Page images
PDF
EPUB

Our text affords us a word of exhort ation, and a word of comfort.

[ocr errors]

We are now, at this present moment; now, while it is day; to-day-for to-morrow may never be ours; we are now to acquaint ourselves with God as our Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer. In worldly concerns, procrastination, or putting off till to-morrow what might and ought to be done to-day, is the cause of half the failure and want of success, people meet with and experience in their ordinary affairs."Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest," is a word of advice given to us. by So lomon, and is equally applicable to tem porals and spirituals. "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation;" wherefore, as the Holy Ghost says, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilder ness; but exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day." Drive not off a

[ocr errors]

matter of the utmost importance; a matter in which is involved your eternal state of happiness or misery. If you know not God, he will not know you, Now, then, acquaint yourselves with him as the Author, the Preserver, the Redeemer of your souls. Now study him in his works, in his word, in his ways. He will be found of all those who seek him; yea, of all those who seek him faithfully, The book of creation, the book of his revealed word, the book of his providences, are open to you all. Now set about studying them in good earnest: drive not off the opportunity now offered to you, to a day that may never happen. And though, by searching, none can find out God to perfection, yet we may acquire such a knowledge of him, by his Spirit's teaching, as will be sufficient for the salvation of our souls: for all things necessary for this are so plain, that the wayfaring man, though a fool, if he be faithful and sincere in his search after an acquaintance with

[ocr errors]

God, shall not err therein. Now then, this very day, before you give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids, acquaint yourselves with God.

And being made acquainted with him, the word of comfort is justly yours. Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace. By the knowledge of God and his Christ, a peace shall possess your hearts which passeth all understanding; peace of conscience, peace with all the world, and peace hereafter for ever. Christ is our Peacemaker; our Redeemer has reconciled us to God, and made our peace. All our sins are blotted out by his precious blood-shedding: being reconciled, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Acquainted with him as the God of providence, the believer has every reason to take comfort and be at peace; for all things, whatever may happen to him, shall ultimately turn out to his good: for every thing that concerns him is ordered and directed by infinite wisdom, power, and love. All

things shall work together for good to them that love him. Here, then, let us rest. On God let us firmly trust, and seek diligently to know him as our Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer. Let us acquaint ourselves with him in his works, his ways, and his word; so shall peace flow to us as a river, and righteousness as the waves of the sea: acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God, and do it. WHILE our Lord was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom to the multitudes which flocked to hear him, his mother and his brethren, that is, his relations according to the flesh, wished to get near him; but they were unable to accomplish this, owing to the great concourse of people who pressed him in on every side.

The respect in which these persons were held, induced certain of the multitude to interrupt Jesus for a moment, in order that they might be gratified in their request of being close to him ; but our Lord in this instance, as in every

« EelmineJätka »