Bowen's Daily Meditations

It is regarded as one of the saddest facts in our condition, that the objects which interest and attract us, have no power to perpetuate their own attractiveness; and the mind obtaining what it passionately sought, and by degrees getting accustomed to its particular features of beauty, loses day by day something of its own delight in them. Fascination can get no victory that is not stolen from it again by time. And this is said to be an inevitable, Nemesis-like fact in our finite condition....

Blessed are they to whom the gospel is proclaimed; that is, a blessing is put within their reach. But especially, essentially blessed are they who know it as glad tidings of great joy.

One land is blessed with great fruitfulness; another with great mineralogical treasures; another by its geographical situation, favorable for commerce. One nation has a liberal government; another an admirable system of education. One country has numerous and exquisite remains of ancient art; another...

Who is this that spends his time with a company of poor despised sheep, seeking for them appropriate pastures, leading them beside still waters, defending them from evil beasts with his crook, carrying the lame ones in his bosom, studying all the peculiarities in the condition of each; apparently wrapped up in them, with no wisdom, no power, no resources save such as are needed for their welfare? Why! this is He that measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, meted out heaven with his...

The Bible, first and last, insists that man shall give unto God, all power, honor and glory and distinctly recognizes his own dependence, ingloriousness and insignificance. Some foolishly gather from this that God is against man, and is jealous lest he should attain to too much dignity. But the very word of God that makes such bitter warfare on the imagined strength and goodness of man, shows us the Lord of the universe ready to bestow his treasures of strength, wisdom and righteousness upon...

Take this text as your interpreter, and join yourself to the Lord Jesus, as he sets his face steadfastly to go up to Jerusalem. With tears he gazes on the city. He endures the contradiction of many sinners; ― Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians. He partakes of the passover with Judas. Washes the feet of his disciples. Gives the symbols of his broken body and shed blood to a little company the hope of the world, the elect of mankind, that were about to forsake him and flee. Look at these...

There is not only the one transcendent prize of everlasting life held up to the assured hope of every believer; but it would seem that the Lord Jesus Christ (out of his treasury bringing forth things new and old,) holds out particular and altogether wonderful rewards to those who throw themselves into the thick of the conflict of life, and overcome where there were peculiar difficulties in the way of their overcoming. The records of the past bear their not unwilling testimony to this....

Hold fast the gift which divine grace hath already bestowed on thee; the loss of it were the loss of thy crown.

This exhortation is made necessary by such facts as these: - There is a tendency in the mind to under-estimate the gifts already in possession, and to forget how absolute is the connection between present grace and eventual glory; and there is also a tendency to depreciate the power and subtlety of the adversaries.

Conceive of a crown that guarantees to him who...

Man walks in slippery places, saying, there is no danger. Yet every rock has one declivity that descends, gently and imperceptibly at first, perhaps, but still descends to the lake of fire. And carefully examined, it reveals the names of thousands and thousands who perished there, all saying, there is no danger. And scarcely is there an hour of the day when, to one who listens attentively, there comes not the wail of a forlorn being whose feet have slipped, without any to hold him up....

Let us define. But who can define? For the interpretation of this word, love is the interpretation of God. It is easy to say that love is a delight in the happiness of the loved. But the mind will not rest satisfied with this definition; it again and again replies, that the meaning includes more. Love cannot be defined, for it is itself a definition, the definition of God; but it may be described in its operations and effects.

The love that God has towards you, passes knowledge. The...

Two sublime arguments here present themselves. The first is this: God hath so loved me; therefore, beloved, I must love you. The second is: God hath so loved you; therefore, beloved, I must love you.

By virtue of the first argument, every expression of the love of God toward me that I have ever received, lays aside its smile, and assuming a beautiful air of authority, commands me to love you. All the promises that ever flocked in laughing troops or came singly and gently to my soul,...

Confession implies compunction. The mere statement of one's fault is not confession. The fault may be aggravated by a heartless mention of it. Some men are very tenacious of their imaginary rectitude; but others think it a pretty accomplishment to be able to speak of themselves as graceless characters. Into the idea of true confession humiliation enters. Confession should be particular. Individual sins must be seen in their hatefulness before the word of forgiveness can come in between them...

In us; in me, in you. Sin, not satisfied with the manifestation given of itself in the angels that left their first estate, not satisfied with the degradation into which it has caused the devils to sink, came to you and me, that it might obtain a fuller exhibition. You and I dwelt in a world the soil of which had been moistened with Christ's sweat of agony, with the drops of Calvary, in a world where the Gospel of God's amazing grace is preached to every creature. Sin said, " It is one thing...

We read of Christ that he has been made much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name that is above every name. God hath treated Christ as though he were the only heir. All the universe looks on amazed, as he ascends up above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, above every name that is named; and then learns with greatly more amazement that he is a representative heir; that...

Led by the Spirit of God. By the glorious being who led Christ. Without him was nothing made that was made. Without him the sceptre of the Godhead was never once extended. The highest archangel would not stir a step without him.

The children of God, all who inherit eternal life, have this infallible characteristic, they are led by the Spirit of God. They are led by him to a sense of their sinfulness and short sightedness; to an open recognition of the same; to the throne of grace; to...