die." Die man, or justice must. The man Jesus, the sinner's Surety, fell a sacrifice to this truth. Hence truth is fulfilled in his death. Justice is satisfied. Death disarmed of its sting, which is sin. Jesus hath "put away sin, by the sacrifice of himself," Heb. ix. 26. "And the strength of sin, which is the law, Jesus hath perfectly fulfilled in his life for us." He hath fully answered all its demands. By him all its accusations are silenced. Precious Christ! Happy believer! What harm can the most fierce, poisonous monster do thee, when it has lost its sting, and is without strength? Most precious truth! Death is yours, 1 Cor. iii. 22. DEC. 31. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.-Matt. xxv. 34. This is a joyful word to our hearts now, "Come, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool," Isa. i. 18. This is another precious word from Jesus to our souls, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Oh, but this last come, from the lips of our King, will be the most joyful, crowning word of all! The best wine is reserved for the last. Every soul who has tasted of the first on earth, shall assuredly drink his fill at the fountain-head, in a blissful, never-ending eternity of glory. "Ye blessed of my Father;" beloved from eternity, and blessed to eternity. Chosen in me; blessed in me with all spiritual blessings. I was given to you. I sought you, and gathered you to myself in time. Now come, live and reign with me for ever in my kingdom. Is not the thought of this enough to make us wish to break through the walls of our prison, the body? Praise, O soul! call together all thy faculties; rather, O Divine Spirit! realize the view, bring near the solemn, joyful day to our minds. Give us, even now, to dwell on it with rapture of affections and ardour of love. "Inherit the kingdom prepared for you;" not bought by your good works; not purchased by your welldoings; not obtained by your faithfulness; but the free gift of my Father's love and good pleasure; richly prepared by his free grace and bounty, purposely reserved for you. Come ye; all of you. Not one of my little flock shall be wanting; there is a mansion for each of you. Ere you had a being, or time commenced, the kingdom was established, the heirs chosen, places prepared. I visited you on earth; so that you loved me, though you saw me not. I invisibly worked upon your hearts, and drew them out in love to myself, my cause, and my brethren; so you approved yourselves my disciples, by following my example. Come ye, enter, possess, enjoy what you were born for, born again to be meet for. Oh, methinks it strikes one's heart with heavenly joy, to conceive of the loud hosannas and shoutings, (Oh, that we may catch the heavenly flame!) "Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb!" "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." Rev. i. 5, 6. Now, christian reader, I commend thee to God, and to the word of his grace, wishing thee sweet comfort in perusing these daily meditations. If our Lord give thee only as much in reading as I have found in writing them, thou wilt have great cause for love and praise. Accept them, as the labour of one "who is no prophet, nor the son of a prophet;" but who can, from his heart, say with Gideon, "My thousand is the meanest, I am the least in my Father's house," Judges vi. 15. Yet, having been taught somewhat of the glory of Jesus, from the word of truth, by the grace of the Spirit, I would rejoice to spread the glory of my Lord's precious name, and the comforts of his everlastingly finished salvation, among my fellow-sinners; testifying, that all my hope of eternal life is fixed upon the Son of God, who was crucified on mount Calvary; therefore, would glory in being a saved sinner, by the cross of Jesus. Glory be to God in the highest. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. |