Part 49
and the majority might–"Jesus, the name divinely sweet." Another
would say–
"Sweeter sounds than music knows
Charm me in Emmanuel's name."
That is the choice name. Others, it may be, might put in a claim
for pre-eminence to the title of, "The Well-Beloved," which always
seems to me to have a great charm about it. And if George Herbert
were here, you know he would say, "How sweetly does 'My
Master' sound!" "My Master!" That was the name he loved to call
his Lord. Well, Jacob's name for Jesus was, "Shiloh," and it is so
long ago since he called Him Shiloh that I do not wonder that we
have almost forgotten the meaning of it.
He knew it had a wealth of meaning as it came from his lips and
the meaning is still there. But the well is deep and those that have
studied the learned languages have found this to be a word of such
rare and singular occurrence that it is difficult, with any positive
certainty, to define it. Not that they cannot find a meaning, but that
it is possible to find so many meanings of it! Not that it is not rich
enough, but that there is an embarrassment of riches! It may be
interpreted in so many different ways. I will give you, one by one,
some of the meanings that have been proposed. There is something
to be said for each one. Though I shall not trouble you with the
names of the learned authors who stand up for each particular
translation, as that would be useless, I will take care to put last the
one which I conceive to be the best, has the most authority, and will
probably commend itself to you as the most acceptable.
Some maintain that the word," Shiloh," signifies "sent." Like that
word you have in the New Testament, "He said to him, go to the
pool of Siloam, which is, by interpretation, Sent." You observe the
likeness between the words Siloam and Shiloh. They think that the
words have the same meaning, in which case Shiloh, here, would
mean the same as Messiah–the Sent One–and would indicate that
Jesus Christ was the Messenger, the Sent One of God, and came to
us, not at His own instance, and at His own will, but commissioned
by the Most High–authorized and anointed to that end.
Here let us stop a minute. We rejoice to know that whatever this
title means, it is quite certain that Jesus Christ was sent. It is a very
precious thing to know that we have a Savior, but often it has
cheered my heart to think that this dear Savior who came to save
me did not come as an amateur, unauthorized from the courts of
Heaven, but He came with the credentials of the Eternal Father, so
that, whatever He has done, we may be sure He has done it in the
name of God.
Jehovah will never repudiate that which Jesus has accomplished!
God has set Him forth to be a Propitiation. He is a Mediator of
God's own sending. He is our Substitute, but He is a Substitute of
God's own finding. "I have laid help upon One that is mighty." So
says the Oracle and who shall dispute it? "The Lord has laid upon
Him the iniquity of us all." It is the Lord that has done it! An
ambassador who had no credentials from the court he represented
would be but a dubious blessing to the people. But when as a
plenipotentiary, with full authority from his sovereign, he comes
with terms of peace, he might well be received without hesitation
or opposition.
Sinner, have you received the Savior, Jesus? You profess to
acknowledge the God who sent Him, but know that in turning from
the Emissary you are spurning the Sovereign! If you deny Jesus,
you defy God Himself–yes, you make God a liar because you have
not believed His testimony concerning His Son. Beloved, do you
welcome Jesus Christ as being sent to you personally? When you
have labored under a sense of sin, burdened to the very ground with
trouble of conscience, was Jesus ever sent to you to say, "Look
unto Me and be you saved, all you ends of the earth"? Was He ever
sent to lead you to look? Did you look unto Him and were you
lightened?
Oh, then, you will forever bless His name, the name of the Most
High, who sent such an One that He might lift you up out of your
miseries, bring the bandaged ones out of the dungeon and set the
captives free! Dwell, sweetly dwell, upon this meaning of the word
Shiloh. If it means "sent," there is great sweetness in it. Others
have referred it to a word, the root of which signifies the Son. Upon
such a hypothesis the name would be strictly appropriate to our
Lord. He is the "Son of God." He is the "Son of Man." He was the
"Son of Judah." He was the "Son of David." "Unto us a Child is
born, unto us a Son is given." Let us linger for a while upon
this–"Until Shiloh"–"Until the Son comes."
Be the annotation right or wrong, Jesus is the Son of God! He that
has come to save us is Divine. No angel could bear the stupendous
burden of redemption. Sooner might angels create than redeem, but
they can do neither the one nor the other! They can only sing the
high praises of Him who is able to do both! Who but God Himself
could snatch a sinner from Hell? God has done it! He that died
upon the Cross was none other than He that made the world! Trust
the Divine Savior, O sinner! If you have had any doubts about the
sufficiency of Jesus Christ to save, cast them all aside, for, if He is
the Son of the Highest, and, "God over all, blessed forever," they
that rest in Him shall never be confounded.
The Son of God is He, but He is also the Son of Man, and this is
an equal joy to us. Jesus Christ is "bone of our bone, and flesh of
our flesh," a man like ourselves. Though He is now in Heaven,
think not that He is transformed into a spirit there, or that He has
discarded our Nature, or disowned our flesh and blood. Oh, no!
After He was risen from the dead He appeared to His disciples and
ate with them–He partook of a fish and of honeycomb to show that
He was not spirit, but flesh. He said, "Handle Me, and see, a spirit
has not flesh and bone: as you see I have." In that very body of His
He has gone up into His Glory! And today, at the right hand of
God–there He sits–a man clothed in a body like our own!
Oh, Beloved! Let not terror frighten us, or misgivings keep us
back from a High Priest that can be touched with a feeling of our
infirmities, a dear Savior who is not ashamed to call us Brethren!
"This man receives sinners." Oh, Sinners! may you be willing to be
received by Him! Let us bless Him as the Son–the Son of God, the
Son of Man. A third meaning has been given to the word, "Shiloh,"
which rather paraphrases, than translates it. The passage, according
to certain critics, would run something like this–"Until He comes to
whom it belongs, to whom it is, for whom it is reserved." Or, as
Ezekiel puts it, "Overturn, until He shall come whose right it is,
and you will give it Him."
It may mean, then, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah until
He shall come whose that scepter is." This meaning is supported by
many learned authorities and has its intrinsic value. The scepter
belongs to Christ. All scepters belong to Him. He will come, by-
and-by, and verify His title to them. Have you not seen the picture
that represents Nelson on board a French man-of-war receiving the
swords of the various captains he has conquered–while there stands
an old sailor, at his side, putting all these swords underneath his
arm as they are brought up? I have often pictured to myself our
great Commander, the only King by Divine right, coming back to
this, our earth, and gathering up the scepters of the kings in sheaves
and putting them on one side, and collecting their crowns–for He
alone shall reign King of kings and Lord of lords!
When the last and greatest of all monarchs shall come a second
time, "without a sin-offering unto salvation"–oh, the glory of His
triumph! He has a right to reign! If ever there was a king by nature,
and by birth, it is the Son of David! If ever there was one who
would be elected to the monarchy by the suffrages of all His
subjects, it is Jesus. How often do we sing–
"Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all"?
And we cannot repeat it too often! Our hearts and lips ought to be
always saying, "Crown Him, crown Him; crowns become the
victory brow." His is the right to reign! Dear Souls, acknowledge
that right. If you have never acknowledged it, acknowledge it now.
"Kiss the Son, lest He is angry and you perish from the way, while
His wrath is kindled but a little."
You that love Him and have made Him your King, oh, kiss His
feet again! Let Him have your highest homage, your purest love,
your perpetual service! Was never such a King as You are, O Jesus!
"The chief among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely." Let
Him be crowned with majesty forever and ever! To Him the royalty
belongs, for Him it is reserved. The interpretation, however, which
has the most support, and which I think has the fairest claim to be
accorded correct, is that which derives the word, "Shiloh," from the
same root as the word, "Salem." This makes it signify peace. "Until
the Peace, or the Peace-Bearer, or the Peace-Giver," or, if you like
it better, "the Rest, or the Rest-Maker–shall come." Select the word
you prefer–it will sufficiently represent the sense.
"Until the Peace-Bringer comes, until the Rest-Maker comes."
His advent bounds the Patriarch's expectation and his desire. Oh,
Beloved, what a vein of soul-charming reflection this opens! Do
you know what rest means? Such "peace, peace," such perfect
peace as he has whose soul is stayed because he trusts, as the
Prophet Isaiah has it. Have you ever said to yourself, "There is
nothing I desire–nothing that I wish for. I am satisfied–perfectly
content. I am without a fear, without a dread"? "No," you say, "I
never reached that status!" You may be worth millions of money
without ever coming to that pass. All the gold in the world will
never fill a man's heart and you may have broad acres across which
a swift horse could hardly rush in a day, but you will not have
enough.
All the land in the world cannot fill a heart. You may have all the
beauty, rank, honor and fame that ever can come to a human being,
and yet say, "Ah, me! I am still wretched." But full many who have
found Jesus have been able to say, "It is enough–I need no more."
Believing in Jesus and learning to yield up everything to His will.
Living to His Glory and loving Him supremely, we enjoy peace
with God–a "peace that passes all understanding," which–"keeps
our heart and mind" by Jesus Christ. Are we adopted into the
family of God?–we are sure that He never cast a child out of the
family that was once received into it! Are we made members of the
body of Christ? There is no fear of dismemberment–that which is
perfected and compacted together cannot be mangled or torn
asunder. Our good hope through Grace is not precarious. Well may
we sing with the seraphic Toplady–
"Yes, I to the end shall endure,
As sure as the earnest is given.
More happy, but not more secure
Are the glorified spirits in Heaven."
Here is rest!
Man may well take his rest when he has to, when it is all done for
him. And that is their gospel. The world's way of salvation is "Do,"
God's way of salvation is, "It is all done for you; accept and
believe." The world, that says, "Do," never does anything! While
the Gospel which tells us, "It is all done," imparts such joy and
peace within that we spring to our feet ready and willing to do and
dare anything for Him who gave Himself up for us! While active
and passive obedience spring out of the Doctrines of Grace,
nothing but pride and self-righteousness can come out of the
religion which prates of merit and prescribes duties to be done in
order that you may be saved!
All that ever will be saved were saved on Calvary's bloody tree.
Jesus said, "It is finished." Here His humiliation reached its climax.
He humbled Himself even unto death. It was finished. Those for
whom He died were, then and there, redeemed. The ransom price
paid for them exempted them from the penalty of their
transgressions, exonerated them from be called upon to suffer for
themselves. He had offered a righteousness to God on their behalf
and they were accepted because of that righteousness.
Do you say, "I wish I were one of those people"? Do you believe
in Jesus? Then you are one of them! Do you trust Jesus? Then you
are saved! The moment a sinner believes and trusts in His crucified
Lord, he is pardoned at once–he receives salvation in full through
Christ's blood. Do but rest your soul on Jesus and it is done, and
peace will enter your soul–oh, such a deep and blessed peace–the
like of which is not to be found out of Heaven! Jesus is the great
PeaceGiver and Peacemaker–He is our Peace! God grant us to
know Him and to understand this aspect of His mediatorial
Character. Believe me, my Hearers, I feel in my soul, as I look
round upon you, the utmost longing for you all. Oh, that you did
know my Lord and the peace He gives!
It is years ago–23 years or more–since I went to Him. I could not
believe it possible that He would receive me. I felt myself too great
a sinner. How should there be mercy for me? But I heard a sermon
from the text, "Look unto Me and be you saved all you ends of the
earth!" I never understood it before, but when I came to understand
that all I had to do was to look, oh, what a revelation it was to me!
No feelings, no works, no doings, no purchase money demanded as
a qualification! Christ on the Cross was evidently set forth
crucified before my eyes! I did but look, and I was saved! Saved
the moment I looked. When I turned to the Scriptures I found that
was just what the Scriptures said, "He that believes in Him is not
condemned." I did believe it. I did trust. I did simply rest there.
Neither shall I ever forget the rush of joyous feeling that went
through my spirit! This was the cessation of long years of
melancholy bordering on despair. This was the coming out into a
clear light, which I thank God I have never lost, for, with all the
troubles of this material life, I would not change places with any
man that breathes! No, nor with the angels before God's Throne!
The station and the privilege of angels will not bear comparison
with the eternal dignities reserved for the saints. For an angel no
redeemer ever died, and no angel will be able to sing, "Worthy is
He that has washed me in His blood!" Oh, to be superlatively
indebted to the infinite love of Jesus! To be a cleansed sinner and to
be put among the children is so enchanting that it is enough to
make one say, "Ah, not even an angel would I envy, nor with one
of those celestial ministers would I change my happy lot."
I wish you could all sympathize in this. Would that you all had
fellowship with us in this Grace wherein we stand! Many of you
have, thank God. Some of you have not. What do you poor people
do without a Savior? I cannot understand why you, who have so
little in this life, do not look out for the promise of a better
inheritance! And what do you poor rich people do without a
Savior? I pity you most of all, for your lives are generally passed in
a very senseless and insipid fashion. With nothing but a round of
visits to pay and a few elegant trifles to attend to, like butterflies,
you flit from flower to flower! A poor man's time is taken up with
hard labor–but you often ask yourselves, and consult one another
how best you can spend the hours and kill the time that hangs
heavily on your hands.
If you cannot think upon Christ. If you cannot fall back upon the
Covenant of Grace. If you cannot look up to the eternal God and
say, "My Father, You are mine, and with You shall I dwell forever,"
I pity you, whether you are rich or poor! God grant you to have and
to enjoy the fullness of the treasure that is in Jesus Christ! Then
you can say–
"I would not change my blest estate
With all that earth calls good or great.
And while my faith can keep her hold,
I envy not the sinner's gold."
Trusting, then, dear Friends, that your faith has identified the
Shiloh of Jacob's vision, let us occupy the few minutes that remain
us in considering the TESTIMONY which the Patriarch here bears.
"Unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." "UNTO HIM," as
the Hebrew runs, "shall the gathering of the peoples be." So wide
the circumference thatconverges in this glorious center! It
comprehends all the peoples of the Gentiles as well as Jews. Of
course it includes the favored nation, but it also takes in the isles
afar off–yes, all of us, my Brothers and Sisters! "Unto Him shall
the gathering of the peoples be." What joy this announcement
should give us! Do you realize that around Jesus Christ, around His
Cross, which is the great uplifted standard, the people shall gather?
Just open your eyes and look! If you can see and your eyes have
been touched with eye salve, you may perceive the power of
attraction by which this magnificent issue is already in progress!
Over yonder in America a poor sinner is seeking eternal life! If he
is seeking aright, he is being gathered to Christ. Or, look at home in
your own country. Perhaps, tonight, in many thousands of places
that are open for Divine worship, the like magnetic influence is at
work! I only wish I could hope that there was someone in every
assembly that was looking for eternal life! If it is so, they are all
looking to Jesus Christ! Cast your eyes, now, to India, or France, or
Prussia, or over to Australia–in whatever direction you will–every
soul that is in earnest in seeking life is seeking it through Jesus
Christ! I see them coming! He is the Center and they are all
drawing near to Him. Every soul that is saved is drawn to Jesus–
none are saved without Him.
The people gather to Him as their only hope, and all else has
failed. They do not fly to Him until they have tried every other
hope. Nobody ever comes to Christ until He cannot go anywhere
else. The sinner comes to Him by stress of weather–driven in,
sometimes, as ships are into harbors of refuge–because they cannot
keep pace with it outside the bar. It is when the sinner is in
difficulties that he is driven to Jesus Christ–and every soul that is
really looking for eternal life in the right place is looking to Jesus
and gathering to Jesus! And I see little silver threads going out
from Christ, the Center, from all over the world, drawing men to
Himself. I hope there is one of these threads drawing you! Oh,
yield to the gentle pressure! Follow it–for it is your only hope!
Look again and you will see that all over the world those that are
saved are gathering to Jesus, rallying round Him and accepting
Him as their Leader, Instructor and King! The Jews said, "We have
no king but Caesar." The Christians say, "We have no king but
Jesus." I mean no spiritual Lord–no Teacher, no Leader except
Jesus Christ, Himself. "Unto Him shall the gathering of the people
be." His people out of all nations shall come and take His easy
yoke and wear it–and find rest unto their souls! And now, at this
moment, my eyes can see myriads all over the world who are
coming nearer and nearer to Jesus, with instant eager cry, saying,
"Draw us, Lord, draw us nearer to Yourself! Make us more like
Yourself! Help us to live more to Your Glory."
Is there one of those golden threads drawing you? Then run, if
you are drawn, and seek to love your Lord and serve Him better
than ever you have done, for "unto Him shall the gathering of the
people be." Be assured of this–Christ is the only Center of true
unity to His people. There is a society, I believe, for the promotion
of the unity of Christendom. I am afraid it does not do much good,
or cement much fellowship. The unity of Christendom! That will
all depend upon what is the keystone of the arch you are going to
build. If you expect there will be a unity of the Greek Church, the
Latin Church and the Anglican Church, I can only say that were all
three united, the union of Christians would be as far off as ever!
In the midst of that professed Christendom, but distinct from it,
there is an inner Christendom, a secret, sacred brotherhood of real
Christians that knows little about these great secular churches. The
true Christendom consists of all that worship God in spirit, not
having confidence in the flesh. The true Church consists of all that
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and are quickened by the Holy
Spirit! The only unity that society could ever get would be a
confederation ecclesiastical, to be dominated over by some lordly
priest or other. That would certainly be no desirable thing! Christ is
the Center of the Church and true unity will be found only in Him.
"Unto Him shall the gathering of the people be."
Were I to give you a book to read about Jesus Christ, full of love
to Him, and when you had read it, if I were to ask you who wrote
it, I imagine you would not guess rightly what denomination the
man belonged to. Perhaps you will say, "Well, there is a hint in it of
Roman Catholicism now and then. But really, it is so good a book I
cannot think a Roman Catholic could have written it." "Or," you
will say, "it has a little of the Plymouth Brother here and there, and
that is not a sweet flavor. But still, I hardly think they could have
written it." By-and-by you will say, "I do not know at all. I am at a
loss." Often, after reading books which have a savor of Christ in
them, I have felt a love to the author, though I may have found out,
perhaps, that he was an ecclesiastical opponent of mine.
I do not care! I love him if he loves my Master! Be he who he
may or from where he comes–if he loves Jesus Christ, I love him!
When we are down on our knees praying for the kingdom of Christ,
or standing up to sing Messiah's praise, it is wonderful how like we
are to each other! Mr. Wesley did not like Toplady, and Mr. Toplady
did not like Wesley–he called him, "an old fox," and said that he
would pluck him, and have him "tarred and feathered." But take up
any hymn book you like and you will find, side by side, Charles
Wesley's, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," and Top lady's, "Rock of
Ages, Cleft for Me"! And which is the better hymn of the two? I
am sure I do not know, they are so much alike! So were these men,
after all, two blessed souls, for all their mistakes and all their
misunderstandings of one another. When you get to the Cross you
get together. "Unto Him shall the gathering of the people be."
When you come totalk of Him and what He did–His life and death,
His atoning Sacrifice, His glorious conquest of all our foes–then
are you agreed! Oh, Brethren, we must, therefore, strive vigorously,
and try incessantly to lift Christ up! We want to see, during this
year, a great gathering of souls. We shall see it if we lift Christ up!
Here is a lot of steel filings among a heap of ashes. How can I
separate them? There are a great many ways of trying to do it.
Bring a magnet in–put a magnet into the heap–see how it draws the
steel filings away.
In this congregation there is a great number of individuals, and
who among them are God's elect I do not, nor can I know. But let
me preach Jesus Christ–and Jesus Christ will draw His own! "My
sheep hear My voice; I know them and they follow Me; and I give
unto them eternal life." Preach Christ! That is the magnet! He will
draw His own to Himself. And, dear Friends, if we want to see
more conversions this year than all past years there must be more
preaching, more constant preaching of Christ! Christ must be in
every sermon and He must be top and bottom, too, of all the
theology that is preached–"Jesus Christ and Him crucified"–and
nothing else! I am bound to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified,
for I do not know anything else to preach!
My simplicity is my safeguard. I have often felt to be of Paul's
mind–"I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ
and Him crucified." Some are wise to interpret prophecies. I am
not. It is enough for me to know about the Cross! Some are able to
split a hair–they can divide a hair between the north and the north-
west side. I am no logician. If, knowing the terrors of the Lord, I
can persuade men to fly to Christ and escape from the wrath to
come, I shall fulfill my mission to my heart's delight!
Consider this, all of you Brothers in Christ called to preach the
Gospel! Let each of us go back to the first principles of the Gospel
and bring out, again and again, the old, old story of sinners lost and
a Savior come to redeem–of guilt sinking man to Hell like a
millstone–and the Savior taking all that guilt away! If you preach
the blood, the precious blood of Jesus, you set forth the great soul-
saving Gospel and you do honor to Him unto whom "shall the
gathering of the people be." And, Brothers, by the climax of
destiny that is opened up, let the conduct of our daily life be
disciplined. Let us aim to gather more and more to Jesus ourselves.
We cannot get too near to Him. Be it ours to strive to get closer
than ever we have been! Even if a cross should be necessary to
raise us, let us not be afraid of the cross, so long as it brings us
nearer to Jesus!
You are happiest, healthiest, and holiest when you are nearest to
Christ. To Him shall the continual "gathering of the people be."
And oh, let us pray, also, that this gathering may go on both among
saints and sinners–that saints may gather nearer to Jesus–and that
sinners may gather savingly to Him. The text says, "To Him shall
the gathering of the people be." It is a faithful saying and we
believe it. Not death nor Hell can keep back the Lord's elect from
coming to Christ. Come they must and shall, for the Divine decree
shall be accomplished, and each one for whom Jesus specially shed
His blood shall be saved infallibly, saved beyond all risk–but it is
ours to pray for it. Oh, Lord Jesus, it is said, "Unto You shall the
gathering of the people be." Make it so! The gathering shall be
worked by Yourself!
"He shall gather the lambs in His arms." It is His to gather the
strayed sheep. He gathers together the outcasts. Surely He is the
great Gatherer! Well may they be gathered to Him when He,
Himself, gathers them! Ask Him to gather your children. Ask Him
to gather your dear beloved ones under your roof, your servants,
your neighbors. Ask Him to gather them. Ask Him to gather this
great city! Oh, what a city it has grown to be! Would God that
Jesus had it! It would be a glorious diamond in the state jewels of
Christ if He could call London His own! The biggest of cities–
would God it were the holiest! Oh, that it were wholly Christ's
from one end to the other!
They used to say, in Cromwell's day, that if you walked down
Cheapside at a certain hour, you would have heard the voices of
family prayer and praise at every house on the whole street, both
morning and evening. I know it is not so in any street in London
now. We have gone back since the grand old Puritan times. But we
will repair to the Throne, again, by God's good Grace, and yet shall
there be salt in this city, for the city shall be seasoned through and
through with the power of the Gospel of Jesus! Only to your knees!
To your knees! To your knees if you would have it so. You would
get this fulfilled among your fellow citizens if you would get it first
vouchsafed to you as a blessing of your God. Tell Him He has said,
"Unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." Hold Him to His
word! Plead with Him that He cannot break it and we shall live to
see the day, yet. "To Him shall the gathering of the people be."
Oh, my dear Hearers! as I draw these reflections to a close, one
thought passes over my mind to which I must give expression. You
will, all of you, either be gathered to Christ to be saved, or else you
will have to be gathered, by-and-by, for another purpose. There
shall ring out upon the midnight air a trumpet call that shall be loud
enough to be heard east and west–south and north! It shall startle
all the sleepers, and more than that, it shall arouse the dead! At its
sound the sepulcher shall vomit forth its prey and they that are
rocked in slumber beneath the waves of the ocean shall hear that
trumpet call and rise–the whole mass of Adam's family–the
myriads of all our race! Oh, what an assembly that will be!
The motley throng within these walls is but as a grain of sand
compared with the seashore, to the multitudes that will then be
congregated! Gather! Gather! You that have been dead these 6,000
years. Gather! Gather! You that were drowned in Noah's flood–
gather! Gather! All you hosts of Egypt and you myriads of
Chaldea, and of Babylon, of Persia and of Greece. Gather! You
legions of Rome! You myriads of the Middle Ages! You countless
millions of China and of swarthy India! And you of the world
across the sea! Gather! Gather! Men of every skin and every
tongue!
All must gather–and there in the midst of you all shall be the
cloud sailing through the air–and on it the Great White Throne of
Him whose spotless justice is mirrored in it! There you will stand–
and if you have not looked at Christ on the Cross–you will have to
look at the Christ upon the Throne! And if you have never trusted
Him–you will then have to tremble at Him. Listen how the trumpet
sounds! How that clarion rings out again and again and again! And
lo, all are there!
And now He comes, whose pomp is beyond conception, and the
books are opened. As they are opened, page after page, He reads
the story of each man's life. And now He has come to yours. And
He reads the page that chronicles this fleeting hour. On such a
night, gathered with this great congregation, you were bid to
believe in Jesus and bow down before the great Peace Giver. You
refused and sealed your doom forever!
Shall it be so? Oh! shall it be so? God grant it may not be so! May
there be another book opened, which is the Book of Life, and in
that book may your name stand recorded as one who humbly
trusted in the finished work of Jesus and therefore were accepted in
the Beloved and found mercy on that day! The Lord grant it to
every one of you. I may not ever again speak to some of you as
long as I live. This, then, I say to you while your ears are open and
attentive to my voice–Lay hold on eternal life! Put your trust in
Jesus!
And if, Beloved, any of you to whom I am so familiar, to whom I
speak so often–if you should depart from the world while I am
absent, or if I should never return but find a grave in some distant
land–I charge you, meet me on the other side of Jordan! I charge
you, meet me at my Master's right hand! I charge you, cling to the
atoning Sacrifice by faith and we will meet together where He sits
and reigns–our best Beloved–the Judah, the Jesus, whom all His
Brethren shall praise–the Shiloh, the Prince of Peace–for whose
glorious Second Advent all His saints look, and to whom they shall
be gathered in fullness of joy forever and forever. Amen and Amen!
Ge 49:22; De 33:13 • By the Fountain
ERMON 2113
By The Fountain
"Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well;
whose branches run over the wall."
Genesis 49:22
DEAR friends, we long to have many converts. We count that
Church happy to which God adds daily of such as are being saved.
But we are very much concerned about the quality of our converts.
We do not wish to make up a Church with a number of shallow
professors, whose religion lies upon the surface, and is of a
doubtful character. We are very anxious that we should have those
in our fellowship who are thoroughly converted, richly experienced
and fully instructed in the deep things of God.
We would have as our associates people who are established by
principle rather than moved by passion. We would earnestly pray to
have a company of Believers added to the Church who shall be like
Joseph in character–fruitful trees growing by the well, whose
branches ran over the wall. Jacob describes Joseph as a fruitful
offshoot and he explains his fruitfulness by his position–he is
fruitful "by a well." When a vine grows near a well which is always
full, and when it is able to send its roots down to drink of the
unfailing spring, it may very well be fruitful and send forth many
branches.
The point is, to get by the well. Or, to use our second text, to tap
"the deep that couches beneath." If we can reach the secret
fountains and say to God, with the Psalmist, "All my fresh springs
are in You," then shall we find nourishment for our branches and
our fruit and leaf will never fail. "Dwell deep" is a prophetic word
of much value to Christians. To live upon land-drainage and casual
rains may suffice for ordinary plants. But the trees of the Lord
which bring forth much fruit need to penetrate below the topsoil
and reach the secret fountains of Divine Grace.
Upon that subject I am going to talk this morning. Our desire is
that we may each one of us abide in Christ Jesus and be in constant
fellowship with the Father through the Holy Spirit, so that we may,
in very truth, be rooted by the well and may drink from "the deep
that lies under." We would be grounded and settled by living and
lasting union and communion with the Eternal God. We would
know the secret of the hidden life and be filled with its fundamental
principles, its constraining influences, its spiritual powers. We
would drink in such supplies, by secret contact with God, that our
outward life would bear ample testimony to our private communion
with Heaven.
May the Holy Spirit graciously aid us in our meditations while we
first notice that this figure describes Joseph's character–he was all
that Jacob styled him. Secondly, that this in itself was a great
blessing, for it was used as such by Moses in after years. And
thirdly, that it brings with it many other choice favors.
First, THIS DESCRIBES JOSEPH'S CHARACTER. He
flourished near to God. He was an offshoot of the old tree and he
was rooted deep by a well which always watered him. From his
childhood until he died, the main point in Joseph's character was
that he was in clear and constant fellowship with God–and
therefore God blessed him greatly. He lived to God and was God's
servant. He lived with God and was God's child. He looked up to
Heaven for daily teaching and comfort. And God was with him so
as not only to bless him but to bless others for his sake–as, for
instance, the house of Potiphar, first–and afterwards Pharaoh, and
all the land of Egypt, and all the famishing nations.
In this respect his branches ran over the wall in scattering
blessings far and wide–and all this was the result of living in
constant communion with God. My dear Hearer, you profess to be
a Christian, but have you really had dealings with God? I know you
have been baptized and you come to the communion table. But
have you pressed beyond the signs to the Lord Himself? Is there a
root in your religion, and has that root struck deep into spiritual
Truth? And have you received the life and power which come from
the spiritual Fountain? Can you say with David, "My soul, wait you
only upon God. For my expectation is from Him"?
The first blessing in the Book of Psalms is that the godly man
should be, "like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings
forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither. And
whatever he does shall prosper." The great matter is being rooted
by the Well–the drawing of supplies from the eternal storehouse of
Christ Jesus the Lord–in whom it pleased the Father that all
fullness should dwell. How can we fail to be fruitful if we draw our
life and all its vigor from the Lord Jesus?
Because Joseph lived near to God, he received and retained
gracious principles. There is a great difference between religious
principle and religious passion. Many persons are religious by
starts and fits–according to their company, their feelings, or their
whims. According to the influences under which they come, certain
people become good, bad, or indifferent. But when a man lives in
the Presence of the Lord, he has fixed principles which rule his
heart and guide his life. He fears God, not because others fear Him,
but because God is "to be had in reverence of all them that are
about Him."
He believes the revealed Truths of God, not because others
believe them, but because he is sure that the Lord has spoken them,
and therefore he knows them to be true. If anybody denies the faith,
he stands up to it, for it is precious to his heart. His moral conduct
and his spiritual life are upright, true, sincere and reverent–not
because of the prejudices of education, or the force of example–but
because the Lord has placed within him a new heart and a right
spirit. He does not resort to another man's religious cistern. For
there is within him "a well of water springing up into everlasting
life."
He discerns between the Truth of God and error. For he has
learned the Gospel for himself by the teaching of the Holy Spirit.
He follows after holiness because he walks with the God of
Holiness and the Law of the Lord is written upon the tablets of his
heart. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus he receives by the witness of
the Spirit. It is true to him, whether others receive it or reject it–he
could part with anything and everything sooner than quit his hold
upon the everlasting Truth of God. This it is to be a tree by a well,
to have a religion based upon principles, to live by vital contact
with the Lord.
Many nowadays belong to this denomination or to that by pure
accident of birth or position. They have never weighed their
opinions in the balances of Scripture. Indeed, many have no idea
what their principles are. We have Protestants nowadays who never
protest against anything and Nonconformists who conform to
everything which is in fashion. All this is bad. Ignorance in
reference to Divine Truth is a very fruitful evil. We need an
instructed people, if we are to have a fruitful people. Unless we get
hold upon the Truth of God by the right hand of clear apprehension
and hold it as our heart's treasure, we shall neither know the joy of
it in days of calm, nor be held by it in nights of storm. From where
came martyrs in times of persecution, but from those who were in
living union with God? From whereshall come bold confessors in
these apostatizing days, if not from among persons of like
character? Unless we get men and women into the Church who,
like Joseph, take root in the deep Truth of God's Word, we shall
never see the Church in full health and glory.
Joseph showed his character throughout the whole of his life. As a
child, his father loved him, as our translators say, "because he was
the son of his old age." It would be better to understand the words
as meaning, because he was a son of old age. He was old and wise
in his ways. He was a youth of great thoughtfulness and his
thoughts were much with God. You may judge your waking
thoughts by those which come to you in your dreams.
Joseph had dreams at night from God, because in the day he
thought of God. No doubt they were supernatural and prophetic
dreams. But I now speak after the manner of men–a dream is often
the reflection of the wakeful thought. Joseph, as a youth, dwelt
very near to God, and therefore he was forced to enter his protest
against the evil conduct of his brothers. "Joseph brought unto his
father their evil report." Soon he became a marked young man–his
brothers felt he was not one of themselves and they hated him–
called him a dreamer–and took the first occasion to get rid of him.
Jacob's household was in a very sad condition–even the grossest
vice was found among his sons. And young Joseph was a speckled
bird among them. By their malice he was sold for a slave into
Egypt. But no sooner is he there, than we read, "And the Lord was
with Joseph." Potiphar bought him but the Lord made all that he
did to prosper. It is difficult for a slave to become the steward of a
great man. But Joseph did so. His master took no account of
anything–he left it all absolutely in Joseph's hands and God blessed
the house for Joseph's sake.
And then there came in his way that great temptation. And you
remember his gracious answer, "How can I do this great
wickedness and sin against God?" God was evidently with him,
keeping him in the way of innocence–he could not grieve his God,
for his God was his delight. By false accusation he was cast into
prison. But we read that "the Lord was with Joseph and showed
him mercy and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the
prison." Soon he became the under-jailer and was helpful to the
prisoners. His branches were always running over the wall in the
form of usefulness to others.
The prison was brightened by his presence. And as soon as he
was prepared for the position, a straight path was opened for him
from the prison to the court of Pharaoh. In the hour of his elevation
he did not forget God. When about to interpret the royal dreams, he
said, "God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." He is a young
man greatly gifted, and he may miss preferment if he mentions his
religion–but this does not daunt him–again and again he says, "God
has showed Pharaoh what He is about to do." On the throne his
God is still with him and guides him in all things and he exclaims,
"God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."
When he sees his aged father, their talk is concerning the Lord
God. When he comes to die, he says to his Brethren, "I die but God
will be with you." He gave commandment concerning his bones,
that he should not be buried in Egypt, for he was no Egyptian,
though he had been lord of the land. He would be carried away to
the land of promise in the day when Israel should quit the
stranger's land. Always the Lord his God is the star of Joseph. This
is his character–he is in the fear of God all day long.
He was a fruitful bough by a well and that well was his God. This
abiding near to God made Joseph independent of externals. His
resources were within, and therefore he was not to be injured by
things without. His springs were deep, and therefore not affected by
circumstances.
He was not dependent upon family surroundings. At home, the
society of his father would nourish his early piety but he was just as
gracious in the house of Potiphar. The degrading idolatries of Egypt
did not make him unfaithful to the unseen God. Some of you young
people not only owe your religious impressions to your parents, but
I fear that if you were removed from them you would have no
religion of your own. Are my fears correct? It is an anxious time
when a lad leaves his home to be apprenticed, or to take his first
place. If he has nothing but borrowed religion, he will soon yield to
ill company. But if he lives in God, for himself, he will stand.
If he has lived upon his parents as a mistletoe lives on the oak, it
will be bad for him. But if he has root in himself and has lived
upon God, all will be well. Hereditary religion is hopeful when it is
also personal religion, but not else. If you are not living in God on
your own account, your religion may as well fail you at once. For it
will ultimately do so.
Many professing Christians are, I fear, very much dependent upon
revival excitement and the currents of godly society, which are
often sufficiently strong to bear with them those who have no
living principle. If religion seems to prosper, if many press into the
congregation, if large numbers throng the inquiry room, these
people are very happy and very earnest. But after the summer-tide
is over, where are they? This is the great burden which every
earnest Evangelist has to bear–so many seem born for God in the
heat of a revival who, nevertheless, die away when the warmth of
zeal is gone.
Oh, that you, my Brethren, may be planted by a well, so that you
may never be dried up by drought! Bless God for revivals and
never speak against them. But do not live upon them, nor cause
your spiritual health to depend upon them. Those who grow upon
hotbeds will not be far from dung. There are evil tendencies
connected with fanaticism which are to be dreaded. Get down to
the well and let your roots drink up the fresh nourishment, which is
essential to the sap of your life and to the fruit of your usefulness.
Touching the cool spring, you will know where you are when
others are so carried away as not to know what they hear or do.
Say to yourselves, each one of you, "I want Christ in my own
heart. I want the love of God shed abroad in my own soul. I want
not only to talk about heavenly things, but to know and experience
them. I desire to be possessed by the Spirit of Truth and to know
His power." Be not content to live by the casual shower, or by the
artificial watering-pot of special means, or by the mechanical
irrigation of routine. But send down the roots of your being into the
deep things of God till you tap the great deep of Divine all-
sufficiency.
Beloved Friend, I pray you will seek after a spiritual life which is
never dependent on outward ordinances. It is a great comfort to be
able to hear the Word faithfully preached. And if you hear it, but do
not hear it, you miss a great blessing and incur grievous loss. But
suppose you are placed where there is no preaching of the Word?
Then it will be a happy circumstance if your godliness can survive
such a deprivation.
If you were away on some cattle ranch in South America, far
from all religious worship–it would be a grand thing to be able to
go to your Bible and to your knees and draw near to God alone–and
so grow strong enough to send your branches over the wall, by
blessing others and beginning to teach or preach for Christ. This is
the true way in which vigorous life shows itself. I know that the
Lord's Supper is a sacred ordinance and I would have you come to
the Lord's Table as often as you can, for He has said, "This do in
remembrance of Me."
But if it shall come to pass that you are where no Christian person
is near with whom you could break bread–may you have Divine
Grace to feed on Jesus Himself! When the tokens of His flesh and
blood are denied you, may you be driven to Jesus Himself!
Spiritual life loves the outward ordinances, but if it is deprived of
them, it survives their absence. For in very deed, heavenly life
draws its food from Heaven. Get to God. Oh, get to God through
Jesus Christ! An hour's communion with Him means renewed life.
Surely, the cluster of Eshcol must have grown near waters which
were ever running. If you would glorify God, live upon God.
I believe–and I am very sorry to have to say it–that a great many
nominal Christians live very much upon the minister. I have seen it
to be so beyond all question. I have noticed a Church flourish and
increase while a certain good man has lived and preached. But
when that servant of God has departed, then they have grown cold
and have been thinned out and sadly scattered. The weaker sort
were drawn and held together by the good man's preaching. And as
they cannot hear him, they will hear no one else, and their seats are
empty. May this calamity never happen to this congregation. And
yet I fear it would be so with many.
In the days of the Judges, the people seemed wonderfully good
while the judge lived. But as soon as he was gone they wandered
after idols. O my beloved People, may you become so
indoctrinated with the Truth of God that you will never leave it! Be
it your resolve that you will never hear anything but the Gospel.
Love Christ so well that you will never follow any pretended
shepherd who would lead you away from Him. Keep to Christ and
Him crucified and live on the Doctrines of Grace when your
present leader lies asleep in his grave. Keep to the great Lord of
love, whoever the preacher may be. Let it be seen that you have
struck your roots too deep, and are fed by supplies too permanent,
for you to be dependent upon any man–however much esteemed
that man may be.
Above all, it is a great blessing to be so rooted and watered that
you can live graciously and uprightly, despite personal interest.
There was a time when it seemed the loss of everything for Joseph
to keep close to God. A young man can get on well with elder
brothers if he will please them by dropping into their habits. But if
he opposes them, he will have a sorry time of it. "Joseph, if you
want to be happy with Reuben and Simeon and Levi, you must
hold your tongue when you see them making free in their morals,
or you will bring a hornets' nest about your head."
If you would be happy at home, you must remember the old
proverb, that when you are at Rome you must do as Rome does.
This is the wisdom of this world. But Joseph scorns it. No, he
cannot help it. He must abide with God and with holiness. What is
the result? The Ishmaelites carry him away for a slave. Poor
encouragement this for holy youth! In the house of Potiphar,
compliance with his mistress seemed an easy way to honor and
pleasure. But he could not yield to her base suggestion. He had
rather bear the consequences of her hate. She falsely charges him.
He comes under his master's anger, loses his place and is put in
prison. But he cannot help it, he must obey his God.
Are you of this true kind? Many will gladly walk with Christ
when He wears silver sandals and a golden girdle. But if He walks
barefoot through the mire, they seek other company. Oh, for that
godliness which will strengthen you to quit your situation, to lose
your wealth, to sacrifice your credit, and to part with your friends
sooner than grieve your Lord! Oh, that you may never be unstable
as water. For, if so, you will not excel! Your bow will only abide in
strength if, like Joseph, the arms of your hands are made strong by
the mighty God of Jacob.
You must draw your soul's nourishment from secret fountains and
wait upon the Lord where no eye sees you, or you will soon prove
barren and unfruitful. To follow your Savior wherever He goes, you
must daily derive your life from Him. I cannot close this first head
without saying that while Joseph thus was placed in a position of
very high independence of all outward things, he was very
conscious of his entire dependence upon God. Take the well away
and where was the fruitful bough? Remove "the deep that lies
under," and then the resources even of so great a character as that
of the Prime Minister of Egypt would have been dried up.
We can stand alone with God. But we fall without Him–we can
bear the brunt of the battle without a friend or an armor-bearer–but
if the Lord does not cover our head we are undone. Like Samson,
we can slay the Philistines–
"But if the Lord is once withdrawn,
And we attempt the work alone,
When new temptations spring and rise,
We find how great our weakness is."
Dear young Friends, I exhort you to think for yourselves, and
judge for yourselves, and act for yourselves with a holy
independence of others. Yet never forget where your strength lies
and never rely upon yourselves.
Never resolve to do anything apart from the Lord. Never say, "I
am sufficient," but always, in conscious insufficiency, fall back
upon that Divine Grace which never fails. Self is a mocker, pride is
raging and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise. All your
usefulness and all your faithfulness will come to an end unless you
fix your entire dependence upon Jehovah, the Beginning and the
End of all that is good. Keep by the deep Well of boundless love.
Draw from the Fountain of all-sufficiency and may the Lord bless
you from now on and forever!
II. This brings me now to notice, under my second head, that
THIS IS OF ITSELF A GREAT BLESSING. Moses, in my second
text, mentions "the deep that couches beneath," as having its own
form of blessing. This was for Joseph's race a blessing. It is a high
favor to know the deep things of God, and to enjoy the far-down
securities, enjoyments, and privileges of the children of Heaven.
In deep union to God are to be found the very truth and life of
godliness. As for outward religion, what is it? You may practice all
the ordinances without fault, and yet you will be godless unless
your spirit has had converse with the Lord. A good man in
Scripture is said to be a godly man. He is a man of God–God's
man–he lives for God, he lives with God, he lives on God. If you
do not believe in God, love God, glorify God–all the outward forms
on earth, all the rites that God has given–cannot make up a religion
for you that is worth a single penny.
You may be orthodox in creed, as I hope you will be. But unless
you really grasp and apprehend the things of orthodoxy and so
come to the God of Truth and the Holy Spirit of Truth, you have a
set of words and nothing more. A man may possess the catalogue of
a library and yet be without a book. And so may you know a list of
doctrines and yet be a stranger to the Truth of God. You may have
in your hand a map of a fine estate and a list of all the treasures in
the mansion–yet you may not have a place where to set your foot.
A knowledge of the technicalities of theology is of small use unless
you enjoy the Truths of God to which they refer. You must know
the Lord and abide in Christ.
Do not say, "I have joined the Church, Sir, and attend the Prayer
Meetings, and take my share among the workers." Yes, I know. But
true religion is more than this. It is repentance towards God. It is
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
"Dear Sir," cries one, "I accept what you say. And dispute none of
your teaching." That may be. But this does not content me. If you
receive my teaching as the Truth of God, I am sorry. I desire you to
receive it as the Word of God. Go to the Bible for yourself. Seek to
be taught by the Spirit of God. Ask to have the Truth of God
written upon your heart by the Holy Spirit. You have not received
the Truth of God rightly unless it comes to you with power as the
Word of the living God.
When a man like Joseph can be compared to a fruitful tree by a
well because he is rooted in fellowship with God, he has the
blessedness of drawing his supplies from secret but real, sources.
His life is hid and the support of his life is hidden, too. The world
knows him not. But the secret of the Lord is with him. There is the
tree, and there is the fruit–these can be seen by all. But none can
see the roots which are the cause of the clusters, nor the deep that
lies under, from which those roots derive their supply. God's
hidden Ones are a wonder unto many. Oh, to dwell with Him who
is invisible and so to become ourselves partakers of an unseen life!
The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are
not seen are eternal. Oh, to have eternal life and to be heirs of an
eternal heritage! It is a great thing to cultivate the inner life, for it is
the true life. But unless a man dwells with God in secret, he forgets
the inward life–he is so taken up with washing the outside of the
cup and the platter, that his inward part remains very wickedness.
This will never do, for the Lord looks at the heart. We must see to
the inward.
The supplies of such a man are inexhaustible. The well is not
drawn dry, and the deep that lies under is never emptied. Plants
dependent upon irrigation may pine in the drought of summer. But
a tree that strikes its roots into the well does not see when heat
comes but its leaf is green. It can never exhaust the great fountains.
It may drink on and on and yet never diminish its supplies. "God
all-sufficient" is a glorious name. Infinite mercy is a storehouse for
a starving world. The Lord's own word is, "My grace is sufficient
for you."
The man who dwells near to God has supplies which can never be
cut off. We have heard of cities which have been surrounded by
armies and were never captured by assault but were compelled to
surrender because the besiegers cut off the water supply–broke
down the aqueducts–and so subdued them by thirst. Jerusalem was
never thus captured, for there were deep wells within the city itself
which never ceased to flow. Ah, my Brethren, he that has a well of
living water within him is beyond the enemy's power!
We can go to God when we are not allowed to go to the service.
The priest took away the boy's Bible. "Yes," said the child, "but
you cannot take away those twelve chapters of John which I have
learned." The malice of man may deny us a place of worship, but it
cannot prevent our worshipping the Lord, wherever we may be.
Every means of Divine Grace may be denied the Believer, but the
Grace of the means will still come to him. God grant that neither
sickness, nor traveling, nor watching at the bedside may keep us
away from the assembly of His people. But if ever it should so
happen, may we then so dwell in God that the upper springs may
flow freely and feed the very roots of our spirit!
Supplies gained by nearness to God Himself are constant. Grace
is not intermittent. It is not a land spring, but a well. Joseph had
Divine Grace as an old man, even as he had it as a youth. A religion
that ebbs and flows is a poor thing. We should desire the constancy
of the sun and not the changing of the moon. We may have Grace
day by day, every day and all day. If yours is a spring from off the
deep that lies under, it will be so. I do not say that your root can
always take in the same measure of water from the well of life. But
I do say that it will always be there for you to take. And I think,
also, that to a large extent, you will be able to partake of it with
constancy.
Your root will be always in the well and so you may always drink
to the full. It is wonderful how trees will grow if planted close by
abundant water. I hope to see, before long, a palm which was
planted in my presence some years ago. It was one of a number of
palms which make a long line in a friend's garden. They were all of
one size when I saw them brought from the nursery, and the next
year they all seemed pretty much upon an equality. But very soon
this particular palm outstripped its fellows, and now it towers high
above all the rest, till you might suppose it to be many years older.
My very good friend, the owner of the garden, said to me, "You
know why this palm has so far outgrown the rest? It has sent its
roots down below, into that large reservoir and so its life is
powerful." The Arabs say that the palm tree loves to have its roots
in the water and its head in the fire–it would have a flowing river
below and the burning sun above. Ah, Beloved, may we also grow
as the palm tree! And if we get our roots down into the Divine
fountains and can sun ourselves in the love of the Lord, we shall
grow rapidly and surely.
The supplies of the Believer who dwells deep are pure, as well as
full. Grace through the means is apt to be diluted. But when we
receive it from God alone, it is Grace, indeed. The best of pipes are
apt to mar the water's taste. All common watercourses mix earth
with the water. But "the deep that lies under" is out of reach of
defilement. If you can draw from the pure well of the undefiled
Gospel, you will do well. Among the Alps how often have I wished
to drink! And the guide has forbidden me and told me to wait a
little. And then we have come to a leaping fount, most cool and
delicious–far better than the streams which, as they ran along, had
gathered earth, and decay and evil life.
Did you ever know a stream in England that ran for half a mile
without someone turning it into a sewer? And so it would seem at
this time, as if God's own Truth could not be found in the teachings
of the pulpit–pure and undefiled as given forth in Scripture by His
Spirit. Do we not fear, lest with all our care, we should tincture the
infallible Revelation with our thoughts? O Believer, go at once to
your God for teaching! Again I remind you of David's words–"My
soul, wait you only upon God. For my expectation is from Him."
Draw your supplies at first hand. Do as he did who had been
made ill with impure milk–he kept a cow of his own. Instead of
expositors, read the Bible for yourself. In Bible light the Bible is
best seen. If the human water pot fails, it will not matter if you are
"a fruitful bough by a well."
III. Lastly, I would remind you that THIS BRINGS WITH IT
OTHER BLESSINGS. If you are by the well, sending your roots
into its waters, you will obtain fruitfulness. A fruitful tree is one
which is well sustained at the root. Dear Friends, it is by no means
wisdom to cry, "I will work hard and try to bear fruit." Fruit is not
produced by work. No vine toils to produce grapes. It buds and
blossoms and bears fruit in the order of its nature.
We have a great deal of fruitless working nowadays. Religion is
pumped up. Devotion is too often mechanical. Godliness is
supplanted by artificial excitement. And love to God by perpetual
fussiness. Zeal for God is counterfeited by "much ado about
nothing." If the inner, secret life, is in good order, precious fruit is
brought forth both by sun and moon. The gardener never says, "It is
time for me to go and work a hundredweight of grapes out of my
vine." Oh dear, no! Beginning early in the year he spies a shoot,
and by-and-by there is a tiny flower. And then leaves appear and so
on, in regular order–and only at last can he hope to gather the rich
cluster from the vine.
There is no noise in the production of the vintage. You never
heard a vine groaning, nor saw it sweating, nor noticed it straining
a single shoot. If vines get their roots down into good soil, they
bring forth fruit, as it were, naturally. May the Lord make us bring
forth holiness through the force of the new nature! May He put into
us immortal principles and may He sustain them by His own
Personal power! And then, naturally and joyfully, in its season, we
shall bring forth fruit to His praise and glory, by His Grace.
The next blessing that came with this was unselfishness. Joseph
was a bough whose "branches ran over the wall." He extended his
influence beyond his own family. We shall bear but little fruit if our
branches are kept within the narrow space of self and relatives.
Cultivate godliness for the sole sake of yourself and you will never
be very godly. But abound in it for God's sake, and for love of
those whom Jesus has redeemed, and you will be godly, indeed.
Live to love. For to love is to live when the love is set upon God.
You should go over the wall to your ungodly neighbor, to the
infidel without Christ, to the heathen and the castaway. You should
extend your usefulness where none expected it to grow. Then you
will be a blessing to many who were far off from you and your
God.
I heard of one whose last petition was that God would bury his
influence with him. An awful prayer! It was good only so far that it
evidenced a recognition of his life's mistake and some sort of
repentance for it. But he was asking for that which could not be
granted. For not even God Himself ever kills a man's influence.
The world's poet truly says, "The evil that men do lives after
them." Most surely the evil lives, even if the good expires. Yet,
when we are dead and buried, if we have lived unto God and lived
upon God, our branches will run over the wall of the cemetery and
our voices will be heard from amid the silence of the sepulcher. Is
it not written, "He being dead yet speaks"?
A third blessing that comes with this is fixedness. A fruitful tree
by a well, sending its roots down to the water, is well-rooted and
cannot be torn from its place. It would not be fruitful if it were not
stable. If a tree has no living root, you may pull it up, if you please.
But if it is living and growing and drawing up its nutriment from
the depth, its roots will furnish it with mighty anchorage. Can you
stir a man who has once received into his heart the doctrine of the
atoning sacrifice? Not if he has found in it a refuge for despair.