2. _His Eternity_ "for thee." All we can ask Him to take are days and moments--the little span given us as it is given, and of this only the present in deed and the future in will. As for the past, in so far as we did not give it to Him, it is too late; we can never give it now! But His past was given to us, though ours was not given to Him. Oh, what a tremendous debt does this show us!
Away back in the dim depths of past eternity, "or ever the earth and the world were made," His divine existence in the bosom of His Father was all "for thee," purposing and planning "for thee," receiving and holding the promise of eternal life "for thee."
Then the thirty-three years among sinners on this sinful earth: do we think enough of the slowly-wearing days and nights, the heavy-footed hours, the never-hastening minutes, that went to make up those thirty-three years of trial and humiliation? We all know how slowly time pa.s.ses when suffering and sorrow are near, and there is no reason to suppose that our Master was exempted from this part of our infirmities.
Then His present is "for thee." Even now He "liveth to make intercession;" even now He "thinketh upon me;" even now He "knoweth," He "careth," He "loveth."
Then, only to think that His whole eternity will be "for thee!" Millions of ages of unfoldings of all His love, and of ever new declarings of His Father"s name to His brethren. Think of it! and can we ever hesitate to give _all_ our poor little hours to His service?
3. _His Hands_ "for thee." Literal hands; literally pierced, when the whole weight of His quivering frame hung from their torn muscles and bared nerves; literally uplifted in parting blessing. Consecrated, priestly hands; "filled" hands (Ex. xxviii. 41, xxix. 9, etc., margin)--filled once with His great offering, and now with gifts and blessings "for thee." Tender hands, touching and healing, lifting and leading with gentlest care. Strong hands, upholding and defending. Open hands, filling with good and satisfying desire (Ps. civ. 28, and cxlv.
16). Faithful hands, restraining and sustaining. "His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doth embrace me."
4. _His Feet_ "for thee." They were weary very often, they were wounded and bleeding once. They made clear footprints as He went about doing good, and as He went up to Jerusalem to suffer; and these "blessed steps of His most holy life," both as subst.i.tution and example, were "for thee." Our place of waiting and learning, of resting and loving, is at His feet. And still those "blessed feet" are and shall be "for thee,"
until He comes again to receive us unto Himself, until and when the word is fulfilled, "They shall walk with Me in white."
5. _His Voice_ "for thee." The "Voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love;" the Voice that His sheep "hear"
and "know," and that calls out the fervent response, "Master, say on!"
This is not all. It was the literal voice of the Lord Jesus which uttered that one echoless cry of desolation on the Cross "for thee," and it will be His own literal voice which will say, "Come, ye blessed!" to thee. And that same tender and "glorious Voice" has literally sung and will sing "for thee." I think He consecrated song for us, and made it a sweet and sacred thing for ever, when He Himself "sang an hymn," the very last thing before He went forth to consecrate suffering for us. That was not His last song. "The Lord thy G.o.d ... will joy over thee with singing."
And the time is coming when He will not only sing "for thee" or "over thee," but with thee. He says He will! "In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee." Now what a magnificent glimpse of joy this is!
"Jesus Himself leading the praises of His brethren,"[footnote: See A.
Newton on the Epistle to the Hebrews, ch. ii. ver. 12.] and we ourselves singing not merely in such a chorus, but with such a leader! If "singing for Jesus" is such delight here, what will this "singing _with_ Jesus"
be? Surely song may well be a holy thing to us henceforth.
6. _His Lips_ "for thee." Perhaps there is no part of our consecration which it is so difficult practically to realize, and in which it is, therefore, so needful to recollect?--"I also for thee." It is often helpful to read straight through one or more of the Gospels with a special thought on our mind, and see how much bears upon it. When we read one through with this thought--"His _lips_ for me!"--wondering, verse by verse, at the grace which was poured into them, and the gracious words which fell from them, wondering more and more at the c.u.mulative force and infinite wealth of tenderness and power and wisdom and love flowing from them, we cannot but desire that our lips and all the fruit of them should be wholly for Him. "For thee" they were opened in blessing; "for thee"
they were closed when He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And whether teaching, warning, counsel, comfort, or encouragement, commandments in whose keeping there is a great reward, or promises which exceed all we ask or think--all the precious fruit of His lips is "for thee," really and truly _meant_ "for thee."
7. _His Wealth_ "for thee." "Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be made rich." Yes, "through His poverty" the unsearchable riches of Christ are "for thee."
Seven-fold riches are mentioned; and these are no unminted treasure or sealed reserve, but all ready coined for our use, and stamped with His own image and superscription, and poured freely into the hand of faith.
The mere list is wonderful. "Riches of goodness," "riches of forbearance and long-suffering," "riches both of wisdom and knowledge," "riches of mercy," "exceeding riches of grace," and "riches of glory." And His own Word says, "All are yours!" Glance on in faith, and think of eternity flowing on and on beyond the mightiest sweep of imagination, and realize that all "His riches in glory" and "the riches of His glory" are and shall be "for thee!" In view of this, shall we care to reserve anything that rust doth corrupt for ourselves?
8. _His "treasures of wisdom and knowledge"_ "for thee." First, used for our behalf and benefit. Why did He expend such immeasurable might of mind upon a world which is to be burnt up, but that He would fit it perfectly to be, not the home, but the school of His children? The infinity of His skill is such that the most powerful intellects find a lifetime too short to penetrate a little way into a few secrets of some one small department of His working. If we turn to Providence, it is quite enough to take only one"s own life, and look at it microscopically and telescopically, and marvel at the treasures of wisdom lavished upon its details, ordering and shaping and fitting the tiny confused bits into the true mosaic which He means it to be. Many a little thing in our lives reveals the same Mind which, according to a well-known and very beautiful ill.u.s.tration, adjusted a perfect proportion in the delicate hinges of the snowdrop and the droop of its bell, with the ma.s.s of the globe and the force of gravitation. How kind we think it if a very talented friend spends a little of his thought and power of mind in teaching us or planning for us! Have we been grateful for the infinite thought and wisdom which our Lord has expended upon us and our creation, preservation, and redemption?
Secondly, to be shared with us. He says, "All that I have is thine." He holds nothing back, reserves nothing from His dear children, and what we cannot receive now He is keeping for us. He gives us "hidden riches of secret places" now, but by and by He will give us more, and the glorified intellect will be filled continually out of His treasures of wisdom and knowledge. But the sanctified intellect will be, must be, used for Him, and only for Him, now!
9. _His Will_ "for thee." Think first of the _infinite might_ of that will; the first great law and the first great force of the universe, from which alone every other law and every other force has sprung, and to which all are subordinate. "He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will." "He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." Then think of the _infinite mysteries_ of that will. For ages and generations the hosts of heaven have wonderingly watched its vouchsafed unveilings and its sublime developments, and still they are waiting, watching, and wondering.
Creation and Providence are but the whisper of its power, but Redemption is its music, and praise is the echo which shall yet fill His temple. The whisper and the music, yes, and "the thunder of His power," are all "for thee." For what _is_ "the good pleasure of His will"? (Eph. i. 5.) Oh, what a grand list of blessings purposed, provided, purchased, and possessed, all flowing to us out of it! And nothing but blessings, nothing but privileges, which we never should have imagined, and which, even when revealed, we are "slow of heart to believe;" nothing but what should even now fill us "with joy unspeakable and full of glory!"
Think of this will as always and altogether on our side--always working for us, and in us, and with us, if we will only let it; think of it as always and only synonymous with infinitely wise and almighty love; think of it as undertaking all for us, from the great work of our eternal salvation down to the momentary details of guidance and supply, and do we not feel utter shame and self-abhorrence at _ever_ having hesitated for an instant to give up our tiny, feeble, blind will, to be--not crushed, not even bent, but _blent_ with His glorious and perfect Will?
10. _His Heart_ "for thee." "Behold ... He is mighty ... in heart," said Job (Job x.x.xvi. 5, margin). And this mighty and tender heart is "for thee!" If He had only stretched forth His hand to save us from bare destruction, and said, "My hand for thee!" how could we have praised Him enough? But what shall we say of the unspeakably marvellous condescension which says, "Thou hast ravished (margin, _taken away_) my heart, my sister, my spouse!" The very fountain of His divine life, and light, and love, the very centre of His being, is given to His beloved ones, who are not only "set as a seal upon His heart," but taken into His heart, so that our life is hid there, and we dwell there in the very centre of all safety, and power, and love, and glory. What will be the revelation of "that day," when the Lord Jesus promises, "Ye shall know that I am in My Father, and _ye in Me"?_ For He implies that we do not yet know it, and that our present knowledge of this dwelling in Him is not knowledge at all compared with what He is going to show us about it.
Now shall we, can we, reserve any corner of our hearts from Him?
11. _His Love_ "for thee." Not a pa.s.sive, possible love, but outflowing, yes, _outpouring_ of the real, glowing, personal love of His mighty and tender heart. Love not as an attribute, a quality, a latent force, but an acting, moving, reaching, touching, and grasping power. Love, not a cold, beautiful, far-off star, but a sunshine that comes and enfolds us, making us warm and glad, and strong and bright and fruitful.
_His_ love! What manner of love is it? What should be quoted to prove or describe it? First the whole Bible with its mysteries and marvels of redemption, then the whole book of Providence and the whole volume of creation. Then add to these the unknown records of eternity past and the unknown glories of eternity to come, and then let the immeasurable quotation be sung by "angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven," with all the harps of G.o.d, and still that love will be untold, still it will be "the love of Christ that pa.s.seth knowledge."
But it is "for thee!"
12. _Himself_ "for thee." "Christ also hath loved us, and given Himself for us." "The Son of G.o.d ... loved me, and gave Himself for me." Yes, Himself! What is the Bride"s true and central treasure? What calls forth the deepest, brightest, sweetest thrill of love and praise? Not the Bridegroom"s priceless gifts, not the robe of His resplendent righteousness, not the dowry of unsearchable riches, not the magnificence of the palace home to which He is bringing her, not the glory which she shall share with Him, but Himself! Jesus Christ, "who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree;" "this same Jesus," "whom having not seen, ye love;" the Son of G.o.d, and the Man of Sorrows; my Saviour, my Friend, my Master, my King, my Priest, my Lord and my G.o.d--He says, "_I_ also for thee!" What an "_I"!_ What power and sweetness we feel in it, so different from any human "_I_," for all His G.o.dhead and all His manhood are concentrated in it, and all "for thee!"
And not only "all," but "_ever_" for thee. His unchangeableness is the seal upon every attribute; He will be "this same Jesus" for ever. How can mortal mind estimate this enormous promise? How can mortal heart conceive what is enfolded in these words, "I also for thee"?
One glimpse of its fulness and glory, and we feel that henceforth it must be, shall be, and by His grace _will_ be our true-hearted, whole-hearted cry--
Take _myself_, and I will be _Ever_, ONLY, ALL for Thee!
SELECTIONS FROM MISS HAVERGAL"S LATEST POEMS.
An Interlude.
_That_ part is finished! I lay down my pen, And wonder if the thoughts will flow as fast Through the more difficult defile. For the last Was easy, and the channel deeper then.
My Master, I will trust Thee for the rest; Give me just what Thou wilt, and that will be my best!
How can _I_ tell the varied, hidden need Of Thy dear children, all unknown to me, Who at some future time may come and read What I have written! All are known to Thee.
As Thou hast helped me, help me to the end; Give me Thy own sweet messages of love to send.
So now, I pray Thee, keep my hand in Thine; And guide it as Thou wilt. I do not ask To understand the "wherefore" of each line; Mine is the sweeter, easier, happier task, Just to look up to Thee for every word, Rest in Thy love, and trust, and know that I am heard.
The Thoughts of G.o.d.
They say there is a hollow, safe and still, A point of coolness and repose Within the centre of a flame, where life might dwell Unharmed and unconsumed, as in a luminous sh.e.l.l, Which the bright walls of fire enclose In breachless splendour, barrier that no foes Could pa.s.s at will.
There is a point of rest At the great centre of the cyclone"s force, A silence at its secret source;-- A little child might slumber undistressed, Without the ruffle of one fairy curl, In that strange central calm amid the mighty whirl.