Things Present
The sermon explores the theme of God's presence in all things, and how we can experience His wealth and bliss, and see His glory aright.
Edward Taylor delves into the profound desire to truly feel and live out one's faith, expressing the overwhelming joy and richness that comes from being in a deep relationship with God. He reflects on the intricate ways in which God's glory is displayed through various elements of creation and circumstances, highlighting the divine orchestration of all things for a higher purpose. Taylor's prayerful words express a longing for God's wisdom and grace to illuminate the soul, transforming it to reflect His beauty and love.
Text
Oh! that I ever felt what I profess.
'Twould make me then the happi'st man alive.
Ten thousand Worlds of Saints can't make this less
By living on't, but it would make them thrive.
These Loaves and Fishes are not lessened
Nor Pasture over stock, by being fed.
Lord am I thine? art thou, Lord, mine? So rich!
How doth thy Wealthy bliss branch out thy sweets
Through all things Present? These the Vent-holes which
Let out those Ravishing Joys our Souls to greet?
Impower my Powers sweet Lord till up they raise
My 'Fections that thy glory on them blaze.
How many things are there now, who display thee?
How many Acts each thing doth here dispense?
How many Influences each thing hath?
How many Contraries each Influence?
How many Contraries from Things do flow?
From Acts? from Influences? Who can show?
How Glorious then is he that doth all raise
Rule and Dispose and make them all Conspire
In all their Jars, and Junctures, Good-bad wayes
To meliorate the self same Object higher?
Earth, Water, Fire, Winds, Herbs, Trees, Beasts and Men,
Angells, and Divells, Bliss, Blasts, advance one stem?
Hell, Earth, and Heaven with their Whole Troops come
Contrary Windes, Grace, and Disgrace, Soure, Sweet,
Wealth, Want, Health, Sickness, to Conclude in Sum
All Providences Works in this good meet?
Who, who can do't, but thou, my Lord? and thou
Dost do this thing. Yea thou performst it now.
Oh, that the Sweets of all these Windings, spouse
Might, and these Influences streight, and Cross,
Upon my Soule, to make thy Shine breake out
That Grace might in get and get out my dross!
My Soule up locks then in this Clod of Dust
Would lock up in't all Heavenly Joyes most just.
But oh! thy Wisdom, Lord! thy Grace! thy Praise!
Open mine Eyes to see the same aright.
Take off their film, my Sins, and let the Rayes
Of thy bright Glory on my peepholes light.
I fain would love and better love thee should,
If 'fore me thou thy Loveliness unfold.
Lord, Cleare my Sight, thy Glory then out dart.
And let thy Rayes beame Glory in mine eye
And stick thy Loveliness upon my heart,
Make me the Couch on which thy Love doth ly.
Lord make my heart thy bed, thy heart make mine.
Thy Love bed in my heart, bed mine in thine.
Sermon Outline
- The Presence of God in All Things
- The Multiplicity of God's Works
- The Sovereignty of God
- The Providence of God
- The Desire for Spiritual Growth
- The Need for Spiritual Sight
- The Desire for Intimacy with God
- The speaker wants to love and better love God
- They want God to unfold his loveliness before them
- Contraries flow from each influence
Key Quotes
“Ten thousand Worlds of Saints can't make this less By living on't, but it would make them thrive.” — Edward Taylor
“How Glorious then is he that doth all raise Rule and Dispose and make them all Conspire” — Edward Taylor
“Who, who can do't, but thou, my Lord? and thou Dost do this thing. Yea thou performst it now.” — Edward Taylor
Application Points
- We need to desire the sweets of God's influences, and to ask Him to make His shine break out in our soul.
- We need to ask God to open our eyes and see His glory aright, and to take off the film of our sins.
- We need to seek intimacy with God, and to ask Him to unfold His loveliness before us.