Like grapes in the wine-press!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"He has given us His exceeding great and precious promises!" 2 Peter 1:4

If you would experimentally know the preciousness of the promises, and enjoy them in your own heart, you must meditate much upon them. There are promises which are like grapes in the wine-press; if you will tread them-the juice will flow. While you are musing upon them, the blessing which you are seeking will insensibly come to you. Many a Christian who has thirsted for the promise-has found the favor which it ensured gently distilling into his soul, even while he has been considering the divine record; and he has rejoiced that ever he was led to lay the promise near his heart.

But besides meditating upon the promises, seek in your soul to receive them as being the very words of God. Speak to your soul thus, "If I were dealing with a man's promise, I would carefully consider the ability and the character of the man who had covenanted with me. So with the promise of God; my eye must not be so much fixed upon the greatness of the promise-that may stagger me; as upon the greatness of the Promiser-that will cheer me.

My soul, it is God, even your God, God who cannot lie-who speaks to you! This Word of His which you are now considering, is as true as His own existence!

He is an unchangeable God. He has not altered the thing which has gone out of His mouth, nor called back one single consolatory sentence.

Nor does He lack any power; it is the God who made the heavens and the earth-who has spoken thus.

Nor can He fail in wisdom as to the time and way in which He will bestow the favors, for He knows when it is best to give and when better to withhold.

Therefore, seeing that it is the Word of a God so true, so immutable, so powerful, so wise-I will and must believe the promise."

If we thus meditate upon the promises, and consider the Promiser, we shall experience their sweetness, and obtain their fulfillment.