Ezekiel 33:33

REFLECTIONS

PRECIOUS Lord Jesus! How can I hear or read of a watchman to the house of Israel, without having my soul led out to the contemplation of thine unequalled love and mercy to the souls of thy redeemed, when thou camest to watch over thy fold and flock, lest Satan should surprise them, and carry them away. Thou hast indeed, blessed Lord, set watchmen upon the walls of thy Zion. Oh! Lord make them faithful to God, and to souls, that they may never hold their peace day nor night; and give the Lord no rest nor peace, until that thou hast made Jerusalem a praise in the earth! But blessed Jesus! in vain do men build the house, except the Lord be both the foundation, and the builder! In vain do watchmen take their stand by night, except thou, O Lord, shalt keep the city. Oh! then Almighty Watchman and Keeper of thy people! Do not I behold thee, in the glories of thy person, God-man-mediator, set up from everlasting? Do I not trace thy daily love, and nightly vigilance, in all the goings forth for the salvation of thy people? Yea, precious Jesus, are not the goings of my God and king to be seen in his sanctuary? Who but Jesus is set forth in all the Old Testament promises, types, and shadows? And who but Jesus is manifested in all the New Testament fulfillment, in the everlasting realities of grace and salvation? A watchman art thou not, O Lord, in watching over thy Church, who never slumberest nor sleepest? And didst thou not take this office when thou camest up at the call of God thy Father, in thine incarnation? And in all that pertains to redemption-work, thou and thou only, art the great watchman, the standard, the ensign for war, against sin, death, and hell; all of whom thou hast conquered! Precious Lord! watch over me I beseech thee for good; and may I never lose sight of thy watchfulness; so that I may cry out with one of old, the Lord is my strength and my song, and he is become my salvation.