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John MacDuff The Night Watches
John MacDuff The Night Watches
"My soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch
for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for
the morning." — Psalm 130:6
Or, it may be, you are laboring under other trials. The
hand of your God may be heavy upon you. The secret
thought may be harbored that some tear might have
been spared; that your chastisement might have been
less severe — that your bereavement, with its dark
accompaniment, might have been mitigated or
averted. Look upwards and take the Psalmist’s
antidote as your own, "I will remember the years of
the right hand of the Most High." Think that the same
Hand which was for you nailed to the Cross, is now
pleading for you on the Throne; ordering and
controlling every trial; and over every dark providence
writing the unanswerable challenge, "He who spared
not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how
shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"
overruling all — ALL for His own glory, and your own
good!
Say not that your sins are too many — the crimson
dye too deep. It is because you are a great sinner,
and have great sins, that you need a great Savior. "Of
whom I am the chief," is a golden postscript to "the
faithful saying." Do not dishonor God by casting
doubts on His willingness or ability. If your sins are
heinous, you will be all the more an amazing
monument of grace. You may be the weakest and
unworthiest of vessels; but, remember, there was a
niche in the Temple for both the great and for the
small — for the cups, as well as for the pitchers. Even
the smallest vessel glorifies Christ.
"All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto
such as keep his covenant and his testimonies." —
Psalm 25:10
"The night is far spent." Who can tell how far? It may
be now or never with you! You are about once more
to lie down on your nightly pillow. What if your
awaking tomorrow were to be "in outer darkness?"
But, take courage, that night is not too far spent.
Close this last of the "Night Watches," by fleeing,
without delay, to Jesus — the Sinner’s Savior and the
Sinner’s Friend. It was on the last watch of the night,
He came of old to His tempest-tossed disciples. Like
them, receive Him now into your soul; and have all
your guilty fears calmed by His omnipotent "Peace, be
still!"