Milo

October 21

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Cor. 5:1.)

THE owner of the tenement which I have occupied for many years has given notice that he will furnish but little or nothing more for repairs. I am advised to be ready to move.
At first this was not a very welcome notice. The surroundings here are in many respects very pleasant, and were it not for the evidence of decay, I should consider the house good enough. But even a light wind causes it to tremble and totter, and all the braces are not sufficient to make it secure. So I am getting ready to move.
It is strange how quickly one’s interest is transferred to the prospective home. I have been consulting maps of the new country and reading descriptions of its inhabitants. One who visited it has returned, and from him I learn that it is beautiful beyond description; language breaks down in attempting to tell of what he heard while there. He says that, in order to make an investment there, he has suffered the loss of all things that he owned here, and even rejoices in what others would call making a sacrifice. Another, whose love to me has been proven by the greatest possible test, is now there. He has sent me several clusters of the most delicious fruits. After tasting them, all food here seems insipid.
Two or three times I have been down by the border of the river that forms the boundary, and have wished myself among the company of those who were singing praises to the King on the other side. Many of my friends have moved there. Before leaving they spoke of my coming later. I have seen the smile upon their faces as they passed out of sight. Often I am asked to make some new investments here, but my answer in every case is, “I am getting ready to move.”—Selected.
The words often on Jesus’ lips in His last days express vividly the idea, “going to the Father.” We, too, who are Christ’s people, have vision of something beyond the difficulties and disappointments of this life. We are journeying towards fulfillment, completion, expansion of life. We, too, are “going to the Father.” Much is dim concerning our home-country, but two things are clear. It is home, “the Father’s House.” It is the nearer presence of the Lord. We are all wayfarers, but the believer knows it and accepts it. He is a traveller, not a settler.
—R. C. Gillie.
The little birds trust God, for they go singing
From northern woods where autumn winds have blown,
With joyous faith their trackless pathway winging
To summer-lands of song, afar, unknown.
Let us go singing, then, and not go sighing:
Since we are sure our times are in His hand,
Why should we weep, and fear, and call it dying?
’Tis only flitting to a Summer-land.
—Selected.

21 OCTOBER (PREACHED 1770)

The pre-eminence and dignity of Jesus

‘While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.’ Matthew 17:5
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Matthew 17:1–13

This is my beloved Son. The Greek is emphatic with a double article—This is that Son, that beloved Son of mine—to distinguish him from all others and to show his pre-eminence and dignity. Believers are the sons of God, not by nature but by adoption. Jesus is his own, his only beloved Son. He is the brightness of the Father’s glory, the express image of his person and the temple of his glory. If we speak of his divine nature, he is of the same essence with the Father, equal in power and glory. If we speak of his human nature, this is assumed into such an immediate and indissoluble union with the Divine, that in his whole person as Mediator and Head of his church reside all the characters and perfections of the Godhead. He is the true God and eternal life. There are mysteries in this subject which cannot be truly understood by any who are not taught of God, and cannot be fully comprehended by the most exalted creatures, for none knoweth the Son but the Father [Matthew 11:27]. Enough, however, is revealed for faith to build and feed upon—enough to point him out to sinners as the ground of their hope and the object of their supreme love, trust and adoration. If you would know this great mystery of godliness aright, you must pray the Father to reveal the Son to you and in you. According to the views you have of Jesus, in the glory of this character, the beloved Son of God, such will be your knowledge of the other great truths of the gospel which are derived from this and depend upon it.

FOR MEDITATION: The disciples not only saw the cloud, but they heard a voice directing them to Christ. This is a sure mark: whatever seems extraordinary in our experience, any manifestation or comfort that does not lead us to Jesus and tend to make him glorious in our eyes and precious to hearts, may be justly suspected. The Word of God, the ordinances, the teachings of the Spirit, all concur with this voice to glorify Jesus. Let us now attend to this voice from the excellent glory, which still speaketh to us also. May the Holy Spirit impress it powerfully upon all our hearts.

SERMON SERIES: ON THE TRANSFIGURATION, NO. 9 [1/4]

October 20th

Is God’s will my will?

This is the will of God, even your sanctification. 1 Thess. 4:3.

It is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me; is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me all that has been made possible by the Atonement? Am I willing to let Jesus be made sanctification to me, and to let the life of Jesus be manifested in my mortal flesh? Beware of saying—‘Oh, I am longing to be sanctified.’ You are not, stop longing and make it a matter of transaction—“Nothing in my hands I bring.” Receive Jesus Christ to be made sanctification to you in implicit faith, and the great marvel of the Atonement will be made real in you. All that Jesus made possible is made mine by the free loving gift of God on the ground of what He performed. My attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness), a holiness based on agonizing repentance and a sense of unspeakable shame and degradation; and also on the amazing realization that the love of God commended itself to me in that while I cared nothing about Him, He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification (see Rom. 5:8). No wonder Paul says nothing is “able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is done only through the superb Atonement of Christ. Never put the effect as the cause. The effect in me is obedience and service and prayer, and is the outcome of speechless thanks and adoration for the marvellous sanctification wrought out in me because of the Atonement.

October 20

“And the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought, will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7.) (Weymouth.)

THERE is what is called the “cushion of the sea.” Down beneath the surface that is agitated by storms, and driven about with winds, there is a part of the sea that is never stirred. When we dredge the bottom and bring up the remains of animal and vegetable life we find that they give evidence of not having been disturbed in the least, for hundreds and thousands of years. The peace of God is that eternal calm which, like the cushion of the sea, lies far too deep down to be reached by any external trouble and disturbance; and he who enters into the presence of God, becomes partaker of that undisturbed and undisturbable calm.—Dr. A. T. Pierson.

When winds are raging o’er the upper ocean,
And billows wild contend with angry roar,
’Tis said, far down beneath the wild commotion,
That peaceful stillness reigneth evermore.

Far, far beneath, the noise of tempest dieth,
And silver waves chime ever peacefully,
And no rude storm, how fierce soe’er it flieth,
Disturbs the Sabbath of that deeper sea.

So to the heart that knows Thy love, O Purest,
There is a temple sacred evermore,
And all the babble of life’s angry voices
Dies in hushed silence at its peaceful door.

Far, far away, the roar of passion dieth,
And loving thoughts rise calm and peacefully,
And no rude storm, how fierce soe’er it flieth,
Disturbs the sold that dwells, O Lord, in Thee.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe.

“The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, facing the sun-rising. The name of the chamber was Peace.”
—Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.

20 OCTOBER (PREACHED 1770)

Keep watchful and humble

‘And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.’ Luke 9:33
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: 1 Peter 5:8–11

Let not those who are upon the mount depend upon their present warm desires and resolutions, but rather, pray to the Lord to keep them watchful and humble. The enemy is upon his watch and he gained great advantage of Peter after this and terrified him to a denial of his Master. It is written for our instruction.
But some are not concerned with these things. Instead of building tabernacles upon the mount with Peter, their hearts go more with the rich man in the Gospel, who would pull down his barns and build them larger and enjoy the good things of the world for many years. Alas, this, if you could have it, would be a poor portion. You must die and leave all, and what will the world be to you then? O that you may be wise in time and seek the things that are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God [Colossians 3:1].
FOR MEDITATION:
‘Simon, beware!’ the Saviour said,
But JESUS lives to intercede,
‘Satan, your subtle foe,
That faith may still prevail,
Already has his measures laid
He will support in time of need,
Your soul to overthrow.
And Satan’s arts shall fail.

‘He wants to sift you all, as wheat,
Yet, let us not the warning slight,
And thinks his victory sure;
But watchful still be found;
But I his malice will defeat,
Though faith cannot be slain in fight,
My prayer shall faith secure.’
It may receive a wound.

Believers, tremble and rejoice,
While Satan watches, dare we sleep?
Your help and danger view;
We must our guard maintain;
This warning has to you a voice,
But, LORD, do thou the city keep,
This promise speaks to you.
Or else we watch in vain.

SERMON SERIES: ON THE TRANSFIGURATION, NO. 7 [5/5], LUKE 9:33