An entertaining history, or a striking description of
some famous battle will challenge our attention, and cause us to light
another candle. But a small portion of the scriptures suffices us; yes, some
are more occupied with a well-written romance, than with all the interesting
truths of the word of God. This is my lamentation.
Ah! how am I to blame—who do not more value this
invaluable book, where the style is lofty, the images striking, the figures
beautiful, the harmony conspicuous, the subjects of infinite consequence,
and the glory of God the scope of all. Here corruption and grace are
portrayed to the life; and the struggles of the old and new man set forth in
an instructive light. Here are arrows that pierce the stubborn heart, and
balm of comfort for the bleeding soul. Here kings are taught how to reign,
and princes how to judge; and here is an unerring directory for churches in
their public, and Christians in their private capacities, to walk by. This
is the armory of heaven, from which I may be furnished with weapons for my
spiritual warfare; for the sword of the Spirit is the word of God.
Like a kindly comforter, the Word stills my complaints,
chases away my sorrows, cheers my sinking spirit, revives my hope,
strengthens my faith, and sets me above the hurricanes of time. This feeds
me with manna; not the manna of the wilderness, of which all who ate are
died—but the divine manna, preserved in the golden pot of the promise, laid
up in the ark of the covenant of grace, for all the chosen seed. Surely
"your words were found me, and I ate them, and your word was the joy and
rejoicing of my heart." This is the only food that can support the strength
of the traveler heavenward. This makes my table so well furnished, and so
richly spread, in presence of my foes. With this my cup overflows; and this
is my daily allowance from the King's table, until the day I am admitted to
sit at table with the King. "The words of your mouth are better to me than
thousands of gold and silver. I rejoice at your word as one that finds great
spoil."
Without this sacred book I would have no happiness here,
no hope for the future; for it is the Christian's charter for the glorious
inheritance above. The bible is my directory in all conditions, at all
times, in all difficulties, amidst all companies, and in all places. To be
condemned to read a human composition again and again, would be intolerable;
but to be debarred from reading the scriptures, would be death. They are
always savory and refreshful to the spiritual taste; as the traveler drinks
at the stream that attends him through the desert, as often as he is parched
with thirst, and finds it always refreshful. Those truths, which at one time
we read with a belief that they are divine, come at another time, when the
Spirit breathes on them with such power, that in them we hear God talking
with us, and our heart burns within us.
Here time is bounded, and eternity brought forth: the
world set on flames, and the new creation formed; here heaven and earth talk
together, God and man converse; here conscience is accosted, thoughts
discerned, and secrets brought to light; so that the Word is both full of
eyes, and solemn all around.
This is the light of revelation, which dispels the
darkness of corrupt nature, shows me the world to come, sets the
judgment-throne, sounds the trumpet, gathers the nations, passes the
sentence, and brings in eternity! Yes from this sacred volume, I may learn
on what hand I shall stand, and what my sentence will be in that tremendous
day.
May I build for myself a dwelling in the word of promise
which shall stand when the hail shall sweep away the refuges of lies. From
this dear book, will I choose my songs in the house of pilgrimage; and will
count myself happier with a few promises from it, than if possessed of
scepters, crowns, and kingdoms. This is the window at which the Beloved
looks out; the lattice through which he shows himself—until the day breaks
and the shadows flee away. In a word, this sacred word is the beauteous
day-star that gives the pleasant dawn, until the Sun himself arises and
shines in the sky of glory.