Thomas Charles, 1838

There may be life, where there is little or no strength. However, in that case, there can be no walking. To walk, especially to walk usefully, so as to answer some end or purpose—there must be health and vigor of body; the different parts of the body must be healthy and sound. A person that has strength—yet if he is lame or maimed, if his head is dizzy, or his lungs unsound, or if he is altogether too fat—in either of these cases he is altogether unfit for walking. And so it is in a spiritual sense.

But oftentimes there is a great deal more strength than is exercised. However, inactivity is the most effectual way to lose what strength we have, to fill the body with illnesses, and is the certain parent of innumerable disorders. From some professors' conduct one would be induced to imagine, that they think to grow in grace and to go to Heaven—merely by hearing, reading, and talking, without any endeavor to live to God in any sense. But such miserably deceive themselves, "we are created unto good works, that we should walk in them."

The slothful and unprofitable professor will be cast into outward darkness, as well as the unbelievers. But a faithful servant, with a ready mind, waits upon God to know his will and execute his commands—and his obedience is like that of a dutiful child to an indulgent father, whose heart rejoices and exults in his service whom he fondly loves.

A traveler has a way to walk in. He does not walk at a random, without knowing where he is, and where the path he is in, leads to the place he is going to. A person may exert himself much and walk hard—yet if he takes no care to be in the right way—he may, after all his labor and pain, be as far from the end of his journey as the first moment he set out from home.

So also spiritually, there is a way, in which if we are not found, it is impossible to walk with God, or to arrive at the rest which remains for the people of God. This way is Christ. "I am the way," says he, "the truth and the life." The way that God appointed men to walk in at the beginning, was the path of innocence and perfect holiness, according to the covenant of works. But by sin, we have erred and strayed from this way, so that no one can find it any more. But God out of infinite love has found out another way—a new and a living way, through which we may have access to him, and in which we may walk with him. The covenant of works is old and out of date—but Christ has consecrated a new way which can never become old, never can be rendered impassable, and out of which we cannot err. Isaiah 35.8.

The covenant of works is now dead, and those who attempt to find it and walk in it, are going down into the chambers of eternal death! But this living way is not within the dominion of the king of terrors; it gives life to those who walk in it, defends them on the right hand and on the left, keeps them in peace and safety, and fills them with comfort and joy—so that they "walk without being weary, and run without being faint."

Christ is the mediator of all communication between us and God—all influences of grace, love, and mercy from God to us, are through him alone. And all returns of faith, love, and obedience, from us to him—must be made through him alone. God is in Christ reconciling the world unto himself; and when we are in Christ, then, and not until then, are we reconciled to him, and walk with, him, in communion and love. When we are in him, then are we with God, "who will bring the blind by a way that they know not, and lead them in paths that they have not known; who will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight." Isaiah 42.16.

Until we are brought this way, there will be forever an impassable gulf fixed between us and God—we being on the outside, and he on the inside. But the moment we are in Christ, the new and living way, we are with God. In proportion as we abide in Christ, and walk confidently in him—we are also enjoying communion and fellowship with the Father.

But where there is life, strength and activity for walking, and a way to walk in—before we can walk comfortably with another in this way—there must yet be agreement, acquaintance, and confidence; there must be the same end in view and the same design in hand. "Can two walk together—unless they are agreed?'' If they walk the same road—yet they will not, they cannot, walk together—unless they are agreed, and on peaceable and friendly terms.

So God and man must be agreed, before they can have communion and walk together. Since sin has taken place, God and man are at the greatest possible distance. God declares wrath against us—and we are full of enmity against him. God reveals himself as infinitely provoked by our sins, and therefore preparing wrath against the day of wrath, when we and he are to meet in judgment. Our carnal minds also are enmity against him, and we manifest by our continual and universal rebellion, that we neither are, nor will, nor can be subject to him. We are darkness—and he is light. We are dead—and he is life. We are sinful, defiled, and abominable—but he is glorious in holiness. And what communion or agreement can there be between beings so opposite and contrary? None at all!

God and we must be at an infinite distance—until he is reconciled, and we are transformed. By Christ the new and living way, both these things are effected. He is our peace, making reconciliation for our sins by the sacrifice of himself, and also slaying the enmity in his own body on the cross. Ephesians 2.14—16.

Jesus removes our sin, the cause of God's wrath against us. He also plucks up the root of our enmity against him, which is sin. So that now God is in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself—he is himself reconciled, and by the ministry of the Spirit he is slaying the enmity in us, that we may be reconciled too. In Christ, therefore, Heaven and earth, sinner and God meet together and are reconciled.

God declares, "Fury is not in me"—and we are brought with delight and love inexpressible, to call him, "Abba Father!" There is now harmony and agreement, love and delight. From Heaven is proclaimed, "peace on earth and good will towards men; and on earth glory to God in the highest"—this is sounded with the voice of gratitude and love! God is now perfectly reconciled to his people, and in proportion as the enmity is gradually destroyed in them—is their communion in walking with him.

There are no means more effectual to destroy this enmity in us, and bring us to him in love—than a firm belief of his reconciliation to us in Christ. This persuasion sweetly disarms the soul, softens the heart, brings down its pride with deep contrition of heart to "walk humbly with God". In the face of Jesus Christ alone, can we see God reconciled to us. Therefore in him only, can we walk in peace and communion with him.

There may be no enmity—and at the same time no communion between two persons. They may be strangers, without any intimacy or acquaintance, and therefore can have no fellowship together. And so in a spiritual sense, the natural enmity may be in some degree destroyed—and yet we may be without sufficient knowledge of God and experimental acquaintance with him, to walk with him daily in communion and love.

As a belief in him as reconciled to us in Christ, is the most effectual means to destroy the natural enmity of our hearts against him—so an increasing knowledge of his love, grace, and mercy, in all their freeness, eternity, and immensity, can alone engage our hearts to him, and make his company above all things desirable and his presence delightful.

Without this spiritual acquaintance with him—a sense of sin and guilt will drive us from him as from an infinite enemy, almighty to revenge. We cannot walk with him in love and confidence—until we know how his heart is disposed towards us—until we are convinced that his heart contains grace and mercy more immense than our sin and guilt, and love infinitely surpassing our unworthiness!

Walking with God implies a great degree of confidence in him, as well as love towards him—confidence in him from an intimate acquaintance with the disposition of his heart and mind towards us. This knowledge of himself, God gives in us Christ, "in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by faith in him," Ephesians 3.12. In giving his Son, he has given such a demonstration of his love and good-will, as far exceeds our faculties to comprehend. But we cannot take in this light, for darkness does not comprehend it, until he have given us "an understanding to know him that is true." 1 John 5.20. Our understanding must be enlightened, and our minds enlarged to comprehend the height, and depth, the length and breadth of his love! A superficial, notional or mere head-knowledge will not answer the purpose—but "he who commanded light to shine out of darkness, must shine in our hearts—to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ".

In proportion as the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ shines in our hearts—so will our confidence and delight in him increase. We shall then cleave to him with full purpose of heart—cleave to him as our only refuge and solace, as our wisdom to direct us, and our strength to help us in every time of need. Thus those who walk with him—also lean upon him as their only strength and support—their very present help in times of trouble. They follow him as their guide every step of the road—so that without him they have neither strength nor knowledge to proceed one step forward.

He is their God, on whom and to whom they live. They have his glory in view in all their motions, and they look to him as their all in all. They do not walk in the same way at a distance from him; one time running before him, and at another time lingering behind—but they walk with him, in closeness of union and nearness of communion. "They come out of the wilderness, leaning upon their Beloved." Many may and do observe great strictness and severity of living—who are at the same time far from God. They may make a great show of humility, but at the same time they never walk humbly with God.

It is to be observed also that those who are with God, are walking with him—not sitting still, and continuing in the same place and station—but proceeding forward, growing and thriving in the divine life. When we make no progress, we may be well assured that God and we have not much fellowship with each other; for we are never with him, without receiving something from him.

Those who are walking with him, he daily feeds with the bread of life, renewing their strength with new communications of grace. He draws them after him with the cords of love, and never leaves nor forsakes them. He bears them up in his arms, and carries them in his bosom as a nursing father—when they are faint and feeble. Thus those who are walking with him, are still proceeding forward, with patience and perseverance, running the race that is set before them.