October 17

The word of the Lord endureth forever. - 1 Peter 1:25.

WE may, therefore, be persuaded of the stability of the cause of revelation. We may give to the winds our fears: they are unworthy of us, as they are entirely groundless. The church of Christ is not, cannot be, in danger. “Upon this rock,” says he, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The unbelief of man shall not make the word of God, says the apostle, of none effect. Men may oppose Christianity, they may burn the Bible, but they cannot destroy either the church or the Scriptures. “Heaven and earth shall pass away,” says the Saviour, “but my word shall not pass away.” “My word,” says God, “shall not return unto me void; it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Thus we read in the Acts that “the word of the Lord grew and multiplied.”

The waves may roar and dash, but while they beat against a rock they break only themselves. Satan, in our day, may be deceiving many; but yet we have, in thousands of cases, abundant proof that God is at work too. Has he not all his enemies under his control and under his subserviency? Oh, yes! the thunders that terrify will purify the air. God shows his government of the world in those confusions which seem likely to unhinge every thing; and he shows his care of the church in those perils and difficulties which seem likely to destroy it. Let us therefore apply the Scriptures to our own use, and to the purposes for which they have been given:-“Whatever was written aforetime was written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scripture, might have hope.” “These things,” says the evangelist, “are written that ye may believe on the Son of God, and that, believing, ye may have life through his name.”

We are only trifling with the Sacred Book, unless we make it the means of leading our feet into the way everlasting. For to what purpose is it that we read it unless we receive the “saying which is worthy of all acceptation,”-unless it brings us to the Saviour,- unless it enables us to give ourselves up to him as poor, perishing sinners, knowing in whom we have believed? Oh, let us then seek the blessings it promises, attend to the duties it enjoins, follow its examples, and suffer them to govern us in our worship, in our lives, and in our calling. And let us be concerned for the diffusion of scriptural knowledge at home and abroad. What can we impart to our fellow-creatures equal to the bread and water of eternal life? And let us, whenever we have opportunity, speak highly of the gospel, and recommend it to others.