From J. C. Philpot's Daily Portions
December 29 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He that abides in
me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without me you can
do nothing." John 15:5 The great secret in religion--that secret which is only
with those who fear the Lord and to whom he shows his covenant--is first to
get sensible union with the Lord, and then to maintain it. But this union
cannot be gotten except by some manifestation of his Person and work to our
heart, joining us to him as by one Spirit. This is the espousal of the soul,
whereby it is espoused to one husband as a chaste virgin to Christ. From
this espousal comes fellowship, or communion with Christ; and from this
communion flows all fruitfulness, for it is not a barren marriage. But this union and communion cannot be maintained except
by abiding in Christ; and this can only be by his abiding in us. "Abide in
me, and I in you." But how do we abide in him? Mainly by faith, hope, and
love, for these are the three chief graces of the Spirit which are exercised
upon the Person and work of the Son of God. But as a matter of faith and
experience, we have also to learn that to abide in Christ needs prayer and
watchfulness, patience and self-denial, separation from the world and things
worldly, study of the Scriptures and secret meditation, attendance on the
means of grace, and, though last, not least, much inward exercise of soul.
The Lord is, so to speak, very cautious of his presence.
Any indulged sin; any forbidden gratification; any bosom idol; any lightness
or carnality; any abuse of the comforts of house and home, wife and
children, food and clothing; any snare of business or occupation; any
negligence in prayer, reading, watching the heart and mouth; any conformity
to the world and worldly professors; in a word, anything contrary to his
mind and will, offensive to the eyes of his holiness and purity,
inconsistent with godly fear in a tender conscience, or unbecoming our holy
profession, it matters not whether little or much, whether seen or unseen by
human eye--all provoke the Lord to deny the soul the enjoyment of his
presence. And yet with all his purity and holiness and severity
against sin, he is full of pity and compassion to those who fear and love
his great and glorious name. When these sins are felt, and these
backslidings confessed, he will turn again and not retain his anger forever.
When repenting Israel returns unto the Lord his God, with the words in his
heart and mouth--"Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously;" then
the Lord answers--"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely;
for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel--he
shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon." Then, under
the influence of his love, Israel cries aloud--"Who is a God like unto you,
that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his
heritage? he retains not his anger forever, because he delights in mercy. He
will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our
iniquities; and will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."