April 28, 2011

• this earthly manna ~ the Christian hedonist's plea

  This earthly manna I consume provides no pilgrim sustenance
  I seek after heaven's bread, the only true and living substance

  My plate, stomach and arms may be full, but my soul partakes of emptiness
  Loveliness divine, I ache for Thee alone, to my heart bestow the burning sense

  You invite me to taste and see Your goodness, enjoy overflowing richness
  But, my Lord, how can my tongue savor You lest You impart the sweetness

  My Beloved, when will You come to me, come in all Your fullness
  Stale air I breathe, Dove whisper and transform to honeyed incense

  Following hard, I ask, I seek, I knock, I cry out nearly breathless
  Facade begone! Hear my groans, I pant after the power of godliness

  A worm in dust and ashes, I appeal to Your blood and graciousness
  Your bride awaits the scepter royal shimmering through the lattice

  Through heaven's window breaks celestial beam, sublime transcendence
  Glory of God revealed, my redemption sealed through kingly service

  His Father's will finished, even death on the cross, perfect obedience
  My guilty soul cleared, through spotless Lamb, God's unblemished justice

  Ah! having found grace, but now to sup with grace in Baca's wilderness
  Drop of splendor, unalloyed strength, satisfying feast, real happiness

  The eternal God come leaping, dwelling in my heart, O sublime excellence
  No other lover engages, charms or delights – incomparable loveliness

  * * *

  From Jonathan Edwards' "A Divine and Supernatural Light":

  The mind cannot see the excellency of any doctrine, unless that doctrine be first in the mind; but seeing the excellency of the doctrine may be immediately from the Spirit of God; though the conveying of the doctrine or proposition itself may be by the word. So that the notions which are the subject-matter of this light, are conveyed to the mind by the word of God; but that due sense of the heart, wherein this light formally consists, is immediately by the Spirit of God. As for instance, the notion that there is a Christ, and that Christ is holy and gracious, is conveyed to the mind by the word of God; but the sense of the excellency of Christ by reason of that holiness and grace, is nevertheless immediately the work of the Holy Spirit...

  Spiritual wisdom and grace is the highest and most excellent gift that ever God bestows on any creature: in this the highest excellency and perfection of a rational creature consists. It is also immensely the most important of all divine gifts: it is that wherein man’s happiness consists, and on which his everlasting welfare depends. How rational is it to suppose that God, however he has left lower gifts to second causes, and in some sort in their power, yet should reserve this most excellent, divine, and important of all divine communications, in his own hands, to be bestowed immediately by himself, as a thing to great for second causes to be concerned in? It is rational to suppose, that this blessing should be immediately from God, for there is no gift or benefit that is in itself so nearly related to the divine nature. Nothing which the creature receives is so much a participation of the Deity: it is a kind of emanation of God’s beauty, and is related to God as the light is to the sun. It is therefore congruous and fit, that when it is given of God, it should be immediately from himself, and by himself, according to his own sovereign will.

  It is rational to suppose, that it should be beyond man’s power to obtain this light by the mere strength of natural reason; for it is not a thing that belongs to reason, to see the beauty and loveliness of spiritual things; it is not a speculative thing, but depends on the sense of the heart. Reason indeed is necessary in order to it, as it is by reason only that we are become the subjects of the means of it; which means I have already shown to be necessary in order to it, though they have no proper causal influence in the affair. It is by reason that we become possessed of a notion of those doctrines that are the subject-matter of this divine light, or knowledge; and reason may many ways be indirectly and remotely an advantage to it. Reason has also to do in the acts that are immediately consequent on this discovery: for seeing the truth of religion from hence, is by reason; though it be but by one step, and the inference be immediate. So reason has to do in that accepting of and trusting in Christ, that is consequent on it. But if we take reason strictly—not for the faculty of mental perception in general, but for ratiocination, or a power of inferring by arguments—the perceiving of spiritual beauty and excellency no more belongs to reason, that it belongs to the sense of feeling to perceive colors, or to the power of seeing to perceive the sweetness of food. It is out of reason’s province to perceive the beauty or loveliness of any thing: such a perception does not belong to that faculty. Reason’s work is to perceive truth and not excellency. It is not ratiocination that gives men the perception of the beauty and amiableness of a countenance, though it may be many ways indirectly an advantage to it; yet it is no more reason that immediately perceives it, than it is reason that perceives the sweetness of honey: it depends on the sense of the heart.—Reason may determine that a countenance is beautiful to others, it may determine that honey is sweet to others; but it will never give me a perception of its sweetness.

  * * *

  True religion's more than notion,
  Something must be known and felt.
  (Joseph Hart)

  * * *

  Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
  Exodus 33:13

  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
  Ephesians 3:14-19

  How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
  Psalm 36:7-10

  He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
  Luke 1:53

  O taste and see that the LORD is good...
  Psalm 34:8

  Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
  Psalm 65:4

  ---

  Related posts:

  As a deer pants ... Is your soul panting for God? (Psalms 42 & 43)
  Finding pleasure in Him
  Moderation in pursuing God? An answer from Jonathan Edwards
  Moderation in pursuing God? An answer from George Whitefield
  How's your spiritual appetite? (Jonathan Edwards)
  Songs about "What *I* Want," part 5: If the Curly Fry Doesn't "Satisfy," What Does?
  Letter 25 on assurance and fighting for joy (a strong craving ≠ His joy)
  Blaise Pascal: This day of Grace (November 23, 1654) "Fire...Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy."
  "I thirst! I thirst!" Whitefield's experience of joy (letter 51 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  update w/ excerpt: Lloyd-Jones' sermons on the role of experience in Christianity
  "He is my Sustenance" ~ remembering my sister & my friend - a triumph of His grace
  John 3:36a Whoever believes in the Son HAS eternal life (letter 64 on assurance & joy)
  Are You not a fountain? (let a drop fall here for me)
  "when man reaches the lowest depths of unbelief" (William Williams' "The Experience Meeting")
  Can there be more? | letter 113 on assurance & fighting for joy
  the lover's inquiry | letter 114 on fighting for joy
  In darkest place
  a word in doubt
  don't be afraid | letter 115 on assurance & fighting for joy
  on pilgrimage in the local church | update/prayer requests 3/21/2011
  Why not pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

  Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

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