Earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord while he holds open the gate of life and calls on the perishing to come in. Beware lest the sound that first awakens you be the crash of the gate when it shuts ! 5. Earth — the dust of the dead in Christ — shall hear the word of the Lord, and shall come forth. At the mouth of a grave where a dead brother lay, Jesus said to the sorrowing survivors, " I am the resurrection and the life ; he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." Oh for the blessed hope of immor- tality, burning bright within a disciple's heart, and shining through his countenance ! The resurrection of the dead is a precious, present truth. " Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief" This body for which Christ died, and for which he now lives and reigns, — this body, when it is dust, shall hear his voice, and come forth glorious like his own. Not hewn stone, and carved cedar, and beaten gold, but earth is the temple in which God gets true worship, and loves to dwell. Partially now, perfectly soon, the body of a believer is a consecrated temple of the living God. To believe, to know, to feel this, would do two things for me : With such faith I would not admit the unclean into this temple, for Jesus has bought and claims it as his own ; with such faith I would not, when the time comes, and the messenger approaches, be frightened to let this temple be taken down, for God will raise it up again. It is his, and none shall be able to take it, or keep it, out of his hands. William Arnot
PSALM 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:
for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. Happy and gracious conclusion of every truly regenerate soul, convinced of an interest in CHRIST, and a personal union with him. The beloved of the LORD shall dwell safely. Isaiah 32:18. REFLECTIONS READER! let you and I never lose sight of the LORD JESUS while reading this Psalm. He is the LORD our righteousness. And, therefore, in all our approaches to the mercy-seat, let us go there in a language corresponding to this, which calls JESUS the GOD of our righteousness. And while men of the world from the world are seeking their chief good, let us desire his favor which infinitely transcends corn and wine, and all the good things which perish in using. Yes! LORD, thy favor is better than life itself. Thou causest them that love thee to inherit substance, and fittest all their treasure, yea thou thyself art their treasure. And oh! thou gracious GOD and FATHER, hast thou in such a wonderful manner set apart one in our nature for thyself? ...
Comments
Post a Comment