Sunday Night Thoughts

Last Lord’s day night I had some thoughts as to evidences for heaven, which I resumed this day.

1. I am content to take Christ for my prophet, to be taught by him what is my duty, that I may comply with it; I am content to know what is my sin, that I may turn from it; and by grace I know something of what it is to make use of Christ as a prophet in this case; and I desire to learn of him, as the only Master, what is the will of God, and the mystery of renouncing my own wisdom, which I reckon but weakness and folly.

2. I know and am persuaded, that I am not able to satisfy it, nor no creature for me; that Christ is able, and his death and sufferings are sufficient satisfaction. On this I throw my soul with all its full weight; here is my hope and only confidence. My duties, I believe the best of them, would damn me, sink me to the lowest pit, and must needs be washed in that precious blood, and can have no acceptance with God but through his intercession. I desire to have nothing to do with an absolute God, nor to converse with God but only through Christ. I am sensible that I have nothing to commend to God, not to Christ, that he may take my cause in hand. If he should damn me, he should do me no wrong. But the cord of love is let out, even the covenant in his blood; I accept of it, and at his command lay hold on it, and venture. This is faith in spite of devils. And my heart is pleased with the glorious device of man’s salvation through Christ, carrying all the praise to free grace, and leaving nothing of it to the creature.

3. My soul is content with him for my king; and though I cannot be free of sin, God himself knows he would be welcome to make havoc of my lusts, and to make me holy. I know no lust that I would not be content to part with. My will bound hand and foot I desire to lay at his feet; and though it will strive, whether I will or not, I believe whatever God does to me is best done.

4. Though afflictions of themselves can be no evidence of the Lord’s love; yet forasmuch as the native product of afflictions and strokes from the hand of the Lord, is to drive the guilty away from the Lord; when I find it is not so with me, but that I am drawn to God by them, made to kiss the rod, and accept of the punishment of my iniquity, to love God more, and to have more confidence in him, and kindly thoughts of his way, and find my heart more closely cleaving to him, I cannot but think such an affliction an evidence of his love. I have met with many troubles, and the afflictions I have met with have been very remarkable in their circumstances. Often have I seen it, and now once more, verified in my lot; 1 Cor. iv. 9, “For we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men,” &c. Now I am as a weaned child, through grace in the matter. Let the Lord do what seemeth him good.

— From Memoirs of Thomas Boston

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