Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
August 25
Morning
"His
fruit was sweet to my taste."—Song of Solomon 2:3.
Faith, in the Scripture, is
spoken of under the emblem of all the senses. It is sight: "Look
unto me and be ye saved." It is hearing: "Hear, and your soul
shall live." Faith is smelling:
"All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia"; "thy
name is as ointment poured forth." Faith is spiritual touch. By
this faith the woman came behind and touched the hem of Christ's garment, and
by this we handle the things of the good word of life. Faith is equally the
spirit's taste. "How sweet are Thy words to my taste! yea,
sweeter than honey to my lips." "Except a man eat my flesh," saith Christ, "and drink my blood, there is no life in
him."
This "taste"
is faith in one of its highest operations. One of the first performances
of faith is hearing. We hear the voice of God, not with the outward ear
alone, but with the inward ear; we hear it as God's Word, and we believe it to
be so; that is the "hearing" of faith. Then our mind looketh upon the truth as it is presented to us;
that is to say, we understand it, we perceive its meaning; that is the
"seeing" of faith. Next we discover its preciousness; we begin to
admire it, and find how fragrant it is; that is faith in its "smell."
Then we appropriate the mercies which are prepared for
us in Christ; that is faith in its "touch." Hence follow the
enjoyments, peace, delight, communion; which are faith in its
"taste." Any one of these acts of faith is saving. To hear Christ's
voice as the sure voice of God in the soul will save us; but that which gives
true enjoyment is the aspect of faith wherein Christ, by holy taste, is
received into us, and made, by inward and spiritual apprehension of His
sweetness and preciousness, to be the food of our souls. It is then we sit
"under His shadow with great delight," and find His fruit sweet to
our taste.
Evening
"If thou
believest with all thine
heart, thou mayest."—Acts 8:37.
These words may answer your
scruples, devout reader, concerning the ordinances. Perhaps you say,
"I should be afraid to be baptized; it is such a solemn thing to avow
myself to be dead with Christ, and buried with Him. should
not feel at liberty to come to the Master's table; I should be afraid of eating
and drinking damnation unto myself, not discerning the Lord's body." Ah! poor trembler, Jesus has given you liberty, be not afraid.
If a stranger came to your house, he would stand at the door, or wait in the
hall; he would not dream of intruding unbidden into your parlour—he
is not at home: but your child makes himself very free about the house; and so
is it with the child of God. A stranger may not intrude where a child may
venture. When the Holy Ghost has given you to feel the spirit of adoption, you
may come to Christian ordinances without fear. The same rule holds good of the Christian's
inward privileges. You think, poor seeker, that
you are not allowed to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; if you
are permitted to get inside Christ's door, or sit at the bottom of His table,
you will be well content. Ah! but you shall not have
less privileges than the very greatest. God makes no difference in His love to
His children. A child is a child to Him; He will not make him a hired servant;
but he shall feast upon the fatted calf, and shall have the music and the
dancing as much as if he had never gone astray. When Jesus comes into the
heart, He issues a general licence to be glad in the
Lord. No chains are worn in the court of King Jesus. Our admission into full
privileges may be gradual, but it is sure. Perhaps our reader is saying,
"I wish I could enjoy the promises, and walk at liberty in my Lord's
commands." "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest."
Loose the chains of thy neck, O captive daughter, for Jesus makes thee free.