Resolutions Without Vigilance

daily-devotionalsGreat promises require great cares. He who has engaged himself so deeply in any service must needs be very vigilant. How is it then that, after so many promises, we find Peter sleeping when Christ is sweating (Matthew 26:39–40)? How is it that the garden of Gethsemane should be the bed of so secure a rest which was the theatre of so exquisite and inimitable an anguish? Can he follow Christ the whole night in his judgment that cannot watch one hour for his comfort? Can he command his life to be laid down for Christ’s truth that cannot command his eyes to be witnesses of his sorrow?

So long as we are out of the view of danger we can make large promises of our strength to face that danger. But when it draws near and creeps upon us we begin to look differently both on it and ourselves and become either desperately fearful or supinely stupid, like untoward and forgetful children who never fear the rod till they feel it..

Dr. Edward Reynolds was born in 1599 in Southampton, England. He received his BA degree at Oxford in 1618. In 1622, before studying for his masters, Reynolds became a chaplain to the king and preacher at Lincoln’s Inn, London. The puritanical inclinations of Dr. Reynolds were well known; his character of piety and decorum were evident even in his college years. Edward Reynolds is known as the Bishop of Norfolk, but he was bishop for only the final fifteen years of his life and ministry. Prior to that he was the rector of Braunston, Northamptonshire, for almost thirty years. Although Reynolds was a Presbyterian by conviction, he had a reputation of moderation in his church polity. This was evidenced in his role in the Westminster Assembly. He was the only member to sit on all three of the major committees on the Confession of Faith, and with his moderate spirit provided balance in the discussions.

These devotions are taken from the works of Edward Reynolds. They have been edited for thinkgospel.com. © 2013 thinkgospel.