FEBRUARY 6. The fashion of this world passeth away.— As long as we feed on the husks of the world, and are in love with it, we are neither willing nor able to taste the comforts of the love of God; but when sin and the world are become an abomination to us, and we desire to be rid of them, and seek diligently unto Jesus Christ for the help of His grace, and the benefit of His blood, we are then in a right way to receive the love of God, and every blessing of salvation; and though we are chastened by the Lord, yet He is not angry with us, but does it to embitter sin and the world more and more to us, and to make us loathe them, that we may not be condemned with the world; but that we may be kept from the evil that is in the world (John xvii. 15). Let worldly minds the world pursue, It has no charms for me; Once I admir'd its trifles too, Its pleasures now no longer please, Far from my heart be joys like these, As by the light of op'ning day Now, Lord, I would be thine alone, But may I hope that thou wilt own Yes; though of sinners I'm the worst For if thou hadst not lov'd me first, FEBRUARY 7. Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.-Matt. vi. 13. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power. -Rev. iv. 10, II. ONE that is really poor in spirit, though he hath practiced the duties of the Christian life ever so long, and ever so diligently, always thinks himself to have received but a very little portion of Christ, and the work of sanctification hardly to be begun in his soul. So far is he from believing he has already attained it, that after all his best actions, he counts himself not worthy to be called by the name of a grateful son. He is never pleased with himself. No degree of holiness will satisfy his soul. He seeks and finds no rest or comfort but in the infinite mercy of God, and in the pardon of his sins by faith, though he does not divide Christ, but receives Him in all His offices, and gives himself entirely up to Him, without reserve, to be more and more sanctified and perfected; and in this state he is safe indeed, he is prepared for death, and has no reason to be anxiously afraid, though earnestly desirous of higher degrees of sanctification. Forever hallow'd be thy name By all beneath the skies; And may thy kingdom still advance, A grateful homage may we yield, And as in heaven thy will is done, On earth so let it be. For thine the pow'r, the kingdom thin' All glory's due to thee; Thine from eternity they were, And thine shall ever be. FEBRUARY 8. He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure; for this is all my salvation, and all my desire.—2 Sam. xxiii. 5. I have made a covenant with my chosen.-Ps. 1xxxix. 3. THIS was David's plea and confidence when, with eternity full before him, he was just going to make his appearance before an infinitely pure God. This must be our plea also if ever we would obtain the approbation of our judge. After a life of the most eminent holiness, the best of men will have reason to cry out, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord!" It is true, indeed, the believer will discover some evidences of grace, just to shew the child of God, and no more, but all so imperfect, that he dares not ground his expectations on them. Here the covenant of grace steps in to his relief, wherein he sees ample provision made for the security of his eternal interest; for the covenant is made with Christ and His seed. It is an everlasting covenant, not only made before time, but extending its beneficial effects through the ages of eternity. It is ordered in all things; therefore nothing can be wanting in it, either to promote the glory of God, or the salvation of believers. It is sure also; depending on no conditions, requiring nothing but what it gives, conferring its blessings freely, and making them sure to all the seed, being established upon better promises. Happy souls, who are interested in this well-ordered covenant! May it be all my salvation, and all my desire! Thy word is truth, thy promise sure, Hence faith and hope abide ; True faith in Jesus will endure; Nought can from Christ divide ! FEBRUARY 9. I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.-John xiv. 16, 17. WHEN God designed the great and glorious work of recovering fallen man, and the saving of sinners, "to the praise of the glory of His grace," He ap pointed, in His infinite wisdom, two great means thereof; the one was the giving of His Son for them; and the other was the giving of His Spirit unto them. And hereby was way made for the manifestation of the glory of the whole blessed Trinity, which is the utmost end of all the works of God. Hereby were the love, grace and wisdom of the Father, in the design and contrivance of the whole; the love, grace and condescension of the Son, in the execution, purchase and procurement of grace and salvation for sinners; with the love, grace and power of the Holy Spirit, in the effectual application of all unto the souls of men, made gloriously conspicuous. To these heads may all the promises of God be reduced. Happy for the Church that the Spirit is to abide with it for ever; and awful to think that the unconverted world neither can receive nor know the Spirit. Holy Spirit, heav'nly Dove, Bringing peace, and bringing love, Form the Saviour in my soul. Be my true and constant Guide; FEBRUARY IO. Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death.-2 Cor. vii. 10. THERE is a sorrow which has the breach of God's holy law for its object, called godly, because it is produced by the Spirit of God discovering the evil of sin, and the plague and corruption of our own hearts, and deeply humbling us under a sense of sin, producing evangelical repentance, and leading the soul to cry to the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon and salvation; the Holy Spirit at the same time enabling us to believe in Him, and rest upon His person, blood and righteousness, for redemption and salvation: which repentance will never be repented of. But sorrow arising from the love of this world, worketh death,-death eternal! Lord Jesus, grant me to feel more of this godly sorrow for sin, and to rejoice more in thee as my Saviour! Father, thy long-lost child receive; Blest Comforter, with peace and joy, Return, my roving heart, return, And life's vain shadows choose no more; And thy forsaken God implore. O thou great God, whose piercing eye Through all the windings of my heart, Then let the visits of thy love My inmost soul be called to share, Till every grace combine to prove, That God has fixed His dwelling there. |