FEBRUARY 21
" And the
soul of the
people was
much
discouraged
because of
the way."
NUM. 21 : 4.
THE people of God are held forth under various characters in the Scriptures, and no one of them all is more common, more just, more pleasing, more instructive, than the image of strangers and pilgrims upon earth. And who knows not what a beautiful use Bunyan has made of it'?
But what is
there in the
way to
discourage
the soul of
the
travellers
heavenward?
Much.
Sometimes
they are
affected by
the length
of the way ;
for hope
deferred
maketh the
heart sick.
This was the
case with
Israel at
this time ;
for instead
of passing
through the
land of
Edom, they
had to fetch
a compass
all around
the borders,
and all this
in a
wilderness
too, and
under a
burning sky.
If a
traveller,
after
supposing he
was near his
journey's
end, was to
learn that
it was yet
many miles
off, all
worn and
weary, his
heart would
be ready to
faint, and
utter the
cry of
despondence,
"I shall
never reach
it !" What
Isaiah says,
"They shall
behold the
land that is
very far
off," may be
applied to
the
experience
of
Christians
with regard
to heaven.
It is often
remote in
fact, that
is, it is
frequently
long before
they arrive
there ; for
they are not
removed
hence as
soon as they
are
converted,
but detained
here to be
made meet
for their
destination,
to honor
their
Redeemer,
and to serve
their
generation.
Hence many
of them are
longer on
earth after
they are
called by
grace, than
the Jews
wandered in
the
wilderness
after
leaving
Egypt. But
we refer to
the slowness
of their
progress,
the
smallness of
their
attainments,
and the
nature of
their
apprehensions.
" Once,"
says the
soul, " I
was ready to
seize the
blessing;
but now it
seems to
recede as I
advance,
yea, the
distance
between me
and the
attainment
seems to
increase
daily." "
How long
wilt thou
forget me, 0
Lord; for
ever? how
long wilt
thou hide
thy face
from me?"
How long
shall I take
counsel in
my soul,
having
sorrow in my
heart daily
? " My soul
waiteth for
the Lord
more than
they that
watch for
the
morning." "
Oh, when
will it dawn
; when wilt
thou come
unto me?"
Sometimes
they are
discouraged
because of
the way,
owing to the
enemies that
infest it.
In the
rebuilding
of the
second
temple, we
are told
that every
man with one
hand wrought
in the work,
and with the
other held a
weapon ;
this was
sore labor.
And the
Christian's
life is a
warfare, as
well as a
pilgrimage ;
he moves on,
bearing his
sword. as
well as his
staff. Now,
to walk and
fight too,
and to
contend
every-step
of the way,
and with
adversaries
possessing
every thing
to render
them
formidable
and as soon
as one is
vanquished,
to see
another
rising
up--this is
arduous and
trying. And
what wonder,
if when
without are
fightings,
within are
fears'?
Then the way
shows many
that are
turning back
in it, and
this is
often
discouraging.
We had heard
of their
setting off.
Some of them
had passed
us near
enough to be
observed.
They soon
left us,
seeming to
surpass us,
not only in
gifts, but
grace; and
we not only
hailed, but
envied them.
How
wonderful
and grievous
to see them
returning,--vicious,
or infidel,
or lovers of
this present
world. We
instantly
remember,
and apply to
them
the awful
declaration,
If' any man
draw back.
my soul
shall have
no pleasure
in him." But
who can help
thinking of
himself?
And what am
I? And may
not I also
prove a
castaway?
Besides,
these
revolters
never come
back silent.
They solicit
us to return
too. They
assure us
the way is
impassable.
They have
tried it,
and hope
their
experience
will make us
wise. Once
they thought
certain
notions to
be
erroneous,
and certain
indulgences
to be sinful
but they are
more
enlightened
and liberal
now. Such
persons,
too. never
subside into
neutrals.
From friends
they
necessarily
become
enemies.
They
persecute,
if it lies
in their
power. They
always
reproach and
vilify, even
in their own
defence--defaming
the party
and the
cause to
justify
their
secession
from them.
It is often
discouraging,
also, to
find the way
so narrow :
" Narrow is
the way that
leadeth unto
life." The
difficulty,
therefore,
of getting
on is great.
A way is
made narrow
by the near
approximation
of the
sides,
whether
walls,
ditches, or
hedges, so
that we have
to press
through ;
and can
hardly do it
without some
injury on
the right
hand or on
the left. In
the exercise
of every
grace, and
the
performance
of every
duty, a
Christian
has to keep
between two
extremes. As
to the use
of the means
of grace, he
must neither
neglect them
nor idolize
them. As to
connections
and
relations in
life, he may
sin by not
loving them
enough, or
by loving
them too
much.
Courage lies
between
rashness and
fear ; and
frugality,
between
profusion
and
niggardliness
; and
confidence,
between
presumption
and
despondency
; and
patience,
between
despising
the
chastening
of the Lord.
and fainting
when we are
rebuked of
him. And is
it easy
always to
go, not only
in the way
of
righteousness,
but in the
midst of the
paths of
judgment?
So far,
generally,
of the road.
But there
are
particular
spots that
are
peculiarly
trying :
such as the
slough of
Despond, the
valley of
Humiliation,
the hill
Difficulty
with the
lions, and
the deep
cold river
to be waded
through,
before the
shining city
call be
entered. A
Christian
knows what
all this
means, and
sometimes
finds it
hard to
believe that
the way to
glory lies
through it
all.
Am I then
setting out
for the
heavenly
world? Let
me not
prepare
myself for
surprise and
disappointment,
by expecting
that every
thing will
be smooth
and flowery
and
delightful.
I cannot,
indeed, look
for too much
from the
promises of
God, they
are so
exceeding
great and
precious ;
but I must
look for it
in God's own
order. I
must deny
myself, and
take up my
cross. I
must not be
slothful,
but be a
follower of
them who,
through
faith and
patience,
have reached
the prize of
their high
calling.
Have I
professed,
and hoped
that I am a
Christian?
Let me not
conclude
that I have
no part nor
lot in the
matter,
because my
soul is
sometimes
cast down
and
disquieted
within me.
Have not
those who
have gone
before me
wept and
groaned
also? Are
not the
subjects of
divine grace
represented
by their
fear, as
well as
their
confidence ;
by their
sorrow, as
well as
their joy?
Yet let me
endeavor to
go on
rejoicing.
Let me
remember
that there
is much to
encourage me
because of
the way : an
unerring
guide--an
almighty
guard--companions--strength
to hold on,
refreshments
along the
road ; and
the end of
it perfect
rest and
peace and
glory and
joy.
RETURN
TO REV. WILLIAM JAY'S HOMEPAGE
RETURN
TO REV. THOMAS BOSTON'S HOMEPAGE
