We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose....Rom. viii. 28. A POOR Sensible sinner would naturally be ready to make one exception here, and say, "How can sin, which I know and feel to be the very worst of all evils, work for any good?" But the Holy Ghost hath not excepted even this. Will any one say, Then let us do evil that good may come? St. Paul makes a terrible application to such, "Whose damnation is just,"....Rom. iii. 8. Therefore such cannot be the language of a believer's heart, for his salvation is sure," he that believes shall be saved." Such, and only such, most assuredly know that all things work together for good. They love God, and this love inspires them with hatred to sin. But yet they are sinners, both by original sin and actual transgression; nevertheless, through the all-wise over-ruling power of a gracious covenant God, even the worst of evils, sin, shall work for his glory and their good. Is the art of a chemist able to extract the most salutary medicine from noxious and poisonous ingredients? and cannot the infinitely wise Jehovah, who at the beginning spoke chaos and confusion into beauty, and order and darkness into light, make evil to work for good? He hath done it. He will do it. Canst thou think of that world of sin and evil which was produced by the fall of man? Dost thou not know the still greater good which it has been made to work for man by Jesus Christ? If man had not sinned the glorious attributes of Jehovah had not been so eminently displayed. As this is true of a world of sin in general, so also of every sin in particular. Sin is natural to man. To make it work for good is the supernatural power of God. Sin should never have entered into the world, nor should it continue in God's people, was it not to magnify his grace and advance the glory of his name. Judas delivers Christ to death for gain; the Jews for envy: Pilate for fear. The devil provokes each through enmity. God makes all work for the spiritual good and eternal sålvation of his people. Peter's fall shall be made to work for his humility and self-diffidence, and to strengthen his brethren. **Sin, saith St. Austin, first wrought sorrow, and now godly sor row works repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of, to the death of sin; so the daughter destroys the mother.' “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out."... Rom. xi. 33. Sin for my good does work and win; VOL. I. For all my sins my heart is sad, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities....Rom. 3. viii. 26.... How reviving to the soul! how encouraging to the mind of a disciple, is it to hear the experience of his brethren and companions in the faith of Jesus! To this end the blessed Spirit hath caused the saints of old to leave on record his dealings of love with their souls. Thus is the word of God most valuable for our instruction, edification, and comfort. Let no poor follower of the Lamb think he is singular in feeling an insupportable pressure of infirmities. No; the children of God in all ages knew and felt the same. Whether prophets or apostles, none were perfectly free from inward distresses, temptations, fears, dejections, &c. All which arise from our still possessing a fallen nature which subjects us to these sensations and feelings. They are our burdens. We cannot but feel them and groan under them. O sad and dreadful fall, which has so terribly maimed and bruised the royal offspring of God! Though we are kings' sons, yet like Mephibosheth we are lame in our hands and feet. Our infirmities are the effects of our FALL. be perfectly freed from them. This is our glorious hope. Shortly we shall But alas! how oft doth present distress deject our hopes; infirmi. ties bow down the soul; faith grows languid; love declines; hope seems at the last gasp, just as if giving up the ghost. And indeed all would end in gloomy dejection and melancholy despair, if the Lord was entirely to forsake his new creation. But that never can be while the Father loves, the Lamb pleads, and the Spirit hath power to help. Therefore when the Spirit sees the souls of his charge pressed above measure in themselves, and ready to sink under their burdens, he reaches forth a tender hand of assistance; helps against infirmities, by enabling the soul to look to the adorable Jesus, to an everlasting covenant, to precious promises, to a reconciled God; and puts this sweet cry in the heart, Abba, Father, Then confidence revives; hope springs afresh; love is excited; the power of prayer breaks forth in the heart, and ascends in sweet fervor from the soul. Whatever flesh and blood may alledge to the contrary, infirmities are made profitable to the soul; or St. Paul would never have declared, "most gladly therefore will I glory in my in firmities." Why? is there any good in them for which they should be desired? No; but "that the power of Christ may rest upon us.". 2 Cor. xii. 9... Eternal Spirit! we confess Thine inward teachings make us know . The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.... Deut. xxx. 6. EVEN Moses, who delivered the fiery law of wrath and terror, preaches like a Barnabas, a son of consolation. In this chapter we have a precious enumeration of new-covenant blessings and evangelical promises, all settled in the eternal counsels between Jehovah, Father, Son and Spirit; all founded in infinite wisdom, everlasting love, and immutable faithfulness; therefore sure to all the seed "who are chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world." Such is the solid foundation of gospel faith and hope. The happy heirs of it the Lord God sets a special mark upon. Hereby he owns them as his peculiar ones. This is also an evidence to them of their special relation to him. As the Father loved his people before time, and gave them to Jesus, to be redeemed in the fulness of time; so also, at the appointed time, the Lord the Spirit performs his office upon them....he circumcises their hearts. This power belongeth to God only. This St. Paul calls "the circumcision made without hands,”........Col. ii. 11. Outward circumcision was a painful operation to the flesh. By it was signified the cutting off all carnal hope and legal confidence in the flesh; and was a sign and seal of new-covenant blessings by Jesus. The circumcision of the heart brings the expe rience and enjoyment of hope in Jesus, peace and joy in Jesus, and a longing expectation of the full enjoyment of Jesus in glory to the soul. When the callousness and hardness of the heart is cut off, then it gladly hears and receives the love of God its crucified Saviour. This love, known and believed, begets love to God in a circumcised heart. And though there is all comfort in love, yet there is a painful sensation attends loving souls. This is the fruit and evidence of love. They mourn and grieve at feeling the sins and corruptions of their natures; they are pained at the sight of them....groan under a sense of them....are filled with shame for them, and detestation against them. O how do they strive against them and cry to Jesus for vic tory over them! To "love the Lord with all their heart and with all their soul," this is their one desire on earth; that they may be in love, wholly devoted to him who bought them with his blood. Of all such souls the Spirit of inspiration declares, "Happy art thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the Lord!".... Deut. xxxiii. 29. “We are the circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,"... Phil. iii. 3. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sin, for ever sat down on the right hand of God....Heb. x. 12. We are too prone to look because the sacrifice of Jesus Disciple, dost thou not see not cause to pray daily for THE Cross of Christ is the christian's glory. Yet the small share that Jesus hath in the christian's affections is his shame. Really disciples of Jesus do not love their Saviour as they ought. Why? because they are slow of heart to believe his love to them and his sufferings for them. How little are our hearts in meditation upon the labours of love, toils of sorrows, and agonies of soul, which Jesus in our nature sustained on our account. If a friendly arm is reached forth and snatches a poor mortal from the jaws of approaching death, O how does it call forth love to his kind deliverer! when he reflects on his danger, how does it excite his gratitude! he cannot think of his preserver but he remembers his mercy. But where is our warm affection, our fervent love to that precious MAN, whose heart was as a flame of love to us, and who willingly offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins? how was he straitened till this baptism was accomplished! how did his soul long till it was finished! But alas! we think too little of our danger. upon sin as a matter of small moment; is not so constantly upon our hearts. cause of mourning for this? hast thou more heart-affecting views of Jesus by the Spirit? O the infinite value of this ONE sacrifice! Sin, how malignant its nature! how deep its stain! nothing but blood divine could atone for it. How prevalent this ONE sacrifice! it hath for ever put away ALL our sins. BEHOLD THE MAN! gaze, wonder, adore, and love; Jesus on the cross, fully atoning for sin. This work being for ever done; behold this MAN for ever sat down on the right hand of God. There he pleads the sinners cause and presents the perfection of his sacrifice. What singular consolation is this! A sense of sin is distressing to the converted soul. But O, when the ONE sacrifice by this ONE MAN is beheld by the eye of faith, how does it revive the drooping heart, give peace to the troubled conscience, and excite joy in the sorrowful mind? Poor sinners have nothing else to look to for hope. Pardon and peace can be had from no other object but the blood of Jesus. Of this we can never glory too much. Nor can our sonfidence be too strong, our expectations too great, our triumphs in Jesus over sin, satan, the law and death, be at any time unseasonable. These precious truths are our never-failing springs of consolation. "The blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sin. If we sin, we have an advocate with the Father,"....1 John ii. 1. Our faith adores thy bleeding love, We hope for heavenly crowns above And lo, an horror of great darkness fell on him....Gen. xv. 12.... THERE is somewhat very gloomy and awful in what is called 'a total eclipse of the sun.' When the earth is darkened, creation puts on a melancholy aspect and seems to mourn in silent sadness. But the surprise and astonishment which naturally affect us on these accounts are greatly abated, as these are not uncommon appearances in nature; and as they are foretold and accounted for. As in the natural, so it is in the spiritual world. The children of God in all ages have experienced darkness of soul: therefore none should think this peculiar when they are exercised thus, "as though some strange thing had happened to them,".... Pet. iv. 12. We see Abraham, the friend of God, and father of the faithful, under an eclipse of the bright shining of the sun of righteousness. The consequence of this darkness was an horror, yea an horror of great darkness fell on him. And this too, after an extraordinary appearance of the Lord himself to him, who called him by his name, bid him FEAR NOT....assures him, I AM THY SHIELD AND THY EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD: then gives him the comfortable promise of the seed that should spring from him. Upon which, Abraham "believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness;" and he offers a sacrifice as the Lord commanded. But, alas, how soon did his bright sun of comfort disappear! How soon did darkness and horror fall upon him! How changeable are our frames! Extraordinary manifestations of comfort and joy are often succeeded by darkness of soul and trials of faith. So it was with our dear Saviour after the Father's declaration, "This is my beloved Son:" after. the visible descent of the Holy Ghost upon him, he was led into the wilderness, to undergo the most sharp and trying temptations. Thus again St. Paul, after he had been caught up to the third heavens, a messenger of satan was sent to buffet him. Hence, O believer, under spiritual darkness and distress of soul write not bitter things against thyself. Think not God ceaseth to love thee and visits in wrath. No: God ever rests in love; he changeth not; his love is ever the same.. Thou art equally as safe in his hands in the dark, though not so comfortable as in the light. Nay, love itself enquires after souls in such a state and gives precious advice to them. See and study Isaiah 1. 10. Now the Lord teaches his sovereignty; instructs in humility; excites patience; shews thee thy nothingness; cuts off all glorying in thyself; strengthens thy trust in him; draws out thy hope from thyself to him; and shews thee that all the promises center in Jesus, and shall be fulfilled in God's own way and manner. Saith Jesus," He who followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."....John viii. 12. |