July 7, 2013
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Joy in Scotland and throughout the world ~ William Hepburn Hewitson's desire
Today there was an explosion of joy throughout much of Scotland, as native son Andrew Murray won Wimbledon.
In the 19th century, native son William Hepburn Hewitson (1812-1850) was longing for the Christians in Scotland to know the highest and purest and most excellent Joy, so that the Good News of Great Joy might spread to the ends of the earth... "far as the curse is found."
On December 22, 1846, Hewitson wrote the following to a friend in Edinburgh:
"I just write you a few lines to bid you farewell before I leave Britain [for Trinidad]. Miserable it is to live with the name only, and not with the reality, of being in Christ. Blessed it is to be really in Him. No awakened soul should stop short of a realisation and experimental enjoyment of union with the Lord. No converted soul should rest satisfied, till it think every thought and speak every word in communion with Jesus. This would seem to a carnal professor, or to a child of God who is still a to great extent carnal, a standard far too high; but to have a lower standard is to be ignorant of our standing in Christ—of what we have in Him, of the closeness of our union with Him, and of the character we should maintain to be in keeping with our profession of faith in His name. My impression of the godliness of Scotland has been somewhat modified since my sojourn in Lisbon and Madeira. Scottish Christians, in general, seem not to realise everywhere—in all companies, and at all times—the presence, the indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ,—not to realise in any great measure that they are not of this world, but sent into it by God as messengers with a message from Him. But if this remark applies to Scotland, to what land does it not apply? Where is godliness more flourishing? Where profession more rife? Where the Church more conspicuously set on a hill before the world's eye? There being within our reach no means of Church-purification, we are called on to attend to the work of purifying our own hearts, of shining in our own homes, of carrying, wherever we move, a circlet of Divine light with us through the dark world. So will we spread the truth, diffuse the savour, glorify the name, of Christ. Christ dwelling in us—that is light, life, fragrance, holiness. Many seek Christ within before finding Christ without, and so cannot attain to peace; many, after finding Christ without, don't seek diligently to have Christ within. To have both Christ without and Christ within, is peace and purity."
Christian, have you been living with the name only and not with the reality of being in Christ?
Have you stopped short of a realisation and experimental enjoyment of union with your Lord?
Are you of the number who seem not to realise the presence and indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Revelation 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
God forbid we rest satisfied and stop short of a realisation and experimental enjoyment of union with our Lord! God forbid it be said of us that we "seem not to realise the presence, the indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ, not to realise in any great measure that [we] are not of this world, but sent into it by God as messengers with a message from Him." May our God stir up and awaken in us a thirst for Jesus Christ, that we might diligently seek to have both Christ without and Christ within!
John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Proverbs 25:25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Psalm 67:1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. 2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. 3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. 5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Reference: John Baillie's "Memoir of the Rev. W.H. Hewitson, Late Minister of the Free Church of Scotland, at Dirleton" (London: James Nisbet & Co.), 4th edition (1853), 262-264 / 2nd edition (1852), 257-258. 4th edition book available at Google play here: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=bRVMAAAAYAAJ.
Related:
Martyn Lloyd-Jones sermon "Experimental Christianity" (ML-J cites a portion of this passage of Hewitson's)
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
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Comments (1)
This post reminded me of a lyric in a song today at church that I wrote down: 'All of my delight is you, Lord.' I found it very convicting.