What is it about reading from the saints of old that makes their shared truths so cherished or treasured? Upon reading them, It feels as though one has stumbled upon 'the holy ground' of truth; a place very few ever get to tread. This experience happened to me today while reading Henry Scougal's The Life of God in the Soul of Man, where he describes the 'the divine life' as that of a tree or plant, with a root and many branches. I was struck by the beauty, depth, and allusiveness of the first branch, 'the love of God.' In my humble opinion, his description of its effect on the heart is all-encompassing, intoxicating, and overwhelming; one is left overtaken and controlled by the presence of His love. At first glance, I am left longing for that depth of beautiful communion. But upon considering Scougal's understanding of the implications of this union, I quickly see how far the 'love of God' has to go to 'resign and sacrifice' my soul, so that He might be able to love all mankind...to truly love all the world...concerned in the interest of everyone.' I am humbled and still in need of the taming influence of the Holy Spirit in my soul. The desire to get here is present, but as the gospel states, 'the flesh is willing, but the spirit is weak.'
Today I am glad that the Lord has enabled me to see where I could be, which has sparked a new longing to ask Him to give me the strength to strive, while at the sometime acknowledging that my arrival to this blessed state is ultimately in His providential hands. And this is ok as well, for I believe that even my bumbling striving after Him brings Him glory; today I am ok with being a klutz knowing that even my best and failing efforts make Him smile.
I offer to you the brief section of Scougal's treatise that has put this heart to flame this morning; may it bless and 'burn' you with the flames of His love:
"The Love of God is a delightful and affectionate sense of the divine perfections, which makes the soul resign and sacrifice itself wholly unto Him, desiring above all things to please Him, and delighting in nothing so much as in fellowship and communion with Him, being ready to do or suffer anything for His sake or at His pleasure. Though this affection may have its first rise from the favors and mercies of God towards ourselves, yet in its growth and progress it transcend such particular considerations and grounds itself on His infinite goodness manifested in all the works of creation and providence.
A soul thus possessed with divine love must be enlarged towards all mankind in a sincere and unbounded affection because of the relation they have to God, being His creatures, and having something of His image stamped upon them. And this is that "charity" I named as the second branch of religion...for he who truly loves all the world will be nearly concerned in the interest of everyone, and will be so far from wronging or injuring any person that he will resent any evil that befalls others as if it happened to himself."
What a vision! What a Hope!
Today I am glad that the Lord has enabled me to see where I could be, which has sparked a new longing to ask Him to give me the strength to strive, while at the sometime acknowledging that my arrival to this blessed state is ultimately in His providential hands. And this is ok as well, for I believe that even my bumbling striving after Him brings Him glory; today I am ok with being a klutz knowing that even my best and failing efforts make Him smile.
I offer to you the brief section of Scougal's treatise that has put this heart to flame this morning; may it bless and 'burn' you with the flames of His love:
"The Love of God is a delightful and affectionate sense of the divine perfections, which makes the soul resign and sacrifice itself wholly unto Him, desiring above all things to please Him, and delighting in nothing so much as in fellowship and communion with Him, being ready to do or suffer anything for His sake or at His pleasure. Though this affection may have its first rise from the favors and mercies of God towards ourselves, yet in its growth and progress it transcend such particular considerations and grounds itself on His infinite goodness manifested in all the works of creation and providence.
A soul thus possessed with divine love must be enlarged towards all mankind in a sincere and unbounded affection because of the relation they have to God, being His creatures, and having something of His image stamped upon them. And this is that "charity" I named as the second branch of religion...for he who truly loves all the world will be nearly concerned in the interest of everyone, and will be so far from wronging or injuring any person that he will resent any evil that befalls others as if it happened to himself."
What a vision! What a Hope!