the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.- Matthew 5:8.
Every institution of purification under the law referred to Jesus, the purifier of his people. Old-Testament saints received inward purity of heart from the same fountain, Jesus; and through the same means, faith in him. Without this inward purity of heart, "without holiness, no man ever did or ever shall see the Lord." When Jesus comes to his temple, even the hearts of his people, he "sits as a refiner and purifier." Sinners are the objects of his love. Sin is the accursed thing his soul hates. From this he purifies them. In purity and holiness his soul delights: with this he blesses his disciples. He then pronounces them blessed. He tells them wherein their happiness consists: blessed are you, whose hearts are pure: blessed are your eyes, for they shall see God.
"Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one of fallen Adam’s race, Job 14:4. Such power belongs to God only. Man contributes nothing hereto. But man, every believing, regenerate man, is the blessed subject of purity and holiness of heart. He has no hand in purifying his heart. No glory is due to him. But holy, blessed effects flow from it, to God his Saviour’s glory, to his present felicity, and to his eternal comfort and joy. To thy shame disciple, thou knowest, being a child of an apostate, sinful parent, naturally only sin was the delight of thine heart. It is thy present blessedness to be a child of the holy God, a member of the holy Jesus, a subject of the Holy Spirit’s new creating influence, and a partaker of holy faith. Hence it is natural to thy holy, new- born heart, to love holiness, as agreeable to the perfections of thy God and Saviour, and as it is suitable to thy present state of blessedness in Christ Jesus. Whence those sighs and sorrows at finding the Canaanites still in the land? Whence those groans and prayers because sin dwelleth in the flesh? Whence those importunate cries and longing requests to Jesus for total victory and perfect freedom from this troublesome inmate? Whence that holy joy and sweet complacency in bringing forth "the fruits of holiness?" These are indubitable evidences that thou art united to a holy Jesus, that thy heart is purified by faith, that thou hast a heart cleansed from all sin by Christ’s blood. A new heart and right Spirit are put within thee. Thou dost see God in Christ NOW as thy covenant-God. Thou hast received covenant blessings from him. Rejoice in him. Shortly, thou shalt see him and enjoy him to all eternity in his kingdom and glory.
Bless’d are the men of broken heart,
Who mourn for sin with inward smart:
The blood of Christ divinely flows,
A healing balm for all their woes.
Bless’d are the pure, whose hearts are clean,
From the defiling pow’rs of sin:
With endless pleasure they shall see,
A God of spotless purity.
What profit is it, that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? Malachi 3:14.
These words were spoken to the carnal Jews. They may be applied to us. For the filthy leaven of the proud Pharisee, works in all our natures. At least, I know one who finds it does. What does it produce? Hard thoughts of God, and stout words against him. We are apt to censure his good conduct towards others, and think he deals rather hardly with us. (1st.) “We call the proud happy.” In a dark, tried, tempted, deserted hour, when we see the poor, proud sons of pride and folly, ranting and reveling in all the gay scenes of mirth and jollity, we are apt to look at them, think of them, and draw such conclusions from them as these-Well, surely these people are happier in their ways, than I am in mine. They are strangers to my heart burdens and soul distresses. Mirth sits on their countenance, while grief and sorrow weigh me down. This was the experience of David, Job, Asaph, and the prophets. We frequently find them at times, sorely distressed on account of this. The chief of sinners, and the least of all saints, who now writes, has also been often tried and tempted in this matter. (2d.) We say, “They who work wickedness are set up.” It staggers our reason, to see open notorious and ungodly flourish in great esteem and abundance: while I think, if I am a child of God, I am despised, and can but just get the necessaries of life, and those with hard labour, and much care. (3d.) “Those who tempt God, are even delivered.” If they get into troubles and perplexities, though they daringly provoke God to his face, yet they find friends enough to deliver them, while I combat my troubles daily and no man cares for my soul. And therefore, (4th.) The words of the text are taken up. “What profit is it,” etc. O my soul! Lie low before the Lord. Be ashamed of thy base, carnal reasonings against, and unbelieving thoughts of thy God. What profit? Pride avaunt. Look not to thy keeping his ordinances, and walking mournfully in deep humiliation before the Lord. Yet do both constantly. But look to a covenant God in Christ-look at the precious free-grace promises, which are in him: look to the Comforter, to receive freely out of the fulness of Jesus, love and salvation. Look not at others with an eye of envy, but look at thyself, with an eye of astonishment, and adore the distinguishing love of the Lord. What if thou hast not expected comforts in the way- what if thou walkest mournfully all the way: yet thou art blessed, and hast blessed promises to support thee. “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4.) Mind that precious word. They who sow in tears, shall reap in joy. He that weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Psalms 126:5-6.
O that I had a stronger faith,
To look within the vail:
To credit what my Saviour saith,
Whose words can never fail.
