James 4:17

REFLECTIONS

My soul! while reading this Chapter, and hearing God the Spirit putting that Solemn question to thee, from whence come wars and fightings in thy two-fold nature; a spirit regenerated; and a body of flesh virtually all sin: oh! bless that gracious, that sovereign, that bountiful God, who, by his quickening and illuminating power, hath opened thine eyes to the view of the awful state in which thou wert born in nature, and the distinguishing mercy manifested to thee in grace; and though still groaning under a body of sin and corruption, bless the Lord for thy redemption in Christ, by which thou hast gotten the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. And, my soul, see! that amidst all the wounds from sin, which, in the present warfare thou art daily sustaining, bless thy God and Savior, the issue of the conflict is not doubtful. Thy God will give thee grace to resist the devil, and he will flee from thee. Thy God will enable thee to draw nigh to him, and he will draw nigh to thee. Satan knoweth that he hath but a short time. Let nothing keep thee from the throne of grace. Here all thy strength is found. Look to Jesus, who is both thy wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, as well as redemption. In Him shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. And, do thou look forward with holy joy to the morrow, the day, even the great day of God, when Jesus will come to take thee home to his eternal kingdom. Let men of the world, from the world, seek their supreme joy. Yea, let them go from city to city, to traffic in the concerns of this world's good. Be it thy happiness to eye Jesus, even in the necessary things the body is occupied with here below. Soon thou shalt have done with all earthly employments, and the everlasting enjoyment of God in Christ will be thy portion forevermore.