The Thirtieth of March.I WILL MANIFEST MYSELF --- Galatians 1:16."To reveal his Son in me." --- Galatians 1:16. From hence begins the spiritual life: a life proceeding from God, and holding communion with God, and tending to the glory of God; and honour and happiness of our souls ariseth from this revealing of Christ in us. Oh for the reviving comfort of this, while we consider it! To reveal Christ in us is to make such a clear discovery of the matchless charms and glory of his person to our souls as we never saw before; so that our hearts are enamoured with him, we choose him, love him, delight in him, and cleave to him in all his offices and characters; for, by the eye of the soul, we then behold his glory --- the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth to us miserable sinners; hence, he is the only beloved of our souls. Without this revelation of Jesus Christ in us, alas! what is all our outward profession? No more than mere talk, dry formality, and heavy drudgery. O my soul! O my dear friends! be not content to live without a constant revelation of Christ to your souls; this makes the conscience peaceful, the heart heavenly, and the soul happy. This inspires love, subdues lust, captivates the affections, makes the whole man happy in God, and creates heaven in the soul. If Christ be within the heart, all will be right and well without in life. If you believe in Christ as revealed in the word, this blessed promise is for you "I will manifest myself to him." --- John 14:21. Great God, thy Scriptures will impart |