Monday, May 18, 2015

God Numbers Your Sighs and Bottles up Your Tears


Mr. R read this quote by a Redwood of the faith to us this morning as we shared brunch before church. We found it quite encouraging. I hope you, too, are blessed by the words of Puritan Richard Baxter.

"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
He will dwell with them."
Revelation 21:3

"The glorious and infinite God, who made the worlds, and upholds them by his word, who is praised continually by His heavenly hosts; this God, has sent to you a joyful message to raise you from the dust, and banish the terrors and troubles from your hearts, and help you to live like the sons of God. 

"He takes notice of your sorrows. He stands close by when you do not see Him and feel He has forsaken you. He attends you with the greatest tenderness when you say He has forgotten you. He numbers your sighs and bottles up you tears. He feels the groans of your heart...

"But soon, our Redeemer, will return return to give you such a convincing demonstration of His love as to leave no room for doubt. Your comforts are now a taste, but then, they shall be a feast. How soon do our conquered fears return, and what inconstancy and unevenness is there in our peace! Then, our peace will be perfect and permanent. We shall then enjoy Him continually.

"O Christians, our comforts should be more abundant, but we do make a mistake by expecting too much on earth. Our true rest in heaven will be our peace indeed. Looking off to these yet unseen blessings is an eminent part of our faith. It is in the apprehension and expectation of our yet unseen heavenly blessings that our earthly and safety depend. O that Christians were careful to live with one eye on Christ crucified, and the other on His glory!"
Richard Baxter, Practical Works, 11:884-885
Voices from the Past, Edited by Richard Rushing

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