The FaithFul of God
The spirit in which Christian speech should be conducted, is delineated with peculiar accuracy in the word of God. How delightful would be the society of professing Christians, if the humble, loving, gracious, improving spirit, so much enforced in the holy Scriptures, filled every circle. How needful, then, at all times is the prayer of […]
Christianity has justly been called a religion of motives; and yet, alas! how little are those sublime motives to action, which the Gospel inspires, considered by the great mass of professing Christians! Men carry out their worldly concerns under the powerful influence of some constraining motive, which impels them forward with unabating ardor. But in […]
The beatitudes with which our Lord begins his sermon on the mount most strikingly show what is the inward state and outward conduct of true believers, as well as the general reception which such characters meet with from the world. Their inward state is described by poverty of spirit, mourning for sin, hungering and thirsting […]
How beautiful is our Savior’s parable of the vine! It illustrates in the most convincing manner this great truth, that “he who has the Son, has life; and he who has not the Son of God, has not life.” We have in this parable a striking view of the true Church of Christ, which grows […]
It is very important to distinguish rightly between passive impressions and active habits. We are continually liable to receive impressions of one kind or another—impressions of love and aversion; joy and grief; hope and fear. A pleasing representation of a person produces a favorable impression upon the mind, bordering upon love. How common to hear […]
What can be more agreeable to the dictates of true wisdom, than that a creature should love and obey its Creator, when that creature is endued with faculties capable of loving and obeying the Author of its existence? The reverse of this constitutes the grossest impiety. No man of reflection, however carried away by his […]
The whole world lies in wickedness, in a state of spiritual darkness. Out of this darkness, sinners are called by the Gospel; and when, through grace, they arise and depart out of this valley of the shadow of death, they are admitted into the marvelous light of the everlasting covenant, and become the children of […]
The promises of God, which in Christ are yes, and in him amen, shine with resplendent luster in the pages of eternal truth. Nothing but unbelief can prevent the soul from enjoying the sweetness, or experiencing the purifying efficacy, of those exceeding great and precious promises of grace and mercy. The manner in which many […]
“Unto this people you shall say, thus says the Lord: behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.” (Jer. xxi, 8.) These important words were spoken to the Jews, when the king of Babylon was drawing near to besiege the city of Jerusalem. Those who went to the Chaldeans […]
“The religion of a sinner,” as good Mr. Newton used to say, “stands upon two pillars: what Christ has done for us in the flesh; and what he does in us by his Spirit.” Christ dying for us; and Christ living in us, is the very ground and pillar of the truth. Come, Oh my […]
While men of philosophic minds are busily employed in tracing effects to their causes, and others, of a more adventurous spirit, in traversing unknown regions, to trace some mighty river to its source; how few, considering the magnitude of the object, are employed in discovering the two most important of all sources—the source of misery, […]
The written word of God is one of the sacred instruments in the hands of the eternal Spirit for the regeneration of sinners. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” The preaching of the Gospel is another instituted means for awakening dead souls, and leading them to Jesus Christ, through the accompanying […]
True humility is a sweet and blessed grace. It is the product of Almighty power. How calm is the humble soul! While storms and tempests rage with unrelenting fury among the proud and haughty of mankind, a serene and lovely sky smiles over those who are clothed with humility. To promote this desirable state of […]
We read much in the New Testament about Christian unity. The strength and beauty of the church consists in the oneness between Christ and his people. How powerful were the pleadings of our great Advocate for the unity of his redeemed people “Holy Father, keep through your own name, those whom you have given me, […]
The heart cannot be too deeply impressed with the absolute necessity of regenerating grace, nor seek to earnestly for the promised blessing. If the value of one immortal soul exceeds in amount all the wealth of the globe, yes, of millions of material worlds, how strange that men should barter their souls for trifles light […]