you the desires of the righteous.
John Macduff, Brief Thoughts for the Followers of Jesus, 1855. For the flesh lusts against the
Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary
to one another, so that you cannot do the things that you wish.
Galatians 5, 17. How true is this! How exactly
does it accord with the experience of the believer? As in water,
face answers to face, so in God's Word we have the inmost feelings
of His people clearly reflected. Oh, what would the Christian
do if he could? He would serve God perfectly.
He would have His way directed to keep all His statutes. He
would have all His faculties and feelings in complete subjection
to the divine will. He would live, not to Himself,
but to Him who died for Him and rose again. He would consecrate
every moment to His service, and employ every breath in His
praise. In a word, He would rise to the
seraphic sanctity of the paradise above, and present to God those
offerings which would be unmixed with any earthly dross, which
would be uncontaminated and untinctured by any of the frailties of his
fallen nature. Could the Christian do as he
would, there is not a glorified spirit before the heavenly throne
who would excel or outstrip him. He would love as they do, serve
as they do, admire and adore as they do. But here, alas, his
infirmities are a constant clog about him, and hence his longings
for that better world, where his desires and his doings will
be one and the same. Do we want a striking emblem
of the Child of God as He is situated at present? We have
it in that majestic bird, the eagle, not as it roams at large
in the enjoyment of its native freedom, but when, as a poor
captive, it is fastened down with a chain. It is an interesting
object under any circumstances to gaze upon, but especially
so when its former soarings are contrasted with its present fettered
state. The fire of its eye clearly indicates
its longings for those lofty regions far beyond the clouds,
where it felt so much at home, and where its wings were often
bathed in the burning splendors of the sun's meridian rays. But no sooner is the attempt
made to mount aloft, no sooner does it begin to ruffle its plumes
and spread its wings, in order to prepare for the flight, than
the touch of the chain is instantly felt. Just so were the believer. At times, how soaring are his
aspirations! How would he rise, as on eagle's
wings, above earth's turmoils on the one hand, and his manifold
imperfections on the other! But alas! How the chains of time
and sense fetter his soul, And fasten it down to this earth!
Then his cry is, My soul cleaves unto the dust, Quicker me according
to your word, O that I had wings like a dove, For then I would
fly away and be at rest, I would hasten my escape From the stormy
wind and tempest. A person is known by his doings,
but, in addition to this external and practical proof, a man's
desires may be regarded as a strong index of his character, as he
thinks in his heart So is He. There is undoubtedly sin in the
desire of sin, the actual commission of the outward act not being
requisite to render us guilty in the sight of God, and there
is undoubtedly grace even in the desire of grace. What, then,
are the desires of my soul? Am I of the number of those who
are walking according to the course of this world, and who
are gratifying the passionate desires and inclinations of our
sinful nature, or are my desires Godward and heavenward? Let me remember, for my encouragement,
that the Lord will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him,
Let me seek Him then, let me trust in Him, and wait patiently
for Him. Delight yourself in the Lord,
and He shall give you the desires of your heart. The desire of
the righteous will be granted. Proverbs 10, 24.