May 29
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeWednesday of the First Week after Easter
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith. Hebrews 11:39.
THINK on the great instances of faith in Holy Scripture. Think you not that Abraham loved as well as believed, when God first spake to him, and called him to give up his country and his kindred and his father's house; and instead of all God said, "I will bless thee," and he took God for his all, and went out not knowing whither he went save that he was following God? Or David, did he not love when, in zeal for the honour of the Lord of Hosts, he went forth, a stripling, in His Name, to meet the champion of the Philistines? Or did not love with faith revive when the royal penitent said, "I have sinned against the Lord;" and much more when the Lord had put away his sin, he all lifelong said, "My sin is ever before me"? Why did he wish to be cleansed with the atoning hyssop, even the humiliation of our Lord in His Passion? was it not for love of God? "Thou desirest truth in the inward parts." So he longed to be what God would have him. What longed he for, but not to be "cast out of God's holy presence" or lose His Holy Spirit. His presence, from the soul? Or in S. Peter, when both faith and love had been chilled in the height of the Lord's Passion, did they not revive by that gracious look wherewith He recalled him to himself, and melted him into tears of penitence and love?
He loves and is beloved again; Can His soul choose but be at rest? Sorrow hath fled away, and pain Dares not invade the guarded nest.