Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
March 9
MORNING
ÒYea, He is
altogether lovely.Ó — Song of Solomon 5:16
The superlative beauty of Jesus is all attracting; it
is not so much to be admired as to be loved. He is more than pleasant and fair, He is
lovely. Surely the people of God can fully justify the use of this
golden word, for He is the object of their warmest love, a love founded on the
intrinsic excellence of His person, the complete perfection of His charms.
Look, O disciples of Jesus, to your MasterÕs lips, and say, ÒAre they not most sweet?Ó
Do not His words cause your hearts to burn within you as He talks with you by
the way? Ye worshippers of Immanuel, look up to His head of much fine gold, and
tell me, are not His thoughts precious unto you? Is not your adoration
sweetened with affection as ye humbly bow before that countenance which is as
Lebanon, excellent as the cedars? Is there not a charm in His every feature,
and is not His whole person fragrant with such a savour
of His good ointments, that therefore the virgins love Him? Is there one member
of His glorious body which is not attractive? — one portion of His person which is not a fresh loadstone to
our souls? — one office which is not a strong
cord to bind your heart? Our love is not as a seal set upon His heart of love
alone; it is fastened upon His arm of power also; nor is there
a single part of Him upon which it does not fix itself. We anoint His whole
person with the sweet spikenard of our fervent love. His whole life we would
imitate; His whole character we would transcribe. In all other beings we see
some lack, in Him there is all perfection. The best even of His favoured saints have had blots upon their garments and
wrinkles upon their brows; He is nothing but loveliness. All earthly suns have
their spots: the fair world itself hath its wilderness; we cannot love the
whole of the most lovely thing; but Christ Jesus is gold without alloy —
light without darkness — glory without cloud — ÒYea, He is
altogether lovely.Ó
EVENING
ÒAbide in Me.Ó — John 15:4
Communion with Christ is a certain cure for every ill.
Whether it be the wormwood of woe, or the cloying
surfeit of earthly delight, close fellowship with the Lord Jesus will take
bitterness from the one, and satiety from the other. Live near to Jesus,
Christian, and it is a matter of secondary importance whether thou livest on the mountain of honour
or in the valley of humiliation. Living near to Jesus, thou art covered with
the wings of God, and underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Let nothing
keep thee from that hallowed intercourse, which is the choice privilege of a
soul wedded to THE WELL-BELOVED. Be not content with an interview now and then,
but seek always to retain His company, for only in His presence hast thou
either comfort or safety. Jesus should not be unto us a friend who calls upon
us now and then, but one with whom we walk evermore. Thou hast a difficult road
before thee: see, O traveller to heaven, that thou go
not without thy guide. Thou hast to pass through the fiery furnace; enter it
not unless, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, thou hast the Son of God to
be thy companion. Thou hast to storm the Jericho of thine
own corruptions: attempt not the warfare until, like Joshua,
thou hast seen the Captain of the LordÕs host, with His sword drawn in His
hand. Thou art to meet the Esau of thy many temptations: meet him not until at JabbokÕs brook thou hast laid hold upon the angel, and
prevailed. In every case, in every condition, thou wilt need Jesus; but most of
all, when the iron gates of death shall open to thee. Keep thou close to thy
soulÕs Husband, lean thy head upon His bosom, ask to be refreshed with the
spiced wine of His pomegranate, and thou shalt be found of Him at the last,
without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Seeing thou hast lived with Him,
and lived in Him here, thou shalt abide with Him for ever.