A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. JOHN xiii. 34. IT is a precept of the Levitical law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Lev. xix. 18. But this commandment of CHRIST'S was something more than the Mosaic precept. It is added, "As I have loved you." CHRIST loved his neighbour MORE than himself, for he laid down his life for men. And in this he called upon all his disciples to imitate him. But this is not the only one of his commandments that enjoins brotherly love; all the commandments of GOD are commandments of love, tending to our real good and great happiness; far from being grievous to those who have faith and love, the practice thereof is life and peace. The world may think it a grievous burden; but this is a great mistake indeed. Sin is grievous. In hatred, envy, anger, revenge, pride, there is nothing but torment and slavery; but in love there is a sweet rest and pleasure. Thus a sinner always punishes himself, and is robbed of great peace and blessing, by transgressing the commandments of God. Saviour, look down with pitying eyes, And harmonize the soul! Subdue in us the carnal mind, Its enmity destroy; With cords of love th' old Adam bind, And melt him into joy! Us unto closest union draw, And in our inward parts Let kindness sweetly write her law; Let love command our hearts! One thing is needful; &c. LUKE x. 42. WE must not pretend to serve GOD with only going to church, and doing other acts of outward devotion; whilst we are dead and cold, our religion is vain. Who first, by faith, seeks grace from the words of CHRIST, like Mary, is served by CHRIST; and this constrains him to serve CHRIST and his neighbour readily again. It is almost impossible for such to go on in haughtiness, envy, hatred, and disobedience. Grace and faith will resist it, and make them lowly, gentle, willing, obedient, active, without relying on any works of their own. He that obtains CHRIST, the one thing needful, receives with him all the rest, and has no more need to be troubled about many things. He being our All, we may always live happily; whereas the children of this world must always be cumbered and divided between fears and hopes about their fate. In vanity we shall never find this good part; neither is there any salvation in the works of the law. Faith alone takes hold of it; and whoever withdraws his heart and senses from the noise and bustle of this world, who quickly looks for salvation through the blood and righteousness of CHRIST, will certainly find it his better part. The one thing needful, that good part O LORD, my GOD, to thee I pray, Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. PSALM li. 7. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Ver. 9. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Isa. i. 18. LE ET us ever have our sins before our faces. Psalm li. 3. Let us remember that the eye of GOD is constantly upon us, and that, as he looketh not on the outward but on the inward parts, his purity and his justice will be highly incensed. With a just horror then of our transgressions, let us beg GoD to turn away his face from them, to blot them all out as a thick cloud. Let us come and do this freely, and let us come daily. We must not keep away from CHRIST on account of our stumblings and manifold faults. This would cast us under the law again, and bind us under condemnation; but we should humble ourselves directly before GOD, and seek earnestly for pardon through the blood of CHRIST. The longer we delay this, the worse our cause will grow; and the sooner it is done, the sooner we shall have forgiveness. The LORD not imputing those sins to us which are sincerely repented of, our soul returns to its rest again; and instead of falling into carnal security (as some may think) it will rather strengthen our faith, and make us more watchful. Hasten, therefore, and come as soon and as well as thou canst. He will receive thee, if thou canst but creep. O LORD, I fall before thy face: My only refuge is thy grace! No bleeding beast, nor flood, nor sea, Can wash the dismal stain away! JESUS, my GOD, thy blood alone Thy blood can make me white as snow; Christian's Prayer.-Deliver us from evil. Divine Answer.-Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isa. xliii. 1, 2. Christ has, by his own blood, once entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. HEB. ix. 12. THI HIS precious redemption is the foundation of our present deliverance, and will finally produce an everlasting deliverance from all evil. He who hates and detests not only the evil of punishment, but of sin itself, and consequently, pants after JESUS, both for his love and for his likeness, such a one hath faith already, and sin has lost its dominion over him. And though he may be tempted with it severely, yet he is under the law no more; for the reigning power of sin being broke, the law has lost its condemning power also; we are delivered from the power of the evil one, and we may be sure of a continual, nay, eternal redemption. We may often feel the evil, but by prayer and watchfulness be as often delivered from it also. Thy solemn vows are on me, LORD; Thou hast secured my soul from death, That heart and hand, and life and breath, Assist me while I wander here, Amidst a world of cares, Incline my heart to pray with love, And then accept my prayers. 2 TIM. Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee. HOW OW can this be done?-Answer: By looking as well upon thy own great poverty and wants, as upon the riches of grace which is in CHRIST for thee, and so drawing near to GOD through him in faith; but it is not enough to do this once for all, or now and then only. It is to be thy daily work. One day's omission may greatly hurt thy soul. Especially the morning hours are very proper for this purpose. These must directly be laid hold on to converse with GOD in prayer, before we meddle with anything else in our business, though ever so needful and important, for fear of being entangled and distracted perhaps the whole day; and to gather the whole strength, draw as near to CHRIST as possible, and even wrestle with him, as if it were the last time!--Pour out thy whole heart before him,not giving over too soon; but be instant in thy supplications, at least with continual inward groaning, till thy heart burn within thee, and thou feel the quickening influence of his grace and Spirit. Then great care is to be taken to preserve this blessing and strength in a quiet and well-composed mind, examining thyself frequently, especially at nights, how the day has been spent; and be not put off with a slight answer. I'll lift my hands, I'll raise my voice, While I have breath to pray or praise! Of Him who did salvation bring, I could for ever think and sing; -- |