Man’s chief end is to glorify God. What is it to glorify God?
Glorifying God consists in four things: (1) Appreciation, (2) Adoration, (3) Affection, (4) Subjection. This is the yearly rent we pay to the crown of heaven.
(1) Appreciation.
To glorify God is to set God highest in our thoughts, and to have a venerable esteem of him. Psalm 90, v. 8: “Thou, Lord art most high for evermore.” Psalm 97, v. 9: “Thou art exalted far above all gods.” There is in God all that may draw forth both wonder and delight; there is a constellation of all beauties; He is prima causa, the original and spring-head of being, Who sheds a glory upon the creature. We glorify God when we are God-admirers; admire His attributes, which are the glistening beams by which the divine nature shines forth; His promises which are the character of free grace, and the spiritual cabinet where the pearl of price is hid; the noble effects of His power and wisdom in making the world, which is called “the work of His fingers” Psalm 8, verse 3. To glorify God is to have God-admiring thoughts; to esteem Him most excellent, and search for diamonds in this rock only.
—Extracted from “A Body of Divinity” by Thomas Watson.
A Visit from Christ.
From the Diary of the late Rev. D. MACFARLANE.
1st August, 1905.—Had a sweet visit from Christ yesterday, which made me truly rejoice. It may be a sign that He will come to the feast (Communion). Those who find Christ will hold Him and bring Him to their mother’s house—the Church. Others who have not found Him yet may find Him there. Oh, may it be so! Then it would be a Communion season. The more communion with God the more unity among the brethren. The more love to God, the more love to His people and the more love to fellow-creatures still in a state of sin and misery. Though God’s people cannot love the unconverted with the same love as they love one another, yet they love them with a compassionate love. They seek their highest good. Little do poor sinners think of this. But it is really the case.
Do You Want a Friend?
Do you want a friend? Christ is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He dwells in the hearts of His people. The friendship of the most faithful in this world may change, and no trace of it be left to relieve you in your extremities. Death puts an end to the most faithful friendship. But once you are in Christ there is nothing to dissolve His friendship. Christ is a Friend that relieves you in all trials. He will not give up His friendship though you be in a poor and low condition. You dare not claim friendship with the rich. This is not the way with Christ. The poorer you are “in spirit” and circumstances, and the more you look to Christ, the more Christ will be taken up with you and your wants. The more one cries in Christ’s ears and makes known his wants to Him, the more Christ loves that one.
“For God the poor hears, and will not
His prisoners contemn.
Let heaven, and earth, and seas Him praise,
And all that move in them.”
—Psalm 69: vv. 33, 34.
—From a sermon on Philippians 3: vv. 8, 9: “That I may win Christ and be found in Him,” by the late Rev. D. MacDonald, Shieldaig.
(A book of sermons by Rev. D. MacDonald with his life by Rev. D. MacFarlane is obtainable from the General Treasurer at 8/2 by post.)