110 THE CHRISTIAN RACE. attention and my energies. Soon I will reach the goal. Death is certain, near, and often unexpected; but "blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." Death is not the termination of my being, but it introduces my soul to something here referred to. Soon I shall get the Judge's approbation, "Well done!" If I have the good hope of his smile and his commendation, what though others should frown and condemn ! soon I shall receive the prize. This is what may be obtained: and what a prize! a place in Christ's Father's house, from which I shall go no more out; where all evil is absent, where all good is present, and where this good shall last for ever. What a prize! a crown of righteousness! a crown of life! a crown of glory! a triple crown! What must I do to obtain it ?- "So run." I must run or lose; I must run or perish. Difficulties must be overcome, indwelling sin rooted out, temptations resisted, and afflictions endured; consolations must be sought and enjoyed the sufferings of Christ, the sympathy of Christ, the promises of Christ, are wells of salvation from which I must draw with joy. Efforts must be put forth by the successful runner. Good resolutions, earnest progress, great patience, and steady perseverance are absolutely necessary. : How shall I begin?—I must begin with conviction of sin. Till need is felt, I will never apply; till danger is discovered, I will never run for my life. I must begin by acquaintance with Christ. His person, his character, his work, his blessings should ravish my heart. I must begin by believing on the Son of God. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." I must enrol myself among the followers of Jesus, and openly avow that I am on his side. I must begin by prayer. "God be merciful to me a sinner." "I will not let thee go except thou bless me." Thus the publican was justified, and thus the wrestling Jacob became the prevailing Israel. DIVINE SOLICITUDE. 111 MARCH 8. Dibine Solicitude. "Oh that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea."-Isa. xlviii. 18. HERE we have the divine commandments-the attention requisite and the happy results. The divine commandments.-They are made known to us in the moral law, and throughout the whole word of God. They are all reasonable, and require, in substance, love to God and love to man. They require us to repent and believe the gospel, and to obey the precepts of Jesus; and surely the love of Christ, the death of Christ, and our own safety, ought to constrain us to obey. They are of universal obligation; they are binding on all ages, all ranks, and all characters; and they extend to the thoughts of the heart as well as the actions of the life. They threaten punishment for disobedience. "What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel?" "They that obey not the gospel shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord." The attention requisite.-"Oh that thou hadst hearkened!" The commandments of God should be heard with deep attention, self-application, and true faith. They should be obeyed sincerely and perseveringly; and all this should be done in good time. The commandments of God are important; obedience is also important, but the time of obedience is no less so. O my soul, on a precious moment depends thy salvation or thy misery! If we reach the railway station when the train is starting, we are too late. If we think of obeying only when trouble, and anguish, and death seize us, we may be too late : hence the earnestness of God; "Oh that!"" If thou hadst known, even thou, 112 DIVINE SOLICITUDE. at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." The The happy results.-"Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea." obedient possess peace and righteousness. They have peace within, and peace without, and peace in prospect. They have a righteousness from Christ which will justify them before God and before men. Their peace shall be like a river, large, moving, and increasing till it reach the ocean. Their righteousness and their sanctification shall roll on, and advance, and overcome all opposition, till they reach the shore of Immanuel's happy country. Both shall be abundant, and shall convey unceasingly rich blessings throughout all the land. Thus the obedient Christian is happy himself, and is largely the means of extending happiness to others. MARCH 9. The Kingdom entered. "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."-Acts, xiv. 22. THIS text brings before us the kingdom of God-the kingdom of God entered-and the kingdom of God entered through much tribulation. The kingdom of God.-This kingdom is divine. God set it up; God maintains it; God owns it; God governs it. Its vast extent, its unrivalled splendour, its countless population, and its eternal duration render it far superior to all the kingdoms of men. It is holy no unjust or oppressive laws are there; no partial administration of them, and no rebellious natures requiring to feel their force; no sinful being could breathe in its holy atmosphere, or gaze on its unsullied glories: everything, THE KINGDOM ENTERED. 113 and every being in it, is like God himself, without spot, and without sin. It is a happy kingdom: its company, its enjoyments, and its employments are all elevating, satisfying, and eternal. O my soul, hast thou boundless ambition? let it be for a kingdom such as this. The kingdom of God entered.-"We must enter." We enter by right of inheritance. Jesus by his death hath procured it, and he has gone to prepare it. His righteousness is the price of it, and the way to it; and when we claim him as the "Lord our righteousness," we read in him our title clear to this noble inheritance. Whoever holds the Saviour fast, enters the kingdom. We enter at death. Death to the Christian is not a curse, but a blessing. At death the believer immediately enters into glory. "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." The fetters of flesh are no sooner struck off, than the soul, under angelic convoy, is carried to Abraham's bosom. We enter glorified. No plague-spot of sin remains on the soul; no fears, no anxieties disturb it. We shall be like Christ in knowledge, in glory, in blessedness; for we shall see him as he is. The kingdom entered through much tribulation.-We naturally cleave to earth. We naturally walk by sight; but tribulation makes earth appear vain and unsatisfactory. It weans us from earth, and makes us rise above it. Tribulation meetens us for heaven: it is a furnace, not to destroy, but to purify. When tribulation makes us live in the light of eternity, it makes us also long to depart, and be with Christ, which is far better. Tribulation on earth will make heaven all the sweeter, when we reach it. How sweet is the rest of the evening after the long and hard toils of the day! how sweet is health after trouble! how sweet is liberty after captivity! and how sweet is the haven of rest after a long and dangerous voyage! H 114 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. MARCH 10. Forgiveness of Sin. "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."-Isa. xliii. 25. THINK of the character of man-the character of Godthe pardon he bestows-and the ground of it. The character of man." Thy transgressions, thy sins." Man is chargeable with sins of commission as well as sins of omission. He not only daringly crosses the boundary of Sinai, but he wickedly neglects to obey God and benefit his fellow-men. His sins, numerous and aggravated, are well known to God, for he records and remembers them. Were he to set my sins in his presence, and my secret faults in the light of his countenance, how could I stand! Our sins expose us to great danger: these three words express it-wrath, curse, hell; and how appalling how overwhelming! The character of God.- "I, even I, am he that blotteth." This is he whom we have offended. Our sins are contrary to his holy nature, a breach of his law, and subversive of his authority; yet "he delighteth in mercy." He is able to forgive, because in Christ his law and justice are satisfied; so that he is a just God, and at the same time a Saviour. He is willing to forgive: how evident from the gift of his Son, as well as from his own declarations! The pardon he bestows. He blotteth out, he will not remember our transgressions. This pardon is free; money cannot purchase it, penance cannot procure it, good deeds cannot merit it. "We have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace." It is complete. When God pardons, he pardons all sins, past, present, and future; so that, once pardoned, there is no more condemnation. There may be chastise |