Milo

30 MAY (PREACHED 25 AUGUST 1776)

Trifling with God’s majesty

‘Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.’ Exodus 20:7
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Revelation 11:15–19; 19:11–16

The foundation of true religion is laid in a right knowledge of God and ourselves. How deficient we are in each of these, how far fallen from original righteousness, is strongly implied in this prohibition, which would be altogether unnecessary were we not altogether sunk in stupidity and wickedness. That such worms should be liable to trifle with the majesty whose presence fills heaven and earth, before whom the angels hide their faces—that such frail, dependent creatures have need to be cautioned that we do not profane the name of the God in whom we live, move and have our being—is as striking an instance of our depravity as our daring to break through this caution, and slighting the awful threatenings with which it is closed, is a dreadful aggravation of our guilt.
These words were first delivered in flames and thunder. Such a scene, or rather infinitely more dreadful, shall hereafter take place when the Lord shall again descend and be revealed in flaming fire to take vengeance. Then shall sinners be convinced not only of their ungodly deeds, but their hard speeches—and shall know the meaning of that terrible exception I have read: He will not hold them guiltless.

FOR MEDITATION: … foolish and perverse again. What can I say? But that I am vile beyond expression—weak as water and wilful as an ass’s colt. Silly creature to trifle with thee and to wound myself, and that for a mere nothing. Lord, humble and strengthen me. Let me plead thy blood, thy promise. Let me again see I have an Advocate with the Father, and enable me to come to thee in faith, that I may obtain and find grace to help in time of need.
Diary, 7 July 1776

SERMON: EXODUS 20:7 [1/3]

May 29th

Undisturbed relationship

At that day ye shall ask in My name … The Father Himself loveth you. John 16:26, 27.

“At that day ye shall ask in My name,” i.e., in My nature. Not—‘You shall use My name as a magic word,’ but—‘You will be so intimate with Me that you will be one with Me.’ “That day” is not a day hereafter, but a day meant for here and now. “The Father Himself loveth you”—the union is so complete and absolute. Our Lord does not mean that life will be free from external perplexities but that just as He knew the Father’s heart and mind, so by the baptism of the Holy Ghost He can lift us into the heavenly places where He can reveal the counsels of God to us.
“Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name …” “That day” is a day of undisturbed relationship between God and the saint. Just as Jesus stood unsullied in the presence of His Father, so by the mighty efficacy of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we can be lifted into that relationship—“that they may be one, even as We are one.”
“He will give it you.” Jesus says that God will recognize our prayers. What a challenge! By the Resurrection and Ascension power of Jesus, by the sent-down Holy Ghost, we can be lifted into such a relationship with the Father that we are at one with the perfect sovereign will of God by our free choice even as Jesus was. In that wonderful position, placed there by Jesus Christ, we can pray to God in His name, in His nature, which is gifted to us by the Holy Ghost, and Jesus says—“Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.” The sovereign character of Jesus Christ is tested by His own statements.

May 29

“I have called you friends.” (John 15:15)

YEARS ago there was an old German professor whose beautiful life was a marvel to his students. Some of them resolved to know the secret of it; so one of their number hid in the study where the old professor spent his evenings.
It was late when the teacher came in. He was very tired, but he sat down and spent an hour with his Bible. Then he bowed his head in secret prayer; and finally closing the Book of books, he said,
“Well, Lord Jesus, we’re on the same old terms.”
To know Him is life’s highest attainment; and at all costs, every Christian should strive to be “on the same old terms with Him.”
The reality of Jesus comes as a result of secret prayer, and a personal study of the Bible that is devotional and sympathetic. Christ becomes more real to the one who persists in the cultivation of His presence.

Speak thou to Him for He heareth,
  And spirit with spirit will meet!
Nearer is He than breathing,
  Nearer than hands and feet.

—Maltbie D. Babcock.

29 MAY

Family prayers

‘And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.’ Genesis 12:7
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Ruth 1:1–18

Abraham had a family and therefore he had an altar. He was not content to pray in his closet, but worshipped God with his household. I remember my fault today. I have spoken too seldom and too faintly upon this topic—it is a very important point. Let me entreat you, as many as fear the Lord, to see to it that you set up an altar in your houses. Your children, your servants, if you have any, are entrusted to you for this end. How is Abraham commended on this account! I know him, says the Lord, that he will command his children and his household after him [Genesis 18:19]. Family mercies require family acknowledgement. If you would have obedient children and faithful servants and peace, the peace of God in your dwellings, live not without family prayer. The flesh will plead excuses, the devil will help to furnish them, but it is your duty and will be your honour and your blessing, and the neglect of it will prove like a thorn in your foot to make your progress in other things slow and painful. If you think yourself unable to lead prayer in a family, make use of a good [published] form rather than omit. Beginnings are always difficult, but if you simply look up to the Lord, he will strengthen and guide you.

FOR MEDITATION: [Newton’s three-year-old nephew holidayed with him in Olney. His mother later wrote:]
Soon after he came home to us, he asked why we had not prayer as often as at his uncle’s, and expressing his liking their way best. I think this early impression upon his mind of a holy life was, with God’s blessing, owing to their good example and instructions.
Elizabeth Cunningham (Mary Newton’s sister)

SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 24 [4/4], GENESIS 12:7

May 28th

Unquestioned revelation

And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. John 16:23.

When is “that day”? When the Ascended Lord makes you one with the Father. In that day you will be one with the Father as Jesus is, and “in that day,” Jesus says, “ye shall ask Me nothing.” Until the resurrection life of Jesus is manifested in you, you want to ask this and that; then after a while you find all questions gone, you do not seem to have any left to ask. You have come to the place of entire reliance on the resurrection life of Jesus which brings you into perfect contact with the purpose of God. Are you living that life now? If not, why shouldn’t you?
There may be any number of things dark to your understanding, but they do not come in between your heart and God. “And in that day ye shall ask Me no question”—you do not need to, you are so certain that God will bring things out in accordance with His will. John 14:1 has become the real state of your heart, and there are no more questions to be asked. If anything is a mystery to you and it is coming in between you and God, never look for the explanation in your intellect, look for it in your disposition, it is that which is wrong. When once your disposition is willing to submit to the life of Jesus, the understanding will be perfectly clear, and you will get to the place where there is no distance between the Father and His child because the Lord has made you one, and “in that day ye shall ask Me no question.”