Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 1.pdf/35

 Israel?" (Ezek. xxxiii. 11.) Alas! we turned not to thee, but pursued our downward path, until, "from the sole of the foot even unto the head, there was no soundness." (Isa. i. 6.) When we were thus ruined and undone, then in mercy thou didst, in the fulness of time, personally visit thy children, and as "the Word made flesh," thou didst become our Redeemer and Saviour for ever. This cheering truth is thus taught by the apostle, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself." (2 Cor. v. 19.) O precious and soul-gladdening truth—God in Christ—Divinity in humanity—Love manifesting itself in wisdom and truth, and thus becoming our Divine personal Instructor in righteousness! By receiving thee, O Lord Jesus, the manifested God, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we receive an inward change of life, and thus are reconciled to thee. With humble gratitude and thanksgiving we take up the language of the apostle, and say, "We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement"—the inward change—the reconciliation.

O said David in his thanksgiving to the Lord, for the unspeakable gift of his written Word to his church and people. This Word which the Lord has been pleased to magnify above all his name. David calls, and in which the Divine mercy