"He is Faithful that Promised."
"What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know
hereafter."--JOHN xiii. 7.
Heavenly Illumination.
As the natural sun sometimes sinks in clouds, so, occasionally, the
Christian who has a bright rising, and a brighter meridian, sets in
gloom. It is not _always_ "light" at his evening-time; but this we know,
that when the day of immortality breaks, the last vestige of earth's
shadows will for ever flee away. To the closing hour of time, Providence
may be to him a baffling enigma: but ere the first hour has struck on
heaven's chronometer, all will be clear. My soul! "in God's light thou
shalt see light;" the Book of His decrees is a sealed book now,--"A
great deep" is all the explanation thou canst often give to His
judgments; the _why_ and the _wherefore_ He seems to keep from us, to
test our faith, to discipline us in trustful submission, and lead us to
say, "Thy will be done!" But rejoice in that hereafter-light which
awaits thee! Now we see through a glass darkly; but _then_, face to
face. In the great mirror of eternity all the events of this chequered
scene will be reflected; the darkest of them will be seen to be bright
with mercy,--the severest dispensations, "only the severer aspects of
His love!" Pry not, then, too curiously; pronounce not too censoriously
on God's dealings with thee. Wait with patience till the grand day of
disclosures; one confession shall then burst from every tongue,
"Righteous art thou, O Lord!"
"REMEMBER _THIS_ WORD UNTO THY SERVANT, UPON
WHICH THOU HAST CAUSED ME TO HOPE!"