DECEMBER 17. For thy name's sake, lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me; for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.-Ps. xxxi. 3-5. When the ark set forward, Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.-Numb. x. 35. EVERY one having his own particular gift, has also his own particular enemies, who lay various nets and hindrances in his way. But as everybody must clear the way for a king when he travels, much more so our enemies, when the King of kings guides us and goes before us. Grant, O Lord, that all my goings and restings may be done at thy will! (Numb. iv. 17, 23). Be gloriously pleased to go always before me, and to make room, that mine enemies may be scattered, and fall into their own nets; for thou, who dwellest in heaven, laughest at all, even mine inward spiritual enemies; and art able to confound their deepest craft, and strongest power. Enlighten my darkness, blessed Jesus, that I may see my enemies distinctly; and strengthen my faith in thee, that I may not fear them. Be the Captain of my salvation; lead me on praying and believing; and do thou fight all my battles for me. So shall I come off conqueror through thy love, and will give to thee eternal praise. Great God, preserve my conscience clean; My faith would seize some promise, Lord; DECEMBER 18. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.-Exod. xvi. 15. See also I Cor. x. 3, 4. THIS manna was entirely different from common manna, which is shook from the leaves of trees, and used only in medicine; this dropped down from the clouds, and was truly a miraculous production, as is evident from the following circumstances: that it fell but six days in the week; that it fell in such prodigious quantity as sustained almost three millions of souls; that a double portion of it fell the day before the Sabbath, and none on that day, etc. This manna is called "spiritual meat," because it signified spiritual blessings in heavenly things. Christ Himself is the true manna, the bread of life, of which that was a figure (John vi. 49–51). The Word of God is a manna too, by which our souls are nourished (Matt. iv. 4). The comforts of the Spirit are also a "hidden manna (Rev. ii. 17). These come down from heaven, as the manna did,are the support and comfort of the divine life in the soul while we are in the wilderness of this world. The manna gathered in the wilderness was not to be hoarded up, but eaten; so they that have received Christ, must live upon Him daily by faith, and not think of laying up a stock to-day to serve them to-morrow. They that did eat manna in the wilderness hungered again; whereas they that feed on Christ by faith shall never hunger. "Lord, evermore give us this bread!" Whilst in the wilderness I stray, Thy manna, Lord, I need, DECEMBER 19. What wilt thou, Queen Esther? and what is thy request? It shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.-Esther v. 3. Dost thou want nothing, O poor soul? Hast thou nothing to ask? Oh! yes, you say, a great deal. Well, then, draw near to thy gracious King and Bridegroom without fear. Lo! He holds out His golden sceptre to thee, saying, Only ask; not the half, but the whole of my kingdom shall be granted; nay, I will give myself unto thee. O dear soul, pray and tell Him everything that is wanting, be it ever so great or ever so small! His lovingkindness will hear even the least petition; nay, He will seem to be ignorant of what thou dost not tell Him. But whatever is poured out before Him is actually addressed and lodged in its proper place, and does not lie upon thy heart any longer, but upon His heart, which cannot rest till you are relieved. And if you have experienced His help aforetime, in great or small things, you may depend on His readiness to help you out of troubles hereafter; only be earnest in prayer for His help. We often imagined we were willing and drawing_near to Him, but He was unwilling, and refused our request; but it is not so: He rather draws us, and desires our relief more than we do; for it is He that works even this willing mind. Are those the happy persons here Who dwell the nearest to their God? And Jesus bought this grace with blood? Go then, my soul, address the Son To lead thee near the Father's face Gaze on His glories yet unknown, And taste the blessings of His grace. DECEMBER 20. What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee ?-Luke Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, xviii. 41. O LORD, dost thou also ask me this question? Oh yes. Well, then, I answer, That I may see how gracious thou art; that, knowing thy love in thy light, I may love thee again. This is the sum and substance of all my prayer; because thou requirest it so seriously of me. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha" (1 Cor. xvi. 22), But thou dost not require it as of myself, well knowing that I can do nothing; but signifieth only what I am to ask of thee, and what thou art willing to give and to work; for thou dost not require anything but what thou workest thyself, and workest everything that thou requirest; therefore faith and love being required by thee, I require the same from thee first. Grant, oh! grant them to me, that I may return them to thee again. And since nothing is pleasing to thee but what is thy own gift, I trust that thou wilt certainly hear and fulfill this my request. However, as my salvation is not grounded on my own, but on thine and thy Father's love and counsel, save me by free grace through thy merits, and let me go on covered all over with grace and pardon. This is treasure enough, by which my heart can be well satisfied. He that can shake the worlds He made, Our sorrows and our tears we pour DECEMBER 21. In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.— Isa. xxx. 15. In your patience possess ye your souls.-Luke xxi. 19. Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be faint-hearted.—Isa. vii. 4. CHRISTIANS must suffer patiently, and patience is their armor, while God is fighting for them. But when we are unwilling to suffer, going about to make complaints everywhere, and to seek human comfort, or to rid ourselves, by our own contrivances, we lose the comfort of the Lord's help, we are stirring up the wasp-nest of our unruly thoughts, and bring more trouble upon ourselves and others; nay, we are fighting against God, who thereby intends to cure our impatience, pride and anger; for the more peevish and wild we are, the more desperate is our disease; and consequently, we have so much more need of such sharp but wholesome trials of affliction to mortify these bad passions of the flesh. Therefore we must not presume to murmur or complain, which will only make bad worse; for he who, through impatience, will flee from one trouble, may run into ten others; and though it is possible sometimes to rid ourselves out of trouble, yet the help is not so glorious and blessed as if we had waited for the help of the Lord. Grant me to wait always on thy help; for the Lord's good time will come, though He tarry long. Sure I must bear if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord! I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by thy Word. Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease, While others suffered for the prize, And sailed through bloody seas? |