Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.
The indulgence of one sin opens the door to further sins. The indulgence of one sin diverts the soul from the use of those means by which all other sins should be resisted.
Christ is He that taketh away sin. He taketh away by justification that it should not condemn. He taketh away by sanctification that it should not reign. He taketh away by glorification that it should not rule.
It is truth alone that capacitates any soul to glorify God.
Whatever vices and corruptions men see in the lives of their ministers will not be attributed to the depravity of their old nature which still abides in them, but to the gospel.
The most tremendous judgment of God in this world is the hardening of the hearts of men.
Nothing shall be lost that is done for God or in obedience to Him.
He that is alive may know that he was born, though he know neither the place where nor the time when he was so; and so may he that is spiritually alive, and hath ground of evidence that he is so, that he was born again, though he know neither when, nor where, nor how. And this case is usual in persons of quiet natural tempers, who have had the advantage of education under means of light and grace. God ofttimes, in such persons, begins and carries on the work of his grace insensibly, so that they come to good growth and maturity before they know that they are alive.
Steadfastness in believing doth not exclude all temptations from without. When we say a tree is firmly rooted, we do not say the wind never blows upon it.
That fear which keeps from sin and excites the soul to cleave more firmly to God, be the object of it what it will, is no servile fear, but a holy fear and due reverence unto God and His word.
Then are we servants of God, then are we the disciples of Christ, when we do what is commanded us and because it is commanded us.
It is the 'terror of the Lord' that causes us to 'persuade' others, but it is the love of Christ that constraineth us to live to Him.
The two unfailing evidences of sincere faith are, that within it purifieth the heart, and without it worketh by love.
Were not Cain, Esau, Saul, Ahab, Judas, convinced of sin and burdened with it? Did this profit them? Did it interest them in the promises? Did not the wrath of God overtake them notwithstanding? So it is with many daily; they think their conviction is conversion; and their sins have been pardoned because they have been tourbled.
What can be more satisfactory, more full of glory unto the souls of believers, than clearly to comprehend the mystery of the wisdom, grace, and love of God in Christ? This is that which the prophets, at a great distance, inquired diligently into,--that which the angels bow down to look towards.
To suppose that whatever God requireth of us that we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect.
It is not the distance of the earth from the sun, nor the sun's withdrawing itself, that makes a dark and gloomy day; but the interposition of clouds and vaporous exhalations. Neither is thy soul beyond the reach of the promise, nor does God withdraw Himself; but the vapours of thy carnal, unbelieving heart do cloud thee.
Consider that it is not failing in this or that attempt to come to Christ, but a giving-over of your endeavors, that will be your ruin.
God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority. It is not enough that we be just, that we be righteous, and walk with God in holiness; but we must also serve our generation, as David did before he fell asleep. God hath a work to do; and not to help Him is to oppose Him.
Faith, if it be a living faith, will be a working faith.
Religion is the same that ever it was, only it suffers by them that make profession of it. Never was there less regard for the Person and offices of Christ, of His grace, and of the benefits of His mediation, among them that are called Christians, than is found among many at this day.
It is to no purpose to boast of Christ, if we have not an evidence of His graces in our hearts and lives. But unto whom He is the hope of future glory, unto them He is the life of present grace.
Faith keeps the soul at a holy distance from these infinite depths of divine wisdom, where it profits more by reverence and holy fear than any can do by their utmost attempt to draw nigh to that inaccessible light wherein these glories of the divine nature do dwell.
See in the meantime that your faith bringeth forth obedience, and God in due time will cause it to bring forth peace.
Christ did not die for any upon condition, if they do believe; but he died for all God's elect, that they should believe.
If we would talk less and pray more about them, things would be better than they are in the world: at least, we should be better enabled to bear them.
It is a principle deeply fixed in the minds of men that the worship of God ought to be orderly, comely, beautiful and glorious.
What do men come to hear the Word of God for? What do they pray for? What do they expect to receive from him? Do they come unto God as the eternal fountain of living waters? As the God of all grace, peace and consolation? Or do they come unto his worship without any design as unto a dry and empty show?....Or do they think they bring something unto God, but receive nothing from him?....To receive anything from him they expect not, nor do ever examine themselves whether they have done so or no?....It is not for persons who walk in such ways, ever to attain a due delight in the ordinances of divine worship.
Why will ye die? Why will ye perish? Why will you not have compassion on your own souls? Can your hearts endure, or can your hands be strong, in the day of wrath that is approaching? It is but a little while before all your hopes, your reliefs, and presumptions will forsake you, and leave you eternally miserable. Look unto me, and be saved; come unto me, and I will ease you of all sins, sorrows, fears, burdens, and give rest unto your souls. Come, I entreat you; lay aside all procrastinations, all delays; put me off no more; eternity lies at the door.
Let them pretend what they please, the true reason why any despise the new birth is because they hate a new life.
There are two things that are suited to humble the souls of men; a due consideration of God, and then of ourselves.
The man that understands the evil of his own heart, how vile it is, is the only useful, fruitful and solidly believing and obedient person. A man must abhor himself before he can serve God aright.
There is no death of sin without the death of Christ.
Our forgiving of others will not procure forgiveness for ourselves; but our not forgiving others proves that we ourselves are not forgiven.
We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at His unspeakable love.
Custom of sinning takes away the sense of it; the course of the world takes away the shame of it.
It is in many places a lost labour to seek Christianity among Christians.
When the Jews, upon the conviction of their sin, were cut to the heart, Acts 2:37, and cried out, 'What shall we do?' what doth Peter direct them to do? Does he bid them go and mortify their pride, wrath, malice, cruelty and the like? No; he knew that was not their present work, but he calls them to conversion and faith in Christ in general.
Mortification from a self-strength, carried on by ways of self-invention, unto the end of a self-righteousness, is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world.
The foundation of true holiness and true Christian worship is the doctrine of the gospel, what we are to believe. So when Christian doctrine is neglected, forsaken, or corrupted, true holiness and worship will also be neglected, forsaken, and corrupted.
Men think all things would be very glorious, if they might be done according to their mind. Perhaps, indeed, they would--but with their glory, not the glory of God.
By God's all-wise appointment, our assemblies are the food and the nourishment of our souls. It is the main way whereby we publicly identify with Christ and His Gospel. We evidence our love for Christ by our loyalty and support of one another in opposition to all false worship. Many things will rise up in competition to the diligent attendance of our assemblies. We must recognize and refuse to give into anything that is opposed to what Christ commands. The total falling away of a graceless professor always begins with this neglect, this disassociation with God's people.
It is to be feared that the most of us know not how much glory may be in present grace, nor how much of heaven may be obtained in holiness on the earth.
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