No one but a believer can take pleasure in the recollection of God's holiness. Every unrenewed sinner must, if he thinks at all, be dreadfully alarmed at it. But to a soul, believing and trusting in Christ and his righteousness, the holiness of the Lord is as dear and precious as any other of the divine perfections; and for this plain reason: because in the person of Jesus, his glorious surety, he beholds a holiness every way equal to the demands of God's righteous law, and in that holiness he considers himself, both now in grace, and hereafter in glory, as appearing before God. Sweet thought! Lord, help me ever to give thanks at the remembrance of thy holiness, and be made a partaker of it in Christ Jesus! Hebrews 12:10
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HALLELUJAH! The Lord God, even Jesus, omnipotent, reigneth! And while all the earth may find cause to be glad, and the multitude of the isles to rejoice, well may I, a poor inhabitant of these islands of darkness, born in sin, and by nature ignorant of Jesus and his reign, join the triumphant hymn of praise. And though a thousand obstructions of clouds and darkness prevent my perfect and clear knowledge how Jesus reigns; yet sure I am he doth reign in grace, and his kingdom shall be in everlasting glory.
Oh! let it please thee, thou almighty King of Zion, to go forth in the fire of thy word, in the hammer of thy law, in the melody of thy gospel, in the sword of thy Spirit, subduing the people to the sovereignty of thy grace, and bringing all thine enemies under thy footstool. Oh! shine, Lord, by thy word and Spirit, into the hearts and consciences of poor sinners; that their hearts may melt like wax before thee, and every knee bow unto thee, and every tongue be called forth in thy praise. And while waiting the precious fruits of that light which is sown for the righteous, give me to see that my path is the path of the justified soul in Christ Jesus, which shineth more and more unto a perfect day. Yes! my adorable Lord and Saviour! I will rejoice in thy righteousness. I will give thanks at the remembrance of thy holiness, without which no man can see the Lord. Such an High Priest, such an holy Surety, such an all pure, spotless, and undefiled Saviour, became poor sinners who had in themselves lost all holiness, and stood exposed thereby to the everlasting judgment and displeasure of almighty God. Well, therefore, may my soul rejoice in thee, who art the Lord my righteousness, and who art made of God to all thy redeemed, wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption; that according as is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. This therefore shall be my hallelujah song on earth, in the contemplation of this holiness, and my holiness in thee, until I come to the full enjoyment of thy presence, thy glory, and holiness, among the redeemed in heaven. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation; he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness: as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.