“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Hebrews 2:10 When, with believing eyes, we can view God the Son as the eternal salvation of all whom the Father gave unto him; … Read more
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Philemon 25 It is the regenerating breath of the Lord Jesus Christ which makes the soul alive unto himself. This is manifest from his own language: “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they … Read more
“Exercise thyself unto godliness.” 1 Timothy 4:7 “The Lord trieth the righteous” (Ps. 11:5). In fact, a righteous life is for the most part a tried life. There is not a child of God, whose graces are lively and active, that is not tried in his soul. I have no more belief that the soul … Read more
“Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.” Psalm 86:1 Whatever deliverance a man may have experienced, let him have been delivered from the lowest hell, and have had his feet placed upon a rock, yet all his life long he will have this experience wrought in him by … Read more
“”I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.” Isaiah 42:16 What is the mind of man—of any man—of your mind, my mind, under affliction? Let him be tried with pain of body, poverty of circumstances, sickness in his family, guilt of conscience, hard bondage in his own soul, without any beam of … Read more
“Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.” 2 Kings … Read more
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Here sobriety is opposed to sleepiness, and is connected with walking in the light and in the day, as sleepiness and its frequent cause, drunkenness, are connected with darkness and night. One of the greatest curses God … Read more
“This is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:6 What a sweet view does this give of Jesus! We look sometimes at Christ’s righteousness as distinct from Christ. Shall I use a figure? We look at the garment as distinct from the maker and wearer of the garment. We … Read more
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 What is to be compared with the salvation of the soul? What are riches, honours, health, long life? What are all the pleasures which the world can offer, … Read more
“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16 Grace lays us under the greatest of all obligations … Read more
“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” Psalm 107:20 What an effect a word from God can produce! Be it in reading; in hearing; on the knees; or in secret meditation; when a word drops from the Lord’s mouth with any divine power into the soul, what a change … Read more
“And stablish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:17 The living family of God need to be established in the truth, so as not ever to be “children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.” It is not sufficient for a building to be reared: it must be established before … Read more