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Joseph Charles Philpot Bevindelijke geschriften & prediking
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Underneath are the everlasting arms.
Deuteronomy 33:27

The “everlasting arms” of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the divine Jehovah, are “underneath” every one of His people, and, being underneath them, they can neither fall through them nor out of them; but they are borne, and supported, and carried along by them until they are brought to the eternal enjoyment of a Three-One God. Now, if these “everlasting arms” were not underneath a man, so deceitful is his heart, so desperately wicked is his corrupt nature, such dreadful stratagems does Satan lay for his feet, and such numerous perils encompass every step, that he must infallibly perish.

But what we need to feel is, that these arms are underneath us. What good will the doctrine do us? The doctrine of the “everlasting arms” being underneath us will not satisfy our souls, if we feel that we are sinking fathoms. If we keep sinking, sinking, sinking, and are afraid, at times, that we shall sink at last into hell, the bare doctrine that the “everlasting arms” are underneath God’s people will not satisfy us; but we need to feel them under us, so that we can rest upon them, and enjoy a blessed support in them and coming out of them.

How secure the babe lies in its mother’s arms as long as it can feel the arms touching and supporting its body; but let the mother withdraw the arm, the babe is in fear; it cries out in alarm; but so long as it feels the pressure of the mother’s arms, it sleeps on calm and secure. So with living souls; if they cannot find the “everlasting arms” underneath them, they cannot rest in the mere doctrine of God’s upholding the Church; but when they can feel a support given; when in trouble, in affliction, in sorrow, in temptation, there is a sensible leaning upon the everlasting arms, and a sensible support communicated by them, then they can rest calmly and contentedly upon them.

To the reader…

Tempted soul, are you sinking fathoms deep, and do you sometimes fear that you will be lost in the end? Then you know that the bare doctrine of the everlasting arms cannot satisfy you. You may well confess that God upholds His Church, and yet your soul cries out like a child that no longer feels its mother’s arm. Do not be ashamed of that; that is how it is with living souls.

For it is not enough that the doctrine is true; you must feel the everlasting arms underneath you. Cry then to Him, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that in the midst of trouble, sorrow and temptation He will let you truly lean upon Him. His arms are underneath every one of His children, and whoever He carries can never fall through them or out of them. If you feel their pressure, you will sleep on calm and secure, like a babe at its mother’s heart.

With warm regards,
The compilers of jcphilpot.nl