Realities
"And
seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not."
-JEREMIAH
45:5 [KJV]
Whatever
schemes and projects the Lord's people may devise that they may
prosper and get on in the world, He
rarely suffers their plans to thrive. He knows well to what
consequences it would lead;—that this ivy creeping round the stem
would, as it were, suffocate and strangle the tree. The more that
worldly goods increase, the more the heart is fixed upon them; and
the more the affections are set upon idols, the more is the
heart drawn away from the Lord. He will not suffer His
people to have their portion here below. He, therefore, says to them
in his providence, as well as in His
word, "Seek them not."
But
you will perhaps say, "What are we then to seek?" I will
tell you in one word,—Realities.
What
are these great things that you are seeking after? say in religion.
Could you see them in their right light, you would see that they are
but shadows. You feel, for instance, your deficiency in gift in
public when you are called upon to pray, or in private when you
converse with those who possess readier speech, and you want what are
commonly called gifts, such as a greater fluency of
utterance, more ability to quote Scripture, and a more abundant
variety of expressions, so as to make a deeper impression on the
hearers—the real want being that you might stand higher in their
estimation.
But
what would these gifts, if you had them to the fullest extent, so
that men might almost worship you for them, do for you when you shall
be called upon to lie upon a death-bed—when eternity is in view,
and your soul has to deal with God only? You will want no gifts then.
Grace will be the only thing which can do you any good.
-Gospel
report by preacher J.C. Philpot (1802-1869 A.D.)
April
21st, EARS FROM HARVESTED SHEAVES
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