“Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.” 1 Timothy 1:19 We find that, in the Apostle’s time, there were characters who held faith, or rather what they called faith, and put away “good conscience.” He mentions by name, “Hymeneus and Alexander, whom he had delivered unto … Read more
“That he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27 Neither others nor we ourselves now see what the Church one day will be, and what she ever was in the eyes of Jesus. He … Read more
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Ephesians 5:25, 26 View the Church without the sanctifying operations and influences of regenerating grace. She is far from Christ; she has no desire … Read more
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17 When the gospel comes “not in word only, but also in power,” it comes “in the Holy Ghost,” that is, in and with the teaching and testimony of the Holy Ghost. It is this coming “in the Holy Ghost” which gives truth in its … Read more
“Awake, O north wind; and come thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.” Song of Solomon 4:16 We are, most of us, so fettered down by the chains of time and sense, the cares of life and … Read more
“Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength.” Isaiah 45:24 Have you yet learnt that you are a sinner in the sight of God? Have you ever felt the length, breadth, and spirituality of his holy law? Do you feel in your very soul that without Christ’s righteousness being imputed to … Read more
“That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.” Luke 1:74, 75 The grand point in all true religion is to be brought by the blessed Spirit into that happy … Read more
“I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.” Psalm 119:131 In whatever state or stage of experience you are, it will be your wisdom and your mercy to stick to God’s testimony. Has the Lord just begun a work of grace in your heart? Is he shewing to you what … Read more
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24 We beg of the Lord, sometimes, to give us a broken heart, a contrite spirit, a tender conscience, and a humble mind; but it is only a view by faith of what the gracious Redeemer endured upon the … Read more
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 When a man is walking in the darkness and death of unregeneracy, he has no true light. He … Read more
“And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.” Hosea 2:19 Communion with Christ begins below, in our time state. It is here that the mystery of the marriage union is first made known; here the espousals … Read more
“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13 A right knowledge and living experience of the Person, graces and operations of the Holy Ghost upon the soul, is a very essential thing. Man is so deeply sunk, so utterly fallen, … Read more