1 Peter 1:25

REFLECTIONS

Surely we have reason to bless God for the dispersion of his people, in that so much grace is manifested, and hath been manifested in their recovery. All which proves the original and eternal election of the Church by God the Father, the purchase of their redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, and their regeneration and sanctification by the Holy Ghost. And that sweet promise is confirmed in every instance of a child of God brought back by sovereign grace, Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel, will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd doth his flock!

And, Reader! shall we not both join the Apostle's hymn, in the conscious recovery of our poor fallen nature, by the resurrection of Christ from the dead, and in the assurance of that inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, to which all his redeemed are begotten, and which is reserved for them in heaven, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation; shall we not bless God for his unspeakable gift! And though in the way to our possession of this secured inheritance, there is a needs-be to meet with manifold temptations, yet, even these temptations, under divine grace, minister but to greater glory; and every exercise of faith becomes more precious than gold that perisheth!

Precious Jesus thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. And though we see thee not by sight, yet do thy people love thee, the fairest and the loveliest of ten thousand. Thy salvation, the Prophets spoke of, guided by thy Spirit within them. Thy finished redemption, the Holy Ghost hath given thy Church grace to believe, in the preaching of the Gospel, in thy presence and power, sent down from heaven. And while angels desire to look into these things, by way of discovery of their wonderful nature and extent, it is the unspeakable happiness of thy people to be taught of God, and to believe in God, that their faith and hope might be in God.

Oh! Lord the Spirit! thou who hast given to thy Church this sweet scripture, give to them the knowledge and apprehension of all its blessed contents in their hearts. And, since, by thy sovereign work of regeneration, thy people are born again, and brought into the knowledge and love of God in Christ, give them also grace to live in the daily enjoyment of their high privileges. May they have such a daily sense of the electing love of God, the sanctification of the Spirit, and the redeeming, cleansing, and renewing efficacy of the blood of Jesus, as to believing in the sweet communion and fellowship of the whole, as to be found, unto the praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ.