Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
August 6
Morning
"Watchman,
what of the night?"—Isaiah 21:11.
What enemies
are abroad?
Errors are a numerous horde, and new ones appear every hour: against what
heresy am I to be on my guard? Sins creep from their lurking places when the
darkness reigns; I must myself mount the watch-tower,
and watch unto prayer. Our heavenly Protector foresees all the attacks which are about to be made upon us, and when as yet
the evil designed us is but in the desire of Satan, He prays for us that our
faith fail not, when we are sifted as wheat. Continue O gracious Watchman, to
forewarn us of our foes, and for Zion's sake hold not thy peace.
"Watchman,
what of the night?" What weather is coming for the Church? Are the
clouds lowering, or is it all clear and fair overhead? We must care for the
Church of God with anxious love; and now that Popery and infidelity are both
threatening, let us observe the signs of the times and prepare for conflict.
"Watchman,
what of the night?" What stars are visible? What precious promises
suit our present case? You sound the alarm, give us the consolation also. Christ, the polestar, is ever
fixed in His place, and all the stars are secure in the right hand of their
Lord.
But watchman, when
comes the morning? The Bridegroom tarries. Are there no signs of His coming
forth as the Sun of Righteousness? Has not the morning star arisen as the
pledge of day? When will the day dawn, and the shadows flee away? O Jesus, if
Thou come not in person to Thy waiting Church this day, yet come in Spirit to
my sighing heart, and make it sing for joy.
"Now all
the earth is bright and glad
With the
fresh morn;
But all my
heart is cold, and dark and sad:
Sun of the
soul, let me behold Thy dawn!
Come, Jesus,
Lord,
O quickly
come, according to Thy word."
Evening
"Let the
whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen, and Amen."—Psalm 72:19.
This is a large petition.
To intercede for a whole city needs a stretch of faith, and there are times
when a prayer for one man is enough to stagger us. But how far-reaching was the
psalmist's dying intercession! How comprehensive! How sublime! "Let the
whole earth be filled with His glory." It doth not exempt a single country
however crushed by the foot of superstition; it doth not exclude a single
nation however barbarous. For the cannibal as well as for the civilized, for
all climes and races this prayer is uttered: the whole circle of the earth it
encompasses, and omits no son of Adam. We must be up and doing for our Master,
or we cannot honestly offer such a prayer. The petition is not asked with a
sincere heart unless we endeavour, as God shall help
us, to extend the kingdom of our Master. Are there not some who neglect
both to plead and to labour? Reader, is it your
prayer? Turn your eyes to Calvary. Behold the Lord of Life nailed to a cross,
with the thorn-crown about His brow, with bleeding head, and hands, and feet.
What! can you look upon this miracle of miracles, the
death of the Son of God, without feeling within your bosom a marvellous adoration that language never can express? And
when you feel the blood applied to your conscience, and know that He has
blotted out your sins, you are not a man unless you start from your
knees and cry, "Let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen, and
Amen." Can you bow before the Crucified in loving homage, and not wish to
see your Monarch master of the world? Out on you if you can pretend to love
your Prince, and desire not to see Him the universal ruler. Your piety is
worthless unless it leads you to wish that the same mercy
which has been extended to you may bless the whole world. Lord, it is
harvest-time, put in Thy sickle and reap.