TWENTY-FIRST MEDITATION. JUDGE. MY SAVIOUR is my JUDGE. One of the first thoughts of the awakened soul respecting God, invests him with the awful character of a Judge. "Could I with safety and hope approach him, I would confess my guilt, and 'I would make supplication to my Judge.'"* When hope springs up in the mind, and some view is caught of the gospel plea, provided for sinners, the soul utters its feelings again in words like those of Job: "0 that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat; I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. So should I be delivered forever from my Judge." This, perhaps, was once the very utmost of my expectations. Deliverance from the wrath of Him that sitteth on the throne, by his mercy, exercised for the sake of Christ, in some *Job ix. 15. Job xxiii. 3, 4-7. way that I did not clearly understand, was the sum total of my hopes. But what was the joy of my heart, when the revealing Spirit of God exhibited to me the great privileges of the soul, that is come by faith unto Mount Sion, and has escaped the terrors of "the mount that might be touched" only at the penalty of death! * I saw that it was one of those privileges to come unto "God the Judge of all" with humble, joyful confidence. For round the burning throne I saw "the blood of sprinkling," quenching the flame of wrath, and diffusing the sweetest fragrance, at once refreshing and inviting to the suppliant soul. And then I saw, between me and the "fiery law," "Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant," making intercession for me. As faith is strengthened, like the sight, it obtains a nearer view of its object. I now perceive that my very Judge is my "Advocate," my He advises me what plea to put in before his own tribunal, in bar of judgment; and that plea is dience to his own law in my stead. his own obe Lest I should fail in pleading my cause, though provided by *Heb. xii. 18-24. himself with my ground of justification, he undertakes its advocacy, and pleads it for me. He is even responsible for the complete success of my suit; for he presides in the judgment, not more in his judicial character, than as my Saviour. Re Be not dismayed, then, O my soul, at the awful circumstances of this world's closing scene. member thy Saviour, and "that it is he which is ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead."* Look upon thyself as engaged in the most arduous conflict, and in a race which will be most earnestly contested to the end, by those who only aim at disappointing thee. But keep thine eye fixed upon the prize. See in whose hand it is held, and by whose decision it is to be awarded; even by thy Saviour's. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life" by anticipation. Press forward, exultingly crying at every step," Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day." ‡ * Acts x. 42. 1 Tim. vi. 12. 2 Tim. iv. 8. The soul that loves thy throne of grace, And is familiar there, In praise and lowly prayer, Knows every feature of thy face; Nor, when thy judgment-seat shall rise In clouded majesty, And heaven and earth shall flee, As blighted leaves across the skies, Shall tremble at the dread assize. My Saviour, in that awful day, For what shall then inspire dismay? And bid me ever live, And, 'midst the world's expiring groan, My name amongst his saints will own. TWENTY-SECOND MEDITATION KING. But MY SAVIOUR is my KING. The prince of the power of the air, having succeeded in withdrawing my first parents from their loyalty to Jehovah, usurped supreme authority over this province of God's empire. He afterwards had the audacity to tempt the Son of God to do him homage, by the promise of a viceroyalty under him.* the Lord resolved to redeem the rebellious and enslaved province back to himself, and to erect it into a kingdom of unparalleled glory. This kingdom of the divine Messiah was the grand theme to which the prophets struck their lyres, and was the chief expectation of the Jewish people. They mistook its nature, looking for a temporal prince, who should raise them to the summit of empire, and hold all other nations tributary to them. He assured them that his *Luke iv. 5-8. |