August 25

Morning

His fruit was sweet to my taste. — Song 2:3

Faith, in the Scripture, is spoken of under the emblem of all the senses.

It is sight, “Look unto me and be saved.”

It is hearing, “Hear and your soul shall live.”

Faith is smelling, “All your garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia.” “Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; Your Name is like perfume poured out.”

Faith is spiritual touch. By faith, the woman came behind and touched the hem of Christ’s garment. By faith—we handle the things of the good Word of life.

Faith is equally the soul’s taste. “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my lips!” “Except a man eats My flesh,” says Christ, “and drinks My blood, there is no life in him.” This spiritual “taste” is faith in one of its highest operations.

One of the first performances of faith is hearing. We hear the voice of God, not with the outward ear alone but with the inward ear! We hear it as God’s Word, and we believe it to be so; that is the “hearing” of faith.

Then our mind looks upon the truth as it is presented to us; that is to say, we understand it, we perceive its meaning; that is the “seeing” of faith.

Next we discover its preciousness; we begin to admire it, and find how fragrant it is; that is faith in its “smell.”

Then we appropriate the mercies which are prepared for us in Christ; that is faith in its “touch.”

Hence follow the enjoyments of spiritual peace, delight, and communion; which are faith in its “taste.”

Any one of these acts of faith is saving. To hear Christ’s voice as the sure voice of God in the soul—will save us. But that which gives true enjoyment, is the aspect of faith wherein Christ, by holy taste, is received into us, and made, by inward and spiritual apprehension of His sweetness and preciousness, to be the food of our souls! It is then that we “sit under His shadow with great delight and find His fruit sweet to our taste!”

Evening

If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. — Acts 8:37

These words may answer your scruples, devout reader, concerning the ordinances. Perhaps you say, “I would be afraid to be baptized—it is such a solemn thing to avow myself to be dead with Christ, and buried with Him. I should not feel at liberty to come to the Master’s table—I would be afraid of eating and drinking damnation unto myself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

Ah! poor trembler, Jesus has given you liberty, do not be afraid. If a stranger came to your house, he would stand at the door, or wait in the hall; he would not dream of intruding unbidden into your parlor—he is not at his home but your child makes himself very free about the house; and so is it with the child of God. A stranger may not intrude—where a child may venture. When the Holy Spirit has given you to feel the spirit of adoption, you may come to Christian ordinances without fear.

The same rule holds good of the Christian’s inward privileges. You think, poor seeker, that you are not allowed to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; if you are permitted to get inside Christ’s door, or sit at the bottom of His table—you will be well content. Ah! but you shall not have less privileges than the very greatest. God makes no difference in His love to His children. A child is a child to Him; He will not make him a hired servant; but he shall feast upon the fatted calf, and shall have the music and the dancing—as much as if he had never gone astray. When Jesus comes into the heart, He issues a general licence to be glad in the Lord. No chains are worn in the court of King Jesus. Our admission into full privileges may be gradual but it is sure.

Perhaps our reader is saying, “I wish I could enjoy the promises, and walk at liberty in my Lord’s commands.” “If you believe with all your heart—you may.” Loose the chains of your neck, O captive daughter, for Jesus makes you free!