Luke 17:37

REFLECTIONS

Oh! thou blessed Lord Jesus! well is it said by thee, that offences will come. Yes! thou, dear Lord! art thyself, to every carnal, unawakened sinner, a stone of stumbling, and rock of offence. Thy humble birth, thy meek deportment, thy cross, thy despised followers, to those who looked for temporal prosperity, was indeed an offence that nothing but sovereign grace could overcome. Blessed be that distinguishing grace of my God bestowed upon my poor heart, that I am no longer offended in thee!

Oh! for grace to every sensible, awakened sinner, to come to Jesus under the leprosy of sin. Would to God, I would say, like the poor captive servant in Syria, that all such were with my Lord, the Lord God of the prophets, that is Lord over Israel, Jesus. He can heal all of their leprosy of sin. Blessed Jesus! make all thy people sensible of this, according to the covenant promise in the day of thy power.

My soul! seek not for Christ's kingdom, in the mere outward things of observation; but seek it in the power of grace within, in the Lord's empire in the heart. Seek it in the Father's testimony of his dear Son; seek it in the complete, full, all-sufficient, and all-justifying righteousness, and blood shedding of the Lord Jesus Christ: and seek it in the precious, blessed, regenerating, and renewing grace of God the Holy Ghost. Here Jesus manifests his distinguishing love and mercy in the taking of one, and leaving the other; for while m any are called, few are chosen.