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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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