WEEK IX. FIRST DAY. "THERE REMAINETH THEREFORE, A REST (THE KEEPING OF A SABBATH) for the people of God.”—Heb. iv. 9. Christian! this world is not thy rest; This world is not thine home; Thine is the kingdom of the blest, A city yet to come. Look, Christian! through the glass of faith, Thy promised portion view; Rely on all that Jesus saith, For all His words are true. Thine is indeed a glorious land, Lo! saints and angels waiting stand, Thy name with all that shining throng, And thou with them shalt sing, ere long, The anthems of the sky. Through Jesus thou art come to God, He by His Spirit and His blood, Hath cleansed and set thee free. When heaven shall tremble at His word, Then, Christian! bear "a little while," Thy Saviour Lord's approving smile, R SECOND DAY. "AND HAVING DONE ALL (OR, OVERCOME ALL) TO STAND: STAND THEREFORE, HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT ABOUT WITH TRUTH," &c.-Eph. vi. 13 to 18. This standing, is not a standing still in the Christian course; it is not a cessation from labour; it does not signify, giving up the Christian walk and warfare; it is, on the contrary, to be understood as enforcing, in figurative and energetic language, the steady maintenance of its profession and its principles. It is opposed, therefore, not to 'action, but to inaction. The command to "stand," is an exhortation to firmness and steadfastness; to watchfulness and perseverance. It imports fixedness of purpose, continuance, fidelity; and the word "stand" is used in opposition to unwatchfulness, weakness, indifference, instability, and overthrow. To "stand," is to be strong in the faith; immoveable in the hope of the gospel; rooted and grounded in love: it is to be confirmed established, strengthened, and settled, in the belief and love of the truth, and in all those blessed principles and habits which are the legitimate effect of its cordial reception. The exhortation is to the matured, or the perfect in the school of Christ; to those whose senses have been exercised, as it is expressed, (Heb. v. 14.) to "discern both good and evil;" that is, to discriminate, and clearly to distinguish, between that which is really so, according to the unerring standard of God's eternal truth, and that which is deemed to be so in the false, though current maxims of an evil world. And having thus been enabled, by the grace of God, to war a successful warfare, and to withstand the policy of all that would have drawn them aside from their allegiance to their rightful Sovereign; they are now, in the strength of the Lord, and in the power of His Spirit, clothed with the armour of light, and girt about with the panoply of heaven, to" stand;" sted fast and immoveable; established in Christian principles, and enriched and adorned with every Christian grace; prepared and in readiness to fulfil their appointed work and service; alert, and firm, and watchful; as being yet in an enemy's country, and exposed to assaults and to dangers on every side, they are thus now to stand." 66 : This standing has reference to their state; which is one of grace and favour, and also of liberty. (See 1 Pet. v. 12.; Rom. v. 2.; Gal. v. 1.). Into this they are introduced, and in this they are preserved by faith therefore it is written, "Stand fast in the faith" (1 Cor. xvi. 13.); in that faith which is a belief of the truth; or, more properly, a belief in Him who is the Truth; they are brought into union and fellowship with Christ; hence they are bid to "stand fast in the Lord." (Phil. iv. 1.; 1 Thess. iii. 8, &c.) Again: It has reference to their principles; those principles which spring from faith in Christ, as the branches grow from the stem of the tree; the stem and the branches alike |