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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Devotional: September 2nd

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Morning Devotional

He shall glorify me.- John 16:14.

The gospel of Jesus is suited to our indigent state and distressed circumstances; but we are averse to receive the truth in the love of it, because of our loftiness of spirit and pride of heart. A system that tends to exalt and glorify us in our own eyes and in the sight of others, we are naturally very fond of. This notion sticks close to us, we do not easily part with it. To imagine ourselves possessed of some inherent good dispositions and amiable tempers, which put us upon more respectable terms in the sight of God, and gain his favor, this we are apt to mistake for the work of the Spirit upon the heart. But as this notion leads from the faith and hope of the gospel, opposeth the glory of Jesus, lays another foundation than that which God hath laid, and tends to plume the creature with pride and vanity, we are taught to reject it as a spirit of Antichrist and delusion. This God severely reproves his church of old for: "Thou didst trust in thine own beauty and playedst the harlot, because of thy renown."- Ezekiel 16:15. But the blessed Spirit, who effects the marriage union between the Lamb and his bride, doth nothing upon the heart that it should trust in, so as to attract the affections from Jesus, or to produce incontinency of behaviour to our rightful Lord. No: "the Spirit shall glorify, not himself as the agent, not yourselves as the subject of his operations, but he shall glorify me," saith Jesus, in your sight, heart, and affections. He shall bear witness to my person and offices of the relation I stand in to you; that justification is solely by my righteousness, atonement for your sins by my own sacrifice, and pardon of them by my blood: that I am your priest, ever before the throne, representing your persons, and pleading your cause. So shall you find peace in me, live daily upon me, and rejoice only in me. Thus by this work of the Spirit, Christ alone is exalted and glorified; our hearts comforted in truth, and sanctified in love, to the honor and service of our heavenly King.

Thus, to them that believe, Jesus is precious; because we see the Father’s love centre in him, and diffusing itself through his pierced heart to ours, by the Holy Ghost given to us. Hence we become alive in our spirits and affections to God, and dead to self-seeking, self-righteous, self-glorying views. We die daily to carnal lusts and corrupt affections, which we know tend to dishonor our dear Lord, are contrary to his will, degrade our souls, and rob us of sweet, heart-felt communion with him. The more Jesus is thus glorified, and we abide in him, so much the more are we enabled to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit to the praise and glory of him. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."- Romans 8:14.

Evening Devotional

The great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come, who were ready to perish. Isaiah 27:13.

One trumpet has been blown, at the giving of the law, on mount Sinai: the voice of it sounded long, and waxed louder and louder. It made even Moses to fear and quake exceedingly, and all the people tremble. Soon, very soon, (who knows but it may be the next moment, in the twinkling of an eye?) the last trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised. (1 Corinthians 15:52.) Tremendous voice! most solemn sound! The prophet asks, “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid?” (Amos 3:6.) If the alarm of war, and the approach of an enemy should be sounded in the dead of the night, what fear and terror would seize us! Must we hear the sound of the last trumpet, calling us to judgment? Blessed, eternally blessed be our God, for the blowing of this great trumpet: it is the sound of great love: it proclaims salvation-to whom? Even to great sinners: such as see their sins so great, that they are ready to perish. The sound of this great trumpet expels the legal fears of the first, and the awful terrors which arise in our minds by the sound of the last trumpet; for it proclaims, that “the great God is our Saviour, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13.) Our Judge is our Advocate, our Saviour, and Friend. Do we see ourselves ready to perish, without hope and help, in and from ourselves? Are the curses of a broken law upon us, and is the glittering sword of justice brandished over us? The great trumpet sounds, Come, come to Christ, ye sinners, who are ready to perish, and must perish if ye do not come. Saith Jesus, “All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me.” (John 6:37.) Therefore, this great trumpet of gospel salvation shall not be blown in vain. Those who never saw themselves ready to perish, can hear neither music nor charms in its sound. It is foolishness to them. But to sensible, perishing sinners, it is a joyful sound to their ears: it proclaims victory over sin, the law, Satan, death, and hell, through Jesus, who loved us, and gave himself for us. Nor less doth it proclaim holiness and happiness. For it calls us to war with our sins-to enjoy peace with God-and to walk in sweet fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3.) This great gospel trumpet, like those of old, is all of a piece, (Numbers 10:2.) It does not give an uncertain sound: but it proclaims a free, full, and finished salvation by Christ, to the glory of God, Yea, and Amen.

The gospel like a trumpet, shrill

Doth pierce us to the heart,

Awakes our souls, subdues our will

From all our sins to part.

Tho’ in a lost and fearful state,

We to the Saviour come:

He never says, ‘It is too late,’

But always finds us room.

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