THE manifestation of God is in the person and work of Christ, and we are herefrom to learn what our God is, and what we may expect Him to do for us. What Jesus was to those about Him, such Jehovah is; what Jesus did and was willing to do, that our God is willing to do for us. In Jesus we see tender love, melting compassion, and gracious forbearance; mercy and power, rectitude and pity, holiness and long-suffering, justice and harmlessness, united. Such is our God. Fury is not in Him. Love is His name and His nature. And can you slavishly fear such a God? Can you wilfully sin against and grieve such a Being? Cannot you believe His word, depend upon His veracity, rejoice in His name, and expect from Him every promised good? For this purpose His word was written, His name is published, and Jesus died. Always look at God in Christ; attempt not to learn God from nature. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." "I HAVE MANIFESTED THY NAME."
Till God in human flesh I see, My thoughts no comfort find; The holy, just, and sacred THREE, Are terrors to my mind: But if IMMANUEL'S face appear, My soul surmounts each slavish fear.
Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.
James Smith was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London from 1841-1850. He also ministered with great blessing in Cheltenham. His devotional, The Believer's Daily Remembrancer, subtitled Pastor's Morning and Evening Visit, was very popular in its own day, and has received a new lease of life through recent republication.
THE manifestation of God is in the person and work of Christ, and we are herefrom to learn what our God is, and what we may expect Him to do for us. What Jesus was to those about Him, such Jehovah is; what Jesus did and was willing to do, that our God is willing to do for us. In Jesus we see tender love, melting compassion, and gracious forbearance; mercy and power, rectitude and pity, holiness and long-suffering, justice and harmlessness, united. Such is our God. Fury is not in Him. Love is His name and His nature. And can you slavishly fear such a God? Can you wilfully sin against and grieve such a Being? Cannot you believe His word, depend upon His veracity, rejoice in His name, and expect from Him every promised good? For this purpose His word was written, His name is published, and Jesus died. Always look at God in Christ; attempt not to learn God from nature. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." "I HAVE MANIFESTED THY NAME."
Till God in human flesh I see, My thoughts no comfort find; The holy, just, and sacred THREE, Are terrors to my mind: But if IMMANUEL'S face appear, My soul surmounts each slavish fear.