Homilist Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness. I. THE DEATH OF THE GOOD IS AN AWAKING FROM SLEEP. The best of men are scarcely awake here. The apostle felt this when he said, "It is high time to awake out of sleep." He was speaking to Christians. 1. There is much spiritual torpor even in the best. Where is that earnest activity which we. feel is the right thing for us? — the activity which Christ had when He said, "I must work," etc. What Paul had, who said, "I count not my life dear," etc. "I press towards the mark," etc. 2. There is much spiritual dreaming in the best. Our views of Divine things are often only as the incoherent visions of a dream. At death the soul wakes up. It is a morning to it, — a bright, joyous, stirring morning. Do not be afraid of death, then. II. IN THIS AWAKING AT DEATH THERE WILL BE THE COMPLETE ASSIMILATION OF THE SOUL TO GOD. "When I awake, with Thy likeness." What is this likeness? Not a resemblance to His wisdom, power, or sovereignty, but a resemblance to His governing disposition: — LOVE. Moral likeness to a being consists in a likeness to His ruling disposition. Variety in material objects and mental characteristics is the glory of the creation. But similarity in moral disposition is what heaven demands as the essence of virtue and the condition of bliss. All can love, and to love is to be like God. At death this in the good becomes perfect. Our sympathies will then flow entirely with His; our wills will then go entirely within the circle of His. III. IN THIS ASSIMILATION WILL CONSIST THE EVERLASTING SATISFACTION OF OUR NATURE, "I shall be satisfied." There is no satisfaction without this. 1. The spiritual powers will not work harmoniously under the dominion of any other disposition. 2. The conscience will frown upon any other state of mind. 3. The Great One will not bless with His friendship any other state of mind in His creatures. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. |
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