He has done so by his own actual experience while he was here in the flesh. Let us be up and doing, for Jesus goes before us in the matter of providence.
ASSURANCE SOUGHT
The source and fountain of salvation are only to be found in the eternal purpose of God. And as for those of us who have been living in the enjoyment of the full assurance of Our own salvation (and, God be praised! there are some of us who do not often have doubts and fears), how thankful we should be.
SIMPLE FACT AND SIMPLE FAITH
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned.” He does not admit of any medium. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and bath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” He bath devised for us a way of redemption.
THE SAINT’S TRIALS AND THE DIVINE DELIVERANCES
ON LORD’S-DAY EVENING, 11TH JAN., 1872
It is pleasant in summer, but it is an ill-way of living in the winter of the soul. Some of the best of God’s servants have, moreover, not only been in the deeps, and been there long, but when in such a condition they have refused to be.
LITTLE, BUT LOVELY
It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Must it not have been delightful to be on such friendly terms with the blessed Lord of life when he was incarnate here on earth — to have been sable to say with John, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory — the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”. In the power of the Holy Spirit, then, let us talk with one another concerning these words, “ Fear not, little flock; it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”.
AN EARNEST ENTREATY
These words were spoken to those who ought to have been wise — to kings and judges of the earth. To the gusts of your passion he responds with the gentle voice of his mercy, “Be wise, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth.” Learn a little more; get a little more knowledge it may correct your vain imaginations. Others are of the religion of the circle in which they live, whatever that may be.
You shall find competitors in the arena, vying one with another in their study of the murderous science. The kings of the earth opposed God, but while they were plotting and planning, God was.
THE GOSPEL IN POWER
ON LORD’S-DAY EVENING, 28TH APRIL, 1872
Now the third degree of the coming of the Word to Thessalonica was that it came in the Holy Ghost. Ye became followers of us and of the Lord.” Brethren, I know that many of you here present, when the Word of God came to you, became followers of holy men. Blessed is that man whose soul is always looking for the coming of the Lord.
We are not egotistical, I think, when we say that it is the very heart of the world. Now let the trumpet sound, and the wall shall fall flat to the ground by the power of the eternal God.
THE SOUL’S DESERTION
The secret of the Lord does not appear to be with him as it formerly was. Many a time since that,” said the old man, “he has lurked about my path; but I never stop to parley. It is some comfort also, that though he is gone, he net gone out of earshot.
He may be asleep, but it is in the same vessel with us, and near the helm. But when the eagle-wing is gone, and you have to limp painfully along, like David, with broken bones, it is hard work.
THE FULNESS AND THE FILLING
In him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead.” He is the express image of the Father’s person, the brightness of his Father’s glory; not more glory, but the brightness of his Father’s glory. Now the covenant is ratified with him that he shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. The fullness of Christ to supply will always exceed the faith of the believer to seek.
Grace for grace.” Does that mean that those who receive grace under the old dispensation were afterwards led to receive the grace of the new dispensation. Like the waves of the sea, when one comes there is another close behind it.
OUR MAGNIFICENT SAVIOR
The chastisement of our peace was upon him.” “He was numbered with the transgressors.” “He bore the sin of many”; or, as in the text, “He shall bear their iniquity.” It does not say, “He shall bear the punishment of their iniquity”; that is true, and follows as a matter of course; but the iniquities of his people were in very truth laid upon him;. For the transgression of my people was he stricken.” He was numbered with the tranagressors when he stood at Pilate’s bar. Now the third aspect under which he appears is this — he is seen in the text as a justifier.
This is the root and bottom of it — he has a righteousness which he does not need for himself; and he, therefore, gives it to us, and becomes the Lord our righteousness. It is Christ that died; yea, rather, that is risen again, who sitteth at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” He means this,.
WITH GOLDEN GIRDLE GIRT
But Jesus is immortal, and about him he wears the golden girdle to show that he excels all the priests of Aaron’s line. Every man that fears God, and every woman, too, is a priest, according to the word which is written, “He hath made us kings and priests unto God.” The priesthood is common to all the saints, and not confined to some. He who had not where to lay his head; he who was despised and rejected of men; he who was a working man — the carpenter’s son; he who felt the pangs of hunger, and endured the pains of weariness; he who was neglected, condemned, opposed, and cast out by his countrymen and his kinsmen it is he who is now undisputed Master and unrivalled Lord everywhere.
Look, then, beloved, to the golden girdle of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as you perceive that he is still active to maintain his own cause, to deliver his people and to prosper his Church, you need not be afraid. We told you, moreover, that the golden girdle indicated his enduring love, inasmuch as it is girt about his breast.
ABSCONDING AND APOSTASY
There are many points and particulars in which the gospel is offensive to human nature, and revolting to the pride of the creature. Rather doth he lay the axe to the root of the tree land cut down human pride. Only prove it to be Christ’s teaching, and the right-minded professor is ready to receive it.
The Lord have mercy upon any of you that may happen to be of that genus. You may have heard the story — but it is so good it will bear repeating — of the lady who advertised for a coachman, and was waited upon by three candidates for the situation.
AN URGENT NECESSITY
ON LORD’S-DAY EVENING, 31ST JULY, 1870
It is the very motive why the Intercessor pleads, “Spare it yet another year.” He spares you that you may not depart hence till you are ready to depart. It is time to seek the Lord, says the text; surely it is high time. Now when you are leaving your mother’s roof - going away from a father’s gentle guidance, it is time to seek the Lord.
I would press this on any young man here just launching into life, ore throb marriage, ere that business be entered upon - it is time to seek the Lord. Remember, too - and here is something solemn, but something sweet as well - it is God’s time, for these are God’s words put into the prophet’s mouth - it is time to seek the Lord; God says, “It is time.” When God says it is time, why, then, when I come I cannot be denied.
A PLEA FROM THE CROSS
ON THE LORD’S-DAY EVENING, 29TH JAN., 1871
He is fastened to the wood, and now as they are lifting him up, before it jars into the ground, again you hear him cry, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”. He does not say, “Father, forgive them, for they knew not what they did”; for that would look as if he only preyed for sins that had already been committed. If the Savior, in his infinite mercy, said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” it was a plea — of course, not a plea of law.
Beseech the Savior, whose cry is, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” to pray for unknown mercy by his unknown agony for your unknown sin. There is such a warning there, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” It does not say, as I have already said, that if they did know, Christ would not pray for them, but it does seem to hint that.
THE PIERCED HEART OF JESUS
I need not detain you with any speculations arising out of the piercing of our Savior by the, spear. They drive us to the root of the matter, and they rather establish us in the precious truth. Thou art he of the wounded heart — for ever sympathetic — for ever full of gentleness.
He has opened a fountain for thy uncleanness — in the very midst of the house of David has he opened it. Give him to see in thyself the effect of the water that flowed from his heart.
THE STRAIT GATE
This gate — that is, Christ — it is most desirable for us to pass through, because it is the gate of the city of refuge. See, there it is It is in the form of a cross, and he that will find the gate of heaven finds the cross and the Man that did hang thereon. There is no different way of salvation for a peer of the realm than for a pauper in the workhouse.
Better journey to heaven in terror of hell than dream of the happy land while drifting in the other direction. Some years ago I was awakened about three o’clock in the morning by a sharp ring of the door-bell.
THE DRAWINGS OF LOVE
Repeat the words to yourself with fitting emphasis, “Yea, I have loved thee.” Is it not a wonder that the Mighty God should love any of the race of Adam — so insignificant, so ephemeral, so soon to pass away. Passing on with our meditation, let us observe that there is incomparable strength, as well as inexhaustible sweetness in this assurance, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” That word “everlasting” is the very marrow of the gospel. Your spirit will mount and traverse tracts unknown, but that love shall encompass you there; and at the bar of judgment, amidst the splendours of the resurrection morning in the millennial glory, and in the eternity that shall follow, the love of God shall be your unfailing portion.
Have you a sense, day by day, of the presence One Supreme whom you cannot hear nor see. He is drawn by a sense of the love of God towards him to love God in return.
