Every display of the Saviour's grace is a jewel in his mediatorial crows. O what hearts have we, that we are not more humble before him, more thankful to him, and more joyful in him! Jesus, help us sinners to look back, to look within, to look up, and to look forward, that it may excite humility, thankfulness, and joy of heart.
Look back, O my soul: view thy state by nature; asleep in the arms of the wicked one, dead to God, under the power of sin, in love with the world, blind to the charms of Christ, without a single desire after him, or the least care for thy immortal soul.
Look within: dost thou find affection to Jesus and desires for him? Is the language of thy heart, "None but Christ; I look to none but him; I expect salvation from him, and him only?" O, whence this mighty change? Say, did you first seek Christ, or Christ you? Did your desires first go out after Christ, or his desires toward you? O, in the fervor of love you must cry out, I should have sunk to hell, without n single desire of salvation by Jesus, if he had not sought me and made himself manifest to me: his grace was first in the work.
Then, look up, give Jesus all the glory. O, to think, when there was nothing in us to invite the loving Spirit down, but every thing to cause him to depart from us: yet, O matchless love and sovereign grace! he showed us Christ, drew us to Him, and caused us to receive Him. Rejoice, love, adore and praise. Who can resist divine attraction? Who is proof against divine lover Who that loves can love enough?
Look forward! Heaven is before you: Jesus stands ready to receive you: God the Father to embrace you: God the Son to glory in you: and God the Spirit to triumph over you. Glory shall complete what grace has begun. O, to study the grace and love of Jesus, this is our heaven below; to praise him for it will be our eternal employ above.
But one thing remains, give God the glory of all this amazing grace: study from day to day, and from hour to hour, to do it by the faith of your heart, the words of your lips, and the obedience of your life. No consideration whatever can beat down your native pride, sink you into genuine humility, animate with holy love to all cheerful obedience, like this, "God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.
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