EXTRACTS

Abraham was called alone. Abraham stood by principles, Enoch also, and he speaks of the Lord coming with His holy myriads; he could not say how many. God called Abraham alone, and blessed him and increased him. He stood by the principles, and God dealt with numbers.

God will bring in the results. In Revelation 7 the elect of God come to light and they are taken account of by God, a hundred and forty-four thousand, and after these a great crowd which no one could number. In the next chapter they must have room; the sphere belonging to them in the counsels of God is occupied by others. In regard to the hundred and forty-four thousand in chapter 7, their prayers and the prayers of the “great crowd” are answered by the trumpets, and the trumpets clear the scene; room is made for them. In chapter 14 we have those with the Lamb redeemed from among men. There you have the idea of those whom God regards as His increase. They love the Lamb. Do you love the Lamb, the Holy Sufferer? It is in those who love the Lamb that we see the increase of God.

Psalm 133 says, “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” I refer to that to suggest what the increase of God is. There are multitudes and numbers incalculable all actuated by the love of God. The whole scene in result will be actuated by the love of God. Israel was the first-fruits of His increase in the wilderness, and He loved them. That is how God reckons increase. He reckons it by love, love shed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit.

J. Taylor (Vol. 82, p.103)

There remains yet one precious thought—a proof of unspeakable grace in Jesus. He so reckons upon our affection, and this as personal to Himself, that He says to them, “If ye loved me ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father”. He gives us to be interested in His own glory, in His happiness, and, in it, to find our own.

Good and precious Saviour, we do indeed rejoice that Thou, who hast suffered so much for us, hast now fulfilled all things, and art at rest with Thy Father, whatever may be Thine active love for us. Oh that we knew and loved Thee better! But still we can say in fulness of heart.

Come quickly, Lord! Leave once more the throne of Thy rest and of Thy personal glory, to come and take us to Thyself, that all may be fulfilled for us also, and that we may be with Thee and in the light of Thy Father’s countenance and in His house. Thy grace is infinite, but Thy presence and the joy of the Father shall be the rest of our hearts, and our eternal joy.

J. N. Darby (‘Synopsis’ Vol. 3, p.371)

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