agreement—made out in our behalf, giving us as our own all that He has promised. We are wont to think of our fellow-men-that a pledge or promise unrecorded, or, even if recorded, if not confirmed by repetition in some other way, needs a guarantee and attestation, and He has even thought of this, and has confirmed his covenant by an oath.* Willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, He has confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before us." Gracious condescension could surely go no farther! Given, equally, with royal fulness, to all believers. Not to a happy few among them; the elder sons, or favourites, of his great family, but to all, alike, with an impartial hand, as they have shown themselves fitted to receive. The water of life is free to all; the hope of heaven; the clean heart and the right spirit; the gift of his Son; the white robes and the crown of righteousness—all the exceeding and *Heb. vi. 17. eternal weight of glory laid up for them that fear Him,—are for every one who will but make them his. There is not, in all the Bible, a single promise that the poorest or the vilest may not plead as spoken to himself, if he only come aright. To him who is contented to receive without deserving; to feel that he can never recompense such love; to lay his pride and self-sufficiency at the feet of Christ, and to approach with lowly child-like spirit, all the treasures of eternal love are a free and everlasting gift. PRAYER. GRANT, O Lord, that our affections and endeavours be not divided between Thee and the world, but that we may seek Thee with our whole heart, cleansing our ways from all impurity, giving to Thy service our youth and more perfect age, even all our days, and all our powers, taking more delight in the way of Thy testimonies than in all manner of riches and fading pleasures; that we, delighting in Thee, and in the ways that lead to Thee, may be beloved of Thee with an eternal love; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. With milk and honey bless'd; Beneath thy contemplation Sink heart and voice oppressed : The home of fadeless splendour, Of flowers that have no thorn; Where they shall dwell as children Who here as exiles mourn. Jerusalem, the only, That look'st from heaven below; In thee is all my glory : In me is all my woe: I strive to win that glory; I toil to gain that light; Send hope before to grasp it, Till hope is lost in sight. Jerusalem! exulting, On that securest shore, I hope thee, wish thee, sing thee, And love thee, evermore! O happy, holy city, The portion of the blest; True vision of true beauty, Sweet balm of all distress'd. Thou hast no shore, fair ocean! And thine the golden dower. Thy ransomed people raise. And He whom now we trust in Shall then be seen and known; And they that know and see Him Shall have Him for their own. O sweet and blessed country, When shall I see thy face? O sweet and blessed country, When shall I win thy grace? Exult, O dust and ashes! The Lord shall be thy part; His only, His for ever Thou shalt be, and thou art. V. EXCEEDING RICHES. HE tree of life in Eden was guarded by THE Cherubim, with flaming sword, but the richer fruits of the promises stand free to every believer. Blessed is the man who puts forth his hand, and eats, and lives for ever! Every emblem of heavenly joys may justly be applied to them. I might liken them to the crystal stream of the water of life, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, whose flow is ever at the full to refresh the thirsty, to restore the weary, and to cheer and revive the dejected and drooping. I might speak of them as the warm and enlivening rays of the Sun of Righteousness, which make How happy he who has a right to them as a tree of life, for good, with fruits ever new and ever fair; and as a clear and flowing stream, like that which makes glad the City of God-for his a blessed summer in the soul. |