reverently and with deeper faith; then shall you find that God has still greater things in store for you than He has yet given you. He has to wean you from the world, to transform you to His image, to perfect you in faith and love, to fulfil your holiest hope, and grant your heart's most fervent desire: and He will finally remove every spot of sin from those of you who persevere. This, my brethren, is a greater work than has yet been accomplished in you. Our first regeneration is wonderful; and wonderful our conversion from dead works to serve the living God; wonderful the repentance of any who has once wilfully chosen sin; and wonderful our perseverance at all in the heavenly life notwithstanding our many sins: but what are all these, compared with the completion of your regeneration, when Christ shall be formed in you perfectly, and you shall "shine as the brightness of the firmament, and.... as the stars for ever and ever." 17 so great, so free, so good, so inexhaustible, so continually fuller and more effectual, as we continue to profit by it, is the saving grace of Him, who is "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!" 18 Do not, then, my aged brethren, despair because the work that still remains to be done appears so great and the time to do it in so short. For, "One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." This is as true in grace as it is in judgment. The Lord is not tied to times and seasons any more than our Saviour in 16 Vide Gal. iv. 19. 18 Jer. xxii 6. 19 this miracle was bound by the ordinary laws of matter. The great work which remains to be done in you He can accomplish as easily in a short time as in a long. He can "finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness." 20 He is wont to give more than either we desire or deserve. Only, while the time remains, let us diligently "gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." Look back upon the past, and see how great and manifold His mercies have been. See how they have prevailed and overflowed. See how His grace has interpenetrated our whole lives, in spite of our many transgressions, perpetually calling us back unto Himself, weaning us by severe trial from trusting in any arm of flesh, and by the bounteous goodness of His providence, encouraging us to seek His face for higher gifts. Surely all this, and much more than I can recall to your memories, that He has done for you in your past lives, are so many encouragements for you to persevere unto the end, seeking of Him all that your hearts long for, and on trusting to His love the saving of your souls. The little time that remains is most precious, and most precious are the gifts of grace which will be granted you if you use that time well. Ten hours are gone one hour remains. Give that one hour earnestly to God; fulfil in it the work which He has appointed you, and for which He has spared you to that hour; "let nothing be lost" which prayer and watchfulness, with diligent use of sacraments and 20 Romans, ix. 28. other means of grace, can procure you; then your good and gracious Master will make you equal to those who have, perhaps, borne more patiently and perseveringly than you, the burden and heat of the day. "In Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust. Let me never be put to confusion: but rid me and deliver me in Thy righteousness; incline Thine ear unto me, and save me. "Be Thou my stronghold whereunto I may alway resort: Thou hast promised to help me, for Thou art my house of defence and my castle. . . . For Thou, O Lord God, art the thing that I long for: Thou art my hope even from my youth. ... "Cast me not away in the time of not when my strength faileth me. . . . age: forsake me "Go not far from me, O God: my God, haste Thee to help me." 99 21 21 Psalm lxxi. 1, 2, 4, 8, 10. T By the same Author, THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES FOR THE SALVATION OF MAN. A PRIZE ESSAY, READ IN THE DIVINITY SCHOOL, Oxford, THE CHURCH'S DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION, THE CONSOLATION OF THE ELECT. A PRIZE ESSAY, READ IN THE DIVINITY SCHOOL, OXFORD, Also, Edited by the same Author, STORIES AND CATECHISINGS, IN ILLUSTRATION OF THE COLLECTS; OR, A YEAR WITH THE FIRST-CLASS BOYS OF FORLEY. |