Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
November 5
Morning
"No
weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper."—Isaiah 54:17.
This day is
notable in English history for two great deliverances wrought by God for us. On
this day the plot of the Papists to destroy our Houses of Parliament was
discovered, 1605.
"While
for our princes they prepare
In caverns
deep a burning snare,
He shot from
heaven a piercing ray,
And the dark
treachery brought to day."
And secondly—to-day is the anniversary of the landing of King William
III, at Torbay, by which the hope of Popish
ascendancy was quashed, and religious liberty was secured, 1688.
This day ought to be
celebrated, not by the saturnalia of striplings, but by the songs of saints.
Our Puritan forefathers most devoutly made it a special time of thanksgiving.
There is extant a record of the annual sermons
preached by Matthew Henry on this day. Our Protestant feeling, and our love of
liberty, should make us regard its anniversary with holy gratitude. Let our
hearts and lips exclaim, "We have heard with our ears, and our fathers
have told us the wondrous things which Thou didst in their day, and in the old
time before them." Thou hast made this nation the home of the gospel; and
when the foe has risen against her, Thou hast shielded her. Help us to offer
repeated songs for repeated deliverances. Grant us more and more a hatred of
Antichrist, and hasten on the day of her entire extinction. Till then and ever,
we believe the promise, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall
prosper." Should it not be laid upon the heart of every lover of the
gospel of Jesus on this day to plead for the overturning of false doctrines and
the extension of divine truth? Would it not be well to search our own hearts,
and turn out any of the Popish lumber of self-righteousness
which may lie concealed therein?
Evening
"Be
thankful unto Him, and bless His name."—Psalm 100:4.
Our Lord would have all His
people rich in high and happy thoughts concerning His blessed person. Jesus is
not content that His brethren should think meanly of Him; it is His pleasure
that His espoused ones should be delighted with His beauty. We are not to
regard Him as a bare necessary, like to bread and water, but as a luxurious
delicacy, as a rare and ravishing delight. To this end He has revealed Himself
as the "pearl of great price" in its peerless beauty, as the
"bundle of myrrh" in its refreshing fragrance, as the "rose of
Sharon" in its lasting perfume, as the "lily" in its spotless
purity.
As a help to high thoughts
of Christ, remember the estimation that Christ is had in beyond the skies,
where things are measured by the right standard. Think how God esteems the Only
Begotten, His unspeakable gift to us. Consider what the angels think of Him, as
they count it their highest honour to veil their
faces at His feet. Consider what the blood-washed think of Him, as day without
night they sing His well deserved praises. High thoughts of Christ will enable
us to act consistently with our relations towards Him. The more loftily we see
Christ enthroned, and the more lowly we are when bowing before the foot of the
throne, the more truly shall we be prepared to act our part towards Him. Our
Lord Jesus desires us to think well of Him, that we may submit cheerfully to
His authority. High thoughts of Him increase our love. Love and esteem go
together. Therefore, believer, think much of your Master's excellencies. Study Him in His primeval glory, before
He took upon Himself your nature! Think of the mighty love
which drew Him from His throne to die upon the cross! Admire Him as He
conquers all the powers of hell! See Him risen,
crowned, glorified! Bow before Him as the Wonderful, the Counsellor,
the mighty God, for only thus will your love to Him be what it should.