Labor more and more to live by faith. “When God seems to be mine enemy, ” says Luther, “and to stand with a drawn sword against me, then do I cast and throw myself into His arms.”  And what could be better than to venture upon God likewise in this case, and to say, Whether saved or not saved, whether damned or not damned, whether a hypocrite or not a hypocrite, I do cast myself upon God at a venture. It is the love and favor of Christ that you mourn after, and are discouraged for the want of. You cannot find a more ready and compendious way to get this love than, when you are in the dark, to throw yourselves into Christ’s arms at a venture. This takes and wins the heart of Christ over to you. What! will this poor soul throw himself into My arms (says Christ) when I seem to be his enemy! Well, then I will shew Myself to be his friend.

This is the proper work of this life. As for sights and visions of God, they are the work of heaven; and though God gives them sometimes, yet it argues more strength of grace to be able to live without them. Suppose two men are working for you; one that must have his pay immediately, yea before he has completed his work. The other does not want his wages till his work be all done, and if you offer him money, he says, “No, I will wait till all be done, and receive it in a lump together.” Which of these two is the abler man, and which the poorer? Will you not say, Surely, he that cannot wait is the poorer, and he that can wait for his wages is the abler man? So it is here. God has two sorts of servants: one that goes by visions and manifestations of love, and is not able to live at all by faith, but must have sights, and visions, and manifestations every day, or else he murmurs or complains. The other sort says, Oh! but these sights and visions are for heaven. If God will have it so, I am contented to stay till all my work be done. Which of these two is the poorer, which the stronger? Will not you say, Surely, he that is able to wait is stronger; and he the poorer and weaker that is not able to wait, or to live by faith? Oh! therefore labor more and more to live by faith; and when you are in desertion, say, whether saved or not saved, whether  a hypocrite or not a hypocrite, I will wait, I will wait on God, and let Him come when he pleases. If you lay yourself at Christ’s feet, He will take you into His arms.

Read the rest of this entry »