Morning    “Only ye shall not go very far away.”    Exodus 8:28

 This is a crafty word from the lip of the arch-tyrant Pharaoh. If the poor

bondaged Israelites must needs go out of Egypt, then he bargains with them that

it shall not be very far away; not too far for them to escape the terror of his

arms, and the observation of his spies. After the same fashion, the world loves

not the non-conformity of nonconformity, or the dissidence of dissent; it would

have us be more charitable and not carry matters with too severe a hand. Death

to the world, and burial with Christ, are experiences which carnal minds treat

with ridicule, and hence the ordinance which sets them forth is almost

universally neglected, and even condemned. Worldly wisdom recommends the

 path of compromise, and talks of “moderation.” According to this carnal policy,

purity is admitted to be very desirable, but we are warned against being too

precise; truth is of course to be followed, but error is not to be severely

denounced. “Yes,” says the world, “be spiritually minded by all means, but do

not deny yourself a little gay society, an occasional ball, and a Christmas

visit to a theatre. What’s the good of crying down a thing when it is so

fashionable, and everybody does it?” Multitudes of professors yield to this

cunning advice, to their own eternal ruin. If we would follow the Lord wholly,

we must go right away into the wilderness of separation, and leave the Egypt of

the  carnal world behind us. We must leave its maxims, its pleasures, and its

religion too, and go far away to the place where the Lord calls his sanctified

ones. When the town is on fire, our house cannot be too far from the flames.

When the plague is abroad, a man cannot be too far from its haunts. The further

from a viper the better, and the further from worldly conformity the better. To

all true believers let the trumpet-call be sounded, “Come ye out from among

them, be ye separate.”

 

Evening   “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.”    

1 Corinthians 7:20

 Some persons have the foolish notion that the only way in which they can live

for God is by becoming ministers, missionaries, or Bible women. Alas! how many

would be shut out from any opportunity of magnifying the Most High if this were

the case. Beloved, it is not office, it is earnestness; it is not position, it

is grace which will enable us to glorify God. God is most surely glorified in

that cobbler’s stall, where the godly worker, as he plies the awl, sings of the

Saviour’s love, aye, glorified far more than in many a prebendal stall where

official religiousness performs its scanty duties. The name of Jesus is

glorified by the poor unlearned carter as he drives his horse, and blesses

 his God, or speaks to his fellow labourer by the roadside, as much as by the

popular divine who, throughout the country, like Boanerges, is thundering out

the gospel. God is glorified by our serving him in our proper vocations. Take

care, dear reader, that you do not forsake the path of duty by leaving your

occupation, and take care you do not dishonour your profession while in it.

Think little of yourselves, but do not think too little of your callings. Every

lawful trade may be sanctified by the gospel to noblest ends. Turn to the Bible,

and you will find the most menial forms of labour connected either with most

daring deeds of faith, or with persons whose lives have been illustrious

 for holiness. Therefore be not discontented with your calling. Whatever God has

made your position, or your work, abide in that, unless you are quite sure that

he calls you to something else. Let your first care be to glorify God to the

utmost of your power where you are. Fill your present sphere to his praise, and

if he needs you in another he will show it you. This evening lay aside vexatious

ambition, and embrace peaceful content.