,the ,lord of ,glory ,,meditations ,,on ,,the ,,person1 ,,the ,,work ,,and ,,glory ,,of ,,our ,,lord ,,jesus ,,christ ,,by ,a4 ,c4 ,,gaebelein ,,publication ,,office ,,of ,,our ,,hope1 #def ,fourth ,avenue1 ,new ,york1 ,n4 ,y4 ,,pickering ,,inglis1 ,l4 ,s4 ,,haynes1 ,,glasgow1 #ejb ,yonge ,street1 ,,scotland ,,toronto1 ,,canada ,copyright #aiaj by ,a4 ,c4 ,gaebelein4 ,printing by ,francis ,emory ,fitch of ,new ,york ,contents ,preface ,dedication ,the ,lord of ,glory ,jehovah4 ,the ,i am ,that ,worthy ,name ,the ,doctrine of ,christ ,the ,pre-eminence of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ ,ye are ,christ's--,christ is ,god's ,the ,wonderful ,honor and ,glory unto ,him ,christ's ,resurrection ,song ,the ,glory ,song ,the ,firstborn ,the ,waiting ,christ ,a ,vision of the ,king ,the ,fellowship of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ our ,lord ,out of ,his ,fulness1 ,the ,twenty-second ,psalm ,the ,exalted ,one ,a ,glorious ,vision ,my ,brethren ,the ,patience of ,christ ,he ,shall ,not ,keep ,silent ,the ,love of ,christ ,the ,joy of the ,lord ,this same ,jesus ,the ,wondrous ,cross ,his ,legacy ,what ,have ,i to do with ,idols ,the ,never ,changing ,one ,be of ,good ,cheer ,make ,haste ,preface4 ,for a number of years the first pages of each issue of ,our ,hope have been devoted to brief meditations on the ,person and ,glory of our adorable ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,three reasons led the ,editor to do this3 #a4 ,he is worthy of all honor and glory1 worthy to have the first place in all things4 #b4 ,the great need of ,his people to have ,his blessed ,person1 ,his past and present work1 ,his power and glory1 ,his future manifestation constantly brought before their hearts4 #c4 ,there is an ever increasing denial of the ,person of our ,lord4 ,in the most subtle way ,his ,glory has been denied4 ,it is therefore eminently necessary for those who know ,him to tell out ,his worth4 ,long and learned discussions on the ,person of the ,lord have been written in the past1 but are not much read in these days4 ,we felt that short and simple meditations on ,himself would be welcomed by all believers4 ,all these brief articles were written with much prayer and often under deep soul exercise4 ,it has pleased the ,holy ,spirit to own them in a most blessed way4 ,hundreds of letters were received telling of the great blessing these meditations have been and what refreshing they brought to the hearts of ,his people4 ,weary and tired ones were cheered1 wandering ones restored and erring ones set right4 ,many wrote us or told us personally that the ,lord ,jesus ,christ has become a greater reality and power in their lives after following this monthly testimony4 ,suggestions were made to issue some of these notes in book form so that these blessed truths may be preserved in a more permanent form4 ,we have done so and send this volume forth with the prayer that the ,holy ,spirit1 who is here to glorify ,christ1 may use it to the praise and glory of ,his worthy ,name4 ,we are confident that such will be the case4 ,a4 ,c4 ,g4 ,new ,york ,city1 ,october #a1 #aiaj4 ,dedication4 ,unto ,him who loveth us and washed us from our sins in ,his own blood1 and hath made us kings and priests unto ,god ,his ,father2 to ,him be glory and dominion forever4--,rev4 i3 #e-f4 ,worthy is the ,lamb that was slain to receive power1 and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength1 and honor1 and glory1 and blessing4--,rev4 v3 #ab4 ,then they that feared the ,lord spake one to another3 and the ,lord hearkened and heard it1 and a book of remembrance was written before ,him for them that feared the ,lord and that thought upon ,his ,name4 --,mal4 iii3 #af4 ,let us go forth1 therefore1 unto ,him without the camp bearing ,his reproach4 ,for here we have no continuing city1 but we seek one to come4 ,by ,him1 therefore1 let us offer the sacrifice of praise to ,god continually1 that is the fruit of our lips1 confessing ,his ,name4 --,hebrews xiii3 #ac-ae4 ,surely ,i come quickly4 ,amen4 ,even so4 ,come ,lord ,jesus4--,rev4 xxii3 #bj4 ,the ,lord of ,glory4 #a ,cor4 ii3#h4 ,,our ever blessed ,lord1 who died for us1 to whom we belong1 with whom we shall be forever1 is the ,lord of ,glory4 ,thus ,he is called in #a ,cor4 ii3#h1 for had they known they would not have crucified the ,lord of ,glory4 ,eternally ,he is this because ,he is the express image of ,god1 the brightness of ,his ,glory 7,heb4 i3#c74 ,he possessed ,glory with the ,father before the world was 7,john xvii3#e74 ,this ,glory was beheld by the prophets1 for we read that ,isaiah saw ,his ,glory and spake of ,him 7,john xii3#da74 ,all the glorious manifestations of ,jehovah recorded in the ,word of ,god are the manifestations of the ,lord of ,glory1 who created all things that are in heaven1 and that are in earth1 visible and invisible1 who is before all things and by whom all things consist4 ,he appeared as the ,god of ,glory to ,abraham 7,acts vii3#a72 ,isaac and ,jacob were face to face with ,him4 ,moses beheld ,his ,glory4 ,he saw ,his ,glory on the mountain4 ,the ,lord of ,glory descended in the cloud and stood with him there 7,exod4 xxxiv3#e74 ,how often the ,glory of the ,lord appeared in the midst of ,israel4 ,and what more could we say of ,joshua1 ,david1 ,daniel1 ,ezekiel1 who all beheld ,his ,glory and stood in the presence of that ,lord of ,glory4 ,in the fulness of time ,he appeared on earth ,god manifested in the flesh4 ,though ,he made of ,himself no reputation and left ,his unspeakable ,glory behind1 yet ,he was the ,lord of ,glory1 and as such ,he manifested ,his ,glory4 ,in incarnation in ,his holy1 spotless life ,he revealed ,his moral ,glory2 what perfection and loveliness we find here6 ,we have the testimony of ,his own ,we beheld ,his ,glory1 the ,glory as of the only begotten of the ,father 7,john i3#ad74 ,they saw ,his ,glory 7,luke ix3#cb7 when they were with ,him in the holy mountain4 ,they heard1 they saw with their eyes1 they looked upon1 their hands handled the ,word of life1 the life that was manifested 7#a ,john i3#a-b74 ,in ,his mighty miracles the ,lord of ,glory manifested ,his ,glory1 for it is written this beginning of miracles did ,jesus in ,cana of ,galilee and manifested forth ,his ,glory 7,john i3#aa74 ,and this ,lord of ,glory died4 ,the focus of ,his ,glory is the cross4 ,he was obedient unto death1 the death of the cross4 ,he gave ,himself for us4 ,without following here all the precious truths connected with that which is the foundation of our salvation and our hope1 that the ,lord of ,glory1 ,christ died for our sins1 we remember that ,god raised ,him up from the dead and gave ,him ,glory 7#a ,pet4 i3#ba74 ,he was received up into ,glory 7#a ,tim4 iii3#af74 ,ought not ,christ to have suffered these things and to enter into ,his ,glory 7,luke xxiv3#bf74 ,the risen ,lord of ,glory said3 ,i ascend unto my ,father and your ,father2 to my ,god and your ,god4 ,he is now in the presence of ,god1 the ,man in ,glory1 seated in the highest place of the heaven of heavens at the right hand of the ,majesty on high4 ,he is there far above all principality1 and power1 and might1 and dominion1 and every name that is named1 not only in this world1 but also in that which is to come 7,eph4 i3#ba74 ,he is highly exalted1 the heir of all things4 ,in that ,glory ,he was beheld by human1 mortal eyes4 ,stephen being full of the ,holy ,spirit looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the ,glory of ,god1 and ,jesus standing on the right hand of ,god 7,acts vii3#ee74 ,this was the dying testimony of the first ,christian martyr4 ,saul of ,tarsus saw this ,glory2 he could not see for the ,glory of that light 7,acts xxii3#aa74 ,john beheld ,him and fell at ,his feet as dead4 ,and we see ,him with the eye of faith4 ,but we see ,jesus1 who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death crowned with ,glory and ,honor 7,heb4 ii3#i74 ,but this is not all4 ,the unseen ,glory of the ,lord and the unseen ,lord of ,glory will some day be visible1 not to a few1 but to the whole universe4 ,he will come in the ,glory of ,his ,father and the holy angels with ,him 7,matt4 xvi3#bg74 ,the ,lord of ,glory will be revealed from heaven with ,his mighty angels 7#b ,thess4 i3#g74 ,he will come in power and ,glory1 come in ,his own ,glory 7,luke ix3#bf7 and sit on the throne of ,his ,glory 7,matt4 xxv3#ca74 ,his ,glory then will cover the heavens 7,hab4 iii3#c7 and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the ,glory of the ,lord1 as the waters cover the sea 7,hab4 ii3#ad74 ,the heavens cannot be silent forever and ,he who now is the object of the faith of believers1 and the ,one whom the world has rejected1 will come forth in all ,his ,majesty and ,glory and every eye shall see ,him4 ,then every knee must bow at the name of ,jesus and every tongue confess ,him as ,lord4 ,in that manifestation of the ,lord of ,glory and the ,glory of the ,lord we ,his redeemed will be manifested in ,glory4 ,he will then be glorified in ,his saints and admired in all them that believed 7#b ,thess4 i3#aj74 ,he will bring ,his many sons to ,glory 7,heb4 ii3#aj74 ,we are partakers of the ,glory that shall be revealed 7#a ,pet4 v3#a74 ,the ,god of all ,grace hath indeed called us unto ,his eternal ,glory by ,jesus ,christ4 ,and when the chief ,shepherd shall appear1 ye shall receive a crown of ,glory that fadeth not away 7#a ,pet4 v3#d74 ,but rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of ,christ's sufferings1 that when ,his ,glory shall be revealed1 ye may be glad also with exceeding joy 7#a ,pet4 iv3#ac74 ,but ere this visible ,glory is manifested over the earth and on the earth and ,he comes forth as the ,king of kings and ,lord of lords ,his own will be gathered unto ,him and be caught up in clouds to meet ,him in the air4 ,then we shall see ,him as ,he is and be like ,him4 ,the ,glory which the ,father has given ,him as the head of the body will be bestowed upon the whole body2 for thus ,he prayed the ,glory1 which thou hast given me ,i have given to them 7,john xvii3#bb74 ,and in the ,father's house where ,he is1 in the ,holy of ,holies we shall behold ,his ,glory4 ,we shall be changed into the same image that ,he might be the first born among many brethren 7,rom4 viii3#bi74 ,and now1 dear reader1 joint heir with the ,lord of ,glory1 called by ,god unto the fellowship of ,his ,son1 in meditating on these wonderful facts given to us by revelation1 does not your heart burn within you8 ,what a blessing1 what a place1 what a future is ours linked with the ,lord of ,glory1 one with ,him6 ,what a stupendous thought that ,he came from ,glory to die for us so that ,he might have us with ,him in ,glory6 ,and these blessed truths concerning the ,lord of ,glory and the ,glory of the ,lord we need to hold ever before our hearts in these dreary days when darkest night is fast approaching4 ,to walk worthy of the ,lord1 to be faithful to the ,lord1 to render true service1 to be more like ,him and show forth ,his excellencies1 we but need one thing1 to know ,him better and to behold the ,glory of the ,lord4 ,it is written ,but we all1 with open face beholding as in a glass the ,glory of the ,lord1 are changed into the same image from glory to glory1 even as by the ,spirit of the ,lord4 ,guided by the ,spirit we can look on the ,lord of ,glory and ,his ,glory1 mirrored in all parts of the ,word of ,god4 ,and then as we look on this wonderful person and ,his relation to us and ours to ,him1 as we behold ,his glory both moral and literal1 in humiliation and exaltation1 past1 present and future1 we are changed into the same image4 ,our path will be from ,glory to ,glory6 ,and some day there will come that supreme moment when we shall be suddenly changed in a moment1 the twinkling of an eye4 ,oh child of ,god see your need6 ,it is ,christ1 the ,lord of ,glory set before your heart2 all worldly mindedness1 all insincerity1 all discouragement1 all unbelief1 all unfaithfulness must flee when we follow on to know the ,lord and daily behold as in a glass the ,glory of the ,lord4 ,now unto ,him that is able to keep you from falling1 and to present you faultless before the presence of ,his ,glory with exceeding joy1 to the only wise ,god our ,saviour1 be glory and majesty1 dominion and power1 both now and ever4 ,amen4 ,jehovah4 ,the ,i ,am4 ,,when ,moses in the desert beheld the burning bush ,god answered his question by the revelation of ,his name as the ,i ,am4 ,and ,god said unto ,moses1 ,i am1 that ,i am3 and ,he said1 ,thus shalt thou say unto the children of ,israel1 ,i ,,am hath sent me unto you 7,exod4 iii3#ad74 ,he who spake thus out of the bush to ,moses was the same who in the fullness of time appeared upon the earth in the form of man4 ,our ,lord ,jesus ,christ is no less person1 than the ,i ,,am4 ,if we turn to the fourth ,gospel in which the ,holy ,spirit pictures ,him as the ,son of ,god1 one with the ,father1 we find ,his glorious title there as the ,i ,,am4 ,in the eighth chapter of that blessed ,gospel we read that ,he said to the ,jews1 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,before ,abraham was1 ,i am 7v3#eh74 ,and the ,jews took stones to cast them upon ,him4 ,in the fifth chapter we read that they wanted to kill ,him1 not only because ,he had violated the ,sabbath1 but also said that ,god was ,his ,father1 making ,himself equal with ,god 7v3#ah74 ,they wanted to stone ,him because in saying that word ,before ,abraham was1 ,i am ,he had claimed that holy name for ,himself1 which was revealed to ,moses4 ,the ,jews then1 as the orthodox ,jews do still1 reverenced that name to such a degree that they did not even pronounce it1 but substituted in its place the word ,adonai4 ,little did they realize that the same ,i am who spoke to ,moses out of the bush1 saying1 ,i am2 who descended before ,moses later in a cloud and proclaimed the name of the ,lord 7,exod4 xxxiv7 was standing in their midst in the form of man4 ,and this is not the only time ,he used this word4 ,we find it in the xviii chapter of ,john4 ,when the band and officers of the chief priests and ,pharisees came with lanterns1 torches and weapons1 ,jesus stepped majestically into their presence with the calm question3 ,whom seek ye8 ,when they had stated that they were seeking ,jesus the ,nazarene ,he answered them with one word ,i ,,am4 ,what happened8 ,they went backward and fell to the ground4 ,what a spectacle that must have been4 ,the dark night1 a company of people1 all on the same satanic errand1 with their lanterns1 torches and different kinds of weapons4 ,and then the object of their hatred steps before them and utters one word and they fall helpless to the ground4 ,what warning it should have been to them4 ,once more ,he asks the question2 again ,he answers with the ,i am and with the understanding that ,his own should be free1 ,he allows ,himself to be bound4 ,he likewise called ,himself ,i am in talking with the ,samaritan woman4 ,in ,john iv3#bf we read1 ,jesus saith unto her1 ,i that speak unto thee am he4 ,this does1 however1 not express the original4 ,this reads as follows3 ,i ,,am that speaks to thee4 ,after this mighty word had come from ,his lips the woman had nothing more to say1 but left her waterpot and went her way back to the city4 ,the ,i ,,am had spoken to her4 ,in chapters vi3#bj and viii3#bh we find ,him using the same ,i am again4 ,in the former passage ,it is ,i should read ,i am4 ,besides these passages in which ,he speaks of ,himself as the self-existing ,jehovah1 the great ,i am1 ,he saith seven times in this ,gospel what ,he is to ,his own4 ,i am the ,bread of life 7chapter vi3#ce47 ,i am the ,light of the world 7chapter ix3#e74 ,i am the ,door 7chapter x3#g74 ,i am the ,good ,shepherd 7chapter x3#aa74 ,i am the ,resurrection and the ,life 7chapter xi3#be74 ,i am the ,way1 the ,truth and the ,life 7chapter xvi3#f72 and ,i am the true ,vine 7chapter xv3#a74 ,but this does not exhaust at all what ,he is and will be now and forever to those who belong to ,him4 ,in the ,old ,testament there are seven great names of the ,i ,,am which are deep and significant4 ,in them we can trace ,his rich and wonderful ,grace4 ,jehovah4--,jireh --,the ,lord provides4 ,the lamb provided 7,genesis xxii74 ,jehovah ,rophecah--,i am the ,lord that healeth thee 7,exodus xv74 ,jehovah --,nissi--,the ,lord is my banner1 ,he giveth the ,victory 7,exod4 xvii74 ,jehovah shalom1 the ,lord is ,peace4 ,he is our ,peace 7,judges vi74 ,jehovah ,roi--,the ,lord is my shepherd1 ,i shall not want 7,psalm xxiii74 ,jehovah-,tsidkenu1 the ,lord is our righteousness 7,jeremiah xxiii74 ,jehovah shammah1 the ,lord is there 7,ezek4 xlviii74 ,but this does not exhaust what ,he is4 ,i ,,am--what8 ,anything and everything what we need in time and eternity4 ,when ,god would teach mankind ,his name ,he called ,himself the great1 ,i ,,am1 ,and leaves a blank--believers may ,supply those things for which they pray4 ,happy indeed are we1 beloved reader1 if we know ,him1 who died for us as the ,i ,,am1 if we learn more and more to trust ,him as the all sufficient ,one and know that the ,i ,,am will supply all our need4 ,in these days in which the person of ,christ is so much belittled1 attacked2 ,he as the ,holy ,one1 the great ,jehovah rejected1 not by the outside world alone1 but by those who call themselves after ,his own blessed name1 let us have for an answer to all these attacks of the enemy a closer walk with ,him1 a more intimate fellowship with the ,i ,,am2 a better acquaintance with our ,jehovah-,jesus1 our gracious ,lord4 ,oh what a union is ours1 ,one with ,him the ,i ,,am1 what a happy1 glorious lot4 ,hallelujah4 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the ending1 saith the ,lord1 which is1 and which was1 and which is to come 7,rev4 ii3#h74 ,i am the bright and morning star 7,rev4 xxii3 #af74 ,what1 oh what will ,he be for ,his own in all eternity6 ,that ,worthy ,name4 ,james ii3#g4 ,,in the second chapter of the ,epistle of ,james the ,holy ,spirit speaks of our ever blessed ,lord as that worthy ,name4 ,precious ,word6 precious to every heart that knows ,him and delights to exalt ,his glorious and worthy ,name4 ,his ,name is far above every ,name that is named1 not only in this world1 but also in that which is to come4 7,ephes4 i3#ba47 ,it is as ointment poured forth 7,song of ,sol4 i3#c72 yea1 ,his ,name alone is excellent 7,psalm cxlviii3#ac74 ,but according to ,his worth that blessed ,name is far from being fully known and uttered by the ,saints of ,god4 ,thou art worthy and ,worthy is the ,lamb shall some day burst from the glorified lips of redeemed sinners1 brought home to be with ,him4 ,in that blessed day when at last we see ,him face to face1 forever with the ,lord1 we shall begin to learn the full worth and glory of that ,name1 the ,name of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,in a feeble way here below we get glimpses of ,his precious1 worthy ,name1 of ,his beauty and loveliness1 and then only through the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the aim of the ,spirit of ,god dwelling in our hearts will always be to tell us more of ,himself4 ,like ,abraham's servant who had so much to say to the elect bride about ,isaac1 so the ,holy ,spirit ever delights to show us more of ,christ1 the ,christ of ,god4 ,oh6 how ,he is eager to tell us more of ,his worth1 of ,his glory1 of ,his grace and of all ,he is and all ,he has4 ,how it grieves ,him when our hearts do not respond to the great message ,he has for us and when instead we turn to something else to give us joy and comfort4 ,only ,christ can give joy and comfort1 peace and rest to the hearts of those who are ,his4 ,the days are evil and the time is short4 ,is your heart increasingly attracted to that worthy ,name8 ,do you have a greater burning desire in your heart for ,himself8 ,does ,he1 that worthy ,name1 become more and more day by day the absorbing object of your heart and life8 ,do you often weep over your coldheartedness1 your lack of real devotion to ,him and communion with your ,lord8 ,do you appreciate ,him more than ever before8 ,is the ,apostle's longing cry that ,i might know ,him coming also from your heart8 ,dear reader1 these are searching questions4 ,a better knowledge of our blessed ,lord1 a deeper acquaintance with that worthy ,name and greater devotion to ,him1 is the only true spiritual progress which counts4 ,if you live but little in the reality of all this you lack that joy and rest which is true ,christian happiness and the ,spirit is grieved4 ,oh let ,him unfold to your heart that worthy name and show you from ,his ,word1 ,his wonderful person1 then ,his power will attract your heart more and more4 ,this is what all ,god's people need4 ,that worthy ,name1 the ,lord in all ,his blessed fulness and glorious reality is what we need4 ,and what the written ,word has to tell us of that worthy ,name6 ,oh1 the titles1 the attributes1 the names1 the glories1 the beauties of ,himself4 ,and we have discovered but so few of these blessed things4 ,perhaps a few hundred of the descriptions of that worthy ,name are known to ,god's ,saints2 but there are hundreds1 still hidden1 we have never touched4 ,yes1 ,god's ,spirit is ever willing to make them known to our hearts4 ,just for a few moments think of some of the familiar titles and names of that ,name which is above every other name4 ,how these titles of our blessed ,lord1 what ,he is and what we have in ,him should fill our hearts with praise and our lips with outbursts of praise1 lift us above present day conditions and give us courage and boldness4 ,that worthy ,name2 who is ,he8 ,the ,son of ,god1 the ,only ,begotten of the ,father1 the living ,god1 the eternal ,life2 ,emmanuel1 the ,god of ,glory1 the ,holy ,one2 ,jehovah1 the everlasting ,god1 the ,lord strong and mighty1 the ,lord of ,peace1 the ,lord our righteousness1 the ,upholder of all things1 the ,creator1 the ,alpha and ,omega1 the express image of ,god4 ,he is the ,word1 the ,word of ,god1 the ,word of ,life1 the ,wisdom of ,god1 the ,angel of the ,lord1 the ,mediator of the better covenant4 ,the good ,shepherd1 the great ,shepherd1 the chief ,shepherd1 the ,door1 the ,way1 the ,root and offspring of ,david1 the ,branch of ,righteousness1 the ,rose of ,sharon1 the ,lily of the valley1 the true ,vine1 the ,corn of ,wheat1 the ,bread of ,god1 the true ,bread from heaven4 ,he is also the ,light of the world1 the ,day dawn1 the ,star out of ,jacob1 ,sun and ,shield1 the ,bright and ,morningstar1 the ,sun of ,righteousness4 ,thus we read of that worthy ,name1 that ,he is1 the ,great ,high-priest1 the ,daysman1 the ,advocate1 ,intercessor1 ,surety1 ,mercy ,seat1 the ,forerunner1 the ,rock of ,salvation1 the ,refuge1 the ,tower1 a strong ,tower1 the ,rock of ,ages1 the ,hope of ,glory1 the ,hope of ,his people1 a living ,stone4 ,and what else8 the ,gift of ,god1 the ,beloved1 the ,fountain of ,life1 ,shiloh1 ,he is our ,peace1 our ,redeemer1 ,he is precious1 the ,amen1 the ,just ,lord1 the ,bridegroom1 the ,firstborn from the ,dead1 ,head over all1 ,head of all principality and power1 ,heir of all things4 ,he is ,captain of the ,lord's ,host1 ,captain of their salvation1 ,chiefest among ,ten ,thousand1 the ,leader1 the ,counsellor1 the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah1 the ,governor1 ,prince of ,peace1 the ,prince of ,life1 the ,prince of the ,kings of the earth1 the ,judge1 the ,king1 the ,king of ,israel1 ,king of ,saints1 ,king of ,glory1 ,king over all the earth1 ,king in ,his ,beauty1 ,king of ,kings and ,lord of lords4 ,all these names and attributes of that worthy ,name are familiar4 ,what dignity1 what power1 what grace and blessing for us for whom ,he died and shed ,his precious blood they express4 ,who can fathom these names8 ,who can tell out ,his worth8 ,and hundreds more could be added1 and many1 many more1 which are still undiscovered in the ,word of ,god4 ,what a ,lord ,he is6 ,we worship and adore ,thee1 ,thou worthy ,one4 ,draw us ,o ,lord and we will run after ,thee4 ,what a joy and delight it ought to be to follow ,him1 to exalt ,him1 to be devoted to such a ,one6 ,oh6 our failures6 ,and still ,he carries us in kindness and patience4 ,and ,he also has a ,name1 which expresses the fulness of ,his work and glory4 ,no one knows what that is4 ,he had a name written1 that no man knew1 but ,he ,himself 7,rev4 xix3#ab74 ,that unknown ,name may never be made known4 ,but oh6 the blessedness which is before us ,his redeemed people4 ,of us it is written ,they shall see ,his face3 ,that blessed1 blessed face of that worthy ,name1 we shall behold at last4 ,we shall see ,his face6 ,oh the rapture which fills the heart in the anticipation of that soon coming event4 ,and ,his ,name shall be on their foreheads 7,rev4 xxii3#d74 ,we shall be like ,him1 we shall be a perfect reflection of ,himself4 ,the ,doctrine of ,christ4 #b ,john #i-aa4 ,,whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of ,christ1 hath not ,god4 ,he that abideth in the doctrine of ,christ1 he hath both the ,father and the ,son4 ,if there come any unto you1 and bring not this doctrine1 receive him not into your house1 neither bid him ,god speed4 ,for he that biddeth him ,god speed is partaker of his evil deeds 7#b ,john #i-aa74 ,what then is the doctrine of ,christ8 ,it is the revealed truth concerning the person of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that ,he is the ,son of ,god1 whom the ,father sent into the world4 ,god so loved the world1 that ,he gave ,his only begotten ,son1 that whosoever believeth on ,him should not perish1 but have everlasting life4 ,this is the doctrine of ,christ4 ,anyone who does not hold the doctrine of ,christ that ,he is absolutely ,god1 one with the ,father come into the world1 hath not ,god4 ,he is without ,god and hope in the world4 ,he is an ,anti-christ4 ,every spirit that confesseth that ,jesus ,christ is come in the flesh is of ,god2 and every spirit that confesseth not that ,jesus ,christ is come in the flesh is not of ,god2 and this is that spirit of ,anti-christ1 whereof ye have heard that it should come2 and even now already is it in the world 7#a ,john iv3#b-c74 ,such a denier of the ,deity of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ is no christian at all and all fellowship even to the greeting must be denied to him4 ,this seems severe and intolerant4 ,but it is not if we consider what the denial of the ,person of our holy and blessed ,lord means4 ,god grant unto us1 who hold the doctrine of ,christ1 a divine jealousy for ,his honor and glory1 manifested by separation from all who in any way deny the doctrine upon which all ,christianity rests4 ,but how blessed to faith to see in the first ,epistle of ,john the doctrine of ,christ revealed and the blessings and comforts brought forth1 which are for those who abide in this doctrine4 ,in the ,gospel of ,john the beloved disciple writes by the ,holy ,spirit about the ,son of ,god1 how ,he came from the ,father and was in the world and how ,he left the world to go back to the ,father4 ,the ,son of ,god is also the theme of the ,holy ,spirit in the first ,epistle of ,john4 ,our fellowship is with the ,father1 and with ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ 7i3#c74 ,this fellowship means that we share the ,father's thoughts about ,his ,son and to enjoy with the ,son ,his own blessed and eternal relationship with the ,father4 ,in the measure our faith enters into the doctrine of ,christ in that measure we shall have deeper fellowship with the ,father and ,his ,son4 ,is your cry1 dear reader1 for more reality in this fellowship8 ,there is one way only which leads to this4 ,it is an increase in the knowledge of the ,son of ,god and as you abide there1 you have the ,father and the ,son4 ,and now we shall call to our remembrance other passages in the first ,epistle of ,john in which our blessed ,lord as the ,son of ,god is mentioned4 ,they are sweet and precious to faith and if read in the ,spirit they will bring the joy1 the blessing1 the peace and the comfort of the doctrine of ,christ to our hearts4 ,the blood of ,jesus ,christ ,his ,son cleanseth us from all sin 7i3#g74 ,that precious blood1 ,his own blood1 has cleansed us once and for all4 ,for this purpose the ,son of ,god was manifested that ,he might destroy the works of the devil 7iii3#h74 ,and this is his commandment1 that we should believe on the name of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ and love one another as ,he gave us commandment4 ,and he that keepeth ,his commandments 7which are3 believing on ,him and loving one another7 dwelleth in ,him and ,he in him4 ,and hereby we know that ,he abideth in us1 by the ,spirit which ,he hath given us 7iii3#bc-bd74 ,in this was manifested the love of ,god toward us1 because that ,god sent ,his only begotten ,son into the world that we might live through ,him4 ,herein is love1 not that we loved ,god1 but that ,he loved us1 and sent ,his ,son into the world to be the propitiation for our sins4 ,beloved1 if ,god so loved us1 we ought also to love one another 7iv3#i-aa74 ,and we have seen and do testify that the ,father sent the ,son to be the ,saviour of the world4 ,whosoever shall confess that ,jesus is the ,son of ,god1 ,god dwelleth in him and he in ,god4 ,and we have known and believed the love that ,god hath to us4 ,god is love2 and he that dwelleth in love1 dwelleth in ,god and ,god in him 7iv3#ad-af74 ,who is he that overcometh the world1 but he that believeth that ,jesus is the ,son of ,god8 7v3#e7 ,if we receive the witness of men1 the witness of ,god is greater2 for this is the witness of ,god which ,he hath testified of ,his ,son4 ,he that believeth on the ,son of ,god hath the witness in himself2 he that believeth not ,god hath made ,him a liar2 because he believeth not the record that ,god gave to ,his ,son4 ,and this is the record that ,god hath given to us eternal life1 and this life is in ,his ,son4 ,he that hath the ,son hath life2 he that hath not the ,son of ,god hath not life 7v3#i-ab74 ,these things have ,i written unto you that believe on the name of the ,son of ,god1 that ye may know that ye have eternal life1 and that ye may believe on the name of the ,son of ,god4 ,and this is the confidence that we have in ,him1 that1 if we ask anything according to ,his will1 ,he heareth us 7v3#ac-ad74 ,and we know that the ,son of ,god is come1 and hath given us an understanding1 that we may know ,him that is true1 and we are in ,him that is true1 even in ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is the true ,god and eternal life 7v3#bj74 ,may our faith lay hold anew of these simple yet deep and precious revelations4 ,they are the doctrine of ,christ4 ,into this we must enter constantly and manifest in our lives the fruits of this doctrine1 love and righteousness4 ,the increasing rejection of the doctrine of ,christ demands the increased appreciation of that doctrine4 ,the more the enemy attacks the ,person of ,christ1 the more the ,holy ,spirit demands of us1 who belong to ,christ1 that we exalt ,him4 ,everything in the present time seems to be aimed at the setting aside of the doctrine upon which our ,hope rests4 ,higher ,criticism1 the evil doctrines1 which reject the eternal punishment of the wicked1 the spurious gospels1 ethical teachings and every other false doctrine strikes at the blessed ,person of our ,lord4 ,the shadow of the ,anti-christ is cast in our days4 ,let us heed ,god's ,word4 ,let us be separated from those who deny ,christ or we are partakers of their evil deeds4 ,the path of the true believer becomes narrower4 ,it must be so4 ,but ,christ becomes more precious1 more real to our souls4 ,what awful times are coming upon this age according to ,god's ,word6 ,with the rejection of the doctrine of ,christ this age sides completely with ,satan and that wonderful being is both blinding his victims and using them for his own sinister purposes4 ,the blindness is fearful4 ,it will be worse before long4 ,the rush into complete apostasy and from there into the delusion with the lying wonders and on into the darkness forever will come next4 ,let us praise ,god for the doctrine of ,christ1 which is our salvation1 and may ,god give us faith and courage to walk according to that doctrine4 ,what day of joy awaits us1 when we shall see him as ,he is and know the depth of the ,love of ,god by being like ,him6 ,the ,pre-,eminence of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,,what a blessed theme the ,person and ,glory of our ,lord6 ,how inexhaustible and unsearchable6 ,how refreshing to the souls of ,his redeemed people as well as to the heart of our heavenly ,father1 who1 loveth the ,son6 ,to meditate on ,him1 to behold the ,glory of the ,lord under the guidance of the ,holy ,spirit in the ,word of ,god1 means spiritual growth and spiritual enjoyment4 ,this only can make the unseen ,person a blessed reality in our daily walk4 ,we pray that all our beloved readers are drawn closer to ,himself through these brief meditations4 ,can we truly say the ,lord is more precious to our hearts and that we are living more in ,his presence than ever before8 ,has ,he become the absorbing object of our hearts and lives8 ,are we more devoted to ,him8 ,god grant that this may be the case with all of us4 ,it is the great need we have4 ,it is the good part1 which ,mary1 resting at ,his feet1 had chosen4 ,in the great chapter which begins the ,epistle to the ,colossians1 after that blessed description of the ,son of ,god1 stands this word that in all things ,he might have the pre-eminence 7,col4 i3#ah74 ,but who can tell out what a pre-eminence1 the pre-eminence of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ is8 ,some day we shall see ,him in all ,his ,glory4 ,he ,himself will lead us into the ,holiest of the third heaven to behold the ,glory the ,father has given ,him 7,john xvii3#bd72 then we shall know ,his pre-eminence fully4 ,and yet from ,scripture we can learn even now the pre-eminence of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,in all eternity the ,son of ,god was the object of ,love and ,glory4 ,son of ,god the ,father's bosom ,ever was ,thy dwelling place4 ,he ever subsisted in the form of ,god4 ,in all creation ,he has the pre-eminence4 ,this is made known to us1 as man could not discover it1 by revelation4 ,we accept this in faith4 ,through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the ,word of ,god1 so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear 7,heb4 x3#c74 ,and all which was called into existence was created by ,him and for ,him4 ,for by ,him were all things created1 that are in heaven1 and that are in earth1 visible and invisible1 whether they be thrones or dominions1 or principalities1 or powers1 all things were created by ,him and for ,him 7,col4 i3#af74 ,what a marvellous survey6 ,what power and glory belongs to the blessed ,son of ,god6 ,all things were made by ,him2 and without ,him was not anything made that was made4 ,the world was made by ,him 7,john i3#c1 #aj74 ,he has the pre-eminence in sustaining ,his creation4 ,all things consist by ,him4 ,he upholds all things by the ,word of ,his power 7,heb4 i3#c74 ,in the ,revelation of ,god ,he has the pre-eminence4 ,both books1 the book of ,nature and the ,book of all books1 the written ,word of ,god1 the ,bible1 tell out ,his ,glory4 ,the ,bible may be compared to a living organism1 like the human body4 ,every book in the ,bible has a specific place and service like the members of the body2 the life in that marvellous divinely constructed organism of the revelation of ,god is the ,son of ,god4 ,apart from ,him there is no revelation from ,god and no manifestation of ,god4 ,he reveals ,god throughout the ,bible1 in every part1 ,he holds the pre-eminence4 ,greater still is ,his pre-eminence in redemption4 ,redemption would be an eternal impossibility without ,him4 ,he came from the ,father's bosom to redeem us4 ,he is the ,way1 the ,truth and the ,life4 ,no one can come to the ,father but by ,him4 ,he gives eternal life4 ,furthermore as the first born from the dead ,he is the head of the body4 ,that body is the church and every believing sinner is a member in that body4 ,each is united to ,him and possesses ,his life4 ,this body with its many members ,he keeps1 nourishes1 builds up1 sanctifies and ultimately glorifies4 ,in all the great and glorious redemptive work ,he has the pre-eminence4 ,as the glorified ,man ,he is the ,heir of ,god and as such ,he holds the pre-eminence in heaven4 ,he has been made so much better than the angels1 as ,he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they4 ,far above all the angelic beings1 higher than the archangel is the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,man in ,glory4 ,there is a future pre-eminence for ,him4 ,the day of ,his visible ,glory and power is approaching4 ,now ,he is rejected1 then ,he will be enthroned4 ,upon the holy hill of ,zion ,he will be the ,king of ,glory4 ,his ,glory will cover the heavens and ,his ,majesty the earth4 ,he will be ,king of kings and ,lord of lords4 ,he will rule as the only potentate and every knee must bow before ,him4 ,the song must at last rise in heaven and on earth ,worthy is the ,lamb that was slain to receive power1 and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength1 and honor1 and glory and blessing4 ,such is1 briefly sketched1 the pre-eminence of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,yea1 in all things ,he hath the pre-eminence4 ,can we do anything less than to give ,him the first place in all things8 ,he is worthy of it4 ,he died for us4 ,he drank the cup of wrath in our stead4 ,his own self bare our sins in ,his own body on the tree4 ,how great has been and still is ,his love for us1 the love1 which passeth knowledge4 ,he is worthy of the first place every moment of our lives4 ,he is worthy to possess all we have and are4 ,we are bought with a price1 we are not our own4 ,we belong to ,him4 ,what unspeakable grace from ,god the ,father1 that ,he has brought us into fellowship with ,him to whom ,he has given the pre-eminence4 ,we please the ,father as we delight ourselves in the ,son and walk in that blessed fellowship4 ,we must honor ,him whom the ,father has honored1 and as we serve the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and accord ,him the first place1 the ,father will honor us 7,john xii3#bf74 ,our hearts too can never fully know the blessed peace of ,god and rest of faith till we give our ,lord the first place4 ,anything less than that will mean dishonor to ,him4 ,not ,i--but ,christ must be the constant cry of our hearts4 ,not ,i--but ,christ in our daily walk2 ,not ,i--but ,christ in our service4 ,oh6 that we might realize our great and holy calling1 our wonderful privilege1 a privilege which is ours for but a little while longer to live ,him1 live for ,him1 who has in all things the pre-eminence4 ,nothing save ,him1 in all our ways1 ,giving the theme for ceaseless praise2 ,our whole resource along the road1 ,nothing but ,christ--the ,christ of ,god4 ,ye are ,christ's--,christ is ,god's4 ,,only a few words1 yet how blessedly full of peace and joy6 ,how precious they are to faith6 ,if we1 to whom they apply1 would remember them daily1 how happy in ,him we would be4 ,in all our ways1 in good and evil days1 yea1 every moment the truth contained in these words ought to be real to the true believer4 ,is not all our failure due to the fact that we live not sufficiently in the consciousness and reality of this wonderful fact1 that we belong to ,christ1 that we are one with ,him8 ,before these words in the third chapter of ,first ,corinthians we find the statement all things are yours4 ,and after these words it is written ,christ is ,god's4 ,we are ,christ's and ,christ is ,god's2 all things are ours because ,grace has brought us into this marvelous relationship4 ,christ is ,god's gives us once more the whole story of ,god's ,love and ,grace4 ,as the ,only ,begotten ,he ever subsisted in the form of ,god1 the ,image of ,god1 one with ,him1 absolutely ,god4 ,but ,he came down1 took upon ,him the form of a servant1 taking ,his place in the likeness of man4 ,in the form of man ,he wrought the great work of redemption on the cross and now after ,his resurrection1 by which ,he is proven ,son of ,god and ,his presence as the glorified ,man in the highest heaven1 ,he is the one in whom and through whom1 ,god the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ gives all blessing4 ,christ is ,god's1 then1 means what we learn from the following scriptures3 ,the ,father loveth the ,son1 and hath given all things into ,his hands 7,john iii3#ce74 ,whom ,he hath appointed heir of all things 7,heb4 i3#b74 ,christ is ,god's is a word which tells us that ,he who is the ,creator of all things1 the visible and the invisible1 came in incarnation1 redeemed us and is now1 the beginning1 the first-begotten from the dead and the ,head of ,his ,body1 which is the ,church4 ,this is how ,god has brought us to ,himself in the person of ,his own ,son by whom he has redeemed us1 in whom ,he has exalted us and with whom ,he has given us all things4 ,to that wonderful person1 ,christ1 the ,christ of ,god1 we belong4 ,we are ,his1 who is ,one with ,god1 by whom and for whom all things were created4 ,the ,son of ,god for such as we are1 became poor1 even to the poverty of the cross4 ,there ,he took our place and in ,his own body ,he bore our sins and died for us4 ,he saw us then the travail of ,his soul4 ,we can look back to the cross and say1 as ,his ,apostle said3 ,who love me and gave ,himself for me4 ,we belong to ,him1 who has all power in heaven and will have all power before long1 as ,king of ,kings and ,lord of ,lords on earth4 ,we are ,christ's1 whom ,god has appointed as the second ,man1 the head of the new creation as ,heir of all things4 ,we are ,christ's1 who is the ,head of the ,body1 to which we belong4 ,in ,him and with ,him we are the ,heirs of ,god4 ,god and ,christ are inseparable and so are ,christ and we who have trusted in ,him and have ,his life4 ,all ,christ has belongs to us2 all ,christ is we shall be2 where ,christ is there we shall be in all eternity4 ,reader6 ,child of ,god1 pause6 ,does your faith lay hold of this8 ,do you read it only and enjoy it just for a moment or is this great fact of your union with ,christ and ,god becoming daily a greater reality in your life8 ,is it really so that you enter deeper and deeper into that love which passeth knowledge8 ,oh6 that it may be so with the writer and each believer who reads these feeble words on so great a theme4 ,ye are ,christ's4 ,then we are not our own4 ,that is exactly what is elsewhere stated in ,first ,corinthians4 ,ye are not your own2 we are bought with a price2 therefore glorify ,god in your body and in your spirit1 which are ,god's 7#a ,cor4 vi3#bj74 ,our hearts occupied with ,himself1 increasingly attracted by the glorious ,person of our adorable ,lord1 realising by the power of ,his ,spirit our glory and destiny with the ,lord of ,glory1 we shall act and walk as such1 who are ,christ's4 ,every step of the way it will resound in our hearts ye are ,christ's4 ,in all we do we shall always remember we are ,christ's4 ,cares1 anxieties1 worldly ambitions1 all manner of temptations1 will fall before the fact grasped in faith ,i am ,christ's4 ,we are convinced that only the ,person of ,christ put before the heart of the believer through the ,word of ,god and the power of ,his ,spirit can keep the ,christian in these awful days of apostasy from going along with the fearful current of the last days4 ,if ,christ and our blessing in ,him become more real to us we will be beyond the reach of the god of this age with his wiles and sinister purposes4 ,furthermore the demand of the hour is for us to exalt ,christ4 ,how ,he is dishonored is a dread reality4 ,the rejection of ,christ was never so marked and never so satanic as in these days4 ,god1 the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ expects from us ,his children that we exalt ,him in the days of ,his rejection and thus share ,his reproach4 ,let us do it6 ,and lastly1 if we ever have the ,person of ,christ before our hearts1 we shall walk in obedience to ,him as our ,lord4 ,then if we exalt ,christ and are obedient to ,himself we have the fullest assurance that the ,holy ,spirit will be with us1 upon us and fill us4 ,there is no need to seek the power as some express it1 nor a baptism of the ,spirit4 ,he will be with us and in us in the measure as we exalt ,christ and walk in ,him4 ,o gracious ,lord1 when we reflect ,how apt to turn the eye from ,thee1 ,forget ,thee1 too1 with sad neglect1 ,and listen to the enemy1 ,and yet to find ,thee still the same-- ',tis this that humbles us with shame4 ,astonished at ,thy feet we fall1 ,thy love exceeds our highest thought1 ,henceforth be ,thou our all in all1 ,thou who our souls with blood hast bought2 ,may we henceforth more faithful prove1 ,and ne'er forget ,thy ceaseless love4 ,him will ,i make that overcomes ,and stems the advancing flood1 ,a pillar of might1 with glory light1 ,in the temple of my ,god4 ,on him shall the blest ,name divine1 ,and my new name be graven2 ,and the ,city's name1 ,jerusalem1 ,that cometh down from heaven4 ,the ,wonderful4 ,isaiah ix3#f4 ,,his name shall be called ,wonderful 7,isaiah ix3#f74 ,and long before ,isaiah had uttered this divine prediction the angel of the ,lord had announced his name to be ,wonderful4 ,as such ,he appeared to ,manoah4 ,and ,manoah said unto the angel of ,jehovah1 ,what is thy name1 that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor4 ,and the angel of ,jehovah said unto ,him why askest thou thus after my name1 seeing it is ,wonderful 7margin1 ,judges xiii3#ag-ah74 ,this angel of ,jehovah1 the ,person who appeared repeatedly in ,old ,testament history is an uncreated angel4 ,of this ,being we read that ,he is the ,redeemer1 for ,jacob speaks of ,him the angel which redeemed me from all evil 7,genesis xlviii3#ae74 ,he is the angel whose voice must be obeyed1 who has power to pardon transgressions1 in whom the name of ,god is 7,exodus xxiii3#bj-bc74 ,he is the angel of ,his ,presence who saved them 7,isaiah lxiii3#i7 and ,exodus xxxiii3#ad must refer to this ,being ,my presence shall go with thee and ,i will give thee rest4 ,this angel of ,jehovah speaks in the ,book of ,judges and declared1 ,i made you to go up out of ,egypt1 and have brought you into the land which ,i sware unto your fathers2 and ,i said ,i will never break my covenant with you 7,judges ii3#a74 ,he appeared unto ,moses in a flame of fire out of the midst of the bush and ,he spoke to ,moses as the ,i am6 7,ex4 iii47 ,the same ,one appeared before ,joshua and he worshipped in ,his presence4 ,with ,him ,jacob wrestled1 with ,jehovah1 the ,god of hosts 7,hosea xii3#d-f74 ,malachi iii3#a shows that the ,lord ,himself is this ,angel1 the ,angel of the ,covenant1 who also visited ,abraham in the form of ,man 7,genesis xviii74 ,and after all these manifestations1 seven hundred years after ,isaiah had announced ,him1 as the ,wonderful1 ,he appeared in human form in the midst of ,his people4 ,and now we know by divine ,revelation in the completed ,word of ,god that ,he is wonderful in ,his ,person and in his work2 but no mind can fathom1 no heart can grasp1 no pen can describe1 how wonderful ,he is4 ,he is wonderful if we think of ,him as the ,only ,begotten of the ,father4 ,in the beginning was the ,word1 and the ,word was with ,god1 and the ,word was ,god4 ,the same was in the beginning with ,god4 ,all things were made by ,him2 and without ,him was not anything made that was made 7,john i3#a-c74 ,by ,him were all things created that are in ,heaven and that are in earth1 visible and invisible1 whether they be thrones1 or dominions1 or principalities1 or powers1 all things were made by ,him and for ,him2 and ,he is before all things and by ,him all things consist 7,col4 i3#af-ag74 ,he is the image of the invisible ,god1 the brightness of ,his glory and the express image of ,his ,person4 ,how wonderful such a ,one1 who ever was1 with no beginning1 ,one with ,god6 ,how wonderful ,his humiliation4 ,who being in the form of ,god1 thought it not robbery to be equal with ,god1 but made ,himself of no reputation1 and took upon ,him the form of a servant1 and was made in the likeness of men1 and being in fashion as a man ,he humbled ,himself 7,phil4 ii3#f-h74 ,for verily ,he took not on ,him the nature of ,angels1 but ,he took on ,him the seed of ,abraham 7,hebrews ii3#af74 ,wonderful condescension that ,he who created the angels should be made lower than the angels and lay ,his ,glory by1 to appear in the form of man on earth4 ,wonderful is ,he in ,his incarnation1 that holy thing as the angel announced ,him1 truly ,god and ,man4 ,born of the woman1 resting on the bosom of the virgin as a little child and yet ,he is the ,one who ever is in the bosom of the ,father4 ,wonderful that blessed life ,he lived on earth of which the beloved disciple bears such a beautiful witness4 ,that which was from the beginning1 which we have heard1 which we have seen with our eyes1 which we have looked upon1 and our hands have handled of the ,word of ,life4 ,for the life was manifested and we have seen it and bear witness and shew unto you that eternal life1 which was with the ,father1 and was manifested unto us 7#a ,john i3#a-b74 ,wonderful are the blessed words which came from ,his lips1 wonderful is ,his moral glory1 ,his untiring service1 ,his love1 ,his patience and everything which the ,holy ,spirit has been pleased to tell us of ,his earthly life4 ,the more our hearts contemplate ,him the more wonderful ,he appears4 ,but still greater and more wonderful is it that ,he went to the cross to give ,his life as a ransom for many1 that the ,just ,one should die for the unjust1 that ,he who knew no sin was made sin for us and pay the penalty of sins on the cross4 ,he is the ,wonderful in ,his great work on the cross1 the depths of which have never been fathomed4 ,and what can we say of ,his wonderful ,glory1 ,his wonderful ,place1 ,his wonderful ,power1 ,his wonderful ,grace6 ,how wonderfully ,he has dealt with us1 with each one of us individually4 ,how wonderful it is that ,he knows each of ,his sheep1 that ,he guides each1 provides for1 loveth1 succors1 stands by1 restores1 never leaves nor forsakes each who has trusted in ,him and belongs to ,him4 ,how wonderful are ,his ways with us1 that ,he guides with ,his eyes and that ,his loving power and omnipotent love is on our side4 ,in ,his coming manifestation ,he will be wonderful4 ,wonderful ,he will be when we shall see ,him and stand in ,his presence4 ,what a day it will be when we see ,him face to face6 ,then we shall know all the loveliness and wonderfulness of ,his adorable ,person and ,his wonder ways with us4 ,with what wonderment we shall then behold ,him4 ,and when ,he comes with ,his ,saints1 when the ,heavens are lit up with untold glory1 when ,he comes to judge1 to establish ,his ,kingdom1 to speak peace to the nations1 to restore creation to its right condition1 when ,he reigns and all ,his redeemed ones with ,him--,oh how wonderful it all will be6 ,he is altogether lovely and he is altogether wonderful4 ,glory to ,his name6 ,well has one said3 ,he pervades the whole of the ,new ,testament with ,his presence1 so that every doctrine it teaches1 every duty it demands1 every narrative it records1 every comfort it gives1 every hope it inspires1 gathers about ,his person and ministers to ,his glory4 ,so dear does ,he thus become to the heart of the believer1 that ,luther may well be excused for exclaiming1 ',i had rather be in hell with ,christ1 than in heaven without ,him4' ,we believe in ,him as our ,saviour1 ,acts vi3#ca2 confess ,him as our ,lord1 ,rom4 x3#i2 we have redemption through ,his blood1 ,eph4 i3#g2 we look to ,him as our ,leader1 ,heb4 xii3#b2 we follow ,him as our ,teacher1 ,eph4 iv3#bj1 #ba2 we feed upon ,him as our ,bread1 ,jno4 vi3#dh2 we go to ,him in our ,thirst1 ,jno4 vi3 #cg2 we enter by ,him as our door1 ,jno4 x3#i2 we are in ,him as our vine1 ,jno4 xv3#e2 we find in ,him our rest1 ,matt4 xi3#bh2 we have in ,him our example1 ,jno4 xiii3#ae2 ,he is our righteousness1 #b ,cor4 v3#ba2 we are succored by ,him in temptation1 ,heb4 ii3#ah2 we turn to ,him for sympathy1 ,heb4 iv3#ae2 we obtain through ,him our victory1 #a ,cor4 xv3#eg2 we overcome by ,him the world1 #a ,jno4 v3#e2 we have in ,him eternal life1 #a ,jno4 v3#aa1 #ab2 we gain by ,him the resurrection1 ,phil4 iii3#bj1 #ba2 we appear with ,him in glory1 ,col4 iii3#d1 we exult in ,his everlasting love1 ,rev4 i3#e1 #f4 ,may the ,holy ,spirit fill our hearts and eyes with ,himself and reveal to us through the written ,word more of the matchless beauty of the wonderful ,person of our ,saviour and ,lord4 ,we honor and adore ,thee1 blessed1 blessed ,lord1 and while ,thou art rejected we thy feeble people would know more of ,thyself and keep closer at ,thy feet4 ,amen4 ,we would see ,jesus1 for the shadows lengthen ,over this little landscape of our life1 ,we would see ,jesus1 our weak faith to strengthen1 ,for the last weariness1 the final strife4 ,we would see ,jesus1 this is all we're needing2 ,strength1 joy and willingness come with the sight2 ,we would see ,jesus1 dying1 risen1 pleading2 ,then welcome day1 and farewell mortal night4 ,honour and ,glory ,unto him4 ,,in ,revelation ,v1 that great worship scene1 beginning some day in heaven and going on into future ages1 we read of the ,lamb to whom honor and glory are due4 ,he alone is worthy4 ,and every heart who knows ,him rejoicing in ,his love1 cries out1 ,thou art worthy6 ,yea1 the sweetest song for the redeemed soul is the outburst of praise1 which we find on the threshold of ,his own ,revelation4 ,unto ,him that loveth us and washed us from our sins in ,his own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto ,god and ,his ,father2 to him be glory and dominion forever and ever4 ,amen4 ,soon the great worship ,john beheld prophetically may become reality4 ,as long as we ,his people are here in this present evil age it is ,god's call to us to honor and glorify ,his ,son4 ,this surely is ,god the ,father's expectation from ,his children1 who are begotten of ,him4 ,this is ,his call to us in the last days of this rapidly closing age4 ,it was on the mountain of transfiguration that the ,father bore witness to ,his ,son4 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4 ,the ,father bore not alone this witness1 but ,he vindicated the honor of ,his ,son1 whose glory flashed forth on that mountain4 ,peter had spoken2 in fact1 he was still speaking when the ,father's voice was heard4 ,lord1 it is good to be here2 if ,thou wilt let us make here three tabernacles1 one for ,thee and one for ,moses and one for ,elias4 ,these were ,peter's words4 ,at the first glance they appear harmless4 ,indeed1 they are generally used in spiritual application of having a good time here4 ,but they have a far different meaning4 ,peter had spoken once more in the impulsiveness of the flesh4 ,by putting the ,lord of ,glory alongside of ,moses and ,elias1 he had lowered the dignity of ,him4 ,the ,one whom he had but recently confessed as the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god1 he now put into the same position and place with ,moses and ,elias4 ,he lost sight of the wonderful and glorious person of ,christ4 ,when he uttered this human suggestion the ,shekinah cloud appeared and its glorious splendor covered them4 ,out of that cloud came the ,father's voice vindicating the honor of ,his ,son4 ,who is ,moses8 ,who is ,elias8 ,sinful men they were1 man of failure and weakness4 ,but here is another4 ,this is my ,beloved ,son in whom ,i am well pleased2 hear ,him4 ,and how that beloved ,son is in our day dishonored6 ,he was in all eternity the beloved ,son4 ,when ,god created all things1 for ,him and by ,him1 ,he was the delight of ,god4 ,this is the foundation of our faith4 ,when he spoke of coming into the world1 as we read in ,hebrews ,x1 to do the ,father's will1 the ,father's love and delight was upon ,him4 ,in humiliation beginning there in ,bethlehem ,he was the beloved ,son of ,god4 ,in all ,he did1 every step of the way1 the ,holy ,one had above ,himself the loving ,father4 ,and then ,he went to the cross1 putting away sin by the sacrifice of ,himself4 ,in the awful suffering on the cross1 in the hours of darkness1 when as the substitute of sinners ,he tasted death1 ,god's holy hand rested upon that beloved ,one in judgment1 so that ,he uttered that never to be forgotten cry ,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast thou forsaken me8 ,and ,god in ,his mighty power opened the grave and brought ,him forth4 ,he raised ,him from the dead4 ,he was received up in the ,glory1 exalted into the highest position4 ,he is the heir of all things1 the upholder of all things1 all things consist and exist by ,him4 ,god has given ,him the pre-eminence in all things4 ,and this blessed ,one1 the beloved ,son of ,god is denied1 ,he is rejected1 dishonored and refused4 ,god speaks in ,him1 by ,him1 and he who has made known ,god1 in whom redemption for man was procured is dishonored4 ,but how is ,he dishonored and robbed of ,his ,glory8 ,and where is ,he dishonored8 ,not in the world as such so much but in ,christendom4 ,the harvest of this destructive and evil criticism of the ,bible1 rejecting the ,bible as the inspired ,word of ,god is being reaped4 ,after the written ,word has been attacked and lowered the enemy who stands behind ,higher ,criticism in a disguised form has thrown off the mask and bluntly strikes at the ,person of the beloved ,son of ,god4 ,first the devil in the garb of reverend criticism denied ,isaiah vii3#ad1 the promise of the virgin bringing forth a son1 as having anything to do with ,christ1 and now the harvest1 the denial of the virgin birth of our ,lord4 ,it would take many pages to mention all how our ever beloved ,lord is robbed of ,his ,glory1 how ,his ,person is dishonored4 ,this denial of the ,person of ,christ is the apostasy4 ,it is the very breath of the personal antichrist1 the man of sin1 which we feel in these last days4 ,the ,father's voice is not heard in these days as it was heard on the transfiguration mountain4 ,the heavens are silent to all the dishonor heaped upon ,him1 who is in the heaven of heavens4 ,but ,god the ,father looks to ,his people in whom the ,holy ,spirit dwells to honor and glorify ,his ,son4 ,the ,holy ,spirit gives us the power to stand as bold witnesses for ,himself and to contend earnestly for the faith once and for all delivered unto the ,saints4 ,the ,father expects us that we stand up for the honor of ,his ,son4 ,his voice to us is ,honor my ,son6 ,we feel deeply impressed with this great call of ,god to us at the present time of increasing darkness and apostasy4 ,let each child of ,god act accordingly4 ,honor your ,lord wherever you are4 ,be thou not ashamed of the testimony of our ,lord 7#b ,tim4 i3#h74 ,if you cannot publicly stand up and honor ,christ then honor ,him1 speak well of ,him1 in the home circle or wherever you are4 ,o child of ,god1 walk close to ,him6 ,sit more at ,his feet6 ,cast yourself more upon ,him6 ,let ,him be your all in all6 ,and as ,he is the sole object of your heart you will honor ,him in the day when ,he is rejected4 ,but this will mean something else4 ,it means separation4 ,god's call to ,his people is to stand aloft from all which dishonors ,his ,son4 ,this means much in our days4 ,how can we honor the ,beloved ,one if we have fellowship with that which dishonors ,him8 ,no child of ,god should go on with any institution1 school or church where the written ,word is set aside or belittled4 ,the second ,epistle of ,timothy1 which has special reference to our times is very clear on this separation4 ,no one needs to wait for a special call from ,god to act and separate from the corruption of ,christendom4 ,it is all given before hand by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,from such turn away 7#b ,tim4 iii3#e74 ,and those from whom ,god commands us to separate are persons who have the form of godliness and deny the power thereof4 ,again it is written3 ,but in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver1 but also of wood and of earth1 and some to honor and some to dishonor4 ,if a man therefore purge himself from these1 he shall be a vessel unto honor1 sanctified and meet for the master's use1 prepared unto every good work 7#b ,tim4 ii3#bj-ba74 ,hear the ,word of the ,lord6 ,hear ,his call6 ,be faithful to ,him6 ,keep ,his ,word and do not deny ,his ,name6 ,honor and glorify ,him who is our ,lord whom we soon shall see face to face4 ,christ's ,resurrection ,song4 ,,when the blessed ,lord appeared in the midst of ,his disciples and they beheld the risen ,one in ,his glorified body of flesh and bones and ,he ate before them1 ,he told them that all things which were written in the ,law of ,moses1 and the ,prophets and in the ,psalms concerning ,him1 had to be fulfilled 7,luke xxiv3#dd74 ,while on the way to ,emmaus ,he said to the two sorrowing and perplexed disciples ,ought not ,christ to have suffered these things1 and to enter into ,his glory8 ,and beginning at ,moses and all the prophets he expounded unto them all the ,scriptures the things concerning ,himself4 ,it seems to us ,he must have then spoken much of the ,psalms1 these wonderful prayers and songs of praise1 with which ,his ,jewish disciples were so familiar4 ,in the ,psalms the richest prophecies concerning ,christ are found4 ,there we behold ,him in ,his divine perfections as well as in ,his true humanity2 in ,his suffering and in ,his glory2 in ,his rejection and in ,his exaltation4 ,oh that we1 the ,lord's people1 might read the ,psalms more1 so that the ,holy ,spirit can reveal ,christ more to our hearts4 ,in many unexpected places we can find ,him in these songs4 ,there is for instance the xxxvii ,psalm1 so much enjoyed by the ,saints of ,god4 ,it contains such precious exhortations to faith1 to be patient and to hope4 ,but in taking the comfort of these blessed exhortations and their accompanying promises1 we are apt to overlook some verses which tell us of our ,lord4 ,verses #cj-cc apply to ,him4 ,the mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom and ,his tongue talketh of judgment4 ,the law of ,his ,god is in ,his heart2 none of ,his steps shall slide4 ,the wicked watcheth the righteous1 and seeketh to slay ,him4 ,jehovah will not leave ,him in his hand1 nor condemn ,him when ,he is judged4 ,our ,lord is this righteous ,one4 ,words of wisdom and judgment1 mercy and truth flowed from ,his lips while righteousness in heart and life1 and perfect obedience were manifested in ,him4 ,then ,his death and deliverance are indicated in these words4 ,however1 care must be taken not to apply all the experiences of the ,psalms to ,christ4 ,we saw recently an exposition of ,psalm xxxviii3#g4 ,the words ,for my loins are filled with a loathsome disease and there is no soundness in my flesh were applied to ,christ4 ,this is a very serious mistake4 ,he knew no sin and therefore no loathsome disease could fill ,his loins4 ,such exposition is evil4 ,many joyous expressions of praise to ,god are found in the ,psalms which properly belong first to ,him1 who is the leader of the praises of ,his people 7,heb4 ii3#ab74 ,one of these sweet outbursts of praise is contained in the opening verses of the xl ,psalm4 ,the first three verses may be called the resurrection song of ,christ3 ,i waited patiently for the ,lord1 ,and ,he inclined unto me ,and heard my cry4 ,he brought me up also ,out of an horrible pit1 ,out of the miry clay2 ,and set my feet upon a rock1 ,established my goings4 ,and ,he has put a new song in my mouth2 ,praise unto our ,god2 ,many shall see it and fear1 ,and shall trust in the ,lord4 ,it is the experience of our ,saviour1 which must here first of all be considered4 ,patiently ,he had waited for ,jehovah4 ,himself ,jehovah ,he had taken the place of dependence under ,god ,his ,father and patiently ,he endured4 ,he was obedient unto death1 the death of the cross4 ,he endured the cross1 despising the shame4 ,he cried to ,god4 ,who in the days of ,his flesh1 when ,he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and fears unto ,him that was able to save ,him from death1 and was heard in that he feared2 though ,he were ,son1 yet learned ,he obedience by the things which ,he suffered 7,heb4 v3#g-h74 ,the place of death is given in this ,psalm3 the horrible pit and the miry clay4 ,who can describe all what is meant by these words6 ,surely ,he hath borne our griefs1 and carried our sorrows2 yet we did esteem ,him stricken and smitten of ,god and afflicted4 ,but ,he was wounded for our transgressions1 the chastisement of our peace was upon ,him2 and with ,his stripes we are healed 7,isa4 liii3#de74 ,he went into the horrible pit1 or as it reads literally1 the pit of destruction1 the place which belongs to fallen man by nature1 so that we might be taken out of it4 ,he went into the jaws of death and there the billows and waves1 yea all the billows and waves of the judgment of the holy ,god passed over ,him4 ,in another ,psalm the ,holy ,spirit describes ,his agony4 7,ps4 lxix74 ,there we read ,his cry ,save me1 ,o ,god2 for the waters are come in unto my soul4 ,i sink in deep mire1 where there is no standing2 ,i am come into deep waters1 where the floods overflow me4 ,i am weary of my crying1 my throat is dried2 mine eyes fail while ,i wait for my ,god4 ,and deeper ,he went for our sakes4 ,the miry clay has a special meaning4 ,any one who sinks into a pit filled with miry clay cannot help himself4 ,all his struggling does not help2 the more he labors the deeper he sinks4 ,one who is in the miry clay cannot save himself4 ,and does this not remind us of the ,lord and of what was said of ,him ,he saved others1 ,himself ,he cannot save4 ,he was in the miry clay4 ,he might have saved ,himself but ,he would not4 ,his mighty love it was1 that love which passeth knowledge1 which brought ,him from ,heaven's ,glory down to the horrible pit1 the miry clay4 ,but the sufferings of our adorable ,lord are not so much before us in this ,psalm as the fact of ,his resurrection4 ,his cry was heard4 ,the prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears were answered2 ,his resurrection from the dead was ,god's blessed answer4 ,while in other ,scriptures it is stated that ,christ ,himself arose1 here ,his resurrection is seen as an act of ,god4 ,he brought me up4 ,this act of ,god bears witness to the completeness and perfection of the accomplished salvation4 ,we believe in ,him who raised up ,jesus our ,lord from the dead4 ,who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification 7,rom4 iv3#bd-be74 ,but we read also that ,his feet were set upon a rock4 ,and set my feet upon a rock4 ,he is the first born from the dead4 ,sin and death are abolished by ,his mighty work4 ,knowing that ,christ being raised from the dead dieth no more2 death hath no more dominion over ,him4 ,for in that ,he died1 ,he died unto sin once1 but in that ,he liveth1 ,he liveth unto ,god 7,rom4 vi3#i-aj74 ,upon that rock the feet of every believing sinner securely rest4 ,but ,his ascension is likewise mentioned in this resurrection song4 ,and established my goings4 ,he whose goings forth have been from old1 from everlasting 7,micah v3#b7 and who came from everlasting glory to walk in obedience to the cross and the grave has gone back into heaven4 ,he was received up into glory2 ,he ascended on high and led captivity captive4 ,and the mighty victor sings now a new song4 ,it is the triumphant song of redemption1 to the praise of ,god4 ,on account of ,him1 what ,he has accomplished in ,his death on the cross and ,who is raised from the dead and in glory many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the ,lord4 ,but this wonderful resurrection song the ,lord sings not alone4 ,we1 who have trusted in ,him and know ,him have part in this song4 ,believing in ,him we are taken out1 yea forever1 from the terrible pit and the miry clay4 ,there is no more death and no more wrath for us4 ,we are also risen with ,him1 our feet are planted upon the rock1 our goings are established4 ,we belong to the heavenlies where ,he is4 ,we sing praises in ,his name unto our ,god1 ,his ,god and our ,god1 ,his ,father and our ,father1 the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,oh6 that our hearts may enter deeper into this song of accomplished redemption praise unto our ,god2 the loving ,god who spared not ,his only ,begotten4 ,and indeed many shall see and fear and trust in the ,lord4 ,this reaches into the future4 ,israel too will be taken from the place of spiritual and national death1 and raised to life to join the new song4 ,nations will see it and fear and trust ,jehovah4 ,at last the great new song of resurrection and the new creation will swell in its divinely revealed length and breadth1 heighth and depth4 ,now ,he sings the song1 and ,his co-heirs sing it too in feebleness1 yet by ,his ,grace and through ,his ,spirit4 ,ere long in ,his presence all the ,redeemed will praise in ,glory with glorified lips4 ,heavenly beings will utter their praise and in a wider circle down on earth1 every creature will join in4 ,and they sung a new song saying1 ,thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof2 for thou was slain1 and hast redeemed us to ,god by thy blood1 out of every kindred and tongue1 and people1 and nation4 ,and hast made us unto our ,god1 ,kings and priests1 and we shall reign over the earth4 ,and ,i beheld1 and ,i heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders2 and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand1 and thousands of thousands4 ,saying with a loud voice1 ,worthy is the ,lamb that was slain to receive power1 and riches1 and wisdom1 and strength and honor1 and glory and blessing4 ,and every creature which is in heaven1 and on the earth and under the earth1 and such as are in the sea1 and all that are in them1 heard ,i saying1 blessing1 and honor1 and glory and power1 be unto ,him that sitteth on the throne1 and unto the lamb forever and ever 7,revel4 v3#i-ac74 ,that song will never end4 ,oh may we learn to sing it now1 and in ,his ,name sing praises unto our ,god4 ,may we follow the great leader of ,praise1 ,him who is anointed with the oil of gladness above ,his fellows4 ,may the path ,he followed down here become more and more ours4 ,may we serve1 be obedient1 give up1 wait patiently for the ,lord1 after ,his own pattern1 suffer with ,him1 be rejected with ,him1 bear ,his reproach and through it all rejoice in ,him and sing the new song4 ,how happy we ought to be as linked with ,him1 the blessed ,christ of ,god4 ,and as we walk in ,his fellowship the heart longs to see ,him as ,he is4 ,even so2 come ,lord ,jesus4 ,the ,glory ,song4 ,rev4 i3#e-f4 ,,unto ,him who loveth us and washed us from our sins in ,his own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto ,god and ,his ,father3 ,to ,him be glory and dominion forever and ever1 ,amen 7,rev4 i3#e-f74 ,this great outburst of praise may well be called the ,glory ,song4 ,it glorifies the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 it reveals also the ,glory of those ,he has redeemed and will be heard throughout eternity4 ,there will never be a moment in the countless ages of eternity when this ,glory song will be hushed or forgotten4 ,we begin to sing it here on earth4 ,the more we know the ,christ of ,god and ,his great love for us1 the more we delight to praise and to worship ,him4 ,such worship of the heart in the power of the ,spirit is the atmosphere of heaven upon earth4 ,and some day we shall see ,him whom we worship and adore in faith4 ,in that glorious moment1 when we shall see ,him as ,he is we shall realize for the first time the length and breadth1 the heighth and depth of ,his love and know the ,glory to which ,he has brought us4 ,then we and all the redeemed will sing this song in a better and more perfect way than we have ever done here4 ,thou art worthy 99 99 99 for ,thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to ,god by ,thy blood out of every kindred1 and tongue1 and people and nation2 and hast made us unto our ,god kings and priests and we shall reign over the earth 7,rev4 v3#i1 #aj74 ,this blessed ,word of ,praise is placed by the ,holy ,spirit in the foreground of the book which bears the name1 the ,revelation1 or1 ,unveiling of ,jesus ,christ4 ,in it is found the great unveiling of the future1 the great coming tribulation and judgment period through which the earth must pass1 events which precede the glorious manifestation of the ,lord4 ,but in this last great ,bible book there is also a complete unveiling of the ,person1 the ,glory and the dignity of ,him to whom all judgment is committed4 ,not alone are in this book many of the prophecies1 given of old by the holy men of ,god1 rehearsed1 but all ,he is1 ,his ,name1 ,his power1 ,his ,glory1 ,his work1 and many of his titles are restated4 ,think of what ,he is called and how ,he is described in this book4 ,we find ,him called the ,son of ,god1 the ,son of ,man1 the ,almighty1 the ,lord1 the ,alpha1 the ,omega1 the ,first1 the ,last1 the ,beginning of the ,creation of ,god1 the ,amen1 the faithful ,witness1 the ,first begotten from the dead1 the ,word of ,god1 the ,lamb1 the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah1 the mighty ,angel1 ,he that liveth1 ,he that was dead1 ,he that is alive evermore1 the ,root and ,offspring of ,david1 the bright and ,morning star1 the ,prince of the kings of the earth1 the ,king of kings1 the ,lord of lords4 ,what an array of titles4 ,on earth great ones1 kings and princes1 have numerous titles4 ,they concern only earthly glories2 they are but for a moment4 ,but ,his titles concern the earth and the heavens4 ,they belong to ,him because ,he is ,god1 while others are acquired through ,his great work of redemption4 ,his ,glory and ,his dignity are indescribable4 ,one who reads the ,book of ,revelation and reads it again will be increasingly impressed with the ,glory of ,him1 whom ,john beheld in all ,his ,majesty4 ,before the ,spirit of ,god records this ,glory song1 the utterance of praise to be used and to be enjoyed by redeemed sinners1 ,he mentions three titles of our ,lord4 ,the faithful ,witness2 the ,first begotten from the dead1 and the ,prince of the kings of the earth4 ,these three titles take in ,his earthly life1 ,his redemption work and ,his future ,glory4 ,on earth ,he was the faithful witness4 ,he glorified the ,father4 ,he had come into the world to bear witness unto the truth4 ,he was faithful and nothing marred ,his witness4 ,he came as the ,only begotten of the ,father and the faithful witness1 the ,son of ,god went to the cross to put away sin by the sacrifice of ,himself4 ,the open and empty tomb is the witness that it was perfectly and righteously accomplished4 ,now ,he is the ,first begotten from the dead as well as the ,first fruits4 ,his death and ,his resurrection are1 therefore1 in view in this second title4 ,his glorious future is beheld in the third title1 the ,prince of the kings of the earth4 ,the kingdoms of the earth belong to ,him2 ,he has a perfect right and title to the earth and its government4 ,now still the god of this age rules1 but ere long ,he comes whose right it is and claims ,his inheritance4 ,in these three wonderful titles we behold all the ,son of ,god as ,son of ,man has accomplished in ,his mighty work4 ,he lived the path of faith and obedience on earth1 as the faithful witness4 ,he has put away sin and conquered death and the grave as well as him who has the power of death1 that is the devil4 ,in the future ,he will be ,king of kings and ,lord of lords4 ,and then follows this outburst of ,praise4 ,the ,holy ,spirit1 who is here on earth to glorify ,him1 breaks forth at once into singing and directs the heart to worship ,him4 ,beloved readers if the ,holy ,spirit is ungrieved in us ,he will lead our hearts into such praise and adoration of the ,lord2 nothing grieves the ,holy ,spirit more than when a believer does not appreciate the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and manifest this appreciation by praise and worship4 ,three things are stated in this blessed doxology3 ,he loved us4 ,he washed us4 ,he hath made us4 ,these three things correspond to the three titles which precede this doxology4 ,love it was1 which brought ,him down from the ,glory to walk upon this earth in humiliation1 the faithful witness1 and that love knew and saw the cross4 ,love led ,him there to die for such as we are4 ,what love it was6 ,who can ever declare it6 ,the true translation is not who loved us1 but who loveth us4 ,his love is an abiding love4 ,he does nothing but love those who belong to ,him1 who have trusted ,him and are the ,beloved of ,god4 ,our sins1 our weaknesses1 our infirmities and failures can never affect or diminish ,his love4 ,never1 oh child of ,god1 doubt ,his abiding love4 ,yea1 whatever our circumstances are1 in trials1 in the hard places1 in troubles1 burdened with cares and full of anxiety1 in all our failures we can look up and say1 ,he loveth me4 ,it is an ever present and eternal love4 ,never1 oh child of ,god1 measure that love by your changing feeling or by your experience4 ,and this love ,he manifested by dying for us4 ,he has washed us from our sins in ,his own blood4 ,to this ,his title as ,the ,first begotten from the dead refers4 ,who ,his own self bore our sins in ,his own body on the tree1 that we1 being dead to sins1 should live unto righteousness1 by whose stripes ye are healed 7#a ,pet ii3#bd74 ,the precious blood of ,christ has washed us from our sins4 ,they can never come up again4 ,oh blessed knowledge6 ,cleansed by ,his own blood1 the precious blood of the ,lamb without spot and blemish6 ,and the blessedness of all that is connected with this6 ,oh1 the peace forever flowing ,from ,god's thoughts of ,his own ,son6 ,oh1 the peace of simply knowing ,on the cross that all was done6 ,peace with ,god1 the blood in heaven ,speaks of pardon now to me3 ,peace with ,god6 the ,lord is risen6 ,righteousness now counts me free4 ,peace with ,god is ,christ in glory2 ,god is just and ,god is love2 ,jesus died to tell the story1 ,foes to bring to ,god above4 ,but more than that ,he hath made us kings and priests unto ,god and ,his ,father4 ,this belongs also to ,his mighty love4 ,his future of ,glory as the ,prince of the ,kings of the earth1 the ,king of kings and ,lord of lords1 ,his fathomless love leads ,him to share with those for whom ,he died1 whom ,he purged and fitted by ,his own blood4 ,he hath made us kings and priests4 ,it is all ,his work4 ,a more correct translation is ,he hath made us a ,kingdom4 ,this1 however1 does not mean that ,he has linked us with a ,kingdom in which we are to be subjects and governed by ,him4 ,we are not subjects of a ,kingdom1 but are a ,kingdom1 partakers of it in rule with ,himself4 ,we shall rule and reign with ,him over the earth4 ,and because ,he will be a priest upon ,his throne 7,zech4 vi3#ac7 we1 too1 will be priests4 ,what it all includes1 what glories await us1 what enjoyment with ,him1 what riches and blessings1 power and honor1 no mind can grasp and no tongue nor pen can describe4 ,to ,him be glory and dominion forever and ever1 ,amen4 ,all glory and dominion to ,him6 ,thou art worthy6 ,thou art worthy6 ,this is the heart's cry1 which really knows ,him and is devoted to ,him4 ,thou art worthy1 ,o ,lord1 to receive glory and honor and power4 ,our crowns we cast before ,thy throne4 ,amen and ,amen4 ,reader can you add your ,amen--your1 be it so to all this8 ,do you sing this ,glory song8 ,in a day when ,he1 who is worthy1 is but little praised1 do you praise ,him thus8 ,do you live in the daily enjoyment of ,his love8 ,do you give ,him the pre-eminence to whom ,god has given the pre-eminence in all things8 ,amen6 ,and oh the happy thought1 which helps us so in these evil days1 that soon ,he1 who loveth us1 who washed us1 who hath made us a ,kingdom and priests1 may call us into ,his own glorious presence4 ,the ,firstborn4 ,,the ,firstborn or ,the ,firstbegotten is one of the names of our blessed ,lord4 ,it is applied to ,him after ,his resurrection from the dead4 ,as the ,only ,begotten ,he came into this world1 the unspeakable gift of ,god to a lost and ruined world2 after the accomplishment of ,his work on the cross ,he left the earth1 ,he had created1 as the ,firstborn4 ,as the ,firstbegotten ,he is now in the highest heaven and as the ,firstbegotten the ,man of ,glory ,he will be sent back to this earth and rule in power and glory4 ,paul wrote to the ,philippians to write the same things to you1 to me indeed is not grievous but for you it is safe 7,phil4 iii3#a74 ,peter's preaching in the opening chapters of the ,acts might have been called monotonous1 for he knew but one theme4 ,the ,spirit of ,god filling him gave but one message and that was1 the rejected ,jesus of ,nazareth risen from the dead4 ,in the ,gospel of the ,glory of the blessed ,god 7#a ,tim4 i3#aa71 as revealed to the ,apostle of the ,gentiles we have one theme1 one abiding1 ever satisfying1 eternal object and that is ,christ who died for our sins1 risen from the dead1 as ,firstborn in ,glory and our blessed union with ,him4 ,paul who knew ,him as the ,firstborn so well found it not grievous to write the same thing4 ,indeed the more ,he knew ,him the more ,his heart cried out that ,i may know ,him 7,phil4 iii3#aj74 ,there is an attraction in ,him which is supernatural4 ,every child of ,god will increasingly enjoy the contemplation of this old yet ever new and blessed theme1 the ,firstborn from the dead4 ,only in this our hearts can find perfect rest and abiding joy4 ,and if your heart1 dear reader1 is not attracted and absorbed by ,himself1 it is because there is a broken communion between you and your ,lord4 ,oh1 return unto thy rest1 my soul6 ,the drifting masses of ,christendom have no use for such a theme4 ,the words written in #b ,cor4 iv3#c-d find a fearful application in our time4 ,but if our gospel be hid1 it is hid to them that are lost3 ,in whom the god of this age hath blinded the minds of them which believe not1 lest the light of the glorious gospel of ,christ who is the image of ,god1 should shine unto them4 ,how little of the ,gospel of the ,glory is preached6 ,it is not wanted4 ,all the present day preaching of ethics1 of doing good1 self improvement and self culture is anti-christian4 ,the preaching which leaves out the cross of ,christ1 the resurrection of ,christ1 the ,glory of ,christ1 differs not in the least from the ethical-philosophical jumble of ,buddhistic and other oriental heathen teachers4 ,it is an awful thing which is done in ,christendom today1 this rejection of the ,lord1 the ,firstborn4 ,some day and that soon1 ,god will judge those who have rejected that ,gospel and deal with them for the sin of all sins which is unbelief 7,john xvi3#i74 ,but our hearts1 beloved in the ,lord1 must turn more and more to ,him and find their delight in ,him1 who is the ,firstbegotten4 ,and this we shall do now by meditating on a few ,scriptures which tell us of ,him4 ,he is the ,firstborn from the dead 7,col4 i3#ah74 ,jesus ,christ1 who is the faithful witness1 the ,firstbegotten of the dead1 and the ,prince of the ,kings of the earth 7,rev4 i3#e74 ,what blessed declarations these are6 ,in the first chapter of ,colossians it is fully revealed who ,he is1 who was dead and who is alive for evermore4 ,not a creature but the ,creator1 the one who images forth ,god1 because ,he is ,god4 ,by ,him were all things created1 that are in heaven1 and that are on earth1 visible and invisible1 thrones or dominions1 or principalities1 or powers2 all things were created by ,him and for ,him4 ,and such a ,one made peace through the blood of ,his cross4 ,such a ,one took our place on the cross of shame1 tasted death in our stead and all the billows of wrath and judgment passed over ,his holy head4 ,because ,he wrought out our redemption it is complete and perfect4 ,raised from the dead1 not held by death but bursting forth1 leading captivity captive1 ,he is the ,firstborn and to ,him belongs all ,glory and ,power4 ,but now is ,christ risen from the dead1 and become the ,firstfruits of them that slept 7#a ,cor4 xv3#bj74 ,by ,his glorious resurrection ,he became the ,firstfruits4 ,all who believe in ,him will rise too by virtue of being one with ,him1 who is the ,resurrection and the ,life4 ,the mighty power of ,god which raised ,him from the dead and seated ,him in the highest place1 at ,his own right hand1 that exceeding greatness of ,his power is towards us1 who believe4 ,that power has quickened us with ,christ1 raised us up together and seated us in the heavenly4 ,in some future day that mighty power1 which raised ,him so that ,he became the ,firstfruits will raise all the saints to meet ,him in the air4 ,and again1 when ,he bringeth in the ,firstbegotten into the world1 ,he saith1 and let all the angels of ,god worship ,him 7,heb4 i3#f74 ,god will bring the ,firstbegotten back to this earth again4 ,this is a very strong passage revealing the second coming of ,christ to this earth4 ,the same blessed ,person1 who walked on this earth as man1 who is ,emanuel1 ,god with us1 who died on the cross for our sins1 who became the ,firstbegotten from the dead1 the ,firstfruits of them that slept1 ,he who is now as ,man in ,glory1 the same ,person1 the ,firstbegotten1 will be brought back to this world by the power of ,god4 ,then worshipping angels will be ,his attendants and ,he will bring ,his ,saints with ,him4 ,for whom ,he foreknew1 ,he also did predestinate1 to be conformed to the image of ,his ,son1 that ,he might be the ,firstborn among many brethren 7,romans viii3#bi74 ,conformed to the glorious image of ,god's ever blessed ,son1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 is the destiny of all1 who have cast themselves as lost sinners upon ,christ and have been saved by ,grace through faith4 ,it is true even now by beholding as in a glass the glory of the ,lord we are changed into the same image from glory to glory1 even as by the ,spirit of the ,lord 7#b ,cor4 iii3#ah74 ,it is true if we abide in ,him1 we shall walk even as ,he walked 7#a ,john ii3#f74 ,the exhortation in our great salvation ,epistle is1 not to be conformed to this age1 but to be transformed1 or as it might be translated1 transfigured 7,rom4 xii3#b74 ,but to be fully conformed to the image of ,his ,son is never to be expected in this world1 where sin is ever present2 ,when the ,firstbegotten calls us into ,his own presence1 when the ,heir of ,god summons ,his beloved co-heirs to meet ,him and to enter with ,him into the blood-bought inheritance1 then each saved sinner will be conformed to the image of ,himself4 ,each will shine forth the excellencies of the ,firstbegotten4 ,we shall be like ,him for we shall see ,him as ,he is4 ,hallelujah6 ,this is why ,god gave up ,his ,son1 that ,he might be able to lift those who are ,his enemies by wicked works into the ,sonplace and make them like ,his ,son in ,glory4 ,yet have ,i set my ,king upon my holy hill of ,zion4 ,i will declare the degree2 the ,lord hath said unto ,me1 ,thou art my ,son2 this day have ,i begotten ,thee 7,ps4 ii3#f-g74 ,in this prophecy ,he is likewise seen as the ,firstbegotten4 ,it does not mean the eternal ,son of ,god1 for as such ,he had no beginning1 but the day in which ,he was begotten is the third day when ,he was raised from the dead4 ,paul gives us this truth when ,he spoke to the ,jews in ,antioch and said3 ,god hath fulfilled the same unto us their children1 in that ,he hath raised up ,jesus again2 as it is also written in the second ,psalm1 ,thou art my ,son1 this day have ,i begotten ,thee 7,acts xiii3#cc74 ,up to this time ,he is not yet enthroned upon the holy hill of ,zion4 ,when ,he returns as the ,firstbegotten and finds the nations of the earth not converted1 but in opposition to ,him 7,ps4 ii3#a-c71 ,he will become the ,king and take ,his throne4 ,also ,i will make ,him my ,firstborn1 higher than the ,kings of the earth 7,ps4 lxxxix3#bg74 ,this reveals the exalted station1 which ,he will assume1 when ,his blessed feet touch this earth again4 ,he will be the ,king of kings1 and the ,lord of lords4 ,this is the ,glory of the ,firstborn1 the loving ,sinbearer who endured the cross and despised the shame4 ,he is the ,heir of ,god1 the ,heir of all things1 the ,head of all principality and power1 the ,head of ,his redeemed people1 the church4 ,he that filleth all in all1 the ,firstborn1 will share ,his glorious title and possessions with ,his redeemed4 ,the church to which ,god's marvelous ,grace has brought us is the church of the ,firstborn4 7,heb4 xii3#bc71 because the ,firstborn is the ,head and beginning and those who are begotten again by the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ from the dead have their portion with the ,firstborn4 ,oh6 glorious future we have as ,his redeemed people6 ,god our ,father1 the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 by ,thy ,holy ,spirit1 keep the ,glory of ,thy ,son1 the ,firstborn1 before our hearts1 that we may be changed into the same image and overcome in these dark and evil days4 ,amen4 ,soon shall our eyes behold ,thee ,with rapture1 face to face2 ,and1 resting there in glory1 ,we'll sing ,thy pow'r and grace3 ,thy beauty1 ,lord1 and glory1 ,the wonders of ,thy love1 ,shall be the endless story ,of all ,thy saints above4 ,the ,waiting ,christ4 ,,waiting for the coming of the ,lord is one of the blessed characteristics of true ,christianity4 ,in the parable of the ten virgins the three great marks of a true believer are stated by our ,lord4 ,these are3 ,separation1 indicated by the virgins having gone forth4 ,manifestation1 they had lamps1 which are for the giving of light1 and ,expectation1 they went forth to meet the ,bridegroom4 ,with five of them it was only an outward profession4 ,the foolish virgins are the type of such who are ,christians in name only and do not know the reality of these characteristics4 ,the ,lord knew them not4 ,these three characteristics are seen in ,paul's first epistle to the ,thessalonians4 ,that model assembly was composed of such members who possessed these three things4 ,they had turned to ,god from idols 7separation72 they served the true and the living ,god 7manifestation72 they waited for ,his ,son from heaven 7expectation71 #a ,thess4 i3#i1 #aj4 ,the same is revealed in the epistle to ,titus4 ,for the ,grace of ,god that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men4 ,that ,grace accepted separates unto ,god4 ,teaching us that1 denying ungodliness and worldly lusts1 we should live soberly1 righteously and godly1 in this present world4 ,this is manifestation4 ,the ,grace of ,god enables us to live thus4 ,looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great ,god and our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,here we have expectation4 ,other similar passages could be quoted4 ,if we divide the ,new ,testament ,scriptures into three parts we have the same order4 ,in the ,gospels the ,grace of ,god in the ,son of ,god appeared4 ,in the ,epistles we are taught how to manifest ,him by walking in the ,spirit4 ,the great ,new ,testament prophetic book1 the ,revelation1 looks on towards ,his ,coming4 ,and how ,his ,coming is forgotten6 ,how few of ,his people truly wait for ,him6 ,how few pray that important and almost forgotten prayer1 ,even so1 ,come ,lord ,jesus6 ,but we must also remember that our ,lord is likewise waiting4 ,innumerable multitudes of disembodied spirits who are saved by ,grace are waiting in ,his own presence for the moment when they will receive their resurrection bodies1 which will be when ,he descends from ,heaven and comes into the air4 ,the faithful remnant of ,his people on earth wait for ,his ,coming4 ,israel and all creation wait for ,him as well as the unseen beings in the ,heavenly4 ,but ,he ,himself is waiting4 ,this is the testimony of the ,word of ,god4 ,first it is the subject of prophecy4 ,in the brief but great #aajth ,psalm that waiting is predicted4 ,the ,christ1 who is so often seen in the ,psalms and in the ,prophets as ,king1 ruling in ,his earthly kingdom1 whose glories in that rule are so blessedly described1 is seen in the beginning of that ,psalm seated at the right hand of ,god2 this heavenly place will be occupied by ,him till ,his enemies are made ,his footstool4 ,how the ,holy ,spirit witnessed to this fact at once after ,his descent on the day of ,pentecost is more fully revealed in the second chapter of ,acts4 ,in ,hebrews x3#ac we read of ,his waiting attitude in heaven4 ,but this man1 after ,he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever1 sat down at the right hand of ,god1 from henceforth expecting till ,his enemies be made ,his footstool4 ,the better word for expecting is waiting4 ,we may well emphasize the word ,man4 ,our blessed ,lord is not in the presence of ,god as a ,spirit ,being1 but ,he is there in the form of ,man4 ,the blessed body ,he had on earth1 which ,he gave on the cross and which laid in the tomb could not see corruption4 ,he was raised on the third day4 ,he ascended in that glorified body into heaven and ,he is on the right hand of ,god as ,man1 in ,him dwells the fullness of the ,godhead bodily4 ,just one ,man is there in ,glory4 ,but oh6 what it means6 ,he is the ,head of ,his body1 the church and in the future all ,his redeemed people will possess glorified bodies1 like unto ,his glorious body4 ,no wonder the enemy ever aims at the denial of the ,lord's bodily presence4 ,from many pulpits it is declared to be too material4 ,the denial of this great truth1 the ,man in glory1 is a denial of the entire ,gospel4 ,it is at this the enemy strikes4 ,as the glorified ,man on the ,father's throne ,he is waiting till ,his enemies are made ,his footstool4 ,this does not mean1 as so many believe and teach1 that the ,lord ,jesus ,christ is waiting till ,his enemies are gradually overcome1 till the church on earth succeeds in converting the whole world4 ,it does not mean that4 ,his enemies will be made ,his footstool in a far different way4 ,it will be a sudden event4 ,all ,his enemies will be humbled1 all things will be subjected under ,his feet at the time of ,his second ,coming4 ,as there was an appointed time by the ,father for ,his first ,coming1 so is there an appointed time for ,his second ,coming1 when the power of ,god and ,his own power will triumph over all ,his enemies4 ,as ,he is in ,his redemptive work subject to the ,father1 therefore is ,he waiting for that hour4 ,then the ,father will bring in the firstbegotten into the world 7,heb4 i3#f7 and ,he will receive the nations for ,his inheritance 7,psalm ii74 ,he is waiting for this great event4 ,but ,he is also waiting for ,his co-heirs1 which constitute the church4 ,the church1 ,his body1 must be first completed as to numbers before the hour can come in which ,his enemies are made ,his footstool4 ,he is patiently waiting for that moment4 ,john speaks of that when he calls himself a companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of ,jesus ,christ 7,rev4 i3#i74 ,centuries have come and gone since ,he took that place upon the ,father's throne1 unseen by human eyes1 and during all this time1 while the calling out of the church proceeded1 ,he has waited patiently4 ,some day ,his waiting will come to an end4 ,his church will be completed and then ,he ,himself arises from ,his seat and descends to that place in the air1 where ,he will meet ,his own1 for whom ,his loving heart yearns so much4 ,what a moment that will be at last6 ,then ,his waiting as well as ,his patience will be ended and ,he will receive ,his kingdom and be crowned ,lord of lords and ,king of kings4 ,no longer will ,he then be unseen1 but ,his ,glory will flash out of heaven and ,he ,himself will be manifested in ,glory4 ,then the world can reject ,him no longer but must accept ,his righteous rule in which ,his redeemed people will share4 ,what child of ,god does not wish this to be soon1 very soon4 ,oh that we might cry more earnestly1 more in the ,spirit1 yes1 incessantly1 ,come ,lord ,jesus4 ,but while ,he waits and the hour has not yet come we must wait as ,he waits on the throne4 ,to the ,thessalonians who had listened to teachers who judaized the blessed hope1 fearing they were facing the day of the ,lord with its tribulation and wrath1 the ,apostle wrote3 ,and the ,lord direct your hearts in the love of ,god1 and into the patient waiting for ,christ 7#b ,thess4 iii3#e74 ,but we must not only wait patiently for ,him but also wait with ,him4 ,he is the rejected ,one4 ,the world cast ,him out4 ,as the rejected ,one ,he waits in patience for the hour of ,his triumph and ,his ,glory4 ,this place of rejection is our greatest privilege to share4 ,and where is ,he more rejected than in that which calls itself by ,his ,name6 ,to bear ,his reproach in these closing days of this present age is our blessed opportunity4 ,to suffer with ,him1 if not for ,him1 should be that for which our hearts should long1 yea1 pray4 ,and we will be glad to be rejected with ,him1 to be nothing at this present time1 to have fellowship with ,his sufferings1 if ,he as the patient waiting ,lord is ever before our hearts4 ,at the close of the one hundred and tenth psalm stands a word1 which we should also remember4 ,he shall drink of the brook in the way1 ,therefore shall ,he lift up the head4 ,it has puzzled many readers what this saying might mean4 ,it speaks to our hearts of ,his humiliation and exaltation4 ,one thinks at once of the three hundred of ,gideon and how they stooped down to drink4 ,the brook is the type of death4 ,he drank of the brook in the way4 ,his way was from ,glory to ,glory1 and between were ,his sufferings4 ,and1 therefore1 ,he shall lift up the head4 ,wherefore1 ,god has highly exalted ,him4 ,may we all1 dear readers1 follow in ,his path and suffer with ,him2 ere long in ,his triumph and glory we shall triumph and glory4 ,and if children then heirs2 heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,christ2 if so be we suffer with ,him1 that we may be also glorified together4 ,for ,i reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us 7,rom4 viii3#ag-ah74 ,a ,vision of the ,king4 ,,one of the most blessed occupations for the believer is the prayerful searching of ,god's holy ,word to discover there new glories and fresh beauties of ,him1 who is altogether lovely4 ,shall we ever find out all which the written ,word reveals of ,himself and ,his worthiness8 ,this wonderful theme can never be exhausted4 ,the heart which is devoted to ,him and longs through the presence and indwelling of the ,holy ,spirit to be closer to the ,lord1 to hear and know more of ,himself1 will always find something new and precious4 ,the ,holy ,spirit can do this and reveals to our hearts from the inexhaustible ,word of ,god the ,glory of ,him1 whom to exalt the ,spirit has come4 ,much depends on how we desire just ,himself4 ,and ,christ alone and the heart knowledge of ,himself can satisfy the believer1 who has ,his life and is one ,spirit with the ,lord ,o ,christ ,thou art enough ,the heart to satisfy4 ,soon we shall see ,him1 whom we contemplate now in faith4 ,soon we shall be in ,his own glorious presence and look upon that face1 which was once marred and smitten1 but which now shines out ,heaven's and the ,father's ,glory4 ,the kingly ,glory of our blessed ,lord is one of the great themes of the ,bible4 ,the ,man of humiliation1 who here on earth walked in dependence on ,god1 who did ,his will1 suffered and died is now in the ,father's presence and on the right hand of the ,majesty on high4 ,there ,he sat down with ,his ,father in ,his throne1 waiting for the moment when ,his work as the ,priest and ,advocate of ,his beloved people on earth is accomplished1 and when the ,father will establish ,him as ,king1 when ,he will receive the kingdom4 ,alas6 that all this glory1 which belongs to ,him and which is still future1 ,his ,kingship1 ,his kingly glory and rule1 as it must be some day1 is so unknown and even disowned in ,christendom4 ,it is but the uncovering of the condition of the heart of the great majority of professing ,christians4 ,they may talk of religion1 of great reform movements1 of service to mankind1 world progress1 but the ,christ of ,god in all ,his ,glory1 past1 present and future1 has little attraction4 ,far different it is with the heart which knows ,him and has given ,him the place ,he is worthy of1 the first place4 ,that heart delights to meditate on all ,his ,glory and longs for the time when ,he will appear1 and when at last1 crowned with many crowns1 ,he will assume ,his righteous rule4 ,great is our joy and delight when we follow through the ,scriptures ,his earthly life so full of ,his moral ,glory4 ,or when we think of ,him as ,he died for us and bore in ,his own body on the tree our sins2 we praise ,him for ,his mighty ,love4 ,but what joy to think of ,him as coming at last into that which belongs to ,him the ,lord of ,glory1 by right of redemption1 when ,he will take possession of this earth and claim its ,satan ruled kingdoms for ,his own4 ,then it will be true1 ,the earth is the ,lord's and the fulness thereof2 the world1 and they that dwell therein4 ,then the ,seraph's song will be realized1 ,the whole earth is full of ,his ,glory4 ,how much the ,word has to say about the ,king and ,his ,glory2 and we have never yet taken hold of it with our dull hearts6 ,take the ,book of ,psalms1 for instance1 that book which has been so belittled by the destructive criticism4 ,while we read so much in those precious productions of the ,holy ,spirit of ,christ's sufferings1 ,his humiliation1 ,his prayers1 ,his death1 we may find there much more about ,him as ,king and ,his coming manifestation4 ,the tumult of the nations1 as predicted in the ,second ,psalm1 and about to be realized in our own times1 the tumult of the nations against the ,lord and ,his ,anointed1 will be silenced by the coming of the ,king4 ,i have set my ,king upon my holy hill of ,zion2 this is what ,god declares4 ,the ,god-man ,christ ,jesus1 the ,man1 who is with ,him now is1 ,his ,king4 ,his destiny is the government of the nations1 with a rod of iron4 ,the entire ,twenty-first ,psalm tells out the ,glory of the ,king4 ,christian expositors have rarely discovered this4 ,but ,jewish exponents always knew it4 ,saith a leading ,jewish authority of the middle ages3 ,our old teachers have always applied this ,psalm as meaning the ,king ,messiah4 ,read its stanzas3 ,the ,king shall joy in ,thy strength1 ,jehovah2 ,and in ,thy salvation1 how greatly shall ,he rejoice4 ,thou hast given ,him ,his heart's desire1 ,and hast not withholden the requests of ,his lips4 ,for ,thou hast met ,him with the blessings of goodness2 ,thou hast set a crown of pure gold on ,his head4 ,he asked ,life of ,thee2 ,thou gavest ,him length of days forever and ever4 ,his ,glory is great through ,thy salvation2 ,majesty and splendor hast ,thou laid upon ,him4 ,for ,thou hast made ,him to be blessings forever2 ,thou hast filled ,him with joy by ,thy countenance4 ,for the ,king confideth in ,jehovah4 ,through the loving kindness of the ,highest ,he shall not be moved4 ,then comes ,his future action1 when ,he whom faith sees now crowned with ,majesty and ,splendor1 who rejoices in the ,presence of ,god1 appears to execute the judgments of ,god4 ,thy hand shall find out all thine enemies2 ,thy right hand shall find out those that hate ,thee4 ,thou shalt make them as a fiery furnace ,in the time of ,thy presence4 ,jehovah shall swallow them up in his anger1 ,and the fire shall devour them4 ,their fruit shall ,thou destroy from the earth1 ,and their seed from among the children of men4 ,for they intended evil against ,thee1 ,they imagined a mischievous device1 ,which they could not execute4 ,for ,thou wilt make them turn their back1 ,thou wilt make ready ,thy bowstring against their faces4 ,be ,thou exalted ,jehovah in ,thine own strength2 ,we will sing and celebrate ,thy power4 ,and in the ,twenty-fourth ,psalm we have prophetically that triumphant shout1 which will be heard when the ,king comes back to enter ,his ,city1 ,jerusalem1 again4 ,lift up your heads1 ye gates ,and be ye lifted up1 ye everlasting doors2 ,and the ,king of ,glory shall come in4 ,who is this ,king of ,glory8 ,jehovah strong and mighty1 ,jehovah mighty in battle4 ,the ,forty-fifth ,psalm is a song of the ,beloved1 touching the ,king4 ,he is described as coming in ,his ,majesty and ,splendor1 how ,he deals with ,his enemies and that ,he will be surrounded by ,his own redeemed ones4 ,the ,glory and dominion of ,his ,kingdom ,he will receive is described in the ,seventy-second ,psalm4 ,he shall have dominion from sea to sea1 and from the river unto the ends of the earth4 ,and other ,psalms enlarge upon these glorious visions1 which will all be true when the ,king comes4 ,then ,jerusalem will be a praise in the earth4 ,also ,i will make ,him1 my ,firstborn1 higher than the kings of the earth 7,ps4 lxxxix3#bg74 ,and how rich are the prophets in telling us of the ,glory of the ,king and the glories of ,his kingdom4 ,behold a ,king shall rule in righteousness1 and princes shall rule in judgment 7,isaiah xxxii3#a74 ,thine eyes shall see the ,king in ,his beauty2 they shall behold the land that is afar off 7,isaiah xxxiii3#ag74 ,a ,king shall reign and prosper1 and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth 7,jerem4 xxiii3#e74 ,and there was given ,him dominion and glory1 and a kingdom1 that all people1 nations and languages1 should serve ,him2 ,his dominion is an everlasting dominion1 which shall not pass away1 and ,his ,kingdom1 that which shall not be destroyed 7,dan4 vii3#ad74 ,the ,king of ,israel1 the ,lord1 is in the midst of thee 7the earthly ,jerusalem72 thou shalt not see evil any more 7,zeph4 iii3#ae74 ,and the ,lord shall be ,king over all the earth 7,zech4 xiv3#f74 ,these and many1 many more utterances of ,god's blessed prophets give us a vision of the ,king1 of the ,glory of ,him1 who was crowned with a crown of thorns1 the thorns of man's curse1 and over whose cross it was written1 ,jesus of ,nazareth1 the ,king of the ,jews4 ,and the ,new ,testament fully brings out the same ,glory of ,him as ,king4 ,he is ,king of ,peace 7,heb4 vii3#b72 ,king of saints 7,rev4 xv3#c72 ,the ,lord of lords and ,king of kings 7,rev4 xvii3#ad74 ,at last the unfulfilled message of ,gabriel will be gloriously fulfilled4 ,the ,lord ,god shall give unto ,him the ,throne of ,his father ,david2 and ,he shall reign over the house of ,jacob forever2 and of ,his kingdom there shall be no end 7,luke i3#cb74 ,but nowhere is ,he called ,king of the church1 nor are we authorized as believers to address ,him ,our ,king4 ,he will be ,king1 but then ,he will not be our ,king1 but we shall be ,kings with ,him4 ,he is not ,king of the church1 but the ,head of the ,body1 the church2 ,head and ,body together1 ,christ and ,his church1 will rule and reign over the earth4 ,glory to ,his ,name6 ,in loving tenderness ,he looks upon us1 who possess ,his life1 ,he is not ashamed to call us brethren1 for ,he is ,man1 the second ,man1 and ,he beholds in us those1 who will ere long share ,his ,kingly ,glory1 ,his ,kingly rule4 ,oh1 ,beloved readers6 does it not warm our hearts6 ,does it not make us feel like falling down on our faces and confess to ,him our indifference and our nothingness1 and humble ourselves in the dust4 ,how little1 oh how little we enter into all this4 ,the ,lord help us to have through ,his ,word and in the power of ,his ,spirit a greater vision of the ,king and our blessed1 eternal lot with ,him4 ,they crown ,him ,king on high2 ,shall we not crown ,him here1 ,the blessed ,christ of ,calvary1 ,to ransomed sinners dear8 ,they worship ,him above1 ,shall we not worship too1 ,the ,son of ,god1 the ,lord of love1 ,to whom all praise is due8 ,up there they see ,his ,face1 ,the ,lamb who once was slain1 ,and in a new song praise ,his ,grace2 ,shall we not join the strain8 ,yonder ,his servants still ,serve as their ,lord commands2 ,oh may we also do ,his will ,with loving hearts and hands4--,m4 ,f4 ,the ,fellowship of ,his ,son4 ,,god is faithful1 by whom ye were called into the fellowship of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ our ,lord 7#a ,cor4 i3#i74 ,a blessed word this is4 ,by nature the ,corinthians were in another fellowship4 ,the same ,epistle 7vi3#i-aa7 tells us what some of them were4 ,like ourselves by nature they were in the fellowship of sin and death and in fellowship with him1 who is the author of sin and the enemy of ,god1 ,satan4 ,but a faithful ,god called them and has called us by the ,gospel into the fellowship of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,if we have obeyed the ,gospel and accepted the gift of ,god we are brought through the ,grace of ,god into the fellowship of the ,son of ,god4 ,all believers are in the same fellowship1 one with the ,lord4 ,but that is a truth and a blessed revelation far deeper than our mind can fathom or our pen could describe4 ,no saint has ever sounded the depths of this wonderful call of ,god nor can ,god's saints fully know what that fellowship all means1 until the blessed day comes when we shall see ,him as ,he is and when joined to ,him we shall be like ,him4 ,and yet we can remind ourselves of the little we know and through it encourage our hearts4 ,faith loves to dwell upon the blessed ,person1 whom faith alone through the ,spirit's power can make a living reality4 ,and ,god1 the faithful ,god1 loves to hear ,his children speak much of ,him1 whom ,he loves1 the ,son of ,his ,love1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,fellowship means to have things in common4 ,and that is what ,god has done4 ,he has taken us through ,his ,grace out of the fellowship in which we are by nature1 the things we have in common as enemies and children of wrath and has called us into the fellowship of ,his ,son4 ,and now called of ,god into this fellowship we have things in common with ,his ,son the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,this brings before us once more the old story1 which never grows old1 but is eternally new and becomes more blessed the more we hear it4 ,the ,son of ,god1 ,he who is the true ,god and the eternal ,life1 came to this earth and appeared in the form of ,man4 ,the ,life was manifested2 and we have seen1 and bear witness1 and show unto you that eternal life1 which was with the ,father1 and was manifested unto us 7#a ,john i3#b74 ,and ,he who is the true ,god and the eternal life1 by whom the worlds were made1 gave ,himself for our sins4 ,he came to give ,his life as a ransom for many1 to make propitiation for the whole world4 ,he who knew no sin was made sin for us and on the ,cross peace was made4 ,there in ,his own body on the tree ,he bore our sins4 ,all who believe on ,him1 who have accepted ,jesus as their ,saviour1 are taken out of that in which they are by nature and are brought into ,christ4 ,and here we can with praising hearts and full assurance sing of our blessed position in ,him4 ,lord ,jesus1 are we one with ,thee8 ,oh height1 oh depth1 of love6 ,and crucified and dead with ,thee1 ,now one in heaven above4 ,such was ,thy grace1 that for our sake ,thou didst from heaven come down2 ,with us of flesh and blood partake1 ,and make our guilt ,thine own4 ,our sins1 our guilt1 in love divine1 ,confessed and borne by ,thee2 ,the gall1 the curse1 the wrath1 were ,thine1 ,to set ,thy ransomed free4 ,ascended now1 in glory bright1 ,life-giving ,head ,thou art2 ,nor life1 nor death1 nor depth1 nor height ,thy saints and ,thee can part4 ,but the fellowship of ,his ,son into which the ,grace of ,god has brought us means more than this blessed new relation and the positional truth that as believers we have been crucified with ,christ and that we are risen with ,him4 ,the life we possess as born again is ,his own life4 ,we possess the life of ,him1 who died in our stead4 ,christ is our life4 ,this means fellowship of ,his ,son1 we are one with ,him4 ,we also possess ,his ,spirit4 ,the ,spirit of ,christ dwelleth in us and we are one ,spirit with the ,lord4 ,this oneness with ,christ1 the fellowship of ,his ,son1 that we belong to ,him and ,he to us1 that we have an inheritance in ,him and ,he has an inheritance in us1 is a great truth4 ,like every other revealed truth it must be a reality in our lives4 ,we are called by ,god to walk in this fellowship4 ,we know we are in ,him1 and through ,grace we abide in ,him4 ,but it is also written1 ,he that saith he abideth in ,him ought himself also so to walk even as ,he walked4 ,his own life must be manifest4 ,in this fellowship of ,his ,son we have the strength to walk as ,he walked1 because we have ,his life and ,his ,spirit4 ,there is no need to walk after the flesh1 but we can always walk in the ,spirit and walking thus we walk as ,he walked4 ,and this spiritual walk becomes possible as our hearts dwell in faith on the fact that we are called into the fellowship of ,his ,son4 ,we must have this wonderful fact constantly before our hearts as a real thing4 ,then all we do will be governed by it4 ,if this is real how can we be conformed to this world8 ,the world in all its aspects is the enemy of ,god4 ,in that fellowship we walked once according to the course of this world4 ,should we then turn back to it and enjoy its pleasures and ambitions8 ,if we do1 we walk in the flesh and then we do not know the joy and peace of the fellowship of ,his ,son1 but are joyless and miserable4 ,but if the fact of the fellowship of ,god's ,son is a reality in power1 it will keep us from being conformed to this world4 ,we believe the ,spirit of ,god presses this home to the consciences of ,his people and calls us to a separated walk4 ,and this must lead to another phase of the fellowship of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ4 ,it is written always bearing about in the body the dying of the ,lord ,jesus1 that the life also of ,jesus might be made manifest in our body 7#b ,cor4 iv3#aj74 ,this stands in connection with persecution and suffering4 ,walking in the fellowship of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ the ,apostle had one great desire1 ,that ,i may know ,him1 and the power of ,his resurrection1 and the fellowship of ,his sufferings1 being made conformable to ,his death 7,phil4 iii3#aj74 ,to the ,colossians he wrote who now rejoice in my sufferings for you1 and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of ,christ in my flesh for ,his body's sake1 which is the church 7,col4 i3#bd74 ,he suffered and bore ,his reproach4 ,his heart in the enjoyment of the fellowship desired the fellowship of ,his sufferings4 ,we know little of these because we are conformed to this world and not loyal to our ,lord and ,god's calling4 ,but if we walk in conscious fellowship with ,him and are loyal to ,him we too will know a little of the fellowship of ,his sufferings4 ,then our hearts long that we may bear ,his reproach4 ,the blessed ,one of ,god is rejected1 can our hearts be satisfied with anything less than being rejected too8 ,perhaps if we were to lift up our voices now against the ,christ dishonoring things1 both in doctrine and practice1 which are the leading features of the present-day religious world1 we would know a little more of this fellowship4 ,called into the fellowship of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ our ,lord means also to share ,his work4 ,we are called to serve4 ,he was here as ,one that serveth1 and we are to serve one another in love4 ,whosoever will be great among you let him be your minister2 and whosoever will be chief among you1 let him be your servant 7,matt4 xx3#bf-bg74 ,we can be servants with ,him4 ,he is intercessor and burden-bearer and we have a share in this likewise4 ,and there is the fellowship of ,his ,son in its eternal aspect4 ,god's calling is to be like ,his ,son4 ,for whom ,he did foreknow1 ,he also predestinated to be conformed to the image of ,his ,son that ,he might be the firstborn among many brethren 7,romans viii3#bi74 ,we shall be with ,him forever and like ,him4 ,and is it so--,i shall be like ,thy ,son8 ,is this the grace which ,he for me has won8 ,father of glory1 7thought beyond all thought67-- ,in glory1 to ,his own blest likeness brought6 ,oh1 ,jesus1 ,lord1 who loved me like to ,thee8 ,fruit of ,thy work1 with ,thee1 too1 there to see ,thy glory1 ,lord1 while endless ages roll1 ,myself the prize and travail of ,thy soul4 ,yet it must be3 ,thy love had not its rest ,were ,thy redeemed not with ,thee fully blest4 ,that love that gives not as the world1 but shares ,all it possesses with its loved co-heirs4 ,may the ,holy ,spirit hold these great truths before our hearts and in ,his power may we be consciously and constantly enjoying the fellowship of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 till we are called by ,himself to be with ,him4 ,out of ,his ,fulness4 ,john i3#af4 ,,and of ,his fulness have all we received1 and grace upon grace 7,john i3#af74 ,this precious word was not spoken by ,john the ,baptist4 ,it must be looked upon as an outburst of praise1 similar to the one which stands in the beginning of ,revelation 7,rev4 i3#e-f74 ,it is the adoring utterance of all believers acknowledging the reception of that unfathomable and never failing grace1 which flows from the eternal fountain1 the ,son of ,god4 ,out of the fulness of ,himself believing sinners receive grace upon grace4 ,his own fulness is the source1 which supplies all the need of those1 who by ,him believe on ,god1 that raised ,him from the dead and gave ,him glory 7#a ,pet4 i3#b74 ,that exhaustless fulness is always ready to sustain1 to help1 to comfort1 to strengthen and to fill those1 who are in ,christ1 one with ,him4 ,but what is this fulness of which we receive and receive so abundantly8 ,the blessed ,son of ,god possessed in all eternity fulness4 ,the ,holy ,spirit in this chapter bears a testimony to this fact by a great revelation4 ,in the beginning was the ,word1 and the ,word was with ,god1 and the ,word was ,god4 ,the same was in the beginning with ,god4 ,all things were made by ,him2 and without ,him was not anything made 'that was made4' ,in ,him was life2 and the life was the light of men 7,john i3#a-d74 ,what a wonderful revelation this is6 ,the ,word which was in the beginning1 which ever was ,god1 by whom all was made1 without whom nothing came into existence1 is the ,son of ,god4 ,the fulness of the ,godhead was ,his before the world was made1 for ,he is ,god4 ,then we read in this chapter1 and the ,word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld ,his glory1 the glory as of the only begotten of the ,father1 full of grace and truth4 ,he came to this earth1 ,he took on the form of man1 the eternal ,word was made flesh1 ,god manifested in the flesh4 ,and as ,he walked on the earth the fulness of the ,godhead was pleased to dwell in ,him 7,col4 i3#ai74 ,but before we could ever receive out of ,his fulness grace upon grace1 the ,son of ,god had to die4 ,if ,he had not died and accomplished the great work for which ,he came into the world1 ,his fulness would have been forever inaccessible to sinners4 ,but ,he went to the cross and finished there the great work4 ,christ died for us2 ,he who knew no sin was made sin for us4 ,and now it is written of ,him1 the glorified ,one1 the ,man in ,glory4 ,for in ,him dwelleth all the fulness of the ,godhead bodily4 ,and ye are complete in ,him1 which is the head of all principality and power 7,col4 ii3#i-aj74 ,he1 who possessed eternally all fulness1 who came to this earth and in whom the fulness of the ,godhead dwelt1 who died on the cross the just for the unjust1 who ,his own self bore our sins in ,his own body on the tree1 is now as ,man in glory and there dwelleth in ,him bodily the fulness of the ,godhead4 ,it is all for us2 we can now receive grace upon grace1 because of ,him who is the ,second ,man1 the ,head of the new creation and with whom ,god has made us1 who believe1 one4 ,this is the deep and yet simple ,gospel4 ,god gave ,his blessed ,son1 who was forever one with ,him1 that through ,him we might receive of the fulness of the ,godhead1 grace upon grace4 ,brought to ,god in such a way1 washed1 sanctified and justified in the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 and by the ,spirit of our ,god1 we are receiving all we need4 ,we receive it not on our merit1 because we labor or agonize for it1 but we receive of ,his fulness4 ,but who can begin to tell out what that is1 grace upon grace8 ,pages upon pages might be written and filled with the good things1 the spiritual blessings1 the joy1 the peace1 the comfort1 the power and the wisdom and many other things1 which are included in grace upon grace4 ,and after we mentioned all these precious things1 we would have to put the pen down and confess our insufficiency to tell out the riches1 the fulness and vastness of grace upon grace4 ,this expression brings a great cataract like ,niagara to our mind4 ,here we stand and behold the mighty waters rushing down4 ,oh6 the mighty rushing waters1 who can measure them6 ,what a vast1 inexhaustible supply6 ,water upon water dashing down4 ,for ages this has gone on4 ,hundreds of years1 more than that1 thousands of years have witnessed the same mighty waters4 ,every day1 every hour1 every minute1 every second1 every fraction of a second--incessantly mighty rushing waters upon waters6 ,in the same way there is pouring forth out of ,his fulness1 the fulness of the ,lord in ,glory--grace upon grace4 ,there is an unlimited1 inexhaustible supply of the water of life from ,him who is the life4 ,for ages the saints of ,god1 saved by grace1 have received grace upon grace4 ,a never ceasing stream of grace has been flowing forth and it has not impoverished the marvellous eternal supply4 ,still it flows undiminished--still there is grace upon grace4 ,yea it is grace upon grace by which ,god's people live4 ,every hour1 every minute1 every second1 every moment it is ,his grace1 grace upon grace which keeps us1 surrounds us1 flows upon us and overshadows us4 ,and the more we take and enjoy the more we learn to sing4 ,more and more1 more and more1 ,always more to follow6 ,oh1 ,his matchless1 boundless ,grace1 ,still there's more to follow6 ,will it ever stop8 ,no1 never6 ,we shall keep on singing in all eternity still there's more to follow6--still there's more to follow4 ,hallelujah6 ,that in the ages to come ,he might show the exceeding riches of ,his ,grace in ,his kindness toward us through ,christ ,jesus 7,eph4 ii3#g74 ,always more to follow6 ,still there's ,,more to follow4 ,all ,praise to ,him who died to have it so for us poor lost sinners1 whose lot should have been1 as it is the lot of all who reject this marvellous grace--always more to follow--in eternal darkness and despair4 ,and how simple it is to receive of ,his fulness grace upon grace4 ,look at this never ceasing spring of pure water1 it never fails4 ,you approach it a weary1 thirsty1 dustladen traveler4 ,you need to be refreshed4 ,you need the cooling drink4 ,you need washing4 ,what then is necessary8 ,oh6 to fill your cup4 ,just to take for it is for you4 ,and so this wonderful grace which flows out of ,his fulness4 ,it is for you1 just come and take4 ,fill your cup1 fill it again6 ,drink oh drink6 ,of ,his fulness have all we received1 grace upon grace4 ,the ,twenty-second ,psalm4 ,the ,cross of ,christ4 ,,the ,twenty-second ,psalm contains a most remarkable prophecy4 ,the human instrument through whom this prophecy was given is ,king ,david4 ,the ,psalm does not contain the experience of the ,king1 though he passed through great sufferings1 yet the sufferings he speaks of in this ,psalm are not his own4 ,they are the sufferings of ,christ4 ,it is written in the ,new ,testament that the prophets searched and enquired diligently about the coming salvation4 ,the ,spirit of ,christ1 which was in them testified beforehand the sufferings of ,christ 7#a ,peter i3#aj-aa74 ,david was a prophet1 and in this great prophecy the ,spirit of ,christ testified of the sufferings of ,him1 who is both ,david's ,lord and ,david's son4 ,the book of ,psalms1 so rich and full of ,himself1 so inexhaustible in description of our ever blessed ,lord1 is divided into five books1 which correspond to the five books with which the ,bible begins1 the ,pentateuch4 ,the first book 7,psalm i-xli7 contains some of the great prophecies about the ,christ of ,god2 these prophecies are in the so-called messianic ,psalms4 ,perfect and divine is the order in which they are revealed4 ,son of ,god--,the ,second ,psalm4 ,son of ,man --,the ,eighth ,psalm4 ,obedient ,one--,the ,sixteenth ,psalm4 ,obedient unto ,death1 the ,death of the ,cross--,the ,twenty-second ,psalm4 ,highly exalted by ,god--,revealed in each of these ,psalms4 ,this is the order in which the ,holy ,spirit describes the path of the ,lord in ,phil4 ii3#f-aa4 ,how perfect the ,word of ,god is6 ,the ,twenty-second ,psalm1 the center of the first part of the book of ,psalms1 the ,genesis portion1 corresponds to the twenty-second chapter in the book of ,genesis4 ,there we see ,isaac bound upon the altar having been led there and put upon the altar by his ,father while he opened not his mouth4 ,here we behold the true ,isaac on the cross4 ,everything in this ,psalm speaks of our blessed ,lord2 in the first part of ,his sufferings1 in the second part of ,his ,glory and exaltation4 ,and we must not overlook the two ,hebrew words the ,holy ,spirit has put over this ,psalm3 ,aijeleth ,shahar4 ,the margin tells us they mean the hind of the morning4 ,this has a beautiful1 though hidden meaning4 ,some have thought of the innocent suffering of a wounded hind and the dawn of the morning brings relief4 ,they have applied this to the death and resurrection 7in the morning dawn7 of the ,lord4 ,but the meaning is better still4 ,the oldest ,jewish traditions give us the key4 ,they take the expression ,aijeleth ,shahar to mean the ,shechina1 the glory cloud1 which was visible among ,his people and they speak of the hind of the morning as being the dawning of redemption4 ,the dawning of the morning is compared by them with the horns of the hind1 on account of the rays of light appearing like horns4 ,according to their tradition the lamb was offered as the sacrifice in the morning as soon as the watcher on the pinnacle of the temple cried out ,behold the first rays of morning shine forth4 ,but what pen can describe the predictions and the fulfilment of ,his sufferings1 the sufferings of the ,holy ,one6 ,here we behold what it cost ,him to redeem us4 ,here we have the full description of what ,his atoning work meant4 ,here we see the full meaning of the sin-offering4 ,well may we bow our heads and hearts here and worship as we gaze upon this picture4 ,the opening word of the ,psalm expresses the consummation of all the sufferings of ,christ1 that word which came from the darkness1 which surrounded the cross and in which we are face to face with the unsearchable depths of ,his atoning work4 ,my ,god1 ,my ,god1 why hast ,thou forsaken ,me4 ,he who was ever with the ,father1 one with ,him in all eternity1 who could say on earth ,i am not alone was left alone4 ,he was forsaken of ,god4 ,but more than that4 ,jehovah bruised ,him2 ,he put ,him to grief4 ,the spotless ,one bore the wrath of ,god alone4 ,it was then that ,he who knew no sin was made sin for us4 ,how significant it is then that the ,holy ,spirit puts that word of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ before the predictions of ,his physical sufferings4 ,they tell us what our redemption cost ,him --the awful price1 forsaken of ,god4 ,the ,psalm also emphasizes what man under the terrible instigation of ,satan did unto ,him4 ,we glance at some of these sufferings as expressed by ,his own ,spirit4 ,but ,i am a worm1 and not man2 a reproach of men1 and despised of the people 7verse #f74 ,this is ,his own complaint4 ,no longer a man but writhing on the ground like a worm1 the substitute of sinners1 thus the ,holy ,one felt when ,he was numbered among the transgressors4 ,the ,hebrew word worm1 means the small insect1 the coccus1 from which the scarlet color is obtained by death of this worm1 that color which was used in connection with the tabernacle4 ,thus ,he died as our substitute that our sins though they are as scarlet might be white as snow4 ,men reproached ,him2 ,his own people despised and rejected ,him4 ,then we read how ,he was mocked and scoffed at4 ,they laugh me to scorn1 they shoot out the lip1 they shake the head4 ,the very language of the leaders of the people as they surrounded the cross is given by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,he trusted on the ,lord that ,he would deliver ,him1 seeing ,he delighted in ,him 7verse #g74 ,what depths of the depravity of the human heart they reveal6 ,and in all this1 while ,he suffered thus from man ,his sole trust was in ,god 7verses #i-aj74 ,his whole life was to trust in the ,lord to lean upon ,him1 till that moment came when ,god could no longer know ,him as ,his own1 when the sword1 the sword of judgment awoke against the ,man1 the fellow1 the companion of the ,lord of hosts 7,zech4 xiii3#g74 ,what that sword did to ,him is expressed by the cry of the forsaken ,one4 ,and what else do we find here8 ,we can follow the whole story of the cross in the first part of this ,psalm4 ,his enemies are described1 the bulls and the ravening and roaring lion4--,i am poured out like water4--,all my bones are out of joint4--,my heart is like wax2 it is melted in the midst of my bowels4 ,like fire melteth wax so ,his heart melted in the fire of wrath against sin4 ,the strength of the mighty ,one1 who fainteth not and knows no weariness1 failed4 ,his tongue cleaves to ,his jaws4 ,dogs and the assembly of the wicked --,gentiles and ,jews were there4 ,they pierced my hands and feet2 crucifixion1 unknown among the ,jews when ,david lived1 is here predicted by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i may tell all my bones as well as the words all my bones are out of joint refer to ,his suffering on the cross4 ,then after they hung the ,prince of ,glory at that cross we read they look and stare upon ,me 7verse #ag74 ,they parted my garments among them1 and cast lots upon my vesture4 ,what man did to ,him1 what ,he suffered from man and from ,satan's power is here described4 ,yet it was ,god who bruised ,him4 ,concerning man the sufferer spoke what they did unto ,him2 but ,he also addresses ,god ,,thou hast brought me into the dust of death4 ,and thus ,he suffered and died for us4 ,our sins were laid upon ,him and ,he bore them in ,his own body on the tree4 ,at what an infinite cost we have been redeemed6 ,what a price has been paid6 ,the ,father did not spare ,his only begotten ,son1 but delivered ,him up for us all4 ,the ,son of ,god1 was made sin for us1 smitten1 stricken and forsaken of ,god4 ,jehovah bade ,his sword awake-- ,o ,christ1 it woke 'gainst thee6 ,thy blood the flaming blade must slake2 ,thy heart its sheath must be-- ,all for my sake1 my peace to make2 ,now sleeps that sword for me4 ,the ,holy ,god did hide ,his face-- ,o ,christ1 'twas hid from thee6 ,dumb darkness wrapt thy soul a space-- ,the darkness due to me4 ,but now that face of radiant grace ,shines forth in light on me4 ,wonderful ,love6 ,but how unable we are to realize adequately these blessed facts6 ,how little after all we think of these marvellous things and how weak is our devotion to that blessed1 loving ,lord1 who loved us thus6 ,and what do we behold about us8 ,an ever increasing darkness2 a turning away from the blessed ,gospel of the ,son of ,god as it centers in the ,cross2 a greater rejection and neglection of the great salvation which ,god has so graciously provided in the great sacrifice4 ,it is fearful to see the enemies of the cross increasing and rushing on to their coming doom4 ,what is to be our attitude8 ,it is for us to glory more and more in the cross of ,christ4 ,we must exalt and magnify the ,person and ,work of our blessed ,lord as never before4 ,the more ,he is rejected by the world1 ,his blessed work on the cross disowned in such latter day delusions as the new theology1 ,christian ,science and the numerous other systems1 the more we must give ,him the pre-eminence4 ,but it means also for us if we are faithful to ,him the fellowship of ,his sufferings4 ,god has called us into the fellowship of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,this includes the fellowship of ,his sufferings4 ,never1 of course1 suffering from ,god as ,he did4 ,but as ,he is rejected and despised so are we called to share ,his rejection and take upon us ,his reproach4 ,he suffered without the gate and the ,word exhorts us ,let us go forth therefore unto ,him without the camp1 bearing ,his reproach4 ,in these last days we must like ,moses esteem the reproach of ,christ greater riches than the treasures of ,egypt 7the world74 ,and if we are faithful to ,him1 if we walk in separation from the world1 including the great religious world with its ,christ and the ,cross rejecting schemes and tendencies1 we shall know something of the reproach of ,christ and the fellowship of ,his sufferings4 ,oh6 that we might know more of that in these easy going days4 ,such a precious ,word of ,god as contained in #a ,peter iv3#ac-ad ought to make us long for bearing ,his reproach and for sufferings with ,him4 ,but rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of ,christ's sufferings that when ,his glory shall be revealed1 ye may be glad also with exceeding joy4 ,if ye be reproached for the name of ,christ1 happy are ye2 for the ,spirit of glory and of ,god resteth upon you2 on their part ,he is evil spoken of1 but on your part ,he is glorified4 ,be true to ,christ and to the cross of ,christ4 ,live out the doctrine of the cross crucified with ,christ--dead to the things here below1 then you will have some suffering from the side of men and ,satan as well4 ,and what will be the awful judgment for the multitudes1 the ever increasing multitudes who reject the ,cross of ,christ1 who are either opposing it by their ethical gospel1 to whom the preaching of the cross is foolishness1 or who are indifferent8 ,the ,holy ,spirit has told us that where the ,gospel1 the ,cross of ,christ is rejected or perverted the ,anathema1 the curse of ,god must follow 7,gal4 i3#i2 #a ,corinth4 xvi3#bb74 ,well has one said ,distance from ,god was the climax of the ,lamb's dying sorrow4 ,it is a fearful solemn thought that the world while with heedless selfconfidence it still pursues its way1 is no nearer now to ,god than ,jesus was when1 under the burden of the world's iniquity1 ,he cried1 ,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast ,thou forsaken me8 ,how solemn this is6 ,may we learn to say more fully with ,paul1 ,but ,god forbid that ,i should glory1 save in the cross of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 by whom the world is crucified unto me1 and ,i unto the world4 ,the ,glory of ,christ4 ,the first twenty-one verses of this ,psalm describe the sufferings of ,christ4 ,this part closes with an appeal to ,jehovah for deliverance4 ,but be thou not far from me1 ,o ,lord2 ,o my strength1 haste thee to help me4 99 99 99 ,save me from the lion's mouth4 ,then comes the joyful statement that ,he has been heard4 ,the answer ,he received to ,his cry is resurrection4 ,we find therefore that the second part of this great ,psalm1 which reveals so fully the ,cross of ,christ1 is taken up with the ,glory of the forsaken ,one4 ,god raised ,him from the dead1 and so we hear at once in this ,psalm the notes of triumph coming from the lips of ,him who is dead and now liveth4 ,his triumph and ,his ,glory are revealed4 ,all for whom ,he died1 the ,church1 ,israel1 the ends of the earth1 the nations are mentioned4 ,he is seen in the midst of the church as well as in the midst of the future great congregation4 ,all the ends of the earth are yet to remember and turn unto the ,lord4 ,the nations will come to worship before ,him2 ,his will be the ,kingdom1 ,he will rule among the nations4 ,but we must look at some of these precious predictions a little closer4 ,we need to consider them as much as the ,sufferings1 the ,cross of ,christ4 ,the day of ,his ,resurrection is first mentioned4 ,i will declare ,thy ,name unto my brethren ,in the midst of the congregation will ,i praise ,thee4 ,it is a joyous word which stands at the head of the glory section of this ,psalm4 ,raised from the dead ,he met ,his own with an ,all hail --rejoice4 ,in the ,gospel of ,john we see ,him meeting her who sought the living ,one among the dead and telling her ,go and tell my brethren4 ,how literally this prediction has been fulfilled4 ,and what ,he tells her of my ,father and your ,father1 my ,god and your ,god declares that intimate relationship which is the result of ,his death on the cross4 ,brought through ,him to ,god1 we are ,sons of ,god and ,heirs of ,god4 ,he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one1 therefore ,he is not ashamed to call them brethren 7,heb4 ii3#aa74 ,precious truth6 ,he owns us as brethren4 ,he is the ,firstborn among many brethren4 ,the congregation mentioned here is the church4 ,in the midst of the church ,his praise is heard 7,heb4 ii3#ab74 ,it is true the church is not revealed in the ,old ,testament but it is anticipated4 ,and as we1 saved by ,grace1 in possession of ,his life1 approach ,god in ,his worthy ,name ,his own voice is heard2 ,he is the leader of our prayers and our praises4 ,that new and intimate relationship brought about by ,his atoning death at the cross is mentioned first4 ,he gave ,himself for the church 7,eph4 v3#be74 ,in the next place we hear ,israel praising ,him4 ,all ye the seed of ,jacob glorify ,him2 and reverence ,him all ye the seed of ,israel4 ,they who rejected ,him1 ,his people who despised ,him and had such a part in the suffering of ,christ1 now own ,him4 ,they acknowledge ,him1 whom they thought afflicted of ,god1 as having been heard of ,god4 ,that time will come when ,he returns in power and glory1 when ,israel will see the ,man in ,glory1 the ,first begotten coming in the clouds of ,heaven4 ,then they will realize the full truth of ,isaiah liii4 ,the blessed ,lord will then have the travail of ,his soul and be satisfied4 ,but there is more glory still for ,him4 ,a great congregation is mentioned2 there too ,his praises will be heard4 ,all the ends of the earth will remember and turn unto the ,lord4 ,nations will worship before ,him4 ,for the ,kingdom is ,jehovah's ,and ,he ruleth among the nations 7verse #bh74 ,the great congregation are the nations of the millennial age4 ,then the ends of the earth will remember ,him while ,he ruleth among the nations4 ,what ,glory awaits ,him6 ,now we behold ,him1 who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death1 crowned with glory and honor4 ,it is a spiritual vision2 we see ,him there by faith4 ,but a little while longer and ,he will appear in the ,glory of ,his ,father bringing ,his co-heirs with ,him1 the ,son bringing many sons to glory1 the sons ,he is not ashamed to call brethren1 for whom ,he was forsaken on the cross4 ,what a procession of triumph and glory that will be when the ,heavens open and ,he is coming forth1 bringing ,his church with ,him6 ,what will be ,his ,glory when ,israel at last owns ,him and nations submit under ,his rule1 when ,his visible ,glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea6 ,all hail6 ,oh blessed1 blessed ,lord6 ,and we do need to consider all these precious predictions1 so numerous in the ,scriptures1 the prophecies of ,his ,glory4 ,the ,god of this age ,satan is unfolding the glories of this present age which is almost at the end1 with a skilful master hand4 ,he knows how to blind the eyes not only of those who believe not1 but of many who are ,christians4 ,he makes everything so attractive and many of ,god's people have fallen into his snares4 ,we need to look through the ,word of ,god upon the brightness of ,his ,glory1 the glorious things to come1 so that our eyes may be blinded to the miserable playthings of the dust1 which the fire of ,god's vengeance will ere long consume4 ,we need these glorious visions of the great realities so that we can go forward with joyfulness to suffer1 be rejected of men and bear the bright and blessed testimony1 the ,father expects from ,his beloved children4 ,take up the watchword of the last days6 ,true to ,christ--all in ,christ--all for ,christ--,onward to ,glory4 ,soon ,he will call us into ,his glorious presence4 ,for ,i reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us 7,rom4 viii3#ah74 ,for our light affliction which is but for a moment1 worketh a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 7#b ,cor4 v3#ag74 ,oh what will be the day when won at last ,the last long weary battle1 we shall come ,to those eternal gates the ,king hath passed1 ,returning from our exile to our ,home2 ,when earth's last dust is washed from off our feet2 ,the last sweat from our brows is wiped away2 ,the hopes that made our pilgrim journey sweet ,all met around us1 realized that day6 ,oh what will be the day1 when we shall stand ,irradiate with ,god's eternal light2 ,first tread as sinless saints the sinless land1 ,no shade nor stain upon our garments white2 ,no fear1 no shame upon our faces then1 ,no mark of sin--oh joy beyond all thought6 ,a son of ,god1 a free-born citizen ,of that bright city where the curse is not6 ,the ,exalted ,one4 ,hebrews i4 ,,some thirty-five years ago1 when the so-called ,higher ,criticism had begun its destructive work1 a believer living in ,england1 predicted that within thirty years the storm would gather over one sacred head4 ,how this has come true6 ,satan's work of undermining the authority of the ,bible1 a pernicious work still going on1 is but the preliminary to an attack of the ,person of ,christ4 ,to-day as never before the glorious ,person of our ,lord is being belittled in the camp of ,christendom4 ,this is done not only in the out and out denials of ,his ,deity but also in more subtle ways4 ,it is for us who deny not ,his ,name 7,revel4 iii3#h71 whose desire is to exalt ,him1 ever to remind ourselves of the ,blessed ,one and ,his ,glory4 ,at this time we desire to look briefly at the teachings of the first chapter in ,hebrews4 ,this chapter is divided into two parts4 ,in the first part we find another great description of our adorable ,lord1 and in the second a description of ,his exaltation4 ,the beginning of the chapter gives us that solid assurance that ,god has spoken and that the ,old ,testament is ,his ,word4 ,god having spoken in many parts and in many ways formerly to the fathers in the prophets1 at the end of these days has spoken to us in 7the person of the7 ,son4 ,the ,old ,testament ,scriptures are the inspired ,word of ,god2 at last ,god spake in ,son1 as it is in the ,greek4 ,the ,old ,testament announced that ,god would speak in the person of the ,son4 ,for this reason it is impossible to deny the authority of the ,old ,testament without denying the authority of ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the written and the living ,word stand and fall together4 ,this is followed by a description of ,himself4 ,seven things are mentioned concerning our ,lord4 #a4 ,heir of all ,things4 #b4 ,by whom ,he made the worlds4 #c4 ,the ,brightness of ,god's ,glory4 #d4 ,the ,express image of ,his ,person4 #e4 ,the ,upholder of all ,things4 #f4 ,he has purged our sins4 #g4 ,he sat down at the right hand of the ,majesty on high4 ,what wonderful seven things these are6 ,oh that we would meditate more on each1 how it would strengthen our faith and deepen our fellowship with ,him4 ,it would give us victory when the hosts of the enemy press upon us4 ,our defeat is the result of losing sight of the object of our faith1 ,christ4 ,we also can divide the description of our ,lord in the first chapter of ,hebrews into three parts4 #a4 ,he is the ,son of ,god in eternity2 ,one with the ,father1 essentially and absolutely ,god4 ,this is found in these great statements ,by whom ,he made the worlds2 who being the brightness of ,his ,glory and the express image of ,his person1 and upholding all things by the ,word of ,his power4 ,this could never be said of a creature of ,god4 ,our ,lord is the ,creator ,himself1 the express image of the person of ,god1 the one who upholds all things4 ,what it all means6 ,what a ,lord we have6 ,all this harmonizes with the description of ,his ,person in ,colossians4 #b4 ,he is the ,son of ,god in incarnation4 ,this is found in the following sentence ,when ,he had ,himself purged out sins or as it is literally ,having made by ,himself the purification of sins4 ,for this great purpose ,he entered ,his own world4 ,the mighty ,creator1 the eternal ,son of ,god1 the ,holy ,one is our ,redeemer4 ,as ,son of ,god ,he walked on the earth in the ,spirit of holiness1 the holy1 spotless ,one1 ,god manifested in the flesh4 ,and this wonderful ,being was made ,sin for us1 went as the willing sacrifice to the cross4 ,oh what a record6 ,who did no sin1 neither was guile found in his mouth2 who when reviled1 reviled not again3 when suffering threatened not2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 who ,himself bore our sins in ,his body on the tree1 4 4 4 4 by whose stripes ye have been healed4 ,what a foundation for our faith1 what assurance6 ,he ,himself has accomplished the work for us and has made peace in the blood of ,his cross4 ,he only could do it4 #c4 ,the ,son of ,god in resurrection4 ,he sat down on the right hand of the ,majesty on high1 being made so much better than the angels as ,he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they4 ,and in verse #b we read ,whom ,he 7,god7 hath appointed heir to all things4 ,all this is spoken of ,him who had died on the cross and who raised from the dead as glorified ,man is at the right hand of the majesty on high4 ,what ,he is in that resurrection ,glory we shall be with ,him4 ,his ,love does not stop short of this4 ,the ,glory the ,father gave to ,him1 ,he has given to us4 ,he is the image of the invisible ,god1 because ,he is ,god4 ,his redeemed people shall be transformed into ,his image1 that ,he might be the first born among many brethren4 ,what a thought this is6 ,we shall image ,him forth in all eternity1 as ,he images the invisible ,god4 ,into what depths we gaze6 ,then in the second part of this chapter we find a description of ,his exaltation and ,glory4 ,the ,holy ,spirit shows this marvelous theme from ,his ,word4 ,he quotes from seven ,psalms1 that book which is one of the most attacked in the present day4 ,the ,holy ,spirit gives us a key in these quotations how we should look for ,christ in the ,psalms4 ,what wickedness in face of such ,scriptures to deny the messianic prophecies contained in the ,psalms4 ,the ,psalms quoted are the following3 ,the ii2 lxxxix 7#b ,sam4 vii3#ad72 xcvii2 civ2 xlv2 cii and cx4 ,they reveal ,his ,glory and in what ,his future ,glory will exist4 ,and we shall share that exaltation with ,him4 ,we are destined to be ,his ,co-heirs4 ,we shall rule with ,him and shall be priests with ,him4 ,he is higher than the angels in ,his resurrection ,glory4 ,he was made a little lower than the angels that ,he could take us with ,himself into that place above the angels4 ,all ,glory and ,praise to ,his ,holy ,name4 ,we worship and adore ,thee1 ,thou ,son of ,god1 our ,saviour and ,lord6 ,what ,glory awaits us6 ,what dignity is ours6 ,oh1 child of ,god1 you need just this one thing1 to know ,him better1 to have the ,holy ,spirit make ,christ and the things of ,christ1 the future ,glory more real to your souls4 ,let ,him do it4 ,and soon we shall be with ,him4 ,lamb of ,god1 ,thy faithful promise ,says1 ,behold1 ,i quickly come2 ,and our hearts1 to ,thine responsive1 ,cry1 come1 ,lord1 and take us home4 ,oh1 the rapture that awaits us ,when we meet ,thee in the air1 ,and with ,thee ascend in triumph1 ,all ,thy deepest joys to share6 ,a ,glorious ,vision4 ,,the ,epistle to the ,hebrews1 this profound and blessed portion of the ,holy ,scriptures1 unfolds a most wonderful vision of the ,person1 the ,glory and the great ,redemption work of our adorable ,lord4 ,the portion of the ,epistle which is the richest in this respect is the ,second ,chapter4 ,here is a vista for the eyes of faith which is sublime4 ,our ,lord in ,his ,person1 in ,his humiliation and exaltation1 in ,his suffering and glory1 stands out in a way which makes the believing heart rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of ,glory4 ,what ,he has accomplished for us1 ,his present place in ,glory and intercessory work1 ,his future and dominion over the earth1 all are mentioned by the ,holy ,spirit in this brief chapter4 ,his humiliation by incarnation is mentioned in these words ,thou madest ,him a little lower than the angels4 ,forasmuch1 then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood1 ,he also ,himself likewise took part of the same4 ,and ,he is the ,one by whom are all things 7verse #aj74 ,his suffering and death and its blessed results are given in this chapter4 ,by the grace of ,god ,he should taste death for every man4 ,that through death ,he might destroy him that had the power of death1 that is the devil4 ,he made reconciliation for sins of the people4 ,we read of the gracious relations into which all believing sinners are brought in virtue of ,his work on the cross4 ,for both ,he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one2 for which cause ,he is not ashamed to call them brethren4 ,it is that blessed1 deep1 eternal relationship of being ,one with ,him and ,one with ,god4 ,then we find here ,his presence as ,man in ,glory4 ,but we see ,jesus1 who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor4 ,in that attitude ,he is now the merciful and faithful high ,priest4 ,for in that ,he ,himself hath suffered1 being tempted1 ,he is able to succor them that are tempted4 ,the ultimate result of ,his work is also stated4 ,he is bringing many sons unto glory4 ,and that glory will be ,his own glory4 ,not only now but in that future day of glory ,he will declare ,behold ,i and the children1 which ,god hath given me4 ,furthermore we have the fact of ,his earthly dominion1 that ,he is to have possession of the earth4 ,the world to come1 that is the habitable earth1 not heaven1 is to be put in subjection under ,him4 ,thou hast put all things in subjection under ,his feet4 ,all these blessed truths are stated in this chapter of ,hebrews4 ,in regard to a subdued earth we read3 ,but now we see not yet all things put under ,him4 ,that was true when the ,holy ,spirit penned these words4 ,this is still true and it will be true until the ,father bringeth in the ,first begotten into the world1 when not alone all the angels of ,god will worship ,him 7,heb4 i3#f71 but when ,god will make ,his enemies the footstool of ,his blessed feet 7,psalm cx3#a74 ,however this coming triumph for ,him who was made a little lower than the angels is not the glorious vision of this chapter4 ,it is time by faith we may behold the glorious consummation as revealed in the prophetic ,word1 but here another vision for our present rejoicing and present help is put before us4 ,while we see not yet all things put under ,his feet we see ,jesus1 who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor4 ,this is the great vision for the present4 ,this is what the ,holy ,spirit wants us to behold more than anything else4 ,of ,stephen it is written3 ,he being full of the ,holy ,spirit1 looked up steadfastly into heaven1 and saw the glory of ,god1 and ,jesus standing at the right hand of ,god 7,acts vii3#ee74 ,and whenever the ,holy ,spirit fills us ,he will direct the vision of the eyes of our heart to ,him who was made a little lower than the angels and who is now in heaven crowned with glory and honor4 ,and only the power of the ,holy ,spirit filling us can make this great fact and vision a reality4 ,but what does this glorious vision mean to us8 ,what does it teach us8 ,oh1 much more than the weak pen of the writer can tell out4 ,the blessed ,one who is there crowned with glory and honor is the ,one who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death2 ,he bore our sins on the cross and died for us4 ,what a blessed1 blessed proof then it is1 as we behold ,him there1 that our sins are completely and forever gone6 ,but more than that4 ,in seeing ,him there we behold ourselves4 ,the deliverer of our souls at the right hand of ,god1 the second man1 crowned with glory and honor1 is the pattern and forerunner of all who belong to ,him and whom ,he is not ashamed to call brethren4 ,grace has raised us up together1 and has made us sit down together in the heavenlies in ,christ ,jesus 7,eph4 ii3#e1 #f74 ,our eternal destiny1 beloved in the ,lord1 is to be like ,him1 with ,him and to share ,his marvelous inheritance as ,his co-heirs4 ,that glorious vision is the evidence of our coming glory1 when we shall be transformed into ,his image that ,he might be the firstborn among many brethren4 ,as we gaze in the ,spirit on ,him who is crowned with glory and honor we can see ourselves4 ,and as the age darkens1 as the ,laodicean state becomes more prevalent1 temptations and snares increase1 the enemy's powers and activities more marked1 we need to open our eyes and hearts wider1 to take in the vision of our blessed head in ,glory4 ,only in this way can we be kept in these evil days4 ,the only way of spiritual progress1 spiritual enjoyment1 spiritual worship is to behold as in a glass the glory of the ,lord1 and beholding that glorious vision we are changed into the same image from glory to glory1 even as by the ,spirit of the ,lord 7#b ,cor4 vii3#ah74 ,this glorious vision will keep us in the place of separation4 ,it will make us heavenly-minded and produce in our lives the practical results of the cross of ,christ crucified unto the world and the world crucified unto me4 ,why do real ,christians1 who know the truth and even know and speak of ,his ,second ,coming go along with the world and delight in its ways8 ,it is because the heart is departed from ,christ and has lost sight of the blessed and glorious vision4 ,years ago a saint of ,god1 who is now present with the ,lord1 made the following statement3 ,it sometimes happens that ,christians have got so far away from ,christ in heart1 that they become engrossed in the affairs of this life1 and some can even visit and enjoy the poor empty1 tinselled shows of this world's vanity4 ,what could be more lamentable8 ,they forget that death's stamp is deeply graven on everything this side of resurrection4 ,but such actions clearly prove that the heart must have been away from ,christ for some time4 ,reader6 if this means you return unto thy rest4 ,arise now and seek ,his face and behold your ,saviour1 who was made a little lower than the angels crowned with glory and honor4 ,may all our hearts1 dear children of ,god1 cry out with him1 who knew ,him so well1 the prisoner of the ,lord ,that ,i may know ,him1 and the power of ,his resurrection and the fellowship of ,his sufferings1 being made conformable unto ,his death 7,phil4 iii3#aj74 ,soon we shall know ,him and all ,his glory4 ,i see a ,man at ,god's right hand1 ,upon the throne of ,god1 ,and there in seven-fold light ,i see ,the seven-fold sprinkled blood2 ,i look upon that glorious ,man1 ,on that blood-sprinkled throne2 ,i know that ,he sits there for me1 ,the glory is my own4 ,the heart of ,god flows forth in love1 ,a deep eternal stream2 ,through that beloved ,son it flows ,to me as unto ,him4 ,and1 looking on ,his face1 ,i know-- ,weak1 worthless1 though ,i be-- ,how deep1 how measureless1 how sweet1 ,that love of ,god to me4 ,my ,brethren4 ,,our ,lord ,jesus ,christ calls those for whom ,he died and who have believed on ,him ,my ,brethren4 ,what a word it is6 ,the ,brethren of the ,man in ,glory6 ,brethren of ,him who is at the right hand of ,god1 the upholder and heir of all things6 ,pause for a moment1 dear reader4 ,let your heart lay hold anew of this wonderful message of ,god's ,grace2 ,brethren of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ6 ,what depths of love and grace these words contain6 ,what heights of glory they promise to us1 who were bought by ,his own precious blood6 ,his ,brethren now2 ,his ,brethren forever4 ,one with ,him1 one with ,his ,father and ,his ,god4 ,sharers of ,his life1 sharers of ,his ,spirit1 sharers of ,his glory and ,his inheritance4 ,blessed1 glorious truth1 ,he calls us ,his ,brethren4 ,it is in the twenty-second ,psalm where we find this truth revealed prophetically for the first time4 ,that ,psalm begins1 as we have seen before1 with the utterance of the deepest distress4 ,it closes with the shout of victory and of triumph4 ,he who was forsaken of ,god on the cross1 the blessed sin bearer1 has received glory4 ,in the midst of the congregation1 ,his redeemed people1 ,he praises ,god1 who has delivered ,him and who gave ,him ,glory4 ,in ,god's own time1 in the coming day of ,his visible manifestation1 all the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the ,lord1 and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before ,him4 ,then the ,kingdom will be the ,lord's4 ,he who suffered on the cross was heard from the horns of the unicorn 7,ps4 xxii3#ba74 ,resurrection was the answer from ,god2 the power of ,god raised ,him from the dead4 ,at once1 after the great work had been accomplished1 there follows the triumphant declaration of ,him whose voice had cried so bitterly in death1 ,i will declare ,thy ,name unto my brethren2 in the midst of the congregation will ,i praise ,thee4 ,and blessed was the fulfilment on that day of joy1 when the tomb was empty and ,he had come forth1 the risen ,christ4 ,to ,mary ,magdalene ,he said on that glorious resurrection morning1 ,but go and tell my brethren1 and say unto them1 ,i ascend unto my ,father and your ,father1 and to my ,god and your ,god 7,john xx3#ag74 ,what joy must then have filled ,his loving heart4 ,from ,his gracious lips there bursts forth a message such as ,he never gave to ,his own before ,his resurrection4 ,the great work on the cross had been accomplished1 sin had been put away by the sacrifice of ,himself4 ,the ,only ,begotten of the ,father1 ,god's holy ,son1 one with ,god1 became ,man2 then passing through death1 in which ,he fully glorified ,god1 ,god raised ,him from the dead4 ,and now ,he gives the blessed results of ,his own work for those who believe on ,him4 ,he has brought us into the same relationship with ,his ,father and ,his ,god1 which ,he ,himself holds1 as the ,man ,christ ,jesus1 raised from the dead4 ,his ,father1 the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 is our ,father2 ,his ,god is our ,god4 ,and again we pause as we write this4 ,let our hearts repeat it3 ,my ,father1 your ,father2 my ,god1 your ,god4 ,he has brought us into fellowship with ,his ,father2 ,he has brought us to ,god and the place ,he has with the ,father and with ,god1 is the place ,god's fathomless ,grace has given to us4 ,how little our hearts take it in6 ,how little reality we possess of all this6 ,and yet ,he wants us to enjoy it as ,he enjoys the fulness of joy in ,his ,father's and ,his ,god's own presence4 ,may the ,holy ,spirit work in us unhindered1 that through ,his power we may lay hold in faith of this mighty truth and have it as a practical power in our daily lives4 ,my ,father1 your ,father2 my ,god1 your ,god and ,christ1 who loved me and gave ,himself for me1 ,christ1 who loveth us1 is with ,his ,father and ,his ,god4 ,in such relationship1 brought to the ,father and to ,god through the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and kept there by ,his own ,grace and ,power1 how happy we should be4 ,and because we possess now in virtue of ,christ's work this blessed relationship1 ,he owns us joyfully as ,his brethren4 ,hebrews ii3#aa-ab puts this more fully before our hearts3 ,for both ,he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one2 for which cause ,he is not ashamed to call them brethren4 ,saying1 ,i will declare ,thy name unto my brethren1 in the midst of the church will ,i sing praise unto ,thee4 ,the ,lord ,jesus ,christ is ,he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified by ,his great work and are in ,him1 are believing sinners1 reconciled to ,god by ,his blood4 ,both ,he that sanctifieth and we are all of ,one and this ,one is ,god1 the ,father4 ,therefore ,he is not ashamed to call them brethren4 ,it is true we possess this relationship with the ,man in ,glory1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 because we are born of ,god4 ,we have eternal life1 ,his own life1 and that makes us ,one with ,him4 ,but this is not the truth in view here4 ,it is the truth that ,he has identified ,himself with us and through ,his death and resurrection we are identified with ,him4 ,and what it means in the midst of the church will ,i sing praises unto ,thee we shall not follow at this time4 ,but let us keep it before our hearts a little while longer4 ,the ,lord of ,glory calls us ,my ,brethren4 ,he who is there in the ,father's house1 in the ,father's presence and on the ,father's throne is not ashamed to call us brethren4 ,he knows all about us4 ,he knows all the depths of sin in which we are by nature2 that by nature we were enemies by wicked works and children of wrath1 but ,he took it all upon ,himself and has taken it out of the way and now ,he looks upon us and all who have accepted ,him by personal faith as being one with ,him and one with ,his ,father2 therefore ,he is not ashamed to call us brethren4 ,what a comfort it should be to our hearts6 ,what joy it should create in our souls6 ,he ,himself received from ,god1 ,his heart's desire and the request of ,his lips 7,ps4 xxi3#b74 ,and all ,his desire and request was in our behalf1 that ,he might bring us1 ,his many sons1 to glory4 ,and now ,he rejoices in us1 for we are ,his inheritance4 ,he wants us to rejoice in ,him and with ,him in an unspeakable joy and full of glory4 ,our souls entering into all this and rejoicing with ,him in ,his salvation1 enjoying the comfort of it2 this honors ,him and honors ,god4 ,it should end the discouragement and unbelief from which we so often suffer4 ,though we are weak and erring1 imperfect in all our ways1 yet ,he is not ashamed to call us brethren4 ,such a fellowship and relation into which we are brought once and1 for all by the ,son of ,god1 should1 if accepted in faith1 dispel any doubt about ourselves and free us from all gloom and discouragement4 ,alas6 how dull we are not to enter fully into the joy and comfort ,grace has bestowed upon us6 ,and then think of the dignity and honor which is ours4 ,sons of ,god with ,him2 ,heirs of ,god with ,him2 one with ,him1 perfectly identified with the blessed ,one in ,god's presence4 ,therefore ,he is not ashamed to call us brethren4 ,to walk worthy of the ,lord is our calling2 and worthy of the ,lord we shall walk if we have the great fact of our fellowship with the ,son of ,god as a reality before our souls4 ,it is a sad state to speak theoretically of our position in ,christ1 to know all this with our intellects and not to manifest it in our lives and show forth the excellencies of ,him1 who has called us from darkness into his marvellous light4 ,he is not ashamed to call us brethren4 ,it should strengthen the love for the brethren4 ,love one another4 ,the weakest1 the most imperfect believer1 that one who appears to us so unlovable and so ignorant1 is nevertheless owned by him4 ,just let us remember in looking upon all believers1 that he is not ashamed to call them brethren1 that no matter where they belong1 what their knowledge in the ,scriptures might be1 they belong to ,christ1 and are equally beloved of ,god4 ,how we need it in a day when ,satan goes about dividing the people of ,god4 ,love for the brethren1 a deep1 real heart love1 will possess us as our hearts feed upon the fact of our oneness with him and with ,his ,father and ,his ,god4 ,he is not ashamed to call them brethren4 ,it will be an incentive to witness for ,him4 ,dishonored as ,he is1 it falls upon us to honor ,him by our personal witness4 ,while in the ,father's presence ,he sings and is the leader of the praises of ,his people1 we must sing of ,him here and utter ,his praise on earth4 ,he is not ashamed of us2 how could we ever be ashamed of ,him8 ,what an honor to speak ,his worth1 to tell out1 though in feeble way1 ,his glory and exalt ,his name4 ,and yet we must beware of an unscriptural familiarity with ,him1 which the ,holy ,spirit does not sanction in the ,scriptures4 ,we must not address ,him1 as it is so often done1 as my brother1 or other sentimental terms1 which our pen is reluctant to repeat4 ,in all this we must not forget ,his dignity and glory4 ,while ,he thus identified ,himself with us and is not ashamed to call us brethren1 ,he is nevertheless the holy ,son of ,god1 the ,lord of all4 ,as such we must adore and worship ,him4 ,some blessed day we shall be just like ,him4 ,we are predestinated to be conformed to the image of ,his ,son1 that ,he might be the first born among many brethren 7,rom4 viii3#bi74 ,that will be in the glorious day when we shall meet ,him face to face4 ,we know that when ,he shall appear1 we shall be like ,him2 for we shall see ,him as ,he is 7,john iii3#b74 ,what it all will mean8 ,what day of joy and triumph for ,him1 when ,he stands as the leader of all whom the ,father has given unto ,him1 when all according to ,his prayer will be the sharers of ,his ,glory4 ,then ,he will be glorified in ,his saints for they will bear ,his image and reflect ,his glory4 ,what a destiny6 ,like ,him and with ,him4 ,and this future of perfect conformity to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and possession of the wonderful inheritance1 which1 in its riches we cannot grasp now with out finite minds1 is rapidly approaching4 ,how soon it may burst upon us6 ,oh1 friends1 beloved in the ,lord6 ,do we all enjoy this now in faith8 ,is it so that the ,lord ,jesus ,christ becomes daily more real and precious to us8 ,do we live in the power of all this8 ,the ,patience of ,christ4 ,,but the ,lord direct your hearts into the ,love of ,god and into the ,patience of ,christ 7#b ,thess4 iii3#e74 ,with these words ,paul exhorted the ,thessalonian believers4 ,they had many trials and difficulties4 ,they suffered persecutions and were troubled4 ,false alarms had affected their patience of hope in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the inspired exhortation puts before their hearts the ,patience of ,christ4 ,comfort and joy1 encouragement and peace1 would surely come to their hearts and strengthen them1 if they remembered and entered into the ,patience of ,christ4 ,and who can describe or speak fully and worthily of the ,patience of our blessed ,lord6 ,it includes so much4 ,all ,his moral ,glory and ,divine perfections are concealed and revealed in this ,word4 ,the word patience has a wide meaning4 ,it means more than we generally express by it4 ,submission1 endurance in meekness1 waiting in faith1 quietness1 contentment1 composure1 forebearance1 suffering in calmness1 calmness in suffering2 all and more is contained in the one word1 ,patience4 ,and such patience in all its fulness and perfection the ,son of ,god exhibited in ,his earthly life4 ,whenever we look in the ,gospels1 we behold this calm1 quiet1 restful patience4 ,his whole life here on earth is but a continued record of patience4 ,in patience ,his childhood was spent1 and when in ,his twelfth year the ,glory of ,his ,deity flashed forth we read ,he went down with them1 and came to ,nazareth1 and was subject unto them4 ,in patience1 ,he whose mighty power had called the universe in existence1 toiled on1 content in ,nazareth1 submissive to the ,father1 till after many years the day would come1 when the work ,he had come to do should be begun and finished4 ,to describe that ,patience during ,his public ministry from ,nazareth1 where ,he had been brought up1 to ,golgotha1 would necessitate a close scrutiny of every step of the way1 every act and every utterance which came from ,his holy lips4 ,what discoveries of ,his ,grace and moral ,glory we make1 if under the guidance of ,his ,spirit we meditate on ,his life here below4 ,humility and submission under ,god1 patient waiting on ,him1 utter absence of all haste1 perfect calmness of soul and every other characteristic of perfect patience1 we can trace constantly in that wonderful life4 ,what patience is revealed in the forty days in the wilderness1 when ,he hungered and was with the wild beasts 7,mark i3#ac74 ,when ,satan tempted ,him and asked for stones to be made bread1 ,he exhibited still ,his patience4 ,in ,his service1 that marvellous service rendered by the perfect servant1 no ambitiousness or ostentatiousness can ever be discovered4 ,he pleased not ,himself but ,him who sent ,him4 ,he was constantly going about doing the ,father's will4 ,his kindness and love were rewarded by rejection and insults1 yet no complaint or murmur ever came from ,his lips4 ,he was always trusting in ,god1 perfectly calm1 perfectly satisfied4 ,and how ,his patience shines out in dealing with men4 ,what patience ,he had with ,his disciples and how ,he bore with them in love4 ,they were slow learners4 ,what patience and tenderness in his conversation with her1 whom ,he had sought1 the woman at ,samaria's well4 ,and greatest above all ,his patience in suffering4 ,he endured the cross4 ,when ,he was reviled1 ,he reviled not again2 when ,he suffered1 ,he threatened not1 but committed ,himself to ,him that judgeth righteously4 7#a ,pet4 ii3#bc74 ,he was oppressed1 and ,he was afflicted1 yet ,he opened not ,his mouth2 ,he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter1 and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb1 so ,he opened not ,his mouth4 ,all the buffetings1 shame1 dishonors1 griefs1 pains and sorrows ,he patiently endured4 ,oh6 the patience of ,christ1 who for the joy set before ,him endured the cross1 despising the shame6 ,and into this patience of ,christ our hearts are to be directed4 ,it is to be the object of our contemplation and to be followed by us1 who belong to ,him4 ,the patience of ,christ must be manifested in our lives4 ,for even hereunto were ye called1 because ,christ also suffered for us1 leaving us an example1 that ye should follow ,his steps4 ,his humility1 submissiveness1 contentment1 calmness1 patience in endurance1 in doing and suffering the will of ,god1 must be reproduced in our lives4 ,but how little we know of it in reality4 ,impatience is the leading characteristic of the closing days of this present evil age4 ,it is alas6 but too prominently seen among ,god's people who are influenced by the present day currents4 ,how little true waiting on the ,lord and for the ,lord is practiced6 ,how much reaching out after the things which are but for a moment and which will soon perish6 ,in consequence there is but little enjoyment of that which is the glorious and eternal portion of the ,saints of ,god4 ,how great the haste and hurry of present day life6 ,how little quietness and contentment6 ,in suffering and loss1 murmurings1 fault-finding and words of forced resignation are more frequently heard than joyful songs of praise4 ,unrest instead of rest1 discontent instead of contentment1 anxiety instead of simple trust1 self exaltation instead of self abnegation1 ambitiousness instead of lowliness of mind are found on all sides among those who name the name of ,christ and who carry ,his ,life in their hearts4 ,and why8 ,your heart1 dear reader1 is so often out of touch with ,christ4 ,you lose sight of ,him4 ,his ,spirit is grieved and in consequence there is failure and the impatience of the flesh4 ,return1 oh my soul1 unto thy rest6 ,direct1 ,o ,lord1 our hearts into the ,patience of ,christ4 ,the ,patience of ,christ4 ,he is still the patient ,christ4 ,rejected by the world ,he has taken ,his place upon the ,father's throne4 ,there ,he waits until ,his enemies are made ,his footstool4 ,long ago1 in our human reckoning1 ,he entered there4 ,long ago the ,father said to ,him1 ,ask of ,me and ,i will give ,thee the heathen for thine inheritance1 and the uttermost part of the earth for ,thy possession 7,ps4 ii3#h74 ,up to now ,he has not yet asked the ,father4 ,when ,he asks it will mean judgment for this world4 ,in infinite patience ,he has waited and waited in the presence of ,god4 ,and all this time ,he has carried on ,his work as the ,priest and ,advocate of ,his people who live on earth4 ,with what tenderness and patience ,he has dealt with all who lived in the past centuries4 ,his mighty power kept them and now they are at home with ,him4 ,the same patience ,he manifests towards us4 ,how often we have failed ,him and walked in the flesh instead of walking in the ,spirit4 ,we came to ,him and confessed and then we found ,him so loving towards us4 ,but ere long we failed again and in ,his loving patience ,his arms were again around us4 ,and thus a hundred times4 ,he changeth not4 ,he is the same loving1 patient ,lord towards ,his own in ,glory as ,he was on earth4 ,he shall not be discouraged1 the prophet declared4 ,even so ,his ,patience knows no discouragement4 ,in all the dishonor done to ,his holy1 worthy ,name1 ,he endures patiently4 ,he is silent to all what is done by ,his enemies4 ,the ,patience of ,christ4 ,may the ,lord grant us ,his ,patience4 ,john said to himself1 ,i am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of ,jesus ,christ 7,rev4 i3#i74 ,to that kingdom and ,patience of ,jesus ,christ of which ,john speaks of belonging we belong4 ,the martyrs belonged to it4 ,afflictions1 persecutions and sufferings were their part4 ,they are ours4 ,in humility1 in endurance1 unflinching courage1 in the patience of ,christ1 let us suffer with ,him1 share ,his reproach until ,his ,glory is revealed4 ,he ,shall ,not ,keep ,silent4 ,,the heavens have long been silent4 ,it is one of the leading characteristics of this present age1 the closed1 the silent heavens4 ,but they will not be silent forever4 ,our ,god shall come and shall not keep silence 7,ps4 i3#c74 ,in ,his divine ,patience the ,lord has been at the right hand of ,god for nearly two thousand years4 ,he will not occupy that place forever4 ,it is not ,his permanent station to be upon the ,father's throne4 ,he has the promise of ,his own throne1 which ,he as the ,king-,priest must occupy4 ,nearly two thousand years have gone since ,he passed through the heavens and during that time ,he has been rejected by the world4 ,every possible dishonor1 insult and shame has been heaped upon ,his holy head through the instrumentality of the enemy1 the devil4 ,never before has the rejection of the ,man in ,glory been so pronounced1 so radical1 so blasphemous as now4 ,those who love the ,lord ,jesus ,christ are constantly seized by an unspeakable grief on account of these awful denials of the ,christ of ,god and an horror as well4 ,and still ,he patiently waits4 ,but ,he will not always wait4 ,his ,patience will some day be exhausted4 ,he will pray ,his unprayed prayer in ,glory and ask of the ,father the nations and the uttermost parts of the earth4 ,the ,father will then send the ,firstborn back to this earth4 ,when ,he comes in visible ,glory to this earth it will mean the day of vengeance4 ,the vengeance of ,god will fall upon ,his enemies4 ,all the ,christ rejecters1 the wicked men and women who received not the love of the truth1 but had pleasure in unrighteousness1 the enemies of the cross of ,christ1 though they lived amiable lives 7one of ,satan's pet phrases71 will meet ,him not as the patient lamb1 but the ,judge1 the lion of the tribe of ,judah4 ,what will it be when ,his ,patience is ended8 ,what will it be when the kingdom and the ,patience of ,jesus ,christ give way to the kingdom and ,glory of ,jesus ,christ8 ,rapidly the day is nearing when the ,lord ,jesus ,christ will be completely rejected4 ,as long as the true church is still here this complete rejection is an impossibility4 ,but the church will some day leave this earth4 ,then conditions are ripe for the complete rejection of the ,christ and the reception of ,antichrist who will then appear4 ,and when the beast is worshipped 7,rev4 xiii7 and the world defies ,god and ,his anointed as never before1 when the nations of apostate ,christendom stand in battle array 7,rev4 xix3#ai71 then ,he will come as the ,king whose patience is ended and claim ,his ,kingdom4 ,what will it mean when ,his ,patience is ended8 ,who can describe it8 ,what judgments will fall then upon a wicked world and be meted out upon the enemies of ,christ8 ,the day of vengeance is rapidly approaching4 ,it is the day of vengeance for the world4 ,it is the day of the ,glory of ,christ4 ,it is the day of the ,glory of the ,saints4 ,it is the day of your ,glory as a believer4 ,let us suffer with ,him1 that we may also be glorified together4 ,let us be patient as long as ,he is patient4 ,be ye also patient2 establish your hearts for the coming of the ,lord draweth nigh4 ,grudge not one against another1 brethren1 lest ye be condemned2 behold the ,judge standeth before the door 7,james v3#h1 #i74 ,in ,his ,patience pray for the unsaved4 ,preach the ,gospel1 give out the ,gospel1 send the ,gospel1 give for the ,gospel1 live the ,gospel4 ,a little while longer and ,his patience will end4 ,trusting in the ,lord thy ,god1 ,onward go4 ,holding fast ,his faithful word1 ,onward go4 ,not denying ,his worthy name1 ,though it brings reproach and shame1 ,spreading still ,his wondrous fame1 ,onward go4 ,has ,he said the end is near8 ,onward go4 ,serving ,him with holy fear1 ,onward go4 ,christ thy portion1 ,christ thy stay-- ,heavenly bread upon the way1 ,leading on to glorious day-- ,onward go4 ,the ,love of ,christ4 ,,the ,patience of ,christ was recently the object of our meditation in these pages4 ,blessed and inexhaustible it is4 ,and now a still greater theme is before our hearts4 ,the ,love of ,christ4 ,the heart almost shrinks from attempting to write on the matchless1 unfathomable love of our blessed and adorable ,lord4 ,all the ,saints of ,god who have spoken and written on the ,love of ,christ have never told out its fulness and vastness1 its heights and its depths4 ,the ,love of ,christ which passeth knowledge 7,ephesians iii3#ai74 ,and yet we do know the ,love of ,christ4 ,while we cannot fully grasp that mighty1 eternal ,love our hearts can enjoy it and we can ever know more of it4 ,and ,he ,himself whose ,love is set upon us wants us to drink constantly of the ocean of ,his never-changing ,love and receive new tokens1 new glimpses of it4 ,surely ,his own blessed ,spirit1 though one feels so insufficient for such an object1 will guide us in our meditation4 ,he is with us and in us to glorify ,him and take of the things of ,christ to show them unto us4 ,the ,love of ,christ1 the ,holy ,spirit ever longs to make known and to impart to our poor and feeble hearts4 ,the ,love of our ,lord is an eternal ,love4 ,it is not a thing of time4 ,it antedates the foundation of the world4 ,his gracious eye surveyed us ,ere stars were seen above4 ,he as the ,son of ,god in the bosom of ,god was the object of ,love4 ,thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world 7,john xvii3 #bd74 ,and then ,he knew us and ,his ,love was even then set upon us1 before we ever were in existence4 ,he knew our sinfulness1 our enmity1 our vileness1 and in ,love which passeth knowledge ,he looked forward to the time1 when ,he would manifest this ,love to us ,his fallen creatures4 ,such knowledge is too wonderful for me2 it is high ,i cannot attain unto it 7,psalm cxxxix3#f74 ,it was ,love which brought ,him down from the ,glory1 which ,he had with ,god4 ,what ,love to come into this dark1 sin-cursed world1 a world full of enemies4 ,what ,love to leave that bright and glorious home and appear as man1 made of a woman entering this world ,he had called into existence4 ,and there was no room for ,him in the inn4 ,it passeth knowledge4 ,and then that life1 which ,he lived on earth1 was lived in that mighty ,love4 ,a love that led ,thee here below ,to tread a lonely path in grace1 ,to pass through sorrow1 grief and woe1 ,the portion of a ruin'd race4 ,what ,love we see in ,him1 in every step of that lonely path6 ,what compassion1 what tenderness in every action in every word we discover1 ever new and fresh1 in that blessed life of ,god's unspeakable gift4 ,wherever we look we behold that ,love4 ,loving compassion rested upon the multitudes2 with ,love ,he compassed the poor1 the sinful1 the oppressed1 the heartsick and the outcast4 ,love carried the weak and failing men1 who had believed on him1 ,his disciples4 ,a blessed word it is1 which stands in the beginning of the thirteenth chapter in the ,gospel of ,john4 ,having loved ,his own which were in the world1 ,he loved them unto the end4 ,his ,love for ,his own was expressed by serving them4 ,he pleased not ,himself but had come to minister4 ,he then girded ,himself and began to wash the disciples' feet4 ,what humiliation6 ,yet it was the fruit of ,love4 ,all ,he did was born of ,love4 ,his was on earth a constant1 a never-tiring1 an enduring ,love4 ,all the selfishness of ,his disciples could not quench that ,love4 ,nothing could quench ,his ,love for ,his own4 ,nothing will ever quench it4 ,peter denied ,him4 ,and the ,lord turned and looked upon ,peter 7,luke xxii3#fa74 ,was it a look of reproach8 ,was it a frown of displeasure which ,peter saw in that beloved face8 ,far from it4 ,love in its divine perfection shone out of the eyes of the ,son of ,god4 ,and after ,his resurrection that ,love was still the same4 ,there was no reproach connected with the restoration of ,peter to service4 ,in the greatest tenderness and ,love ,he committed to ,his disciple1 who had so shamefully denied ,him1 the lambs and sheep so dear to ,his own loving heart4 ,again we say1 that ,love passeth knowledge4 ,how could man's imagination and invention ever have produced such a loving ,person as our ,lord1 revealing the perfection of divine ,love6 ,but there is greater ,love than the ,love which we behold in ,his blessed ,life on earth4 ,the greater ,love is manifested when ,he laid down ,his life4 ,he came into the world to die1 to be the propitiation for our sins4 ,he came to take our place on the cross4 ,he came to drink the cup of wrath in our stead and suffer the awful penalty of our sins4 ,for when we were yet without strength1 in due time ,christ died for the ungodly4 ,for scarcely for a righteous man will one die2 yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die4 ,but ,god commendeth his love toward us1 in that1 while we were yet sinners1 ,christ died for us4 ,god in ,love gave thus ,his ,son1 and ,he gave ,himself in ,love4 ,from shame to shame1 from suffering to suffering1 from pain to pain and agony to agony that ,love went on to plunge into the deepest sorrow1 to reach at last the place where ,his loving lips had to cry ,my ,god1 ,my ,god1 why hast ,thou forsaken me8 ,to death of shame ,thy love did reach1 ,god's holy judgment then to bear2 ,ah1 ,lord1 what human tongue can teach ,or tell the love that brought ,thee there4 ,ah6 what human tongue can teach or tell the ,love that brought ,thee there6 ,it passeth knowledge4 ,but with loving1 praising hearts1 in worship and adoration we can look up to that cross on which the ,prince of ,glory died and say with ,paul1 ,he loved me1 ,he gave ,himself for me4 ,and again we join with the innumerable hosts of ,his own redeemed in the ,glory song4 ,unto ,him that loveth us and washed us from our sins in ,his own blood and hath made us ,kings and priests unto ,god and ,his ,father1 to ,him be ,glory and dominion forever4 ,amen4 ,and beloved reader1 that ,love which knew you and us all before we ever existed1 that ,love which came from ,glory for you1 that ,love which went into the jaws of death1 endured the cross and despised the shame1 that ,love which gave so willingly1 gave as we can never give1 that ,love is still the same4 ,it changes not4 ,his ,love knows no fluctuations4 ,that perfect ,love cannot grow cold or indifferent4 ,we all had our first love2 when first we saw ,him with the eyes of faith1 how our hearts were enraptured4 ,how soon that ,love began to grow cold and decreased instead of increased4 ,then our walk and service became affected for thus it must ever be when the heart is not responding to ,his ,love and not in living1 loving touch with ,himself4 ,oh6 the weeks and months and years of our ,christian experience spent without the full enjoyment of ,his ,love and ,presence4 ,but has this changed ,his ,love8 ,has our unfaithfulness1 our waywardness1 our failure and backsliding affected ,his ,love8 ,no4 ,he is the same loving ,lord1 the same loving ,christ who has borne us and yearned over us1 who has prayed for us and kept us4 ,whenever we turn to ,him with broken hearts1 confessing our sins1 when in shame we hide our faces and tell ,him all our failures1 we find ,him still the same loving ,lord as ,he was when ,his loving eyes rested upon ,peter4 ,oh6 how ,he must love us6 ,how ,he must love us1 with that ,love which passeth knowledge4 ,what treasures that ,love contains6 ,exhaustless it is ever flowing full and free towards ,his own4 ,how it must grieve ,him to see us so indifferent1 neither hot nor cold4 ,how it must grieve ,him that we enjoy this ,love so little that we permit that ,love so little to serve us and give ,him so little opportunity to manifest ,his mighty ,love towards us4 ,alas6 ,we even mistrust that ,love4 ,when suffering and loss overtake us1 when instead of prosperity adversity is our lot1 we doubt that ,love4 ,fears and anxieties are nothing less than an impeachment of the ,love1 which passeth knowledge4 ,his ,love will never fail4 ,he will see us safe home4 ,let the forces of the enemy roar1 let trials and troubles come1 ,his ,love will keep us4 ,his ,love is our eternal portion4 ,for ,i am persuaded1 that neither death1 nor life1 nor angels1 nor principalities1 nor powers1 nor things present1 nor things to come1 nor height1 nor depth1 nor any other creature1 shall be able to separate us from the love of ,god1 which is in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,and soon ,he will have us with ,himself4 ,the church ,he loved1 for which ,he gave ,himself1 the church ,he sanctified by the washing of water1 this church ,he will present to ,himself a glorious church 7,eph4 v3#bd-bg74 ,even while on earth ,he made known ,his loving purpose1 for ,he prayed1 ,the ,glory1 which ,thou hast given me ,i have given to them4 ,it is ,his ,love which will make us sharers of ,his own ,glory and ,inheritance4 ,what that ,love will do then6 ,how we shall drink deeper of that ,love1 than we ever could drink here6 ,oh the depths of the ,love to be fathomed in all eternity6 ,oh the length and breadth and height to be measured6 ,it can never1 no never be exhausted4 ,o1 child of ,god1 is not thy poor wandering heart beginning to be warmed8 ,is the warmth of ,his ,love1 the ,love of ,christ refreshing your soul8 ,thank ,god for it4 ,it is but a demonstration of ,his ,love4 ,and do we not want more of it8 ,do we not need it8 ,all our indifference1 our cold heartedness1 our prayerlessness1 our self indulgences1 our inactivity and all else which mars our ,christian lives1 is because we do not have the ,love of ,christ before our hearts4 ,if we were constantly enjoying ,his ,love and this mighty ,love would constrain us1 what self-sacrificing lives we would live6 ,how we would love one another and in love serve one another4 ,what peace there would be among those of like precious faith4 ,with a better heart knowledge of the ,love of ,christ1 what joy would be ours in all trials and suffering and with what boldness we would approach the throne of ,grace and make constant use of our ,god-given privilege1 prayer4 ,the ,love of ,christ would lead us on and on in love for souls1 in service untiring1 and yet the same ,love too will make us long and pray for ,his coming4 ,oh ,god our ,father1 grant unto us all and to all ,thy people throughout this world a greater1 a deeper1 a more real knowledge of the ,love of thine ever blessed ,son1 the ,love of ,christ1 and fill us through it with all the fulness of ,god4 ,amen4 ,the ,joy of the ,lord4 ,,it is written the joy of the ,lord is your strength4 ,every child of ,god knows in some measure what it is to rejoice in the ,lord4 ,the ,lord ,jesus ,christ must ever be the sole object of the believer's joy1 and as eyes and heart look upon ,him1 we1 too1 like the strangers scattered abroad to whom ,peter wrote shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory 7#a ,pet4 i3#h74 ,but it is upon our heart to meditate with our beloved readers on the joy of our adorable ,lord1 as his own personal joy4 ,the ,blessed ,one when ,his feet walked on the earth spoke not only of ,my ,peace1 but ,he also spoke of ,my ,joy4 ,while ,he imparts peace and joy and is the peace and joy of our hearts1 ,he also possesses ,his own ,peace and ,his own ,joy4 ,the ,joy of the ,lord4 ,there was a time when the morning stars sang together1 and all the sons of ,god shouted for joy 7,job xxxviii3#g74 ,it was in the beginning when the heavens and the earth were created by ,him1 who is before all things and by whom all things consist1 the ,son of ,god4 ,with what joy ,he must have beheld what was called into existence by ,him and for ,him 7,col4 i3#af74 ,but even before the foundation of the world ,he had joy4 ,with ,god1 in the bosom of the ,father ,love1 ,glory and ,joy were ,his eternal portion4 ,all was known to ,him from the beginning4 ,the fall of ,satan1 the fall of man through ,satan1 the entrance of sin with all its results1 the cost price of redemption1 the suffering in the flesh on the cross for the redemption of the creature1 the multitudes1 whom no man can number1 redeemed through ,his work1 believing in ,him1 brought to ,god1 united with ,him1 ,sons and ,heirs with ,him1 the ultimate victory over all enemies1 so that ,god would be all in all--all was known to ,him4 ,what joy must have filled ,him when at ,his incarnation ,he announced1 ,lo ,i come to do ,thy will ,o ,god 7,heb4 x3#e1 #f74 ,and then ,he came and took upon ,himself the form of a servant1 the first word the heavenly messenger spoke1 sent to the virgin to announce the incarnation1 was a word of joy4 ,never before had ,gabriel been sent with such a message4 ,hail our ,english version has it2 but the greeting means ,joy or ,oh the joy6 ,and the angel later announced good tidings of great joy4 ,and that blessed life which was lived upon earth to the ,glory of ,god1 was a life which knew joy4 ,all along the way from ,bethlehem to ,golgotha ,he had joy before ,his heart4 ,it is true ,he wept1 ,he had sufferings1 ,he was tempted1 ,he was ill-treated1 cast out1 maligned1 accused of evil and rejected1 but joy filled ,his heart4 ,his ,god and ,father was ,his joy1 yea1 ,his exceeding joy4 ,to do ,his will1 who had sent ,him was ,his constant joy4 ,his joy was to walk in confidence1 in dependence on ,him4 ,his ,father's love and delight1 which rested upon ,him were ,his joy4 ,whom have ,i in heaven but ,thee8 and there is none upon earth that ,i desire beside ,thee 7,ps4 lxxiii3#be74 ,this beautiful word must have been ,his constant declaration2 and that is joy4 ,i have set the ,lord always before me 7,ps4 xvi3#h7 is another utterance of ,god's ,spirit concerning the holy life of ,god's well beloved ,son4 ,and that meant joy4 ,the seventy ,he had sent forth had returned again with joy1 because the demons were subject unto them4 ,that is sinful man in carnal rejoicing6 some power manifested1 some great success fills our proud hearts with joy4 ,but ,his words told them of a different joy4 ,they were not to rejoice that the spirits submitted to them1 but that their names were written in heaven4 ,in that hour ,jesus rejoiced in spirit1 and said1 ,i thank ,thee1 ,o ,father1 ,lord of heaven and earth1 that ,thou hast hidden these things from the wise and the prudent1 and hast revealed them to babes2 even so ,father2 for so it seemed good in ,thy sight4 ,all things are delivered to ,me of ,my ,father2 and no man knoweth who the ,son is1 but the ,father2 and who the ,father is1 but the ,son1 and to whom the ,son will reveal ,him 7,luke x3#ba1 #bb74 ,thus ,he rejoiced4 ,in the parable of the treasure in the field ,he speaks of ,his joy4 ,the man who has found the treasure1 for joy thereof goeth and selleth all he hath1 and buyeth that field 7 ,matt4 xiii3#dd74 ,the man in the parable is the ,lord ,himself and the field is the world4 ,with joy ,he gave up all and came down here to buy us back4 ,and all ,his suffering from man and from ,satan1 the persecutions ,he suffered from ,his own people to whom ,he came were borne by ,him with joy4 ,he told out ,his own blessed character in the beatitudes and in speaking of those who are reviled and persecuted1 ,he said1 ,rejoice1 and be exceeding glad4 ,thus ,he must have borne it all with joy4 ,and then the cross4 ,the cross in which ,he who knew no sin was made sin for us4 ,he was troubled in ,his holy soul when ,he looked towards the cross 7,john xii3#bg74 ,in the garden ,he saw the cross4 ,and being in an agony ,he prayed more earnestly2 and ,his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground 7,luke xii3#dd74 ,and yet it is written who for the joy that was set before ,him endured the cross1 despising the shame1 and is set down at the right hand of the throne of ,god 7,heb4 xii3#b74 ,all the suffering put upon ,him by man1 acting under satanic impulses and the shame connected with the cross1 ,he despised1 the cross itself ,he could not despise1 but ,he endured that4 ,the joy was that ,he saw and knew the full and glorious result of all ,his work ,he had come to do4 ,he saw then the travail of ,his soul and was satisfied4 ,but in that cross there was that suffering1 which is unfathomable4 ,god's own hand rested upon ,him4 ,all ,his sorrowful complaints as predicted by ,his own ,spirit were then fulfilled4 ,thou hast laid me in the dust of death4 ,all ,thy waves and billows go over me4 ,thine hand has pressed me sore4 ,thy wrath lieth hard upon me4 ,thy fierce wrath goeth over me4 ,thou hast laid me in the lowest pit4 ,thus ,he suffered from ,god--smitten and afflicted of ,god4 ,it pleased the ,lord to bruise ,him4 ,then from that cross there came that loud and triumphant cry when ,he gave ,his life ,it is finished6 ,oh6 what joy must have filled then ,his soul1 when ,he knew the work is done1 all is accomplished4 ,and with equal joy ,god answered the cry of ,his well beloved ,son1 when ,he rent the veil from top to bottom4 ,the risen ,lord in meeting ,his disciples greeted them1 with the greeting of joy1 which ,gabriel had used4 ,all ,hail--literally1 ,oh the joy6 7,matt4 xxviii3#i47 ,what joy must then have filled ,his loving heart as ,he met ,his own again4 ,oh the joy6 thus they had mocked ,him when they crowned ,him with a crown of thorns and bowed the knee and in derision shouted ,all hail--,rejoice--,king of the ,jews4 ,but in the resurrection ,he shouts ,oh the ,joy6 ,the victory is won4 ,satan1 ,sin1 ,death and the ,grave are vanquished4 ,and what joy is ,his now6 ,what joy will be ,his ere long6 ,with a shout ,he went up 7,ps4 xlvii3#e74 ,what a joy when ,he passed through the heavens and as the glorified man ,he entered the ,holy of ,holies6 ,what a joy when the ,father had the well beloved with ,him again1 and ,he took ,his seat at ,his own right hand4 ,what joy for ,him and the heavens when ,glory and ,honor was put upon ,him and ,he was proclaimed throughout the depths of the universe as ,heir of all things6 ,what joy6 ,all power in heaven and on earth is ,his4 ,oh the joy6 as sinners are saved by ,grace1 whom ,he redeemed by ,his blood4 ,and as ,his body is building ,he rejoiceth as the bridegroom over the bride4 ,in unspeakable joy ,he carrieth on ,his loving1 tender1 priestly work in behalf of those for whom ,he died4 ,his joy and delight1 as well as ,his love and ,his power is with them1 who are ,his4 ,but there is greater joy in the future for ,him1 the ,man in ,glory4 ,though even now ,he is anointed with the oil of gladness above all ,his fellows4 ,his joy will increase and be full in the future4 ,another glad shout will be heard when he leaves the ,father's throne and descends into the air4 ,a shout of triumph and joy it will be1 which will open the graves of the ,saints1 which will summon those who remain to meet ,him in the air4 ,oh the joy at last the travail of ,his soul will be brought into ,his presence4 ,oh the joy6 ,he will have us then and we will be with ,him4 ,with exceeding joy ,he will present us faultless before the presence of ,his ,glory 7,jud4 #bd74 ,in joy and a glorious triumph ,he will bring many sons to glory4 ,what joy it will be when ,he leads forth from heaven's glorious mansions1 those who are ,god's workmanship created by ,christ ,jesus6 ,then all the world will know and angels shout once more for joy in the full and glorious revelation of the new creation4 ,oh6 the ,joy for ,him6 when ,israel cries out ,blessed is ,he that cometh in the name of the ,lord6 ,oh the joy6 when creation sings her songs of praise to ,him1 whose pierced hands have removed the curse4 ,oh6 the joy6 when nations hear war no more but sing the worth of the ,king of ,kings and lay their gifts at ,his feet4 ,if we could measure all which was accomplished on ,calvary's cross1 then we could also measure ,his joy1 the joy of the ,lord4 ,reader6 ,if you are saved by ,grace1 one with the ,lord1 then all this is yours4 ,the joy in the ,lord and the joy of the ,lord is to be your portion now and in the day of ,his joy and glory4 ,murmuring1 discouraged1 tempted1 complaining1 bereaved1 downhearted1 halfhearted child of ,god1 ponder over these words4 ,let ,god's ,spirit lead you into them4 ,the joy of the ,lord is to be your portion4 ,it will dispel your gloom4 ,it will end your discouragement4 ,it will give you songs in the night4 ,it will lift you into a holy walk4 ,the joy of the ,lord can do this4 ,he wants you to possess ,his joy4 ,these things have ,i spoken unto you1 and that your joy might be full 7,john xv3#aa74 ,let the ,holy ,spirit1 who is given to you of ,god1 make the ,lord ,jesus ,christ a greater reality in your life4 ,let the joy of the ,lord be your joy4 ,rejoice in ,god1 the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,let your joy be to do ,his will4 ,accept all from ,his hands4 ,rejoice in all things4 ,rejoice in the ,lord always1 and again ,i say1 ,rejoice 7,phil4 iv3#d74 ,rejoice and glory in tribulation4 ,count it all joy when ye fall in divers temptations 7,james i3#b74 ,having ,christ1 brought nigh to ,god1 a perfect access into ,his presence1 yea the right to come with boldness1 a rejoicing and praising spirit should be manifested by us4 ,and look at the joy which is set before us4 ,how it ought to lift us over all the present day trials and temptations and give us victory over the cares and anxieties1 the pleasures and deceitful riches of this present evil and fast closing age4 ,enter thou into the joy of ,thy ,lord4 ,this is our blessed and glorious future4 ,we shall share ,his future joy as we shall share ,his glory4 ,and it is but a little while longer and weeping1 which endured for the night1 will give way to the joy of the morning4 ,this ,same ,jesus4 ,,and ,he led them out as far as to ,bethany1 and ,he lifted up ,his hands1 and blessed them4 ,and it came to pass1 while he blessed them1 ,he was parted from them1 and carried up into heaven4 ,and they worshipped ,him1 and returned to ,jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple1 praising and blessing ,god 7,luke xxiv3#ej-ec74 ,something else is reported in the first chapter in the book of ,acts in connection with the ,return of our blessed ,lord to the ,father4 ,and while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as ,he went up1 behold1 two men stood by them in white apparel1 which also said1 ,ye men of ,galilee1 why stand ye gazing up into heaven8 ,this same ,jesus1 which is taken up from you into heaven1 shall so come in like manner as ye have seen ,him go into heaven4 7,acts i3#aj-aa74 ,this blessed message must have been the reason why they returned to ,jerusalem with great joy4 ,instead of tears and sorrow at that parting there was joy1 because they knew and believed that ,he who had said ,i will come again and receive you unto myself1 this same ,jesus would come for them4 ,what a blessed truth it is that the same ,jesus1 the same ,lord who walked on earth1 who spoke such words of infinite love and tenderness1 who wept1 healed the sick1 raised the dead and commanded the demons1 who calmed the storm1 who had gone to the cross to die that awful death in our stead--that this same ,jesus1 raised from the dead1 is now in the presence of ,god for us and our ,advocate with the ,father4 ,it is the same loving1 tender1 caring1 mighty ,lord and ,saviour1 who is there and this same ,jesus1 not another1 will come again4 ,the reality of this filled the disciples with joy4 ,they knew ,he had left them1 they knew ,he lived and that ,he would come again4 ,this knowledge gave them power to witness and to walk in holiness4 ,the reality of this fills still the believing heart with joy and leads as well as keeps in the blessed faith life of fellowship with ,himself1 into which we have been called by the ,grace of ,god4 ,the heart of the believer under the control of the ,holy ,spirit has but one desire4 ,it is to know ,him and know ,him better4 ,other desires for blessings may come up1 but that life which is in the believer ever reaches out after ,himself who is our life4 ,that ,i may know ,him was the passion of that wonderful man1 who knew ,him so well 7,phil4 iii3#aj74 ,and it is just heart knowledge of this same ,jesus in ,his loveliness1 ,his patience1 ,his power1 ,his glory1 in all ,his blessed fullness1 which we need the most and through this all other needs are met4 ,look up then in faith1 child of ,god1 ,he who is altogether lovely1 whose perfect ways of love and grace1 were so blessedly made known in ,his life down here1 this same ,jesus1 with all the tenderness of infinite love1 the love that never grows cold1 is with the ,father4 ,jesus ,christ1 the same1 yesterday1 to-day and forever4 ,the disciples heard ,him pray ,his great prayer before ,he went to the cross 7,john xvii74 ,as they listened to ,his words addressed to the ,father1 they learned as never before1 how dear they all were to ,him4 ,how ,he loved them1 cared for them1 what ,he had done for them1 would continue to do and what their future would be4 ,and whenever we read these words in ,his high priestly prayer1 we can hear ,him still pray4 ,we know that love for us cannot change2 that prayer to keep does not fail2 that concern1 so deep and gracious1 in all who belong to ,him is unchanged1 for it is this same ,jesus1 who intercedes for us1 whose loving eyes watch our going in and our going out1 our walk down here4 ,oh6 for the reality of this6 ,this same blessed ,lord is with us1 for us1 above us4 ,we can count on ,his unchanging love4 ,we can count on ,his power4 ,the reality of the ,person of our exalted ,lord keeps us down here4 ,oh1 draw near1 beloved reader1 for it is your privilege1 your calling1 to know ,him and to enjoy ,him4 ,his heart is never satisfied unless you drink deep of ,his love and you lie in blessed dependence at ,his feet4 ,have you failed ,him8 ,are days1 weeks1 perhaps months of wandering your past1 days in which you grieved ,him8 ,return1 oh return6 it is this same ,jesus who at the lake of ,tiberias so tenderly restored ,peter and who waits for thy return4 ,and this same ,jesus comes again4 ,if the joy was so great when ,he left1 because the heavenly messengers gave the good news that this same ,jesus is coming again1 what will be the joy when he does come6 ,he comes as ,saviour1 which is the meaning of ,his blessed name4 ,for our conversation is in heaven2 from whence also we look for the ,saviour1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who shall change our body of humiliation1 that it may be fashioned like unto ,his glorious body 7,phil4 iii3#bj-ba74 ,the glorious appearing of the great ,god and our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ who gave ,himself for us1 will some day take place4 ,and when ,he comes into the air and gives the shout1 ,he will be this same ,jesus4 ,when we are caught up in clouds to meet ,him in the air we shall meet ,him1 the same blessed ,person1 who walked on this earth1 who died on the cross1 who in ,his unchanging love kept and carried us and called us home4 ,we shall see ,him as ,he is4 ,he comes1 this same ,jesus1 to take us to be with ,him4 ,what will be ,his joy then when all ,his blood-washed1 redeemed people are at last with ,him6 ,then this same ,jesus who bore our sins in ,his own body on the tree will bestow upon us ,his glory1 the glory the ,father has given ,him4 ,reader6 ,is it even now before you such a living reality1 this same ,jesus--is coming again2 coming to take us all into the ,father's house with its many mansions1 to the place whose portals were opened with ,his own blood6 ,and how soon it may be that we shall see ,him and be with ,him6 ,if an angelic message were brought to-day to all ,christians1 we said recently in a meeting1 and that message would state in terms unmistakably1 one week more and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ comes1 one week more and we shall see ,him2 what would be the result8 ,we can imagine the eagerness with which all would begin to serve and reach out after the unsaved2 what self-denials and boldness we would behold6 ,how all the earthly things1 the childish things1 the playthings of the dust1 would lose their attractiveness4 ,then heaven's glory would break upon us4 ,but such a message is not promised to us4 ,it is nowhere said that it will take place4 ,no angel will come to announce the time when this same ,jesus comes to call us home4 ,the fact is ,god has told us in ,his ,word1 that ,his ever blessed ,son will come and that ,he will come suddenly4 ,he may come to-day4 ,he may call us home before another morning comes4 ,and if we believe it we shall walk in expectation and in separation4 ,the ,lord graciously revive the blessed ,hope in our hearts and through it make us holy in our lives1 zealous for the ,gospel1 untiring in service and loving towards all the ,saints4 ,the ,wondrous ,cross4 ,,who can tell out the story of the cross6 ,there was a time when we thought we knew much of it2 but oh6 the depths1 the wonderful depths of the cross and the work accomplished there1 which constantly break in upon the heart1 as one meditates on the cross4 ,one who knew the cross1 whose eyes were filled with all its glory1 because ,he beheld ,him1 who hung on the cross1 in highest glory has told us ,but ,god forbid that ,i should glory1 save in the cross of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 by whom the world is crucified unto me1 and ,i unto the world4 ,crucified unto the world4 ,dead to the world and to sin are the blessed effects of the cross4 ,some time ago while remembering the ,lord on the ,lord's ,day we sang a familiar hymn3 ,when we survey the wondrous cross ,on which the ,lord of glory died1 ,our richest gain we count but loss1 ,and pour contempt on all our pride4 ,how true6--contempt must be poured on all our pride when one beholds that sight1 the cross on which the ,lord of glory died4 ,but is it so1 and pour contempt on all our pride8 ,and when we sang the second verse its truth came home still more to the conscience3 ,forbid it1 ,lord1 that we should boast1 ,save in the death of ,christ1 our ,god2 ,all the vain things that charm us most1 ,we'd sacrifice them to ,his blood4 ,how true6 ,if such a one died to deliver us out of this present evil age then the vain things that charm us most1 not the sinful things1 must be relinquished4 ,but is it really so--all the vain things that charm us most--we'd sacrifice them to ,his blood8 ,there from ,his head1 ,his hands1 ,his feet1 ,sorrow and love flowed mingled down2 ,did e'er such love and sorrow meet1 ,or thorns compose so rich a crown8 ,were the whole realm of nature ours1 ,that were an off'ring far too small2 ,love that transcends our highest powers ,demands our soul1 our life1 our all4 ,and then once more the heart said1 ,how true6 ,marvelous sight the ,lord of ,glory on that cross for me6 ,forsaken of ,god1 paying the penalty of my sins1 drinking the cup of wrath1 untasted by me4 ,such love surely demands our soul1 our life1 our all4 ,but is it so8 ,how often we sing these blessed truths and our lives are strangers to them4 ,god grant that we may live out the truth of the cross in our lives4 ,may the deliverance1 the victory1 the power of ,his cross be manifested in our lives4 ,dead to the world and the world dead to me4 ,his ,legacy4 ,,blessed and ever precious are the words1 which came from the lips of our loving ,lord1 before he went to the cross4 ,his own were gathered around ,him2 before ,he ever comforted them and poured out ,his loving heart1 ,he manifested that love by serving them4 ,he arose from the supper1 laid aside ,his garments1 took a towel and girded ,himself4 ,what a sight the ,son of ,god girded6 ,after that ,he poureth water into a basin1 and began to wash the disciples' feet1 and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded 7,john xiii3#e74 ,it was a great symbolical action4 ,he who stooped so low to wash the feet of ,his sinful creatures is the same who declared in the ,old ,testament ,thou hast made me to serve with thy sins1 thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities 7,isaiah xliii3#bd74 ,the washing typifies the service our beloved ,lord renders to ,his saints in cleansing them from defilement2 it is the washing of water by the ,word4 ,and thus ,he continues in loving service till at last all ,his redeemed people are brought home into the presence of the throne and the sea of glass like unto crystal 7,rev4 iv3#f7 where no more defilement is possible and no more washing is needed4 ,many and blessed are the words1 which then flowed from ,his lips1 after ,judas had gone out into the dark night4 ,only ,he could speak thus4 ,thousands upon thousands1 countless multitudes have been fed upon ,his gracious1 comforting words and have been strengthened and upheld4 ,their careful and refreshing power is undiminished4 ,like ,himself ,his ,words are eternal and inexhaustible4 ,the ,father's house with its many mansions1 the fact of ,his personal return1 the gift of the other ,comforter1 who came to abide with and in ,his own1 the promises concerning prayer and assurance that the ,father ,himself loves them and many other precious truths were spoken by ,him ere ,he left the world to go to the ,father4 ,at that time ,he gave ,his blessed legacy4 ,peace ,i leave with you1 my peace ,i give unto you 7,john xiv3#bg74 ,and the last word ,he spoke to ,his disciples before ,he uttered that marvelous high priestly prayer1 contains also the assurance of peace4 ,these things have ,i spoken unto you1 that in ,me ye might have peace4 ,in the world ye shall have tribulation2 but be of good cheer ,i have overcome the world 7,john xvi3#cc74 ,the adorable ,lord came to this poor sin cursed earth1 a world of sinners and enemies of ,god by wicked works to make peace4 ,the great work of reconciliation was effected on the cross4 ,by ,his death on the cross the enemies of ,god1 believing in ,him1 became reconciled to ,god4 ,he made peace through the blood of ,his cross 7,col4 i3#bj74 ,as believing sinners we are justified and have peace with ,god through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,not our walk or service1 not our faith or repentance or anything we have done or are doing is the ground of peace with ,god1 but what ,christ has done for us4 ,yea ,he ,himself is our peace4 ,and because ,he is our peace1 it is a peace which can never be undone or unsettled4 ,oh1 the peace forever flowing ,from ,god's thoughts of ,his own ,son6 ,oh1 the peace of simply knowing ,on the cross that all was done6 ,peace with ,god1 the blood in heaven ,speaks of pardon now to me3 ,peace with ,god6 the ,lord is risen6 ,righteousness now counts me free4 ,when all was finished1 the mighty victory over sin1 ,satan1 death and the grave had been gained1 when every foe had been met and fully conquered1 the blessed victor appeared in the midst of ,his beloved disciples4 ,it was on the same day the day when ,he arose1 when the mighty power of ,god opened the grave1 on the same day1 ,he suddenly stood in their midst4 ,the doors were shut4 ,the disciples were full of fears and doubts4 ,thomas was not there at all4 ,all at once their eyes beheld ,him once more who had been crucified1 had died and was buried4 ,peace be unto you6 ,this heavenly greeting came from ,his lips and soothed their sorrows1 cleared their doubts and dispelled their fears4 ,and ,he who stood thus in their midst was the same whom ,gideon had seen and who answered ,his fears with ,peace be unto you2 fear not 7,judges vi3#bc74 ,jehovah is peace2 ,he is our peace4 ,on the glad and glorious resurrection day the gracious ,lord appeared in their midst and proclaimed peace to them4 ,but ,he also showed them ,his hands and ,his side4 ,the marks of the nails and of the spear were seen there4 ,they are the evidences of ,his death for ,his people4 ,but ,he who was dead is risen and lives evermore4 ,ah6 that is peace6 ,the ,christ who died for our sins1 who is risen and is in ,god's own presence is our peace4 ,would we enjoy that peace in a greater sense and have it more real1 then let us just have ,himself1 the ,person as the object of our hearts4 ,then were the disciples glad1 when they saw the ,lord4 ,nothing could make them glad aside from the ,lord ,himself4 ,alas6 that some of ,god's people try to find joy and peace in their service1 experiences1 knowledge of truth4 ,dear souls1 it is the ,lord only1 who gives us peace and gladness4 ,but the blessed legacy of our ,lord is not so much the peace with ,god1 as it is ,his own peace4 ,the peace which ,he possessed while on earth1 that peace like a majestic river1 ever flowing on in silence with not a moment's interruption4 ,his own peace1 ,he bequeathed to ,his own4 ,what a peace was ,his6 ,what restfulness the divinely reported scenes of that blessed life breathe6 ,we have written before on ,his patience1 ,his joy and ,his love1 the love which passeth knowledge4 ,how much might be written too on ,his peace4 ,but not half could ever be told4 ,what calmness we see wherever we look4 ,the threatening multitudes did not disturb ,him1 nor did the fierce storm on the ,galilean sea2 peacefully ,he rested in sleep1 while the angry waves tossed the little ship aside and the terror-stricken disciples awoke ,him4 ,they cried ,lord1 save us2 we perish4 ,and then ,his eyes opened and in loving tenderness ,he said unto them1 ,why are ye so fearful1 ,o ye of little faith8 ,then ,he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm4 ,ah6 poor human heart6 how canst thou ever doubt with such a ,lord at thy side6 ,and this peace which was ,his constant portion1 was the result of a constant communion with ,god4 ,his meat and drink was to do the will of ,him that sent ,him4 ,that calm1 unruffled peace was the fruit of ,his constant trust in ,god and dependence on ,him4 ,and this peace ,he wants us to enjoy4 ,in a world full of tribulation1 anxiety and care1 a world full of increasing evils1 conflicts and sufferings1 ,he wants us to have ,his own peace4 ,the enjoyment of this peace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ depends on our communion with ,god and the realization of our union with ,him4 ,on that blessed evening of the resurrection day the ,lord spoke a second time1 ,peace be unto you4 ,why should ,he repeat the same greeting8 ,the words which follow explain this4 ,as my ,father hath sent me1 even so send ,i you 7,john xx3#bb74 ,as ,christians saved by grace and in ,christ we are sent by ,him as ,he was sent by the ,father4 ,as we realize this and walk under ,him1 as we set the ,lord always before our eyes and our life's aim is to do ,his will and not our own1 to please ,him and not ourselves1 to serve ,him and not man1 to let ,him plan and not we ourselves1 to be nothing instead of something1 to be in the dust instead of exalted1 then shall we enjoy ,his legacy ,his own peace4 ,he wants us to have it4 ,he wants us to be kept in perfect peace4 ,are we willing to have it8 ,and what else honors our absent ,lord more than a life which manifests ,his peace4 ,what pleases the ,father more than to behold ,his children reminding ,him by their lives of dependence and peace1 the result of the rest of faith1 of ,his own blessed ,son4 ,and the ,holy ,spirit1 who produces all this in us will ever lead us on in the fuller enjoyment of the peace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,we must expect in the coming days greater tests of faith1 greater conflicts1 greater trials4 ,it cannot be otherwise in these perilous times4 ,we must not expect anything else4 ,but ,he can and will keep us4 ,thou wilt keep him in perfect peace1 whose mind is stayed on ,thee1 because ,he trusteth in ,thee4 ,and ere long the ,god of peace will bruise ,satan completely under our feet4 ,what joy--oh what joy awaits us when we shall see ,him face to face1 who is our peace4 ,they that trust ,him wholly ,find ,him wholly true4 ,our ,god is able4 ,what have ,i to ,do ,with idols8 ,,much is said in reproof of ,ephraim by the prophet ,hosea4 ,all the wicked dealings and defilement of ,ephraim is uncovered--and the ,lord said3 ,i will be unto ,ephraim as a lion4 ,again ,jehovah said3 ,ephraim is like a cake not turned4 ,ephraim is like a silly dove without heart4 ,ephraim hath made many altars to sin4 ,ephraim is joined to idols1 let him alone4 ,but all reproof and chastisement did not bring ,ephraim back4 ,nothing seemed to be able to draw ,ephraim's heart away from the idols4 ,at the close of the ,prophet ,hosea1 however1 ,ephraim is made to speak and a significant word it is4 ,ephraim shall say1 ,what have ,i to do any more with idols8 ,i have heard ,him1 and observed ,him2 ,i am like a green fir tree4 ,from me is thy fruit found 7xiv3#h74 ,a familiar yet blessed truth is contained in this statement4 ,ephraim dealt with by judgments after the severe rebukes of the ,lord could not let go the idols4 ,joined to idols1 the ,lord said1 ,let him alone4 ,but the day was to come when ,ephraim would willingly forsake all idols and cry out1 ,what have ,i any more to do with idols8 ,and what brought about ,ephraim's conversion8 ,ephraim heard ,him and observed ,him4 ,the sight of the ,lord1 ,his love and tenderness1 ,his patience and kindness beheld in faith1 was enough for ,ephraim to forsake all idols and cleave to ,him alone4 ,thus ,ephraim became like a green fir tree4 ,and this is still true to-day4 ,there is no other way to be separated from idols and walk wholly with the ,lord than ,ephraim's way4 ,why are ,god's people joined to idols8 ,why are ,christians half-hearted1 conformed to this present evil age1 given to covetousness1 which is idolatry 7,col4 iii3#e78 ,there is but one answer4 ,our hearts do not listen to that blessed voice1 which delights to speak to those who belong to ,him4 ,our eyes do not look upon ,him in all ,his glory and beauty4 ,we lose sight of ,him who is altogether lovely4 ,our minds instead of being occupied with the things of ,christ are centered upon earthly things4 ,our thoughts are so little brought into captivity to the obedience of ,christ and are controlled by our own imaginations and the spirit of the times4 ,there is no other way of being delivered from idols1 from everything which would draw us away from ,himself and all which hinders from giving to ,him the pre-eminence4 ,that way is heart occupation with our ,lord1 conscious communion with ,him through ,his ,word in the power of ,his ,spirit4 ,we must hear ,him1 we must observe ,him4 ,then ,he appears to our hearts in all ,his lowliness1 in all ,his majesty and glory1 and that vision will be enough to disgust us with the playthings of the dust and ,he will become the supreme object of our lives4 ,there is no other way to practical holiness than hearing ,him and observing ,him4 ,hast thou heard ,him1 seen ,him1 known ,him8 ,is not thine a captured heart8 ,chief among ten thousand own ,him1 ,joyful choose the better part4 ,idols once they won thee1 charmed thee1 ,lovely things of time and sense2 ,gilded1 thus does sin disarm thee1 ,honey'd lest thou turn thee thence4 ,what has stript the seeming beauty ,from the idols of the earth8 ,not the sense of right or duty1 ,but the sight of peerless worth4 ,not the crushing of those idols1 ,with its bitter void and smart1 ,but the beaming of ,his beauty1 ,the unveiling of ,his heart4 ,who extinguishes their taper ,till they hail the rising sun8 ,who discards the garb of winter ,till the summer has begun8 ',tis that look that melted ,peter1 ',tis that face that ,stephen saw1 ',tis that heart that wept with ,mary4 ,can alone from idols draw-- ,draw1 and win1 and fill completely1 ,till the cup o'erflow the brim2 ,what have we to do with idols1 ,who have companied with ,him8 ,reader6 ,gaze afresh in that lovely face of transcendent beauty4 ,think of ,his great love for you1 ,his never-changing love1 ,his eternal love4 ,follow the dictates of that new nature ,grace has given to you and have the ,lord constantly before your eyes and heart4 ,anything less will lead you to idols4 ,what have ,i to do any more with idols8 ,i have heard ,him and observed ,him4 ,the ,never ,changing ,one4 ,,jesus ,christ the same yesterday1 and to-day and forever 7,heb4 xiii3#h74 ,blessed truth and precious assurance for us poor1 weak creatures1 yea1 among all ,his creatures the most changing2 ,he changeth not4 ,for ,i am the ,lord1 ,i change not 7,mal4 iii3#f74 ,of old hast ,thou laid the foundation of the earth1 and the heavens are the work of ,thy hands4 ,they shall all perish1 but ,thou shalt endure3 yea all of them shall wax old like a garment1 as a vesture shalt ,thou change them1 and they shall be changed2 but ,thou art the same1 and ,thy years shall have no end 7,psalm cii3#be-bg and ,heb4 i3#aj-ab74 ,the above blessed statement puts ,him before our hearts as the unchanging ,son of ,god1 the solid rock of ages4 ,it is a verse which is like ,himself1 infinite1 inexhaustible4 ,our adorable ,lord is here mentioned as having a past1 a present and a future1 a yesterday1 to-day and a forever4 ,this ,epistle at the close of which we find this word gives us a definition of the yesterday1 the today and the forever of the ,son of ,god4 ,he is the true ,god2 ,he had never the beginning of days1 a yesterday1 a past without a beginning4 ,by ,him the worlds were made4 ,he is the effulgence of ,his glory and the expression of ,his substance 7,heb4 i3#c74 ,his yesterday is ,eternity2 ,his goings forth are from old1 from everlasting 7,micah v3#b74 ,and in that yesterday1 in the bosom of the ,father1 the great plan of redemption was blessedly known4 ,oh6 what a love that knew all and was ever ready to give all to carry out that wonderful scheme4 ,wherefore coming into the world1 ,he says1 sacrifice and offering ,thou willedst not2 but ,thou hast prepared me a body4 ,thou hadst no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin4 ,then ,i said1 ,lo1 ,i come1 in the roll of the book it is written of me1 to do1 ,o ,god1 ,thy will 7,heb4 x3#e-g74 ,and then ,he came to manifest the eternal love of ,god4 ,he came in the form of a servant2 ,he1 whose yesterday is eternity1 was made a little lower than the angles 7,heb4 ii3#i74 ,and while on earth ,he was the same as in eternity4 ,he showed ,his power as the ,creator1 over nature1 disease and death4 ,though in humiliation1 the ,son of ,god had ,glory1 yet it was hidden4 ,how blessed it is to trace ,his way while on earth and what love1 mercy1 patience1 meekness1 humility1 peace and much more we find here4 ,and then ,his great work of redemption4 ,it behooved ,him in all things to be made like unto ,his brethren1 that ,he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to ,god to make propitiation for the sins of the people 7,heb4 ii3#g74 ,who in the days of ,his flesh having offered up both supplications and entreaties to ,him1 who was able to save ,him out of death2 with strong crying and tears 7having been heard because of ,his piety72 though ,he were ,son yet learned obedience from the things ,he suffered2 and having been perfected1 became to all of them that obey ,him1 author of eternal salvation 7v3#g-aj74 ,in ,his yesterday ,he made purification of sins2 ,he put away sin by sacrificing ,himself4 ,he fulfilled the eternal will of ,god1 by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of ,jesus ,christ once for all4 ,and this ,epistle likewise speaks of ,his today1 the ,present of ,himself4 ,his to-day began with the opened tomb1 that blessed1 glorious resurrection morn4 ,he is the great shepherd of the sheep brought again from the dead1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ 7xiii3#bj74 ,he is the appointed heir of all things1 on the right hand of the majesty on high1 taking a place so much better than the angels1 as ,he inherits a name more excellent than they 7,heb4 i3#c-e74 ,he is addressed by ,god as high priest according to the order of ,melchisedec 7v3#aj74 ,we gaze into the opened heavens and we see ,jesus who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death1 crowned with glory and honor 7ii3#i74 ,now a summary of the things of which we are speaking is3 ,we have such a one high priest who has sat down at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens2 minister of the holy places and the true tabernacle1 which the ,lord has pitched and not man 7vii3#a74 ,he has a priesthood unchangeable4 ,whence also ,he is able to save to the uttermost those who approach by ,him to ,god1 always living to intercede for them 7viii3#be74 ,for the ,christ is not entered into holy places made with hands1 figures of the true1 but into heaven itself1 now to appear in the presence of ,god for us 7ix3#bd74 ,but1 ,he having offered one sacrifice for sins1 sat down in perpetuity at the right hand of ,god1 waiting from henceforth until ,his enemies are made ,his footstool 7x3#ab74 ,such and much more is ,his to-day4 ,all power in heaven and on earth is given to ,him4 ,his forever will begin when ,he leaves the ,father's throne and when ,he is brought into the world again1 when all things are to be subjected under ,his feet and ,he will be in the fullest exercise of ,his ,melchisedec priesthood1 a priest upon ,his throne4 ,and in all1 yesterday1 in the days of ,his humiliation1 to-day upon the ,father's throne as our advocate and priest1 in ,his glorious future1 upon ,his own throne ,he is the same1 the mighty ,jehovah1 who changeth not1 the ,alpha and the ,omega1 the ,first and the ,last4 ,he is the unmovable rock1 no storms1 no changes can move the rock upon which we stand1 and though heaven and earth pass away neither ,he1 the living1 eternal ,word1 nor ,his written ,word will change4 ,his power1 ,his grace1 ,his love1 ,his patience1 is kindness1 ,his sympathy is ever the same towards ,his own beloved people1 who have trusted in ,him and share ,his life4 ,having loved ,his own1 who are in the world1 and loved them to the end 7,john xiii3#a72 and that end is eternity4 ,in the beginning of the last book of the ,bible1 we hear the voice of the ,holy ,spirit in the church1 worshipping ,him1 in that matchless outburst ,unto ,him that loved us and has washed us from our sins in ,his own blood4 ,but it does not say loved1 but it reads ,unto ,him that loveth us4 ,the love ,he has for ,his own is an abiding1 an unchanging love4 ,oh to think more of that love1 that changeless love1 which passeth knowledge6 ,and how true it is what a saint has sung long ago3 ,oh6 ,i am weary of my love1 ,that doth so little t'wards ,thee move2 ,yet do ,i constantly groan1 ,to know the depth of all ,thine own4 ,that groan1 sweet ,spirit1 is from ,thee1 ,nor self-begotten e'er can be2 ,no natural heart1 oh ,lord1 of mine ,could long to lose itself in ,thine4 ,o love of loves1 for me that died2 ,the love of ,jesus crucified6 ,who lowly took ,his part with me1 ,that ,i as one with ,him might be4 ,loved1 and for ever on ,thy throne ,adored1 and loved1 ,thou changeless ,one2 ,thou wilt thro' one eternal day1 ,the height and depth of all display4 ,meanwhile1 ,thou precious1 wondrous ,lamb ,content--at least with this ,i am1 ,to count my love too mean to own1 ,and know but ,thine--,thy love alone4 ,and yet how often we doubt that love and by fear1 when we have come short or fallen in sin1 insult that mighty changeless love4 ,how often1 too1 when trials are upon us and we suffer1 we lose sight of ,him1 the unchanging ,one1 who loves ,his own to the end1 and deep down in the heart there is unrest1 anxiety1 as if some evil could come upon us4 ,our weakness1 our imperfections1 our failures and our sins do not change ,his love and ,his grace4 ,as ,he was yesterday with ,his own and kept them1 carried them1 was their strength1 their help1 their refuge and their safe hiding place1 their peace and their comfort1 so is ,he to-day1 so will ,he be forever4 ,and in faith we can bring it stiller nearer to our hearts4 ,he is for each the same loving1 sympathizing1 caring1 interested ,saviour1 ,friend and ,lord4 ,he who helped you yesterday1 whose love was about you in the past1 who has not left you since ,he found you for a single moment1 is the same to-day1 and will never be anything less4 ,he will keep each member of ,his body1 ,he will carry1 ,he will lead onward1 and with ,his unchanging love and power deal with each1 as it pleases ,him4 ,oh that we might cast ourselves more upon ,him and spend the remainder of our days here 7how few indeed67 in a more utter dependence upon ,him1 trusting ,him1 the changeless ,one4 ,oh for a closer walk with ,him in these evil days and to taste more of ,his love1 ,his unchanging love4 ,how happy1 restful1 without care and anxiety ,god's people might be if only their hearts were fixed upon ,him who is the same yesterday1 to-day and forever4 ,alas6 how often the things seen are more real to us as the real things1 the things unseen4 ,what a joy it ought to be to our hearts to follow ,him now1 to learn over and over again that ,he is the same1 who changeth not1 to find ,his power and strength as of old manifested in behalf of ,his beloved people4 ,be of ,good ,cheer4 ,,be of good cheer2 it is ,i2 be not afraid 7,matthew xiv3#bg74 ,let not your heart be troubled2 ye believe in ,god believe also in ,me4 ,in my father's house are many mansions2 if it were not so ,i would have told you4 ,i go to prepare a place for you4 ,and if ,i go to prepare a place for you1 ,i will come again1 and receive you unto myself2 that where ,i am1 there ye may be also 7,john xiv3#a-c74 ,peace ,i leave with you1 my peace ,i give unto you2 not as the world giveth1 give ,i unto you4 ,let not your heart be troubled1 neither let it be afraid 7,john xiv3#bg74 ,in the world ye shall have tribulation2 but be of good cheer1 ,i have overcome the world 7,john xvi3#cc74 ,father1 ,i will that they also whom ,thou hast given ,me1 be with ,me where ,i am 7,john xvii3#bd74 ,lo1 ,i am with you alway1 even unto the end of the age 7,matthew xxviii3#bj74 ,he hath said ,i will never leave thee1 nor forsake thee 7,hebrews xiii3#e74 ,fear not1 ,i am the first and the last2 ,i am ,he that liveth and was dead and behold ,i am alive forevermore1 amen2 and ,i have the keys of hades and of death 7,rev4 i3#ag1 #ah74 ,behold ,i come quickly2 hold that fast which thou hast1 that no man take thy crown 7,rev4 iii3#aa74 ,surely ,i come quickly4 ,amen 7,rev4 xxii4#bj74 ,these precious words of comfort and cheer came from ,his loving heart and lips4 ,may we take hold of them4 ,how well it is to remember ,his words and ,himself4 ,how worthy ,he is2 the mighty1 the loving1 the adorable ,lord6 ,how ,he loveth us ,his own1 how ,he careth for us1 is mindful of us and carrieth us1 no heart can fully understand1 no pen describe4 ,how ,he came from heaven's glory long ago1 how ,he the ,one1 who was rich1 became poor for our sakes and died on the cross1 that we might share eternal riches and glory with ,him1 is the old story1 which never grows old4 ,it is as fresh and new to the believing heart as it ever has been4 ,and ,he who bought us with ,his own blood1 loveth and carrieth us ,his poor1 weak and sinning people with such love and infinite patience4 ,the past years of our ,christian lives1 so all of us must confess1 have been filled with many failures4 ,but as we come to ,him with our failures1 our sins1 our burdens1 we find ,him the same loving1 tender ,saviour4 ,ah6 who can measure the depths of ,his love6 ,he will never cease loving those1 who have accepted him as their ,saviour and whom ,he has accepted as ,his own4 ,in ,his gracious hands we are and all ,his people4 ,the hands which were pierced for us on the cross are over us and about us4 ,they carry us1 guide us1 hold us and keep us4 ,we are ,his and nothing can separate us from ,him in time and in eternity4 ,with a joyful heart we can say ,i am my ,beloved's and ,his desire is toward me4 ,o ,lord6 'tis sweet the thought ,that ,thou art mine6 ,but brighter still the joy ,that ,i am ,thine4 ,oh1 dear ,christian readers1 how happy we might be if only all this were constantly real to our hearts and our minds were occupied with that blessed1 glorious ,one4 ,what joy and blessing we will have1 if we walk closer with the ,lord and live that life to which we have been called1 live by the faith of the ,son of ,god4 ,and the words ,he left us are just like ,himself1 ,love1 ,hope and ,comfort4 ,there is nothing to fear for one who is in ,him4 ,he would have ,his beloved people free from all fear1 anxiety and care4 ,twice ,he has told us ,let not your heart be troubled4 ,fear not6 ,be not afraid6 ,how much these words mean if we consider ,him who spoke them4 ,they must calm every fear and lift the trusting child of ,god over all the dark and difficult things on the way4 ,the blessed words we have quoted are the never failing comfort for ,his people till they are gathered in ,his own presence4 ,the greatest anodyne1 however1 ,he has given to us1 the anodyne for all pains and sorrows1 griefs and perplexities is the blessed ,hope4 ,i will come again and receive you unto myself was spoken long ago1 and yet it is still unfulfilled4 ,almost the last petition of ,his great high-priestly prayer is the petition to have ,his own with ,himself in the ,father's house4 ,father1 ,i will that they also1 whom ,thou hast given ,me1 be with ,me where ,i am4 ,this prayer is still unanswered4 ,behold ,i come quickly are ,his own words in the third chapter of ,revelation1 words so full of meaning for us1 exhorting us to hold fast what we have4 ,and in the very end of the ,book1 almost the last word of the ,bible is the last word ,he ever spoke4 ,surely ,i come quickly4 ,amen4 ,he has not spoken again after this last utterance1 so full of assurance4 ,the next time ,his blessed voice will speak will be when ,he comes into the air and gives the mighty shout 7#a ,thess4 iv3#af7 which will call the saints from their graves and ourselves from earth's sorrow together with them to meet ,him in the air4 ,that blessed ,hope is the great anodyne1 the soothing as well as inspiring truth of the ,bible1 which stands next to and in closest relation with the ,gospel4 ,that blessed ,hope is an imminent ,hope4 ,how cheerless it would be to think that the ,lord cannot come for many years1 that ,he cannot fulfill ,his blessed promise4 ,how cheerless1 yea1 how depressing and discouraging it would be if it were true that the true believers must pass through the great tribulation1 suffer under ,antichrist1 taste of the wrath1 which will then be poured out4 ,such an expectation would not be a blessed ,hope1 but a depressing outlook4 ,but blessed be ,god this is not the teaching of the ,word1 but only the invention of man4 ,we are not to wait for the apostasy1 the great tribulation1 great earthquakes and disasters1 but for ,himself4 ,he may come at any time and call us into ,his presence4 ,to wait daily for ,him is the true ,christian attitude1 which is a mighty power in the ,christian life1 walk and service4 ,how we shall be weaned away from the passing things of this age1 how we shall look upon all in its true light and be faithful witnesses for our ,lord1 if we walk in this daily expectation of meeting ,him4 ,and this we need4 ,the ,lord ,jesus ,christ must become more real to our hearts4 ,our fellowship with ,him1 our trust in ,him1 our walk in ,him1 our waiting for ,him1 all must become more real4 ,the ,holy ,spirit in ,his power will accomplish this in our lives4 ,in the awful darkness1 which is settling upon this age1 only such can abide faithful who cling closer to the ,lord and who wait for ,his coming4 ,the ,lord grant this to all ,his people4 ,he'll come again1 ,and prove our hope not vain2 ,we wait the moment1 oh1 so fair2 ,to rise and meet ,him in the air2 ,his heart1 ,his home1 ,his throne to share-- ,o wondrous love6 ,make ,haste4 ,,the little book called ,solomon's ,song1 in the ,hebrew the ,song of ,songs1 because it exalts and describes the ,bridegroom1 closes with that longing cry1 ,make ,haste my ,beloved4 ,how this applies dispensationally we do not follow here4 ,it is the same desire for ,himself1 which is found almost the last thing in the ,bible1 the great prayer1 ,even so come ,lord ,jesus4 ,the soul which knows ,him1 follows closely after ,him1 and gets daily more of ,himself will ever long for ,him and for ,his ,coming4 ,the desire and prayer will arise many times each day from such a heart1 ,make ,haste my ,beloved --,even so1 come ,lord ,jesus4 ,the ,holy ,spirit ungrieved and unhindered in the believer will not alone produce this desire1 but keep it alive in the soul and make it more intense4 ,one may hold the ,second ,coming of ,christ in a mere intellectual way2 there is no profit in that4 ,the blessed ,hope must have its seat in the heart and affection4 ,it is therefore a good test of our spiritual state4 ,if our hearts are crying more for ,him1 longing to be with the ,beloved1 and we daily sigh for ,himself to come and take us home1 we are then certainly walking in the ,spirit4 ,such a desire will also lead us into holiness of life and true service for ,him4 ,and as we look about us at the condition of things1 surely only the ,coming of our ,lord appears to be the remedy4 ,nothing less than that event can arrest the dreadful conditions and bring the long promised deliverance4 ,the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now4 ,and not only they1 but ourselves also1 which have the first fruits of the ,spirit1 even we ourselves groan within ourselves1 waiting for the adoption1 the redemption of the body 7,rom4 viii3#bb-bc74 ,what a day it will be when at last ,he descends into the air to call ,his own1 ,his ,beloved together6 ,what a day it will be when together with those who are raised from their graves we shall be caught up in clouds to meet ,,him in the sky6 ,what a day when ,he purges the earth by fire and comes with all ,his ,saints to reign4 ,make haste6 ,even so1 come ,lord ,jesus6 ,lord ,jesus1 come6 ,and take ,thy people home2 ,that all ,thy flock1 so scattered here1 ,with ,thee in glory may appear4 ,lord ,jesus1 come6 ,soon the day-dawn will be breaking ,and the shadows flee away2 ,now1 by faith1 in joy and gladness1 ,i await the coming day1 ,for ,i know my soul is safely ,hidden in ,his wounded side2 ,and anon ,he sweetly tells me ,i shall soon be satisfied4 ,lo6 ,he tells me now ,his secret1 ,cheering with ,his heavenly smile2 ,telling me1 in love's low whisper1 ,it is but 'a little while2' ,yes1 for soon1 to brightest glory1 ,he will fetch away ,his bride2 ,then ,i'll shine in ,his own likeness1 ,and be ever satisfied6