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"In whom ye also trusted,
after that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel
of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed,
ye were sealed
with
that Holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until
the redemption of the purchased possession,
unto the praise of his
glory."
Ephesians. 1:13-14 |
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Meditations from "The Saints Everlasting Rest"
Rev. Richard Baxter
II. The Excellencies of the Saints Rest 1
It is a most singular honor of the saints'
rest, to be called the purchased possession; that is, the fruit of the
blood of the Son of God; yea, the chief fruit, the end and perfection of
all the fruits and efficacy of that blood. Greater love than this
there is not, to lay down the life of the lover. And to have this
our Redeemer ever before our eyes, and the liveliest sense and freshest
remembrance of that dying, bleeding love, still upon our souls! How will
it fill our souls with perpetual joy, to think that in the streams of this
blood we have swum through the violence of the world, the snares of Satan,
the seductions of flesh, the curse of the law, the wrath of an offended
God, the accusations of a guilty conscience, and the vexing doubts and
fears of an unbelieving heart, and are arrived safely at the presence of
God! Now he cries to us, "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?
behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow!" And we
scarce regard the mournful voice, -- scarce turn aside to view the wounds.
But then our perfected souls will feel, and flame in love for love. With
what astonishing apprehensions will redeemed saints everlastingly behold
their blessed Redeemer! the purchaser, and the price, together with the
possession! Neither will the view of his wounds of love renew our wounds
of sorrow. He, whose first words after his resurrection were to a great
sinner, "Woman, why weepest thou?" knows how to raise love and
joy, without any cloud of sorrow or storm of tears. If any thing we enjoy
was purchased with the life of our dearest friend, how highly should we
value it! If a dying friend deliver us but a token of his love, how
carefully do we preserve it, and still remember him when we behold it, as
if his own name were written on it! And will not, then, the death and
blood of our Lord everlastingly sweeten our possessed glory? As we write
down the price our goods cost us; so, on our righteousness and glory write
down the price, The precious blood of Christ. His sufferings were to
satisfy the justice that required blood, and to bear what was due to
sinners, and so to restore them to the life they lost, and the happiness
from which they fell. The work of Christ's redemption so well pleased the
Father, that he gave him power to advance his chosen, and give them the
glory which was given to himself; and all this "according to his good
pleasure and the counsel of his own will."
Meditations Index
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