Acts 23:35

REFLECTIONS

I would summon my own heart, while I call upon the Reader's also, in the review of Paul's appeal before the council, to solemnly enquire whether we have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day? It is an important question, and not hastily and presumptuously to be answered. We are such partial judge s of evil thoughts, when that judgment respects ourselves, that self-love too often gives a bias to the opinion. But, when we come to be weighed in the balance of unerring truth, not according to our view of things, but according to God's righteous judgment, the question then becomes solemn indeed, how is the Lord sanctified in the soul? Reader! doth it not strike you, (I bless the Lord it doth me), that it is well for poor fallen sinful creatures, we have a better righteousness than our own to trust in, and to plead before God, under all the misgivings of conscience, and under all the accusations of sin and Satan!

Let not the Reader overlook (I pray the Lord I may not) the Lord's watchful care over his servant, amidst the host of foes with which he was surrounded. Beautiful is that scripture, and here it was fully proved, The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation. Paul had no knowledge, but the Lord had, how he should escape, when both Jew and Gentile seized upon his person. It would be very blessed for me, if I always had this in remembrance. There are numberless anxieties I crowd into life for want of recollecting, that these things are my Lord's concern, and not mine. Jesus hath said by his servant, casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. I know this in theory as well as words can make it. And frequently under this authority I do cast all my care upon the Lord, and bring the whole to his throne of grace. But soon after, yea, sometimes in a few moments after, I discover that I must have fetched them all away again, and taken them up, for they are all upon me. Oh! thou dear Lord! is it thus I learn my unworthiness and faithlessness to know more thy grace and all-sufficiency?