THE CHRISTIAN'S POSSESSIONS. APRIL 10. The Christian's Possessions. 165 'Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."-Rev. iii. 11. CONTEMPLATE the Christian's possessions-the Christian's duty-and the strong reason for doing it. The Christian's possessions.—"That which thou hast." He has Christ in possession. Jesus and all his blessings were offered to him in the gospel: he accepted them, and made a fair start for heaven. Being conscious of his interest in the crucified Jesus, faith, hope, and love dwell in his heart, and he would not part with them for the world. He has a profession of religion to maintain. He does not conceal his love to Jesus, but makes it burn brightly that others may see and believe. He remembers that Jesus has a cause in the world dear to him, and he identifies himself with that cause. He has a crown in anticipation; he knows that the cross is the way to the crown; and he reads in that cross his title clear, and expects to shine an eternal star in the crown of the Redeemer. Through faith in Christ he has this title, and must hold it fast, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. "We are Christ's house, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." This supposes The Christian's duty.-"Hold fast." that he will meet with opposition. The fascinations of the world, temptation, persecution, and a deceitful heart, will try to cheat him out of his crown, but he must hold it fast. What he has is worth holding. He has the truth, he has Christ revealed in it, he has experience of Christ's love, and he has the promises of Christ. These are the wells of salvation from which he draws, the springs of peace and holy joy to his soul; and he would not exchange them for all the glories of earth, therefore he holds them fast. He 166 THE CHRISTIAN'S POSSESSIONS. holds perseveringly. Like the glorious sun who keeps his course from age to age, and rejoices to run his race, the Christian presses onward in the path of life, and is faithful unto death, that he may receive the crown of life. The strong reason for doing it.-"Behold, I come quickly." Christ is coming, and will come speedily by means of death, so that the faithful Christian will not need to wait long for his crown. Just as sure as he has come once, he will come again to fulfil his promises and confer his rewards. He will come "quickly." In a few years, it may be days, he will come like a thief in the night. Blessed are they who are ready, and watching for his coming! Washed in his blood, and clothed with his righteousness, death will not take the Christian by surprise, but will find him saying, "Even so come, Lord Jesus." The attention this announcement demands: "Behold!" How kindly and earnestly he forewarns his followers that they may be prepared; and how anxiously and devoutly should I watch his approach! APRIL 11. The Brook in the Way. "He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head." -Psalm cx. 7. Br "the way," we may understand the ministry Christ had to fulfil, and by "the brook," the waters of affliction he had to drink. Hence, his deep humiliation-the exaltation following-and the connection of the one with the other, demand our attention. The deep humiliation of Christ.-" He shall drink of the brook in the way." ministry he had to fulfil. His way or course was the During its fulfilment he met THE BROOK IN THE WAY. 167 with great opposition, and endured intense suffering. He suffered from foes, from friends, and from his Father in heaven. He suffered the contradiction of sinners and the slanders of foes. He suffered in his body and in his soul. But the chief scenes of his anguish were the garden of Gethsemane, the judgment-hall of Pilate, and the cross of Calvary. These scenes presented bitter waters of affliction in his way, yet he did not shrink nor recoil. "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" The exaltation following." He shall lift up the head." This was done when he rose from the dead. On the morning of the third day after his death, he lifted up his head. In spite of wicked men and devils, in spite of stone, and seal, and watch, he awoke from the slumbers of the tomb to die no more. He lifted up his head when he ascended up to heaven. This ascension was like a grand triumph awarded to a conqueror after his return from a well-fought battle. Thousands of angels honoured him. While the disciples were looking up, 66 a cloud received him out of their sight;" but who can tell what scenes of glory and triumph awaited him beyond that cloud? He lifted up his head when he sat down on the right hand of God. Then he was a priest on his throne, having all power in heaven and on earth. head when he shall come to judge the world. The babe of Bethlehem shall sit on the throne of the universe; and he who stood at the bar of Pilate, shall have Pilate and all men standing at his bar. And he shall lift up his The connection.-"Therefore." There is a connection of purpose. In the divine decree unfolded in prophecy, there is a close connection between Christ's humiliation and exaltation. "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain, whom God hath raised up." There is a connection of merit. "He shall 168 THE BROOK IN THE WAY. see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied." Having paid the ransom price, he expects the deliverance. There is a connection of reward. "He shall see his seed." The salvation of a multitude which no man can number shall reward him for all his toils and sufferings. APRIL 12. Righteousness near. "Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry."-Isa. xlvi. 12, 13. THE persons addressed-the good news-and the duty enjoined, demand our attention. The persons addressed.—“ Ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness." The term "stout-hearted" does not mean bold, or courageous, but it means stubborn, hardened in sin, and rebellious against God. It is justly applied to those who resist his word by unbelief, and who do not humble themselves when he visits them with heavy judgments. God calls; the call is disregarded: he threatens ; the execution is put far away: he sends his judgments, and smites with the rod of his anger; but his hand is not discerned, and the heart is not humbled. They are "far from righteousness." They are destitute of righteousness; all their own righteousnesses are as filthy rags. They have no sense of their destitution, no desire to attain, and no power to accomplish. How often do the wicked harden themselves in sin, and wander in error, and seek happiness where it never can be found! The good news."I bring near my righteousness, and my salvation shall not tarry." Righteousness and salvation mean the same thing, and viewed in the light of the New Testament, God has righteousness and salvation for us in RIGHTEOUSNESS NEAR. 169 Christ Jesus. By his obedience unto death, he has wrought out and brought in everlasting righteousness and salvation, and such righteousness is the only ground of justification before God. It is brought near every one in the gospel. It is near the self-righteous, who think that they do not need it; and it is equally near the desperately wicked, who may despair of getting it. The gospel brings this righteousness near to every man, so that every one is warranted and encouraged to claim it, saying, "The Lord is my righteousness." God is ready to give it immediately. As he fulfilled his promise to the captive Jews in Babylon, and delivered them at the appointed time, so his salvation is so near that we may see it and have it. O my soul, why shouldst thou tarry when God is ready? The duty enjoined.-"Hearken unto me.' We should hear the gospel message with deep and earnest attention. It is God that speaks; he certainly speaks to us; and the message he sends is one of salvation. I will hear what God the Lord shall speak. We should hear with appropriating faith. The devils believe and tremble, because the message is not for them, but it is for me, for sinners, for the ungodly, for the stout-hearted, and shall I not believe it and claim the righteousness? We should hear it without delay. Our danger is great, our day of grace is limited, death and judgment are at hand, and if ever we are to start for heaven, why not now? "Hear, and your soul shall live.” APRIL 13. Salbation in Zion. "I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory."—Isa. xlvi. 13. HERE we have the promise-the place-the people-and the property. |