"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."—I Peter 1:5 [KJV]
Those
who are kept by the power of God through faith, are often in their
minds troubled and anxious, fearing whether this salvation will ever
reach their souls,—whether they may not prove castaways,—whether the
work upon their heart is genuine,—whether they are under divine
teachings. But the Lord says they are "kept by His power through faith
unto salvation:" kept as in this garrisoned city, until salvation shall
come in all its glory, sweetness, bliss and blessedness into their
heart; preserved and encompassed by all the attributes of God from
making shipwreck of faith, until they "receive the end of their faith,
even the salvation of their souls."
Then poor, doubting, distressed,
fearing, guilty sinner, this promise is for thee. Thy soul is bound up
in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; thy character and thy name
are contained here. And it is a promise suitable to you: yea, it is a
promise suitable to us all. Suitable to us when we meet together,
suitable when absent from each other, suitable for town, suitable for
country; suitable for a child of God in a state of trial and temptation,
and suitable when he enjoys a temporary respite from them; suitable for
him in war, suitable for him in peace; suitable for him when the
cannons roar and the earth trembles, suitable for him when he seems to
have no enemy near, for the enemy then may be approaching by stratagem.
Yea, could you point out a single moment when this promise is not
suitable to you, that would be the very moment in which the promise
would be wanted by you most. Could you ever arrive at such a spot as to
say, "Now I want the promise no more," that very feeling would shew that
you were on the brink of a fall, and therefore never needed the promise
so much as then.
-preacher J.C. Philpot (1802-1869 A.D.)
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