JESUS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVNANT.

NOVEMBER 19.
 

Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.
 
Hebrew 12:24

 
THE mediator of the old covenant was Moses,
  he could officiate,
  but could not answer or be responsible for the people.
 
The mediator of the new covenant is Jesus,
  he appears before God for us, and
  before us for God.
 
He undertakes for us with God, and
  he deals with God for us.
 
He is able to do so, for he is divine;
  he is suited to do so, for he is human.
 
Other mediator we need not,
  another mediator there is none; for
    “There is one God, and one mediator
      between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
 
And it would be quite as consistent to speak
  of two Gods, as of two mediators.
 
If other were necessary, Jesus could not be sufficient;
  and if Jesus were not sufficient,
   no other could possibly be.
 
But Jesus is enough,
  he has to present to God for us,
  all that he can possibly require; and
  he has to present to us from God,
   all that we can constantly desire.
 
He is always before the throne.
 
He is always interceding for us.
 
Therefore we need not fear,
  but should go boldly to the throne of grace,
  that we may obtain mercy, and
  find grace to help us in every time of need.
 

Touched with a feeling of our woes,

Our Mediator stands;

All our infirmities he knows,

Our souls are in his hands.

 
James Smith 1849

IN ME IS THINE HELP.

 

In me is thine help.
Hosea 13:9

 
DESTRUCTION is of men,
  salvation is wholly of God.
 
We have destroyed ourselves,
  but God has become our Saviour.
 
As sinners, we saves us absolutely;
  as believers, he helps us in all our duties,
  and out of all troubles.
 
If God is our help, it will be sufficient;
  it will be prudently afforded;
  it will be suitably conveyed; and
  we shall always feel our need of it,
    before we enjoy it.
 
Our help is in God, in God alone,
  therefore let us not look to creatures;
  let us not trust in ourselves;
  but let us repair to the Lord
    in every difficulty, trial, and trouble.
 
The Lord has helped us in time past,
  he never was more disposed to help us then he is now,
  and he will help us to the end of our journey.
 
His help sustains us,
  when it does not deliver us;
  it enables us to hold on,
  when it does not bring us out of our troubles.
 
O thou help of Israel, help us this day!
 
Help us to resist Satan,
  overcome the world,
  to crucify the old man,
  to put on the new man,
  to do thy blessed will,
  to glorify thy holy name, and
    to walk with thee in peace.
 
Beloved, let us not droop or despond,
  but let us cry unto God for help, and
  expect him to make his strength perfect in our weakness.
 

In me, O Lord, exert thy power,

Make old things pass away;

Transform and draw my soul to thee

Still nearer every day.

 
James Smith 1849

NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS THOU WILT.

 
Not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Matthew 26:39
 
SO said Jesus, when in his agony in the garden.
 
His sufferings were tremendous,
  he appears to have apprehended immediate death,
  he was overwhelmed, he cried,
   “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me:”
  but his resignation,
  his unqualified acquiescence in his Father's will,
  immediately appears, for he adds
   “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
 
O for such meekness!
O for such entire resignation to God's will!
 
No one ever suffered like Jesus.
He suffered immediately from the hand of God,
  the stroke bruised and the mingled him,
  yet he kisses the hands that strikes.
 
He feels himself sinking in deep waters,
  pressed down by the wrath of God,
  yet he acquiesces.
 
His pains were agonizing,
  yet he was willing to endure them for us.
 
Blessed Redeemer, what love was thine!
 
What infinite, unparalleled mercy!
 
Beloved, if troubles burden to us,
  if sorrow presses us,
  if pain tortures us,
  if friends forsake us,
  if our hearts feel ready to fail us,
  let us repair to Gethsemane,
  let us take a place by the side of
    the suffering Son of God,
  let us compare our sorrows with his, and
  let us endeavour to say, “Not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
 

Come, ye saints, behold and wonder;

Come, behold what love could do;

Gaze upon the victim yonder;

Jesus suffered thus for you.

 
James Smith 1849
 

THY NAME IS AS OINTMENT POURED FORTH.

 
NOVEMBER 16.
 

Thy name is as ointment poured forth.
Song of Solomon 1:3

 
THE name of Jesus is incomparably sweet and precious.
 
There is no name in heaven like his,
  it is above every name.
 
It perfumes heaven above,
  and the church below.
 
Its fragrance is unequalled.
 
We are never weary of it, and we never shall be.
 
It comprises all we need; it contains all we desire.
 
Having Christ we have all things.
 
He is Christ, or God’s anointed;
  consecrated to be a Priest perpetually;
  sanctified to be God’s prophet and apostle;
  qualified to be God’s king,
    to reign on his holy hill of Zion.
 
He is Jesus, God’s Saviour,
  by whom God saves sinners,
  millions of sinners,
    the vilest sinners.
 
He is Lord, all power in heaven
  and on earth is given to him.
 
He is supreme, or head over all.
 
He is the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Here is all God can give us.
 
All we can require or enjoy.
 
When the Holy Spirit opens up the
  meaning of his precious name, and
  gives us to realize our interest in it,
  it does appear divinely sweet and glorious.
 
Precious name!
 
May I know it more fully,
  enjoy it more powerfully,
  publish it more effectually, and
    praise it more frequently.
 
Name of Jesus, be thou my solace,
  my subject, and my song.
 

I’ll speak the honours of thy name,

With my last labouring breath;

And dying, clasp thee in my arms,

The antidote of death.

 
James Smith 1849

 

 
He led them on safely.
Psalm 78:53
 
AND yet people were never in greater danger.

Egypt was enraged at them,
  Pharoah was determined to bring them back,
  the sea rolled in majesty before them, and
  rocks and mountains seemed to enclose and
   shut them in.
 
But when God leads, difficulties vanish,
  and dangers are all overcome.
 
The sea retires;
  Israel passes over, and the Egyptians pursue;
  the one company is landed safe on the opposite side,
  and the other drowned in the deep.
 
He led them on safely out of Egypt, and
  they were equally safe in the wilderness.
 
Nothing could harm them but sin,
  if they had been willing simply
  to follow the Lord’s guidance,
  to believe the Lord's word, and
  to trust in the Lord's providence,
  every one of them must have arrived safely in Canaan.
 
Beloved, we have the same leader.
 
Jesus who was with the church in the wilderness,
  is to be a Leader to us, and
  he will lead us on safely.
 
He knows the way,
  he remembers our frames,
  he has provided for our wants,
  he has promised us all we need, and
  he only wishes us to believe in his word,
  trust in his power, and
  follow him in obedience and love.
 

Lead us on, Almighty victor,

Scatter every hostile band,

Be our guide in our protector

Till on Canaan’s shores we stand.

 
Jane Smith 1849

THE DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS SHALL COME.

 

 
The desire of all nations shall come.
Haggai 2:7
 
THERE is a desire in every human bosom for
  something which is has not got, and
  that something is only to be found in Christ.
 
It is a universal craving after an unknown good.
 
Perhaps there have always been some in all the nations,
  who have been really desiring the Lord Jesus.
 
However, wherever he is known he is desired.
 
All nations have desired him,
  or will desire him.
 
He possesses all they need.
He only can make them happy.
 
They want all he has,
  for less would not meet their case.
 
He came once and laid a solid foundation for hope,
  he will come again and satisfied the desires
   of all who love his appearing.
 
He will then be manifestly the desire of all nations,
  for “all kings shall fall down before him,
   all nations shall serve him.”
 
“All the earth shall worship thee, and
  shall sing unto thee;
  they shall sing to thy name.”
 
He will come and fill the earth with his knowledge,
  and perform the ancient predictions,
  “The whole earth shall be filled with my glory.”
 
May our desires centre in Jesus now.
 
May his truth beyond treasure;
  his love our delight;
  his salvation our theme;
  his glory our aim; and
    his presence our heaven.
 

Let carnal minds for pleasure strive

And after wealth aspire;

Our choice is made, our hearts are fixed,

For Christ is our desire.

 
James Smith 1849

HE SHALL PRESERVE THY SOUL.

 
 

He shall preserve thy soul.
Psalm 121:7

 
NO being in creation needs such close
  and constant keeping as a saint.
 
If God was not our keeper,
  we could never arrive safe in heaven.
 
Our foes are so powerful;
  our mortal maladies so numerous;
  our danger so great;
  our depravity so deep.
 
O to keep this fact daily before the mind,
  that we may evermore cry unto the Lord to keep us!
 
He has promised to do so,
  but he will have us plead with him,
  and daily cry unto him.
 
We are never out of danger,
  while we are out of heaven.
 
If we are healthy this morning,
  we may be diseased before night.
 
If we are sound in the faith today,
  we may be led away by some pernicious error tomorrow.
 
If we are walking at liberty now,
  we may be entangled again with
    the yoke of bondage before long.
 
How kind, how gracious then,
  for our Lord to undertake to keep, and
  promise to preserve our souls.
 
He can, he has promised;
  if he we call upon him, he will.
 
Let us therefore, this day,
  feel that we are in danger,
  that we need an omnipotent preserver,
  that the Lord preserves through fellowship with himself,
  and let us endeavour to walk closely with God.
 
This will deepen our spirituality.
 

The word of God continues sure,

On which our hope is cast;

Thou shall my tempted soul secure

Till every storm is past.

 

James Smith 1849