Presence of God
As the motion of light is the swiftest of all things in the material world; so, God's spiritual operations, in enlightening and renewing the heart, sometimes follow each other with astonishing rapidity. A glance of celestial light darts instantaneously into the soul; and, almost before there is time for much explicit attention, the soul, having seen and glorified divine justice, is plunged into the ocean of redeeming love. This sometimes is the case. But it is more usual, as is plain from the examples above produced, that the one operation of grace is distinctly felt before the other. And often the Lord, having brought his people to the submission and humiliation already described, leaves them there for a time, with no more than a very obscure dawning of mercy and love. And this interval will seem very tedious and perplexing; still, however, the discovery of mercy, and its treasures, may be said, not only to follow, but to follow quickly, after the right view of justice.
For what is the longest delay, in comparison of that awful eternity of wrath, and banishment from God, which sinners deserve? What is the longest delay, in the compass of threescore and ten years, when compared with the eternal sweetness of divine love and its vast blessings? God says, with one breath, "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thy help." When the one part of the lesson is engraven on the heart, the other follows. And then, indeed, the soul enters into refreshing and joyful rest. By the former discoveries of God's justice, the rebellious tumults of the soul are quieted; and the soul is placed in a proper situation for seeing, relishing, and admiring the glorious sweetness, majesty, immensity, and all-sufficiency of the love of God, displayed in Jesus Christ. And this is the chief, the most delightful discovery of the glory of God, to which other views of his relative glory are subservient. Therefore, when Moses said, "I beseech thee, show me thy glory," the answer was expressed in these terms, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." For, where there are a group of things brought together in connection with each other, it is common to mention only some conspicuous and principal part, as leading the attention to the whole group: though, by no means, exclusively of other things, though not then particularly named.
This, then, is a principal cause of that rest, which the presence of God communicates to his people. He gives them enlarged and sweet discoveries of the immense riches, and all-sufficiency of his redeeming love, venting itself through the Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what the church prays for, in Ps. 85:5-7. "Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee? Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation." This the Redeemer had particularly in view, when he said, John 17:26: "And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." And for this, the apostle importunately pleaded in behalf of the Ephesian church, in that glorious prayer of his, recorded Eph. 3:14-19. "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." If ever you know experimentally the fulfillment of these passages of Scripture, you will see more in the love of God, than all the tongues in the world can describe.
Comments
Post a Comment