That one Face, far from vanish, rather grows.
Or decomposes but to recompose.
Becomes my universe that feels and knows.^
f^.\ill the promises of God, says the Apostle. He thinks of theNmm-total of human blessedness, "all the promises of God." Man has forfeited them ; the conditions have not been kept ; and yet the gift has been bestowed. Not even our unworthiness, so often proved, has frustrated the steadfast purpose of the grace of God. This also, this greatest example in the universe of an unshaken purpose, has come to us through Christ. He is, for humanity, the embodiment of the faithfulness of God. And in Him they are all certified, for He who delivered Him up, how shall He not freely give us all things ? In Him is the Yea.
^ I remember an aged minister used to say, that the most learned and knowing Christians, when they come to die, have only the same plain promises for their support as the common and un- learned ; and so I find it in my old age. It is the plain promises of the gospel that are my support ; and I bless God they are plain promises, which do not require much labour and pains to under-
» J. Watson, Tfu Potter's Wheel, 161.
i COR. 1. 20 41
Btand them ; for I can do nothing now but look into my Bible for some promise to support me, and live upon that.^
^ As I was coming to you to-day, my path led me by a tasteful enclosure, into which I was bold enough to enter. It was a vinery, not like those of the open field, so common in Palestine, France and Germany, but a spacious and elegant conservatory. A succession of thriving stems, twisted in form, but vigorously climbing the glass wall of the structure, at once met my eye. The long arms of the plants, with their delicate tendrils, were carefully trained along the under side of the crystal roof. The branches were covered with fresh green leaves, through whose fine tissues the sunlight agreeably passed. But what delighted me most was the rare assortment of green and purple clusters that hung above me, like inverted cones or pyramids, from amid the foliage. Their luscious beauty quite arrested me. As I stood admiring, the proprietor of the conservatory, with whom I had the happiness of being a little acquainted, came in. Observing my looks he kindly asked me if I would have a cluster, and at once he proceeded to cut down a bunch for me. The grapes were very sweet. Then, noticing that I still continued my gaze, he said, " Perhaps you would wish to take a few clusters home with you ? " To this I replied, that I was at the time on my way to a company of friends, whose lips were no doubt as parched as my own had been, and that I was sure there were some among them who would be as much delighted with a cluster as myself. On which he stepped aside, and, having brought out a commodious and suitable basket, he inlaid it with vine leaves. He then cut down some of the finer clusters, and, placing these carefully on the leaves, he took the basket aside, and while his back was towards me, shut down the cover, so as to secure the delicious but fragile contents from injury. Coming forward with a pleasant smile, he handed me the basket saying, "Take this; it contains a few bunches. Share them among your friends, and give a cluster to any one whom you find prepared to receive it." And here I am, with the basket in my hand ! Let me set it down and raise the cover, so neatly fastened, and, before proceeding further, hand some of the clusters to you on this thirsty afternoon. Be assured, it will afford me as much pleasure to distribute them as it will give you to receive them. Such is my parable, for parable it is — perhaps to the disappointment of some of the younger of my auditory. The beautiful clusters I have spoken of represent the Promises of God, those exceeding great and precious promises, in which the blessings of the everlasting covenant are stored up, and
» J. Watts.
42 THE YEA AND THE AMEN
by which we are said to become " partakers of the divine nature." Now let me open the basket, and take out one of its delicate specimens. Ah, here is a beauty! We must handle it softly. See how symmetrical in shape, how perfect in form, is each grape ! The fruit seems as if it would melt on the lips. What are the terms of this promise ? Listen !
" Fear thou not ; for I am with thee : Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; Yea, I will help thee ;
Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." ^
(1) No doubt, when the Apostle, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, spoke of the promises of God, the first thought that would arise in his mind would be the promises to the people of Israel : the promises of dominion and supremacy ; the brilliant pictures of the Prophets ; the glories foreshadowed in the lives of David and Solomon ; the majesty and excellence implied in the very fact that they were the people of God's choice. And if this thought passed, as of course it must have passed, beyond the limits of Israel after the flesh, still the promises would be the same, only in a spiritual form : the glory of the new Israel, the new Jerusalem, the new Law, the new Covenant; promises made under a figure but holding good in their essence even when the figure exists no longer.