glorycloud's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the mystery of faith "Let us give our faith time to act, to open itself further to us, and ourselves time to take in the full sense of our faith. Generally, our acts of faith are too short, sudden, and transient. We make a formal profession of faith and say we believe in Christ for the pardon of sin, but don't so well weigh and consider what we say or what we believe; we turn off presently to something else, as if we done with our faith, when the mystery of it is not half apprehended by us. We should attend to it, ponder it well in our minds, and look round it; this is the way to keep up a presence of mind in us with such thoughts and apprehensions of the love of Christ that will furnish us with matter of discourse for many days. But I don't find professors so much concerned in their own faith, so much affected with it as they should; they pass it over as a plain, ordinary piece of religion and, having once declared they believe in Christ for the pardon of sin, they have no more to do with Him. Whereas the mystery of faith should be studied all our lives long; we should pray as Paul did in Ephesians 1:17ff. that we may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Faith has more in it than most people are aware of; it is not so easy a matter to know, comprehend, and remember what is contained in an act of saving faith. We should discourse more with our own faith, look into all the particulars, and search to the bottom, by gathering up more and more of the unsearchable riches of Christ. He who would judge a curious piece of workmanship brings it to the light, views it round in every part, till he has gathered up all the excellencies of it into his mind. Then he can speak knowingly in the praise and commendation of such a thing, having made observations before of all that was admirable in it. So you should sit down and consider the consequence of an act of faith upon Christ for justification and pardon; what depends upon it, what you gain by it, what you expect from it. All is yours if Christ is yours; therefore be persuaded to enter into chambers and closets; sit down with a Bible in your hands, stirs up your faith, consider the state of a believer, and then gather up what makes for your comfort out of the Word of God. Oh, how would your face shine! You would be filled "with joy unspeakable, and full of glory" by believing; there is not that joy among believers because they don't think enough of what they believe. Do you believe in Christ for the remission of sins? Then there is a great deal in Christ, a great deal in sin, a great deal in the actings of your own soul under this faith to be considered. The knowledge, experience, and evidence of faith are things that should be particularly examined and seriously thought of. . ." pg. 138,139 'Christ Is the Christian's Religion' by Thomas Cole 1:04 p.m. - 2023-11-14 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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