Bowen's Daily Meditations

Even the words of a fellow-creature of earth, how inexpressibly sweet sometimes, how beyond all calculation precious! All gold and silver would be despised in comparison with them. They come freighted with something as dear as life, with love, and the heart is enriched with them as though the breath of God had come into it. But does not this rainbow of earthly joy die gradually out? Do not the enrapturing words sooner or later become exsiccated in the memory, and may they not meet with...

Many things are becoming in a child that are not in a man; and many things required in a man that are not looked for in a child. The idea here, or one aspect of it, is that we should be made over again, from the very beginning.

Simplicity, freedom from guile, candor, retiringness, affectionateness, trust; these things are not uncommon among children, and are important elements of a Christian's character. Especially is the Christian required to entertain towards God, the feelings that...

That mourn over their alienation from God. - Over their past years of ungodliness. - Over the evil that they have wrought in the world. - Over their neglected opportunities of usefulness. - Over their moral unloveliness. - Over their insensibility; - their irresolution; - their bad memory for sacred things. - Over the unsatisfactory condition of the church. - The sin and danger of those near and dear to them. - The oppression, unrighteousness and misery that desolate the whole earth....

" Thou hast considered, Nicodemus, that except God were with him, no man could work such miracles as I have wrought. Thou hast considered, also, that one in whom such celestial power resides, must have a great deal of knowledge respecting the heavens, their marvels, their glories, their inhabitants. Thou wouldst fain hear me speak of these things, and have me enchant thy mind with a description of the amazing things that are found in the paradise of God. I am indeed a teacher come from God,...

Be content to lose the idea of thine own importance; cease to be wrapped up in the contemplation of thine own claims and rights. Be not counting on honors to be rendered thee, hour by hour, from this man and from that. Give up the vain idea that every hour owes thee an ample tribute of manifold benefits. Shrink into non-importance, and take the position of a simple servitor, whose business it is to do, to suffer, and to give thanks.

When you have become thus inconsiderable in your own...

The promise of the Lord never to forsake the soul that trusts in him, looks familiarly and kindly forth upon us, from many a page of Scripture, old and new. But we have here an historical statement to the effect that he has never forsaken them that seek him. This is a bold averment. History is a very large affair. Ten thousand volumes were but a small part of its library. It is startled by the challenge contained in our text; and takes down volume after volume, saying, " I will easily, with...

The time of my prosperity. In vain would I say unto my soul, " Soul, take thine ease, thou hast much goods laid up for many years." In vain I grasp the evidences of my wealth; look abroad upon my goodly mansions and large estates; reckon upon my wealth, and exult in the victory obtained over earthly vicissitudes. The victory is a mere cheat, a phantasm of my brain. The time of my prosperity is in the hand of God, He opens his hand, and all my possessions vanish into air.

The time of...

And yet you profess to be a fruit-bearer. The position you occupy implies that you have separated yourself from the fruitless trees of the world. You are in the vineyard of the Lord. You are called by his name. In assuming the designation of Christian, you have invited the Lord to come and seek fruit on your branches.

All things have been duly organized, in order that you may bring forth fruit. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Has there been...

This is the gospel. Christ is with God; therefore, there is forgiveness with God. " It is expedient for you that I go away," that I go to heaven. The only question is, "Is Christ there?" Then we shall assuredly find forgiveness there.

A proper understanding of this word " forgiveness" would fill the soul with a bliss, the like of which was never yet experienced upon this earth. It designates two immensities, - that of our sins, and that of the love of God in Christ. To fathom it we...

Happy are they who can use this language; - who have renounced the mad enterprise of fashioning themselves, and, ceasing to play presumptuously the part of potter, have come to the original Author of their being, that he may create them anew in righteousness and true holiness. Even Christians are sometimes long in understanding what part they are to play in the divine laboratory. The idea of the divine agency in the transformation of their souls, is shadowy; that of their own obligation,...

We have here a command. He that spake from Sinai, saying, " Thou shalt not covet," speaketh now from the cross, saying, " Rejoice.' He that finds Christ, finds this command. It is not a matter of choice with him whether he will be a rejoicing Christian, or a downcast Christian. He has no more right to neglect the fulfillment of this duty, than to forget his duty to his neighbor. In fact, this command is so inextricably interwoven with other obligations, that he who does not obey it, exposes...

Happy, because the correction is designed to bring him into paths of pleasantness and peace.

Because there is no unnecessary severity in it.

Because the disciplinary stroke is in the place of ten thousand strokes of divine vengeance for our sins.

Because the chastisement is not so much against us, as against our most cruel enemies - our sins.

Because we have abundant words of consolation.

Because the sacrifice of a broken heart, and of a contrite spirit,...

We are not to take the word righteous here in an impossible sense. "In many things we offend all," says James; and in the very verse we quote from, he says, " Confess your fault one to another." Otherwise understood, the promise would check prayer, instead of exciting it. The righteous man is the true Christian; one who hungers and thirsts after righteousness, and in whose life appears the fruit of the Spirit. But the expression is doubtless intended to discourage the man who, while he gives...

One of the last desires to which Christ gave utterance before leaving this world, was expressed in these words: " Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am." And these words " I am," have a meaning that is very vast, referring perhaps to his place in the affections of the Father, to his moral purity, and specially to the manifestation of his divine glory. " I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." When Peter saw his...