BY THE LATE REV. JAMES SMITH, OF LONDON.
(Continued from Vol. X., page 471.)
THE next thing to which I would direct your attention is the love, mercy, and faithfulness of God, to all who believe. “God is love.” He loves all who come to Him, call on Him, and trust in Him; and these very things are the effects of His love, for as Paul said to his Ephesians, so may I say to every seeking soul, “You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins; for God, who is rich in mercy, for the great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace are ye saved.” Eph. ii. 1, 4, 5. And when you are brought to believe in Jesus, and walk after the commands of God; it is your privilege to look on God as loving you with an infinite, eternal, unchangeable love; as loving you as He loves Jesus, with a love passing knowledge. And, let your circumstances, trials, or troubles, be what they may; still you are warranted to believe that God is your Father, that He loves you beyond conception; and will make all things work together for your good. To be an object of the love of the Deity is the highest honour than can be conferred upon a sinner; to be a son of God, a joint heir with Christ is the truest dignity mortals can possibly enjoy. But “this honour have all his saints.” He says of each and of all, “Thou shalt no more be called forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.” Isaiah lxxii. 4. His mercy is great unto the heavens; and is from everlasting to everlasting; it is fixed on those that fear Him unto all generations. An interest in God’s mercy is a sufficient guarantee that we shall never want, or be left destitute and wretched; for His merciful kindness is ever great towards us. Mercy will befriend us through time, and rejoice over us through eternity. It takes our misery to heart, and sympathises with us under all our conflicts and trials; if God’s mercy is fixed upon me, and shown to me, all must be well with me. His faithfulness is like the great mountains, it stands unmoved and unmovable; every prediction in His word must be fulfilled, and every promise be made good, because they are the predictions and promises of a faithful God. Man may deceive, but God cannot. Man may not be trusted, but God should; we can never trust Him too confidently, or for too much, if we have a plain promise in His word to go upon. What a comfort is this under all the changing scenes and trying circumstances we are called to pass through, that “though we believe not, yet the Lord abideth faithful, he cannot deny himself.” If all friends forsake, if every enemy be
enraged, if circumstances conspire to cast down, and distress us; still, “God is faithful, and will make a way for our escape, that we may be able to bear it.” To be able to say, “God loves me; he has shown mercy to me; prayers have been accepted in heaven from me; the promises of his word are trusted by me; and he will arise and have mercy upon me.” Yet, every believer may say this, and rejoice that “as the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so is the Lord round about his people for evermore.” Millions have trusted in the mercy and faithfulness of God, but not one ever found Him untrue; all must say, “Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” If God love me, it is of small consequence who dislike me; if God have mercy in store for me, it is no great matter of grief if man try to keep good things from me; if God is faithful to me, then I need not despair though all creatures deal falsely with me. But if God be angry with me, as He is with the wicked every day; if He that made me, will not have mercy on me; if the faithfulness of God only regards his threatenings to judge and punish me; then what will it avail though man love me; endeavour to show mercy to me; or continue faithful to me; I shall still find that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.” My dear child, I entreat you seriously to think over this part of my address; and remember, Jesus says, “I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me.” They who seek His love are sure to find it, they who come to His throne for mercy are sure to obtain it, for “he is faithful who promised.” Think not that idle wishes, sleepy desires, or formal prayers are enough; these do but mock God on account of His mercy, and insult His infinite majesty. Seek earnestly, seek importunately, seek until you obtain.
But perhaps it may be necessary that I say a little more in addition to what has gone before, on the all important topic of a sinner’s justification. “How can man be just with God?” is one of the most solemn and important questions that can be proposed by man; but blessed be God it is clearly and satisfactorily answered in His holy word. “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners;” all He did and suffered was in the character of a substitute, He fully obeyed the law’s requirements, justified its claims, and suffered its penalty; He went to “the end of the law for righteousness.” The perfect work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only ground of a sinner’s justification before God; this is proclaimed and exhibited in the everlasting gospel, and the minister is commanded to declare that “by him all who believe are justified from all things.” Nothing is required of the sinner to entitle him to claim the blessing, it is a gift of free grace, it is held out for his reception, he may take it freely, he may claim it honestly; his past bad conduct, or his present sinful state, are no barriers in the way, for God justifieth the ungodly who believe in Jesus. Faith is a receiving the perfect work of Christ for justification; which includes the renunciation of every thing of mine totally and entirely; it is a putting on Christ; a taking Him to be
my Redeemer, Saviour, and King. The work of Christ is imputed to the believer, and is henceforward reckoned his; he wears the name, is represented by the person, and is clothed with the robe of His righteousness. He is complete in Christ. He is accepted of God in the beloved, to the praise of His glorious grace. Everlasting life is his, he is passed from death to life and cannot come into condemnation. God is well pleased with him, and he is commanded to obey, not to procure life, but to glorify God, express his gratitude, honour Jesus, and benefit others. Justification and sanctification are inseparably connected, he who is justified by faith in the Lord Jesus, is sanctified by the Spirit of our God. The faith that embraces Christ and His righteousness invariably produces good works, and leads its possessor in the paths of holiness and righteousness. Faith in Christ makes and keeps the eye single; the conscience tender; the walk honourable; and the end blessed. Presumption, hardness, and the love of sin, cannot reign where true faith is found; consequently proud boasters, presumptuous sinners, or light triflers are not justified persons, however sound their creed or correct their notions; and of all persons these are the most dangerous, and their state is the most fearful, therefore I beseech you avoid the company of bold, daring, or trifling professors; they are a blot on a Church, a discredit to any cause, and a great injury to all young persons. Expect justification by simple faith in Jesus, but except faith bring forth fruit, God tells you it is dead, being alone. Avoid mixing anything with Christ’s work in the point of justification, but avoid with equal care the idea that a truly justified person may indulge in sin, or walk licentiously. Faith always purifies the heart, and its possessor becomes consecrated to God; it works by love, and if it be strong, vigorous, and healthy, its possessor will be full of mercy and good fruits, without deception, and free from hypocrisy.
(To be Continued.)