Isaiah 61:11

REFLECTIONS

BLESSED Lord Jesus! while I read this Chapter, methinks I would beg for grace and faith to be in lively exercise, that I might figure to myself, my God and Saviour, thus speaking to my soul, and to the souls of his people, in the same gracious words, as thou didst in the Jewish synagogue in the days of thy flesh. Surely the Spirit of Jehovah was upon thee then, when thou wast anointed to preach the gospel to the poor; and surely now thou hast finished redemption work, and art returned to glory, thou wilt send down, according to thy promise before thy departure, the Spirit upon thy people, that all may bear thee witness, while receiving those gracious words which still proceed out of thy mouth. Thine arm of power is the same, and thy love is the same, all the purposes of thy salvation are the same; and thou art now daily, by the sweet influences of thy Spirit, preaching good tidings to the meek, binding up the broken in heart, proclaiming liberty to poor captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Hail! thou Almighty Saviour of poor lost sinners.

And oh! ye ministers of my God! behold in Jesus, what ought to be your plan of ministration. Sent by him to act as under-pastors in his name, shall not the meekness, the gentleness of Christ, be your pattern and example? Did the Son of God come to preach good tidings to the meek and will not ye, who have felt in your own souls the blessedness of those tidings of salvation, gladly go forth, and preach the gospel to every creature. Did Jesus bind up the broken in heart, and open the prison doors to them that were bound; and will not ye tell every poor broken-hearted sinner, whom ye meet with, that there is salvation for them in his name? Was Jesus mild and gracious; not breaking the bruised reed, nor quenching the smoking flax; and shall not the servant of the Lord, be apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure, will give them repentance, to the acknowledging of the truth?

Ye followers of Jesus! whose seed are known among the Gentiles, and your offspring among the people, behold, here, what is said of your Lord; yea, what he saith most graciously of himself; and put in your humble modest claim, that he may comfort all who mourn, and give unto you beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Blessed Lord Jesus? cause all thy people, thy redeemed, to rejoice in thee, as thou hast rejoiced in the salvation of Jehovah! And while thou art clothing all thine, with the garments of thy salvation, and covering them with the robe of thy righteousness; cause them to live to thy glory, and let their righteousness and praise in thee spring forth before all the nations. Amen.