Difference between revisions of "Meditation LXXVIII."

Revision as of 00:18, 7 January 2020

Meditation LXXVIII.

IN A HOT CLIMATE.

Gibraltar Bay, May 18, 1759.

"He will shelter Israel from the storm and the wind. He will refresh her as a river in the desert and as the cool shadow of a large rock in a hot and weary land." Isaiah 32:2 (NLT)

What frail creatures are we humans! Yet how madly bold—who dare contend with God, when heat or cold, increased but a few degrees, becomes intolerable! Here, in this southern climate, how scorching is the noon sun! The earth receives so many solar sparks of fire, that sand and stones almost burn the naked skin that touches them.

Now, if it is so hot so many degrees from the meridian, what must it be there, by the sun darting down his direct beams? and if carried nearer the sun still, how must the heat increase, until approaching the burning orb, we find it all one fire, one substantial flame?

Now, saints and sinners are like the inhabitants of the world, some dwelling in a mild, some in a scorching climate. O miserable condition of the wicked, who change from ill to worse, until their misery can admit almost of no increase—but in the eternity of it! Here God's anger scorches them—and hereafter his wrath consumes them.

O! who knows the power of his wrath? Now they can put up with their case through stupidity—though they know no inward solid comfort. But how will they stand when oceans of boiling vengeance will roll over them forever? when they shall be set under the burning beams of inexorable justice, and fiery indignation? Our sun, even at his surface or center, is mild compared to God's displeasure—who kindled that sun, and set it in the skies.

Just now my head is pained with the beating of the sun-beams, and all my members lifeless; every pore pours out my strength, and every fibre of my tongue pants for the cold spring; but there a rock presents itself, whose friendly height shields off the scorching beams, and hides me from the heat.

How refreshful to stand in the shadow here, while all is parched and scorched around me. So desirable, and vastly more—is Christ to the soul that is scorched with Sinai's fiery flames, and stands panting under the burning wrath of an offended God. The God-man "is a hiding-place from the wind, a covert from the tempest, as rivers of waters in a dry place, and the shadow of a great rock," which neither melts before the heat, nor transmits it on the fainting pilgrim "in a weary land." My body is sensible of this covert from the heat; may my soul be as sensible of your diviner shadow!

Some rocks are parched with drought—but the Rock of ages has the fountain of salvation flowing from him. I must leave this rock, though refreshful, otherwise I cannot pursue my intended journey. But in the shadow of the everlasting Rock, I must rest forever, else I shall not be able to reach the end of my journey, the land of promise.

To my comfort I find refreshment in the Rock of salvation, even all that is needful in my passage heavenward, until I arrive at glory, become an inhabitant of the Rock forever, and shout my everlasting song from the top of the mountains of bliss!

Meditation LXXIX.

Back to Meditations 61 to 90