“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 The sin of our fallen nature is a very mysterious thing. We read of the mystery of iniquity as well as of the mystery of godliness; and the former has lengths, depths, and breadths as well as the latter; … Read more
“Until the redemption of the purchased possession.” Ephesians 1:14 The Church has been redeemed by price, but is not as yet fully redeemed by power. Christ has bought with his precious blood both the souls and bodies of his people, but he has not yet redeemed them openly. This redemption is still future, and will … Read more
“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” Matthew 11:25 Whatever religious knowledge, whatever carnal wisdom, or whatever worldly prudence a man may be possessed of, if he is … Read more
“Persecuted, but not forsaken.” 2 Corinthians 4:9 Whatever injury persecutors may do or attempt to do to a Christian, they cannot rob him of his God. They may destroy his body; they cannot destroy his soul. They may wound his reputation; but they cannot wound his conscience. They may strip him of all his earthly … Read more
“Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?” Lamentations 3:39 We must not understand by the word “punishment,” anything of a vindictive nature. God never punishes the sins of his elect penally; that is, not as he punishes the sins of the reprobate. The eternal covenant forbids this. “Fury … Read more
“Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.” Hebrews 6:20 How blessedly did the Lord comfort his sorrowing disciples when he said to them, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” He is gone to … Read more
“Thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.” Jeremiah 45:5 There is a life given to the elect when the blessed Spirit quickens their souls,—a life eternal, communicated to them out of the fulness of the Son of God. This life is a personal, individual life; and … Read more
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2 If we do not know Jesus for ourselves, by some spiritual discovery of his Person and work, what testimony have we of an interest in his grace? Because, there is no grace except that which … Read more
“The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.” Isaiah 2:11 How does the Lord humble? By discovering to man what he is; by opening up the depth of his fall; by making him feel what a … Read more
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 Hunger is a painful sensation. It is not merely an appetite for food; but an appetite for food attended with pain. So spiritually. It is not merely a desire after Christ that constitutes spiritual hunger. “The sluggard desireth, … Read more