The advancing Christian learns to adore the awful perfections of his God.

Posted : 1 Aug, 2013 02:15 AM

Psalm 119:137 Righteous are You, O Lord, and upright are Your judgments.

138. Your testimonies that You have commanded, are righteous, and very faithful.





The advancing Christian learns to adore the awful perfections

of his God, and to acknowledge His righteous character and

government, even when "his ways are in the sea, and His

paths in the great waters." "Clouds and darkness are round

about Him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of

His throne." We have already brought out the unvarying

testimony of His people to the righteous character of His

afflictive dispensations. Even from haughty Pharaoh was a

similar acknowledgment extorted. Adonibezek also, under the

blow of His hand, cried out-"As I have done, so God has

requited me."

Yet in this path, "we walk by faith, not by sight." Often in

Providence "his footsteps are not known." We cannot trace

the reasons of the Divine mind. We must wait and see the

"end of the Lord," when the disjointed pieces shall be

compacted into one complete texture and frame-work. "At

evening time there shall be light." Much more in the

dispensation of grace do we hear the voice,- "Be still, and

know that I am God." Doubtless He could give His grace to all

as well as to some. Yet none have a claim upon Him. "Is it not

His to do what He will with His own?" "No, but, O man, who

are you that replies against God?" "Shall not the Judge of all

the earth do right?" Thus much is plain- enough to silence

cavil, and justify God-grace is freely offered to all. Man's own

will rejects it, and leaves him without excuse. Effectual grace

is withheld from none, but those who deserve that it should be

so. None are forced to sin. None are condemned without guilt.

Therefore when we stand upon the ocean's brink, and cry-

"Oh, the depth!" are we not constrained to the adoring acknowledgment-Righteous are You, O Lord, and upright are

Your judgments? And if this be our praise, even while "we see

but as through a glass darkly, and know but in part," how

much more, in the world of cloudless day, when we shall see

"face to face, and know even as we are known"-shall we sing

with reverential joy "the song of the Lamb-Great and

marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! just and true

are Your ways, You King of saints!"

The young Christian, however, less able to grasp these

deeper apprehensions, exercises himself chiefly in his more

engaging perfections of long-suffering, goodness, and love. It

is therefore a satisfactory evidence of growth in grace, when

our habitual contemplation of God fixes upon our minds the

more full and awful displays of His character; and we gather

from thence an increase of light, peace, humility, and

consolation. But the cross of Calvary harmonizes to our view

at once the most appalling and the most encouraging

attributes. Though His own declaration-that "he will by no

means clear the guilty"- seemed to present an insurmountable

barrier to the purpose of mercy; yet, rather than the glory of a

God of love should be obscured, or His righteous law should

be mitigated, "He spared not His own Son;" He "made Him,

who knew no sin, to be sin for us."

And do not we naturally argue from His nature to His

testimonies? If He be righteous, nothing unrighteous can

come from Him. His testimonies, therefore, are His lively

image-like Himself-righteous and very faithful-requiring

nothing impossible-nothing unsuitable-perfect love to God and

man-"our reasonable service," no less our privilege than our

duty to render. None that are blessed with a spiritual

apprehension of their nature, and are conformed and framed

to them, will hesitate in setting their seal to the inscription-

"The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and

good."

But let us take care to exhibit the practical influence of our

contemplation of the character and government of God. The

unconverted-far from understanding or subscribing to our

acknowledgment-complain, "The ways of the Lord are not

equal." "My punishment is greater than I can bear." And so

opposed are the righteous judgments of God to the

perverseness of corrupt nature, that even with the child of

God there is much murmuring within, that needs to be stilled much repining to be hushed-much impatience to be

repressed-many hard thoughts to be lamented, resisted, and

banished. Did we believe more simply, how much more joy

would there be in our faith, and readiness in our submission!

How clearly would our experience "show, that the Lord is

upright; He is our rock, and there is no unrighteousness in

Him!" "In returning" then "and rest shall we be saved; in

quietness and confidence shall be our strength." In the

submissive acknowledgment of the Lord's dispensations, "our

peace" will "flow as a river;" more deep and extensive as it

approaches the ocean, and fertilizing our souls with abundant

spiritual peace and enjoyment.



by

Charles Bridges

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