“They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power.”-Psalm 145:11.
You have only to look at the preceding verse, and you will discover, in a
single moment, who are the people here spoken of who shall speak of the glory
of God’s kingdom, and talk of his power. They are the saints: “All thy works
shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak
of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power.” A saint will often be
discovered by his conversation. He is a saint long before he knows it; he is
a saint as being set apart unto salvation by God the Father in the covenant
decree of election from all eternity; and he is a saint as being sanctified
in Christ Jesus, and called. But he is more especially a saint as being
sanctified by the quickening influence of the Holy Ghost, which renders him
truly sanctified by making him holy, and bringing him into conformity with
the image of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Yet it is not at all times
easy to discern a saint except by Scriptural marks and evidences. There is
nothing particular about the countenance or dress of a saint to distinguish
him from his fellows. The saints have faces like other men; sometimes, they
are sadly marred and furrowed by cares and troubles which worldlings do not
know. They wear the same kind of garments as other men wear; they may be rich
or they may be poor; but, still, there are some marks whereby we can discern
them, and one of the special ways of discovering a saint is by his
conversation. As I often tell you, you may know the quality of the water in a
well by that which is brought up in the bucket; so may we tell a Christian by
his conversation.
It is, however, much to be regretted that true children of the Lord often
talk too little of him. What is the conversation of half the professors of
the present day? Honesty compels us to say that, in many cases, it is a mass
of froth and falsehood, and, in many more cases it is altogether
objectionable; if it is not light and frivolous, it is utterly apart from the
gospel, and does not minister grace unto the bearers. I consider that one of
the great lacks of the Church, nowadays, is not so much Christian preaching
as Christian talking,-not so much Christian prayer in the prayer-meeting, as
Christian conversation in the parlour. How little do we hear concerning
Christ! You might go in and out of the houses of half the professors of
religion, and you would never hear of their Master at all. You might talk
with them from the first of January to the last of December; and if they
happened to mention their Master’s name, it would be, perhaps, merely as a
compliment to him, or possibly by accident. Beloved, such things ought not to
be. You and I, I am sure, are guilty in this matter; we all have need to
reproach ourselves that we do not sufficiently remember the words of Malachi,
“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord
hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for
them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.”
Possibly some will ask, “Well, sir, how can we talk about religion? Upon what
topic shall we converse? How are we to introduce it? It would not be polite,
for instance, in the company with which we associate, to begin to say
anything about the doctrines of grace, or about religious matters at all.”
Then, beloved, do not be polite; that is all I have to say in reply to such a
remark as that. If it would be accounted contrary to etiquette to begin
talking of the Saviour, cast etiquette to the winds, and speak about Christ
somehow or other. The Christian is the aristocrat of the world; it is his
place to make rules for society to obey,-not to stoop down, and conform to
the regulations of society when they are contrary to the commands of his
Master. He is the great Maker of laws; the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
and he makes his people also to be kings. Kings make rules for ordinary men
to obey; so must Christians do. They are not to submit to others; they must
make others, by the worth of their principles, and the dignity of their
character, submit to them. It is speaking too lightly of a Christian’s
dignity when we say that he dare not do the right, because it would not be
fashionable. We care nothing for that, for “the fashion of this world passeth
away,” “but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
Another says, “What could I speak of? There are so few topics that would be
suitable. I must not speak upon doctrinal subjects, for it would offend one
of the party. They might hold different views; one might be a Wesleyan, one
might be a Baptist, one might be an Independent, one a Calvinist, one an
Arminian;-how could I talk so as to please all? If I spoke of election, most
of them would attack me at once; if I began to speak of redemption, we should
soon differ on that subject, and I would not like to engender controversy.”
Beloved, engender controversy rather than have wrong conversation; better
dispute over truth than agree about lies. Better, I say, is it to dispute
concerning good doctrine, far more profitable is it to talk of the Word of
God, even in a controversial manner, than to turn utterly away from it, and
neglect it.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
