1 Peter 4:19

REFLECTIONS

Be faithful followers of Jesus! what can arm you for the fight, and holy warfare equal to constant, firm, unshaken views of Jesus, and his unequalled sufferings? And look forward to the sure, and the not very distant hour, when you will cease from suffering, and forever cease from sin! Enough of transgression hath indeed marked our lives while we were in a state of unregeneracy. Oh! that the days to come may be marked with grace, for the end of all things is it hand; and, therefore, may we always be seeking strength from the Lord, to wait on the Lord, and to watch in prayer.

Precious Jesus! do thou prepare all thy redeemed for every fiery trial, and for every conflict. Thy presence will make even the wilderness and the solitary place to blossom as the rose. And, oh! the blessedness of reproach, when it is truly for thy sake. But do thou, Lord, keep all thy little ones from everything of evil, which might bring reproach on thy blessed cause. Let there be no temptation to dishonesty suffered to prevail over thy people, and still less to cruelty and evil doing. But to all the unjust sufferings of thy redeemed, may we learn to glorify God on this behalf. And oh! blessed Lord, grant all thy martyrs, like Stephen, to die in the full enjoyment of faith, and in and through thee, to commit their souls into thy hands, as unto a faithful Creator!