A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

Simeon, Charles, 1759-1836 • SECTION 183

541. J <^Od The Giver Of Strength And Peace. 197

← Horae Homileticae — Volume 5 of 21

" He sitteth upon the flood;" and be our enemies ever so mighty, " he sitteth King for ever," to control their efforts, and overrule them for our good.]

But let us contemplate him,

II. As a God of grace —

The Lord Jesus Christ, on his ascension to hea- ven, was constituted " head over all things to his Church ;" and a fulness was treasured up in him, for the use of his believing people in all ages. From this fulness he is ever ready to impart unto them,

1. Strength —

[Great, exceeding great, is the w^ork which they have to perform, as are also the trials which they have to sustain. But, through him, the weakest of his people shall be able " to do all things'^," and to suffer all things^, as circumstances may require. Whatever be theu' situation, " their strength shall be according to their day*^;" and, however weak they be in themselves, " his strength shall be perfected in their weak- ness^:" so seasonable shall be his supplies of grace to their souls, and so sufficient for all their necessities.]

2. Peace —

[In a storm, which menaced their destruction, the dis- ciples were alarmed. But our blessed Lord reproved them for not having a more entire affiance in him^. Whatever con- federacies of men or devils may be against us, we should dis- miss all fear, and " sanctify him in our hearts," as all-sufficient for our protection'. It is said of all his people, " He will keep them in perfect peace, because they trust in him^." And well may they be in peace : for, being accepted of God, they may possess an assured peace with him^, and, being- upheld in his arms, they may laugh at all the assaults of their enemies: for, "if He be for them, who can be against them™?" And this peace is a " blessing" of the highest order: for, as it is the exclusive privilege of the Lord's people", so is it, both in its nature and operations, more excellent than can be ade- quately conceived: it truly " passes all understanding"."]

Application —

1. Give him, then, the glory due unto his name —

[We should get into the very spirit of the Psalmist, and have our minds filled with a sense of our Saviour's power and

d Phil. iv. 13. « Col. i. 11, 12. f Deut. xxxiii. 25.

g 2 Cor. xii. 9. ii Mark iv. 37—41. ^ Isai. viii. 12—14.

^ Isai. xxvi. 3. ' Eom. v. 1. ^ Rom. viii. 31.

n Isai. Ivii. 1. ° Phil. iv. 7.

Public domain historical edition (1832-33); scan/OCR from Internet Archive.

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