Bowen's Daily Meditations

What a wonderful consciousness was this for one that saw his life gliding rapidly away in an obscure corner of the world, among a despised class of persons, and knew that a cross was prepared for him at the capital. Knowing that the light of life is to go forth from him, from him alone, to all nations, peoples, and languages, how admirable is the quiet, unhasting humility that enables him to sit down among the poorest and meanest of earth, occupy himself with all their cares and solicitudes,...

This is a noble utterance, Habakkuk! Thou hast surely read the book of Job, and art echoing that great word of his - "Though the Lord slay me, yet will I trust in him." Thou believest that the love which God has towards us, rests upon some more solid evidence than the temporal benefits which he bestows upon us; upon evidence so satisfactory, so unimpeachable, that even if the greatly-prospered servant of God saw his flocks and herds rapidly perish, his merchandise carried off by robbers or...

The disciples, we may suppose, had embarked with the Lord Jesus in that vessel, with a feeling of great confidence, and with the anticipation of a delightful sail over the familiar waters of that lake. Upon that lake most of them had spent the chief part of their time from childhood; and under almost no circumstances would they be likely to experience a feeling of fear. Now all things conspired to tranquilize their spirits. Behold them, as the sun sinks over the hills beyond Capernaum, and a...

How surprising the infatuation of man, in that while he despises and abuses the gifts of God actually bestowed, he makes sure of gifts to come. He makes havoc of to-day, as a child makes havoc of some valuable book fallen within its reach, and confidently expects that there shall be given to him a morrow, and a long series of morrows. While he, on earth, is busy with the transgression of God's commands, and with casting contempt on the authority of God, God, in heaven, is to be busy in...

In the place where there is nothing to hinder the full perception of the glory of God, there is fullness of joy. The most we can do in this world is to get a conception, faint at the best, of beatific joy. As we perceive the presence of him who once became manifest in our nature, loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, we experience joy unspeakable; but we cannot describe our experience as fullness of joy, without declaring that the company of the ungodly is as blessed as that...

Who was this poor man? Let us see if we can find out; if we can ascertain the characteristics of those poor people whom God so honorably mentions in his word.

Mere penury of worldly goods is not a sufficient title. He must be poor in spirit - poor contentedly. His must be a spirit cheerfully acquiescent in the allotments of God - with all that he is reputed to have, placed unreservedly at his disposal; sensible that he is not even his own, but bought with a price; his abilities and...

Worlds, as countless as the sands of the sea-shore, were his, and innumerable sovereignties lay low at his feet. Tell off the sum of what he renounced, world by world, host by host, and a life would not suffice. Suppose the renunciation gradual, and watch it from the throne of the universe. You would see the suns of least magnitude, the heavens of greatest distance vanishing one by one, very rapidly, from the face of the universe; worlds of greater magnitude following them into night; great...

I thought myself to be strong in faith, and rejoiced in thy command to evince that strength. I thought I would show how much stronger my faith than that of others; and while they abode quietly in their vessel, I would tread the waters beneath my feet and hasten unto Jesus. I would put away from me at least the reproach sometimes addressed to us disciples of being weak in faith. But it was simple presumption. Now that the waves lift up themselves around about me, saying, " Jesus we know, but...

Once thou hadst other proprietors. Sin, self, death, misery - these formerly boasted that thou wert theirs. But the price I have paid shuts their mouths forever.

Self is slowest of all to understand this. Thou hast distinctly and joyfully recognised the transfer of thyself to me; and yet again and again have I seen thee acting as though it were simply an agreeable fiction. Thou hast sometimes lavished thine affections on objects with which thou hadst no thing properly to do. Thou hast...

This language, whether addressed to the partial Israel of ancient times, or the universal Israel of our times, is appropriate only to one who has been awakened to a true perception of his transgressions, and to an earnest, engrossing solicitude for pardon. The eyes of such a one have been opened. In every page of the word of God he finds some chapter of his own past history coming up to view, and exhibiting itself to him in an aspect never before witnessed. The commandments seem to address...

There are many things in this stage of existence that are calculated to fright the souls of men. They are surrounded by dangers. There is hardly anything, no matter how minute and to all appearance contemptible, but may in some hour put on strength enough to kill us. Many a little insect has taken away the life of proud man. We do not know but that the breath we are now breathing may convey some deadly disease to our lungs. Our foot may slip; a blood-vessel may burst; a stone may fall upon...

The contrast really intended here is not between the word of God and the grass of the field; for there are many other things to share with Scripture the honor of out-living the flowers of earth. In one sense the Bible resembles the grass of the field; if by great efforts the latter be rooted up and cast into the fire, much time will not elapse before that same spot is seen verdant again with a new growth. And many rulers have sought to destroy the crop of Bibles sown in their do minions, but...

Thou art content to be known by this name, " God of our salvation." Viewed in one light, the thing seems an infinite wonder; in another light, no wonder. For in the accomplishment of our salvation, thy perfections come out in glorious relief, and the whole creation finds itself unspeakably aided in the work of making thee known. Let but one of the redeemed, clothed in his full salvation, stand forth in the universe; and it will matter little if the heaven and the earth flee away, and return...

Can I trust thee, "Wisdom? Dost thou tell the whole truth? If I embrace this bold guarantee of thine, and commit myself to thy paths, is it certain that my course shall be one of uninterrupted and elevated peace?

" Walk in my paths, and God will be at peace with thee! What an infinite gain is this! Where thou now art, the wrath of God, the hostility of the Omnipotent impends over thee. Were all the hosts of the universe arrayed against thee, they would do thee the merest trifle of...