Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
July 14
Morning
"If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast
polluted it."—Exodus 20:25.
GodŐs altar was to be built
of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labour might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim
and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more
congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of
improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another
gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the
Lord's own Word are defilements and pollutions. The
proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the
soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings
and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried
up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to
lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would
remember that so far from perfecting the Saviour's
work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonour it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of
atonement, and not a single mark of man's chisel or hammer will be endured.
There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His
dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord
Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and
fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the
altar of thine atonement, and rest in Him alone.
Many professors may take
warning from this morning's text as to the doctrines which
they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and
reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief,
let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the
doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are
all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord.
Evening
"As it began to dawn, came Magdalene, to see
the sepulchre."—Matthew 28:1.
Let us learn from Mary
Magdalene how to obtain fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Notice how she sought.
She sought the Saviour very early in the
morning. If thou canst wait for Christ, and be patient in the hope of having
fellowship with Him at some distant season, thou wilt never have fellowship at
all; for the heart that is fitted for communion is a hungering and a thirsting
heart. She sought Him also with very great boldness. Other disciples
fled from the sepulchre, for they trembled and were
amazed; but Mary, it is said, "stood" at the sepulchre.
If you would have Christ with you, seek Him boldly. Let nothing hold you back.
Defy the world. Press on where others flee. She sought Christ faithfully—she
stood at the sepulchre. Some find it hard to
stand by a living Saviour, but she stood by a dead
one. Let us seek Christ after this mode, cleaving to the very least thing that
has to do with Him, remaining faithful though all others should forsake Him.
Note further, she sought Jesus earnestly—she stood "weeping."
Those tear-droppings were as spells that led the Saviour
captive, and made Him come forth and show Himself to
her. If you desire Jesus' presence, weep after it! If you cannot be happy
unless He come and say to you, "Thou art My
beloved," you will soon hear His voice. Lastly, she sought the Saviour only. What cared she for angels, she turned
herself back from them; her search was only for her Lord. If Christ be your one and only love, if your heart has cast out all
rivals, you will not long lack the comfort of His presence. Mary Magdalene
sought thus because she loved much. Let us arouse ourselves
to the same intensity of affection; let our heart, like Mary's, be full of
Christ, and our love, like hers, will be satisfied with nothing short of
Himself. O Lord, reveal Thyself to us this evening!