans;.. |