It is very much the custom of people to say, “Was I not born in the Church of England. To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”.
Furthermore, search the Scriptures, and bring everything you hear to this great test, because in so doing you will get a rich harvest of blessing to
It may be the means of your salvation, and yet it may fail in may points to minister to your edification and comfort. He may be one who insists much upon morality of life; he may tell you to be honest, just, and sober; but mayhap he may forget to tell you that there is a deeper work required than mere morality; he may film the surface over, and never send the lancet into the deep ulcer of your heart’s corruption.
PARTICULAR REDEMPTION
SERMON NO. 181
The doctrine of Redemption is one of the most important doctrines of the system of faith. Wildly we dashed, many of us, into the very midst of the dance of sin.
HUMAN INABILITY
SERMON NO. 182
Again, not only is the will obstinate, but the understanding is darkened
Did not your closet witness your prayerful preparation for the hearing of the Word of God. Rejoice in the Lord ye that have come to Christ, and shout for joy all ye that have been drawn of the Father.
COMPEL THEM TO COME IN
SERMON NO. 227
No,” but you say still, “I am too vile.” You cannot be viler than the chief of sinners. What is the difference?” Why, just this, if you first of all say, “I want to believe a thing,” you never do it.
LOVE
SERMON NO. 229
The fact is this, — the world was originally one great string in the harp of the universe, and when the Almighty swept that harp with his gracious fingers there was nothing to be heard but praise;. In fact, the great problem has been tried, and it has been solved in the negative. Doth not a flight over those illimitable plains of the ether of love, inflame they heart, and compel thee to delight thyself in the Lord thy God.
And yet, strange to say, we have known many Christians who have forgotten much of their love to Christ when they have risen in the world.
FREE GRACE
SERMON NO. 233
Not for your sakes do I this saith the Lord God.” The motive for the salvation of the human race is to be found in the breast of God, and not in the character or condition of man. Heaven, and henceforth they have been reserved in darkness unto the great day of the wrath of God. After Christ’s death, there comes, in the next place, the work of the Holy Spirit.
Come forth and live,” it is not because of anything in the dry bones, it must be for some reason in His own mind, but not in us.
PREDESTINATION AND CALLING
SERMON NO. 241
If it is a call that will suit the remarks which I am about to give you in the second part of the. It is the free man that has been brought out of Egypt, who proves that he has been called of God and is precious to the heart of the Most High. We have the witness of the Spirit within, bearing witness with our spirits that we are born of God.
One of the reasons why many men kick against it is this, they are afraid it hurts them.
LITTLE SINS
SERMON NO. 248
Well, when it was landed, the officers might have said, “Oh, let it in; ‘is it not a little one?’ Here is but a handful of thistle-down, oh, let it come in; it will be but sown in a garden — the Scotch will grow it in their gardens; they think it a fine flower, no doubt, — let them have it, it is but meant for their amusement.” Ah, yes, it was but a little one; but now whole districts of country are covered with it, and it has become the farmer’s pest and plague. Mark, hell is always “the wrath to come.” If a man has been in hell a thousand years, it is still “to come.” As to what you have suffered in the past it is as nothing, in the dread account, for still the wrath is “to come.”. And when the world has grown grey with age, and the fires of the sun are quenched in darkness, it is still “the wrath to come.” And when other worlds have sprung up, and have turned into their palsied age, it is still.
And yet for little sins, remember you incur “the wrath to come.” Oh, if I am to be damned, I would be damned for something; but to be delivered up to the executioner and sent into “the wrath to come” for little sins which do not even make me famous as a rebel, this is to be damned indeed.
THE NECESSITY OF THE SPIRIT’S WORK
SERMON NO. 251
In endeavoring to prove this, I would first of all make the remark that this is very manifest if we remember what man is by nature. Some say that
The drift of the gospel is, that man is dead in sin, and t at divine life is God’s gift; and you must go contrary to the whole of that drift, before you can suppose a man brought to know and love Christ, apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. But apart from that, apart from the vivifying influence of the Spirit of God, men’s souls must lie in the valley of dry bones, dead, and dead for ever. Thus, you see, he also diminishes the sinfulness of man; and has not right views of the fall.
But once get the correct view, that man is utterly fallen, powerless, guilty, defiled, lost, condemned, and you must be sound on all points of the great gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have another proof ready to hand. Salvation must be the work of the Spirit in us, because the means used in salvation are of themselves
Well, now, does it not follow from this, that it must be the work of the Spirit. Because, if there be nothing in the instrument that can lead thereunto, is it not the work of the Spirit when the thing is. There must, then, from these facts, be a higher, unseen, mysterious influence — the influence of the divine Spirit of God.
Let me again remind you, in the third place, that the absolute necessityof the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart may be clearly seen from this.
Let me again remind you, in the third place, that the absolute necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart may be clearly seen from this
The experience of the true Christian is areality; but it never can be known and felt without the Spirit of God. For reality; but it never can be known and felt without the Spirit of God. Now, I ask, who can bring him to such a leveling experience as that, but the Spirit of God.
If we are brought there, it must be the Spirit of God who casts us to the ground.
THE STORY OF
GOD’S MIGHTY ACTS
SERMON NO. 263
Now, my dear friends, this morning I intend to recall to your minds some of the wondrous things which God has done in the olden time. Peter the fisherman stood up and preached in the name of the Lord his God. What stream is there in Europe that cannot testify to the majesty of the gospel.
Have you not heard of Zwingle among the Swiss, and of Calvin in the city of Geneva, and of the mighty works that God did by them.
THE MEEK AND LOWLY ONE
SERMON NO. 265
But the idea is not brought out fully, unless we take another sense
Surely he will slay us, for we have been like the prophets of Baal?” Nay, sinners; but I bid you come to Christ. Not to Moses, for you might say, “ He hath horns of light, and how shall I draw near to his majesty. He is as holy as Moses — as great, and far greater, but he is still so homely that ye may come to him.
Ye harlots, ye drunkards, ye feasters, ye wedding guests, ye may all come; “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” He is “meek and lowly in heart.”.
I will give you but one more picture to set forth the meekness of Christ, and I think I shall not have completed the story without it. The absence of
Christ is “ lowly in heart;” that is, he is willing to receive the poorest sinner in the world. Come to him, then, timid and despairing; for he is “meek and lowly in heart.” First, he bids thee confess. But confess thy sins; tell them all; he is meek and lowly in heart.” Happy confession.
Come to him in all his offices, for he is “meek and lowly in heart.” Sinner.
THE BLOOD OF THE
EVERLASTING COVENANT
SERMON NO. 273
And now having seen who were the high contracting parties, and what were the terms of the covenant made between them, let us see what were
That which is in the covenant is to be seen in due time by the eye and to be heard with the ear. I have not the folly to believe that they have any part in the covenant of grace. We should find that in due time in this life they would be brought to repentance, would be washed in the Savior’s blood, and would be saved.
As many as shall believe, as many as shall trust in Christ, as many as shall persevere unto the end, as many as shall enter into the eternal rest, so many and no more are interested in the covenant of divine grace.
Furthermore, we have to consider what were the motives of this
With regard to Christ, his precious blood shed in Gethsemane, in Gabbatha and Golgotha, is the fulfillment of the covenant. Oh, believer, look to the blood of Christ, and remember that there is Christ’s part of the covenant carried out. With regard to the blood in another respect, it is to God the Father the bond of the covenant.
The blood is the symbol, the token, the earnest, the surety, the seal of the covenant of grace to thee.
THE MINISTER’S FAREWELL
SERMON NO. 289
Any man who doth this, so far as my judgment goes, does not declare the whole counsel of God. But beloved, a man might preach all these doctrines to the full, and yet not declare the whole counsel of God. To preach the whole counsel of God it is necessary to declare the promise in all its freeness, sureness and richness.
Therefore, it was no mean testimony that the apostle asked for himself, that he had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God.
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
SERMON NO. 308
First of all, I address myself to those hearts which are like the WAY- SIDE — “Some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.” Many of you do not go to the place of worship desiring a blessing. The word of the gospel lies upon the surface of such a heart, but never enters it. He will go with the tempter, and the good seed will be devoured by the fowls of the air.
Whether you preach the terrors of the law or the love of Calvary, they are alike stirred in their.
