ADMIRATION OF TRUTH
ADMIRATION OF TRUTH
If to the natural mind the scenery of the earth or the movement of the heavenly bodies is gratifying and interesting, how much more must the counsels of God, set forth in order, gratify and interest the spiritual mind; but while this is the case, the mere contemplation and admiration of them does not impart faith; and if there be not faith to see everything in relation to God; that is, if Christ be not the object and resource of the heart, there will be a tendency to vain-gloriousness because of the extent of scenery presented, without the strength which faith imparts to connect all with Christ, and not with one’s self. “We speak wisdom among them that are perfect” (1 Corinthians 2: 6) - that is, full grown. If Christ dwells, domiciles in the heart by faith, every bit of the divine field of vision not only imparts true gratification and cheer to the inner man, but establishes its link with Him. Everything is seen in relation to Him and when this is the case, the more [p. 34] conversant we are with the scenery of our own sphere, which is the sphere where Christ is, the better, for thus we are built up in Him. Again, it is not by the delight I have in surveying truth that I prove my faith, but in the commonest things here. If Christ be the light of my heart and the object of faith, then in the most minute details down here the power of Christ will be manifested. The Lord Himself comes down from the glory on the mount (Matthew 17: 9); and forthwith with perfect ease and reliance on God, pays the taxes, as I may say, familiarly (verse 27).
The demands of the scene here test the reality of my link with the great Eternal One there. If I am fretful or nervous, or anxious about things here, it is evident that I have not appropriated Christ as much as I thought I had when I traversed with delight the course of His counsels in their glorious order. The trials or tribulations here test my acquisitions (see Romans 5: 1 - 5). Thus we read in James 1: 3: “The trying of your faith worketh patience”. I discover by my inability to meet an imposition or a vexation in the spirit of Christ, my lack of the grace of Christ. And hence, every one has some known trial which is a test to their spiritual state - a kind of thermometer. The proof of your rest in Christ and of your confidence in the depth and constancy of His love, is the way in which you are sensibly delivered from being a prey to either fear or pain because of things here. Many find reprieve from the corrodings of unrest in service of various kinds, because during the activity of the service they are not sensibly disquieted (I do not speak now of conscience trials, but of what is more Marah, the trials of circumstances); and thus they deceive themselves, for an unconquered trial is always an accumulating trial; but once conquered it is never again the same. A survey of truth is good and helpful for the eye of faith, but Christ must be its light; and the more the eye sees, the more will the heart and conscience be subjected to testing to establish the [p. 35] reality of our abiding in Christ, and to keep us clear of the intrusion of the flesh.