NIGHT THOUGHTS BY A WATCHMAN

When we are constrained to do our duty, we cannot applaud ourselves for the work we have performed; and any service rendered the Master, or any suffering endured for His sake, which is not prompted and sustained by love, is lacking in its chief requirement. It is the sacrifice without the salt. Men will accept a gift on account of its own value, and be glad of it, without any regard to the giver. One man may be thankful for the service or help of another man, while he may very much dislike the person and character of him whose assistance he receives. But the Lord looks first to the heart, and then to the act. He would first ask the worshipper, in His temple of old, standing with his gift in his hand, “Why have you come here?” Before He would say, “What have you brought Me?” The eye of God is on the heart, to read the mind of the spirit, before it observes that which is in the hand of the giver. And so it was from the beginning, for God had respect unto Abel and to his offering; but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. This rejoices the heart of every sincere seeker and worshipper, for he, being deeply conscious of the many imperfections of his services, and the poverty of his offerings, can yet appeal to the Heart-searcher and say, “Thou knowest that I mean Thy honour and glory by this my poor attempt at serving Thee.” Notwithstanding, then, the pain they feel because of the sins which cleave to their best endeavours, they will, they must, serve Him as best they can. To this mind, to this intention, of the seeker and server of Him, God ever looks; and, if the heart be right, the act is well-pleasing in His sight.”

It was to the inward prompting and pressing of the Holy Spirit that the Apostle referred when he wrote, “the love of Christ constraineth us.” He was moved, stirred, and guided by the Spirit, who incites the love of Christ in the heart, as well as implants it there. In this way, and by His influence, the service of God becomes much more than a duty. It is a soul-cleansing and soul-strengthening delight; and no servant of God is satisfied — nay, he is most sad — unless he realises something of this love in his heart when he goes to the house of God, or waits upon Him in secret. Only the dead formalist is contented with the services of the house when the Master is absent, or is not manifestly present.”

The religious zeal, the constant labour, the intense suffering, the unabated affection, which he sustained for so many years for his fellow-men made the Apostle Paul a surprise and a mystery to many of those who observed his conduct. He was told that he was mad. He, with others, had been charged with being under the influence of wine. But, whether blamed by foes or pitied by friends, he had one answer to each and all who remarked his conduct — “the love of Christ constraineth us.” And this answer was not void of reason. It was not the answer of the heart only but of the head also.”

There is the most cogent argument adduced in support of this statement. What could be more conclusive than this — “For we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead. (All being in union with Christ, and He being the Representative of all, therefore all died when He died). And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them, and rose again”?”

Constraining love is not without its cause. This cause is the love of Christ manifested to us in sufferings and death for our sake. This love of God shed abroad in the heart is the most potent used by Him to draw His people to Himself, and to enable them to labour and suffer cheerfully for His sake. This makes suffering light and labour sweet. This takes the terror from the grave, and gives joyful foretastes of glory.”

Charity, or love, is to be preferred before faith and hope, for the greatest of the three is charity. Where the love of Christ dwells and works in the heart, it is continually casting out the idols which it discovers there. The love of Christ is stronger than the love of sin or self. Self and sin go down when this love springs up. Faith worked by love in the heart of Moses when he departed from the king of Egypt in order to join the suffering people of God in the brickfields. The same faith and love is seen at the present time in those who, for Christ’s and truth’s sake depart from ungodly companions or natural relations, to cast in their lot with the despised and poor saints of the Lord. All who have any measure of this heavenly gift lament how little they feel its power, and earnestly desire more of its heart-cheering rays. They are disposed to ask —”

“Could my heart so hard remain,
Prayer a task and burden prove,
Every trifle give me pain,
If I knew a Saviour’s love?””

Oh, the sorrow felt by those who have known “constraining love” and banqueting favours, when the Beloved of their soul withdraws Himself ! Death and gloom are stamped on all around. But dear reader and companion, however He may have withdrawn Himself from you, He is still drawing you after Him. He will draw you into the wilderness, and there speak to your heart. You still love His people, and His ways. Your surely could not”

“Joy His saints to meet
Chose the ways you once abhorred,
Find at times the promise sweet,
If you did not love the Lord.””

In order to have your love to Christ increased and sustained, often get alone, and read carefully and prayerfully the account of His love to you, in the fact of His becoming a Man — the Man of Sorrows — the death He died, the grace and tenderness He manifested to His weak and wayward disciples, both before and after crucifixion, with the gracious promises He has given you, and all His followers, both for this life and the life to come. And, as well, go over the past goodness and mercy which have been bestowed on you, in calling you from darkness to light, keeping you from many evils and sins since the day of your calling, and the free pardon of all your transgressions for ever, for His own Name’s sake. This, done in the spirit of faith and hope, will soon—”

“Kindle a flame of sacred love
In these cold hearts of ours.””

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