'1. The sufficiency of his grace —
[Even when our blessed Lord was on earth, the whole creation, animate and inanimate, terrestrial and infernal, were obedient to his will : how much more therefore, now that he is exalted to the right hand of the Majesty on high, and has all fulness treasured up in him for the benefit of his people, must he be able to " do all things which we call upon him for !" If he says, as he did to 8t. Paul, " My grace is sufficient for thee," we may safely adopt Paul's language, and say, " I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." If all enemies are put under his feet, they shall assuredly be put under ours also : even " Satan himself shall be bruised under our feet shortly."]
3. The excellency of his salvation —
[Behold what has taken place with respect to him ! He is exalted to the throne of God, and possessed of all the glory which he had with the Father before the worlds were made. The same glory is reserved for us also'', and a participation of that very throne which his Father has given to him'. Believer, contem- plate all the glory and felicity of your exalted Head ; and then see what is prepared for all his members : *^ your body shall be like unto his glorious body;" your soul shall be transformed into his perfect image ; and all the glory which his Father has given him, shall be your inalienable and everlasting inheritance™.]
What a glorious light is this ! Let it lead us to contemplate,
II. The returns which it calls for at our hands —
Surely such discoveries as are here made to us should call forth our devoutest affections : they should lead us,
i.To
' Rc.nn. i. 4. Sc viii. >'?4. '' Luke xxii. 29.
' Rev. iii. 21 . "' .lohn xvii. 22. 1 Pet. i. 4.
396 PSALMS, cxviii. 27, 28. [418.
.ril-.j. To surrender up ourselves entirely to God- —
[The sacrifices which David and Solomon offered unto God were almost without number": but the sacrifice of a broken and contrite spirit, or of a devout and grateful heart, outweighs them all°. Whether the sacrifices were ever " bound to the horns of the altar," we are not informed : but sure enough our hearts need to be bound ; for they are ever ready to " start aside as a broken bow," and " to backslide from God as a backsliding heifer :" and we should labour incessantly to say with David, *' O God, my heart is fixed, my heart is fixed ; I will sing and give praise." The example of Abraham may assist us in this particular. The offering of his son was a dark dispensation ; but, when God arrested the arm of Abraham, and forbad him to inflict the fatal wound, a light beamed in upon his soul ; he saw a risen Saviour presented to him under the image of his restored son : and in- stantly " he took the ram which was caught in the thicket, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son p. Let the sight of a risen Saviour operate in like manner upon us ; let us take the offering which all of us have at hand, and which we know will be pleasing to the Lord, even ^' the offering of a free heart," and let us present it a living sacrifice to God, as our rea- sonable and most delightful service '^J]
2, To rejoice and glory in God as our portion for ever —
[Like Paul, we may say of Christ, ** He has loved me, and given himself for me." Indeed, without this appropriation of God and his blessings to our own souls, we can never attain to a joyful and thankful spirit : but it is the privilege of every Believer to say of Christ, " He is my friend. He is my beloved." God approves of this language, by whomsoever used, provided only it be used in sincerity and truth ; " Thou art my God, and I will praise thee ; thou art my God, I will exalt thee." If under the Old Testament, Believers could say, " My beloved is mine, and I am his," much more may we regard him as " the strength of our heart, and our portion for ever."]