Nov 13
23
My ruling desire!
(James Smith, “Christ Exalted, Saints Comforted, and Sinners Directed” 1855)
My ruling desire is to be wholly given up to the Lord and to His work, and to show forth His praises from day to day. But when I aim at this most — I am baffled, opposed, and always hindered!
I see what is wrong — but cannot avoid it.
I see what is right — but cannot attain unto it.
I know what I wish — but I cannot enjoy it.
I read what God commands — but I cannot perform it.
In the midst of all, I bless God . . .
for Jesus Christ,
for free grace,
for a full salvation,
for abiding comfort,
for a good hope,
for sweet views of Jesus,
for a glorious inheritance,
for an assurance of victory, and
for the promise of eternal triumph.
Nothing can . . .
separate me from Jesus,
turn the current of His love from me, or
change the purposes of His grace for me.
His love is astonishing!
His ways are marvelous!
I change — He remains the same.
I sin — He pardons.
I cry — He hears and answers.
I ask for favors — and He kindly bestows them.
I fear — and He promises.
I wander — and He says, “Return.”
I lament my folly — He whispers peace.
I feel poor and impoverished — He says, “All things are yours!”
I imagine that I am alone — He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
I expect that He will abandon me — He asks, “How can I give you up?”
I cry, “Unworthy, unworthy!” He says, “You are My dear son, My pleasant child.”
I fear I shall be overcome. He says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.”
I fear I shall lie down in darkness. He says, “The Lord shall be a light unto you.”
I say, “I can do nothing!” He says, “I will work all your works in you.”
I say, “I am barren!” He says, “From Me is your fruit found.”
I cry, “I am thirsty!” He says, “I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys, to give drink to My people, My chosen ones.”
I complain, “I am weary!” He says, “Come unto Me, I will give you rest.”
I feel dry and parched. He says, “I will be as the dew unto Israel.”
I say, “I need food!” He says, “My flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.”
I fear I shall die. He says, “He who eats Me, even he shall live by Me.”
I say at times, “All these things are against me!” He says “All things shall work together for your good!”
I say, “I shall surely be overcome!” He says, “Nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
I say, “I am often left alone!” He says, “Lo, I am with you always.”
I say, “I am all deformity!” He says, “You are all beautiful, My love, there is no spot in you!”
I say, “I shall see Him no more!” He says, “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice.”
I say, “Surely the Lord cannot love such a wretch!” He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”
I say, He cannot have chosen one so vile and base. He says, “I have chosen you, and will never cast you away!”
I say, “I am desolate and forsaken!” He says, “Your Maker is your husband, the Lord Almighty is His name, and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel.”
I say, “I shall be left to myself at last!” He says, “I am a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
I say, “Set me as a seal upon Your arm, as a seal upon Your heart!” He says, “I will make you like a signet ring on My finger — for I have chosen you.”
I cry, “Remember me, O Lord my God, for good!” He says, “You shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”
I cry, “Do not be terribly angry with me, O Lord!” He says, “I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you.”
I say, “I beseech you, show me Your glory!” He says, “Behold, I come quickly!”
I cry, “Remember me with the favor which You bear unto Your people!” He says, “As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you — and you shall be comforted.”
I cry, “Tell me where You graze Your flock.” And He says, “Follow the footsteps of My flock.”
I cry, “O that it was with me as in days that are past!” He says, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with Me.”
I cry, “My soul is among lions!” He says, “Come down with Me — from where the lions have their dens and leopards live among the hills.”
I say, “O that I was sure that Jesus loved me!” He says, “You have ravished my heart, My sister, My spouse!”
I say, “I moaned like a mourning dove!” He says, “Your lips, O My spouse, drop as the honeycomb, honey and milk are under your tongue.”
I say, “I am exposed, and lie open to the attacks of enemies on every side!” He says, “You are My private garden, My treasure, My bride — a secluded spring, a hidden fountain.”
I say, “Do not look upon me, because I am black!” He says, “You are all beautiful, O My love!”
I say, “How miserable I am! Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger.” He says, “At our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for you, O My beloved.”
I say, “I fear that my numerous sins and powerful corruptions will cool the love of Jesus for me!” He says, “Many waters cannot quench My love, neither can the floods drown it.”
I sigh, “I am feeble and sorely broken!” He says, “I will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.”
I say, at times, “He afflicts, and counts me for His enemy!” He says, “As many as I love — I rebuke and chasten! I deal with you as My son.”
I say, “I am totally unfit to be the bride of Jesus!” He says, “Oh, how beautiful you are! How pleasing, My love, how full of delights!”
—-
‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful.’ The voice proceeds to open out Jehovah’s heart. This heart is mercy. As the sun abounds in sparkling rays, the sea in drops, the sky in glittering orbs, so God is one vast treasure-house of mercy. This is the brightest jewel of His crown. It overtops the heavens. It outlives all time. It outshines all perfections. It is the riches of His riches.
But what is mercy? It is that sweet and tender love which has a tear for all distress, which grieves in grief, and sorrows in sorrow, and yearns over misery, and only lives in healing wounds, and calming anguish, and converting sighs to joy. This Mercy looked on man in his lost estate. It marked the present suffering and the future woe. It tarried not. It found a full and perfect remedy, even a God-man’s life and death!
The Father is all mercy. A Savior called, a Savior sent, a Savior accepted is the proof. Jesus is all mercy! The manger, the garden, the cross, the blood, the righteousness, the never-ceasing prayer, proclaim it. The Spirit is all mercy. His striving in the heart, His light-diffusing presence, His guidance to the Savior’s arms, His many visits of consoling love, His rich outpourings of renewing grace, bear witness to this truth.
Reader! whatever be your misery, come to this God, and mercy will relieve it! Paul knew the burden of tremendous guilt, but he ‘obtained mercy.’ The penitent pleaded, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ Floods of peace over-flowed. The wretched blind beggar cried, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.’ Jesus stood still. The answer lingered not. ‘Go your way, your faith has made you whole.’ The sorrowing mother supplicated, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David,’ and all relief was given.
Mercy still reigns in heaven. Bring then your sins, they shall be pardoned! Bring your tears, they shall be wiped away! Bring your conscience-wounds, they shall be healed! Bring your sighs, they shall be lulled to rest! Bring your need, it shall be all supplied! Bring your difficulties, they shall be smoothed.
‘Merciful and gracious.’ The view is changed. Another facet courts the eye. Grace shows its beauteous form. As mercy pities misery, so grace is helpful to unworthiness. Mercy brings balm for wretchedness. Grace hastens to demerit’s aid. Mercy finds tender motive in man’s woe. Grace has no impulse but from God. The world presents a hateful front. The wide-spread field is rank with mad rebellion’s weeds. There is no shame, no penitence, no downcast look, no weeping eye, no sobbing breast, no wringing hand, no prayer for pardon, and no cry for pity. Sin follows sin as wave on wave. But grace springs forth, free as God’s freeness, vast as God’s vastness. It says, ‘I love because I love. I will save because I will save. I will redeem from hell because I will redeem.’
It has no cradle but God’s own heart. It has no spring but God’s own purpose. But it is a worthy offspring of that worthy source. It girds itself to wondrous work. It draws Salvation’s plan. It leads forth Salvation’s captain. It chooses Salvation’s heirs. It consummates Salvation’s scheme. It lays the first stone. It adds the top-stone. It cannot rest, until the shout be heard, Grace to it, Grace to it, forever!
Reader! merit is as far from you as east from west. Your only possession is sin. But you may shine in glory, because God is grace. Oh! hasten to Him. Take pardon as a free-grace gift. Seek heaven as a free-grace prize. But if your pride rejects free grace, your own deserts will be the undying worm.
“Merciful and gracious, long-suffering (slow to anger).” The citizens of Zion sometimes quake, lest grievous guilt should drain all mercy and exhaust all grace. A ray next shines to dissipate these clouds. Behold Me, says the Lord, I am long-suffering. Here is a plank, on which the wave-tossed soul may rest. What! though the annals of the heart are but a sin-vile tale. What! though each day, each hour, is but the hot-bed of provoking evil. What! though the holiest prayers are often solemn mockery, the holiest works but incense to self-love. Still, vengeance stops its hand, and blessings pour their blessing-showers down.
If angels’ patience ruled for one hour, would it be so? No! Man’s whole race would be a shattered ruin. But He who reigns is a patient God. Hence, where offence abounds, His patience rises higher. We live because our God forbears. But the day comes when boundless patience finds its bounds. Sinner, when God’s patience can no more bear, then your long sufferings will no more cease.
‘Merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.‘ But while patience still is patient, may not the stores of goodness fail? It cannot be. God’s goodness is Himself. While He has life, it is His life to scatter goodness round. Believer, come to this tree. Its boughs forever bend, and all its fruits are goodness. Drink of these waters. They ever flow, and all the stream is goodness.
Truth is the handmaid which provides and scatters far these never-failing gifts. A covenant oath is pledged, “I will certainly bless you richly.” Hebrews 6:14. Truth then must die before the hand of goodness can hang down. Abundant truth secures abundant goodness.
‘Keeping mercy for thousands.’ O my soul, hearken to the melody of this sweet note. The thought may sometimes rise, that mercy visits but a favored few, that the rare gift enriches but rare souls. No! mercy’s arms are very wide. Mercy’s heart is very large. Mercy’s mansions are very many. It has brought saving joy to countless multitudes. It has saving joy for countless yet. The doors stand open. Thousands have found. But there are stores for thousands yet.
Will any hesitate? Will any sigh, ‘There cannot be this hope for me?’ Why this fear? Is the reply, ‘My iniquity forbids it’? This Name sweeps down such obstacle. It cries, The Lord is a God, ‘forgiving iniquity.’ Is it added, ‘But my transgressions are so vile’? The Name still speaks, The Lord is a God forgiving iniquity and transgression. Is it further said, ‘But my sins appear in countless multitudes’? The Name continues, Our Lord is a God forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.
If all the sins of all the lost, if all the filth of all the fiends in hell, were piled on your one conscience, flee to the cross, plead this sure word, and as our God is true, He will be found forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.
But if you fail to cast yourself on Christ, there is no other refuge. This word of richest comfort is stern condemnation to all who stand in their own guilt. “He will by no means clear the guilty.” No sinner can take unpardoned sins to heaven. No soul unwashed can enter there. Evil must have what evil earns. Christ our Surety appeared bearing our sins. He was not spared. Wrath seized Him. Vengeance took its due. In Him, all who are His are cleared, because His death is theirs. Out of Him, all who have sin must die, because their sins are theirs.
“The Lord, the Lord God, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.” Reader! such is God’s saving Name. Oh! hear it now, and with the ear of faith. It is not heard in hell. Henry Law (extract from “the Name”.)