Blessings

The Chain of Blessings. — You sometimes see a railway carriage or truck, fastened on to what goes before; but there is also a great hook behind. What is that for? Why, to fasten something else behind, and so to lengthen the train. Any one mercy from God is linked on to all the mercy that went before it; but provision is also made for adding future blessing. All the years to come are guaranteed by the ages past.

Christ Bringing Blessings. — I saw a fine carriage stopping the other day at a very humble hovel; and I thought to myself, “that carriage is not stopping there to collect rent, or to borrow a broom.” Oh, no; that lady yonder is calling round and visiting the poor, and I doubt not she has taken in some nourishment to an invalid. I hope it was so: and I am sure my Lord Jesus Christ’s carriage never stops at my door to get anything out of me: whenever he comes he brings count less blessings with him.

The Secret of Finding Blessing. — Do you remember the story of Mr. Erskine and the good lady who went to hear him preach at the communion? It was such sweet preaching, she thought she had never heard the like. So, after service, she asked, Who the gentleman was that preached to-day; and, on being told that it was Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, she said, “I will come and hear him again next Sunday morning.” She went, she listened, and she thought to herself, — “Well, this is veiy dry, very heavy preaching.” She was not at all comforted by it; then, like a foolish woman, as I should think she must have been, she went into the vestry, and said, “Oh, Mr. Erskine, I heard you last Sabbath with much pleasure, sir; I never was so edified; and I came again this morning, but I have been dreadfully disappointed.” So the good man said, very calmly, “Pray, madam, when you came to the kirk last Sunday, what did you come for?” She said, “I came to communion, sir.” “To have fellowship with Christ, I suppose?” he asked. “Yes, sir.” “Well, you came for it, and you had it. And pray, what did you come here this morning for?” Said she, “I came to hear you, sir.” “And, you had it, woman,” said he, “you had it, and you had not any thing more than that.” Well, now, when people come merely to hear a minister, or for custom’s sake, or for form’s sake, do they not always get what they come for? If people come to find fault, we always give them plenty of our imperfections to be entertained with, so they need not be disappointed. If others come merely out of custom, they say, “Well, this is my work, I have performed my duty.” Of course it is, but if you had come in through the door — that is, looking to Christ, looking for Christ, desiring not to see the preacher but the Lord, not to get the word of man but the Word of God, to your soul — I believe you would have found pasture. Brethren, the sheep want pasture. No other food will suit them. So your soul wants heavenly truth, and if you come to the house of God through Christ, you will get it. If you turn to the Bible through Christ, you will find it a rich storehouse. If you come to prayer through the door of Christ, you will find it comforting, and so you shall find pasture.