Job 25:6

REFLECTIONS

PAUSE, my soul, over this short but sweet chapter; for very great and important are the improvements, which, under GOD the HOLY GHOST, may be gathered out of it. And first, mark in strong and solemn characters what is here said, of the greatness, sovereignty, and holiness, of Almighty GOD. Can any language be stronger in proof, what an infinitely great and glorious GOD, this GOD is, with whom thou hast to do! This is He, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, neither can any evil dwell with him? Next, ponder over the marked and glaring nature of sin and transgression; for as the LORD is infinitely holy, so thou art altogether vile; and in thee, that is in thy flesh, dwelleth no good thing, Next consider, and let it be a most solemn consideration, what the Shuhite here saith, How can man be justified with GOD? How shall he be clean that is born of a woman? Are these questions, my soul, solemnly, seriously, anxiously, brought home to thee? Dost thou feel their vast importance, as if the HOLY GHOST, in his convincing thee of sin, had stamped them upon thee never to be worn out, until an answer of peace be found to them? Pause, my soul, over the inquiry. Wilt thou seek a qualification in any purifications of thine own? Can thy tears and repentance make thee clean? Will these, with all thy best promises of amendment, cause thee to appear justified before GOD? Wouldest thou trust in these now, much less depend upon them at the bar of GOD'S judgment? No, my soul, these are miserable comforters all, all physicians of no value. Look then to JESUS. His blood is a fountain to cleanse from all sin. And, what endears it still more, it is of GOD'S own appointing. In that day (saith GOD, speaking of the gospel day) there shall be opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a fountain for sin, and for uncleanness. Here then, and here only, seek a cleansing. As it is a fountain of GOD'S own appointing, how sure is it that the cleansing in it shall be effectual. And as it is an open fountain, why wouldest thou for a moment be prompted to fear that it is not open to thee. Beg of GOD the SPIRIT to do by thee as he did by Hagar at the well, and give thee to see that this fountain is both open and nigh to thee; that there thou mayest be cleansed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. And oh! the inconceivable rapture to a soul cleansed in JESUS'S blood, and made holy and bright in his righteousness: he shall shine forth (for so the promise runs) as the sun in the kingdom of his Father. Precious JESUS! is this thy grace, thy righteousness, thy favor, to poor guilty sinners? Didst thou, holy LORD, condescend to become a worm, and no man, that thy people, who are sons of men, and but worms indeed, might be made the righteousness of GOD in thee! Oh! then, I shall behold thy glory, Holy LORD, when clothed in thy holiness: and in that day, as the Prophet hath said, the Moon shall indeed be confounded, and the Sun ashamed, when thou, the LORD of Hosts, shalt reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before thine Ancients gloriously.