FREE, SOVEREIGN & DISTINGUISHING GRACE
"That
I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy
nation."
-PSALM
106:5 [KJV]
What
is "the gladness of God's nation?" To be saved
"without money and without price;" to be saved by
grace—free, rich, sovereign, distinguishing grace, without one atom
of works, without one grain of creature merit, without anything of
the flesh. This is "the gladness of God's nation;" to
rejoice in free grace, grace superabounding over the aboundings of
sin, grace reigning triumphant over the dreadful evils of our heart.
It is grace that "gladdens" a man's heart. Oh! sweet grace,
blessed grace! when it meets our case and reaches our souls. Oh! what
a help, what a strength, what a rest for a poor toiling, striving,
labouring soul, to find that grace has done all the work, to feel
that grace has triumphed in the cross of Christ, to find that nothing
is required, nothing is wanted, nothing is to be done. It is a full
and perfect, complete and finished work. Oh! sweet sound, when it
reaches the heart and touches the conscience, and is shed blessedly
abroad in the soul.
This
is "the gladness of God's nation;" this makes their heart
glad, that the work is finished, that the warfare is accomplished,
that the Church of God "hath received of the LORD's hand double
for all her sins;" this is the comforting sound wherewith God
"comforts His people;" this makes the nation glad, and
their heart to leap and dance for joy. Has your heart never leaped at
the sound?—only for a moment? Has grace never sounded sweetly in
your soul, and made your very heart dance within you? If it has, you
know what is "the gladness of God's nation."
-Gospel
report by preacher J.C. Philpot (1802-1869 A.D.)
EARS
FROM HARVESTED SHEAVES
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