172. PSA 63:8. SPIRITUAL ARDOR

Psa_63:8. Spiritual Ardor

"My soul followeth hard after thee."’97Psa_63:8.

Let us consider, I. What religious Ardor implies. II. What are its Evidences. And, III. What are its Advantages.

I. What religious Ardor implies.

"To follow hard after God."

1. Dissatisfaction with the world and its fascinations.

Proved its emptiness. Realized it to be a broken cistern. Renounced it, &c.

2. An experimental acquaintance with God.

God sought and found. His mercy, his grace, his love enjoyed. Blessedness of being accepted of him felt. The Lord our portion, &c.

3. The lively exercise of the graces in reference to God.

An increase of knowledge. To know him more clearly, more fully; to trust him more firmly; to hope in him more abundantly; to love him more intensely; and to delight in him more constantly.

4. Earnest desire after more of the divine image.

Seeking after a closer conformity to his blessed likeness. "Beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord," &c. Longing for the whole mind that was in Christ.

5. Longing for full and unbroken communion with God in heaven.

"O that I had wings," &c. "A desire to depart," &c. "I shall be satisfied when I awake," &c.

II. The Evidences of religious Ardor

If we follow hard after God,

1. He will be the subject of our constant meditation.

Have our chief thoughts. Our meditation of him will be sweet.

2. A diligent regard to the ordinances of his house.

"Lord, I have loved the habitation," &c. "One thing have I desired," &c. "I had rather be a doorkeeper," &c. "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves," &c.

3. A growing attachment to his blessed word.

"In it will I meditate day and night." "His statutes are our songs," &c. "Words sweeter than honey, and more precious than thousands of gold and silver." Psa_119:72, Psa_119:92, Psa_119:127, &c.

4. A cheerful spirit of obedience to his holy commands.

"If ye love me," &c. "Ye are my friends," &c. "Run in the way of his commands with great delight." "Delight in the law of God," &c.; Rom_7:22.

5. A spirit of self-denial, and readiness to suffer for his sake.

Preferring him to the world’s smiles’97to the affection of friends, wife, parents, children, or even our own lives. Leaving all, to take up his cross, &c.

III. What are the Advantages of religious Ardor?

1. Our experience will be enriched.

Science of religion will be more plait.’97duties more easy’97pleasures more sweet’97soul more dutiful.

2. Our souls will be preserved.

Cleaving to God will be our security, our protection, our help. We need not fear those who are against us.

3. Our lives will be useful.

We shall spread the savor of our religion abroad’97honor God’97and be blessings to the church and the world.

4. It will ripen us for heaven.

We shall not only have the title, but the spirit and meetness, which are necessary for its enjoyments. "Meet to be partakers," &c.

5. It will increase our future glory Holiness expands the mind’97enlarges the heart. The more we possess here, the higher we shall be exalted, and the brighter and richer will be our crown’97’95 and the more extended our inheritance in heaven. Some were made rulers of one. others of five, and others of ten cities.

O, then, by all these blessed and glorious motives, let us seek after that state of experience which will enable us to say "Our souls follow hard after thee."

Autor: JABEZ BURNS