Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

"God has

whence those blessings flow: as the Apostle says, chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (not because he foresaw that we should be holy, but in order that we might be holy) and without blame before him in loved." And it is on this electing love of his, and not on any merits or strength of ours, that our security, in reality, depends: for it is said, "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his e.”

But does God manifest this his electing love to any now, as he did to Moses? Yes not indeed by an audible voice, but by other means sufficiently intelligible both to themselves and others. What else is meant by the Witness of the Spirit? for, now, as well as in former days, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." Nor is it in that way only that he makes known our relation to him, but by a work of grace upon our souls: for it was from the "work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ," which St. Paul saw in his Thessalonian converts, that he "knew their election of God."

The fact, then, which Moses pleaded with God is no other than what all his saints are at liberty to plead for as it is true, that "he knows them by name, and that they have found grace in his sight," so is it true, also, that he has, more or less evidently, declared it to them all; not indeed to any by an audible voice; but to some by the secret influences of his Spirit, and to all by the visible operations of his grace.]

The next point for our consideration is,

II. The petition urged

It is thought by many, that an assurance of our acceptance with God would render us careless and supine: but

The very reverse was its effect on Moses

[The mercies vouchsafed to him, only stimulated him to a more earnest desire after further blessings. He does not say, "If I have found grace in thy sight, I am content: but, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me thy way, that I may know thee, and that I may find further grace in thy sight."]

And such will be its effect on all God's chosen people

[Blessings will be regarded by them, not as gifts wherein to rest, but as pledges and earnests of future blessings. It was a wise and truly spiritual argument which was offered by

d

Eph. i. 4. e 2 Tim. ii. 19. f Rom. viii. 16.

g 1 Thess. i. 3, 4.

Manoah's wife for the pacifying of her husband's mind: “If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering or a meat-offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would, as at this time, have told us such things as theseh." Past mercies are rather urged by them in prayer as pleas for further blessings. It was thus that David regarded them: "Thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the livingi?" And in this way will God's special favour operate on every ingenuous mind. Instead of being satisfied with a taste of his love, we shall hunger and thirst after the full banquet; and never cease from aspiring after a further growth in grace, till we have attained the full measure of the stature of Christ, and our graces are perfected in glory.

Nor shall we be anxious about our own advancement only: we shall feel for God's honour also; and for the welfare of those around us. This appears, in a striking point of view, in the conduct of Moses on this occasion: for, not content with finding grace himself, he adds, " And consider that this nation is thy people;" in which words he combines a tender regard for God's honour with an anxiety for his people's welfare. His further pleading also deserves attention: "Wherein shall it be known here, that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us?" Now this shews us the true effect which a sense of God's love will produce: it will make us not only anxious to obtain richer communications of grace and peace to our own souls, but more earnest also to promote to the utmost of our power the good of all around us.]

The answer given to this petition leads us to notice, III. The plea admitted—

God, in his mercy, vouchsafed to Moses an answer of peace

[The plea peculiarly honoured God, in that, whilst it acknowledged his sovereign grace in the blessings already bestowed, it regarded him as a God of unbounded goodness, able and willing to fulfil all his petitions. And God's answer to it shewed how greatly it was approved by him: "The Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken, for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name1." Here, I say, God not only grants the petition, but specifically founds the grant upon the very plea that had been urged.]

h Judg. xiii. 23.

k ver. 16. with ch. xxxiv. 9.

i Ps. lvi. 13.

1

ver. 17.

And when did he ever refuse to hear a petition so enforced?

[God loves to be addressed with confidence, provided the confidence be grounded on his power and grace. He bids us to come to him "with a full assurance of faith;" to "ask what we will:" and he gives us reason to hope, that, if we come in faith, he will " do for us not only what we ask, but exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think." It might be feared, that the importunity of Moses would offend him. But it did not: nor was he angry with Jacob, who "wrestled with him in prayer all night," and boldly said, "I will not let thee go until thou bless me." On the contrary, he commands us to wait on him with unwearied importunity, and to "continue instant in prayer," till he bestow upon us all that our hearts can wish. "The wider we open our mouths in prayer, the more he will fill them."]

TO IMPROVE this subject, I would say,

1. Bear in mind the tokens of God's love

[Look at what he "has said to you" in his word: take his exceeding great and precious promises," and tell me whether you can ever want a plea to urge at the throne of grace. You admire his condescension and grace to Moses: but it is no other than what he will manifest to you, if, like Moses, you consecrate yourselves to his service. You cannot, indeed, expect to converse with God face to face, as a man converseth with his friend: but by faith you may approach him no less certainly, and no less nearly; and may be sure of obtaining from him an answer of peace. Only take with you his words of promise, and spread them before him; and every jot and tittle of them shall be fulfilled to your souls.]

2. Let the effect of his distinguishing grace be to make you more earnest in your desires after him—

66

[When David said, " O God, thou art my God," he added, early will I seek thee." In truth, this is our great encouragement to seek him: for, if he "loved us with an everlasting love," what may we not expect his loving-kindness to do for us? If once you could bring yourselves to say, 'I am one of God's elect, and therefore am at liberty to relax my efforts in his service;' you would need no further evidence, that you are "yet in the gall of bitterness," and have no part or lot in his salvation. If you have a good hope that you are his children indeed, then will you "walk worthy of your high calling," and " purify yourselves even as he is pure."]

3. Improve your interest in God for the good of

others

[In this Moses greatly excelled: he was willing and desirous even to be blotted out of God's book" himself, if that, by means of it, he might obtain mercy for his offending nation. See to it, Brethren, that your religion operate thus on you. Behold the state of those around you; how many thousands there are dying in their sins! And will you not interest yourselves in their behalf, and labour to obtain for them the mercy that has been vouchsafed to you? Will you suffer your very friends and relatives to perish, without any serious effort in their behalf? Oh! pity them, and pray for them; and "give unto God no rest," till you have obtained some evidence that you have not laboured altogether in vain.]

CX.

GOD'S PRESENCE WITH HIS CHURCH.

Exod. xxxiii. 14. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

IT is not in the power of words to express, or of any finite imagination to conceive, the extent and riches of divine grace. The instances in which it was manifested to the Israelites of old, inasmuch as they were obvious to the eye of sense, are more calculated to excite our admiration; but the church at this time, and every believer in it, experiences equal tokens of God's kindness, if we can but view them with the eye of faith. It was under circumstances, wherein the Israelites had justly incurred God's heavy displeasure, that the promise in the text was made to them: and to us, if we do but use the proper means of attaining an interest in it, is the same promise given, notwithstanding our heinous backslidings, and innumerable provocations.

That we may be stirred up to improve it, we shall point out,

I. The blessings here promised

Though the promise was given immediately to Moses, yet it was not literally fulfilled either to him. or to the people of that generation; since both he, and they, died in the wilderness. This circumstance alone would lead us to look for some mystical accomplishment, which it should receive; and while the

Scripture warrants, it will also fully satisfy, our inquiries on this head. The promise has relation to us, as well as to the Israelites; and teaches us to expect, 1. God's presence in our way

[God had refused to proceed any further with the Israelites, on account of their worshipping the golden calf. In answer however to the supplications of Moses, he had condescended to say, that he would "send an angel" in his stead. But when Moses would not be satisfied with that, and continued to plead for a complete restoration of his favour to Israel, God, overcome, as it were, by his importunity, promised to go before them still in the pillar and the cloud. More than this they did not need; and less than this could never satisfy one, who had ever experienced the divine guidance and protection. And has not our blessed Lord made the same promise to us? Has he not said, "Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world?" Has not his prophet assigned this as a reason why we should dissipate our fears, and look forward to the eternal world with confidence and joy? On this promise then let us rely; and let us know, that if we have God for our guide, our protector, and provider, we have all that can be necessary for us in this dreary wilderness.]

2. His glory as our end

[Canaan was a place of rest to the Israelites after the many difficulties that they sustained in their way to it: and heaven will be indeed a glorious rest to us after our weary pilgrimage in this world. Now as the prospect of the land flowing with milk and honey, sweetened all the fatigues and dangers of their journey in the wilderness, so the hope of "that rest which remaineth for God's children," encourages us to persevere in our labours to attain it: and this rest is promised us, in spite of all the exertions of men or devils to deprive us of it. Our conflicts may be many, and our trials great; but our rest is sure; for God hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake theed".]

These blessings being so necessary, we should anxiously inquire into,

II. The means of attaining them

Moses is here to be considered in a double view, as a type of Christ, and as an example to us: and, in these two capacities, he teaches us to look for these blessings, 1. Through the intercession of Christ

a Exod. xxxii. 34. with the text. c Isai. xli. 10.

b Matt. xxviii. 20.

d Compare Josh. i. 5. with Heb. xiii. 5, 6.

« AnteriorContinuar »