NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE.
By A. S. Hutchins
To the soul that panteth after God, as the hart panteth after the water-brooks, there is a peculiar sweetness in the hymn commencing with these precious words. How often do we sing it, and how frequently express, in prayers and exhortation, a desire to get nearer to God. But how many of us, from day to day, live in our families as though we really felt the necessity of being nearer to him? How many, by a holy, watchful, and prayerful life, convey conviction to those with whom they associate, that they are earnestly striving to come into a closer communion with the Most High? Does all our intercourse with the world, in buying, selling, and exchanging worldly goods, manifest that we would do unto others as we would be done by? Does self-denial, gentleness, meekness, and goodness, characterize us, as it would if we knew that we must get nearer to God, or be lost, forever lost? Do we, in all these, and in the development of other Christian graces, live nearer, my God, to thee, as well as exhort, sing, and pray, thus? In the Judgment it will avail nothing that we may have said, “Lord, Lord,” if we have not done his will. Is, then, dear brethren and sisters, our motto, Nearer, my God, to thee? If so, he will come near unto us, to bless us. “Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh unto you.” Oh, precious promise! soul-reviving assurance! “The Lord is with you while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” Oh! if we get nearer to God, we shall save many sad mistakes. Save, it may be, many unkind, unguarded, and uncharitable expressions. When at a distance from God, how apt we are with our tongues to wound and grieve tender hearts; hearts that sigh for sympathy, and words of love and kindness. And who can tell the depth of these wounds, or the severity of their pain? Show pity Lord, O Lord forgive. Teach us, O Lord, to be gentle with each other, “even as a nurse cherisheth her children.” “Nearer, my God, to thee,
Ev’n though it be a cross
That raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to thee,”
But does “all” our life show this to be the language of a heart fixed to be nearer to God, even though some great cross must be taken up, and daily borne? Oh!206how many have thus sung, whom we fear are withholding their hearts and service from God, on account of the cross! We hope they will yet take it up, and prove their earnestness to get nearer to God. In the Scriptures we have an account of two brothers, who were desirous of sitting with Christ in his kingdom. Instead of making them a direct promise that they should be thus favored, the greatest possible honor that could be conferred upon one, he raises the question, “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They say unto him, “We are able.” And their subsequent lives showed that they were not of that class who say, but do not. In view of the crosses which lie before us, as commandment-keepers, and health reformers, how many of us, beloved brethren, can say, with John and James, We are able? To all such we say, Come, let us join in singing, in actual life, Nearer, my God, to thee. We invite you, too, sisters, to join with us in the sacred melody, for we remember that you have a cross to bear, which it seems hard for some to take up. Indeed, some of you seem to walk around the cross in the reform dress, as though it were a matter altogether immaterial. Do you really feel thus? We hope not. Again, we say, Let us raise the tone, and carry it through in our lives, Nearer, my God, to thee. And may we finally sing the glorious song of the triumphantly-happy victor, on the other side of Jordan. May we “Enter the place all free from sin,
Where life's pure waters gently flow.”