Colossians 3:25

REFLECTIONS

Oh! thou risen, and exalted Lord Jesus! send down thine ascension-gifts, and raise all my spiritual affections after thee, that I may no longer grovel here below, but seek thee, who art above! Didst thou not promise this, thou dear Lord, before thy departure; that when thou wert lifted up, thou wouldest draw all thy people unto thee? Oh! then, draw me, that I may run after thee, for thou art the Lord my God! Precious, yea, exceedingly precious, is that assurance to my soul, that the life of all thy Church is hid with Christ in God. And sure I am, that when Jesus shall appear, then will all thy redeemed appear with thee in glory.

And, oh! thou Almighty Lord the Spirit! do thou, by thy sweet influences, enable me to mortify all my earthly part. Grant, gracious God, that the flesh may be subdued by the spirit; and that by thy strength, I may mortify the deeds of the body and live. And, as the elect of God, may I find grace, to put on bowels of mercy, to the whole household of faith, while doing good to all men; yea, may the peace of God rule in my heart, always having in remembrance, how Christ hath forgiven me; may my compassions go forth, to all around, Oh! what are all the little quarrels of this dying world, to those who are conscious, of that deadly breach being made up, in the blood of Christ, which sin, and Satan, had made, between God and his people. May all the relations of life, in Wives, and Husbands, and Children, and Parents, and Servants, and Masters, be everlastingly looking to Jesus; that, while beholding him, all their minds may be influenced into love and tenderness: and all their conduct regulated by his example. Precious Lord Jesus! be thou my God, my guide, and my portion forever!