Depart NOT from me, O LORD!

"And they began to pray Him to depart out of their coasts." -Mark 5:17 [KJV]

And was this Jesus whom they desired to depart? Yes: and what had the Redeemer done to merit this treatment? He had dispossessed the evil spirit from the mind of a poor creature, and caused the whole country to be freed from the fury of one whom no chains could bind: was this the cause? Yes. And is it possible that so divine an act could have had such an effect upon the minds of a whole body of people? What, would these Gadarenes rather have the devil ranging among them, in the person of this poor creature, than the Son of God in the kindness of our nature?  

Pause, my soul: is it not the same now? Do not men still prefer the raging uncontrolled lusts of their own hearts, the dominion of Satan, and the customs, pursuits, and follies, of the world; to the grace, mercy, and sweet dominion of Jesus? Do they not indeed, if not in words, say, "Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways?" Pause again, my soul. Was there not a time when the same was thy case? Indeed there was. And is not every one so by nature? And what but an act of grace, like the miracle Jesus wrought on this poor man, can bring any one out of it? Art thou, my soul, brought out of it? Yes, if so be, like him, thou art now sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in thy right mind. Surely, Lord, Thou hast wrought this blessed change upon me! Could I desire Thee to depart out of our coasts? Nay, is it not the daily, hourly desire of my heart, that Thou wouldest be with me, dwell in me, reign and rule in me, and be my portion, my God, my Saviour, and make me Thine for ever?  

Sweet testimony, in the midst of all my wanderings, coldness, undeservings! Cherish it, my soul! Jesus will not depart from thee. That love which brought Him down from heaven to save a world, led Him over the lake of Genesareth to save one poor sinner. And He who came in love unsent for, departed not until He was sent away. Oh ye poor blind, deluded, Gadarenes! Oh my poor, equally blind and deluded countrymen and fellow-sinners, who know not, nor desire to know Christ Jesus! Who are ye that thus reject the Lord of life and glory, and desire Him to depart out of your coasts? 


-preacher Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.)

July 12th, THE POOR MAN'S MORNING PORTION

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