And having in Thy life-depth thrown R. CECIL. IN N his sufferings the Christian is often tempted to think himself forgotten. But his afflictions are the clearest proofs that he is an object of God's fatherly discipline. Satan would give the man the thing his heart is set on. But God hath better things in reserve for His children, and they must be brought to desire them and seek them. And this will be through the wreck and sacrifice of all that the heart holds dear. The Christian prays for fuller manifestations of Christ's glory and His love to him. But he is often not aware that this is in truth praying to be brought into the furnace; for in the furnace only it is that Christ can walk with His friends to display, in their preservation and deliverance, His own almighty power. Dark and trying dispensations may be needful for some stubborn minds. To such the language of God is of this kind: 'I will not wholly hide Myself, I will be seen by thee.' But thou shalt never meet Me except in a dark night and in a storm. ST. AUGUSTINE. HEY are not lost, whom we love in Him whom we THEY cannot lose. TWENTIETH DAY. The Communion of Saints. AND what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also and Samuel, and of the prophets who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins, and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy :) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. xi. 32 to end, and xii. 1, 2. After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders, and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever, Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Rev. vii. 9 to end. BISHOP WILBERFORCE. AND now we come to the mention of that innumerable multitude who have already entered on the rest of paradise, and the waiting for their Lord. And in doing this we are surely declaring, in open act, our full accord with that inspiriting declaration of our creed, 'I believe in the communion of saints.' For herein we declare that it is not only with the great saints with whom we claim a living fellowship; into whose inheritance of suffering, of deeds, and of prayers we have entered; but that there is a communion between all the true saints of Christ; that we claim kindred with all; and that we bless God for all departed this life in His faith and fear. So that we are brought to-day to this doctrine of the communion of saints: and a glorious doctrine it is; kindling within our hearts, if it please God the Holy Ghost so to work upon us, more earnest desires after humility, and watchfulness, and trust, and powers of active service. For whilst it is good for |
