The Sinner's Prayer.-Where shall I find rest? Divine Answer. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways and see; and ask for the old paths, where is the good way: and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. Jer. vi. 16. Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt. xi. 28-30. In our own ways there is nothing but trouble; but giving ourselves entirely up to be guided by God at his own pleasure, we may always be easy, since we know that by every step he brings us nearer to heaven. The only way to rest, is the way of repentance and faith; in which we consider ourselves from the beginning, even to the end of our Christian life, as utterly lost and condemned by the law, but as perfectly reconciled and justified through CHRIST. Thus to abide in him, to let him work alone, and be truly resigned to his ways, will certainly have the desired effect; whilst, by the righteousness and workings of our own hearts, we can never attain to it, and, which is worse, may be lulled into a false rest. Lord, I believe a rest remains, To all thy people known, A rest, where pure enjoyment reigns, A rest, where all our soul's desire Is fixed on things above; Where grief, and pain, and fear expire, Cast out by perfect love. This is the feast of saints on high, But I may taste below; And sweeter tastes God will supply, Ye are complete in him. Col. ii. 10. The Scriptures are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 17. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. John i. 16. THINK, O believer, with wonder and amazement, reflect with gratitude and love, that, whilst thou art deploring the common ruin of human nature, and mournfully feeling its sad effects upon thy own soul, thou mayest yet look through all thine imperfection, frailty, and unworthiness, to thy glorious Representative, and see thyself complete in him. The law which would condemn thee, he has completely satisfied: the obedience which it requires, in order to thine acceptance with God, he has completely paid; and that eternal life, from which thy sinful imperfections must have for ever barred thee, is now become thine unalienable inheritance, as the reward of his righteousness, who lived and died for thee. Go forth then, and glorify him in heart and life. The more thou believest in him, the more wilt thou love him; and the more thou lovest him, the better wilt thou serve him; and till he shall remove thee from this vale of sin and sorrow, let thy song in the house of thy pilgrimage be this, "Complete in him." To all my vileness, Christ is glory bright; Sight to my blindness, to my meanness wealth; Will ye speak wickedly for God, and talk deceitfully for him? Job xiii. 7. Thy word is truth. John xvii. 17. WHEN Moses saw an Egyptian and an Israel- A glory gilds the sacred page, And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb, Hebron for an inheritance. Joshua xiv. 13. THE spies that went up to view the promised land, all except Caleb and Joshua, made a formidable report of the gigantic inhabitants of Hebron, saying, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." Caleb (answering well to his name, which signifies All-heart) stilled the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome." We are told he had another spirit with him, and followed God fully. Moses, therefore, was commissioned to make him a grant of all the land whereon his feet had trodden, which was the mountain of Hebron. Caleb was eighty-five years old when he reminded Joshua of his promise; he was forty when Moses sent him to spy out the land; fortyseven years the Lord had saved him in the wilderness, and amid the perils of war. Joshua blessed him, acknowledged his claim and deserts, besought God to prosper him, and give him the country; thus was his fidelity and uprightness rewarded. Reader, are you like-hearted with Caleb? Are you longing after Hebron that is, communion with God. Are you eager to fight against your spiritual foes, those sons of Anak, lusts, passions, the devil and the world? If so, remember the promise, "As your day is so shall your strength be found;" keep up fellowship with God, and no enemy shall be too strong for you; follow God fully; eye the Captain of your salvation; fight in his name and strength, and you shall conquer every foe. All heart, like Caleb, may I be And, like him, trusting in the Lord, At midnight the Lord smote all the first-born in Let no proud sinner grow secure |