‘The glory of His grace’ (Ephesians 1:6)

The glory of grace is its FREENESS: it fixes upon objects that are most unworthy; it bestows upon them the richest blessings; it raises them to the highest honour; it promises them the greatest happiness; and all for its own glory. Nothing can be freer than grace.

The glory of grace is its POWER: it conquers the most stubborn sinners; subdues the hardest hearts; tames the wildest wills; enlightens the darkest understandings; breaks off the strongest fetters; and invariably conquers its subjects. Grace is omnipotent.

The glory of grace is its BENEVOLENCE: it never injured anyone; it has delivered, supplied, conducted, supported, and glorified thousands; it brings the inexhaustible fullness of God to supply the creature’s wants; it opens the treasury of heaven, to enrich poor, miserable, and wretched creatures on earth.

Grace gives away all it has, reserving nothing for itself but the praise and glory of its acts. Jesus is grace personified; in Him it may be seen, in all its beauty, excellence, and loveliness; by Him it is displayed in all its native dignity. O Jesus! Glorify your free, powerful, and benevolent grace in me!

O Jesus! Full of truth and grace,
More full of grace than I of sin –
Yet once again I seek thy face,
Open thine arms and take me in;
Oh! freely my backslidings heal,
And love the dying sinner still.

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘My corruptions are very powerful, and my soul is at times much cast down on account of the same. But grace reigns, and God is mine: but I want to feel daily a spirit of wrestling prayer, and then to expect to receive the very blessings I ask of God, in the name of his beloved Son.’