Romans 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: "Experience worketh hope." Take that principle in its largest sense, apply it to the interests of this life and this world, and who is there that does not know that the apostle's statement would be utterly wrong? The inexperienced man is all buoyant anticipation; he sees no difficulties in the way; he looks for brilliant success in life. How different with the man who has had some experience of the realities of life, how modest are his hopes of earthly happiness and success! But it was not of earthly experience that the apostle spake, nor of earthly hope. As regards our blessed Saviour, His grace and preciousness and love: as regards the solid peace and happiness to be found when we find a part in His great salvation: as regards the sanctifying and comforting influences of the Holy Spirit: as regards the power and prevalence of earnest prayer: as regards the rest and refreshment the weary soul may find in a Lord's day duly sanctified: as regards the consolation which religion can impart amid earthly disappointments; as regards the peace that Christ can give in death: as regards such things as these, "experience worketh hope"; the more you know of Jesus, His promises and His grace, the more you will expect from Him; and instead of experience leading us to say, as it does lead us to say of most earthly things, "I have tried it, it cannot make me happy, I shall trust it no more," experience of God leads us rather to say, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day"; "I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplication; because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live"; "The Lord hath been mindful of us: He will bless us still!" And now, concerning St. Paul's declaration that "experience worketh hope," let me suggest to you two thoughts which are implied in the apostle's principle, and which are the great reasons why the apostle's principle is true. I. First, then, IN THE GREAT CONCERN OF RELIGION YOU ARE SURE, IF YOU SEEK IN THE RIGHT WAY, TO GET WHAT YOU SEEK. Now here at once we find a point in regard to which there is a total contrariety between worldly and spiritual things. Who is there that needs to be told that one great cause of human disappointment in worldly things lies in this, that however anxious you may be to get something on which you have set your heart, and however diligent you may be in using all the means which you think tend towards your getting it, you may yet entirely fail of getting it? But when we pray for spiritual blessings, for repentance towards God and faith in Christ and a sanctifying Spirit, we may pray with the absolute certainty that our prayer will be granted, because we pray with the absolute certainty that we are asking that which it will be for our good to get, and for God's glory to give. II. Another fact on which the principle in the text founds is, that in the matter of spiritual blessings YOU ARE SURE, WHEN YOU GET WHAT YOU SEEK, TO FIND IT EQUAL YOUR EXPECTATIONS. There never was the human being who said, I was earnestly desirous to gain the favour of God, to gain the good part in Christ, and now I have gained them, I find they are no such great matter after all, the prize is hardly worth the cost. God is indeed my Father, Christ is indeed my Saviour, the Holy Spirit dwells within my breast, and I know that heaven is my home; but these things leave me still unsatisfied and unhappy. No; experience never brought any human being to such a mind as that. That is the strain in which experience has taught men to speak of earthly ends after they were won. But the man never breathed who would say the like of the blessings of grace. (A. K. H. Boyd, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And patience, experience; and experience, hope:WEB: and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: |
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