Feeble Nature

Oh! how do I groan in this body of clay this clog of humanity!  When I would serve God with gladness, feeble nature hinders me; my strength is exhausted, and I must be again refreshed with sleep.  Grace had not only sin to fight against, but it has bodily infirmity to struggle with.  And I have no way of getting comfort under my calamities of this kind, which are so many, but by beholding with the eye of faith, through the telescope of Scripture the glories of the world above, when this mortal shall put on immortality, and death shall be swallowed up in life. 

There my weary eyes shall never seek to be refreshed with sleep, amidst the engaging glories of the higher house! The mirth of this present evil world, like an enchantress, lulls men asleep to everlasting destruction; but the songs of the inner temple rouse to all eternity. With the strength of an angel shall I step along the hills of glory and walk over the paradise of God. With greater ease shall I go on with the highest acts of adoration, than here give over the ordinary acts of devotion; for it shall be life to my soul, and vigor to all my powers, to be so employed! 

There he who pours the new wine into the saints, capacitates, strengthens, and supports the soul, to receive the eternal weight of glory. Meditation shall never tire my thoughts in tracing all the mazes of redeeming love! Everlasting hallelujahs shall dwell on my tongue; and how shall I improve in the song above, while I rest not day or night to sing, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive glory, and honor, blessings and power, dominion and praise, forever and ever!" (Revelation 5:12-13)

There is the uninterrupted vision of him, to whom when I see him, I shall be assimilated shall strengthen my eyes, that they shall be able to receive the images of all the celestial glories. No weariness there, where the exercise of worship renders happy. No weakness, where Jehovah is my strength. No lack of subject, where the Lord God and the Lamb are my song! 

Oh! shall I be able to praise and worship God through eternity? To sing his being and attributes, his love and his mercy, his righteousness and his truth, even a whole God, and a full glory! This will be my consummate happiness, and continual enjoyment! Well then, what though the hours of time steal from me unknown? I rejoice that I shall not lose one moment through weariness, while eternity rolls forever on. Oh! may I improve this to prepare for that; for if eternity is not secured before time is spent, I am undone in both. Roll on, O Day of love, to perfect strength in my weakness, and crown a poor expectant with eternal glory! 

[James Meikle]

James 1:12 ... Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

2 Timothy 4:8 ... Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

1 Peter 5:4 ... And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. ❤

The Spiritually Blind

Poor man! you walk in darkness, though presented on every side with noon-day beams. You must commit yourself to your fellow-creatures, and by them be led from door to door. Who can but sympathize with your condition, and pity you? Poison unknown to you may be poured into your cup. You may fall into the fire or the water, or a ditch. You may dash your foot against every stone, and have the naked sword brandished at your bosom, while ignorant of your danger.

How melancholy, then, the case of those people who are spiritually blind, who drink the cruel "poison of asps;" who fall into every ditch of sin; who run into every danger; and oppose their hardened bosom against the naked point of justice's flaming sword! And how sad that the people in this condition, ignorant of their danger should sport with wrath, and make a mock at sin!

If we heard of whole nations struck blind, and not one left to lead another but all perishing in this deplorable situation, how would we feel in the tenderest manner for them! Now, are there not whole nations who sit in the region and shadow of death, who grope in darkness, and never find their way to heaven? For them, therefore we should feel in a tender manner from the very bottom of our souls. Should not all Christians exert themselves to their very utmost, to spread the saving knowledge of a Savior among the heathen? 

Could a man heal the blind, how would they gratefully accept the cure, and bless the healing hand! But, in a land where life and immortality are brought to light how many sits in darkness, and will not leave their gloomy cell for all the beauties of the day? Happy those who have the eyes of their mind opened, and in his heavenly light see light clearly; who see the deformity of sin, the beauty of holiness, the excellency of true religion, the necessity of the new birth, the preciousness of Christ, the glory of eternal realities; and shortly, in the light of glory, shall see as they are seen. 

[James Meikle]

Romans 8:6 ... For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

1 Cornthians 2:4 ... But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

2 Corinthians 4:4 ... In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. ❤

My Rock!!

Let the travelers through the parched deserts of Arabia, tell how comforting the shadow of a cloud is which diminishes the heat in an arid place. Let the desert wanderers tell what it is to hide their scorched shoulders from the burning sun in the shadow of a rock. How much greater reason have I to boast of my Rock! From his pierced side the fountain of life flows which pours refreshment into my panting soul. Here I have not only shadow from the heat, but shelter from the storm.

What is firmer than a rock? Winds may rend the cedars of Lebanon and tear them up by their roots: but here the tempests beat, and are baffled; the billows dash, and are broken; time hovers, and corrodes not the flinty mass. Nevertheless, rocks are not armor against every invasion from destruction and ruin. For see, the enraged thunders rend their towering tops, and angry earthquakes toss them from their seats, while the earth beneath opens fearfully, and hides the ponderous heaps. But my Rock shall stand fast forever, when the foundations of the earth are moved, and the pillars of heaven tremble! There shall I be safe, when the hail shall sweep away the refuges of lies; yes, when God shall rain on sinners, snares, fire, and brimstone, in the furious storm of wrath, I shall sing in safety, being an inhabitant of the Rock of ages, from which I never shall be moved!

[James Meikle]

Psalm 18:2 ... The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

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The Sum ...

In a word, is this the sum of our kindness, is this the height of our concern for our dear children to see them happy in time, flourishing in the affairs of this life though they end up being miserable beyond description through eternity itself? Will their bodily pain excite our sympathy, and will we do all in our power to have their diseases healed and yet have no concern that their souls pine under sin, and they suffer all the pangs of Hell? Will we not bring them in our prayers to the Physician of souls, to the Savior of sinners?

I have but one request for all of my children, and that is that they may fear and serve God here, and enjoy him forever!  No matter though they sweat for their daily bread only let them feed on the hidden manna! Let them toil and spin for their apparel but let them be covered in Christ's righteousness!  How would I count my house renowned, and my family ennobled, if there sprang from it not wealthy princes or kings, (let potsherds of the earth strive for such earthly vanities) but pillars for the temple of God in glory, who shall dwell in the presence of the King of kings when time is no more!

[James Meikle]

Ephesians 6:4 ...  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

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The Difference!

There is a wide difference in both principle and practice, between the the godly and the ungodly. The affections of the godly are spiritually refined and their desires are exalted. The inclinations of the ungodly are corrupt and their desires are groveling. Sin has but a tottering standing, and a momentary abode in the godly. But sin has fixed its throne, and taken up its eternal residence in the ungodly. 

In the godly, grace and sin struggle for sovereignty. In the ungodly, sin domineers and there is no struggle. The godly is deeply concerned about the world to come. The ungodly has no concern about eternal realities. The speech of the godly is seasoned with grace. The discourse of the ungodly is insipid and vain. The godly has his hope fixed on God. The ungodly has no fear of God before his eyes. The godly use the world without abusing it. The ungodly, in using the world, abuse both themselves and it. 

The godly sees God in his daily life, and rejoices in Him with his whole heart. The ungodly says in his practice: "There is no God!" and wishes in his heart that there were no God. The godly adores the Creator above all else. The ungodly worships the creature more than the Creator. The godly uses God's name with profoundest reverence, and departs from iniquity. The ungodly profanes God's name with impudence, and adds iniquity to sin. The godly redeems his time. The ungodly trifles away his time. The godly studies his duty in obedience to all God's precepts. The ungodly shakes himself loose from every command of God. 

The godly forgives his foes. The ungodly lays a snare for his foes. The godly commits it to God to avenge wrongs done to him. The ungodly, fiery and tumultuous seeks revenge. The godly loves purity in all things. The ungodly wallows in impurity. The godly is content with his condition. The ungodly covets all the day long. The godly is pure in heart. The heart of the ungodly is like a cage full of unclean beasts. The godly walks at liberty in the ways of God. The ungodly is the servant and slave of sin. 

The Holy Spirit rules in the heart of the godly. Satan rules in the heart of the ungodly. The godly has his citizenship in Heaven. The ungodly has his citizenship in Hell. As there is such a wide difference in their principles and practices so also, in their eternal destinies. God is faithful, He has promised felicity to the pious, and threatened vengeance to the wicked. "The wicked is thrust out in his wickedness; but the righteous has hope in his death." (Proverbs 14:32)  

The godly are under the blessing of God's love. The ungodly are under the curse of God's justice. The godly with joy, draw water out of the wells of salvation. The ungodly shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. To the godly, pertain all the exceeding great and precious promises. To the ungodly, pertain all the threatening of God. 

Heaven shall be the palace of the godly! Hell shall be the prison of the ungodly! While the godly shall dwell through eternity with God, the ungodly shall be driven away into everlasting darkness! Thus, the righteous and wicked are separated in their life, and divided in their death. They are divided in their principles, in their practices, in their choices, in their joys, in their thoughts, in their company, in their speech, in their fears, in their expectations, in their death, and through eternity itself!

[James Meikle]

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Altogether Lovely!!

Why does the world reject the wondrous Savior? Why do they abhor Him who is altogether lovely, and hate Him who is the best Friend of sinners? O men of the world! what good can you desire which is not in Christ? The excellencies of earth are but His footstool; the excellencies of Heaven are but His throne! How excellent, then, must He Himself be! 

His treasures are infinite and open for you! In Jesus are riches if you are poor; honor if you are despised; friendship, if you are forsaken; help if you are injured; mercy if you are miserable; joy if you are disconsolate; protection if you are in danger; deliverance if you are a captive; life if you are mortal; and all things if you have nothing at all. 

Time and eternity are His and He can give you all the glorious things of eternity! Moreover, He can deliver you from all your fears; from sin the worst of all evils; from self the most hurtful of all companions; from death the most dreadful of all changes; from Satan the most subtle of all enemies; from Hell the most horrible of all prisons; and from wrath the most horrifying doom of all sinners! Now, where will you find such a one as Jesus? Why, then, refuse life, and seek after death and damnation? 

 

All Heaven is enamored with His beauty! The longer we look on 'created gaieties', the leaner and less lovely they grow; so that, by the time we have viewed them forty, fifty, or sixty years we see nothing but vanity in the creature! But when ten thousand ages are employed in beholding the perfection and beauty of Jesus, He still appears more and more lovely even altogether lovely! Alas! I can say nothing of His true excellencies! They overwhelm my laboring thought, and are too vast for my feeble conception to bring forth!

[James Meikle]

Song of Solomon 5:16 ...  His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

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My Meditation ...

Meditation shall never tire my thoughts in tracing all the mazes of redeeming love! Everlasting hallelujahs shall dwell on my tongue; and how shall I improve in the song above, while I rest not day or night to sing, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive glory, and honor, blessings and power, dominion and praise, forever and ever!"

[James Meikle]

Psalm 19:14 ... Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

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Spiritual Blessings!!

All plenitude is in Christ, to answer all the needs of His people. In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, that out of His fullness, I may receive all spiritual blessings!

[James Meikle]

 

Ephesians 1:3 ... Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ❤

Solitude Sweetened

 Are believers in the valley of tears? Is their dwelling place Bochim and Baca? Well, God's mercy outstretches all their misery! Promises of grace dispel the mental gloom, and bear away the ponderous loads of grief! The soft handkerchief of love wipes off the furrowing tear! An inspired penman begins the glorious sentence with an unanswerable question. "If God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up to the death for us all, how shall he not also with him give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) Comfort, then; you sons of sorrow; comfort, my soul! There is more in this verse than can be comprehended! And there is more love in the heart of God, than any language, or idiom of speech, can convey to finite creatures!

If, for my sake, he has given his Son, what will he withhold in all the creation? Is his creation the breath of his mouth better to him than his eternal, co-eternal Son? Is the work of his hands dearer to him than his well-beloved bosom Son? And has he given him to the die for you and then will he deny you any necessity? No! He who feeds the soul with heavenly manna will support the body with daily bread! He who gives drink out of the wells of salvation will not fail to afford a cup of cold water! He who has provided a robe of righteousness, to cover the shame of my sin will also give wool in the cold season. He who furnishes my inner man with all the armor of God, will put a covering on my head in the day of battle and war. (At this time the Author had a view of entering into the navy, being time of war, as he did some time after.) He who, in the counsel of peace, from eternity, secured my peace, will also shine upon my path, and decree what shall come to pass. He who has written my name among the living in Jerusalem, will also preserve, (this my faith pleads and expects,) my character, that I shall not shame what I profess in the world. He who has destroyed spiritual death, will also for me un-sting natural death, and spoil the grave of its victory!

Again, how can it be possible that God should give his Son, himself, his all and yet deny me any good thing? Will not he who is to crown me with glory above strengthen me with grace below? Will he not bless me with peace of mind who is to be my peace forever? Triumph, O my faith! all things are Christ's, and Christ is God's! And God, Christ, and all things, are yours! Time is his, and in it I have my years numbered! The air is his, and in it I breathe! The world is his and on it I dwell; its fullness is his and I am fed! Grace is his and in it I stand! Faith is his gift and by it I overcome the world! Tribulations are from him and in them I glory! Perfection is his and towards it I press! Death is his and by it I arrive at home! Heaven is his and there is my mansion! Eternity is his, and there is my treasure and glory forevermore!

[James Meikle]

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Petulant For Toys and Trifles!

O for what trifles, will men cast away their precious souls!

It is proper only to children, not to men, to be petulant for toys and trifles. So let the men of this world lament the loss of worldly vanities. But let the heirs of God, the joint-heirs with Christ, rejoice that the treasures of eternity are theirs!

"But blessed are your eyes, for they see." Happy are those who have the eyes of their mind opened, and clearly see the deformity of sin, the beauty of holiness, the excellency of piety, the necessity of the new birth, the preciousness of Christ, the glory of eternal realities.

I see the mutable and fickle state of temporal things, and therefore hold a loose grip on the creature, however dear, however near and set my affections on things which are above!

[James Meikle]

Colossians 3:1-4 … If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

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Flood of Bliss

All at once I find myself in an unbounded flood of bliss, a spacious sea of glory lost in wonder amidst ineffable delights, and transported with the raptures of seraphic harmony! While all His saints rejoice in His excellent glory what ardor glows in every soul, and what rapture swells in every song! O the wondrous displays of His perfections the manifestations of His goodness, the outlettings of His love!

Here we received out of His fullness grace upon grace. and glory upon glory. Our heavenly possession is worthy of our liberal Giver. We have a kingdom which cannot be moved, an undefiled inheritance, which does not fade away, a city with foundations, whose builder and maker is God, garments of glory, a crown of righteousness, the tree of life to feed upon, the fountain of life to drink of, the garden of God to walk in, life above the reach of death, health secured from sickness, eternal pleasure without pain!

Our bodies are immortal, our souls are immaculate, our senses are sanctified, our conceptions are spiritualized, our faculties are enlarged, and our whole soul is glorious!  Our past bliss is with us in the sweet remembrance, our present bliss enchants us in the enjoyment, and our future bliss is present with us in the full assurance of our eternal felicity.   Thus we are forever blessed to the highest degree. We are above all fear, beyond anxiety and doubt, and fixed above all change!  Our service is sincere, our adorations are ardent, our knowledge is profound and satisfying.  Rapture rushes in at every part!

Our eyes are ravished with seeing the King in His beauty; our ears are ravished with hearing the songs of the inner temple; our nostrils are ravished with the fragrance of the Rose of Sharon, the plant of renown;  our feet are ravished with standing in His holy place;  our hands are ravished with handling of the word of life; and  our mouths are ravished with the wine of our Beloved, which goes down sweetly causing our souls to shout aloud, and our lips to sing and never cease.  Our experience of His fullness, our vision of His perfections and glory constitute our most exalted bliss, and are the heaven of heavens!

O what torrents of eternal love teem from the glorious throne into our souls! O the pleasure that is in His presence! O the exuberant rivers of joy that flow at His right hand!

O love! never to be forgotten which has brought me safely through so many winding labyrinths and crooked paths, in sight of so many enemies, in spite of a tempting devil, the accusations of my sins, the rebellion of my lusts, the carnality of my affections, and the weakness of all my graces to dwell at last forever in heavenly bliss!

O eternity! Once the comfort of our longing expectations now the transport of our enlarged souls! For we are forever with the Lord, beholding His unclouded face, wearing His divine name, drinking at the streams of His pleasures, eating of His hidden manna, sitting beneath the Tree of Life, basking under the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, singing hallelujahs to Him who loved us, who washed us from our sins in His blood, and brought us here to be with Him forever!

O state of complete happiness and consummate bliss!

[James Meikle]

Psalm 16:11 … Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

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The Difference Between The Godly And The Ungodly

There is a wide difference in both principle and practice, between the the godly and the ungodly.  The affections of the godly are spiritually refined and their desires are exalted.  The inclinations of the ungodly are corrupt and their desires are groveling.

Sin has but a tottering standing, and a momentary abode in the godly. But sin has fixed its throne, and taken up its eternal residence in the ungodly.  In the godly, grace and sin struggle for sovereignty. In the ungodly, sin domineers and there is no struggle.  The godly is deeply concerned about world to come. The ungodly has no concern about eternal realities.  The speech of the godly is seasoned with grace. The discourse of the ungodly is insipid and vain.

The godly has his hope fixed on God. The ungodly has no fear of God before his eyes. The godly use the world without abusing it. The ungodly, in using the world, abuse both themselves and it.  The godly sees God in his daily life, and rejoices in Him with his whole heart.  The ungodly says in his practice: "There is no God!" and wishes in his heart that there were no God.

The godly adores the Creator above all else. The ungodly worships the 'creature' more than the Creator.  The godly uses God's name with profoundest reverence, and departs from iniquity.  The ungodly profanes God's name with impudence, and adds iniquity to sin.  The godly redeems his time. The ungodly trifles away his time.  The godly studies his duty in obedience to all God's precepts.  The ungodly shakes himself loose from every command of God.

The godly forgives his foes.  The ungodly lays a snare for his foes.  The godly commits it to God to avenge wrongs done to him. The ungodly, fiery and tumultuous, seeks revenge.  The godly loves purity in all things. The ungodly wallows in impurity.  The godly is content with his condition.  The ungodly covets all the day long. The godly is pure in heart.  The heart of the ungodly is like a cage full of unclean birds.

The godly walks at liberty in the ways of God. The ungodly is the servant and slave of sin.  The Holy Spirit rules in the heart of the godly. Satan rules in the heart of the ungodly. The godly has his citizenship in Heaven.  The ungodly has his citizenship in Hell.

As there is such a wide difference in their principles and practices so also, in their eternal destinies.  God is faithful, He has promised felicity to the pious, and threatened vengeance to the wicked.  The godly are under the blessing of God's love. The ungodly are under the curse of God's justice.

The godly with joy, draw water out of the wells of salvation. The ungodly shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. To the godly, pertain all the exceeding great and precious promises.  To the ungodly, pertain all the threatenings of God. Heaven shall be the palace of the godly! Hell shall be the prison of the ungodly! 

While the godly shall dwell through eternity with God, the ungodly shall be driven away into everlasting darkness!

Thus, the righteous and wicked are separated in their life, and divided in their death. They are divided in their principles,  in their practices, in their choices, in their joys, in their thoughts, in their company,  in their speech,  in their fears,

in their expectations, in their death, and  through eternity itself!

[James Meikle]

✞ ✞ ✞

Proverbs 14:32 …  The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Matthew 25:46 … And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Psalm 37:17 … For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.❤

O Divine Lover

Behold! the eternal Son of God loves an ugly, deformed, miserable creature, a crawling worm, a condemned criminal, an insolvent debtor, a rebel against heaven, a daring sinner, a drudge to hell, a slave to lust, a captive of Satan, a prisoner of the pit!

This is love indeed!

How ardently, O Divine Lover! should my soul go out after You! I long for that glorious day, when I shall mourn Your absence no more when, admitted into Your presence, I shall delight in all Your love, and feast on all Your charms, world without end!

[James Meikle]

Romans 5:6 ... For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

John 3:16 ...  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:10 ... Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.❤

The Rock in The Weary Land

Let the travelers through the parched deserts of Arabia, tell how comforting the shadow of a cloud is which diminishes the heat in a arid place. Let the desert wanderers tell what it is to hide their scorched shoulders from the burning sun in the shadow of a rock. How much greater reason have I to boast of my Rock! From his pierced side the fountain of life flows which pours refreshment into my panting soul. Here I have not only shadow from the heat, but shelter from the storm.

What is firmer than a rock? Winds may rend the cedars of Lebanon, and tear them up by their roots: but here the tempests beat, and are baffled; the billows dash, and are broken; time hovers, and corrodes not the flinty mass. Nevertheless, rocks are not armor against every invasion from destruction and ruin. For see, the enraged thunders rend their towering tops, and angry earthquakes toss them from their seats, while the earth beneath opens fearfully, and hides the ponderous heaps. But my Rock shall stand fast forever, when the foundations of the earth are moved, and the pillars of heaven tremble! There shall I be safe, when the hail shall sweep away the refuges of lies; yes, when God shall rain on sinners snares, fire, and brimstone, in the furious storm of wrath, I shall sing in safety, being an inhabitant of the Rock of ages, from which I never shall be moved!

No wonder, then, that the saint of God shouts for joy, being an inhabitant on high, and having for his place of defense the fortress of rocks. Sometimes, indeed, the blind world is ready to allege, that their rock has abandoned them, and that if God were their God, surely he would intervene for them when they see martyrs going to execution; some to the gibbet, and others to be drowned in the sea; some to the rack, and others to the fire. But then their divine Comforter invisibly attends them, and he whose form is like the son of God walks with them amidst the fire, and fans away the flame. This is the Rock from which I am filled with honey, the Rock that pours out rivers of oil for me.

Do rocks defend me from blasts, from whatever quarter they blow? So does my Rock. Is the blast from hell? Well, he has the keys of hell and of death. Is it from sin? He is my righteousness. Is it from Satan? He has conquered principalities and powers. Is it from afflictions? He is my sympathizing and loving High Priest. Is it from losses? He is my exceeding great reward. Is it from crosses? He makes all things work together for good to his people. Is it from anguish? He is my joy. Is it from darkness? He is my Sun. Is it from doubts? He is my Counselor. Is it from deadness? He is my life. Is it from enemies? He is my shield. Is it from temptation? He is my deliverer. Is it from false friends? He will never leave me, nor forsake me. Is it from solitude or banishment? He is everywhere present. Is it from disease? He is my healer. Is it from death? He is the resurrection and the life.

O glorious refuge! O sure defense! O everlasting fortress! Here do I defy the worst that earth and hell can do. Henceforth will I live by faith, in the MAN who is my hiding place from the wind, my shelter from the tempest, my stream of water in a dry place, my shadow of a great rock in a weary land until every blast has blown over, and not a threatening cloud appears in my sky until my heaven is beautified with everlasting day, and every storm is swept from the air which I breathe!

[James Meikle]

Isaiah 32:2 ... And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

Psalm 18:2 ... The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.



Psalm 62:7 ... In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

Psalm 71:3 ... Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 91:1 ... He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. ❤

Triumph, O My Faith!

Again, how can it be possible that God should give his Son, himself, his all and yet deny me any good thing? Will not he who is to crown me with glory above, strengthen me with grace below?  Will he not bless me with peace of mind who is to be my peace forever?  
 

 

Triumph, O my faith! all things are Christ's, and Christ is God's! And God, Christ, and all things, are yours! Time is his, and in it I have my years numbered! The air is his, and in it I breathe! The world is his and on it I dwell; its fullness is his and I am fed!  Grace is his and in it I stand! Faith is his gift and by it I overcome the world! Tribulations are from him and in them I glory!
 

 

Perfection is his and towards it I press!  Death is his and by it I arrive at home! Heaven is his and there is my mansion! Eternity is his, and there is my treasure and glory forevermore!

 

[James Meikle]

 

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Psalm 34:10 ... The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

 

 

 

Isaiah 32:17 ... And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

 

 

John 14:1-3 ... Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. ❤  

If God Gives Christ, What Can He Withhold?

Are believers in the valley of tears? Is their dwelling place Bochim and Baca? Well, God's mercy outstretches all their misery! Promises of grace dispel the mental gloom, and bear away the ponderous loads of grief! The soft handkerchief of love wipes off the furrowing tear! An inspired penman begins the glorious sentence with an unanswerable question. "If God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up to the death for us all, how shall he not also with him give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) Comfort, then; you sons of sorrow; comfort, my soul! There is more in this verse than can be comprehended! And there is more love in the heart of God, than any language, or idiom of speech, can convey to finite creatures!

If, for my sake, he has given his Son, what will he withhold in all the creation? Is his creation, the breath of his mouth, better to him than his eternal, co-eternal Son? Is the work of his hands dearer to him than his well-beloved bosom Son? And has he given him to the die for you and then will he deny you any necessity? No! He who feeds the soul with heavenly manna will support the body with daily bread! He who gives drink out of the wells of salvation will not fail to afford a cup of cold water! He who has provided a robe of righteousness, to cover the shame of my sin will also give wool in the cold season. He who furnishes my inner man with all the armor of God, will put a covering on my head in the day of battle and war.

He who, in the counsel of peace, from eternity, secured my peace, will also shine upon my path, and decree what shall come to pass. He who has written my name among the living in Jerusalem, will also preserve, (this my faith pleads and expects,) my character, that I shall not shame what I profess in the world. He who has destroyed spiritual death, will also for me un-sting natural death, and spoil the grave of its victory!

Again, how can it be possible that God should give his Son, himself, his all and yet deny me any good thing? Will not he who is to crown me with glory above strengthen me with grace below? Will he not bless me with peace of mind who is to be my peace forever? Triumph, O my faith! all things are Christ's, and Christ is God's! And God, Christ, and all things, are yours! Time is his, and in it I have my years numbered! The air is his, and in it I breathe! The world is his and on it I dwell; its fullness is his and I am fed! Grace is his and in it I stand! Faith is his gift and by it I overcome the world! Tribulations are from him and in them I glory! Perfection is his and towards it I press! Death is his and by it I arrive at home! Heaven is his and there is my mansion! Eternity is his, and there is my treasure and glory forevermore!

[James Meikle]

Psalm 34:10 .. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

Matthew 6:33 ... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Hebrews 13:21 ... Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

John 1:12-13 ... But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

John 14:23 ... Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. ❤

I Shall Forget All The Toils of My Journey!

There is one thing which is needful, and only one thing. Henceforth let me attend to it with diligence and care, and not to make trifles such matters of concern.

If I am traveling to my Father's house, I should attend closely to my journey, and not consume myself with anxiety about the climate, whether it it fair or foul; whether the road is good or bad; and whether I join agreeable company, or walk alone. For my Father's house will make me completely happy, so happy that I shall forget all the toils of my journey!

"Heaven will make amends for all!"

[James Meikle]

2 Corinthians 4:17 ... For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Philippians 3:20 ... For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Revelation 21:4 ... And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.❤

Christ the Rock

Let the travelers through the parched deserts of Arabia, tell how comforting the shadow of a cloud is which diminishes the heat in a arid place. Let the desert wanderers tell what it is to hide their scorched shoulders from the burning sun in the shadow of a rock. How much greater reason have I to boast of my Rock! From his pierced side the fountain of life flows which pours refreshment into my panting soul. Here I have not only shadow from the heat, but shelter from the storm.

What is firmer than a rock? Winds may rend the cedars of Lebanon, and tear them up by their roots: but here the tempests beat, and are baffled; the billows dash, and are broken; time hovers, and corrodes not the flinty mass. Nevertheless, rocks are not armor against every invasion from destruction and ruin. For see, the enraged thunders rend their towering tops, and angry earthquakes toss them from their seats, while the earth beneath opens fearfully, and hides the ponderous heaps. But my Rock shall stand fast forever, when the foundations of the earth are moved, and the pillars of heaven tremble! There shall I be safe, when the hail shall sweep away the refuges of lies; yes, when God shall rain on sinners snares, fire, and brimstone, in the furious storm of wrath, I shall sing in safety, being an inhabitant of the Rock of ages, from which I never shall be moved!

[James Meikle]

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Deuteronomy 32:13 ... He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

Psalm 18:2 ... The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Isaiah 32:2 ... And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.❤