Sept. 22
BROAD RIVERS WITHOUT GALLEYS
"But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad
rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither
shall gallant ship pass thereby" Isa. 33:21
The Lord will be to us the greatest good without any of the
drawbacks which seem necessarily to attend the best earthly things. If
a city is favored with broad rivers, it is liable to be attacked by
galleys with oars, and other ships of war. But when the Lord
represents the abundance of His bounty under this figure, He takes
care expressly to shut out the fear which the metaphor might suggest.
Blessed be His perfect love!
Lord, if thou send me wealth like broad rivers, do not let the
galley with oars come up in the shape of worldliness or pride. If thou
grant me abundant health and happy spirits, do not let "the gallant
ship" of carnal ease come sailing up the flowing flood. If I have
success in holy service, broad as the German Rhine, yet let me never
find the galley of self-conceit and self-confidence floating on the
waves of my usefulness. Should I be so supremely happy as to enjoy the
light of thy countenance year after year, yet let me never despise thy
feeble saints, nor allow the vain notion of my own perfection to sail
up the broad rivers of my full assurance. Lord, give me that blessing
which maketh rich, and neither addeth sorrow, nor addeth sin.