2 Corinthians 12:21

REFLECTIONS

READER! let us pause and contemplate the highly favored state of the Lord's faithful servant, thus admitted to visions and revelations of God. No doubt, the very recollection warmed his soul in all the after stages of life. Paul felt the blessedness of them, and, like Peter, well knew, to his soul's joy, that he had not followed cunningly devised fables, when was made known unto him the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but was an eye-witness of his majesty. Reader! though the manifestations the Lord Jesus now makes to his people are not so splendid, for they are not now so necessary for confirmation to the Church, yet are they equally sure for the private consolation of every child of God. When God the Holy Ghost in regeneration, calls his redeemed from the Adam - darkness of nature to the light of life in Christ, not unfrequently, his manifestations are so sweet and gracious, that their remembrance becomes a comfort, through all the after parts of life. Yea, many a child of God in a dying hour, like Jacob in recollection of his Bethel, and Moses of his Bush, hath found the cold, clammy sweat of death unable to destroy the warm fervor of the precious remembrance! Oh! for grace for the soul to live in the enjoyment of Christ; and, sure I am, Christ himself will be the enjoyment of the soul in death!

Reader! do not overlook the personal interest which every child of God hath in the Lord Jesus's sweet answer to Paul: My grace is sufficient for thee! Messengers of Satan, thorns in the flesh, infirmities and reproaches, these all belong to the present time-state of the Church. There is a needs-be for them. The Church of God is passing through a wilderness, and cannot get to heaven without them. But Jesus knows them all, permits them all, overrules them all, sanctifies all. And Jesus hath, from all eternity, the very portion of grace to bear up all his members under all, as is exactly suited to all, and will assuredly give it out to each, and to all in the hour of need. Precious Lord Jesus! may I never lose sight of this! my God, my Savior hath the very portion of grace I require for this and that occasion, and I have nothing to do but to ask it from him as oft as that occasion shall require. Amen! My God will then suit His strength to my weakness, and bruise Satan under my feet shortly!