* Selected by Rev. Wm. MacLean, M.A., Ness.—Editor.
“FAINT YET PURSUING.”
The Lord’s people are led in paths they know not, and they frequently get where Job was when he said, “I am vile” and “I am full of confusion.” You will never be sorry you have waded through much miry clay when you are delivered, and you will learn to put a right value upon religion; for if a man is taught of God, his heart will make him speak aright, and pray aright, and will add learning to his lips. He will, by such teaching, be led to discern between good and evil, and to know things that differ.
Whatever true religion a man gets he must buy; and “he that believeth shall not make haste.” I seem to get comfort from these words, for I am sure I do not make haste. Hardness of heart, unbelief, uncleanness, pride, self-seeking, covetousness, indifference about the Lord’s cause, backwardness to prayer and preaching, with various other evils, make me feel more fit for hell than this earth, and I am glad to get comfort from the thought that Paul had to make a complaint of such evils when he says that the law worked in him all manner of concupiscence. These evils and abominations do not satisfy my soul that I am right, but I do not envy those, however holy they may be, and however strong their faith is, if the corruptions of their own hearts have never been stirred up; you will find that the genteel Christians generally fall short in such knowledge. But God must be known by His people as a heart-searching and rein-trying God. I question nearly everybody’s religion which stands in much joy, peace and comfort, for faith must be tried. If they are even sincere in thinking that they are blessed with such strong faith, they are only deceived, for in the present day very few can justly say they believe they are pardoned. Most of the Lord’s people that I meet with cannot get beyond, “I hope and I trust.”
As regards myself, I must confess that my prayers are faint and few. Sometimes I am concerned about my soul, and at other times feel hardened. I find the ministry a great trial to me, as I feel myself so ignorant and unfit for the work. I am driven into corners, and often wonder where the same will end. O that the Lord would pour down His Holy Spirit on me, and make me more useful, so that I might have a sweet testimony in my soul that He is with me of a truth! I can preach very little about Jesus Christ, as I know so little of Him—so little of the power of His grace in my own heart. It even seems a mercy of mercies that I continue making a profession of the Lord’s blessed name unto this moment. I find the way that I am on is all uphill, but that does not satisfy me that it is the right way. I do not want outward marks, such as sneers and persecutions, but I want internal marks, more and more of the Spirit’s work upon my heart, more and more of a spirit of love both to Jesus and His people.—From a letter dated April 6th, 1835, by Wm. Tiptaft.
“WITH THE PSALTERY . . . WITH THE HARP”
(Ps. lxxi. 22).
There was a typical signification in them; and upon this account they are not only rejected and condemned by the whole army of Protestant divines as, for instance, by Zwingli, Calvin, Peter Martyr, Zipperus, Paroeus, Willet, Ainsworth, Ames, Calderwood and Cotton, who do with one mouth testify against them, most of them expressly affirming that they are a part of the abrogated legal pedagogy; so that we might as well recall the incense, tapers, sacrifices, new moons, circumcision, and all the other shadows of the law into use again. But Aquinas himself also, though a Popish schoolman, pleads against them upon the same account, “quia aliquid figurabant” (because they typify something), and Smith, the Church in his time did not use them, “ne vidiatur judaizare,” lest they should seem to judaize.—Samuel Mather on The Types.
“IN SEASON, OUT OF SEASON.”
The apostle says to his son in the faith, “Be instant, in season, out of season.” It is not so difficult when we are in season, and the word flows comfortably out of our heart into our lips; but it is not so easy when we are out of season, devil-hunted, tempted to give up, and fears arising in the way. Then out of season, out of harmony with ourselves, and almost with everybody else, we are so pressed down. Well, what are we to do? Preach the Word, whether we are out of season or in. Don’t expect to be always in a comfortable frame of mind. That is not the lot of those sent of God into the work of the ministry. It is very often discouraging. We meet with opposition, sometimes very hard words are spoken; but for all that it is the Lord’s business not ours. He will have servants, and when He touches their hearts with His love, they are willing to serve Him. And that means frequently that they are the most use when they are the most heavy-hearted themselves, and He gives them a word, a touch of His love, and that holds them up, leads them on, and they go safely along, in spite of all that comes against them.”—The Gospel Standard, June, 1955.