When God gave Paul the thorn in the flesh, he knew not at first the value of the gift, and would have cast it away, had he been left in his own hands. The Lord was his keeper, and taught him, and us by him, that the strength of Christ is made perfect in weakness. The Calling of the Church The church is not only quickened by Christ, but quickened together with Him... If this truth were received into the understanding and affections, and lived upon daily by the children of God, their very garments would smell of myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant; and their conversation would bespeak their heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. To rise above the first Adam we must live in the last Adam. We shall then be able in spirit to use the language of the 8th Psalm, and have all things under our feet. Our life is in Christ: therefore it is _eternal life_; for Christ is "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." God's design was not only to save us from hell, however great that salvation, but to make us His sons and daughters, in order that we, with Himself and the Lord Jesus, the first-born from the dead, might dwell for ever in our Father's house. True love has its source in Christ Himself. It is therefore bold in defence of His truth, and knows no man after the flesh when His honour is to be maintained or defended. We have three chief characters to sustain—child of God; soldier; spouse of Christ. We have to feast; to fight; and to sing. Christ has won the victory. We gather up the spoils; and though so doing we must fight, the victory is ours and its fruit. To have the Lord Jesus _revealed to us_ by the Spirit of God is enough. It sufficed Stephen amidst his persecutors, and suffices us amidst all our difficulties and adversaries, amidst all trials, great and small. God's people are His witnesses; they are the light in this dark world: they should therefore be so filled with the Spirit, as to be Christ's epistles, known and read of all men. The church has spiritual, heavenly, eternal life in Christ, her risen Lord, the last Adam. His pierced side is the fountain of life to us His _spouse_. We are under the law of God's love and grace in our new relation as _children_; we are under obligation to Christ as first-born among many _brethren_; and as His _members_, to obey Him as our _Head_. We have often the words _members of Christ_ upon our lips; would that they were always accompanied with reverence and love! Col. 2:14. The forgiveness of God is like the God who grants it—everlasting, all-comprehensive, immeasurable.... No possibility of condemnation. The bond that was against me is now nailed up, as it were, in the court of justice for the protection of the debtor. I now owe everything to the love of God; I owe my whole self. Let Christ dwell in my heart, to guide every glance of the eye, every thought of the mind.