What Follows This Confession
THIS confession cannot be barren. It contains in it such truth as must be productive in many ways. All truth is indeed fruitful according to its kind, but this is the most fruitful of all.
It contains, besides, so much personal truth, — truth which we need, and truth which could not be reached in any other way. Its effect upon us is marvellous. Its teachings are as manifold as they are divine. It wraps up within it so many other truths, that in getting hold of it we find ourselves in possession of ‘ unsearchable riches/
If Thou art the Christ, then
1. I see in Thee the Love of God.
It is specially with this that we have to do; for without this, man must be poor and dark, — a land without a stream, — a world without a sun. Messiah is (1) the gift of God’s love, (2) the embodiment of God’s love, (3) the pledge of God’s love, (4) the measure of God’s love. I read in Thy person, Thy words, Thy doings, Thy life, Thy death, that ‘ God is love.’ It is of the love of Godhead that Thou hast brought us the glad tidings; for the Father sent Thee to announce His love. ‘ God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son.’ Love shineth in Thee; not merely love such as heaven needs, but such as earth needs, — love such as is needed by the unlovable and the unworthy, — the love of forgiveness, and reconciliation, and peace, — the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thy birth spoke of love. Thy life spoke of love. Thy words spoke of love. Thy miracles spoke of love. All Thy footsteps were the footsteps of love. And Thy death was the death of love. It was the love of God that shone down from Thy cross upon earth, like a new -lighted sun. The love of the cradle was much; the love of the cross was more. In Thee, the Christ of God, we learn the love of God.
2. I see in Thee my Way of Access to God.
Through Thee, O Christ, I have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Thou hast drawn nigh to me, that I might draw nigh to Thee and to the Father. Thou hast prepared a way; nay, Thou art Thyself the new and living Way. Thou art the altar and the laver by which I pass into the holy place. Thou art the incense, the perfume of which makes me acceptable in the courts of the Lord. Thou art the veil which was rent in twain, that I might enter into the holiest. Thou art the mercy-seat, the throne of grace to which I am to come boldly, with a true heart, and in the full assurance of faith. Through Thee I have access with bold¬ ness, and everything in Thee assures me that all that might have repelled or discouraged me has been removed. The greatness of my sins cannot shut me out, for Thy blood cleanseth from all sin. The distance to which I have gone from God need be no discouragement, for by Thee we are brought nigh. Thou art the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. Through Thee, I, though exceeding sinful, go in to God, worship in His holy place, and have communion with Himself. I hear the voice from the rent veil, which says,” Let ns draw near, and I draw near. It is now not danger, hut safety, to go in. My guilt is not in entering, hut in refusing to enter; not in being hold, hut in refusing to he bold; and my presumption is not in believing, hut in doubting; not in simply crediting the word of God, and the record which He has given of His Son, but in setting aside that record, and making Him a liar.
3. I see in Thee the Forgiveness of Sins.
Forgiveness! That was, if not the words, at least the meaning, of the first promise concerning Thee, the seed of the woman. “Forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, was Thy name of old to Israel, and it is so still to us. Thou hast come to earth as the Christ, with forgiveness in Thy hand; forgiveness from the Father; forgiveness, free as the sunshine which Thou daily makest to arise upon us; forgiveness, without a grudge, or price, or reservation. I hear the cry from the cross, “Father, forgive them and from that I learn Thine errand to us. I mark Thy words to the guilty woman,
‘ Neither do I condemn thee, and from them I understand Thy pardoning grace. Thou cleansest from all unrighteousness, and turnest the scarlet into snow, the crimson into wool. Through Thee is preached unto us the forgiveness of sins! Through Thee there is no condemnation for us, so that we can take up the apostle’s challenge joyfully, and say, ‘ Who is he that condemneth? ’
4. I see in Thee my Justification.
In Thee I am more than pardoned; I am justified freely by Thy blood. I am partaker of a divine righteousness, so that all my imperfection vanishes, and becomes invisible in the glory of Thy perfection. In Thee, the Christ of God, I find not merely the Just One taking the place of the unjust, that the penalty might be remitted, and the wrath removed; but I find the Just so substituting Him¬ self for the unjust, that the unjust rises to the judicial level of the Just, and is dealt with by God as if he were the Just One, possessing the excellence of His righteousness, and standing before God in His divine beauty. This is the fulness of that justification which we receive from Thee when we believe in Thee, consenting to take Thee as our substitute, and to be received by God according to the merits of Thee, the Christ, the Son of the living God. 0 Christ, I take Thee as my righteousness, my justification, my perfection, and gladly give up every claim of my own, hiding myself beneath Thy robe, and being ‘ found in Thee, ‘ complete in Thee, ‘ accepted in the Beloved.’
5. I see in Thee my Life Eternal.
I take Thee as my life, for I am all death; and the life which I find in Thee is everlasting life. Because Thou livest, I live, and shall live. Life eternal! That is what I need; and of Thee, 0 Christ, I find it written, ‘This is the true God, and eternal life ’ (1 John v. 20); nay, I find it also written, ‘ This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not life ’ (1 John v. 11, 13). Again and again didst Thou speak of the life that is in Thee, and of that life as presented to us, that we might have it, — have it in receiving the Father’s testimony to Thee. We have heard Thy voice,
telling us of this life, and all its blessedness;
The Christ of Cod.
putting to our lips the vessel containing it, that we might know both Thy love and the nearness of the proffered gift. We take the gift, so earnestly and so sincerely pressed upon us; and as those whose portion was death, we accept the blessed exchange, and enter into life through Thee, the living One, the Son of the living God. Thou art the tree of life; and under Thy shadow I sit down to eat Thy pleasant fruit. Thou art the bread of life; and on Thee would I daily feed, as Israel on their morning manna. Thou art the water of life; and of Thee would I drink every hour and moment, that I may thirst no more, and yet thirst for ever 1
6. I see in Thee my Peace.
Thou art the Peacemaker. Yea, Thou art the Peace: as it is written, He hath made peace by the blood of His cross; He is our peace; and Thy name is the * Son of peace * (Luke x. 6), the ‘ Lord of peace ’ (2 Tim. iii. 1 6), the ‘ Prince of peace ’ (Isa. ix. 6). There was distance between God and me, there was variance, nay, enmity; hut Thou hast removed these, and the quarrel is at an end for ever.
Thy blood speaketh, peace to me, and it keeps my soul in peace. When sin comes in, and threatens to break it up, I betake myself to Thee. I go back to the place where I found it at firsthand I find it there again. The cross stands immoveable. The value of the blood never changes: it is always able to do the same thing for us to the end that it did at first; and to those who accept God’s testimony to that blood, all its value belongs, unfailing and unchangeable. The value of that blood is my security for abiding peace. Were its. value less than divine, my peace would be both imperfect and insecure. To-day it might be peace, to-morrow disquietude and doubt; to-day nearness, to-morrow distance. But the value of the blood is infinite, and avails for ever for all who stand not aloof from it, or undervalue its efficacy. Our peace-offering has been offered once for all,. and its efficacy is ever¬ lasting, We have not to present a new peace¬ offering for ourselves of any kind whatever, — the peace-offering of our prayers, or tears, or repentances, or almsdeeds,. or fervent feelings, or attractive rites. Thou, 0 Christ, art our one peace-offering; and we take Thee as such, not trying to make again a peace already made, but satisfied with Thee as all we need for the maintaining of that peace which can only rest upon reconciling blood.
7. I see in Thee my Health.
1 Thou hast healed me, were the words of an Old Testament saint; and again we have other words like them, ‘ He healeth all thy diseases’ (Ps. ciii. 3). The first Adam was the destroyer of our health, the last Adam is the restorer of it. As healer both of body and soul, Thou didst show Thyself when here, 0 Christ of God, ever healing, ever soothing, ever comforting; — ever administering Thy balm of Gilead! True healer of the soul! True strengthener of the weak! True physician of the sick! True light of the sick-room, and companion of the sick-bed! Thy fellowship is healing. Thy words are healing. Thy touch is healing. Thy love is healing. Long ere Thou earnest to earth, Thy people knew of Thy healing skill and power. Often didst Thou heal Thy Israel, in Thy great love and pity; and when healing the bitter waters of Marah, Thou didst proclaim Thyself the healer of Israel: * I am Jehovah that healeth thee’ (Ex. xv. 26). 0 health of
the soul, show Thyself to me in all Thy fulness;
What follows this Confession. 133
heal me more and more. Heal my understanding,
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heal my conscience, heal my heart. Let that he true of me which was written concerning Thy healing wonders of old, f As many as touched Him were made perfectly whole.’ I am as yet hut very imperfectly recovered; slowly, slowly am I return¬ ing to spiritual health. Oh, hasten the desired end, intensify Thy medicines, put more vigour into Thy touch, make my recovery more rapid, perfect that which concerneth me: oh, heal me, and I shall he healed!
8. I see in Thee my Wisdom.
Thou, 0 Christ of God, art the wisdom of God; and I am wise in Thee. Thy hidden treasures are all open to me, and I am welcome to search every chamber of Thy storehouse, and to appropriate all that is there. ‘ The world by wisdom knew not God ’ (1 Cor. i. 21); hut by Thy wisdom I am made acquainted with God. I say, Show me the Father, and Thou showest Him to me. I lack wisdom, and I ask of Thee; and Thou givest liberally, and uphraidest not. All wisdom is in Thee, and I may have it all. Thou teachest, and Thou art also the lesson taught. I have come into Thy school, for the door was open; I have sat down there upon its benches as a scholar, and Thou didst not frown upon me. Oh, then, teach me, teach me! I am weary of other teachers. They profit nothing. They cannot reach the recesses of my dull and unteachable heart. They are impatient, and will take no pains with my ignorance and stupidity. They do not love me, even when they instruct me. But Thou art different. Thou teachest the inner man. Thou art always pitiful and loving, never impatient be¬ cause of my ignorance, nor fretted at my frowardness. Thou takest such pains with me, day by day, as if I were Thy only scholar. 0 teach me more and more!
9. I see in Thee my Captain.
Thou leadest me on to victory; for Thy name is Captain of Jehovah’s hosts. I will follow whither Thou leadest. ‘ Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world, is the watchword which Thou givest us. And Thou goest before us to the battle-field, and marshallest all our array. Thou givest us the whole armour of God, — the sword of the Spirit, the helmet of salvation, the girdle of truth, the breast¬ plate of righteousness, the shield of faith: for every soldier in Thy host is well armed and disciplined, able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. My foes are many and fierce; I have no strength against them; no skill with which to cope with their skill and stratagem. Captain of Jehovah’s host, lead me on to victory. The promises are to him that overcometh; oh, help me to fight and overcome, that I may win the prize. En¬ able me to war the good warfare, to fight the good fight of faith. There are fightings without, and fears within; but lead me on. The principalities and powers of hell come against me, the rulers of the darkness of this world; but Thou art mightier than they: make them to flee before me. I wmuld choose no other commander; I put myself at Thy disposal; order the array for me, and make me more than conqueror through Him that loved me.
10. I see in Thee Him whom I must love.
The Christ of God is the infinitely lovable one; the chief among ten thousand. All beauty, all perfection, all excellence, are in Thee, 0 Christ.
There is none like Thee among the sons of men; neither is there any love like Thy love. Thou art He whom the Father loveth, and He whom the Father loveth must be worthy of my love. Thou lovest us, and shall we not love Thee? Thou gavest Thy life for us, and shall we not love Thee? Thou didst rise from the dead for us, and shall we not love Thee? Altogether lovely art Thou; and we give Thee our love, as the only one worthy of it. There is nothing in Thee but what is attractive; all that Thou hast said and done is fitted to command our love. Help me to love Thee; to love Thee perfectly; to love Thee more and more; to requite Thy love with mine, and to show my love to Thee by the devotedness of my daily life. If I love Thee not, all is wrong with me. Oh, set me right, and shed abroad Thy love in my heart, that I may render Thee my best and warmest affections. Thou askest me the threefold question once asked of a denying disciple, f Lovest thou me? ’ oh, teach me to answer with the same confidence as he did, even in the full remembrance of his sad denial: * Yea, Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love Thee.’
11. I see in Thee one whom I can trust.
What I have heard and known of Thee, 0 Christ of God, makes me feel that Thou art infinitely trustworthy. I can trust Thine arm, for it is strong. I can trust Thy guidance, for it is sure. I can trust Thy guardianship, for it is almighty. I can trust Thy light, for it is the light of heaven. I can trust Thy rod and staff, for they lead and guide aright. I can trust Thy shade in the day of heat, for it is the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. I can trust Thy patience, for it is perfect. I can trust Thy words, for they are true and faithful. I can trust Thy love, for it passeth knowledge. Oh, help me to trust Thee more! Why should a suspicion ever cross me? Why should any distrust ever find its way into my soul? Why should I not know at all times what is confidence in Thee, the Son of the living God, the lover of the lost, the helper of the helpless, the healer of the sick, the succourer of the poor, the uplifter of the fallen, the rest of the weary? Let Thy perfect love cast out fear, for fear hath torment; and lie that feareth does not comprehend this perfect love of Thine. Let me hear the gracious words ever sounding in my ears:
Trust ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. I will trust, and not he afraid.
12. I see in Thee One whom I must worship.
Thy name is Jehovah, and Thou art God over all, blessed for ever. Thou wert f in the beginning, Thou wert with God, and Thou wert God. All things were made by Thee, and without Thee was not anything made that was made. Thou .art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Shall I not worship and bow down before Thee? Shall I not praise Thee, — not as one man praises another, but as they praise Jehovah wdio worship in His temple, crying, Holy, holy, holy Lord God Al¬ mighty, the whole earth is full of Thy glory l Thy name is above every name in heaven and earth, and the glory of the universe is Thine. 0 Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Hot less than God art Thou, therefore I praise Thee. Immanuel, the Word made flesh, Son of God, and Son of man, I worship Thee. Light of the world, Light of life, Prince of the kings of the earth, King of nations. King of
What follovjs this Confession. kings and Lord of lords, I worship Thee! The heaven of heavens cannot contain Thy glory, and all creation sends up to Thee its everlasting song. I join my voice with them in adoration, and extol Thee both as Creator and Redeemer; for in Thee I see Him who made all things by the word of His power, and Him who redeemed ns to God by His blood. I sing, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.... Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.’
13. I see in Thee Him to whom I must
consecrate myself.
Thou art worthy of myself, and of my all. There is none like Thee in heaven or in earth. Even hadst Thou not loved me, nor done ought for me, Thy excellency is enough to lead to the consecration of myself, and of everything which I possess, to Thee. But Thou hast loved me, and therefore I give myself to Thee. Thou hast loved me with an immeasurable love, and therefore Thou must have my complete self, — spirit, soul, and body. Thou hast given Thyself to me, and I give myself to Thee. Thou hast been horn for me, Thou hast lived for me, Thou hast died for me; and I devote my whole self perfectly to Thee, that I may serve Thee, obey Thee, follow Thee, delight in Thee. I would keep back nothing from Him who bought me with such a price, and washed me in blood so precious. I give my strength to Thee; my powers and faculties; my time and health; my gold and silver; my life and my death, — all I have and own I give to Thee, 0 Christ, Son of God, and Lord of heaven and earth. Uproot selfishness, and self-seeking, and self-glorying. God forbid that I should glory, save in Thy cross, and that I should make the object of my life anything save what in some way or measure bears upon Thy honour and subserves Thy cause. Draw me, and I will run after Thee. Make me wholly Thine, in every part of my being. Life is not life, if Thou art not its beginning and its end; nor is there any joy of earth which I ought to separate from Thee. It is not, what will man say of me? that I must ask myself, but, what will Christ say? — not, how will this bear upon my own wealth, or influence, or honour? hut, how will it bear upon the cause, the work, the glory of Him whose I am, and whom I serve? Be Thou all, in everything, small and great, private or public. Fill up my days and nights with Thy¬ self, that no part of my time may he without Thee. In the closet, in the family, in the street, in the place of business, in solitude, in company, he Thou ever with me, and in me. In my joys and in my sorrows, in my gains and losses, in my health and in my sickness, in my silence and in my speech, in my journeying or in my resting, in my plans, my perplexities, my conflicts, my frets and troubles, my disappointments and vexations, my waiting and weariness, my riches and poverty, — in all these, he Thou with me, and I with Thee; so consecrated to Thee, that I shall feel every fragment of my life and every change of my lot a new opportunity for developing that consecration which I owe Thee, and which will give to me, not bondage and irksomeness, but liberty and gladness. 0 Christ, help me more and more to take up my cross, to deny myself, and to follow Thee; to present my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God and unto Thee, walking in Thy steps and shining in Thy light, and hearing every burden which Thy love may lay upon me.
Set me as a seal upon Thine heart,
As a seal upon Thine arm;
For love is stronger than death,
Jealousy is cruel as the grave:
The coals thereof are coals of fire,
A most vehement flame.
Let Him kiss me with the kisses of Thy mouth, For Thy love is better than wine.
14. / see in Thee Him for whom I must watch.
Thou art absent, and I will remember Thee; I will think upon Thee, even as Thou rememberest me, and thinkest upon me. For absence makes no difference in love. It but whets the appetite. I cannot forget what Thou wert, when here in Thy lowliness and sorrow. I cannot cease to meditate on what Thou art now in Thy exaltation. Teach me the meaning of these words: f Whom having not seen we love; and in whom, though now we see Him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, But this is not all. We are not content with absence. We wish to see Thy face, to hear Thy
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voice, and to have fellowship such as Thy disciples had when Thou wert with them, — such as Moses and Elias had upon the mount of transfiguration. And Thou hast promised that it shall be so. Thou wilt not be always absent. Thou hast promised to come again for us, and be with us for ever. Thou hast not revealed the day or hour, so that we know not when we may expect Thee. But we love Thee, and we will watch. We long to see Thee, and we will watch. We are weary of absence, and we will watch. The world is getting darker and sadder, and we will watch. Thou hast bidden us, and we will watch. It is long, long since Thou didst warn us to trim our lamps, and we will watch. The night may be nearer its end than many think, and we will watch. The world has forgotten Thee, and is occupied with its commerce and science, saying, These are thy gods, 0 men; therefore we will watch. The first resurrection may be nearer than we think, and we will watch. We hear Thy voice, ‘ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly; ’ and we reply, Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus.