Oh! there is preciousness in Jesus, that if we saw it fully, would put our eyes out for discerning glory in external things! We should be unable to distinguish the great from the small, the bright from the dark. The remaining rays of Christ’s glory lingering on the eyeballs would extinguish the light of other things so that they would become to us a general confusion. Do you feel what I mean? that if Christ were apprehended, we would cease to know what the world calls little or great. The pursuit of an empire, or of a butterfly, would be to us alike little.
How great a thing it is to have really felt that all the world has, is what a child of God may part from, and yet be richer without. No other principle can in so many ways free the soul for the Lord. Had I known a thousand worlds instead of the portions I have, the Lord enables me to feel assured that I would give them for that cause, the glory and excellency of which He has enabled me to see. Oh! may I be as willing to crucify myself in every other way; may every unsanctified temper, and every unheavenly desire be laid as a victim at the foot of the cross, and Christ’s will alone be mine.
I do not regret any of the trials I have had. Pilgrims must expect trials on a long journey. We cannot expect either good roads or good weather all the way; but the Lord Jesus has sanctified it all, foul and fair, and made all work together for our good. Whatever purposes are in your heart, let them be high and heavenly ones for Christ and His kingdom. The world and all its glories will soon pass away, but that kingdom shall endure. Keep close to the simplicity of Christ; nothing will keep us from extravagancies but walking with Him. He always moved so seriously to the object He had in hand—the fulfillment of His Father’s will.
I have learned much of the powerlessness of man to direct his own ways when in difficulty and perplexity. I know no resource, nor do I desire any, except to throw off my trials upon God, leaving it with Him to bring light out of darkness, and awaiting His time to do it. It is not that our Father has pleasure in our being in straits and difficulties that He thus permits them to try us, but He knows that our real life is hid with Christ in Himself. Whatever makes us feel this connection with Jesus necessary to our comfort, constraining us to more close intercourse with Him, and making the hope of final deliverance and rest more precious, is clearly to the happiness of our spiritual life, however mortifying it may be to the natural man.