The FaithFul of God
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 […]
Wherever we look, we behold some part of God’s works; some remembrancer of his power and goodness. Then, why are our thoughts so seldom led “through nature, up to nature’s God?” Here we discover the influence of sin, which so fills our hearts with the love of the creature, as to leave no room for […]
In this day of outward profession, it is most needful frequently to reflect how far a person may go in the way of religion, and yet prove nothing at the last but an ‘almost Christian’. This will prove to us the importance of self-examination, since nothing is genuine that will not stand the test of […]
What a multitude of opinions we find in the religious world! How many different sects and parties! each walling themselves round with their own peculiar tenets, and maintaining their own views of doctrine as the only standard of truth. But, in the midst of all this diversity of sentiment, how busy is the great enemy […]
There are two fatal errors, which, it is to be feared, abound among professing Christians. The one, which considers divine grace as disrobed of its glory, by insisting upon the necessity of human endeavors in the great work of salvation. The other, which declares as injurious to morality, the emphasis that is laid upon the […]