Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/topics27/t28850

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28851
 July 16                                                  Morning

 \\"They gathered manna every morning."\\
                                                   --Exodus 16:21

    \\Labour to maintain a sense of thine entire dependence upon\\
 \\the Lord's good will and pleasure for the continuance of thy\\
 \\richest enjoyments\\. Never try to live on the old manna, nor
 seek to find help in Egypt. All must come from Jesus, or thou
 art undone for ever. Old anointings will not suffice to impart
 unction to thy spirit; thine head must have fresh oil poured
 upon it from the golden horn of the sanctuary, or it will cease
 from its glory. To-day thou mayest be upon the summit of the
 mount of God, but he who has put thee there must keep thee
 there, or thou wilt sink far more speedily than thou dreamest.
 Thy mountain only stands firm when he settles it in its place;
 if he hide his face, thou wilt soon be troubled. If the Saviour
 should see fit, there is not a window through which thou seest
 the light of heaven which he could not darken in an instant.
 Joshua bade the sun stand still, but Jesus can shroud it in
 total darkness. He can withdraw the joy of thine heart, the
 light of thine eyes, and the strength of thy life; in his hand
 thy comforts lie, and at his will they can depart from thee.
 This hourly dependence our Lord is determined that we shall feel
 and recognize, for he only permits us to pray for "daily bread,"
 and only promises that "as our days our strength shall be." Is
 it not best for us that it should be so, that we may often
 repair to his throne, and constantly be reminded of his love?
 Oh! how rich the grace which supplies us so continually, and
 doth not refrain itself because of our ingratitude! The golden
 shower never ceases, the cloud of blessing tarries evermore
 above our habitation. O Lord Jesus, we would bow at thy feet,
 conscious of our utter inability to do anything without thee,
 and in every favour which we are privileged to receive, we would
 adore thy blessed name and acknowledge thine unexhausted love.

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28951
 # Ps 120:1 - 131:3 * Daily Bible Reading
28852
 July 17                                                  Morning

 \\"Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God."\\
                                            --1 Thessalonians 1:4

    Many persons want to know their election before they look to
 Christ, but they cannot learn it thus, it is only to be
 discovered by "looking unto Jesus." If you desire to ascertain
 your own election;--after the following manner, shall you assure
 your heart before God. Do you feel yourself to be a lost, guilty
 sinner? go straightway to the cross of Christ, and tell Jesus
 so, and tell him that you have read in the Bible, "Him that
 cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." Tell him that he
 has said, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
 acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
 sinners." Look to Jesus and believe on him, and you shall make
 proof of your election directly, for so surely as thou
 believest, thou art elect. If you will give yourself wholly up
 to Christ and trust him, then you are one of God's chosen ones;
 but if you stop and say, "I want to know first whether I am
 elect," you ask you know not what. Go to Jesus, be you never so
 guilty, just as you are. Leave all curious inquiry about
 election alone. Go straight to Christ and hide in his wounds,
 and you shall know your election. The assurance of the Holy
 Spirit shall be given to you, so that you shall be able to say,
 "I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able
 to keep that which I have committed to him." Christ was at the
 everlasting council: he can tell you whether you were chosen or
 not; but you cannot find it out in any other way. Go and put
 your trust in him, and his answer will be--"I have loved thee
 with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I
 drawn thee." There will be no doubt about his having chosen
 \\you\\, when you have chosen \\him\\.

              "Sons we are through God's election,
              Who in Jesus Christ believe."

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28952
 # Ps 132:1 - 138:8 * Daily Bible Reading
28853
 July 18                                                  Morning

 \\"They shall go hindmost with their standards."\\
                                                   --Numbers 2:31

    The camp of Dan brought up the rear when the armies of Israel
 were on the march. The Danites occupied \\the hindmost place\\,
 but what mattered the position, since they were as truly part of
 the host as were the foremost tribes; they followed the same
 fiery cloudy pillar, they ate of the same manna, drank of the
 same spiritual rock, and journeyed to the same inheritance.
 Come, my heart, cheer up, though last and least; it is thy
 privilege to be in the army, and to fare as they fare who lead
 the van. Some one must be hindmost in honour and esteem, some
 one must do menial work for Jesus, and why should not I? In a
 poor village, among an ignorant peasantry; or in a back street,
 among degraded sinners, I will work on, and "go hindmost with my
 standard."

    The Danites occupied \\a very useful place\\. Stragglers have
 to be picked up upon the march, and lost property has to be
 gathered from the field. Fiery spirits may dash forward over
 untrodden paths to learn fresh truth, and win more souls to
 Jesus; but some of a more conservative spirit may be well
 engaged in reminding the church of her ancient faith, and
 restoring her fainting sons. Every position has its duties, and
 the slowly moving children of God will find their peculiar state
 one in which they may be eminently a blessing to the whole host.

    The rear guard is \\a place of danger\\. There are foes
 behind us as well as before us. Attacks may come from any
 quarter. We read that Amalek fell upon Israel, and slew some of
 the hindmost of them. The experienced Christian will find much
 work for his weapons in aiding those poor doubting, desponding,
 wavering, souls, who are hindmost in faith, knowledge, and joy.
 These must not be left unaided, and therefore be it the business
 of well-taught saints to bear their standards among the
 hindmost. My soul, do thou tenderly watch to help the hindmost
 this day.

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28953
 # Ps 139:1 - 143:12 * Daily Bible Reading
28854
 July 19                                                  Morning

 \\"The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory."\\
                                               --Deuteronomy 5:24

    God's great design in all his works is the manifestation of
 his own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of himself.
 But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen
 creatures as we are? Man's eye is not single, he has ever a side
 glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his
 own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the
 Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way,
 that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the
 reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and
 difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and
 weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when
 he comes forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one
 even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the
 Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but
 little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They
 who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little
 of the God of tempests; but they who "do business in great
 waters," these see his "wonders in the deep." Among the huge
 Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and
 reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the
 littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a
 rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of
 God's greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched
 you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means:
 your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has
 set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his
 glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to
 the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have
 involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have
 been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his
 wonderful dealings with you.

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28954
 # Ps 144:1 - 150:6 * Daily Bible Reading
28855
 July 20                                                  Morning

 \\"The earnest of our inheritance."\\
                                                 --Ephesians 1:14

    Oh! what enlightenment, what joys, what consolation, what
 delight of heart is experienced by that man who has learned to
 feed on Jesus, and on Jesus alone. Yet the realization which we
 have of Christ's preciousness is, in this life, imperfect at the
 best. As an old writer says, "'Tis but a taste!" We have tasted
 "that the Lord is gracious," but we do not yet know \\how\\ good
 and gracious he is, although what we know of his sweetness makes
 us long for more. We have enjoyed the firstfruits of the Spirit,
 and they have set us hungering and thirsting for the fulness of
 the heavenly vintage. We groan within ourselves, waiting for the
 adoption. \\Here\\ we are like Israel in the wilderness, who had
 but one cluster from Eshcol, \\there\\ we shall be in the
 vineyard. Here we see the manna falling small, like coriander
 seed, but there shall we eat the bread of heaven and the old
 corn of the kingdom. We are but beginners now in spiritual
 education; for although we have learned the first letters of the
 alphabet, we cannot read words yet, much less can we put
 sentences together; but as one says, "He that has been in heaven
 but five minutes, knows more than the general assembly of
 divines on earth." We have many ungratified desires at present,
 but soon every wish shall be satisfied; and all our powers shall
 find the sweetest employment in that eternal world of joy. O
 Christian, antedate heaven for a few years. Within a very little
 time thou shalt be rid of all thy trials and thy troubles.
 Thine eyes now suffused with tears shall weep no longer. Thou
 shalt gaze in ineffable rapture upon the splendour of him who
 sits upon the throne. Nay, more, upon his throne shalt thou sit.
 The triumph of his glory shall be shared by thee; his crown, his
 joy, his paradise, these shall be thine, and thou shalt be
 co-heir with him who is the heir of all things.

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28955
 # Pr 1:1 - 3:35 * Daily Bible Reading
28856
 July 21                                                  Morning

 \\"The daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee."\\
                                                   --Isaiah 37:22

    Reassured by the Word of the Lord, the poor trembling
 citizens of Zion grew bold, and shook their heads at
 Sennacherib's boastful threats. Strong faith enables the
 servants of God to look with calm contempt upon their most
 haughty foes. \\We know that our enemies are attempting\\
 \\impossibilities\\. They seek to destroy the eternal life,
 which cannot die while Jesus lives; to overthrow the citadel,
 against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. They kick
 against the pricks to their own wounding, and rush upon the
 bosses of Jehovah's buckler to their own hurt.

    \\We know their weakness\\. What are they but men? And what
 is man but a worm? They roar and swell like waves of the sea,
 foaming out their own shame. When the Lord ariseth, they shall
 fly as chaff before the wind, and be consumed as crackling
 thorns. Their utter powerlessness to do damage to the cause of
 God and his truth, may make the weakest soldiers in Zion's ranks
 laugh them to scorn.

    Above all, \\we know that the Most High is with us\\, and
 when he dresses himself in arms, where are his enemies? If he
 cometh forth from his place, the potsherds of the earth will not
 long contend with their Maker. His rod of iron shall dash them
 in pieces like a potter's vessel, and their very remembrance
 shall perish from the earth. Away, then, all fears, the kingdom
 is safe in the King's hands. Let us shout for joy, for the Lord
 reigneth, and his foes shall be as straw for the dunghill.

            "As true as God's own word is true;
            Nor earth, nor hell, with all their crew,
            Against us shall prevail.
            A jest, and by-word, are they grown;
            God is with us, we are his own,
            Our victory cannot fail."

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28956
 # Pr 4:1 - 7:27 * Daily Bible Reading
28857
 July 22                                                  Morning

 \\"I am married unto you."\\
                                                  --Jeremiah 3:14

    Christ Jesus is joined unto his people in marriage-union. In
 love he espoused his Church as a chaste virgin, long before she
 fell under the yoke of bondage. Full of burning affection he
 toiled, like Jacob for Rachel, until the whole of her
 purchase-money had been paid, and now, having sought her by his
 Spirit, and brought her to know and love him, he awaits the
 glorious hour when their mutual bliss shall be consummated at
 the marriage-supper of the Lamb. Not yet hath the glorious
 Bridegroom presented his betrothed, perfected and complete,
 before the Majesty of heaven; not yet hath she actually entered
 upon the enjoyment of her dignities as his wife and queen: she
 is as yet a wanderer in a world of woe, a dweller in the tents
 of Kedar; but she is even now the bride, the spouse of Jesus,
 dear to his heart, precious in his sight, written on his hands,
 and united with his person. On earth he exercises towards her
 all the affectionate offices of Husband. He makes rich provision
 for her wants, pays all her debts, allows her to assume his
 name, and to share in all his wealth. Nor will he ever act
 otherwise to her. The word divorce he will never mention, for
 "He hateth putting away." Death must sever the conjugal tie
 between the most loving mortals, but it cannot divide the links
 of this immortal marriage. In heaven they marry not, but are as
 the angels of God; yet there is this one marvellous exception to
 the rule, for in Heaven Christ and his Church shall celebrate
 their joyous nuptials. This affinity as it is more lasting, so
 is it more near than earthly wedlock. Let the love of husband be
 never so pure and fervent, it is but a faint picture of the
 flame which burns in the heart of Jesus. Passing all human union
 is that mystical cleaving unto the Church, for which Christ left
 his Father, and became one flesh with her.

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28957
 # Pr 8:1 - 11:31 * Daily Bible Reading
28858
 July 23                                                  Morning

 \\"Even thou wast as one of them."\\
                                                   --Obadiah 1:11

    Brotherly kindness was due from Edom to Israel in the time of
 need, but instead thereof, the men of Esau made common cause
 with Israel's foes. Special stress in the sentence before us is
 laid upon the word \\thou\\; as when Caesar cried to Brutus,
 "and \\thou\\ Brutus"; a bad action may be all the worse,
 because of the person who has committed it. When \\we\\ sin, who
 are the chosen favourites of heaven, we sin with an emphasis;
 ours is a crying offence, because we are so peculiarly indulged.
 If an angel should lay his hand upon us when we are doing evil,
 he need not use any other rebuke than the question, "What
 \\thou\\? What dost \\thou\\ here?" Much forgiven, much
 delivered, much instructed, much enriched, much blessed, shall
 we dare to put forth our hand unto evil? God forbid!

    A few minutes of confession may be beneficial to thee, gentle
 reader, this morning. Hast thou never been as the wicked? At an
 evening party certain men laughed at uncleanness, and the joke
 was not altogether offensive to thine ear, \\even thou wast as\\
 \\one of them\\. When hard things were spoken concerning the
 ways of God, thou wast bashfully silent; and so, to on-lookers,
 \\thou wast as one of them\\. When worldlings were bartering in
 the market, and driving hard bargains, wast thou not as one of
 them? When they were pursuing vanity with a hunter's foot, wert
 thou not as greedy for gain as they were? Could any difference
 be discerned between thee and them? \\Is there any difference\\?
 Here we come to close quarters. Be honest with thine own soul,
 and make sure that thou art a new creature in Christ Jesus; but
 when this is sure, walk jealously, lest any should again be able
 to say, "Even thou wast as one of them." Thou wouldst not desire
 to share their eternal doom, why then be like them here? Come
 not thou into their secret, lest thou come into their ruin. Side
 with the afflicted people of God, and not with the world.

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28958
 # Pr 12:1 - 15:33 * Daily Bible Reading
28859
 July 24                                                  Morning

 \\"Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."\\
                                                   --Exodus 14:13

    These words contain God's command to the believer when he is
 reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary
 difficulties. He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is
 shut up on the right hand and on the left; what is he now to do?
 The Master's word to him is, "Stand still." It will be well for
 him if at such times he listens only to his Master's word, for
 other and evil advisers come with their suggestions. \\Despair\\
 whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up." But God would have
 us put on a cheerful courage, and even in our worst times,
 rejoice in his love and faithfulness. \\Cowardice\\ says,
 "Retreat; go back to the worldling's way of action; you cannot
 play the Christian's part, it is too difficult. Relinquish your
 principles." But, however much Satan may urge this course upon
 you, you cannot follow it if you are a child of God. His divine
 fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou
 shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy
 course. What, if for a while thou art called to stand still, yet
 this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in
 due time. \\Precipitancy\\ cries, "do something. Stir yourself;
 to stand still and wait, is sheer idleness." We \\must\\ be
 doing something at once--\\we\\ must do it so we think--instead of
 looking to the Lord, who will not only do something but will do
 everything. \\Presumption\\ boasts, "If the sea be before you,
 march into it and expect a miracle." But Faith listens neither
 to Presumption, nor to Despair, nor to Cowardice, nor to
 Precipitancy, but it hears God say, "Stand still," and immovable
 as a rock it stands. "\\Stand\\ still;"--keep the posture of an
 upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders,
 cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it
 will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as
 Moses said it to the people of Israel, "Go forward."

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28959
 # Pr 16:1 - 19:29 * Daily Bible Reading
28860
 July 25                                                  Morning

 \\"He left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out."\\
                                                  --Genesis 39:12

    In contending with certain sins there remains no mode of
 victory but by flight. The ancient naturalists wrote much of
 basilisks, whose eyes fascinated their victims and rendered them
 easy victims; so the mere gaze of wickedness puts us in solemn
 danger. He who would be safe from acts of evil must haste away
 from occasions of it. A covenant must be made with our eyes not
 even to look upon the cause of temptation, for such sins only
 need a spark to begin with and a blaze follows in an instant.
 Who would wantonly enter the leper's prison and sleep amid its
 horrible corruption? He only who desires to be leprous himself
 would thus court contagion. If the mariner knew how to avoid a
 storm, he would do anything rather than run the risk of
 weathering it. Cautious pilots have no desire to try how near
 the quicksand they can sail, or how often they may touch a rock
 without springing a leak; their aim is to keep as nearly as
 possible in the midst of a safe channel.

    This day I may be exposed to great peril, let me have the
 serpent's wisdom to keep out of it and avoid it. The wings of a
 dove may be of more use to me to-day than the jaws of a lion. It
 is true I may be an apparent loser by declining evil company,
 but I had better leave my cloak than lose my character; it is
 not needful that I should be rich, but it is imperative upon me
 to be pure. No ties of friendship, no chains of beauty, no
 flashings of talent, no shafts of ridicule must turn me from the
 wise resolve to flee from sin. The devil I am to resist and he
 will flee from me, but the lusts of the flesh, \\I\\ must flee,
 or they will surely overcome me. O God of holiness preserve thy
 Josephs, that Madam Bubble bewitch them not with her vile
 suggestions. May the horrible trinity of the world, the flesh,
 and the devil, never overcome us!

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28960
 # Pr 20:1 - 22:29 * Daily Bible Reading
28861
 July 26                                                  Morning

 \\"Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue\\
 \\knowledge, etc."\\
                                                 --2 Peter 1:5,6

    If thou wouldest enjoy the eminent grace of the full
 assurance of faith, under the blessed Spirit's influence, and
 assistance, do what the Scripture tells thee, "\\Give\\
 \\diligence\\." Take care that thy \\faith\\ is of the right
 kind--that it is not a mere belief of doctrine, but a simple
 faith, depending on Christ, and on Christ alone. Give diligent
 heed to thy \\courage\\. Plead with God that he would give thee
 the face of a lion, that thou mayest, with a consciousness of
 right, go on boldly. Study well the Scriptures, and get
 \\knowledge\\; for a knowledge of doctrine will tend very much
 to confirm faith. Try to understand God's Word; let it dwell in
 thy heart richly.

    When thou hast done this, "Add to thy knowledge
 \\temperance\\." Take heed to thy body: be temperate without.
 Take heed to thy soul: be temperate within. Get temperance of
 lip, life, heart, and thought. Add to this, by God's Holy
 Spirit, \\patience\\; ask him to give thee that patience which
 endureth affliction, which, when it is tried, shall come forth
 as gold. Array yourself with patience, that you may not murmur
 nor be depressed in your afflictions. When that grace is won
 look to \\godliness\\. Godliness is something more than
 religion. Make God's glory your object in life; live in his
 sight; dwell close to him; seek for fellowship with him; and
 thou hast "godliness"; and to that add \\brotherly love\\. Have
 a love to all the saints: and add to that a \\charity\\, which
 openeth its arms to all men, and loves their souls. When you are
 adorned with these jewels, and just in proportion as you
 practise these heavenly virtues, will you come to know by
 clearest evidence "your calling and election." "Give diligence,"
 if you would get assurance, for lukewarmness and doubting very
 naturally go hand in hand.

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28961
 # Pr 23:1 - 26:28 * Daily Bible Reading
28862
 July 27                                                  Morning

 \\"Exceeding great and precious promises."\\
                                                    --2 Peter 1:4

    If you would know experimentally the preciousness of the
 promises, and enjoy them in your own heart, \\meditate much upon\\
 \\them\\. There are promises which are like grapes in the
 wine-press; if you will tread them the juice will flow. Thinking
 over the hallowed words will often be the prelude to their
 fulfilment. While you are musing upon them, the boon which you
 are seeking will insensibly come to you. Many a Christian who
 has thirsted for the promise has found the favour which it
 ensured gently distilling into his soul even while he has been
 considering the divine record; and he has rejoiced that ever he
 was led to lay the promise near his heart.

    But besides \\meditating\\ upon the promises, \\seek in thy\\
 \\soul to receive them as being the very words of God\\. Speak
 to thy soul thus, "If I were dealing with a man's promise, I
 should carefully consider the ability and the character of the
 man who had covenanted with me. So with the promise of God; my
 eye must not be so much fixed upon the greatness of the
 mercy--that may stagger me; as upon the greatness of the
 promiser--that will cheer me. My soul, it is God, even thy God,
 God that cannot lie, who speaks to thee. This word of his which
 thou art now considering is as true as his own existence. He is
 a God unchangeable. He has not altered the thing which has gone
 out of his mouth, nor called back one single consolatory
 sentence. Nor doth he lack any power; it is the God that made
 the heavens and the earth who has spoken thus. Nor can he fail
 in wisdom as to the time when he will bestow the favours, for he
 knoweth when it is best to give and when better to withhold.
 Therefore, seeing that it is the word of a God so true, so
 immutable, so powerful, so wise, I will and must believe the
 promise." If we thus meditate upon the promises, and consider
 the Promiser, we shall experience their sweetness, and obtain
 their fulfilment.

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28962
 # Pr 27:1 - 31:31 * Daily Bible Reading
28863
 July 28                                                  Morning

 \\"So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before\\
 \\thee."\\
                                                    --Psalm 73:22

    Remember this is the confession of the man after God's own
 heart; and in telling us his inner life, he writes, "So foolish
 was I, and ignorant." The word "\\foolish\\," here, means more
 than it signifies in ordinary language. David, in a former verse
 of the Psalm, writes, "I was envious at \\the foolish\\ when I
 saw the prosperity of the wicked," which shows that the folly he
 intended had sin in it. He puts himself down as being thus
 "foolish," and adds a word which is to give intensity to it; "so
 foolish was I." \\How foolish\\ he could not tell. It was a
 sinful folly, a folly which was not to be excused by frailty,
 but to be condemned because of its perverseness and wilful
 ignorance, for he had been envious of the present prosperity of
 the ungodly, forgetful of the dreadful end awaiting all such.
 And are we better than David that we should call ourselves wise!
 Do we profess that we have attained perfection, or to have been
 so chastened that the rod has taken all our wilfulness out of
 us? Ah, this were pride indeed! If \\David\\ was foolish, how
 foolish should \\we\\ be in our own esteem if we could but see
 ourselves! Look back, believer: think of your doubting God when
 he has been so faithful to you--think of your foolish outcry of
 "Not so, my Father," when he crossed his hands in affliction to
 give you the larger blessing; think of the many times when you
 have read his providences in the dark, misinterpreted his
 dispensations, and groaned out, "All these things are against
 me," when they are all working together for your good! Think how
 often you have chosen sin because of its pleasure, when indeed,
 that pleasure was a root of bitterness to you! Surely if we know
 our own heart we must plead guilty to the indictment of a sinful
 folly; and conscious of this "foolishness," we must make David's
 consequent resolve our own--"\\Thou shalt guide me with thy\\
 \\counsel\\."

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28963
 # Ec 1:1 - 4:16 * Daily Bible Reading
28864
 July 29                                                  Morning

 \\"Nevertheless I am continually with thee."\\
                                                    --Psalm 73:23

    "\\Nevertheless\\,"--As if, notwithstanding all the
 foolishness and ignorance which David had just been confessing
 to God, not one atom the less was it true and certain that David
 was saved and accepted, and that the blessing of being
 constantly in God's presence was undoubtedly his. Fully
 conscious of his own lost estate, and of the deceitfulness and
 vileness of his nature, yet, by a glorious outburst of faith, he
 sings "nevertheless I am continually with thee." Believer, you
 are forced to enter into Asaph's confession and acknowledgment,
 endeavour in like spirit to say "nevertheless, since I belong to
 Christ I am continually with God!" By this is meant continually
 upon his \\mind\\, he is always thinking of me for my good.
 Continually before his \\eye\\;--the eye of the Lord never
 sleepeth, but is perpetually watching over my welfare.
 Continually in his \\hand\\, so that none shall be able to pluck
 me thence. Continually on his \\heart\\, worn there as a
 memorial, even as the high priest bore the names of the twelve
 tribes upon his heart for ever. Thou always thinkest of me, O
 God. The bowels of thy love continually yearn towards me. Thou
 art always making providence work for my good. Thou hast set me
 as a signet upon thine arm; thy love is strong as death, many
 waters cannot quench it; neither can the floods drown it.
 Surprising grace! Thou seest me in Christ, and though in myself
 abhorred, thou beholdest me as wearing Christ's garments, and
 washed in his blood, and thus I stand accepted in thy presence.
 I am thus continually in thy favour--"continually with thee."
 Here is comfort for the tried and afflicted soul; vexed with the
 tempest within--look at the calm without. "\\Nevertheless\\"--O
 say it in thy heart, and take the peace it gives. "Nevertheless
 I am continually with thee."

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28964
 # Ec 5:1 - 8:17 * Daily Bible Reading
28865
 July 30                                                  Morning

 \\"And when he thought thereon, he wept."\\
                                                     --Mark 14:72

    It has been thought by some that as long as Peter lived, the
 fountain of his tears began to flow whenever he remembered his
 denying his Lord. It is not unlikely that it was so, for his
 sin was very great, and grace in him had afterwards a perfect
 work. This same experience is common to all the redeemed family
 according to the degree in which the Spirit of God has removed
 the natural heart of stone. We, like Peter, remember \\our\\
 \\boastful promise\\: "Though all men shall forsake thee, yet
 will not I." We eat our own words with the bitter herbs of
 repentance. When we think of what we vowed we would be, and of
 what we have been, we may weep whole showers of grief. He
 thought on \\his denying his Lord\\. The place in which he did
 it, the little cause which led him into such heinous sin, the
 oaths and blasphemies with which he sought to confirm his
 falsehood, and the dreadful hardness of heart which drove him to
 do so again and yet again. Can we, when we are reminded of our
 sins, and their exceeding sinfulness, remain stolid and
 stubborn? Will we not make our house a Bochim, and cry unto the
 Lord for renewed assurances of pardoning love? May we never take
 a dry-eyed look at sin, lest ere long we have a tongue parched
 in the flames of hell. Peter also thought upon \\his Master's\\
 \\look of love\\. The Lord followed up the cock's warning voice
 with an admonitory look of sorrow, pity, and love. That glance
 was never out of Peter's mind so long as he lived. It was far
 more effectual than ten thousand sermons would have been without
 the Spirit. The penitent apostle would be sure to weep when he
 recollected the \\Saviour's full forgiveness\\, which restored
 him to his former place. To think that we have offended so kind
 and good a Lord is more than sufficient reason for being
 constant weepers. Lord, smite our rocky hearts, and make the
 waters flow.

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28965
 # Ec 9:1 - 12:14 * Daily Bible Reading
28866
 July 31                                                  Morning

 \\"I in them."\\
                                                     --John 17:23

    If such be the union which subsists between our souls and the
 person of our Lord, how deep and broad is the channel of our
 communion! This is no narrow pipe through which a thread-like
 stream may wind its way, it is a channel of amazing depth and
 breadth, along whose glorious length a ponderous volume of
 living water may roll its floods. Behold he hath set before us
 an open door, let us not be slow to enter. This city of
 communion hath many pearly gates, every several gate is of one
 pearl, and each gate is thrown open to the uttermost that we may
 enter, assured of welcome. If there were but one small loophole
 through which to talk with Jesus, it would be a high privilege
 to thrust a word of fellowship through the narrow door; how much
 we are blessed in having so large an entrance! Had the Lord
 Jesus been far away from us, with many a stormy sea between, we
 should have longed to send a messenger to him to carry him our
 loves, and bring us tidings from his Father's house; but see his
 kindness, he has built his house next door to ours, nay, more,
 he takes lodging with us, and tabernacles in poor humble hearts,
 that so he may have perpetual intercourse with us. O how
 foolish must we be, if we do not live in habitual communion with
 him. When the road is long, and dangerous, and difficult, we
 need not wonder that friends seldom meet each other, but when
 they live together, shall Jonathan forget his David? A wife may
 when her husband is upon a journey, abide many days without
 holding converse with him, but she could never endure to be
 separated from him if she knew him to be in one of the chambers
 of her own house. Why, believer, dost not thou sit at his
 banquet of wine? Seek thy Lord, for he is near; embrace him, for
 he is thy Brother. Hold him fast, for he is thine Husband; and
 press him to thine heart, for he is of thine own flesh.

 Evening Reading .......................................... 28966
 # So 1:1 - 8:14 * Daily Bible Reading
28867
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