Week Forty-Three

We’ll praise Thee, glorious Lord!

Who died to set us free:

No earthly songs can joy afford

Like heavenly melody.

There is no other subject of praise for heaven than for earth; the blood of Christ has the same efficacy on earth as in heaven: that for which they praise God there is equally true for us. Their harps are better tuned than ours, but their song is the same.

Let us be persuaded to praise the Lord alone. He only is worthy of being praised, revered and adored. The song of the blessed (Rev. 5) praises none but Him who redeemed them with His blood. It contains not one word of praise for any of their own number. … Let us strive to bring our hearts into unison with that song. … This will be our happiness even here below, and contribute to God’s glory, which is wronged by the praise that Christians too often bestow on each other.

The Lord says, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise to thee.” … May we be in tune with our heavenly Guide! He shall well conduct our praises, and agreeably to the Father. His ear shall be attentive when He hears this voice lead us.

In spirit, we are in heaven. We are in Christ who fills it with His glory and His perfections. … Holiness and love and joy characterize the land. They are the fruits which grow there spontaneously, as are the thanksgivings that arise in the hearts of those who are there through redeeming power.

Any one can rejoice in the Lord when the Lord gives him what he likes. “Bless the Lord at all times:” that is the testing point. “In everything give thanks.”

Are your voices tuned to praise with Christ? He is gone from the wrath and darkness of the cross into the light and love of His Father’s, presence, and is praising. Can you praise with Him? There all trembling disappears. … Oh, how those who seek Him lag behind His heart. … If you seek Him, His word warrants that you shall praise Him.

The Christian may sometimes say, I am not in a state to praise; he may, it is true, be more or less capable of doing it well, but he is always in a state to do it … because Christ is always suitable to a sinful soul. His praises will be modified, but he will always praise.