ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS --- Ephesians 1:3.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." --- Ephesians 1:3.
From natural constitution we earnestly expect present gratification. It is by no means sufficient, therefore to explain to us our duty or enforce it by future rewards and punishment. There must be pleasures at hand to outweigh the enticements of sin, and out bid whatever that sorceress can offer. The religion of Jesus is constituted in this manner, it brings the possession of the best happiness here; a rich foretaste, in this life, of heavenly glory.
Salvation cometh of the Lord to the sinner upon believing, just as a most ample estate bequeathed to a beggar in debt; at once it alters his whole condition, pays all he owes, supplies all he wants, gives him a rank, figure, and authority, to which before he was a perfect stranger. Such blessedness in the pardon of all my sins, in access to God with confidence, in victory over my spiritual enemies, give me, O my God, to enjoy!
Thou only Sov'reign of my heart,
My refuge, my almighty Friend;
How can my soul from thee depart,
On whom alone my hopes depend?.
Eternal life thy words impart,
On these my fainting spirit lives;
Here sweeter comforts cheer my heart
Than all the round of nature gives.
Let earth's alluring joys combine, While thou art near in vain they call; One smile, one blissful smile of thine, My dearest Lord, outweighs them all.
Low at thy feet my soul would lie, Here safety dwells, and peace divine; Still let me live beneath thine eye, For life, eternal life, is thine.