February 5

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. - 2 Timothy 1:12.

WE have seen the states of action generally expressed, but here is a particular reference with regard to it. There is often a bar in the heart to the work of God, and it does not always consist in a contempt of him. There are many who feel fear, who are yet very desirous of being saved by him; and they resemble the father of the lunatic that came to our Saviour, and said, “Lord, if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us and help us.” We must, therefore, bring our faith not only to the perception of the Saviour’s disposition, but to the apprehension of his all-sufficiency too. We must know that he is “the mighty God;” that he made and upholds all things by the word of his power; that he is all-wise to see the most concealed designs of his enemies against his people, and omnipotent to repel them. We must bring our faith to comprehend, not only his divine sufficiency, but his mediatorial sufficiency, and this peculiarly; that is, that “all power in heaven and in earth is given to him;” that “his blood cleanseth from all sin;” that, “his righteousness can justify the ungodly,” and give them a title to everlasting life; that nothing is “too hard for the Lord,” in the Way of renovation; that there is no want but he can supply; that there is no corruption but he can subdue; that there is no enemy but he can vanquish; so that, however trying our spiritual warfare may be, we may say nevertheless, “in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us;” so that, though errors abound, though apostasies multiply, “the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,-The Lord knoweth them that are his;” so that under a sense of my daily guilt, under the pressure of infirmities and imperfections, in the weaknesses of my grace, and in the variations of my frame, I may know still that he is “able to keep me from falling, and to present me faultless before his presence with exceeding joy.”

Now, the last thing that the believer has to trust in him for is the resurrection of his poor body. This will be a miracle, and the greatest of all miracles, and we know who is to be the performer. He whom we have trusted shall “change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” A period is approaching, when he will “come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe,”-when he will give an account mediatorially of all the trusts which he undertook; and therefore it is called “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” Then will this almighty Guardian say, “Here am I, and the children which thou hast given me.” Then will he say, Here are all the pupils which thou hast given me to educate, and what scholars have I made them all! here are all the patients that were intrusted to me to cure, and I have flung off them every particle of disease, and I have restored them to immortal youth and endless life; here are all the sheep, my Father, that thou gavest me to feed and to keep; “while they were in the world I kept them in thy name, and none of them is lost,” not a lamb of them. And then, turning to believers, he will say, “You trusted me with your eternal all; and did you trust me in vain? I often tried your confidence: did I ever disappoint you? And was not the trial of it ‘ found unto praise, and glory, and honour’?”

And they will exclaim, “Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints,” “for thou hast done all things well.” “To whom be glory and dominion forever and ever.”