JESUS, The Sinner's Surety

"But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!" -Luke 12:50 [KJV]

My soul, look at Jesus under His straitenings, and thou wilt find it the best support and encouragement under thine. He had in view, when He thus expressed Himself, the water-spouts, and the billows of divine wrath against sin, which, as the sinner's Surety, were to be poured upon Him. Jesus calls it a baptism. I cannot sufficiently admire the word, because it is my Lord's, and because it is so applicable. Afflictions, then, are baptisms to His people, when commissioned by His grace, and when blessed by His Holy Spirit. 

Never lose sight of them, my soul, in this view; they will be always sacred: and from the straitenings of Jesus, until His were accomplished, do thou at all times fetch relief and encouragement under thine. He that felt straitening for Himself, well knew how to enlarge thine heart: and He that knew the baptism He had to go through, knows, and hath laid in all proper enlargements and support for thine. 

One look at Jesus in the priestly vestment which He still wears, will give more comfort to thine heart under all straitenings, be they what they may, than all thine own laboured attempts; that without an eye to Jesus, thou canst set up: and surely, He, Who in the days of His flesh felt straitenings, will not forget thine. Lord! bring my poor soul under the continual baptisms of Thy Spirit.

 

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

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