THE GLORY OF SALVATION.
What a surprise will it be to them that now have come to God by Christ, to see themselves in heaven indeed, saved indeed, and possessed of everlasting life indeed. For alas, what is faith to possession?—faith that is mixed with many tears, that is opposed with many assaults, and that seems sometimes to be quite extinguished—I say, what is that to a seeing myself in heaven? Hence it is said that “He shall then come to be admired in them that now believe;” then they shall admire that it was their lot to believe when they were in the world. They shall also admire to think, to see, and behold what believing has brought them to; while the rest, for refusing to come to God by Christ, drink their tears mixed with burning brimstone.
What a joy will it be to the truly godly to think now that they are come to God by Christ. It was their mercy to begin to come; it was their happiness that they continued coming; but it is their glory that they are come, that they are come to God by Christ.
To God! why, He is all in all; all that is good, essentially good, and eternally good. To God, the infinite ocean of good. Oh, that I could imagine, O that I could think that I might write more effectually to thee of the happy estate of them that come to God by Christ!—Bunyan.
THE HOLY GHOST.
Where it is said, at any time, that God spake by the prophets, or that the word of God came to them, it is always intended that this was the immediate work of the Holy Ghost. So says David of himself, “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me,” or in me; “and His word was in my tongue” (2 Sam. xxiii. 2). Hence our Apostle, repeating his words, ascribes them directly to the Holy Ghost, Heb. iii. 7: “Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, to-day if you will hear His voice;” and chap. iv. 7, “Saying in David.” So the words which are ascribed unto the Lord of hosts (Isa. vi. 9), are asserted to be the words of the Holy Ghost (Acts xxviii. 25). He spake to them, or in them, by His holy inspirations; and He spake by them in His effectual, infallible guidance of them, to utter, declare, and write what they received from Him, without mistake or variation.—Owen.
THE PRAYER ANSWERING GOD.
Why is God so ready to hear the prayers of men? 1. Because He is a God of infinite grace and mercy. It is indeed a very wonderful thing, that so great a God should be so ready to hear our prayers though we are so despicable and unworthy: that He should give free access at all times to every one; should allow us to be importunate without esteeming it an indecent boldness; should be so rich in mercy to them that call upon Him; that worms of the dust should have such power with God by prayer; that He should do such great things in answer to their prayers, and should show Himself, as it were, overcome by them. This is very wonderful, when we consider the difference between God and us, and how we have provoked Him by our sins, and how unworthy we are of the least gracious notice. It cannot be from any need that God stands in of us: for our goodness extendeth not to Him. Neither can it be from anything in us to incline the heart of God to us; it cannot be from any worthiness in our prayers, which are in themselves polluted things. But it is because God delights in mercy and condescension. He is herein infinitely distinguished from all other gods: He is the great Fountain of all good, from whom goodness flows as light from the sun. 2. We have a glorious Mediator, who has prepared the way, that our prayers may be heard consistently with the honour of God’s justice and majesty. Not only has God in Himself mercy sufficient for this, but the Mediator has provided that this mercy may be exercised consistently with the divine honour. Through Him we may come to God for mercy; He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man can come to the Father but by Him.—Jonathan Edwards.