'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — July 21

To increase your obedience to the Lord, keep your eye upon his greatness and continual presence and providence. This will keep you in an obedient frame of mind. So great a God cannot be disobeyed without great iniquity and guilt. A God that is continually with you must be continually regarded. Every temptation is an urge for you to offend so great a God. Consider also the land to which you are going: a land of rest and joy. Christ is your guide to bring you safely home. Sin is a rejecting of his help and your happiness. God does not rule you as a tyrant to your hurt or ruin. His laws are for your good and safety. He is directing you to eternal life, and guiding you by his counsel. He is leading you to the world of light where there are rivers of pleasure and fullness of joy for evermore. There, you will see his face and feel his love. Is not such a guide desirable? It is like the captain that governs a ship. If the mariners obey him they will safely arrive at the desired port. Should such a government as this grieve you? Consider the fierce dangers, difficulties, and enemies you must pass through to heaven. Your safety depends on the assistance of your guide. Would you have him leave you to yourselves? Your disease is mortal but only Jesus Christ can cure it. If he does not cure it, you are lost forever. Will you not be obedient to your physician? Think, when a temptation comes; if there was a narrow bridge over a deep gulf, and all your friends and happiness lay on the other side and you had to pass over, and if Christ would take you by the hand and lead you over, would you refuse his help? Should we not hold fast to him, and most accurately obey him, since he is leading us to eternal life to escape the gulf of endless misery?

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory, I:77
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.