The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.-Roм. xv. 13. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.-ROM. v. 5. September 2. TRUE RELIGION IS A CHoice, not a CONSTRAINT. WHEN HEN speaking of Mary of Bethany, the Lord graciously said, "Mary hath chosen the good part." It was not forced upon her as a thing unwelcome and distasteful; or taken up merely by accident, without serious thought of any kind. On the contrary, out of the many things within her reach, she through the Spirit made free, deliberate, and hearty choice of the "good part which shall not be taken away." It should be so with all. But with too many, alas! religion is more a thing of tradition than of conviction, of old custom than of felt life, of respect for ancestry than of reverence for God; and so it becomes easily shaken, especially in perilous and testing times. With others, again, religion is more real, for there is somewhat of conviction in it; nevertheless, it is essentially defective, because the thing that mainly operates with them is the constraint of fear, and not free choice and trustful love. Sooner or later, therefore, it begins to be a weariness to them; and then springs up the sore temptation to dispense with it altogether. Even in the worst of times, however, there are always not a few noble exceptions to this: Ruths and Marys, Joshuas and Calebs, who not only make hearty choice of the good part, but resolutely adhere to it. It may be that the first thing that moves them to it is its indispensable necessity and divine fitness; but by-and-by, through fuller light and felt experience, it becomes a delight and joy to them—yea, dearer than life itself. And often, in looking back, that which seems the brightest spot in all their past experience is the time when first they closed with Christ, and were enabled to say, " He is all my salvation and all my desire." "O happy day! that fixed my choice On thee, my Saviour and my God." There must be no indecisiveness or halting where God and Mammon are concerned, but immediate, resolute, and final choice. "The world," says an old divine, “gives no certificate to saints, and saints give no certificate to the world. He that gets a certificate from both-Lord, what is he? a saint, or a worldling?" "God crowneth no divided heart: Oh, hallow to him all thy life! Who loveth Jesus but in part, He works himself much pain and strife." One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.-Ps. xxvii. 4. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.-Ps. lxxiii. 25. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.-PHIL. iii. 8. September 3. THOSE WHO SEEM LIKELIEST TO COME FIRST TO CHRIST OFTEN NEVER COME AT ALL. IN N the parable of the Great Supper-designed to set forth the fulness of redemption and the generous freeness with which it is offered-those to whom the servant was first sent might have been thought the worthiest to get the invitation, and the likeliest to accept it. They were the respectable, the industrious, the well-to-do-men who had ground of their own, and oxen of their own. But not one of them would come. Though civil to the servant and respectful, yet with one consent they began to make excuse. Thus the likeliest to come first never came at all, and entirely missed the feast with all its joys. Not succeeding in his first attempt, and with the first class, the servant had to go out a second time,—not an easy thing to do after such previous failure. Fishermen have little heart to cast in the net again, if all the night before has been one of weary and fruitless toil. So this servant, after such discouragements in the beginning, would have but little heart for renewed message-bearing, especially to another and seemingly outcast class, in the streets and lanes, the highways and hedges. Nevertheless, at his master's command, he went forth and did as he was enjoined, with cheering results. Now, in like manner, Christ's servants still go forth with the invitations of grace, commissioned to tell that all things are ready; and in particular, that in and through Christ, forgiveness, acceptance, adoption, and peace, yea, and all redemption blessings, are provided in richest fulness, and yet without price. Nevertheless, how often is it that those who were expected to be the first to welcome this salvation are the very last to do so, if ever they do so at all! And why? Simply this: they are too busy with other pursuits; the farm and the family take up all their time and thoughts. In all such cases, "I cannot come" is the alleged reason, but "I will not come" is the real one; for when the heart is true the duties of the farm never interfere with the privileges of the feast, nor is it ever found that there is any necessary antagonism between family joys and the joy of the Lord. A dying child, urging his father to repentance, said, "Father, I am going to heaven; what shall I tell Jesus is the reason why you won't love him?" Such a question might well startle any rejecter or neglecter of the great salvation. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?-HEB. ii. 3. September 4. FAITH, EVEN IN EVIL TIMES, CAN THINK BRIGHTLY AND SPEAK CHEERILY. HEN Joshua and Caleb testified to the goodness of WH the land, they did not conceal the difficulties and dangers in the way; but instead of hinting discouragement on this account, they boldly and unhesitatingly declared, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it:" "God is with us, and who can stand against us?" This utterance was both manly and true, and being in thorough harmony alike with the command and the promise of God, should at once have inspirited the people and moved them forward. Their companions in the search, however, were not so minded; for sense alone guided them, and not faith. "We be not able," they said, "to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. The sons of Anak are there, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." Verily nothing makes such cowards of men as unbelief. "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion." By such an utterance these unfaithful men so discouraged the people that with one accord they cried out, "Were it not better for us to return into Egypt?" It is so, more or less, still; for in like circumstances history often strangely repeats itself. There are always some who, when difficulties arise, take dark and gloomy views of things, and speak discouraging words, thereby turning many aside from the heavenward way, or grievously hindering their progress. Like Timorous and Mistrust, in the "Pilgrim's Progress," they cry, "The lions! the lions!" and never advert to the fact that the lions are chained. They always take the dreary side of the question, bringing up an ill report of the land. But, blessed be God! if there are still old desponders like these, full of fears and doubtings, there are still also old Calebs, full of faith and love, who never fail to bring up a good report of the land and of the Lord of it; and right heartily they say, " Come thou with us, and we will do thee good for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.” Come, brothers, let us onward, Night comes without delay, And in this howling desert It is not good to stay. Take courage and be strong, We are hasting on to heaven; Strength for warfare will be given, And glory won ere long." God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore. will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.-Ps. xlvi. 1, 2. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.-JOB xiii. 15. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.-MICAH vii. 8. |