William Mason --Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God
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November 1st,
So an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. 2Pe_1:11.
Our last meditation was gloom and sadness. Here, the sun of comfort arises, and sheds splendour, glory, and joy upon us. O that we may this night enter by faith into the joy of our Lord! Come, Christian! it seems you and I must tarry a little longer on earth, absent from our Lord. How shall we employ ourselves? In studying the word of his grace: in being diligent in the use of means: in exercising ourselves unto godliness. What then? O blessed assurance! “So an entrance shall be ministered unto us abundantly.” When? both in life and in death. (1st.) In life. We shall find a free and open door into the kingdom of Christ’s grace, love, and peace, even now. We shall have the joy in the Holy Ghost, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, in our hearts. Thus, with the full sail of assurance, and the rapid tide of heavenly consolation, we shall sweetly and swiftly sail the voyage of life. All is enjoyed in being diligent in the ways of Christ. Diligence! working! labouring! etc. Why, (say some) all these are the very dregs of legality. Ay, so it would, if we had not the faith of Christ in our hearts, love to Christ in our souls, and the glory of Christ, who has fully justified and eternally saved us, in our view. Soul, thus press on. Mind not the Satanic grin, nor licentious sneer, of carnal professors, nor of legal gospellers. Legal! to live and labour in the kingdom of love? O, fool! say, did you ever expect to enter your Lord’s kingdom any other way, than by Christ, who is the door? Do you expect to enjoy the comforts of his love, and the assurance of his favour, in a walk and way contrary to his word and will? Are we not to walk in Christ, abounding in the work of faith, the patience of hope, and the labour of love? Diligence of soul to enjoy his presence, and to be conformed to his image, is our delight below. To have every holy temper and heavenly disposition from Christ, puts the soul into a right frame to enjoy him. This is to have a constant and an abundant entrance ministered to us, into the kingdom of Christ. So living and abiding in his kingdom of grace and love, our souls grow dead to the kingdom of this world. We rejoice to think, (2d.) of an entrance into Christ’s kingdom being abundantly ministered to us at death. Fellowship with Christ, and diligence in his ways, makes us think of death with pleasure, and familiarizes it to our mind with joy. By faith we see heaven open to admit us; God our Father, with open arms to embrace us; Christ to welcome us, and the Spirit to enable us to sing victory in death.
O! may I join the raptur’d lays,
And, with the blissful throng,
Resound salvation, pow’r, and praise
In everlasting song!
So an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. 2Pe_1:11.
Our last meditation was gloom and sadness. Here, the sun of comfort arises, and sheds splendour, glory, and joy upon us. O that we may this night enter by faith into the joy of our Lord! Come, Christian! it seems you and I must tarry a little longer on earth, absent from our Lord. How shall we employ ourselves? In studying the word of his grace: in being diligent in the use of means: in exercising ourselves unto godliness. What then? O blessed assurance! “So an entrance shall be ministered unto us abundantly.” When? both in life and in death. (1st.) In life. We shall find a free and open door into the kingdom of Christ’s grace, love, and peace, even now. We shall have the joy in the Holy Ghost, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, in our hearts. Thus, with the full sail of assurance, and the rapid tide of heavenly consolation, we shall sweetly and swiftly sail the voyage of life. All is enjoyed in being diligent in the ways of Christ. Diligence! working! labouring! etc. Why, (say some) all these are the very dregs of legality. Ay, so it would, if we had not the faith of Christ in our hearts, love to Christ in our souls, and the glory of Christ, who has fully justified and eternally saved us, in our view. Soul, thus press on. Mind not the Satanic grin, nor licentious sneer, of carnal professors, nor of legal gospellers. Legal! to live and labour in the kingdom of love? O, fool! say, did you ever expect to enter your Lord’s kingdom any other way, than by Christ, who is the door? Do you expect to enjoy the comforts of his love, and the assurance of his favour, in a walk and way contrary to his word and will? Are we not to walk in Christ, abounding in the work of faith, the patience of hope, and the labour of love? Diligence of soul to enjoy his presence, and to be conformed to his image, is our delight below. To have every holy temper and heavenly disposition from Christ, puts the soul into a right frame to enjoy him. This is to have a constant and an abundant entrance ministered to us, into the kingdom of Christ. So living and abiding in his kingdom of grace and love, our souls grow dead to the kingdom of this world. We rejoice to think, (2d.) of an entrance into Christ’s kingdom being abundantly ministered to us at death. Fellowship with Christ, and diligence in his ways, makes us think of death with pleasure, and familiarizes it to our mind with joy. By faith we see heaven open to admit us; God our Father, with open arms to embrace us; Christ to welcome us, and the Spirit to enable us to sing victory in death.
O! may I join the raptur’d lays,
And, with the blissful throng,
Resound salvation, pow’r, and praise
In everlasting song!
NOVEMER 2nd,
Death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours. 1Co_3:22.
“ O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man who is at rest in his possessions; unto the man who has nothing to vex him, and who hath prosperity in all things!” O death, how sweet is the remembrance of thee, to a man who is alive to God, dead to the world; who longs to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord; to see the glory of Jesus, and to reign eternally with him! Christian, here is a precious legacy left thee by the Lord: a covenant-gift from the God of thy salvation: “Death is yours.” He is your conquered enemy; your faithful friend. (1st.) Your conquered enemy. You need not fear him. He has neither strength nor sting. Christ, the victorious Captain of your salvation, has disarmed him of both. He can neither destroy nor wound your soul. Yea, “He hath abolished death.” (2Ti_1:10.) There is no substance in him; he is changed into a shadow. It is not the enemy death which seizes a believer, but the shadow or emblem of it, sleep. Weary soul, tired out with the burden of sin, lusts, corruptions, afflictions, accusations, temptations, etc.-is sleep an enemy to you? Do you dread sleep? Are you afraid of rest? What! fear to fall asleep in Jesus, to awake in his presence, to be satisfied with perfect likeness to him, and eternally enjoy him? O fools, and slow of heart to believe the victory of Christ over death! And thou too, O my soul! take thee rebuke to thyself, and be ashamed of thy folly. But I am not afraid of death, but of dying! Why afraid of sleeping? O! for the insupportable pains of the body in that hour. Who told you they are insupportable? How many have sweetly sung, victory in death? O! says one, is this dying? O, it is sweet, it is pleasant. “Though I pass through the valley of the shadow of death, thou shalt be with me.” This is the claim of faith upon the warrant of the Lord. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee.” (Isa_43:2.) The presence of the Saviour will beguile all thy pains, and fill thy soul with comfort. For, (2d.) Death is thy faithful friend. Hast thou not found sleep so to thy wearied body? Just so, and no more, is death to thy weary soul. It will at once deliver thee from all thy burdens and sorrows, and introduce thee into joys unspeakable and full of glory. Death is that, and no more, to the soul, than what God calls it in his word; and faith makes it to the heart. If you do really and truly believe that death is swallowed up in the victory of Christ; if you firmly believe his precious blood has atoned for sin, and his righteous life has fulfilled the law, you may undauntedly sing, “O, death! where is thy sting? O, grave! where is thy victory?”
No more, O grim destroyer, boast
Thy universal sway!
To heaven-born souls thy sting is lost;
Thy night, the gates of day.
Death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours. 1Co_3:22.
“ O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man who is at rest in his possessions; unto the man who has nothing to vex him, and who hath prosperity in all things!” O death, how sweet is the remembrance of thee, to a man who is alive to God, dead to the world; who longs to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord; to see the glory of Jesus, and to reign eternally with him! Christian, here is a precious legacy left thee by the Lord: a covenant-gift from the God of thy salvation: “Death is yours.” He is your conquered enemy; your faithful friend. (1st.) Your conquered enemy. You need not fear him. He has neither strength nor sting. Christ, the victorious Captain of your salvation, has disarmed him of both. He can neither destroy nor wound your soul. Yea, “He hath abolished death.” (2Ti_1:10.) There is no substance in him; he is changed into a shadow. It is not the enemy death which seizes a believer, but the shadow or emblem of it, sleep. Weary soul, tired out with the burden of sin, lusts, corruptions, afflictions, accusations, temptations, etc.-is sleep an enemy to you? Do you dread sleep? Are you afraid of rest? What! fear to fall asleep in Jesus, to awake in his presence, to be satisfied with perfect likeness to him, and eternally enjoy him? O fools, and slow of heart to believe the victory of Christ over death! And thou too, O my soul! take thee rebuke to thyself, and be ashamed of thy folly. But I am not afraid of death, but of dying! Why afraid of sleeping? O! for the insupportable pains of the body in that hour. Who told you they are insupportable? How many have sweetly sung, victory in death? O! says one, is this dying? O, it is sweet, it is pleasant. “Though I pass through the valley of the shadow of death, thou shalt be with me.” This is the claim of faith upon the warrant of the Lord. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee.” (Isa_43:2.) The presence of the Saviour will beguile all thy pains, and fill thy soul with comfort. For, (2d.) Death is thy faithful friend. Hast thou not found sleep so to thy wearied body? Just so, and no more, is death to thy weary soul. It will at once deliver thee from all thy burdens and sorrows, and introduce thee into joys unspeakable and full of glory. Death is that, and no more, to the soul, than what God calls it in his word; and faith makes it to the heart. If you do really and truly believe that death is swallowed up in the victory of Christ; if you firmly believe his precious blood has atoned for sin, and his righteous life has fulfilled the law, you may undauntedly sing, “O, death! where is thy sting? O, grave! where is thy victory?”
No more, O grim destroyer, boast
Thy universal sway!
To heaven-born souls thy sting is lost;
Thy night, the gates of day.
November 3rd,
If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Exo_20:25.
This chapter abounds with legal terror. Here, the glorious Jehovah is giving the law with thunderings and lightnings, and the sound of a trumpet. The mountain smoking. Poor sinners, trembling and fleeing, saying, “Let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Most awfully tremendous! Well might St. Paul call it, “the ministration of death and condemnation.” (2Co_3:7; 2Co_3:9.) But blessed, blessed be God, it contains precious gospel-grace to law-condemned sinners. Here, rejoice, and say, Let God speak, and we live. For here is an altar commanded. God is accessible to us. “An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me.” Here is gospel-grace. That beloved Son typified, who was made like unto us, and appeared in our earthly nature. Thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings and peace-offerings upon it. “Our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb_12:29.) Yet, “we have an altar.” (Heb_13:10.) Christ is both our altar, our burntsacrifice, our peace-offering, and our Priest. In him, God is ever accessible to us, and we ever accessible to him. We lay hold of the horns of this altar. This is our refuge from a fiery law and inexorable justice. There, says God, I will come unto thee, and bless thee. Blessed be our God and Father, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. (Eph_1:3.) If thou wilt make me an altar of stone, it shall not be hewn. See again the dear Mediator shadowed forth: “That stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands.” (Dan_2:45.) O how sweet, to see our Beloved in every line of revelation! Well might he say, “Search the Scriptures: they testify of me.” (Joh_5:39.) “If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.” What can this mean? To forbid thy pride and arrogance. Though thou art a law-condemned sinner, yet pride and vanity work in thee. We are prone to think by our works, our art, our device, we are to add something of our own to this altar to render our souls acceptable to God. But this is to pollute the altar, Christ Jesus. This, the foolish, bewitched Galatians did. So some are said to crucify the Lord afresh. O beware of this spiritual pollution of the blessed altar, Christ. Know, we are perfectly and everlastingly accepted in him, without any work of our own. Believe this. Obey God; glorify him. Does the law convince of sin, and cut us off from all hope in ourselves? This blessed altar is of itself all-sufficient to fill us with all hope, joy, and peace. For this typifies, that new and living way which Christ hath consecrated for us, through the vail of his flesh, to draw nigh unto God. Heb_10:20.
I other priests disclaim,
And laws and off’rings too:
None but the bleeding Lamb
The mighty work can do:
He shall have all the praise, for he
Hath lov’d, and lived, and dy’d for me.
If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Exo_20:25.
This chapter abounds with legal terror. Here, the glorious Jehovah is giving the law with thunderings and lightnings, and the sound of a trumpet. The mountain smoking. Poor sinners, trembling and fleeing, saying, “Let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Most awfully tremendous! Well might St. Paul call it, “the ministration of death and condemnation.” (2Co_3:7; 2Co_3:9.) But blessed, blessed be God, it contains precious gospel-grace to law-condemned sinners. Here, rejoice, and say, Let God speak, and we live. For here is an altar commanded. God is accessible to us. “An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me.” Here is gospel-grace. That beloved Son typified, who was made like unto us, and appeared in our earthly nature. Thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings and peace-offerings upon it. “Our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb_12:29.) Yet, “we have an altar.” (Heb_13:10.) Christ is both our altar, our burntsacrifice, our peace-offering, and our Priest. In him, God is ever accessible to us, and we ever accessible to him. We lay hold of the horns of this altar. This is our refuge from a fiery law and inexorable justice. There, says God, I will come unto thee, and bless thee. Blessed be our God and Father, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. (Eph_1:3.) If thou wilt make me an altar of stone, it shall not be hewn. See again the dear Mediator shadowed forth: “That stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands.” (Dan_2:45.) O how sweet, to see our Beloved in every line of revelation! Well might he say, “Search the Scriptures: they testify of me.” (Joh_5:39.) “If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.” What can this mean? To forbid thy pride and arrogance. Though thou art a law-condemned sinner, yet pride and vanity work in thee. We are prone to think by our works, our art, our device, we are to add something of our own to this altar to render our souls acceptable to God. But this is to pollute the altar, Christ Jesus. This, the foolish, bewitched Galatians did. So some are said to crucify the Lord afresh. O beware of this spiritual pollution of the blessed altar, Christ. Know, we are perfectly and everlastingly accepted in him, without any work of our own. Believe this. Obey God; glorify him. Does the law convince of sin, and cut us off from all hope in ourselves? This blessed altar is of itself all-sufficient to fill us with all hope, joy, and peace. For this typifies, that new and living way which Christ hath consecrated for us, through the vail of his flesh, to draw nigh unto God. Heb_10:20.
I other priests disclaim,
And laws and off’rings too:
None but the bleeding Lamb
The mighty work can do:
He shall have all the praise, for he
Hath lov’d, and lived, and dy’d for me.
November 4th,
We believe, and are sure. Joh_6:69.
Here is both faith and assurance. I wish to the Lord I had them, is the language of many a doubting heart, while they have both this very faith and assurance. This assurance is of the essence of faith. Without it faith has no existence. Consider,
(1st.) The nature of this faith and assurance. “We believe and are sure.” Of what? That their names were written in heaven, that they were sure they were the elect of God? No. But, says St. Peter to our Lord, “We believe, and are sure, that thou art Christ the Son of the living God, and that thou hast the words of eternal life.” Their minds were as sure of this truth, as of their existence. So must ours at all times, and under all circumstances.
But is this faith and assurance? Then, blessed be God, I am a partaker of both. I do believe, I am sure, that Christ is the Son of God, and that he, and he alone, hath the words of eternal life. But I want to be sure of my own interest in the Son of God. Bless the Spirit for revealing Christ in the word, and revealing him in thine heart according to the word. Go on with thy present blessed faith and assurance. It will make Christ precious to thy soul. It will cause thy soul to cleave to him. Thou wilt say, “None but Christ.” In due time, the Spirit will fully manifest thy interest in his love and salvation.
(2.) Consider the blessedness of this faith and assurance. It was for want of this “many disciples went back and walked no more with Christ.” (Joh_6:66.) It is by believing and being sure that Christ is the Son of God, and that he hath the words of eternal life, that causes any poor sinner to follow him, to cleave to him, to call upon him, to hope in him, and to expect all salvation from him. Little as some may think of this faith, low as some may relate this assurance, yet our Lord honours it. He pronounces Peter blessed for it. He does not say, I believe and am sure that I am a child of God, and that my sins are forgiven. But, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” What says our Lord to this? “Blessed art thou: for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Mat_16:17.)
Rejoice, O believing soul ! thou hast a revelation from God thy heavenly Father, even whilst thou art doubting. All thy salvation depends on this truth. All thy comfort results from belief and assurance of it. The more steadily and confidently you believe and hold fast this truth in your conscience, the more solid peace, holy comfort and heavenly joy you experience.
Faith!-‘tis a precious grace,
Where’er it is bestow’d;
It boasts of a celestial birth,
And is the gift of God.
We believe, and are sure. Joh_6:69.
Here is both faith and assurance. I wish to the Lord I had them, is the language of many a doubting heart, while they have both this very faith and assurance. This assurance is of the essence of faith. Without it faith has no existence. Consider,
(1st.) The nature of this faith and assurance. “We believe and are sure.” Of what? That their names were written in heaven, that they were sure they were the elect of God? No. But, says St. Peter to our Lord, “We believe, and are sure, that thou art Christ the Son of the living God, and that thou hast the words of eternal life.” Their minds were as sure of this truth, as of their existence. So must ours at all times, and under all circumstances.
But is this faith and assurance? Then, blessed be God, I am a partaker of both. I do believe, I am sure, that Christ is the Son of God, and that he, and he alone, hath the words of eternal life. But I want to be sure of my own interest in the Son of God. Bless the Spirit for revealing Christ in the word, and revealing him in thine heart according to the word. Go on with thy present blessed faith and assurance. It will make Christ precious to thy soul. It will cause thy soul to cleave to him. Thou wilt say, “None but Christ.” In due time, the Spirit will fully manifest thy interest in his love and salvation.
(2.) Consider the blessedness of this faith and assurance. It was for want of this “many disciples went back and walked no more with Christ.” (Joh_6:66.) It is by believing and being sure that Christ is the Son of God, and that he hath the words of eternal life, that causes any poor sinner to follow him, to cleave to him, to call upon him, to hope in him, and to expect all salvation from him. Little as some may think of this faith, low as some may relate this assurance, yet our Lord honours it. He pronounces Peter blessed for it. He does not say, I believe and am sure that I am a child of God, and that my sins are forgiven. But, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” What says our Lord to this? “Blessed art thou: for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Mat_16:17.)
Rejoice, O believing soul ! thou hast a revelation from God thy heavenly Father, even whilst thou art doubting. All thy salvation depends on this truth. All thy comfort results from belief and assurance of it. The more steadily and confidently you believe and hold fast this truth in your conscience, the more solid peace, holy comfort and heavenly joy you experience.
Faith!-‘tis a precious grace,
Where’er it is bestow’d;
It boasts of a celestial birth,
And is the gift of God.
Crossnote, are you following the dates in the book? I've been reading them each day, but yours is different. Maybe your book is not the same.
I had my few little comments ready - but they don't fit now.
I love this little book though.
I had my few little comments ready - but they don't fit now.
I love this little book though.
It doesn't say it is any Vol. But it does say that "These selections have been revised, with some changes in obsolete or other defective forms of expression." "Selected from his morning and evening meditations."
Must be the one I'm supposed to read.
I loved today's meditation which talked about that we have no stock of spiritual food in us, so much take in daily of His word just as we food for our physical bodies. How jealous and watchful should we be against every enemy who would prevent our feeding upon Christ, the bread of life! It is our spiritual food that transforms us into the image of our Lord....
Must be the one I'm supposed to read.
I loved today's meditation which talked about that we have no stock of spiritual food in us, so much take in daily of His word just as we food for our physical bodies. How jealous and watchful should we be against every enemy who would prevent our feeding upon Christ, the bread of life! It is our spiritual food that transforms us into the image of our Lord....
November 5th,
Therefore will I look unto the LORD: I will wait for the GOD of my salvation: My GOD will hear me. Mic_7:7.
Here is a soul exclaiming against the very worst of foes. “A man’s enemies are the men of his own house.” Under such experience, behold and imitate the conduct before us. Here are two acts of the mind, and the cry of faith. (1st.) I will look. The Lord is the object looked to. Blessed be the Spirit, he opens our eyes to see him, and our hearts to believe his love to us and care for us. Then we know the voice of Christ and obey it. He says, “Look unto me, and be ye saved,” (Isa_45:22.) Whenever distressed with enemies from within and without, sin, Satan, or the world, here is our warrant, to look unto the Lord. He assures us of salvation from them. We shall find and feel these enemies, to the end of life. Therefore looking unto the Lord, is to be the constant work of life. O the special mercy to have such a Lord to look to! Shame to us, that we look no more to him. Happy for us when we look to him only. We are sure of comfort from him, and safety by him, from all the power, malice, and fraud of every enemy. But I see enemies beset me. I am not saved from them. I grow impatient. Unbelief prevails. Doubts and fears arise. Here is the remedy. (2d.) “I will wait.” Time will prove God’s truths, Satan’s lying suggestions, and the groundless suspicions of my own heart. “He that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isa_28:16.) It is, “the God of my salvation,” I wait upon, and wait for. “My times are in his hand,” (Psa_31:15.) Every promise has its season for accomplishment. Every providence its hour. Every vision its appointed time. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” (Ecc_3:1.) O this waiting faith honours the Lord’s word greatly. It has the Lord’s word for its support. The Lord honours it. Behold his absolute precious promise to us. “They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,” (Isa_40:31.) But this was not silent looking, and dumb waiting. For, (3d.) Here is the cry of faith. “My God will hear me.” O the preciousness of faith! it claims the Lord, and makes a special appropriation of him. My God. Vile and sinful as I am: wretched and miserable as sin has made me: however beset and distressed with foes within, and enemies without, yet, O my soul, thou hast a covenant God in Christ to look to, wait for, and call upon. He will hear me. I am sure of it. For he put it into my heart to cry to him.
To look and wait upon the Lord,
Our priv’lege is most sweet,
For God his presence will afford,
And will with comforts greet.
Therefore will I look unto the LORD: I will wait for the GOD of my salvation: My GOD will hear me. Mic_7:7.
Here is a soul exclaiming against the very worst of foes. “A man’s enemies are the men of his own house.” Under such experience, behold and imitate the conduct before us. Here are two acts of the mind, and the cry of faith. (1st.) I will look. The Lord is the object looked to. Blessed be the Spirit, he opens our eyes to see him, and our hearts to believe his love to us and care for us. Then we know the voice of Christ and obey it. He says, “Look unto me, and be ye saved,” (Isa_45:22.) Whenever distressed with enemies from within and without, sin, Satan, or the world, here is our warrant, to look unto the Lord. He assures us of salvation from them. We shall find and feel these enemies, to the end of life. Therefore looking unto the Lord, is to be the constant work of life. O the special mercy to have such a Lord to look to! Shame to us, that we look no more to him. Happy for us when we look to him only. We are sure of comfort from him, and safety by him, from all the power, malice, and fraud of every enemy. But I see enemies beset me. I am not saved from them. I grow impatient. Unbelief prevails. Doubts and fears arise. Here is the remedy. (2d.) “I will wait.” Time will prove God’s truths, Satan’s lying suggestions, and the groundless suspicions of my own heart. “He that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isa_28:16.) It is, “the God of my salvation,” I wait upon, and wait for. “My times are in his hand,” (Psa_31:15.) Every promise has its season for accomplishment. Every providence its hour. Every vision its appointed time. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” (Ecc_3:1.) O this waiting faith honours the Lord’s word greatly. It has the Lord’s word for its support. The Lord honours it. Behold his absolute precious promise to us. “They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,” (Isa_40:31.) But this was not silent looking, and dumb waiting. For, (3d.) Here is the cry of faith. “My God will hear me.” O the preciousness of faith! it claims the Lord, and makes a special appropriation of him. My God. Vile and sinful as I am: wretched and miserable as sin has made me: however beset and distressed with foes within, and enemies without, yet, O my soul, thou hast a covenant God in Christ to look to, wait for, and call upon. He will hear me. I am sure of it. For he put it into my heart to cry to him.
To look and wait upon the Lord,
Our priv’lege is most sweet,
For God his presence will afford,
And will with comforts greet.
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NOVEMBER 6th
The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the HOLY GHOST. Rom_14:17.
How much did our dear Saviour bear, what pains did he take with his first disciples, to teach them the nature of his kingdom? Their notions were carnal and worldly: his kingdom spiritual and heavenly. We are just like them. Blessed be his name, the Lord is the same in patience and love to teach us also. There ever was, now is, and ever will be a cry with us, Lo, here is Christ. Lo, there is the kingdom of God. It consists in this external mode: that outward rite, ceremony, or institution. Just like those ministers, the dry-vines of this day, every subject they preach upon is to save you. If they preach, what is called a charity sermon, even the gift of money is to entitle you to God’s kingdom. But what says our Lord? Behold, take special notice, “The kingdom of God is within you,” (Luk_17:21.) It consists in nothing carnal, or external. Its blessings are inward, spiritual, and substantial.
(1st.) Righteousness. This the devil robbed us of. Glory to Christ, he restores it to us. He gives us a better righteousness than we lost. We lost but a creature’s righteousness, but we gain the righteousness of God’s only Son: the righteousness of God and man in one Christ. Satan ruined us by sin, Christ saves us by righteousness. The kingdom of God is established in righteousness, upon the ruins of sin and Satan. The subjects of this kingdom are all righteous, (Isa_60:21.) As we possess this kingdom in our hearts by faith, so Christ’s righteousness is called the righteousness of faith. For we receive it by faith. We do nothing to work it out. It is the gift of righteousness, (Rom_5:17.) O how gloriously are our souls arrayed in the righteousness of the King of saints. Let us glory of this righteousness ONLY. For the more we believe of it in our hearts, the more we live in the spirit and temper of righteousness in our lives.
(2d.) Peace. We were once at peace with the world, the flesh, and the devil, and at war with God. Now we are in his righteous kingdom, and righteous in his Son. We are at peace with God, and at war with them. “The effect of this righteousness is peace and quietness, and assurance for ever,” (Isa_32:17.)
(3d.) Joy in the Holy Ghost. Being righteous in Jesus and at peace with God, the Holy Ghost gives us the joy of this. He teaches us to joy in all Jesus is to us, and has done for us. Yea, “he fills us with all joy and peace in believing,” (Rom_15:13.) Wherefore we, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, “Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear,” Heb_12:28.
Preserve, O God, from snares of sin,
Thro’ my remaining days;
And in me let each virtue shine,
To my Redeemer’s praise.
The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the HOLY GHOST. Rom_14:17.
How much did our dear Saviour bear, what pains did he take with his first disciples, to teach them the nature of his kingdom? Their notions were carnal and worldly: his kingdom spiritual and heavenly. We are just like them. Blessed be his name, the Lord is the same in patience and love to teach us also. There ever was, now is, and ever will be a cry with us, Lo, here is Christ. Lo, there is the kingdom of God. It consists in this external mode: that outward rite, ceremony, or institution. Just like those ministers, the dry-vines of this day, every subject they preach upon is to save you. If they preach, what is called a charity sermon, even the gift of money is to entitle you to God’s kingdom. But what says our Lord? Behold, take special notice, “The kingdom of God is within you,” (Luk_17:21.) It consists in nothing carnal, or external. Its blessings are inward, spiritual, and substantial.
(1st.) Righteousness. This the devil robbed us of. Glory to Christ, he restores it to us. He gives us a better righteousness than we lost. We lost but a creature’s righteousness, but we gain the righteousness of God’s only Son: the righteousness of God and man in one Christ. Satan ruined us by sin, Christ saves us by righteousness. The kingdom of God is established in righteousness, upon the ruins of sin and Satan. The subjects of this kingdom are all righteous, (Isa_60:21.) As we possess this kingdom in our hearts by faith, so Christ’s righteousness is called the righteousness of faith. For we receive it by faith. We do nothing to work it out. It is the gift of righteousness, (Rom_5:17.) O how gloriously are our souls arrayed in the righteousness of the King of saints. Let us glory of this righteousness ONLY. For the more we believe of it in our hearts, the more we live in the spirit and temper of righteousness in our lives.
(2d.) Peace. We were once at peace with the world, the flesh, and the devil, and at war with God. Now we are in his righteous kingdom, and righteous in his Son. We are at peace with God, and at war with them. “The effect of this righteousness is peace and quietness, and assurance for ever,” (Isa_32:17.)
(3d.) Joy in the Holy Ghost. Being righteous in Jesus and at peace with God, the Holy Ghost gives us the joy of this. He teaches us to joy in all Jesus is to us, and has done for us. Yea, “he fills us with all joy and peace in believing,” (Rom_15:13.) Wherefore we, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, “Let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear,” Heb_12:28.
Preserve, O God, from snares of sin,
Thro’ my remaining days;
And in me let each virtue shine,
To my Redeemer’s praise.
November 7th,
My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. Psa_63:8.
David was no advocate for the merit of good works. He ascribes no glory to nature’s power and free-will. Free-grace Paul says, “I laboured more abundantly than they all.” But he immediately corrects himself. “Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me,” (1Co_15:10.) So if David’s soul followed hard after God, he gives grace the honour of it: “Thy right hand upholdeth me.” This is the way both to improve and to enjoy lively frames of soul, to see and acknowledge the Lord’s hand to be the cause of them. O it is delightful when the soul follows hard after God.
For, (1st.) It implies such a discovery of the love and grace of the Lord, that the mind is fixed upon him, the heart drawn out after him, and the affections cleave unto him. The language is, “What is there upon earth that I can desire beside thee?” O, says the soul, “I am in his eyes as one that found favour,” (Son_8:10.)
Then, (2d.) Every thing appears mean and contemptible in comparison of the Lord. The world, with all its riches, honours, and pleasures, has lost its charms. Sin is abhorred. Satan is defied. The flesh is denied. The smiles and frowns of carnal men set at nought. Nothing but the enjoyment of the Lord’s love and presence is prized.
Therefore, (3d.) There is a diligent attendance on the means of grace. A conscientious discharge of duty, a delight in the exercise of every grace, believing in the Lord, looking to him, hoping in him, calling on him, loving, fearing, serving, and adoring him. O, says the soul, I will go under the word, who knows but I may gain a greater knowledge of the love, peace, and salvation of my Lord Christ? I will go to his table, that he may meet and bless, and kiss my soul. “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better than wine,” (Son_1:2.) This is living indeed. Living like oneself, as beloved of the Lord, following hard after him, reaching forward to him, “pressing towards the mark, for the prize of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” (Php_3:14.) O let us look more “to the right hand of the Lord. It hath the preeminence. The right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.” O think on Stephen’s vision. “He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God,” (Act_7:55.) We have the very same vision by faith; and the very same object to look unto every hour of life, and every step of our journey. This brings support to our minds, and joy to our hearts. “We endure, seeing him who is invisible,” Heb_11:27.
Inspire my soul with holy zeal,
Great God, my love inflame;
Religion without zeal and love,
Is but an empty name.
My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. Psa_63:8.
David was no advocate for the merit of good works. He ascribes no glory to nature’s power and free-will. Free-grace Paul says, “I laboured more abundantly than they all.” But he immediately corrects himself. “Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me,” (1Co_15:10.) So if David’s soul followed hard after God, he gives grace the honour of it: “Thy right hand upholdeth me.” This is the way both to improve and to enjoy lively frames of soul, to see and acknowledge the Lord’s hand to be the cause of them. O it is delightful when the soul follows hard after God.
For, (1st.) It implies such a discovery of the love and grace of the Lord, that the mind is fixed upon him, the heart drawn out after him, and the affections cleave unto him. The language is, “What is there upon earth that I can desire beside thee?” O, says the soul, “I am in his eyes as one that found favour,” (Son_8:10.)
Then, (2d.) Every thing appears mean and contemptible in comparison of the Lord. The world, with all its riches, honours, and pleasures, has lost its charms. Sin is abhorred. Satan is defied. The flesh is denied. The smiles and frowns of carnal men set at nought. Nothing but the enjoyment of the Lord’s love and presence is prized.
Therefore, (3d.) There is a diligent attendance on the means of grace. A conscientious discharge of duty, a delight in the exercise of every grace, believing in the Lord, looking to him, hoping in him, calling on him, loving, fearing, serving, and adoring him. O, says the soul, I will go under the word, who knows but I may gain a greater knowledge of the love, peace, and salvation of my Lord Christ? I will go to his table, that he may meet and bless, and kiss my soul. “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better than wine,” (Son_1:2.) This is living indeed. Living like oneself, as beloved of the Lord, following hard after him, reaching forward to him, “pressing towards the mark, for the prize of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” (Php_3:14.) O let us look more “to the right hand of the Lord. It hath the preeminence. The right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.” O think on Stephen’s vision. “He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God,” (Act_7:55.) We have the very same vision by faith; and the very same object to look unto every hour of life, and every step of our journey. This brings support to our minds, and joy to our hearts. “We endure, seeing him who is invisible,” Heb_11:27.
Inspire my soul with holy zeal,
Great God, my love inflame;
Religion without zeal and love,
Is but an empty name.
NOVEMBER 8th
Then said one unto him, LORD, are they few that be saved? Luk_13:23.
Peter’s fervent prayer, “Lord, save, or I perish!” was much better than this curious question. It was an unprofitable one. Suppose our Lord had given a direct answer to it, assured him there were but few that would be saved, and told him the exact number, what good would this querist have got by it?
Learn hence, (1st.) that unprofitable questions are to be avoided. They proceed from a vain curiosity, and are proposed to gratify the itch of a speculative humour. Indulge no thoughts in thy mind above, beyond, nor contrary to what is written. They may amuse and perplex, but cannot edify thy soul.
Observe, (2d.) the wisdom of thy Lord. He does not give a direct answer to this vain question, but improves it to general usefulness. As though he had said, Friend, thy question is impertinent. Thou art prying into a matter that concerns thee not! Thou hast a notion of salvation in thy head, and hast put a curious question from thy tongue, but thy heart is unconcerned about thy own salvation. Rather than answer thy unprofitable question, I will improve it to general use:-Strive to enter in at the strait gate.
(3d.) Disciple, here is an admirable lesson for thee and me. Let us learn to improve every curious question into godly edification; nice and subtle distinctions, into practical and experimental conversation. You can scarce begin to speak of the grace of God and the salvation of Christ to poor blind sinners, but they will ask, Do not you hold the doctrine of election? I am persuaded, it would be best to follow our Lord’s conduct. Give no answer to the question. Set forth the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the deplorable state sinners are in, the absolute necessity of a Saviour: the matchless glory of his person, the riches of his love to sinners, the fulness of his salvation for them, and the need we have of faith in him, to be clothed in his righteousness, justified before God, and eternally saved by him. This, this is the way to instruct poor sinners’ minds, and to warm and enliven our own souls. Dry disquisitions promote jar and discord. Let Jesus, the strait gate, be in our view. “Let us consider the end of our conversation, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.” (Heb_13:7-8.) Let us look to him every day and every hour, to save us from the deceitful pride of our hearts, the abominable wickedness of our nature, and from all our cursed lusts, which war against our souls.
This is our comfort, dearest Lord,
That ev’ry soul thou’ll save,
Who comes to thee with self abhorr’d,
Salvation for to crave.
Tho’ chief of sinners, Lord, I am,
Yet still I hope in thee:
O! suff’ring, loving, saving Lamb,
Save, save poor guilty me.
Then said one unto him, LORD, are they few that be saved? Luk_13:23.
Peter’s fervent prayer, “Lord, save, or I perish!” was much better than this curious question. It was an unprofitable one. Suppose our Lord had given a direct answer to it, assured him there were but few that would be saved, and told him the exact number, what good would this querist have got by it?
Learn hence, (1st.) that unprofitable questions are to be avoided. They proceed from a vain curiosity, and are proposed to gratify the itch of a speculative humour. Indulge no thoughts in thy mind above, beyond, nor contrary to what is written. They may amuse and perplex, but cannot edify thy soul.
Observe, (2d.) the wisdom of thy Lord. He does not give a direct answer to this vain question, but improves it to general usefulness. As though he had said, Friend, thy question is impertinent. Thou art prying into a matter that concerns thee not! Thou hast a notion of salvation in thy head, and hast put a curious question from thy tongue, but thy heart is unconcerned about thy own salvation. Rather than answer thy unprofitable question, I will improve it to general use:-Strive to enter in at the strait gate.
(3d.) Disciple, here is an admirable lesson for thee and me. Let us learn to improve every curious question into godly edification; nice and subtle distinctions, into practical and experimental conversation. You can scarce begin to speak of the grace of God and the salvation of Christ to poor blind sinners, but they will ask, Do not you hold the doctrine of election? I am persuaded, it would be best to follow our Lord’s conduct. Give no answer to the question. Set forth the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the deplorable state sinners are in, the absolute necessity of a Saviour: the matchless glory of his person, the riches of his love to sinners, the fulness of his salvation for them, and the need we have of faith in him, to be clothed in his righteousness, justified before God, and eternally saved by him. This, this is the way to instruct poor sinners’ minds, and to warm and enliven our own souls. Dry disquisitions promote jar and discord. Let Jesus, the strait gate, be in our view. “Let us consider the end of our conversation, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.” (Heb_13:7-8.) Let us look to him every day and every hour, to save us from the deceitful pride of our hearts, the abominable wickedness of our nature, and from all our cursed lusts, which war against our souls.
This is our comfort, dearest Lord,
That ev’ry soul thou’ll save,
Who comes to thee with self abhorr’d,
Salvation for to crave.
Tho’ chief of sinners, Lord, I am,
Yet still I hope in thee:
O! suff’ring, loving, saving Lamb,
Save, save poor guilty me.
(3d.) Disciple, here is an admirable lesson for thee and me. Let us learn to improve every curious question into godly edification; nice and subtle distinctions, into practical and experimental conversation. You can scarce begin to speak of the grace of God and the salvation of Christ to poor blind sinners, but they will ask, Do not you hold the doctrine of election? I am persuaded, it would be best to follow our Lord’s conduct. Give no answer to the question. Set forth the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the deplorable state sinners are in, the absolute necessity of a Saviour: the matchless glory of his person, the riches of his love to sinners, the fulness of his salvation for them, and the need we have of faith in him, to be clothed in his righteousness, justified before God, and eternally saved by him. This, this is the way to instruct poor sinners’ minds, and to warm and enliven our own souls. Dry disquisitions promote jar and discord.
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Just reading in I Tim. to walk away from all godless, empty words and turn aside from arguments and objections that arise from false knowledge. Or as is stated above "Give no answer".
There are people who have an inherent drive to debate and argue. They want to appear more "knowledgeable" than others. They are best not answered. And I have found that even when you answer them with godly edification (turning it into profitable conversation), they don't hear. That's when I exit.
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Just reading in I Tim. to walk away from all godless, empty words and turn aside from arguments and objections that arise from false knowledge. Or as is stated above "Give no answer".
There are people who have an inherent drive to debate and argue. They want to appear more "knowledgeable" than others. They are best not answered. And I have found that even when you answer them with godly edification (turning it into profitable conversation), they don't hear. That's when I exit.