The Promised Good

Ought I believe, when dark my way,
That darkness also clouds that Love
To which I, hoping lone, did pray
And desperate sought a blessing of?

How could my gracious God deny
The pleadings of my longing heart?
And turn a deaf ear to the cry
For good of which I had no part?

Had He not pledged to do me good -
Yea, to delight to work for me?
To give to me my daily food -
And all I needed, graciously?

But that which I desired most dear
He gave not - love mysterious this,
That graciously refused to hear,
That he might me more deeply bless.

What sweet surprise to stumbling souls
Like mine, when through the dreary sky,
The brilliant sun shines forth and rolls
The clouds away, and shadows fly.

And what till now seemed vain, seems best
And I, with shame-mixed joy, perceive
That I had naught to do, but rest
In God whose promise I believe.

His promise had not failed - ‘twas I
That asked amiss and foolishly
My God, with purpose deep and high,
Withheld what would bring misery.

Bold, laughingly, I now may tread
The paths to come, remembering still
That God who gives His children bread
Has good toward them set in His will.

Doubt not, my soul, when dark your road
And guiding light is long denied
Remembering, believe your God
Who hitherto has all supplied.

From hour to hour your mortal days
Shall given be by wisdom kind.
Your God rules over all your ways
You He shall cause right paths to find.

A helper He has been to you
He changes not, therefore He shall
Again prove all His pledges true
And work in ways you could not tell.

Remember, oh remember this -
That God is good and He is wise,
And though it seems you've blessing missed,
In days to come, you’ll realize.

That once again, His providence
Has worked in sweet, mysterious ways
He hitherto has helped, and hence
He’ll be your help through all your days.

- May 31, 2008

Edwards thoughts on the gift of the Holy Spirit

Listening to Jonathan Edward's Religious Affections last night, I found these words on the Holy Spirit a beautiful consideration, since I'd never before thought in this way about God's gift of the Spirit to believers:

For so are things constituted in the affair of our redemption that the Father provides the Saviour, or purchaser, and the purchase is made of him; and the Son is the purchaser and the price; and the Holy Spirit is the great blessing or inheritance purchased as is intimated, Gal. 3:13-14, and hence the Spirit often is spoken of as the sum of the blessings promised in the gospel, Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4 and ch. 2:38, 39, Gal. 3:14, Eph. 1:13. This inheritance was the grand legacy that Christ left his disciples and his church, in his last will and testament, John, ch. 14, 15, 16. This is the sum of the blessings of eternal life, which shall be given in heaven. (Compare John 7: 37, 38, 39 and 4:14 with Rev. 21: 6 and 22:1, 17) It is through the vital communications and indwelling of the Spirit that the saints have all their light, life, holiness, beauty and joy in heaven; and it is through the vital communications and indwelling of the same Spirit that the saints have all light, life, holiness, beauty and comfort on earth; but only communicated in less measure. And this vital indwelling of the Spirit in the saints, in this less measure and small beginning is "the earnest of the Spirit, the earnest of the future inheritance, and the first fruits of the Spirit...

love Him or die

I must love Christ or my soul will die.

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me....If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
... As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love."

Loving Christ is not my option; it is my life. Ought I not then tremble when my love for Him grows dim or cold? Ought I not cry out for mercy lest I die?

Thanks be to God that the Word which commands "Keep yourselves in the love of God" is addressed to those who are "kept by Jesus Christ" and promises that nothing "can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Prayer of the Deficient Heart

“Therefore love truth and peace” - Zechariah 8:19

O Righteous God, who art enthroned on high
Yet lookest down to search man’s heart and mind,
Thou seest my heart-spring - is it vile and dry?
Show me, that I may know what Thou dost find.

I would not be deceived of what I love
Nor, after claiming Christ my highest prize,
Find mine affections seated not above,
But set on things that fill the earthly eyes.

I fear, lest after my truth-loving claims,
That I might love, not truth, but love the pride
Of knowing rightly; that my stated aims
To honor God, are outward, not inside.

Thou lovest peace, my God who loveth best
And thou didst tell us earnestly to seek
For peace, and it pursue - but lo, I rest
From this pursuit so quickly, grow so weak.

Because I love not peace, but am content
To seek instead of peace, what self desired,
And idly live with turmoil and dissent,
Because I grudge the sacrifice required.

Oh, do I love Thee Lord? Oh, do I long
For Thee, and burn for holiness like Thine?
Seek what Thou seekest with an ardor strong?
If this be not my passion, make it mine!

If dim, diverted my heart’s vision be
And clouded with hypocrisy - then thou
Alone canst wake my heart that I may see,
And love Thy glory and pursue it now.

The psalmist prayed, “Search me O God and know
My heart and anxious thoughts and hidden sin
Oh try me for offensive ways, and show
The way eternal, lead Thou me therein.”

Thus Lord I ask Thee by Thy pow’r to do
For this weak child of Thine, so prone to stray
Give unto me a heart sincere and true.
For Thine own sake, through Jesus Christ, I pray

Prayer II - all my want

Grant, oh Thou my Lord

That when all my wants are supplied

And petitions answered

And desires fulfilled

That I may not cease to pray

Or neglect to seek Thy presence

Or lose care to draw near Thee

That I may not grow full and forget Thee

But continue to cry out to Thee

Not for temporal wants

Or earthly desires

Or anything outside Thyself that Thou wouldst give me

But for Thyself

That I may see and know more of Thee

That I may walk more closely with Thee

And be holy as Thou art holy.

What greater thing, my Lord, can Thy grace give me -

What fuller overflow of fullness canst Thou pour out

Upon my soul

Than Thy own fullness, sweetness, goodness

Might and mercy?

Oh pillar of cloud and flame that leads me day and night

Thou art the rock that goeth with me, quenching thirst

And manna, heaven-sent to feed my soul

Thy mighty, saving joy doth flow like milk and honey

Thy power doth conquer all my foes.

Oh Christ, who ever meets my need,

In every wilderness

And in green valleys,

When I am brought to feel no wants,

Grant me never to forget that Thou Thyself art all to me.