LENGTHEN THY CORDS --- Isaiah 54:2, 3.
"Spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes: for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited." --- Isaiah 54:2, 3.
How comfortable is it to the religious man to behold an increase of the true worshippers of God! and, more especially, in that place where his soul has dwelt among lions, and been day to day "vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked." To see the banner of Christ set up there, and numbers flock unto it as doves to their windows; to see the kingdom of Satan weaken and contract, and the kingdom of God and his Christ strengthen and enlarge; to see the hand of the Lord protecting and providing for his people, going before them, like the pillar and cloud, refreshing them by day and by night; this is indeed a feast of fat things.
Lord, grant that I may be thankful for what I have already seen, and may behold thy glory thus displayed more and more. And while thou lengthenest our cords, do thou enable us to strengthen our stakes, by holding fast the form of sound words, living as persons professing godliness, showing that we are Christians indeed, by love to each other, and keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Thus shall our light shine before men, and the light of the gospel break forth on the right hand and on the left, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Arise, thou Sun of righteousness,
And bless the world with heavenly light;
Break forth, and show thy gospel grace,
Attended with thy Spirit's might.