EPC Australia

The first word, "for," shows that the text contains a reason for something; and it was this, as we see by the preceding' verse: "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul." We learn from it, of what importance it is, to place and keep the Supreme Being before the eye of the mind, in an amiable and inviting character, when we have to do with him. Tell me not, there is danger in such representations; they may gender presumption. They may: every thing is liable to abuse. But we are saved by hope. By withdrawing his confidence in God, man fell; and he can only be restored by replacing it in him. The first step of a sinner, in returning to God, must result from this trust. Accordingly, the design of Revelation is to produce and support it. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." The same is said of the mediation of Christ: "By him we believe in God, who raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, that our faith and hope might be in God." More are destroyed by despair than by presumption. When once a man says there is no hope, he becomes abandoned; and the despondence he feels is the strongest link in the chain that binds him to an unconverted state. Let there be, therefore, always a refuge open, and into which a sinner, when he looks back, and wishes to enter, may return. Tell him that yet there is room. Tell him that God is good and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon him.

And, from hence, let me also learn, that when we have no comfort arising from personal assurance, there is encouragement enough in the general views which the Scripture gives us of God to induce us to wait on the Lord, and keep his way. David does not here say, I will lift up my soul to Him, for he is my God, and he has given me the heritage of them that fear his Name; but he looks to his goodness, and readiness to forgive, and the plenteousness and impartiality of his mercy. These considerations do not require me to ascertain, before I come to him, that I am a saint; but tell me to come, as a sinner; and assure me, that he will in no wise cast me out. When I know not that I have grace, how delightful is it to know that it is attainable; and to hear a voice, saying, "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." Thus Mr. Scott said, when dying, that those Scriptures refreshed and comforted him most, which were not limited to a particular class, but open to all.

Yet, however good, and forgiving, and merciful He is, this is nothing to those who refuse or neglect to "call upon him." Such blessed assurances are not intended to make us careless, but to excite and animate our applications to him. Prayer is the way in which He, who has a right to determine, and who cannot err, has chosen, for our obtaining his favours. Yet I will be inquired of. Ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find.

Those, therefore, that live without prayer, are shut out from the blessedness. But this is not all. They incur, also, the curse which results from the contempt of his grace. There is no aggravation of misery like the consciousness of patience exhausted, kindness abused, opportunity lost. But lost entirely by our own fault; lost for ever! This conviction will be the food of the worm that never dies, and the fuel of the fire that never shall be quenched.

Morning Exercises For Everyday In The Year
By Rev. William Jay