Milo

16 JANUARY

Designed for eternity

‘And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.’ Genesis 2:7
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Ezekiel 37:1–14

The LORD God formed man. The formation of man’s body:
(i) The materials: the dust of the ground, and yet by nature capable of immortality; for that man was afterwards liable to death was the consequence of sin. Here we may observe that everything is what it is in consequence of the divine appointment. Dust, by the will of God, may be immortal, and stones become bread.
(ii) The expression formed: the word is properly used of the skill and power of the potter over the clay which he moulds according to his own will, and makes it very different from what it was in the mass. Much of the wisdom of God is manifest to an attentive eye in the admirable structure of our bodies. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.
The LORD God breathed. The communication of life: he breathed, which seems to import the union of an immortal soul—for the animals were living creatures likewise, yet no such expression is used of them. The life of the soul was distinct from the life of the body and did not, like that, depend upon his obedience, for the wicked are immortal. Only sin perverts this primitive blessing and honour into the greatest curse. Consider this, ye that forget God [Psalm 50:22]—you are not creatures of a day, but designed for eternity.

FOR MEDITATION: O for a new heart, a new sight, that my mind may be active. Leave me not to my own foolishness but lead me and guide me and restore unto me the joy of thy countenance for thy name’s sake. Amen.
Diary, 8 and 17 November, 1755

SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 3 [2/4], GENESIS 2:7

15 JANUARY

Finished and furnished for the praise of his glory

‘And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’ Genesis 1:26
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm 96:1–13

When the earth was finished and furnished, a suitable inhabitant was wanting, capable of admiring the Creator’s work and yielding a tribute of worship and praise. Such an inhabitant was man in his original state. Yet man was not made for the sake of the earth, but the earth for the sake of man—concerning whom the divine counsels had been engaged from eternity. And when the appointed season of his existence drew near, the earth was fitted to receive him. We may note a particular form of expression, Let us, which seems to intimate:
(i) that mysterious distinction in the Godhead which we call the Trinity. The word is plural, though joined with a verb in the singular (compare 3:22, And the LORD God said, Behold the man is become as one of us …).
(ii) the excellency and importance of the design. This is pointed out to our weak capacity by the idea of an act of council and agreement. And indeed the great events and the manifestation of the divine glory which depended upon the creation of man, give us cause to consider this as the chief of all the works of God.

FOR MEDITATION: ‘Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them’ (John 17:24–26).

SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 3 [1/4], GENESIS 2:7

14 JANUARY (PREACHED 31 DECEMBER 1769)

Take stock

‘For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.’ Psalm 90:9
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm 116:1–19

It would be seasonable to take a review of our lives, especially of the past year. I would willingly assist you herein and help you to set out some of the particulars before your conscience: God’s dealings with you and your returns to him. The Lord’s dealings with us may be comprised under mercies, afflictions and ordinances.
(i) Mercies: as life itself—a measure of health, deliverances from danger, a supply of your returning wants; he has given to many of you the lives of your friends, comfort in your families, restored some who were dear to you from the borders of the grave. Now all temporal mercies and comforts are from his gift. They are talents and shortly you must give an account of your stewardship. How have you improved them? I trust he has taught some of you to own them as his gifts and to improve them to his glory. But alas, are there not too many who have abused his mercies to occasions of sin?
(ii) Afflictions: these indeed, when sanctified, are mercies likewise. But how many suffer in vain. Many changes have happened amongst us in a year: pain, sickness, death in our families, crosses and losses in our affairs. None of these things have happened by chance. The Lord has done it. Every rod has a voice. Have you heard it, taken it to heart? Did you humble yourself before him in affliction?
(iii) Ordinances: we have been favoured with a year more of gospel ordinances. The word of the Lord has been with you precept upon precept, line upon line [Isaiah 28:13]—to what effect? What have you known of Jesus? Are you convinced of sin? Are you considering your latter end?

FOR MEDITATION: If you cannot answer such an enquiry with comfort, still the Lord waits to be gracious. Now at least, cry to him for light and faith that you may receive a free pardon and be turned by the power of Jesus, for there is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved. Believers will find cause of humiliation, but you have an Advocate with the Father. Thank him for all that is past, trust him for all that’s to come.

SERMON: PSALM 90:9 [3/3] [ALSO PREACHED 28 DECEMBER 1783]

13 JANUARY (PREACHED 31 DECEMBER 1769)

The seeds of eternity are sown in time

‘For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.’ Psalm 90:9
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Ecclesiastes 12:1–14

As a tale that is told. Let us consider the comparison. As a tale: the margin reads ‘a meditation’, whether silent or expressed—a thought, or a word, or a discourse. I judge our translation to be exceeding proper, suited to the scope of the passage and the nature of our life. The chief pleasure of a tale or relation lies in the hearing or telling it while it is new. When well known or often told, it ceases to please. A worn-out tale is a proverb for what is tedious. Such is our life—every year is in the main a repetition of the same poor story. Youth, when just entering upon it, are all attention—but O if old people were to speak, how insipid and tasteless is the tale of life to those who know not the pleasures of communion with God. Few and evil, says Jacob, have the days of my life been [Genesis 47:9]. Of the good, nothing remains but the remembrance—and this was mixed with so much evil that few people would have the courage to live a year over again, if they were to choose—and yet, alas, afraid to die. O the vanity of man! When the tale is told, or the word spoken, it is gone beyond recall. Many consequences often follow from one improper speech, but that which was said cannot be unsaid. In the former view, life appeared quite insignificant, but in this it appears of the greatest consequences. I have somewhere met a sentence which much struck me. I wish it may affect all who hear it: ‘The seeds of eternity are sown in time.’ According to our pursuits and conduct in this momentary life, such will be our condition for ever. So the Apostle reminds us in Galatians 6:7–8, Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

FOR MEDITATION: Time is short—and the nature of our employment while it lasts is well suited to raise our thoughts above the little concerns of such a life as this.… The love of Christ, the worth of souls, the honour of being instrumental in their recovery, a glorious endless state of happiness and holiness—how light must our present sufferings appear when weighed in the scales of the sanctuary against these things. Let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due time we shall reap if we faint not.

SERMON: PSALM 90:9 [2/3] [ALSO PREACHED 28 DECEMBER 1783]

12 JANUARY (PREACHED 31 DECEMBER 1769)

Mortal, transitory creatures

‘For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.’ Psalm 90:9
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm 90:1–17

In the works of creation we may observe not only a display of divine wisdom in themselves, but a particular wisdom in dispositioning them and making them subservient to the special use and occasions of mankind. Thus the sun and moon give evidence of their Maker’s glory and would have done so if placed at such a distance from us that we had never seen them. But how are his wisdom and goodness confirmed to us by the benefits we receive from these heavenly bodies! Omitting other uses, I shall mention one which is expressly mentioned in Genesis 1:14. The Lord had appointed that man, after the fall, should be a mortal, transitory creature, and he knew that he would be a depraved and foolish creature, prone to bury himself in the things of this world and to forget eternity. Therefore when he fixed the sun and moon to give light to the earth he suited their various changes and revolutions to admonish man of the unceasing speed of time. Thus all things are in motion: day and night swiftly succeed each other, the moon appears, increases, declines and is again renewed and the changing seasons, in a constant succession, bring round the year. Thus day after day uttereth speech. The psalm before us is a prayer of Moses. The subject is the present state of human life: its uncertainty—compared to the grass which falls suddenly before the scythe (see Psalm 103:16) in verse 6—its brevity—seventy years or less for the most part, and all beyond that term pain and infirmity (verse 10)—its general vanity in itself—we spend or bring our years to end as a tale that is told.
FOR MEDITATION: [for New Year 1774]
While with ceaseless course the sun
Thanks for mercies past receive,
Hasted through the former year,
Pardon of our sins renew;
Many souls their race have run,
Teach us, henceforth, how to live
Never more to meet us here.
With eternity in view:
Fixed in an eternal fate,
Bless thy word to young and old,
They have done with all below;
Fill us with a Saviour’s love;
We a little longer wait,
And when life’s short tale is told,
But how little—none can know.
May we dwell with thee above.

SERMON: PSALM 90:9 [1/3] [ALSO PREACHED 28 DECEMBER 1783]