the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Bowen's Daily Meditations
"Thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thy help." ― Hosea 13:9.
God hath said, " Thou shalt not kill," But thou hast done more than this. Imagine thyself in the presence of some pure and spotless inhabitant of heaven, clad in perfections that enable him to ’ smile at any difficulty however gigantic, and resplendent with the glory of God. Imagine thyself as sailing him in his purity, wisdom, love, power, and glory; and stripping him of all his perfections one after another, and finally precipitating him to earth, a poor depraved sensual rebel. Cease now to imagine; and recognize the stern reality of this description. Thou hast done it; thou hast wrought this destruction; and upon whom? Upon thyself! Thou hast destroyed thyself! But for thy sin, thou wouldst have been that bright celestial being.
Raise thyself now anew to that pitch of purity and excellence. Regain paradise. Reinstate thyself among those who walk in the light of the enthroned Creator. Get thyself enveloped with an atmosphere that knows no taint of sin. Cast all thy sins into a bottomless abyss, and roll an everlasting stone upon them; and decorate thyself with the virtues of Gabriel, the seraphic energies of Raphael! Thou canst not do it; the very thought savors of madness. But it may be done. From heaven thou didst bring down in frightful ruin one of God’s noblest works. The Son of God has come to earth for the purpose of redeeming this ruined humanity, and raising it to a higher, safer, more blessed pitch of dignity than that from which it fell. " In me is thy help," saith the Lord.
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