The Patience of God (John MacDuff)

Romans 15:5

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:” 

There is no more wondrous subject than this- "The Patience of God." Think of the lapse of ages during which that patience has lasted- 6OOO years. Think of the multitudes who have been the subjects of it- millions on millions, in successive climates and centuries. Think of the sins which have, all that time, been trying and wearying that patience-their number- their heinousness- their aggravation. The world's history is a consecutive history of iniquity, a lengthened provocation of the Almighty's forbearance. The Church, like a feeble ark, tossed on a mighty ocean of unbelief; and yet the world, with its cumberers, still spared! The cry of its sinful millions at this moment enters "the ears of the God of Sabbath," and yet, "for all this," His hand of mercy is "stretched out still!" 

And who is this God of patience? It is the Almighty Being who could strike these millions down in a moment; who could, by a breath, annihilate the world- no, who would require no positive or visible putting forth of His omnipotence to effect this, but simply to withdraw His sustaining arm!

Surely, of all the examples of the Almighty's power, there is none more wondrous or amazing than "God's power over Himself." He is "slow to anger." "Judgment is His strange work." He "shows mercy unto thousands [of generations]." God bears for 15OO years, from Moses to Jesus, with Israel's unbelief; and yet, as a writer remarks, "He speaks of it as but a day." "All day long have I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people." What is the explanation of all this tenderness? "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord!" 

Believer, how great has been God's patience towards you! In your unconverted state, when a wanderer from His fold, with what unwearied love He went after you; notwithstanding all your waywardness; never ceasing the pursuit "until He found you!" Think of your fainting and weariness since being converted- your ever-changing frames and feelings- the ebbings and the flowings in the tide of your love; and yet, instead of surrendering you to your own perverse will, His language concerning you is, "How can I give you up?" For a lifetime, your Savior-God has been standing knocking at your door; and His attitude is still the same- "Behold, I stand!" 

"But fainter than the pole-star's ray 
Before the noontide blaze of day, 
In all of love that man can know- 
All that in angels' breasts can glow 
Compared, O Lord of hosts! with thine. 
Unwearied! Fathomless! Divine!"

How should the patience of Jesus lead me to be submissive under trial! When He has so long borne with me, shall not I "bear" with Him? When I think of His patience under a far heavier cross, can I murmur when He murmured not! No, I will check every repining thought, and looking up, in confiding affection, to "the God of all patience," "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

John MacDuff, "The Night Watches"

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HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness (Thomas Brooks, 1662)

Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” 

The Necessity, Excellency, Rarity, and Beauty of Holiness

All the afflictions, and
all the temptations, and 
all the desertions, and 
all the oppressions, and 
all the oppositions, and 
all the persecutions— 
which befall a godly man, 
shall work for his good. 

Every cross, and
every loss, and
every disease—
which befall the holy man,
shall work for his good. 

Every device, 
every snare, 
every deceit, 
every depth, 
every stratagem, 
and every enterprise of Satan against
the holy man, shall work for his good. 

They shall all help to make him . . .
  more humble, 
  more holy, 
  more heavenly, 
  more spiritual, 
  more faithful, 
  more fruitful, 
  more watchful. 

Every prosperity and every adversity;
every storm and every calm;
every bitter and every sweet;
every cross and every comfort— 
shall work for the holy man's good.

When God gives a mercy—
  that shall work for his good.
When God takes away a mercy—
  that shall work for his good. 

Yes, even all the falls and all the sins of
the saints shall work for their good. Oh . . .
  the care,
  the fear,
  the watchfulness,
  the tenderness,
  the zeal—
which God raises in the souls of His saints by their 
very falls! Oh the hatred, the indignation, and the 
detestation—which God raises in the hearts of His 
children against sin—by their very falling into sin! 

Oh what love to Christ, 
what thankfulness for Christ, 
what admiration of Christ, 
what cleaving to Christ, 
what exalting of Christ, 
what drawings from Christ's grace—
are saints led to, by their very falls! 

It is the glory of God's holiness, that . . .
  He can turn spiritual diseases—into holy remedies!
  He can turn soul poisons—into heavenly cordials!
  He can prevent sin by sin, and cure falling by falling!

O Christian! What though friends and relations frown upon you, 
what though enemies are plotting and conspiring against you, 
what though needs, like armed men, are breaking in upon you, 
what though men rage, and devils roar against you, 
what though sickness is devastating your family, 
what though death stands every day at your elbow—
yet there is no reason for you to fear nor faint, because 
all these things shall work for your good! Yes, there is 
wonderful cause of joy and rejoicing in all the afflictions 
and tribulations which come upon you—considering that 
they shall all work for your good. 

O Christians! I am afraid, I am afraid—that you do not 
run so often as you should—to the breasts of this promise, 
nor draw that sweetness and comfort from it, that it would 
yield, and that your several cases may require. "We know 
that all things work together for good, to those who love 
God, to those who are called according to His purpose." I 
have been the longer upon this verse, because the condition 
of God's people calls for the strongest cordials, and the 
choicest and the sweetest comforts.

Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity"

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In Everything Give Thanks! (Thomas Watson)

Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 

Why so? Because God makes everything work together for our good. We thank the physician, though he gives us a bitter medicine which makes us nauseated — because it is to make us well. We thank any man who does us a good turn; and shall we not be thankful to God — who makes everything work for good to us?

God loves a thankful Christian! Job thanked God when He took all away: "The Lord has taken away — blessed be the name of the Lord!" (Job 1:21). Many will thank God when He gives; Job thanks Him when He takes away, because he knew that God would work good out of it.

We read of saints with harps in their hands — an emblem of praise (Revelation 14:2). Yet we meet many Christians who have tears in their eyes, and complaints in their mouths! But there are few with their harps in their hands — who praise God in affliction.

To be thankful in affliction — is a work peculiar to a saint. 
Every bird can sing in spring — but few birds will sing in the dead of winter! 
Everyone, almost, can be thankful in prosperity — but a true saint can be thankful in adversity! 

Well may we, in the worst that befalls us — have a psalm of thankfulness, because God works all things for our good. Oh, be much in giving thanks to God!

And did the Holy and the Just,
The Sovereign of the skies,
Stoop down to wretchedness and dust,
That guilty worms might rise?

Yes, the Redeemer left His throne,
His radiant throne on high,
(Surprising mercy! love unknown!)
To suffer, bleed, and die!

He took the dying traitor's place,
And suffered in his stead;
For man (O miracle of grace!)
For man the Savior bled!

Dear Lord, what heavenly wonders dwell
In Your atoning blood!
By this are sinners snatched from Hell, 
And rebels brought to God!

What glad return can I impart
For favors so divine?
O take my all, this worthless heart,
And make it wholly Thine!
   Anne Steele, 1859

Thomas Watson, "All Things Work for Good"

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A system of divine and unfailing consolation! (Octavius Winslow)

As a system of divine and unfailing consolation, 

there is a charm in the gospel of Jesus of 
indescribable sweetness. Originating with that 
God, not only whose name and whose perfection, 
but whose very essence is love, and who Himself 
is the "God of all comfort," it must be a gospel of 
"strong consolation," commensurate with every 
conceivable sorrow of his people. 

Let a Christian be placed in circumstances 
of the deepest grief and sorest trial... 
the bread and the water of affliction his food; 
the iron entering his soul; 
the heart bereaved; 
the mind perplexed; 
the spirit dark; 
all human hopes blighted, 
and 'creature cisterns' failing him like 
a spring in the summer's drought; then let the 
Spirit of God, the Divine Comforter, open this 
gospel box of perfume, breathing into his soul.... 
the rich consolations, 
the precious promises, 
the strong assurances, 
the divine counsels, and 
the glowing hopes which it contains, 
and in a moment the light of love appears in his 
dark cloud, his fainting spirit revives, and all is peace! 

Oh! that must be a charming gospel which can 
meet the necessities of man at every point; 
whose wisdom no human perplexity can baffle, 
and whose resources of sympathy and comfort, 
no case of suffering or of sorrow can exhaust. 

Tried soul! repair to this unfailing spring of comfort! 

God speaks to you in it. 

It is the unsealing of the heart of Jesus. 

It is the still small voice of the Spirit. 

It speaks to you. It bids you.... "cast your burden 
on the Lord, and he will sustain you;" "Call upon 
him in the day of trouble, and he will answer you." 
It assures you that amid all your perplexing cares, 
"He cares for you." It promises you that for your 
flint paved path, your "shoes shall be iron and brass;" 
and that "as your days are, so shall your strength be." 
It tells you that a "woman may forget her nursing child, 
yet God will not forget you;" that in all your assaults, 
you shall dwell on high, your place of defense shall 
be the munitions of rocks;" and that though hemmed 
in on every side by a besieging foe, and all other 
supplies cut off, yet "your bread shall be given you, 
and your water shall be sure." 

It invites you to lay your griefs and weep out your 
sorrows upon the bosom of Jesus, and so "leaning 
upon your Beloved, ascend from the wilderness." 

O to be led into the heart felt experience of these truths!

Octavius Winslow, "The Voice of the Charmer"

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When we find the path thorny, and the journey toilsome ("Every Day!" Author unknown, 1872)

Hebrews 11:16

“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” 

Hebrews 13:14

“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” 

Revelation 22:14

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” 

God has prepared a city for His redeemed people. Towards that city we are ever journeying. And as we are but sojourners, as our citizenship is in Heaven — let us manifest the pilgrim spirit. While we thankfully use and enjoy the accommodations along the way, let it plainly appear that we do not regard this transient world as our home — but that our affections are set supremely on things which are above. Let it be manifest that we act from higher principles than those which govern the men of this poor world. May our companions, our pleasures, and our spirit plainly show that we are not of the earth — but that we are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem. 

As sojourners, let us patiently endure the trials of the way. If we are faithful witnesses for the Lord — we must expect the world's scorn. But like Moses, may we esteem reproach for Christ as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. And when we find the path thorny, and the journey toilsome — let us remember that it is short, and that,

"Nightly we pitch our moving tent
 A day's march nearer home!"

1 Peter 2:11

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” 

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The secret of true happiness! (Harvey Newcomb, 1843)

The secret of true happiness lies in a cordial acquiescence in the will of God. It is sweet to lie passive in His hand — and know no will but His!

The doctrine of a 'particular providence' is precious to the Christian's heart. It enables him to see the hand of God in every event. Hence the sinfulness of a repining, discontented, unsubmissive temper. It is difficult to reconcile the habitual indulgence of such a sinful disposition — with the existence of grace in the heart. The first emotion of the new-born soul is submission to the will of God.

We are prone to lose sight of the 'hand of God' in the little difficulties and perplexities which are of every-day occurrence, and to look only at 'second causes'. We often do the same, in more important matters. When we are injured or insulted by others, we are disposed to murmur and complain, and give vent to our indignation against the immediate causes of our distress; forgetting that these are only the 'instruments which God employs' for the trial of our faith, or the correcting of our sins.

In this doctrine of the secret agency of divine Providence, we have the strongest motive for a hearty and cheerful resignation to all the troubles and difficulties, trials and afflictions, which come upon us in this life — whatever may be their immediate cause. We know that they are directed by our heavenly Father, whose "tender mercies are over all His works," and who "does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men."

Whatever may be our afflictions, so long as we are out of Hell, we are monuments of His mercy.

We are assured "that all things work together for good, to those who love God." The afflictions of this life, are the faithful corrections of a kind and tender Father. "For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives." How consoling the reflection — that all our sufferings are designed to mortify and subdue our corruptions, to wean us from the world, and lead us to a more humble and constant sense of dependence upon God! How ungrateful for a child of God to repine at the dealings of such a tender and faithful Father!

God will give us all that He sees is best for us. And surely we ought to be satisfied with this; for He who sees the end from the beginning, must know much better than we — what is for our good. It is our duty to maintain a contented and cheerful spirit in every situation of life.

If God directs all our ways, and has promised to give us just what He sees we need, we surely ought to rest satisfied with what we have; for we know it is just what the Lord, in His infinite wisdom and unbounded goodness — sees fit to give us.

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The Death of Intimate Friends (George Mylne, 1871)

Proverbs 17:17

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” 

Reader, have you lost a friend--the chief companion of your mental powers, an intimate of your heart? When near, how oft you sought his company! When absent, companionship, if possible, more intimate was kept with ink and pen. But now your fellowship has ceased, and you are left, a mourner of no trifling order--you feel a blank unutterably void. To find another such were hard; to seek another such by rule--perforce to make a friend of someone or another to supply his place--say, could you do it? Your heart rejects the thought. The link that bound your hearts together, refuses to be forged on such an anvil. The train of subtle circumstances that made you friends, cannot be reproduced at will. Such friendship is a solitary thing. If a brother dies, you may have a brother still, and at the family-home you find your consolation. But a friend, a bosom friend--leaves none behind to take his place, for friendship goes not in groups of family connection; and when it dies, it leaves neither kith nor kin to represent it, with the friend who is left to mourn.

May I ask you, reader, if you are comforted, and where you seek your consolation? You feel the truth of what Solomon has said--"A friend loves at all times" (Proverbs 17:17). You say, "That pictures forth my friend, yes, to the very life. His love was constant and sincere--in times of woe, he ever wept with me; and in times of prosperity, he made my joy his own."

Again, I quote from Solomon--"A man who has friends must show himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). Does this make you think still more of your departed one--in how many ways he proved his friendship? Brothers may have stood aloof in your adversity, nor offered help which was at their command; but your friend proved better than a brother. He never forsook you; he stuck to you throughout. Did I say better than a brother? Yet not than every brother. Blessed be God, there are brothers who minister as friends and brothers, in concentration of all that is generous and kind, whether in brotherhood or friendship--all honor to their bounty and faithful love!

My friend, I question not your loss, either in kind or in degree. But have you ever sought the friend, the Heavenly friend, who loves as no one else can do? Think what a friend he is! From Heaven He came to save you, to bear your sins "in His own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). What other friend has done, what other friend could do, as much as this--to suffer for you on the Cross? Say, can brother stick to brother, or friend to friend, after a sort so friendly? Your friend, you say, loved you at all times. Does not Jesus do the same, and in an infinite degree? What moment do you not sin? What moment have you loved Him, thought of Him, as you ought? And yet what moment has He not thought of You? In your prosperity, he thought of you. He thinks of you in your present grief. He knows your sorrow, and even now would be your Comforter. One only thing He waits for--that you should seek Him as your friend.

Would you know His friendship's worth? Consider what Jesus has done to prove Himself your friend. This you require to know for a double reason--the pardon of your sins, and for present consolation. The day is coming when earth shall pass away--when earthly friendships shall have no further place--when all must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, to receive the things done in the body, whether they are good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). Then make the Judge your friend. "Kiss The Son, lest He be angry" in that great day, "and you perish from the way when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him" (Psalm 2:12). Then seek a friend In Jesus. Faithful and true you will find Him--faithful in life--faithful in death--faithful to all eternity!

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