Experiencing Confirming Testimony
(No. 3396)
A SERMON PUBLISHED ON THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1914.
DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON
AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON, ON THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 27,
1869.
"As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of Hosts, in
the city of our God." Psalm 48:8.
"As we have heard, so have we seen." This is not always the case, but
frequently it is the very reverse. Things are exaggerated. The
imagination is largely drawn upon and we hear great things, but when we
come to look at them, or try to practically enjoy them, the great
things have become very small! It is so in the world generally. We have
heard and were told in our youthful days by those who have been before
us, that the paths of sin are pleasant, that there are great enjoyments
to be found in the indulgences of evil passions, and that if we will
give ourselves up to the general run and current, we shall find
ourselves very smoothly floating along on a stream of happiness! Ah,
how many who have sown their wild oats and looked for a happy harvest,
have discovered that nothing but mischief comes of this! Jaded by the
satiety of their lusts, and at last utterly destroyed by their own
wickedness, they have sat down and wrung their hands in despair at
finding out that things are not what they heard they were. As they have
heard, so do they not see, but the very opposite–for pleasure, pain,
for happiness, misery–even here, remorse–and afterwards an anguish
that shall know no end!
Nor is it any better with the teachers of false doctrine. As we have
heard, so have we not seen. We have sometimes been told that philosophy
will civilize a nation–that the spread of education will most
certainly cure the human heart and that the bias and propensity to sin
will be put down by an increase of mental light. But as we have heard,
so have we not seen, for philosophy has thrown many burdens upon
men–but it has not touched those burdens to remove them with so much
as its little finger! We hear a great deal of what is to be done for
society by this scheme and by that, but nothing is done! Theories are
propounded–windbags are blown out and brought forth–bubbles are
blown, but we do not see much that is solid and valuable, produced! One
after another of these eminent theorizers have arisen who were about to
revolutionize and reconstruct society! Instead of making the causes of
evil in the world to increase, they were to uproot them and turn the
desert into the Garden of the Lord! But so it has not been–our eyes
have never seen it. Rather has the bad been made worse and the good has
been impeded by those who were so pretentious and loud in their
professed benevolence! Take any of the false doctrines which are often
affiliated to our holy faith and you will find that when you come to
examine them and put them to the test, they do not hold water!
How often have we heard about "the dignity of human nature." How
congenial the heart of man is to that which is noble, and to that which
is Christ-like! We are told that we have only to hold up Christ and
there is such a beauty in Him that all the world will be sure to love
Him! But as we have heard, so have we not seen, but we have seen men to
be as God saw them–corrupt! There is none that does good, no, not one,
and in the perfect light of Calvary, we have seen that even the
perfections of Jesus will not be seen by a blind world, nor will they
attract a corrupt world. "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" will be the
verdict of humanity even upon the perfections of the Incarnate God. We
have heard a great deal about the power of free will. We have heard
sometimes that men come to Christ by themselves. That there is no power
of Irresistible Grace which turns them from darkness to light, and from
the power of sin and Satan unto God. Ah, we have heard this, but we
have never seen it! To this moment, though we have mingled with all
classes of Christians, we did never yet meet with a single Believer who
declared that his conversion was the result of his own efforts and that
his coming to Christ was entirely through the power of his own free
will! We have been told, too, that God forsakes His people, that real
saints, after all, turn back and perish! But we bless God that, though
we have often heard this, we have never, never seen it–
"If ever it should come to pass, One of His sheep should fall away! My
fickle, feeble soul, alas,
Would fall a thousand times a day!"
But being kept in safety by another and greater power than our own, and
preserved in the midst of appalling temptations, we still hold to it
that He does keep His people! We have heard it, and we have seen it,
but the other doctrine we have heard, but, thank God, we have never
seen! And so there are many other things that pass current in certain
sections of Christendom as being true, which, if they were brought to a
practical test, might be seen not to be so. We have heard them–heard
them delivered with a glowing eloquence that might have convinced us,
if we were to be convinced, but we have referred to the Old Book–and
the Old Book has been more to us than all the siren-songs that sweetest
oratory could raise! We have nailed our colors to the mast and could
not take them down! We have found all here in this blessed Bible to be
true, but man's word, when it has come into conflict or even
competition with God's Word, we have found to be light as chaff and as
easily consumed as the fat of rams upon the altar's fire!
Now, just for a little time I thought we would illustrate this general
Truth of God that in the things of God, and in the Church of God," as
we have heard, so have we seen. "Now, mark–
I. IT HAS BEEN SO ALL DOWN THE LINE OF REVELATION.
Could a man have lived a sevenfold Methuselah life and have stood at
the gates of Paradise, and listened to the first promise that the Seed
of the woman would bruise the serpent's head. If he could have beheld
Noah shut in in the ark and marked the Covenant rainbow when for the
first time it spanned the clouds. If he could have lived in Abraham's
day and have seen the father of that seed in which all the nations of
the earth should be blessed. Could he have marked all the types and
ceremonies which Israel saw in the wilderness, all pointing onwards to
a coming Savior. If he could have listened to the prophetic utterances
of David in some of those matchless Psalms which are full of the
Messiah. Could he have heard the notes of Isaiah when he spoke of Him
who was despised and rejected of men, a Man of Sorrows and acquainted
with grief. Yes, could he have heard every prophecy and beheld every
symbol, and listened to every sacred portent– when he came to behold
the Person of Christ, to see Him living, dying, rising, ascending and
to mark the Pentecost, and to see the history of the Church right down
until now–such a grave and revered man–revered and venerable above
all other men through the long lapse of years that had passed over his
snowy head, would say, "As I heard during the first portion of my life,
so have I seen in the latter days thereof–God has always kept His
promise–as was the shadow, so was the substance! As the type, so was
the antitype! As the word that flowed from prophetic lips, so was the
Christ who, in the fullness of time, came into this world to bless and
redeem mankind!"
This is not merely a great general Truth of God, but, mark you, it is
true in every jot and tittle! We do not expect men, when they speak
frequently, so to speak that every particle of what they say may be
correct. We admit them to be fallible–we always make some allowance
for some slips of the tongue. But all through these thousands of years
in which God spoke of Christ and of the Gospel Kingdom, there never was
a single trifling word that was not fulfilled!
There have been no slips of the tongue, no drops that blot the page.
Everything has been accurately, minutely, precisely–what if I say,
microscopically–fulfilled in Christ! As the casket key exactly fits
the wards of the lock, so the life of Christ and the history of the
Church exactly fits all the types and all the prophecies! Sometimes it
has been said that if anybody doubts the Inspiration of the four
Gospels, it would be a very pretty puzzle for him to try to write a
fifth gospel which should have in it some new details that would be
congruous to the rest and that would fit in with the promises and
prophecies of the Old Testament. That is a task we give to those wits
who seem to need something to do in these days, since they are
impugning everything that is held sacred by us! Let them attempt that.
If this problem could have been put to the wise in all ages–here is
the Old Testament and, whether it is true or not, construct the life of
a Man who shall fit all that. Use your poetic powers, or whatever other
abilities you choose to employ. Imagine a Man that shall fit the lamb,
the scapegoat, the Passover, Noah's ark, the Psalms of David, the
prophecies of Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel–why the puzzle would
have been given up in despair! It would not have been possible for the
united abilities of men and angels to have discovered an ideal Messiah
that would have exactly met all this! But our Lord did in every jot and
in every tittle, so that as we read some parts of the Old Testament, we
often say to ourselves, "This looks as if it were written after the
event." We read the 22nd Psalm and if we did not know that it had been
composed many, many years before our Lord came, we would look at it as
history, rather than as prophecy! One can only comprehend this by
admitting Inspiration, and by rejoicing in the wondrous truthfulness of
God! Even such little points as the casting of lots for the vesture of
Christ–things which seem insignificant–God took care should be
fulfilled. And though our Lord died, and as yet He had not been pierced
as to His heart, at any rate, yet after death there must be a piercing
of Him that they "may look on Him whom they have pierced," and weep and
wail because of Him. "As we have heard, so have we seen." The life of
our Lordand Savior, Jesus Christ, certainly carry out the prophecies
which God had uttered before concerning Him! But now, we shall go on to
speak of–
II. THE CHURCH OF GOD–CHRISTWARD AND GODWARD–AS TO OUR OWN
EXPERIENCE.
Some of you have thoughts of Christ–but as dead or as far away. We
have come to deal with Him as a living Savior. Now the question is,
whether in so dealing with Him, we have found all true that we were
told concerning Him?
Now, when we first enlisted in the Christian army, we were told from
Christ's own Word that we must count the cost and we would have to
suffer a degree of persecution. We were warned not to take upon
ourselves, hastily, to carry out that for which we should have no power
unless we sought it from above. We were warned, "In the world you shall
have tribulation." Have we found it so? "Oh," says one, "that has been
abundantly true to me! From those of my own household I first met with
opposition! The Gospel has set those against me that were once my
fondest friends." Just so, but now that it has come to pass, you will
see how sincerely He dealt with you, that He would not entrap you into
His service as though it would be altogether a thing of pleasure, but
He warned you that it was a conflict, that it was a pilgrimage. You
have found it so and now that it has come to pass, let this help you to
trust Him for the future!
But you were also told that if you trusted Him, you who were burdened
with many sins, you would have them all forgiven and that this
forgiveness would bring about a solid peace of mind. Have you found it
so? Can you not stand up and add your name to the long roll of
witnesses who say, "We looked unto Him and were lightened, and our
faces were not ashamed! This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and
delivered him from all his fears"? I bless the Lord I can say that the
joy of the pardoned sinner is a sweeter and a better thing than I ever
dreamed it to be. And the peace of conscience, which reflection upon
the Atonement always brings, is better and more enduring than one could
have fancied have fallen to the lot of so unworthy an one as he whom
Christ had called!
Our Lord Jesus told us, too, that if we came and trusted Him, He would
give us the victory over our sins. Now, has He done that? I know you
will sometimes confess that you have not conquered your sins as you
would desire.
The battle is still raging–there is still a need for yonder
watchtower. But, Brothers and Sisters, if a sin has not been conquered,
has that ever been Christ's fault? Has it not been ours? "They overcame
through the blood of the Lamb," is true of all the saints with regard
to their struggles with sin. There is no sin that we cannot pray down
and weep down if we live at the foot of the Cross. The worst temper
that ever a soul was plagued with is to be controlled and softened if
one looks to the griefs of Christ and becomes like He in temper. It
matters not how constitutional the sin may be, though you may say, "It
is my easily-besetting sin"–you may be delivered from it! Christ
Jesus, when He comes into the island of our nature, can drive out all
the cruel and deadly reptiles that are there. Or if they remain there,
He can give us abundant Grace so that they can make no headway and we
shall be kept as "holiness unto the Lord."
Now, you and I have read and heard from the saints of God that our Lord
Jesus, when He is really known and understood, is inexpressible
sweetness itself. They have told us, some of them–writing like
Rutherford of his wonderful Master–that the joy of Heaven is to be
possessed, in a measure, even here below! That in contemplation on and
communion with Christ, the heart can be made to dance with eternal joy
and full of glory! Now, Brothers and Sisters, have we found it so? Oh,
some of us can set to our seal that in this thing the saints of God
have been true! He has ravished our souls with His Presence and made
our hearts to melt while He spoke into our ears the marvelous story of
His love! Perhaps in our unbelief we think that this is fancy, or
fanaticism, or some high-strained sentimentalism, but it is not so! It
is a sober fact that when a man gets to lean upon the arm of Christ, he
laughs at trouble, defies persecution–he passes through temptation all
unhurt. He walks here below, but his conversation is in Heaven! He sits
down with the sons of men and yet he is "raised up and made to sit in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus." I would say to you saints who have
not proceeded far in the College of Christ, who have only just begun to
study His precious Character and the Divine Virtues that flow out of
Him, never be content until you have! As you have heard from the song
of the Canticles. As you have heard from the saints who out of their
experience have told you of Christ's love, so will you find it! Do not
harbor the idea that the further you go, the less will you have of
enjoyment in religion. Oh, no! It has deep draughts of great bliss! The
shallow draughts will sustain, but oh, it is sacred intoxication with
the love of Christ which brings the highest joy and the most Divine
mirth!
To go in up to the ankles in the sea of Christ's love is well, but oh,
to pass up to the loins and to get still further until you find it "a
river to swim in"–this is to know the true delights of godliness!
As you have heard of these things, though they seem to be too high for
you and you tremble at them, yet if you will but ask for more Grace
that you may press forward, so you shall! There are no exceptions about
Christ! He offers nothingin the market that has been proffered to catch
the eye, but is not worth the purchase. His diamonds are never trashy
paste. His gold is not mere gilt. You may buy bread from Him and put it
in the scales and find it ounce for ounce. The water that He gives
turns neither stale nor sour–it is always fresh and cool–the further
you shall go in the enjoyment of it, the more shall you prize the well
of water springing up in your souls unto everlasting life!
Now, I might just turn this same point around in another form and say
that, as we have heard of Christ in His life upon earth, so have we
found it in dealing with Him. When Christ was here on earth, He was all
tenderness and love– and so we have found Him. We went to Him covered
with the leprosy of our sin and ready to die of our iniquities. But one
touch of His hand was freely given and that touch healed us! When He
was on earth He was holiness, itself, and so He is now, for He will not
walk with us if we fall in love with sin. He is quick to see our faults
and He gently chides us till conscience awakens us and we turn from the
evil with abhorrence. Christ was in this world as a very faithful
friend. Having loved His own, He loved them unto the end. And we have
found Him just such until now. There was never an hour in which He left
us naked to our enemies. When we have been tempted, His intercession
has always been like a bronze wall around us to keep us from being
devoured by the foe. When we have been bewildered, He has, like a good
shepherd, led us by ways that we knew not, but that He well understood.
In the days of famine we have been fed. In the times of need we have
been satisfied. We can speak well of His name. If any of His saints
have anything to say of Him that is high and comely, that will exalt
Him and set Him on high, and we, after our measure, can endorse it all!
So far as our experience has gone, He is a better Christ than we
thought Him to be! Oh, He is altogether precious, altogether lovely! Up
to this day we have never discovered a spot in Him. We have tried
Him–oh how, sadly, and our sins have tried Him–oh, how heavily! But
He is always true–the same yesterday, today, and forever! We can only
bless Him and praise Him, for "as we have heard, so have we seen."
How my heart desires that some of you who are here would just now, at
this very moment, come to my Lord and try Him! Oh, I so remember when I
first came to Him. They told me He was ready to pardon and that a look
at Him would move the crushing burden from my weary heart. I could not
think it true, but–
"I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad." And did He disappoint me? Ah, no! I can
happily join in with the rest of that verse–
"I found in Him a resting place,
And He has made me glad!"
If any of you think that Christ will cast you out when you come, I wish
you would come and try Him. It would be the beginning of a new method
with Him–the turning over of a new black leaf. "Him that comes unto
Me," He says, "I will in no wise cast out." He never did find it in His
heart to do so to any sinner that has sought His mercy! And I will not
believe it, though all the angels in Heaven swear it, that He ever cast
away a soul! I'd call them liars! It cannot be! It never shall be!
While the heavens are above the earth and God is true, and Christ is
God, no sinner that comes and puts His trust in Him, shall find Him
unable or unwilling to save Him! Oh, taste and see that the Lord is
good! And as you have heard, so shall you see! Now, in the next place,
I think–
III. THIS ALL STANDS GOOD WITH REGARD TO THE CHURCH OF GOD ITSELF.
Some have been apt to find fault with the Church and some Christians
seem to act on the principle of getting to Heaven, one by one. "Sheep,"
God's people are called, and I suppose one reason is because sheep are
gregarious and go in flocks. But there are Christian professors who
seem to like the one by one principle. Well now, speaking of the Church
of God as we have seen her, she has many faults–many faults–but Jesus
Christ loves her and she is His Bride. And I dare not find fault with
her! If she is the Princess Royal, if she is His Imperial Highness's
own betrothed one, I would rather see her with His eyes than with my
own! And while it may be very striking to rail about ministers and
their defects, to sneer at Church members and all sorts of other
things–and there may be sometimes good reason for it–yet we may say
much on the other side, too. "As we have heard, so have we seen."
When we first joined the Christian Church, we were told very plainly in
the Scripture that there would be tares among the wheat. That there
would be some among us who would go out from us, because they were not
of us. Christ taught us that among His 12 disciples, there was one
Judas, and if some hypocrites intrude among us, it need not astonish
us! We knew it would be so. He forewarned us and admonished us of it.
We have heard it and so have we seen–and if the seeing of it has been
painful–we can at least say that God was truthful and frank in warning
us that so it would be.
Well, there were good things spoken of the Church of God and we have
found them true, too. I expected to find in the Christian Church some
holy, prayerful, devout Christian men and women–and I have found them.
And I have rejoiced to be among them, to mingle with them, and to be of
their company, joining with them in holy worship, the washing in the
blood that has washed them! I can truly say that I have found a
Peter–many a bold earnest Brother like Peter. Many a loving John! Many
a busy Martha and some communing Marys. The Church of God always seems
to me, as I have seen it, to be a vast deal too good for me to be a
member of it, if I did but judge myself. And, instead of finding fault,
I would join with David and say, "You are my Lord: my goodness extends
not to You, but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the
excellent in whom is all my delight." I know the world will often find
fault and rail and tell us there are no such things as ancient
Christians. I have seen as glorious Christianity as even the Apostles
saw, and as good works of the Holy Spirit in members of this Church as
ever gladdened the eyes of those Apostles! I have seen suffering
endured with an astonishing patience, labor done with a perseverance
that was most commendable, liberality evinced with a freedom that
showed that the love of Christ constrained, prayer kept up with a
fervency that marked the indwelling Spirit and souls cared for, sought
after and won, too, with an indefatigable love that only the love of
Christ could inspire! I know we always think we live in the worst
times, but we do not!
There were worse times than these and there will be again. These may
not be the best, but they are a long way off from being the worst. I
think it was when Dr. Newton died that the good divine who preached the
funeral sermon took some such text as this, "My father, my father, the
chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof," and he deplored that now
this eminent saint was gone, they had no great divines left like the
great preachers of the olden time. That went on very prettily for some
time, but it was too much–for an old Methodist woman, who stood in the
aisle cried out–"Glory to God, that's a lie!" And oftentimes when I
hear people crying down the times and saying there are no good people
left, and that Christianity is at a low ebb, and that there remains no
true zeal, I can say from what I, myself, see in the people among whom
I dwell, "Glory be to God, that is a lie! It is a slander upon the
Church of God!" For as we have heard, so have we seen–we have seen the
gracious, fair fruits of the Spirit–and we honor God by testifying to
that fact!
I would, however, dear Brothers and Sisters, that we were always
conscientiously concerned never to give the lie in any degree to
statements made in Scripture concerning the holy living of the saints.
Alas, there are some professors who, if you could track them to their
business, are so much given to loose trading that as we have heard–so
can we cannot see! If you go into their houses–their maidservants,
their children and their wives are obliged to say, "We have heard what
Christian fathers, and mothers, and masters ought to be, but as we have
heard so, we do not see." It all ends in talk, in profession. Now,
while I stand up for it that there are many that do adorn the Doctrine
of God their Savior in all things and so prove that they are God's true
people, yet do we sorrowfully confess that many walk "of whom" we would
say with the Apostle, "We have told you often, and now tell you even
with weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ." Though
they are professed members of the Church of Christ, their lips honor
God, but their inconsistent lives degrade the Church and bring upon it
much loss of spiritual power. "As we have heard, so have we seen."
I think some of us can say that we have heard of the Church's glorious
assemblies. We have heard that they said they were glad when they went
up to the House of the Lord. We have heard that the people of God are
happy in their assemblies and that they long for the place where God's
honor dwells. Well, and so have we seen, for our Sabbaths have been our
happiest days and we have often said–
"My willing soul would stay, In such a frame as this, And sit, and sing
herself away To everlasting bliss."
It has been so.
We have heard that the preaching of the Gospel is the power of God unto
salvation and the great means of comfort and edification to the saints.
And "as we have heard, so have we seen," for oftentimes when the Truth
of God has been preached in our hearing, it has been as marrow and
fatness–and other times a rebuke has come just as we needed it to
quicken us from our spiritual sloth!
We have heard that the ordinances of God's House have a blessing
connected with them. Baptism and the Lord's Supper–that in the keeping
of His commandments there is great reward–and as we have heard, so
have we seen. I am sure that the blessed Supper of the Lord, though
many of His people come to the Table every week, never seems to grow
stale.
There is always a freshness in it. Oh, that blessed ordinance! Some, I
know, make a god of it and an idolatrous mystery of it, but because
they misuse it, we dare not depreciate it! It is to us none other than
the very gate of Heaven full often. "As we have heard, so have we
seen." Let us press on in our Church fellowship and increase in our
love and earnestness–and then as we have heard of the Zion that
travails and becomes like the mother of children–so shall we see! As
we have heard that they who sow in tears shall reap in joy–so shall we
see! As we have heard that there is great pleasure connected with the
winning of souls for Christ–so shall we see. In a word, all the
glorious things that are spoken of Zion, we shall have fulfilled to
ourselves!
Brothers and Sisters, before I close, I want to say that there is a
dreadful side to this Truth of God. As we have heard, so have we seen.
There are some of you here who are not saved. You have hitherto loved
your sins and have not repented. You have heard of Christ, but you have
put off all thoughts of Him. Now you have heard oftentimes that He that
believes not shall be condemned–and from this Book you have heard that
condemnation is something terrible and overwhelming, for there are
words like these, "Beware, you that forget God, lest I tear you in
pieces and there be none to deliver." And these, "These shall go away
into everlasting punishment." And these, "Where their worm dies not,
and their fire is not quenched." Now as you have heard, so will you
see! Depend upon it, you shall not find the pit of Hell to be less
awful than this Book describes! God sets up no bugbear to frighten
souls! They are all realities of which He speaks–and that they are
realities, many dying sinners have been made to know before they have
been dead, for their horror, their alarms their fears have been
premonitions of that wrath to which they were drawing near! I have seen
some death scenes which I dare not try to picture before you–and the
memory of which would unman me if I were to continue to contemplate
them–hearers of the Gospel who had neglected Christ and who died
conscious of their sins, unable, however, to seek mercy. And while we
prayed with them, telling us that our prayers would never be heard, for
they were given over and now they were cursing God, even while they
were feeling the anguish of lost souls! Yes, and though there are some
that become the advocates for evil by trying to make out the punishment
of sin to be little–settle it in your souls that as it took the blood
of the dying Son of God to wash out the sin of those who were
pardoned–it will take an anguish such as no heart can conceive before
the sinner shall have suffered for his sin what God will certainly pour
upon him! Think not lightly of the doom of the lost, lest you think
lightly of sin, and lightly of Christ, for as you have heard and
infinitely more than you have heard, shall you see, oh, unhappy spirit,
unless you will turn to Christ and believe on Him and live! Oh, that
you may do so tonight, for another night may never come to you–but one
long, endless night may be your portion.
But there is a bright side to it, too. The saints in Heaven might all
say, "As we have heard, so have we seen," only that I think they would
make a great improvement in our text! 'Tis true, you heard that Heaven
was full ofjoy and mercy and so have you seen. You heard of its pearly
gates and its streets of shining gold. You heard of its foundations
ofjasper and its walls of chrysolite and all manner of precious stones.
You heard of its eternal rest and of the Presence of God and the glory
of the overflowing bliss–and all you heard you have seen! But I say
they would make an improvement upon this, for, like the Queen of Sheba,
I think their glorified spirits would say, "The half has not been
told." Yes, Brothers and Sisters, we have heard things, but, "what must
it be to be there"–to be there?! The enjoyments transcend description
and though the words of Scripture portray the bliss that remains, we,
alas, are dull of understanding and cannot find out all the meaning of
the golden sentences! But we shall soon be there and once there we
shall, as I have said before, declare, "As we have heard, so have we
seen, only that the half was not told us of the splendor and the glory
of the court of our heavenly Solomon." May we be there to find all true
and join in the everlasting song of, "Unto Him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in His blood, unto Him be glory forever and
ever. Amen."
EXPOSITION BY C. H. SPURGEON: PSALM451-9.
The Lily Psalm–a Psalm of loves. Oh, that our hearts might be full of
love, tonight, and while we read, may our hearts be singing to the
praise of the Well-Beloved!
Verse 1. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things
which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready
writer Sometimes the heart could speak if it could move the tongue, but
it is a blessed time with us when, first of all, the heart is fully
warmed with love and then the fire within burns the strings that tie
the tongue–and the tongue begins to move right joyously in expressing
the heart's love! May it be so with us tonight who have to preach! May
it be so with all our Brothers who have, in public, either to preach or
to pray!
2. You are fairer than the children of men: Grace is poured into Your
lips, therefore God has blessed you forever No sooner does he begin to
write about Christ than he sees Him! A warm heart soon kindles the
imagination. The eye of faith is soon opened when once the heart is
right. We feel the Presence of Christ. We begin to speak of Him and to
Him. "Youare fairer than the children of men." Oh, I would, tonight,
that Christ would but lift the corner of His veil and show you but one
of His eyes! Your hearts would be ravished with His infinite beauty!
"You are fairer than the children of men." Would God He would but speak
half a word into our weary ear, and we should say, "Grace is poured
into Your lips." Oh, for some sense and sight of Him! Do not our hearts
hunger after this tonight?
3, 4. Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Most Mighty with Your glory
and Your majesty. And in Your majesty ride prosperously, because of
truth and meekness and righteousness; and Your right hand shall teach
You awesome things. The heart never glows with love to Christ unless,
in consequence, there is a longing that His Kingdom may be extended. It
is an instinct of a loving heart, that it desires the honor of its
object. We long for Christ to rule and reign simply because we love
Him. Oh, that He would lay His right hand to His work in these slow
times! How little is being done comparatively! Oh, for an hour of the
right arm of Jesus! If He would but come Himself to the battle, and the
shout of a King were heard in our camps, what victories would be won!
Cry unto Him, O you that love Him. He will come to your call!
5. Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King's enemies, whereby
the people fall under You. Christ has not only power near at hand with
his right hand, but far off He darts the arrows of His bow and heathens
are made to feel that the Gospel is mighty! Would God it were so now!
Cry for it!
6. Your Throne, O God, is forever and ever: the scepter of Your Kingdom
is a right scepter. And this we know to be spoken concerning Jesus
Christ for this was quoted by the Apostle, "Your Throne, O God." Let
those who will, deny His Deity. It shall be the joy of our heart to
worship Him and, in express terms, to address Him who is our Brother as
"very God of very God." "Your Throne, O God, is forever and ever. The
scepter of Your Kingdom is a right scepter."
7. You love righteousness and hate wickedness: therefore God, Your God,
has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows. Fellow
with us and yet equal with God! Man anointed, the Christ, yet still the
reigning God! Glory be to His name!
8. All your garments smell of myrrh, and aloes and cassia, out of the
ivory palaces, whereby they have made You glat. Not only is Christ
precious, but everything that touches Him! There is not a garment that
hangs upon His shoulder but becomes sweet by contact with Him. "All
Your garments smell of myrrh." There is myrrh about the priestly robe
that falls down to His feet, and about the golden belt of His
faithfulness that is girt about His waist. There are myrrh, and aloes,
and cassia about His crown, though it is of thorns! About every garment
that He puts on, there is a sweet perfume.
9. King's daughters were among Your honorable women: at Your right hand
did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. Blessed queen of Christ–His
Church. Let us never think little of her. There are some that are
always crying up "the church," "the church," "the church"–but that is
not the true Church, that tries to take the place of Christ. It is
anti-Christ! The true Church has her place, however, and that is at her
Husband's own right hand, where she sits in the best of the best–in
gold–and that the gold of Ophir, for He spares nothing for her beauty
and her glory.