Luke 5:39

REFLECTIONS

Reader! think what privileges the men of that generation possessed, which had Christ himself for their preacher! He, who was himself the whole of the covenant, to be the messenger, and administrator of it also! Well might the people press upon him to hear the word of God! And, Reader! see how immediately after the sermon was finished, he kindly rewarded the attendance of his disciples with the supply of fishes. What a testimony at the same time of his being Lord and proprietor, both of earth and sea. Lord! let such a display of thy sovereignty have the same effect on my heart, as on that of Peter; not to say Lord! depart from me, but to impress my mind as his was, that I may say, Thou art my Lord and my God!

Oh! for grace, when I read of this leper, and hear of the mercy shewn to the paralytic, to have faith in my God! Yes! blessed Jesus, all power is thine to cleanse both the leprosy of soul and body; and to remove the crippled state of all thy redeemed, until the lame man shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing. Like Levi, Lord! I would take thee home to my house, to my heart, and invite other poor sinners to the banquet of my God. No Pharisaical fastings would I set up, by way of recommending myself to the Lord; but rejoice in this, Christ came not to call the self-righteous, but sinners to repentance. No patched up garments, no new wine of the Gospel to receive in the old skin of nature; but pray that He who sits upon the throne, making all things new, while He himself remains eternally and unchangeably the same, would make my heart new, and renew a right spirit within me. Lord Jesus! do thou all this, and more; and cause thou me to drink of the old wine of thine everlasting love, which goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak!