THERE HATH NOT FAILED ONE WORD OF ALL HIS GOOD PROMISE.

 

 
There hath not failed one word of all his good promise.
I Kings 8:56
 
THIS is the day of review;
  let us look back.
 
This is the day to compare God's conduct with God's promises.
 
He has kept his promise in his eye every day of this year,
  though we have often lost sight of it.
 
We have been unbelieving,
  but he has been faithful.
 
We have backslidden,
  but he has kept his covenant with us.
 
We have ten thousand times deserved his wrath,
  but here we are, the monuments of his mercy.
 
What forbearance he has shown,
  what patient he has exercise,
  what sympathy he has manifested;
    how true to his character,
    how faithful to his word,
    how tender to our souls, he has been.
 
We have failed in almost every point;
  but he has not failed in one;
  we have broken our word a thousand times;
  but he has never broken his once.
 
Not one thing hath failed of all that he had promised.
 
In temporals, our bread has been given us,
  and our water has been sure.
 
In spirituals, he has pardoned our sins,
  revived our graces,
  corrected our follies,
  restored our souls,
  born are manners, and
    manifested a Father’s love.
 
Beloved, is not God true?
 
Has he not been faithful?
 
Ought we not to trust him?

 

Let suns or stars forget to rise,

Or quit their stations in the skies;

Let heaven and earth both pass away,

Eternal truth shall ne’er decay.

 

James Smith 1849

HE STAGGERED NOT AT THE PROMISE OF GOD

 
 
DECEMBER 30.
 
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.
Romans 4:20
 
IF Abraham did not, we have:
  yet we have far less reason than he had.
 
The promises are given to us of free grace.
 
They are supported by the holiness and immutability of God.
 
They demand our credit and confidence.
 
But, through unbelief, we often object, or dispute;
  they are too great, or too good for us.
 
They are for eminent persons,
  not for such poor, sinful, unworthy creatures as we are.
 
It is not probable that they will ever be fulfilled in our experience.
 
This is unbelief.
 
This is staggering.
 
Now we are all unsteady; and
  this affects our hope,
  our prayers, and
  our obedience;
  for steady faith is the root of lively hope,
   fervent prayer, and evangelical obedience.
 
Unbelief draws all its arguments from sense,
  reason, appearances, circumstances, or delays.
 
But faith should take God's promises
  as the gift of God's grace,
  hold it fast, because God is faithful; and
  expects its fulfillment, because God is true.
 
Let us watch against unbelief,
  which dishonours God, and distresses us.
 
Let us seek faith from God,
  that we may exercise faith in God; and
  let a set Abraham before us as our example.

 

Faith has for its foundation broad

A stable rock, on which I stand,

The truth and faithfulness of God;

All other ground is sinking sand.

 
James Smith 1849

THE LAW OF FAITH

 
DECEMBER 29.
 
The law of faith.
Romans 3:27
 
THIS is just the opposite of the law of works.
 
THAT was intended for perfect persons;
  THIS is for sinners.
 
THAT required obedience in order to life;
  THIS presents life in order to obedience.
 
THAT says, “Do;” THIS says, “Believe.”
 
THAT says, “Work;” THIS says, “Trust.”
 
THIS is a law of love - it is it flows from the love of God,
  breathes love to men,
  requires love of men, and
    produces love in man.
 
It is the law of peace - by which peace and reconciliation with God
  is published and enjoyed.
 
It is a law of grace - proclaiming that every sinner shall be pardoned,
  on confession;
  shall be justified freely on believing;
  shall be saved perfectly, by trusting;
  and be dignified eternally, by receiving.  John 1:12
 
It is a law of holiness – it contains precepts, requiring;
  cautions, warning;
  exhortations, urging; and threatening, alarming.
 
It is intended to exhibit God’s mercy, and
  to prevent man’s ruin,
  the sinner’s boasting, and
    Satan’s designs.
 
It lays us under everlasting obligations.
 
Every Christian should carefully observe the law of faith,
   and learn to distinguish it from the law of works.
 
True faith always takes Christ’s law, and obeys it.

 

By the works of the law, we can never obtain

Salvation and peace, or God’s favour regain;

But believing in Jesus, each blessing is given

To fit us for duty, and meeten for heaven.

 
James Smith 1849
 

IN THY NAME. SHALL THEY REJOICE ALL THE DAY

 
DECEMBER 28.

 
In thy name shall they rejoice all the day.
Psalm 89:16

 
WE cannot rejoice in health, for it is often lost;
  in wealth, for we have it not;
  in wisdom, for we daily discover our folly;
  in our strength, for we are perfect weakness;
  in our worldly prospects, for they are often very gloomy; or
    in our experience, for it is often very dreary.
 
If therefore we rejoice,
  it must be in something without us,
    in something above us.
 
We may rejoice in God's name,
  especially as it is written out in the word of his grace,
  and illustrated in the life of his Son.
 
Here his nature is revealed,
  his purposes are made known, and
  provisions for our guilt, fears, and wants, is presented to us.
 
Here we have a warrant for faith,
  a foundation for hope, and
  an object of love.
 
Here is that in which we may rejoice all the day long,
  for it includes all we need,
  is calculated to prevent all we fear, and
    can never know a change.
 
Let us then fix our eye and our hearts upon God's mercy,
  and rejoice in it;
  in private, or in public;
  in prosperity, or and adversity;
    at home, and abroad.
 
Believers really have caused to be happy.
 
The cause of their happiness is always the same.
 
 

Salvation in that name is found,

Balm of my grief and care;

A medicine for my every wound,

All, all I want is there.

 
James Smith 1849

IT IS IN TRUTH THE WORD OF GOD.

 

It is in truth the word of God.
I Thessalonians 2:13

 
THIS is Paul’s testimony to the gospel.
 
It is God's truth.
 
It originated in his mind.
 
It was made known by his inspiration.
 
It is published at his command.
 
It is pure like his nature.
 
It is stable as his throne.
 
It is the rule by which he works.
 
It is the standard by which he judges.
 
It is God's message to you, to me, to all.
 
It is the word respecting God,
  setting before us his express image,
  that we may know him;
  his exceeding great love,
  that we may believe him;
  the way to access his throne,
    that we may approach him.
 
As the word of God,
  it demands our attention, reverence, faith, and obedience.
 
It is solemnly connected with his glory and our destiny.
 
It is to be received into the understanding,
  the affections, and the heart.
 
As God's word, we should receive it meekly,
  believe it heartily, obey it promptly,
    and trust it implicitly.
 
The gospel is the truth of God,
  therefore beware how you trifle with it,
  neglect it, or displease it;
  it is the word that will judge you at the last day.
 
Have you received the gospel?
 
Did you receive it as the very truth of God?
 
Has it wrought effectually in you,
  producing a radical change?
 

Lord, write thy gospel on my heart,

And in its blessings give me part;

Until I see my Saviour’s face,

And sing, “I am saved by gospel grace.”

 
James Smith 1849

YET WILL HE HAVE COMPASSION.

 

Yet will he have compassion.
Lamentations 3:22

 
ARE you sorely tried?
 
Are you writing bitter things against yourself?
 
Is the hand of God gone out against you?
 
Does he hold back the face of his throne,
  and hang a cloud upon it?
 
Does he break you with breach upon breach?
 
Are you ready to say,
   “All these things are against me?”
 
Cheer up, the storm will soon cease,
  the dark clouds are floating into the distance,
  the sun will soon burst forth,
  even now faith may see the bow in the cloud, for
  “though he cause grief, yet he will have compassion
   according to the multitude of his mercies.”
 
Even now he pities you with a father's pity.
 
He waits but the fittest time to manifest
  himself to you again.
 
Infinite compassion reigns in his heart,
  even while frowns seem to cover his face,
    and the rod is seen in his hand.
 
Keep fast hold of his precious promise.
 
Wait in hourly expectations at his gracious throne.
 
Come to the determination of afflicted Job,
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”
 
But he will not slay you;
  he will try you, purify you,
  fit you for service, and prepare you for heaven;
  and he will have compassion upon you,
    for his compassions fail not.
 

His love is constant us the sun,

Though clouds oft come between,

And could our faith but pierce those clouds,

It might be always seen.

 
James Smith 1849

UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN.

 
DECEMBER 25.
 

Unto us a child is born.
Isaiah 9:6

 
BUT is it any thing remarkable that a child should be born?
 
Not sometimes, but here every thing is remarkable.
 
The mother is a virgin.
 
The Father is God.
 
The child is the Holy One of Israel.
 
The place was a stable.
 
The design is our salvation, and the earth’s restoration.
 
Never was there such a birth before,
   there never can be such another.
 
The child is to be called, “Wonderful, Counselor,
   the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
 
And what he is called, he is.
 
He is wonderful in his person,
  being God and man, in one Christ;
  wonderful in his work,
   by which myriads of sinners shall be saved; and
  wonderful in his grace,
   by which he stoops to bless the vilest of our race.
 
He is recognized and authorized Counselor in heaven and in earth.
 
He is the mighty God, being equal to the
  Father in nature, majesty, and glory.
 
He is Father of the everlasting age,
  which is for his glory and his people’s perfect blessedness.
 
He is the peaceful Prince,
  who made, reveals, imparts, and
   maintains peace between God and man.
 

Veil’d in flesh the Godhead see,

Hail the incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man, with men to dwell,

Jesus, our Immanuel;

Glory to his blessed name,

Let us all his love proclaim!

 
James Smith 1849

PREACHING PEACE BY JESUS CHRIST.

 
DECEMBER 24.
 

Preaching peace by Jesus Christ.
Acts 10:36

 
BY nature we are at war with God, and are enemies to God.
 
When seeing through the medium of his law,
  all his attributes appears against us, and
  nothing but wrath and curse can be expected by us.
 
But in the gospel we see God making a covenant of peace,
  laying a foundation for peace, and
  then proclaiming peace to us by his beloved son.
 
He has received satisfaction for sins.
 
He is willing to receive and pardon us.
 
He desires to see us reconciled and happy.
 
He sends to us by Jesus.
 
He beseeches us to be reconciled.
 
He informs us that he has made a feast
  to commemorate our reconciliation,
  and assures us that all things are ready, and
   that he wishes us to come.
 
In the gospel there is peace for the sinner,
  for the greatest offenders,
  for the vilest transgressors;
  and the moment we believe the testimony,
  look to the peace-making blood of Jesus, and
  cry heartily unto God,
  peace flows into our souls,
  reconciliation is effected,
    and we are happy.
 
But are we at peace with God ?
 
Peace is proclaimed,
  but do we believe it ?
 
Do we enjoy it ?
 

Take me, my Saviour, as thine own,

And with thy Father plead my cause ;

Be thou my portion, Lord, alone,

And bend me to obey thy laws;

And with thy gracious presence blest,

Give me to find the promis’d rest.

 
James Smith 1849
 

I WILL ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER.

 
DECEMBER 23.
 

I will arise and go to my father.
Luke 15:18 

 
WHAT a mercy to have a father.
 
A father to whom we can go.
 
A father who will receive us, bless us,
  and make us happy.
 
Like the prodigal we have been wandering from him,
  we have grieved his loving heart,
  we have dishonored his glorious name,
  we have reduced ourselves to want and wretchedness;
  let us now arise and go to our heavenly Father,
  he will pardon our crimes,
  restore us to his favour,
  supply all our wants, and
    raise us to dignity and honour.
 
Have we been reconciled to him, and
  are we living at peace with him?
 
Then, whenever Satan assaults us,
  or fears be set us,
  or trouble oppress us,
  or our hearts are cast down within us,
    let us arise and go to our Father.
 
Let us go to him for all we need,
  with all that troubles us,
    notwithstanding all that opposes us.
 
He bids us come often.
 
He wishes us to be free.
 
He has promised to sympathize with us.
 
He is always ready to help us.
 
He will bless us this day.
 
O Lord, draw us to thy feet,
  keep us near thy throne, and
  indulge us with thy smile,
  fill us with joy and peace, and
    cause us to live to thy glory and praise!
 
O for living, lively faith!
 
Lord, increase our faith.
 

Faith lends its realizing light,

The clouds disperse, the shadows fly,

Th’ invisible appears in sight,

And God is seen by mortal eye.

 
James Smith 1849

O LORD, BE NOT FAR FROM ME.

 

 

O Lord, be not far from me.
Psalm 35:22

 
THE Christian is like a timid child,
  he cannot bear to be left alone.
 
He wants to have his Father always with him.
 
He knows so much of his weakness and the depravity of his heart;
  of the number and power of his enemies;
  of the many and great dangers to which he is exposed,
  that he does not feel comfortable to stir a step alone.
 
The Lord has promised to be always with him,
   never to leave him nor forsake him;
   this he believes,
   but he wants to realize the presence of his God.
 
If he feels that God is with him,
  smiling upon him, and
  imparting strength unto him,
  he can cheerfully go anywhere, or do any thing;
  but without this he is often afraid and dispirited.
 
Beloved, do you know any thing of the presence of the Lord?
 
Have you ever enjoyed it?
 
Have you been left to go to duty, to trial or to conflict, without it?
 
If so, you know the value of it, and most earnestly will you pray,
  “O Lord, be not far from me,”
 
Well, the Lord will not be far away, nor long away,
  for those who long for his presence, and
   who cannot be happy in his absence.
 
If we seek him, he will be found of us.
 
If we call upon him, he will hear.
 

Life, like a fountain rich and free,

Springs from the presence of the Lord;

And in his light our souls shall see

The glories promised in his word.

 
James Smith 1849

THY LOVING KINDNESS IS BEFORE MINE EYES.

 
 
DECEMBER 21.
 

Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes.
Psalm 26:3

 
GOD’S loving kindness has been variously and
  wondrously displayed, in nature, providence, and grace.
 
It appears in a thousand forms, and
  it should be constantly before our eyes.
 
Nothing so likely to humble us,
  to consecrate us, and
  to fill us with joy and peace,
    as God's wondrous loving kindness.
 
We are too apt to place some trouble,
  or some vexation,
  or some object of envy,
  before our eyes, and
    the effects are sad -- very sad.
 
Let us this day place God's loving kindness before our eyes,
  as it appears in his precious gifts,
  sweet assurances, magnificent promises, and
    the glorious prospects set before us.
 
It is his loving kindness which pardons our sins,
  revives our souls,
  renews us in the spirit of our minds, and
  gives us fresh and delightful views of the Lord Jesus,
    of his finished salvation, end of his blissful heaven.
 
God's loving kindness
  is free, therefore we may enjoy it;
  it is great, therefore we may be satisfied with it;
    it is immutable, therefore we may rejoice in it.
 
Let us fix the eyes this day on God as a God of love,
  on the displays of his kindness to us before time,
    in time, and when time shall be no more.
 

Often I feel my sinful heart,

Prone from my Jesus to depart;

But though I have him oft forgot,

His loving kindness changes not.

 
James Smith 1849

WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.

 
DECEMBER 20.
 
We shall be saved by his life.
Romans 5:10
 
THE apostle is speaking of Jesus,
  who reconciled us to God by his death;
  and he refers to the life he is now living in heaven.
 
It is a glorious life;
  a life in his Father's presence, and
  in the enjoyment of his Father's love; and
    yet he lives for his people.
 
He lives to plead for them.
 
He lives to bestow on them what he procured for them.
 
He lives to watch over them.
 
He deeply, most deeply, sympathizes with them.
 
His eyes is never off them.
 
They are never out of his thoughts for one moment.
 
His love to them is intense, a fire that is ever burning.
 
He obtained for us eternal redemption, and
  he will see that we are redeemed from all evil, and
   put into the possession of all good.
 
Blessed Saviour!  May I not only glory in thy cross,
  but often have my thoughts directed to thy life.
 
Thou didst die for me.
 
Thou dost live for me.
 
Being reconciled by thy death on earth,
  I shall certainly be saved by my life in heaven.
 
O to enter upon this day,
  believing that thou art living in heaven for me, and
  that all the influence of thy relationship,
  character, blood, and offices, is employed for me!
 
A living, pleading Saviour, will certainly save me.
 

He lives! He lives! and sits above,

For ever interceding there;

Who shall divide us from his love?

Or what should tempt us to despair?

 
James Smith 1849

O LORD, REMEMBER ME AND VISIT ME.

 

Wednesday & Thursday was both traveling days, didn't get time for computer work. 

DECEMBER 19.
 

O Lord, remember me, and visit me.
Jeremiah 15:15

 
SO sighed the prophet in his troubles, and 

   so have we often sighed.
 
Does not this prayer just suit us this morning?
 
O that the Lord would remember our weakness,
  our fears,
  our temptations,
  our many infirmities,
  our easily besetting sins,   
  our peculiar circumstances, and our many foes!
 
O that he would remember our prayers,
  our desires,
  our wants,
  our earnest longings for his presence,
    Spirit, and special grace!
 
O that he would visit us,
  for a visit from him would soften our hearts,
  sanctify our tempers,
  cheer our spirits,
  confound our foes,
  revive our graces,
  brighten our evidences,
  scatter our fears,
  inspire us with confidence,
     and fill us with courage!
 
“Lord, remember us with the favour
  which thou bearest unto thy people, and
  visit us with thy salvation;
  that we may see the good of thy chosen,
  rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, and
    glory with thine inheritance.”
 
Remember where we are going,
  what we have to do,
  what we shall be called to suffer,
  what we shall especially need, and
  visit us to bless us with all the grace we shall require.
 
If we remember the Lord, he remembers us;
  if we visit him, he will visit us.
 
Remember, Lord, thy word of grace,
Remember Calvary’s tree;
Remember Jesus’ dying groans,
And then remember me.
 
James Smith 1849

I SOUGHT THE LORD AND HE HEARD ME.

 

I sought the Lord, and he heard me.
Psalm 34:4

 
THE Lord will teach us our dependence on himself.
 
He will show us that we cannot possibly do without him.
 
We too often try to manage our trials ourselves,
  instead of taking them to the Lord at once;
  this accounts for our little troubles paining and
   perplexing us at times, more than our great ones.
 
The Psalmist was deeply tried;
  his trouble had been brought on by his sin;
  but he sought the Lord, and he heard him,
   and delivered him from all his fears.
 
Let us endeavour to learn to take every thing to the Lord.
 
Let us seek to the Lord for wisdom to guide us,
  for strength to sustain us,
  for grace to sanctify us,
  for comfort to cheer us, and
    for deliverance from every fear and foe.
 
David’s God is our God, and
  he has covenanted to give us “the sure mercies of David.”
 
O for a spirit of prayer to God !
O for a spirit of dependence on God !
 
He loves to be trusted.
He loves to be sought.
He loves to be believed.
 
Friend, have you ever sought the Lord?
 
If not, seek him at once, and
  he will be found of you,
  he will hear you, and
   deliver you from all your fears.
 

The trust him, and fear not; thy life is secure;

His wisdom is perfect, supreme is his power;

In love he corrects thee, thy soul to refine,

To make thee at length in his likeness to shine.

 
James Smith 1849