out! how precious is HE who sought us out! He sought us in the ruins of the fall. He found us in a most miserable condition; but he calls us by a NEW NAME, which signifies new creatures in our living head, who is the NEW MAN. This he makes us. Then we experience the blessedness of a new state in, and of a new life from JESUS. He is a new and living way to us. By faith we walk with God....live upon Jesus....feel sweet fellowship with him....enjoy comforting communion from him....and have joyful access to the Father through him. Thus the Lord writes "a new name upon his members, which no man knoweth, saving he who receiveth it."....Rev. ii. 17. Thus, as Luther testifies, 'a christian is a new creature in a new world.' He is a subject of a new King, whose name is LOVE; and of a new kingdom, wherein dwelleth righteousness. He is possessed of new hopes....new pleasures....new desires and new joys. Yes, and he finds new fears....new sorrows....new conflicts, yea, and new enemies too. Though that old serpent the Devil and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world, is cast out of us, he still wageth war against us. What then? every trial we meet with, every temptation we are beset with, shall only glorify the riches of God's love to us, and the power of the grace of Jesus in us....shall learn us the use of our spiritual weapons....deaden our affections to earth....quicken our longings for glory....endear Jesus more to our hearts, so as with ardency to cry out, O that I may be found in HIM! how glorious the privileges! how animating the prospect of all such new-named souls! they are interested in all new covenant blessings. New wine of gospel-peace and love is put into such new bottles. A new song, "Salvation to the Lamb that was slain," inspires their tongues. Such are lovingly called, by the word of their Father, and powerfully enabled, by the Spirit of his grace, to serve and glorify him, "not in the oldness of the letter," but in newness of the Spirit, in "righteousness and true holiness before him all the days of their life:" happy new year to such new-named souls! every revolving year on earth brings them nearer their Father's house, their Saviour's kingdom in glory. Thus, "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new."....2 Cor. v. 17. My Jesus, my almighty friend, When I begin thy praise, My feet shall travel all the length Of the celestial road, Where will the growing numbers end! And march with courage in thy strength, The numbers of thy grace! Still has my life new wonders seen Repeated ev'ry year; Thy Person I adore : And since I knew thy graces first, I speak thy glories more. To see my Father God. For some surprising sin, How will my lips in glory tell Thy vict'ries, O my King! My soul redeem'd from sin and hell, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world....John i. 29. NOTHING can make poor sinners truly happy, but that which taketh away the cause of all misery, sin. This is effected. The Lamb of God hath taken away all sin, by his sacrifice for us. When, by the eye of faith, we behold this Lamb, then all sin is taken away out of our conscience. When a soul thinks, 'Sin has condemned me before God; the law accuseth me daily; it works wrath in my conscience continually; and I am oft ready to cry out, O wretched that I am, who shall deliver me?' Thanks be to God for a precious Redeemer. The Lamb, which God provided, hath done it for ever. All our iniquities were laid upon him. "He bare it in his own body on the tree," the sin, the whole of sin, every sin of all that shall believe in him, to the end of the world. By the sacrifice of himself he put all away, out of the sight of God, as one puts away an offensive thing. He bore it away into a land of forgetfulness, as a thing that is hurtful. So then saith God the Father, to all his children in Christ, "Your sins and your iniquities I will remember no more.".. Jer. xxxi. 34. But one is often ready to say, How can this be true? for I daily see I am a sinner; the remembrance of sin is before me, in my thoughts; though, for a season, time may efface sin from my memory, yet it recurs afresh upon my conscience. It may, it will do so, O soul; and nothing can effectually take it away but this, “Behold the Lamb of God." He taketh sin away now, this present moment, every moment: at what time soever thou beholdest Jesus by the eye of faith, all the sin which troubles thee, thou wilt see it laid on him, and he taketh it away from thee. O how sweet to have no more conscience of sin! Continually to behold this Lamb of God, is life to our souls, and death to our sins. Sin cannot terrify with its guilt: sin cannot prevail in its power while the heart is looking to this Lamb of God, for he says, "Look unto me, and be saved." Astonishing mystery! but this is God's truth. Thus to behold, is to be happy. Thus to look, is to be holy. May this, O my soul, be thy daily employ below, till thou beholdest the Lamb in the midst of the throne above. Thanks to the gracious Father, for the gift of this precious Lamb; thanks to this holy Lamb for bearing and taking away sin; and thanks to the loving Spirit, for shewing this Lamb to poor sinners and ME...... "God forbid I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."....Gal. vi. 14. If sin most vile to me appears, This is the truth by which we live : Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Ànen.... 1 John v. 21. IDOLATRY is founded in ignorance of Jesus, the true God, and eternal life. None are spiritual worshippers of God but believers in Jesus. There are many idols in the world, suited to the pride and lusts of our corrupt nature. These we are cautioned against. But, in reading this very exhortation, the idol of free-will is ready to present itself; as though disciples, by their own power, were to keep themselves. This notion opposes the Spirit and power of Jesus, and springs from that grand idol, pride. Pride introduces the idol of self-righteousness. This blinds the eye to the glory of the righteousness of Christ, freely imputed by God, through faith. Thus this trinity of idols, free-will, pride, and self-righteousness, are in unity with each other. By the simple faith of Jesus, we are daily to guard our hearts against all their specious pretensions. So also, every outward object suited to our corrupt nature, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; these naturally call for the attention of our minds, tend to attract the affections of our hearts, and promise us pleasure, happiness, and joy. But if these are sought unto, coveted, and enjoyed, they also become idols....they rival Jesus....they rob our hearts of the consolation of the Saviour's love....and him of the glory due to his name; which is ever the indispensable duty of all his beloved disciples, to give unto him ONLY. Shall we then say of our own righteousness, or our sins, ye are our glory! Shall we at all hope in the one? shall we ever seek happiness from the other? Verily, if so, our hearts are not right with God: our souls are not sincere and upright with Jesus. Can we at any time halt between two opinions in our conduct, Jesus and self? God and the world? O where then is our faith in Jesus, our love to God! Has not God manifested love enough to us, in the gift of his beloved Son? Has not Jesus done enough, suffered enough, to attract every affection, and to engage our whole hearts in love to himself? Has not the holy Spirit so clearly and fully revealed the love of the Father, and the salvation of the Son, as to make us happy? We must confess this. Surely then conscious shame, holy blushing, godly sorrow, should fill our hearts, if we act not as chaste virgins to our heavenly bridegroom. While we cry in the fervency of prayer to the divine Spirit for power, we shall in the fervor of love, and in the resolution of faith, say with Ephraim, "Get ye hence: what have I to do any more with idols?"....Hos. xiv. 8. Mortals with joy behold his face, Th' eternal Father's only Son; How full of truth! how full of grace! Archangels leave their high abode, When thro' his eyes the Godhead The loves of our descending God, shone. The glories of Immanuel. I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only....Psalm lxxi. 16. * WISE travellers provide things needful for their journey, and guard against such as lie in wait, by the way, to rob them. Our gracious God calls not his dear children to forsake their native country, to travel to the heavenly city, without furnishing them with a rich supply of all things necessary for their comfort, and also strength to protect them from the power of every enemy. No soldier of his goeth a warfare at his own charge; Christ being both their righteousness and strength, they can want nothing; neither riches nor power. Hence, they go on from day to day, glorying in him, as their richest treasure, and trusting in him as their almighty strength; and this is their constant song in the house of their pilgrimage, and all through their journey: "Surely, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength, "....Isa. xlv. 24. Jesu's righteousness inspires the soul with boldness before God. Jesu's strength obtains victory over every enemy. This is the triumph of faith. So believers walk safely and comfortably. Children of grace are not called to be idle speculatists in doctrines, but to a life of activity....to holy walking with Jesus ....constant hearing of his love....cheerful obedience to his will....diligent search of the scriptures....stedfast resistance of Satan....striving daily against sin....and praying always with all prayer and supplication. Well may one ask, “But who is sufficient for these things?" From natural power and inherent strength, we must all sit down in despair. But faith leads from self to Jesus. I can do all things, through Christ, strengthening me; so will I go on against my enemies; thus I shall be enabled to walk in the path of every duty. But after I have done all, still my Saviour bids me confess the truth, that I am an unprofitable servant. But is not this discouraging to the soul? No; for it works not to obtain righteousness. It is already clothed with that, and, in the views of faith, rejoices in it; abjures all other, and will make mention of Jesu's righteousness, and his ONLY, for acceptance with God, perfect justification before him, from every condemnation of the law, and accusation of Satan. True, doubtful fears may arise; distressing thoughts deject; but happy is our conduct, joyful shall be our experience, while the righteousness of Christ is beheld by faith, as our only hope, our only joy, our only crown of rejoicing. For we are made the righteousness of God IN CHRIST....2 Cor. v. 21. While in thy righteousness I trust, My grace and safety lie in this, prove, That faith thou giv'st, which works by For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, who hath mercy on thee....Isa. liv. 10. THE absolute promises of our gracious Lord, are the foundation of faith, the encouragement of hope, the excitement of love, the source of comfort, and the spring of true holiness. Why then are not the children of faith always joyful in hope, ever comfortable in love, and constantly happy in the way of holiness? Truly, because an enemy hath sown the tares of unbelief in our nature. This evil root of bitterness continually springs up, and troubles us. It bears the most base, dishonorable fruits, respecting our God; and is mos: hurtful and poisonous to our souls. Little reason have we to dung and water, so as to strengthen this degenerate plant, with the corrupt notion of those who deny God's covenant love and faithfulness, and dare teach "That one may be a child of God to-day and a child of the Devil tomorrow....that souls redeemed by the blood of Jesus, may, after all, burn in hell.' Shocking! it is our daily duty, our greatest wisdom, ever to be on our guard against, and avoid all such doctrines. They are contrary to the precious declarations of our loving Lord; and tend to weaken our faith in and hope of perfect salvation by Jesus. But a false show of humility works very deceitfully upon men. Hence we are prone to look into ourselves, to find some inherent worth, some personal goodness, as the cause wHY the Lord should deal thus bountifully with us. Alas! pride is at the bottom of this. Hereby our eyes are diverted from the alone object of faith, Jesus, and turned to self. Then, no marvel unbelief prevails, and we lose sight of God's free grace, rich love, and inestimably precious promises. Soul, know thyself. Though an object of mercy, a subject of grace, and an heir of promise, yet not one single drop of mercy, or of grace, nor one word of promise is made to thy person, but only as thou standest in, and art related to thy precious Saviour, according to covenant love. Therefore God's covenant of peace shall not, cannot fail. Sooner shall the hills and mountains be removed, yea heaven and earth shall pass away, but thy Lord's love and kindness shall never depart from thee. The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Here to doubt, is to dishonor the God of truth. Here stedfastly to believe, is to glorify the God of love...." He sent redemption unto his people; he hath commanded his covenant FOR EVER," ..Psalm cxix. 9. "O what a stedfast hope have I, Thy truth stands fast, my Lord.” Then why should faith or courage fail! |