Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

Overall Life Mission1

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” June 25 and July 13, 1723.

Good Works

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

Time Management

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

50.Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51.Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

Relationships

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration’s never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.

Suffering

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

Character

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14? and July ’3? 1723.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

Spiritual Life

Assurance

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

The Scriptures

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

Prayer

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

The Lord’s Day

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

Vivification of Righteousness

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found inSaturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.

Mortification of Sin and Self Examination

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination.July 4, and 13, 1723.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

Communion with God

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

Aug. 17, 1723

________

1 The subheadings and categorization are suggested by Matt Perman to increase the readability.

When Herod finally died in 4 BC, the people started a revolution, and – you guessed it – that brought the cruel might of the Roman army down on them… with full force! People all around Nazareth, where Jesus was to grow up, had been caught up in a bloody war! Brothers and fathers had been butchered. Homes burned. Crops spoiled. Poor villages pillaged.
Whenever I think of a typical crib scene, you know the ones, with three wise men bowing, Mary and Joseph standing around, a donkey… then baby Jesus lying on a bed of straw, it all looks so cosy! Of course, nobody really knows what it was like, but I think you can guess, not many people were feeling sentimental!
The great question is… why did he do it ?!

Why should Jesus come to live among the poor? We know Mary and Joseph continued to live as poor people, since when they presented the sacrifices for Jesus at the Temple, they had to bring a couple of birds… and couldn’t even afford a lamb! Without a doubt, they lived a hard, hard life… that’s very hard for us to imagine! Daily life for them would have meant suffering!
So why did he do it? Why should he suffer? Think about it! Would you choose to go and live somewhere where every day means hard hard work, just to scrape together enough to survive? Where there is no real chance of ever improving things for yourself? Would you do that, if you had the chance to live in comfort forever instead?

This is the Christmas story… that “He came down to earth from heaven, who is Lord and God of all!” Jesus became poor for us! Of course the end of the story is that he did a lot more than become poor! In fact, he even gave up his life – dying on a cross – so that we could have eternal life! Even so, his suffering did not begin on the cross… but from the first day of his life, he knew exactly what it is like to live in a rotten-old-world! He did that, so that people like us… ordinary people… could be saved from our sins! What a joy, to know that when this world is over… it will be heaven to come for everyone who repents of sin and trusts in Him!

Two thousand years ago… the angels were singing at the sight of the really Great King, lying in a manger… the Great Creator… come down to be the Saviour! Now my heart is singing with them at the thought! How would you feel if someone had given up everything to buy you the most amazing Christmas present? Yet that thought doesn’t even come close to what Jesus has done… since Jesus didn’t only give everything up… but he took my place and took the blow from all of God’s anger with my sin!
May this Christmas be a time of singing in your heart as you see your sins taken away by the one who, as the Bible says, “became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

By Tom Drion – Pastor at Grace Life London, in London, England.

McCheyne, R. M., & Bonar, A. A. (1894). Memoir and Remains of the Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne (238–240). Edinburgh; London: Oliphant Anderson & Ferrier.

This is from the section on the life of Solomon, and it would do us good to take heed and learn from his life.

What a reminder for those of us today who life in a world consumed by the American sewam. We are told that we can accomplish anything we want if we just work hard enough, and then we will be happy and fulfilled. But does satisfaction await us at the top of the corporate ladder or in the achievement of our goals and ambitions? Solomon’s answer to that question was an unmistakable NO!  After a lifetime of amazing accomplishments, he came to the end of the rainbow expecting to find a treasure chest of happiness. But, as he himself testified, it was just a mirage.

Solomon’s testimony serves as a somber warning and a timely reminder for us today. As he learned the hard way, the more we search for life outside of God, the more we will experience disappointment and emptiness within our hearts. Life lived apart from God is the height of vanity. But life lived in fellowship with him is the sweetest and most fulfilling experience possible. Ironically, the wisest man who ever lived ended his search at the very place where we should begin ours: with the recognition that the pursuit of true happiness is the pursuit of God Himself!

Sin is the dare of God’s Justice, the rape of his mercy, the jeer of his patience, the slight of his power, and the contempt of his love. John Bunyan …

Sin hath the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death for its wages. – Thomas Watson

A holy man knows that all sin strikes at the holiness of God, the glory of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the Law of God; and therefore his heart rises against all; he looks upon every sin as the scribe and Pharisees that accused Christ; and as that Judas that betrayed Christ, and as those soldiers that scourged Christ; and as those spears that pierced Christ! – Thomas Brooks

Take heed of secret sins. They will undo thee if loved and maintained: one month may spoil the garment; one leak drown the ship; a penknife stab and kill a man as well as a sword; so one sin may damn the soul; nay there is more danger of a secret sin causing the miscarrying of the soul than open profaneness because not so obvious to the reproofs of the world; therefore take heed that secret signings eat not out of good beginnings – Jerimiah Burroughs

He hideth our unrighteousness with his righteousness, he covereth our disobedience with his obedience, he shadoweth our death with his death, that the wrath of God can not find us. – Henry Smith

Mans life is so short, that Austin doubteth weather to call it a dying life or a living death. Man’s life is but the shadow of smoke, the dream of a shadow – Thomas Brooks

Let us keep our eyes steadily upon the goal…For when we hear the shout from the skies, all else will fade into utter nothingness. For the Lord shall descend – from heaven with a shout. Even so, come, Lord Jesus – Dr Jaffray

Francia Gamba, the martyr burned at the stake in 1554, was presented with a wooden cross by a monk but rejected it saying: “My mind is so full of the real merits of Christ as I die that I want not a piece of senseless stick to put me in mind of him.”

Calconis, who died about 108 a.d, had been a pagan but witnessing the martyrdom of two Christians, was so impressed by their wonderful patience under terrible sufferings, that he shouted with admiration “Great is the God of the Christians”

Immediately he, too, was struck down and died.

It is the manner of God, throughout the scriptures, to defer Judgments a long while before they come, and when they come he sends them by degrees.  – Walter Cradock

Life is an excellency added to being – Thomas Goodwin

Christ has not come to possess our brains with some cold opinions that send down a freezing and benumbing influence into our hearts. Christ was a master of the life, not of the school; and he is the best Christian whose heart beats with the purest pulse towards heaven, not he whose head spins the finest cobweb. Ralph Cudworth

We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at his unspeakable Love!- John Owen

Love is the only thing in which we can retaliate with God. If God be angry with us, we must not be angry again; if He Chide us, we must not chide Him again; but if God Loves us, we must Love Him again. There is nothing in which we can answer God again, but love. We must not give him word for word, but we must give him love for love.  – Thomas Watson

A greater hell I would not wish any man, than to Live and not love the beloved of God – Thomas brooks

This is taken from an illustration in John Phillips’ Exploring Hebrewscommentary that has always moved me.

Imagine with me a Moabite of old gazing down upon the Tabernacle of Israel from some lofty hillside. This Moabite is attracted to what he sees so he descends the hill and makes his way toward the Tabernacle.

He walks around this high wall of dazzling linen until he comes to a gate and at the gate, he sees a man. “May I go in there?” he asks, pointing to the gate where all the bustle of activity in the Tabernacle’s outer court can be seen.

“Who are You?” demands the man suspiciously.

“I’m from Moab,” the stranger replies.

“Well, I’m very sorry, but you can’t go in there. You see, it’s not for you. The Law of Moses has barred the Moabite from any part in the worship of Israel until his tenth generation.”

The Moabite looks so sad and said, “Well, what would I have to do to go in there?”

“You would have to be born again,” the gatekeeper replies. “You would have to be born an Israelite, of the tribe of Judah, or of the tribe of Benjamin or Dan.”

“Oh, I wish I had been born an Israelite,” the Moabite says and as he looks again, he sees one of the priests, having offered a sacrifice at the brazen altar and the priest cleansed himself at the brazen laver and then the Moabite sees the priest enter the Tabernacle’s interior. “What’s in there?” asks the Moabite. “Inside the main building, I mean.”

“Oh,” the gatekeeper says, “That’s the Tabernacle itself. Inside it contains a lampstand, a table, and an altar of gold. The man you saw was a priest. He will trim the lamp, eat of the bread upon the table and burn incense to the living god upon the golden altar.”

“Ah,” sighs the Moabite, “I wish I were an Israelite so that I could do that. I would so love to worship God in there and help to trim the lamp and offer Him incense and eat bread at that table.”

“Oh, no, the gatekeeper hastens to say, “even I could not do that. To worship in the holy place one must not only be born an Israelite, one must be born of the tribe of Levi and of the family of Aaron.”

The man from Moab sighs again, “I wish that I had been born of Israel of the tribe of Levi of the family of Aaron,” and then, as he gazes wistfully at the closed Tabernacle door, he says, “What else is in there?”

“Oh, there’s a veil. It’s a beautiful veil I’m told and it divides the Tabernacle in two. Beyond the veil is what we call ‘the Most Holy Place’… ‘the Holy of Holies.’”

“What’s in the Holy of Holies?” the Moabite asks.

“Well, there’s the sacred chest in there and it’s called the Ark of the Covenant. It contains holy memorials of our past. Its top is gold and we call that the mercy seat because God sits there between the golden cherubim. Do you see that pillar of cloud hovering over the Tabernacle? That’s the Shekinah glory cloud. It rests on the mercy,” said the gatekeeper.

Again, a look of longing comes over the face of the Moabite man. “Oh,” he said, “if only I were a priest! How I would love to go into the Holy of Holies and gaze upon the glory of God and worship Him there in the beauty of His holiness!’

“Oh no!” said the man at the gate. “You couldn’t do that even if you were a priest! Only the high priest can enter the Most Holy Place. Only he can go in there. Nobody else!”

The heart of the man from Moab yearns once more. “Oh,” he cried, “If only I had been born an Israelite, of the tribe of Levi, of the family of Aaron. If only I had been born a high priest! I would go in there every day! I would go in there three times a day! I would worship continually in the Holy of Holies!”

The gatekeeper looked at the man from Moab again and once more shook his head. “Oh now,” he said, “you couldn’t do that! Even the high priest of Israel can go in there only once a year, and then only after the most elaborate preparations and even then only for a little while.”

Sadly, the Moabite turned away. He had no hope in all the world of ever entering there!

. . . Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Here it is, a tremendous word of welcome, extended to Jew and Gentile alike, to come on in and worship, not in the holiest place of the human tabernacle, but into the Holy of Holies in heaven itself “by the blood of Jesus.”

John 11:35 – Jesus Wept

Tears of love! behold them flowing From the Elder Brother’s eye!
See Him as a mourner going
To the grave at Bethany!
He, who through its shadowy portal
Summoned back the freed immortal, He, whose all-commanding word Sheathed the gloomy victor’s sword- There, where buried friendship sleeps, He, our own Emmanuel, weeps.

Tears of pity! see them gushing From their pure and sacred fount! Angels! your hosannas hushing, Bend you from the holy mount. Stoop to read the wondrous story, How the “Father’s brightest glory” At a sinner’s grave can stand, Mourner ‘mid a mourning band, With the heart, the voice, the eye Of a perfect sympathy!
Tears of Jesus! while I ponder, Blessed comfort let me reap;

“That same Jesus” lives up yonder Who on earth was wont to weep. Though His brow the rainbow wears Yet my thorny crown He shares; Yet that loving heart Divine
Throbs responsively to mine Not a struggling sigh can rise, But it is echoed in the skies.
Blessed Jesus! in Your sorrow,
Friends and kindred passed You by; You alone could never borrow
The support of sympathy.

When Your human heart was bursting, When your parched lips were thirsting, When encompassed with the foe, Mocking at Your bitter woe,
You, who had a heart for all,
Drank alone Your cup of gall.

Now in glory, where You dwell,
All unknown is sorrow’s look,
Yet Your people’s tears You tell, “Are they not within Your book?” While my “night of weeping” lasts,
Before the morn its brightness casts, My blest portion may it be,
That You weepest, Lord, with me!
And one day, with heart and voice
In Your joy may I rejoice! by Ellen Willis.

 The emotions reveal in a wonderful way the feelings of the heart, and in this book, Octavius Winslow uses the emotions of Christ and his acts of kindness to show in a very unique way, how he felt for those he interacted with then, and very importantly how he feels for those whom he interacts with today. 

The second Chapter is titled “The sight of Christ” in this chapter he dwells on Mark 7:34 – “He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Be opened!”.

The whole chapter is worth a read and is available online HERE. However, the main purpose of this post is to share his closing quote of the chapter; after he shows how perfectly pure christ’s love and care for the person whom he healed was, and with that shows the absolute authority of Christ over not just the physical ears and mouth but also the spiritual. He very briefly fixes the heart on how perfectly Christ’s dealings are with his people, and reading this left me as I am sure it will you with one dominating thought,  that JESUS HAS DONE ALL THINGS WELL!

The Quote Follows

And in conclusion, let the sweet words uttered by the wondering spectators of this marvellous and touching display of our Lord’s sympathy with man, awaken a deep response within our hearts in all His dealings with us- “He has done all things well.” Yes, from first to last, from our cradle to our grave, from the earliest pang of sin’s conviction to the latest thrill of sin’s forgiveness, from earth to heaven, this will be our testimony in all the way the Lord our God has led us in the wilderness. In providence and in grace, in every truth of His Word, in every lesson of His love, in every stroke of His rod, in every sunbeam that has shone, and in every cloud that has shaded, in every element that has sweetened, and in every ingredient that has embittered, in all that has been mysterious, inscrutable, painful, and humiliating; in all that He gave, and in all that He took away, this testimony is His just due, and this our grateful acknowledgment through time and through eternity- “He has done all things well.” Take a survey of His conduct towards you from whatever standpoint, you may- and it is to His dealings with us in our individual history I alone refer, as illustrating and confirming this declaration- such must be our admiration, and such our testimony of Christ. Has He converted us through grace by a way we had thought the most improbable? Has He torn up all our earthly hopes by the roots? Has He thwarted our schemes, frustrated our plans, disappointed our expectations? Has He taught us in schools most trying, by a discipline most severe, and lessons most humbling to our nature? Has He withered our strength by sickness, reduced us to poverty by loss, crushed our heart by bereavement? And have we been tempted to exclaim, “All these things are against me?” Ah! no; faith will yet obtain the ascendency, and sweetly sing
                                  “I know in all things that befell,
                                      My Jesus has done all things well.”

Beloved, it must be so, for Jesus can do nothing wrong. Study the way of His providence and grace with the microscopic eye of faith, view them in every light, examine them in their minutest detail, as you would the petal of a flower, or the wing of an insect, and, oh, what wonders, what beauty, what marvellous adaptation would you observe in all the varied dealings with you of your glorious Lord! And when the next storm wave surged, and the next thunder cloud darkened, and the next dark mystery threw its veil around you, you would hopefully exclaim, “What new truth is He now teaching? what new glory is He now unveiling? what new wonder is He now working to arouse my admiration, to win my confidence, and to deepen my love?”