A Morning Visit To Jesus

Robert Hawker | Added: Jul 08, 2025 | Category: Theology

It was in a moment of sweet spiritual enjoyment, when grace was in lively exercise that the church exclaimed; It is the voice of my beloved! Behold he cometh.

How is the voice of Jesus discernible? There must be a certain somewhat, by which it is known from every other. Jesus saith, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27). Indeed, the love-calls of Jesus cannot be mistaken. When a Prince condescends to visit any of his poor subjects, the thing is soon known by the train of his servants which he brings with him. And when the Lord Jesus comes to the habitations of His redeemed ones, the graces which follow Him, soon manifest Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there (Ezekiel 48:35).

Let the reader ascertain this point by his own standard. He that knows the Lord, can be no stranger to the visits of the Lord. Sometimes He comes in a word of power. And then how easily discoverable is His presence? He opens our heart, as He opened the heart of Lydia, to attend to the things spoken (Acts 16:14). I shall never forget thy precepts, said One of old. Wherefore? Because, said he, with them thou hast quickened me (Psalm 119:93). Sometimes, He comes in a word of consolation.

And what refreshments do the Lord’s people then find, bearing them up under heavy pressures? What one saint of God once said, every saint of God can always say, in the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul (Psalm 94:19). It must be a matter dearly ascertainable when Jesus comes to make known His love, and the manifestations of His favour, by the fragrancy of His person; for while He gives forth His grace, He quickens our souls to the enjoyment of them; and while the King sitteth at His table, the spikenard of faith will send forth the smell thereof (Song of Solomon 1:12). There will always be a corresponding affection of the soul, towards the bountiful Giver of renewed mercies. His love quickens ours. The Holy Ghost works a meetness in the heart, from the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Hence in whatever form Jesus manifests Himself; whether in ordinances, or providences; whether in the word, or without the word, the Lord comes in a way and manner not to be mistaken. He makes such a blessed discovery of Himself, that like the beloved disciple at the sea of Tiberias, the soul cries out, ‘It is the Lord’ (John 21:1, 7). And sometimes in the discovery the soul is melted and lays low in the dust before Him. And sometimes we are lifted up as in the mount of transfiguration, being brought into the very suburbs of heaven! Doth my reader know anything of these soul transactions?

I am well aware, that it is the Lord Himself, which is the speaker in that memorable scripture, when as Jehovah’s servant in the redemption work for His church, during the time-state of her being, He said, he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. And what follows in the succeeding verse could be spoken by no other (see Isaiah 1:4, 5, 6). But sure I am, that since I knew the Lord, I have found the sweetness, and blessedness of those words, as if personally my own. And wherefore should it not be so, when it be considered the interest the church takes, in all that belongs to her Lord, from her oneness and union with Him? All things are yours, the Holy Ghost hath said, If ye are Christ’s (1 Corinthians 3:22, 23).

I am no stranger to the day dawn visits of Jesus. Many a morning before the world is up, have I found cause to say; He wakeneth morning by morning. Nay, I think I should not err were l to add, that sometimes, and not unfrequently, the manifestations of my Lord’s presence have been so striking in the first moments of recollection, as if called from sleep, for the express purpose of communion. Was it not thus with the church of old? (Song of Solomon 5:2). And may it not be so with the church now?

And wherefore should it be thought incredible? Did not the Lord Jesus when upon earth, teach His people to expect visits from Him, after He was returned to heaven? Did He not almost in the moment of His departure, when in his last conference with His disciples, and as He stood upon the threshold of the invisible world, did He not say; I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you? And again, in the very moment of His ascension, as if the promise should be always kept alive in His church, and among His people, were not His last words; Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world? (John 14:18, Matthew 28:20).  And what are we to conclude from these repeated assurances, but that Jesus doth water His church ever moment; and that He keepeth her night and day lest any hurt her? (Isaiah 27:2, 3). Shall not the Amen, the faithful witness, be true to His promise? Will He not confirm His word unto His servants, wherein He hath caused them to hope? (Psalm 119:49).

Besides, is the thing in itself improbable? Can the performance of it be attended with any difficulty to the Almighty Promiser? If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days; should it be also marvellous in mine eyes, saith the Lord of hosts? (Zechariah 8:6). Shall not He, who hath made our spiritual senses what they are, have access to the spirits which He hath made at all times, and upon all occasions; and make such communications of Himself, as He shall please; so as to make the highly favoured objects of His bounty sensible of that presence by His love; and communicate happiness to them by that favour?

May not the Lord Jesus, by His word, by His providences, by the fulfilment of His promises in a remarkable way and manner; yea, without the medium of either, if it seemeth good in His sight; afford such manifestations of Himself as shall be sufficient to carry conviction to the heart of His redeemed, that it is Jesus, who is thus gracious: while none but the objects of His love in those visits are at all conscious of such spiritual transactions? May not the Head and Husband of His people do all these things, and infinitely more; and yet accomplish the whole in such a way and manner, as shall cause no disturbance to their animal frame, or discompose the mind from the nature of the mercy? Are there any difficulties in the plan, to thwart the Lord in His operations? Nay, are we not taught to expect the accomplishment of covenant blessings by a process unusual, and altogether different from the Lord’s dealings with the world? (John 14:22). Therefore (saith the Lord) my people shall know my name; therefore they shall know in that day, that I am he that doth speak; behold it is I (Isaiah 52:6). How sweetly hath the church of old expressed her apprehension of the Lord’s visits? My beloved, (said she) behold! He standeth behind our wall; he looketh forth at the windows, showing himself through the lattice (Song of Solomon 2:9). And were the Old Testament saints made sensible of such visits from the Lord, and continually refreshed by them; and can it be supposed that New Testament believers know them not? Where then in this case, would be the blessedness of Jesus coming openly into our world, being made flesh and tabernacling among us? How should the church enter into the enjoyment of the disciples who beheld His glory; the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth? (John 1:14).

Precious Head and Husband of thy church and people! Do I not know, to Thy praise, and my joy, somewhat of those love-visits of my Lord? Hast thou not often made my heart to burn within me, when Thou hast been talking with me by the way; opening to my apprehension the scriptures; and making Thyself known unto me, in breaking of bread and of prayer? (Luke 24:30-32). What! Though mine eyes have been holden as those disciples in their way to Emmaus were, so as not immediately to know Thee; yet have I not upon numberless occasions of the kind, been as conscious of Thy presence, as if I had seen Thee? Have not my thoughts outrun the night-watches, that I might meditate on Thy word? And oft before the dawn of day, hath not my soul made me or ever I was aware, like the chariot of Amminadab? (Song of Solomon 6:12).

And shall an infidel tempt me to call these things in question? Will he tell me that these are only the effects of the imagination? What! Can it be the effect of the imagination, when my soul hath been often nourished, and upheld by the spiritual strength imparted upon those occasions; that, like the prophet, I have gone many a day in spiritual strength from such divine support, as he did in bodily sustenance in the wilderness? (1 Kings 14:8). Is it, indeed, possible for the imagination to make things real, which have no existence? Can it render that substantially blessed which never had being? And wherefore should the subject be questionable? Is it necessary upon every occasion in common life, that in order to prove real existence, objects must be seen? If so, how is it, that after a refreshing shower of rain, in the close of a warm day of sunshine; the fragrancy of the plants regale our senses with more than ordinary strength; and yet the cause, though known, doth not appear? The sun’s warmth after the shower’s falling, volatilise the odours of the flower, we know to be the cause; but the vapour is not discernible, though the whole atmosphere is impregnated with its sweetness.

Let the subject be considered in another point of view, and judge by analogy. Is it not one of the plainest revelations of scripture, that angels are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who are the heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:14). And are we not as positively assured, that evil spirits tempt mankind to sin? (1 Peter 5:8). But in both instances, our apprehensions are perfectly unconscious of the presence of either, but from their effects. Doth any man, however, call in question, their reality, because they are not bodily discoverable.

The word of God, which declares their existence, doth as graciously assign the cause of their invisibility. Spiritual objects can only be seen by spiritual apprehension. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them; because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). If it became necessary for spiritual beings to make themselves visible, as hath, perhaps, sometimes been the case; this may have been done as is supposed, by the assumption of tangible substance, in a body like our own, and which by the condensation of the air may render the object visible. And it is possible, that many of the appearances which we read of under the Old Testament dispensation concerning supernatural beings were of this kind. But without this medium, or somewhat like it of making visible, spiritual objects cannot be discernible, unless to spiritual objects like themselves. Nevertheless, though unseen, the reality of their presence cannot be doubted. Effects prove causes. And sceptical up to all the possibilities of unbelief, must be that man that would call in question their existence or agency, merely because they become not the object of bodily sight.

I pause for the moment to remark, what a wonderful effect must take place in the circumstances of every individual of mankind at death? In that moment the spirit no longer cased in the flesh, goes forth from the body. Immediately is opened to his view the spiritual objects of the invisible world. What an awful sight to him that dies in his sins? (John 8:21-24). How glorious a prospect and what unspeakable felicity is unfolded to him, that dies in the Lord? (Revelation 14:13).

But to return. How often have the hallowed moments of the morning, and before the world’s tide hath broken in upon me, been made blessed by the visits of the Lord Jesus? Conscious that no eye saw me but His; and that no ear could know what passed between my Lord and His poor pensioner: I have found freedom to unbosom myself to Him, and to tell Him, what I could not have communicated to the nearest, and dearest earthly friend. And as these seasons of conversation have been often formed without any mediums, either of the work of God; or of the ordinances of God; so have they induced an acquaintance, which no books can teach, and which none but the Holy Ghost could bring about to lead the soul into a personal knowledge and enjoyment of Jesus. And what is this, but a confirmation of scripture, which in every part declares the oneness, and union between Christ and His people? Here, is found proof of a relationship, which leaves at an infinite distance every other. Here we enter into a real heartfelt enjoyment of that precious assurance given by the Holy Ghost, that we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones (Ephesians 5:30).

I think, I may truly say, that I know, and can, and do appreciate, all the affinities of nature, with all the charities of life, as high as any man. But, there is a certain somewhat in our relationship to Jesus, which beggars every other. Here is a connection of another kind. This is an union indeed, a oneness of nature; and one in which the death of the body makes no separation. The brittleness of all other ties (to say nothing worse of them) renders the whole less valuable than we are apt to rate them. And, if it were not rather foreign to my present purpose, I think I might without much difficulty shew, that our attachments in nature here below are only truly formed, when formed in grace. We can only be said to love the persons of our friends, neither do we in truth love them any further, than as we love them in Jesus. But I wave in this place, all observations on this subject. I blush not, however to say, that as far as relates to myself in my connections here below, I would pray for grace, to form my standard of earthly affection to earthly alliances, by the standard of Levi; who said unto his father, and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children. And God the Holy Ghost assigns the reason. Because they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant (Deuteronomy 33:9). Precious Lord Jesus! The relations of thy people in the other world, will be as thine were in this; whosoever shall have done the will of my Father which is in heaven; the same will be our brother and sister, and mother (John 6:28, 29, Matthew 12:50).

And wherefore doth Jesus vouchsafe these visits to His people, but to work in them, now, an acquaintance with His person, that, hereafter, they may be the better prepared to enjoy Him in glory. The very end of our being is this: to know and to enjoy the person of Christ. This is a much higher object than anything relating to our own glory. God, in His three-fold character, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, ordained Christ as Christ, (that is, God and Man in one person), for the unceasing love and delight of the church; more than for any other purpose of their own felicity. For, as the Man, God’s fellow, is the everlasting object of God’s love and delight, so the very being and ordination of the church, in the highest possible attainments of happiness in heaven is, (as Jesus when on earth said himself) to be with Jesus, and to behold the glory given to Him as God Man mediator (Zechariah13:7, Isaiah 42:1, John 17:24). Hence our very being, and wellbeing, and our eternity of being, in the first and ultimate design of it, is to the knowledge and love of God in Christ. And all the visits of Jesus is to bring His redeemed more and more into an acquaintance with His person here, until He brings them all home to the everlasting enjoyment of His presence in glory. Hence those gracious words, Father, I will, that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me; for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. Oh, righteous Father! The world hath not known thee; but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me: and I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them (John 17:24, 25, 26).

Come then, my honoured Lord, and, day by day, grant me the renewed visits of thy love. Draw back the curtains of my heart, and bid my soul good morrow! Be thou, as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth: even a morning without clouds (2 Samuel 23:4). And in fresh discoveries of Thyself, keep my soul alive, in the consciousness and enjoyment of Thy divine presence, until that blessed morning dawn, which shall have no night; whose sun shall no more go down; neither the moon withdraw herself; but the Lord Himself shall be my everlasting light, and my God my glory (Isaiah 60:19, 20).

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