William Mason --Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God

October 10,


Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.- Php_2:12.


The salvation of lost sinners, from first to last, is all of grace, not of works- Rom_11:16. It was planned in the covenant of grace; by the grace of Jesus it is FINISHED. The moment we believe on Jesus, salvation is ours; it is OUR OWN SALVATION. Mind that. Why are we called to work it out? Consider, salvation implies deliverance from dangers and enemies. Are we not surrounded with these, without as well as within? The legality of our spirits, the pride of our natures, the lusts of the flesh, the carnal reasonings of our minds, unbelief of the offspring of them, the rebellion of our wills, the self-righteousness of our hearts, the worldly mindedness of our desires, the carnality of our affections, the turbulency of our passions, etc., say, are not these like a legion of enemies to our salvation? Is not Satan, our grand adversary, ever working by means of these enemies to bring us into dangers and distress, if by any means he may prevent our peaceably possessing, and eternally enjoying salvation?

Judge then, O believer, is not deliverance from danger through these enemies needful? Is there not a necessity for thy working out thy deliverance from their force and fraud? Is there not need for faith to work by love, striving against sin, resisting Satan, mortifying the flesh, perfecting holiness, fruitful in good works? The commands of thy God make the work of faith, the labour of love, and the patience of hope necessary. The gospel requires, love constrains to be much in prayer and meditation, searching the scriptures, and in all holy ordinances; and to encourage to this, ever remember, it is "God who worketh in us both to will and to do." "Be strong, for I am with you," saith the Lord of hosts.- Hag_2:4. Does all thy happiness consist in the comfortable enjoyment of the full assurance of this salvation? Then "work it out with fear and trembling." FEAR to think of establishing thy works and duties as thine own righteousness, or to procure the favor of thy God. TREMBLE to entertain any hope of salvation, but by the atoning blood of Jesus, and the perfect righteousness of Jesus; any way of access to God, but through his mediation.

Fear and tremble, above all, after thou hast done all, to think I am PERFECT. Know, thou art still "an unprofitable servant." TREMBLE to entertain the least notion that thy might, thy power, thy faithfulness, hath wrought anything as terms and conditions to procure salvation. FEAR ever to ascribe any glory to thyself. "Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."- Jam_1:25.


[video=youtube;M9VP32wdneU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9VP32wdneU[/video]

October 11,


Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.- Mat_5:16.


Can a lump of animated clay, a worm of the earth, a creature of a day, glorify the infinitely great and eternally glorious Jehovah? Yes: such honor, such exalted honor have all his saints. For his pleasure they were created at first; for his glory they are born again of his Spirit. Jesus commands his members to it as their duty; the Spirit enables to it as their greatest privilege. "The Father accepts, and is well pleased with, and declares himself glorified by the practice of his children."- Psa_50:23. Did Samuel consent to Saul's request, "Honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people?"- 1Sa_15:30. And canst thou, O son of the Most High, ever need a motive, or want an argument to glorify thy Father before men? It is to be the chief work of thy life. In this work, as Moses said to Pharaoh, so thy deliverer saith to thee, "not an hoof is to be left behind." With all that thou hast and art, thou art to glorify thy Lord.

Thou hast but one thing only but what thou hast received from thy Lord; this is sin: by this thou dishonorest thy God; by every thing contrary to this, God is glorified. Happy souls, who study God's word as the rule of their conduct, consider the enjoyment of God in Christ as their greatest felicity, and direct all their views to his glory. Thus the light of Jesus, when it shines into the heart, beams forth its evidence and glory in the outward life and conversation. When the light of truth is accompanied by the warmth of love and obedience of faith, men will see that we have been with Jesus; that we not only have light in our heads, but love and zeal for God's glory in our hearts. The former may acquire honor to ourselves of being good TALKERS for God, but the latter only can prove that we are upright WALKERS, as his obedient children; that we are his "peculiar people, by being zealous of good works."-That we are really concerned for his glory, that we have it at heart, that we love, not only in word, but also in deed and in truth. It is the genuine language of a converted soul, with Paul, "Lord what wouldest thou have me to do? It is the burden of a faithful, loving heart, that it doth so little for the glory of God, and ever longs to glorify him more. While the light of truth is our glory, and the love of truth is our happiness, we shall study to "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things."- Tit_2:10.



[video=youtube;V2mh6SSV7fE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2mh6SSV7fE&spfreload=10[/video]

October 12,


Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.- Eph_4:30.


How affectionate and condescending is this address of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ to his children! Paul writes to Philemon, "Though I might be bold to enjoin thee that which is convenient; yet, for love's sake, I rather beseech thee." So with infinitely higher authority, the Lord might command with terror, instead of beseech with love. Astonishing expression! Grieve not the holy Spirit of God. Hast thou? Canst thou, O believer, be guilty in this matter? It is easy to conceive that we may grieve our own spirits, and the spirits of good men by our sin and folly: but to think of grieving the Spirit of God, is enough to make us cry out in amazement, What mystery of love is this?

But verily, so dear are God's children to him, that as in love to our souls he took on him our nature, so in condescension to our weak capacities, he borrows language from nature, and assumes to himself passions like unto ourselves: for he was in all things like unto us, but without sin. So it is said, God DELIGHTS in the prosperity of his people, he REJOICETH over them to do them good. But when, through their sin and folly, they hurt their own souls, Jesus is touched with a feeling of our infirmities; his Spirit is grieved at our conduct.

Who can tell in how many ways Christians do this? Inwardly by giving way to unbelief; by low unworthy thoughts of Jesus, his blood, righteousness and salvation; his mediation and intercession, of whom the Spirit is the glorifier; so also by indulging vain, carnal, sinful thoughts: outwardly, by neglecting the gospel of grace, not walking closely with Jesus by faith, not conforming to his will in our lives and conversations: and experience woefully convinceth, that when the Holy Spirit is grieved, the poor soul is distressed. We never send the Spirit grieved to heaven, but he leaves our spirits grieved on earth. He is our comforter; by him believers are sealed unto the day of redemption. Though we are sealed by him, as the Lord's own possession, yet if he leaves us to ourselves, the view of Jesus is obscured to us, and his comforts are withheld from us. Then natural fears, legal terrors, and desponding doubts seize on us, and evil spirits rejoice over us, with "there, there, so would we have it." Though he never becomes the Spirit of bondage to us, yet he leaves us to the bondage of our own legal spirits. What reason have we to pray daily, "cleanse thy servant, O Jesus, from his secret faults; and let not, O Spirit of grace, presumptuous sins get the dominion over me."- Psa_19:12-13.

The Spirit, like a peaceful dove,
Flies from the realms of noise and strife,
Why should we vex and grieve his love,
Who leads our souls to heav'nly life!



[video=youtube;pl4ble8bonI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl4ble8bonI[/video]

October 13,


Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.- 1Co_10:5.


It is fit that soldiers of Jesus should have the sentence of death in themselves. They are hereby taught not to trust in themselves. Though armed with the spiritual weapons of their warfare, yet they are no farther mighty and conquering but as aided by the power of God. Poor souls, by trusting to their graces instead of the God of all grace, have been foiled by the enemy, and have fallen. "I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me: but, through the Lord, will we push down our enemies."- Psa_44:5-6. This is the language of faith, this the confidence of humble souls: after believers have escaped the corruptions that are in the world through lust, and have been turned from their sinful courses to the Lord Jesus, then danger threatens from another quarter; self righteousness will exalt its baneful head against them. "Now I am somebody; I have received inherent grace and strength, I am justified, my sins are pardoned, and I have got a clean heart."

Thus towering imaginations swell against God's everlasting love, his election of grace, the imputed righteousness of Jesus, and final perseverance of the saints. When these evangelical truths are rejected, it argues that pride, self-sufficiency, and self-righteousness prevail. Verily, O soul, "thou trustest in thine own beauty, and playest the harlot, because of thy renown. Woe, woe, unto thee." This is a severe reproof from the mouth of the Lord- Eze_16:30. St. Augustine is peremptory, "that it hath been profitable to some proud spirits to fall into gross offence; for they have not lost so much by their fall as they have got by being down." It is better to be humble under sin, than to be proud of grace. God will suffer no flesh to glory in his presence; his truths tried at the bar of carnal reason will be rejected. But as free-grace truths are precious to that Spirit who indited them, so he will bring disciples to submit to them. To reject the doctrines of grace, under a specious pretence to holiness, is to blaspheme the God of wisdom. High thoughts of ourselves oppose the truths of God; vain imaginations strengthen self-confidence, which is contrary to the faith of Christ.

To see Jesus all in all, and to see ourselves nothing at all, is to see and know aright, in the light of truth, and by the views of the Spirit of truth. There is an inward obedience of the heart, a submission to the righteousness of God, as well as an outward obedient walk. There may be much of the pride and holiness of the Pharisee without, where there is none of the simple faith and love of Jesus within.


[video=youtube;CTVZjuwWkZI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTVZjuwWkZI[/video]

October 14


I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.- Mat_10:34.

Is not our Saviour the prince of peace? Hath he not made peace between God and man, by the blood of his cross? Doth he not give peace in the conscience, and establish peace among his people? Is it not the essence of the gospel to preach peace by Christ? All this is true. Why then doth my Lord say, "I came not to send peace, but a sword?" Conceive not of the meek Lamb as though his soul delighted in war, and that the sword of slaughter should be drunk with human blood. No: he came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Therefore this sword is no other than the "sword of the Spirit, the word of God." It is rendered in St. Luke, DIVISION. This sword divides and separates a Christian from his carnal friends and relations; yea, divides asunder flesh and Spirit. Hence open war commences, and hostilities begin; for there never, never can be any peace, harmony, and agreement, subsisting between carnal and spiritual men, no more than between flesh and Spirit in the Christian. These are contrary to, and at continual war with each other. "Wars and fightings come from your lusts." Sin is the cause of all contention and division among men: every Christian is a soldier; the sword of the Spirit, the word of God is one blessed part of his armour. By this he is enabled to resist Satan, subdue his lusts, cut down unbelief, and to stand his ground against every enemy from the world, flesh, and devil, which are always in battle array against him.

Thus the weapons of thy warfare, O soul, are not carnal, but spiritual and mighty, through God, "to the pulling down the strongholds of Satan." Though earth and hell are at war against thee, yet strengthen thyself in thy God, he is on thy side. Fortify thyself by the word of his truth. This, for thy comfort, assures thee, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn."- Isa_54:17. By "this sword of the Spirit thou shalt prevail: by the blood of the Lamb thou shalt overcome." "Not by might or power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."- Zec_4:6. Alas! the poor sensible soul is ready to say, my strength is small, my arm is weak; though such a weapon is put into my hand, I have neither skill nor courage to use it aright; sin, Satan, and the world will be too strong for, and overcome me at last. No; that is impossible. Though weak as infancy, feeble as childhood, this blessed word exactly suits our state, and is a cordial to our spirits, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them." Why so? Because "greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."- 1Jn_4:4.


[video=youtube;M1ldINcCp00]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ldINcCp00[/video]

October 15,


Jesus said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.- Luk_22:46.


The dull, sleepy frames of disciples, though natural to them, are by no means commendable in them, nor are they to find excuses for them, as though this was a sleepy state of the churches, and so we were to lie down and take our rest. This is injurious to the honor of our dear master, brings discredit upon his cause and interest, is very uncomfortable, and exposes sleeping souls to many and great dangers: though love may excuse it, yet will Jesus sharply reprove for it. Why sleep ye? wherefore do you indulge yourselves with sloth when you are called to activity? sleep is unreasonable when danger is near. Ye know, my beloved disciples, your adversary Satan is ever wakeful, watchful, busy in plotting and seeking to rob you of your shield of faith. Is this a time to be sluggish? to fold your hands and cry, a little more carnal ease and worldly pleasures, a little more spiritual slumber? Most inexcusable to be taking sleepy opiates of pleasure to indulge the flesh, and intoxicating draughts from the world to drown the Spirit. What meanest thou, O sleeper? "arise and call upon thy God." Say not "I am in an unsuitable frame, dull, and heavy." Thou readest of no such reply from these drowsy disciples to their master. Wilt thou stay till thou art rich before thou wilt be industrious? He who calls to duty is both able and willing to give strength in duty, and power to perform it. Take with you words and say, Jesus will give the Spirit to pray. Ever remember, prayers move God, not as an orator moves his hearers, but as the cry of a beloved child moves an affectionate father; when we are out of the reach of danger, prayer will be needless. But when will that be? not in this life; not till every enemy is destroyed; that will not be till death is swallowed up in life.

Now there is danger from temptation. Temptation cannot hurt us, but entering into the temptation will. Jesus was in all things tempted like as we are, yet without sin; his temptations were all without him; they could not enter in to defile him; but they may us: when the love of the world enters and prevails, the sense of the love of God is lost: when the lusts of the flesh get power, the consolations of the Spirit are not enjoyed; when ease and happiness are expected from any other object but Jesus, the precious Saviour is slighted and disesteemed: then our views of his love are eclipsed, and our souls miserably darkened. "The end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer."- 1Pe_4:7.

How precious is our Saviour's love!
How tender his complaint!
He hates the sloth we're subject to,
But yet he loves the saint.


[video=youtube;qsNM0el43So]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsNM0el43So[/video]

October 16,


I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.- Psa_119:162.


The saints of God in all ages were taught by the same Spirit, looked for the same salvation, and were comforted by the same truths found in the word of the Lord; hence the WORD is so precious to them; it causes rejoicing of soul within them; thus it is of the written word of the Lord which makes known his everlasting, loving designs to sinners of mankind: this also is true of the essential, divine, and uncreated WORD, the Lord Jesus: he in person manifested God's thoughts of love, as words declare what is in the mind: Jesus lay in the bosom of the Father from eternity; he has revealed the Father's eternal love to us! O, he who findeth Jesus will rejoice indeed. With joy, says Philip, "we have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write."- Joh_1:45.

Hath a conqueror, who hath obtained a complete victory over, and is enriching himself with the spoils of a wealthy enemy, cause of rejoicing? how much more has the Christian daily from the word of the Lord. Alas! the joy of the one is but momentary and uncertain; what he hath gained in war to-day, to-morrow he may be deprived of; but joy through the victory of Jesus, and the spoil the Christian reaps from the word are durable and eternal: the victory of Jesus is the Christian's spoil; here he beholds sin subdued, death conquered, Satan vanquished, hell overcome, and a crown of eternal life and glory fully obtained, absolutely ensured, and which shall most certainly be enjoyed. In the written word of the Spirit are given unto us "exceeding great and precious promises." In the essential word JESUS, "all the promises are in him, yea and amen, to the glory of God." By the former we understand "what is the hope of our calling, and what the riches of the glory of our inheritance in the saints." By the latter, union with Jesus, and faith in him, we obtain the happy assurance that all things are ours. "Whether ministers, the world, life, death, things present, or things to come, all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's."- 1Co_3:22-23. And "nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus."- Rom_8:39.

Blessed be God for the word of his grace, the BIBLE; blessed be God for his unspeakable gift, Jesus. Here is thy treasure, O Christian; where should thy heart be but in meditation and delight herein daily? For thou canst get spiritual joy from no object but victorious Jesus, set before thee in the gospel; and the clearer thou seest salvation by him, so will thy faith be stronger in him; this creates spiritual rejoicing of soul continually.

How doth thy word my heart engage!
How well employ my tongue!
And in my tiresome pilgrimage
Yields me a heav'nly song.

When nature sinks and spirits droop,
Thy promises of grace
Are pillars to support my hope:
And there I write thy praise.

October 17,


Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.- Rom_6:14.


Who are under the law? All who think they can fulfil it, seek to be made righteous by it, and expect salvation from it; all such are under the dominion of sin and the curse of the law. Who are under grace? All who fly from the law as a ministration of condemnation, embrace the gospel as a ministration of righteousness, and cleave to Jesus and expect righteousness and salvation in him ONLY. Over such sin has no power to destroy; they are out of its territories, in another kingdom, under another king: Jesus rules in and over them; and he says of every one of them, sin shall not have dominion over you. O, what a heart-reviving promise is this! how delightful to hear our worst foe, our bitterest enemy shall not lord it over us! Art thou, O disciple, ready to cry out, Would to God sin had no being in me, then I should be completely happy! Remember what thy Saviour said to his mother, "Mine hour is not yet come."- Joh_2:4. It is enough that thou art called to the marriage of the Lamb; the bridegroom keeps the best wine for the last; this is excellent wine on earth, sin shall not have dominion over us; in glory, sin shall have no being in us.

Be assured, O Christian, thine enemies are all conquered, though sense and experience afford thee daily proof they are not all dead. Never think of laying down thine arms, folding thine hands, and setting up thy rest here; thou art still in the camp; the enemy lies in wait to take all advantage; but here is thy victory, though sin is an enemy, whose life is commensurate with the life of thy flesh; though so nearly allied to thee that it is part of thyself; yet, being one with Jesus, thou hast a spiritual and eternal life, and the power of omnipotence is engaged to preserve and keep thee; therefore sin shall not maintain its usurpation, nor hold dominion over thy soul; its empire is dethroned, the kingdom of Jesus is set up in thy heart; Christ dwells there by faith, thy heart is sprinkled from an evil conscience by his blood; he who hath conquered for thee will also conquer in thee.

Take heed of a state of independence on him, and vain confidence in thyself; think not the root and being of sin are destroyed, and thyself in a sinless state; for then thou hast no need of Jesus, faith in him, hope on him, nor prayer to him. O, if Satan thus rocks any poor sinner asleep, it is in the cradle of delusion, while he sings a sweet siren's song: be ever active and vigilant to oppose and conquer thy inbred foe. Daily attend this wholesome advice, "Let not sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof,"- Rom_6:12.

[video=youtube;Z-s6oByQpQg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-s6oByQpQg[/video]

October 18,


Wherefore we labour, that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him.- 2Co_5:9.


"In all labour there is profit."- Pro_14:23. The belief of this maketh the heart diligent, lively, and active. When Nehemiah was stirred up to build the wall of Jerusalem amidst the scoffs and opposition of enemies on every side, yet, in prayer, watching, and working, he and his brethren wrought with one hand, a guard in the other, and this confidence of faith in their hearts, "Our God shall fight for us."- Neh_4:20. Thus animated they laboured till the work was finished.

Thus the beloved brethren of Jesus are called to be "stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord;" being confident that the Lord fights for them, and "knowing assuredly that their labour is not in vain in the Lord." The labour of love is pleasant, it is profitable to the believing heart; the work of faith is delightful to the soul while it exercises the patience of hope. Most reviving consideration! we serve not a hard task-master; we labour not for a rigorous, severe Lord; we obey not from base, mercenary principles. No; every command of Jesus is in love; every work we do in his name is from love to spiritual good as well as to his glory: we have the fullest assurance that we are "accepted in the beloved."

We are not left to doubt of the way of acceptance, nor to do any thing to procure it; the truth, as it is in Jesus, forbids all this; but knowing our persons are accepted in Jesus, this is the most enlivening, powerful motive not only to do, but also to abound in those things with which God is well pleased; to study to please God in our walk and way, cheerfully to lay out ourselves in his service, unreservedly to give up ourselves wholly to the Lord: O, this is the sweet exercise of faith and love. Shall we pretend to believe that Jesus is our Saviour and that we are accepted in him, and yet not labour and strive that our works may please him? Not study and endeavour, as assisted by his Spirit, to avoid those things that are contrary to his nature and commands? Alas! this is "hail, master;" only like Judas to give a kiss of hypocrisy, while faith in him and love to him are wanting.

Thou disciple of Jesus, from that moment thou didst enter into the rest of Jesus by faith, thou art called to labour, that thy works may please God, and be accepted of him; and when the heart is whole with its Saviour and simply looking to him, need one forbid such a soul to refrain from the vain pastimes and sinful gratifications of a carnal world? No; he saith these things do not please my Lord, they cannot be acceptable to him, they shall not ensnare me, I cannot displease my Saviour. "We love him because he first loved us."- 1Jn_4:19.


[video=youtube;kS5oZSywFE8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS5oZSywFE8[/video]

October 19,


And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.- Exo_33:19.


Carnal reason, pride, and unbelief, like a threefold cord, binds the soul under legal bondage; each of these mutually strengthens the other, and all combine to oppose the sovereign goodness and grace of our Lord. Instead of believing in, so as to be comforted by free-grace declarations from our God, how apt are we to consult flesh and blood! How prone to reject them, because we cannot reconcile them to our carnal reason! here is the grand source of that damning sin, unbelief. Marvel not, believer, though the pride of thy flesh rises and rebels against distinguishing grace and discriminating love. This, though sweet to the experience of faith, is bitter to the stomach of rebellious nature: but here is thy mercy; grace, which is sovereign in its nature, is saving in its operations; all must be resolved into this humbling acknowledgment, "I, a poor sinner, who could neither will nor run the way of salvation; the Lord wills to shew me his goodness, to proclaim his name, to bestow his grace, and comfort me with his mercy in Christ Jesus, to the salvation of my precious soul."

Thus the Lord speaks in love; let all his children hear in faith, rejoice, and be humbled. Where, O soul, canst thou fix thy foot, but thou standest upon the ground of free grace? Hast thou faith? It is of grace. Dost thou find pardon of sin and consolation of heart in Christ Jesus? It is of grace. Dost thou "love God? It is because he has first loved thee." Dost thou hate sin as contrary to God's glory and thy soul's peace? What astonishing grace is this! Consider it on thy knees; reflect on it with meltings of soul. Why shouldst thou be singled out by the power of the word, marked by the grace of the Spirit for salvation, when many hundreds perish everlastingly? Why are thine eyes opened amidst a throng of blind sinners? Why art thou watered, like Gideon's fleece, while others are dry? Was thy nature better, thy desires holier? What conditions hadst thou performed to procure this? Grace has taught thy soul otherwise than so to think; all must be resolved into this soul humbling, God-exalting truth, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious." Here is an inexhaustible source of comfort; this a never-failing motive to love and obedience; that grace and mercy which God owes to no one sinner on earth, he has freely given to thee; it is thy privilege to rejoice in it, thy duty to confess it, and to lie in the dust and be humble. "If by grace, it is no more of works."- Rom_11:6.


<strong>[video=youtube;kdugliaCXUk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdugliaCXUk[/video]

October 20,


This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.- Act_1:11.


The parting of dear friends is very grievous and affecting; but sorrow is alleviated from expectation of meeting again. O the joy of meeting our dear friends in glory, who are gone before! but what will heighten all, will be sight and enjoyment of our best friend and dearest Saviour. The disciples were looking steadfastly to heaven, after their dear master ascended to glory, when they received this assurance: they saw his human form, the same dear man, their beloved companion with whom they had so often eat and drank and taken sweet counsel, and who was lately crucified, dead, and buried; this very man Jesus they saw ascend; the Son of God came from heaven in Spirit; he assumed a body of flesh and blood; he lived in it on earth; and having "finished the work his Father gave him to do, he took the same body with him to glory: this same Jesus shall so come again in like manner." Every eye shall see him in the last day in his human form.

Thus in all the transactions of Jesus by faith, we "behold the MAN." View him in his birth, an outcast babe in poverty; in advanced years of life, "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, despised and rejected of men:" in death he died as another man; yea, an accursed death, as a malefactor; in his resurrection and ascension with a human body like our own; such was thy Saviour, believer, a man "like unto thyself in all things, but without sin;" and having perfectly expiated and atoned for all our sins, he is now at the right hand of God, the glorified MAN, still in human form pleading our cause. "And he is able to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession."- Heb_7:25.

God is in Christ; thou canst not come to the Deity but through the humanity of Jesus: mind that. Who can tell the uttermost of Jesus' salvation? It is unto all manner of perfection both of soul and body. How sweet and encouraging is this to faith, that our Saviour, our brother, our friend, is in our nature before the throne! "He ever lives; he is able to save." And canst thou ever doubt of his love and willingness? O, remember Calvary! think of his agony and blood-shedding there. And canst thou want a proof of his love, poor sinner? If thou, whilst an enemy, wast redeemed and reconciled to God by his blood, how much more, being reconciled shalt thou be saved by his life! It is thy happiness to be ever looking upon and unto Jesus as the man and Mediator by whom thou comest to God; be looking for him to see him in his glorified form. "He shall come again in like manner," "to be glorified IN his saints and to be admired IN all them who believe."- 2Th_1:10.



[video=youtube;CYTQ6gpcuYA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYTQ6gpcuYA[/video]

October 21,


Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.- Jam_4:8.


How sweetly is the children's duty and the father's promise joined together! The latter is a most powerful encouragement to the former; though we were "sometimes afar off, yet being made nigh by the blood of Jesus," we are exhorted to DRAW nigh to God in prayer, in full assurance of faith, firmly believing that "faithful is he who hath promised," he will draw nigh to us to bless us. To live near God is our heaven below; to experience a distance from him is our misery; we cannot draw nigh to God but in the way he has drawn nigh to us, that is in Christ, in the humanity of Jesus his Son; in all our approaches to God, consider this, Jesus is the object of our faith, and GOD IN HIM; all other objects drawn nigh to, will leave the soul in a painful sense of distance from the true God and real comfort.

Happy, only happy canst thou be, while thou art daily living in close communion and near fellowship with thy God and Saviour. While the terrors of the law drive legal spirits to duty to fulfil terms of peace and conditions of acceptance, evangelical promises ever sweetly constrain and encourage to every duty those who "are not under the law, but under grace." To live in neglect of our duty and God's ordinances, is devilish licentiousness; but to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, is true Christian liberty: here is our mercy, we have a sure way of access; by Jesus we draw nigh; in him God and man meet; the Holy Spirit is our strength, "praying in the Holy Ghost." As it is the office of Christ to intercede FOR us, so the Holy Ghost intercedes IN us; as an advocate within, he enables us to plead in faith what Jesus is to us, what he hath done for us; so we speak with confidence to our dear Father: he helps in prayer, as a nurse helpeth a little child that is unable to go of itself, or as a weak decrepit person is upheld by the arm.

Here is our encouragement, the word of promise, "God will draw nigh to you." This, O soul, is thy happiness below, thy heaven on earth, to have access to the God of mercies, and the Father of all consolations draw nigh to thee; thou sweetly findest it so; not merely to draw nigh to duty, but to God in duty; to find and feel the special presence and blessing of the Lord; without this, loving hearts cannot be satisfied; communion and fellowship with God, finding nearness of spirit, delightful intercourse, having to do with God, and receiving inward peace and love from him; O, this is the glory of the life of faith on Jesus! and this draws us away from, and makes us dead to all things beside. When God and Christ and heaven is within, all without becomes truly mean and despicable in comparison. "It is good for me," saith Asaph, "to draw near to God."- Psa_73:28.

My wife thinks I have finally become an old fogey with this video...Oh well, the lyrics and pics are nice.

[video=youtube;5pj2WDUjDlg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pj2WDUjDlg[/video]

Don't think so , but some of us are born in the foggy

October 22,


I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which now I live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.- Gal_2:20.


The state of a Christian is a seeming paradox. No marvel the things of God are foolishness to natural men, and that we are accounted fools for Christ by them; for the truths of God, as well as the life of his children, appear to be absurd to them. But "the life of Jesus is made manifest in our flesh."- 2Co_4:11. Hence he saith, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself."- Mat_16:24. Deny the PRIDE of his own righteousness, the corrupt LUSTS of his sinful flesh, and own me as his life, and follow me as his Lord in the regeneration; in this crucifixion of nature, this death to every hope but Jesus, this life of faith on him, consists the peace, love, holiness, and joy of our souls; this springs from love, excites to love, and is nourished by love; so we enjoy heaven below. Thus is heaven above insured to us.

Blessed life! happy believer! to feel Christ living in thee, to live on him by faith. Envy you, ye sons of folly and vanity! we do not; join with you in your carnal delights we cannot; joys infinitely superior are ours; pity you, indeed we do; nor with you, ye sons of the bond-woman, can we live on our works and duties, derive life from terms we fulfil, and conditions we perform; as if for so much work we earn so much wages: our God owes us nothing; yet he gave his Son freely, "that we might live through him." The beloved Son of God himself is our life, our all; though wretched, guilty, damnable creatures by nature and practice, yet astonishing grace! "he loved us, and gave himself for us." Of this we are bold and confident; this truth bears the divine impress; the Lord hath confirmed it with an oath; here to admit the least doubt is base and unreasonable: the life of faith springs from truth itself, and is as contrary to doubting as it is to sensuality; yet, while in the flesh, it will be opposed by both. But is every believer in Jesus assured with Paul, "Christ loved ME, and gave himself for ME"? No: though this knowledge is essential to the comfort of our souls, yet not to the being of faith in the heart, nor is it the object of faith; yet it is the joyful privilege of every believer, and as such is earnestly to be coveted, and all diligence given to attain it; we are loved with the same love, saved by the same truth, the same faith given us by the same Spirit which Paul had, and to the same end to make us holy and happy; and the comforter, who testifies of Jesus in the word, will sooner or later also bear witness to the heart, and fill the soul with the fruits of faith and the joy of assurance; every faithful, abiding soul in the Lamb shall rejoice to say, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with my spirit, that I am a child of God."- Rom_8:16.


[video=youtube;xK02vTcykGU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK02vTcykGU[/video]

And so brethren that ends one year of devotions (there are two) from William Mason and my posting of them.
Thanks to those like Psychomom who hung in there and those who occasionally popped in.
I know the archaic language of the devotions was a bit of a struggle, but each had some beneficial tidbits one could walk away with and if anything the music vids were a bit of cool water.

Thank you for the thread

I will still read them
God bless you

HaHa

Truth!

I hit random in search box
But showed me this!

I dunno why
But I thank you Crossnote
For your dedication
In loving God
And teachings!

I will still read it!

Thanks

Its like God says
Read it Sky...
It will help you!


Thanks brother!
Sky

Just don't get in a jam opening up the Mason jars (drum roll).