,transcriber's ,notes3 ,italic text is denoted by underscores and bold text by equal signs4 ,blank pages have been eliminated4 ,variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in the original4 ,a few typographical errors have been corrected4 ,,spurgeon',s ,,books ,,are1 ,,sermons1444 ,eight ,series4 #a4ej each4 ,,morning ,,by ,,morning4 #a vol4 #abmo4 ,price #a4ge4 ,,in ,,press3 ,,evening ,,by ,,evening1 ,by ,,rev4 ,c4 ,h4 ,,spurgeon4 #a volume4 #abmo4 ,price #a4ge4 ,,gleanings ,,among ,,the ,,sheaves4 ,,by ,,rev4 ,c4 ,h4 ,,spurgeon4 ,,second ,,edition4 ,new ,york3 ,,sheldon ,,and ,,company1 #dih #ejj ,,broadway4 #ahfi4 ,,to ,,the ,,numerous ,,hearers ,,and ,,to ,,the ,,innumerable ,,readers ,,of ,,the ,,rev4 ,c4 ,h4 ,,spurgeon',s ,,sermons1 ,this unpretentious little ,volume ,,is ,,respectfully ,,dedicated ,,by ,,the ,,publishers4 ,,the ,,stems ,,grow ,,up ,,every ,,week3 ,,the ,,shocks ,,appear ,,once ,a ,,month3 ,,the ,,sheaves ,,are ,,bound ,,together ,,once ,a ,,year3 ,and it is thought that these samples1 gleaned from the ,sermons1 will be welcome to many1 but chiefly to those who are most familiar with the ample fields from which they are gathered4 ,,gleanings ,,among ,,the ,,sheaves4 ,the ,preciousness of the ,promises4 ,the promises of ,god are to the believer an inexhaustible mine of wealth4 ,happy is it for him if he knows how to search out their secret veins1 and enrich himself with their hid treasures4 ,they are an armory1 containing all manner of offensive and defensive weapons4 ,blessed is he who has learned to enter into the sacred arsenal1 to put on the breastplate and the helmet1 and to lay his hand to the spear and to the sword4 ,they are a surgery1 in which the believer will find all manner of restoratives and blessed elixirs2 nor lacks there an ointment for every wound1 a cordial for every faintness1 a remedy for every disease4 ,blessed is he who is well skilled in heavenly pharmacy1 and knoweth how to lay hold on the healing virtues of the promises of ,god4 ,the promises are to the ,christian a storehouse of food4 ,they are as the granaries which ,joseph built in ,egypt1 or as the golden pot wherein the manna was preserved4 ,blessed is he who can take the five barley loaves and fishes of promise1 and break them till his five thousand necessities shall all be supplied1 and he is able to gather up baskets full of fragments4 ,the promises are the ,christian's ,magna ,charta of liberty2 they are the title deeds of his heavenly estate4 ,happy is he who knoweth how to read them well1 and call them all his own4 ,yea1 they are the jewel room in which the ,christian's crown treasures are preserved4 ,the regalia are his1 secretly to admire to-day1 which he shall openly wear in ,paradise hereafter4 ,he is already privileged as a king with the silver key that unlocks the strong room2 he may even now grasp the sceptre1 wear the crown1 and put upon his shoulders the imperial mantle4 ,o1 how unutterably rich are the promises of our faithful1 covenant-keeping ,god6 ,if we had the tongue of the mightiest of orators1 and if that tongue could be touched with a live coal from off the altar1 yet still it could not utter a tenth of the praises of the exceeding great and precious promises of ,god4 ,nay1 they who have entered into rest1 whose tongues are attuned to the lofty and rapturous eloquence of cherubim and seraphim1 even they can never tell the height and depth1 the length and breadth of the unsearchable riches of ,christ1 which are stored up in the treasure-house of ,god--the promises of the covenant of ,his grace4 ,sorrow's ,discipline4 ,the ,lord gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction4 ,the ,christian ,warfare4 ,it is a tough battle which the ,christian is called to fight2 not one which carpet knights might win2 no easy skirmish which he might gain1 who dashed to battle on some sunshiny day1 looked at the host1 then turned his courser's rein1 and daintily dismounted at the door of his silken tent4 ,it is not a campaign which he shall win1 who1 but a raw recruit to-day1 foolishly imagines that one week of service will insure a crown of glory4 ,it is a life-long war2 a contest which will require all our strength1 if we are to be triumphant2 a battle at which the stoutest heart might quail2 a fight from which the bravest would shrink1 did he not remember that the ,lord is on his side2 therefore whom shall he fear8 ,god is the strength of his life3 of whom shall he be afraid8 ,this fight is not one of main force1 or physical might2 if it were1 we might the sooner win it2 but it is all the more dangerous from the fact that it is a strife of mind1 a contest of heart1 a struggle of the spirit--ofttimes an agony of the soul4 ,do you wonder that the ,christian is called to conflict8 ,god never gives strong faith without fiery trial2 he will not build a strong ship1 without subjecting it to very mighty storms2 he will not make you a mighty warrior1 if he does not intend to try your skill in battle4 ,the sword of the ,lord must be used2 the blades of heaven must be smitten against the armor of the evil one1 and yet they shall not break1 for they are of true ,jerusalem metal1 which shall never snap4 ,we shall conquer1 if we begin the battle in the right way4 ,if we have sharpened our swords on the cross1 we have nothing whatever to fear2 for though we may be sometimes cast down and discomforted1 we shall assuredly at last put to flight all our adversaries1 for we are the sons of ,god even now4 ,why1 then1 should we fear8 ,who shall bid us stay1 if ,god bid us advance8 ,the ,privileges of ,trial4 ,it is said1 that when the stars cannot be seen during the day from the ordinary level of the earth1 if one should go down into a dark well1 they would be visible at once4 ,and certainly it is a fact1 that the best of ,god's promises are usually seen by ,his ,church when she is in her darkest trials4 ,as sure as ever ,god puts ,his children in the furnace1 ,he will be in the furnace with them4 ,i do not read that ,jacob saw the angel1 until he came into a position where he had to wrestle1 and then the wrestling ,jacob saw the wrestling angel4 ,i do not know that ,joshua ever saw the angel of ,god1 till he was by ,jericho2 and then ,joshua saw the angelic warrior4 ,i do not know that ,abraham ever saw the ,lord1 till he had become a stranger and a wanderer in the plains of ,mamre1 and then the ,lord appeared unto him as a wayfaring man4 ,it is in our most desperate sorrows that we have our happiest experiences4 ,you must go to ,patmos to see the revelation4 ,it is only on the barren1 storm-girt rock1 shut out from all the world's light1 that we can find a fitting darkness1 in which we can view the light of heaven undistracted by the shadows of earth4 ,the ,joy of ,victory4 ,the ,christian's battle-field is here1 but the triumphal procession is above4 ,this is the land of the sword and the spear3 that is the land of the wreath and the crown4 ,this is the land of the garment rolled in blood and of the dust of the fight3 that is the land of the trumpet's joyful sound1 the place of the white robe and of the shout of conquest4 ,o1 what a thrill of joy shall be felt by all the blessed1 when their conquests shall be complete in heaven2 when death itself1 the last of foes1 shall be slain2 when ,satan shall be dragged captive at the chariot wheels of ,christ2 when the great shout of universal victory shall rise from the hearts of all the redeemed6 ,what a moment of pleasure shall that be6 ,something of the joy of victory we know even here4 ,have you ever struggled against an evil heart1 and at last overcome it8 ,have you ever wrestled hard with a strong temptation1 and known what it was to sing with thankfulness1 ,when ,i said my feet slipped1 ,thy mercy1 ,o ,lord1 held me up8 ,have you1 like ,bunyan's ,christian1 fought with ,apollyon1 and after a fierce contest1 put him to flight8 ,then you have had a foretaste of the heavenly triumph--just an imagining of what the ultimate victory will be4 ,god gives you these partial triumphs1 that they may be earnests of the future4 ,go on and conquer1 and let each conquest1 though a harder one1 and more strenuously contested1 be to you as a pledge of the victory of heaven4 ,light in the ,cloud4 ,the ,lord turned the captivity of ,job4 ,so1 then1 our longest sorrows have a close1 and there is a bottom to the profoundest depths of our misery4 ,our winters shall not frown forever3 summer shall soon smile4 ,the tide shall not eternally ebb out3 the floods must retrace their march4 ,the night shall not hang its darkness forever over our souls3 the sun shall yet arise with healing beneath his wings4 ,the ,lord turned the captivity of ,job4 ,thus1 too1 our sorrows shall have an end when ,god has gotten ,his end in them4 ,the ends in the case of ,job were these1 that ,satan might be defeated1 foiled with his own weapons1 blasted in his hopes when he had everything his own way4 ,god1 at ,satan's challenge1 had stretched forth his hand and touched ,job in his bone and in his flesh2 and yet the tempter could not prevail against him1 but received his rebuff in those conquering words1 ,though he slay me1 yet will ,i trust in ,him4 ,when ,satan is defeated1 then shall the battle cease4 ,the ,lord aimed also at the trial of ,job's faith4 ,many weights were hung upon this palm-tree1 but it still grew uprightly4 ,the fire had been fierce1 yet the gold was undiminished2 only the dross was consumed4 ,another purpose the ,lord had was ,his own glory4 ,and truly ,he was glorified abundantly4 ,god hath gotten unto ,his great name and ,his wise counsels1 eternal renown1 through that grace by which ,he supported ,his poor afflicted servant under the heaviest troubles which ever fell to the lot of man4 ,god had another end1 and that also was served4 ,job had been sanctified by his afflictions4 ,his spirit was mellowed1 and any self-justification which lurked within was fairly driven out4 ,and now that ,god's gracious designs are answered1 ,he removes the rod2 ,he takes the melted silver from the midst of the glowing coals4 ,god doth not afflict willingly1 nor grieve the children of men for nought1 and ,he shows this by the fact ,he never afflicts them longer than there is a need for it4 ,he never suffers them to be one moment longer in the furnace than is absolutely requisite to serve the purposes of ,his wisdom and of ,his love4 ,the ,lord turned the captivity of ,job4 ,despair not1 then1 afflicted believer2 he that turned the captivity of ,job can turn thy captivity as the streams in the south4 ,he shall make thy vineyard again to blossom1 and thy field to yield her fruit4 ,thou shalt again come forth with those that make merry1 and once more shall the song of gladness be on thy lip4 ,let not ,despair rivet his cruel fetters about thy soul4 ,hope yet1 for there is hope concerning this matter4 ,trust thou still1 for there is ground of confidence4 ,he shall bring thee up again1 rejoicing1 out of captivity1 and thou shalt yet sing to his praise1 ,thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing3 thou hast put off my sackcloth1 and girded me with gladness4 ,good ,works4 ,when once the human heart is put under the microscope of ,scripture1 and we see it with a spiritual eye1 we perceive it to be so vile1 that we are quite sure it would be just as impossible to expect to find good works in an unrighteous1 unconverted man1 as to hope to see fire burning in the midst of the ocean4 ,the two things would be incongruous4 ,our good works1 if we have any1 spring from a real conversion2 yet more1 they spring also from a constant spiritual influence exercised upon us1 from the time of conversion even until the hour of death4 ,ah1 ,christian1 thou wouldst have no good works if thou hadst no fresh grace day by day6 ,thou wouldst not find the grace given thee at the first hour sufficient to produce fruit to-day4 ,it is not like the planting of a tree in our hearts1 which naturally of itself bringeth forth fruit2 but the sap cometh up from the root ,jesus ,christ4 ,we are not trees by ourselves1 but we are branches fixed on the ,living ,vine4 ,our good works spring from union with ,christ4 ,the more a man knows and feels himself to be one with ,jesus1 the more holy will he be4 ,why is a ,christian's character like ,christ's character8 ,only for this reason1 that he is joined and united to the ,lord ,jesus4 ,why does the branch bring forth grapes8 ,simply because it has been engrafted into the vine1 and therefore it partakes of the nature of the stem4 ,so1 ,christian1 the only way whereby thou canst bring forth fruit to ,god is by being grafted into ,christ and united with him4 ,if you think you can walk in holiness without keeping up perpetual fellowship with ,christ1 you have made a great mistake4 ,if you would be holy1 you must live close to ,jesus4 ,good works spring only thence4 ,hence we draw the most powerful reasons against anything like trusting in works2 for as works are only the gift of ,god1 how utterly impossible it is for an unconverted man to produce any such good works in himself4 ,and if they are ,god's gifts1 how little of our merit can there be in them6 ,the ,knowledge of ,christ's ,love4 ,it is the distinguishing mark of ,god's people that they know the love of ,christ4 ,without exception1 all those who have passed from death unto life1 whatever they may not know1 have learned this4 ,and without exception1 all those who are not saved1 whatever they may know besides1 know nothing of this4 ,for to know the love of ,christ1 to taste its sweetness1 to realize it personally1 experimentally1 and vitally1 as shed abroad in our hearts by the ,holy ,ghost1 is the privilege of the child of ,god alone4 ,this is the secure enclosure into which the stranger cannot enter4 ,this is the garden of the ,lord1 so well protected by walls and hedges that no wild boar of the wood can enter4 ,only the redeemed of the ,lord shall walk here4 ,they1 and only they1 may pluck the fruits1 and content themselves with the delights thereof4 ,how important1 then1 becomes the question1 ,do ,i know the love of ,christ8 ,have ,i felt it8 ,do ,i understand it8 ,is it shed abroad in my heart8 ,do ,i know that ,jesus loves me8 ,is my heart quickened1 and animated1 and warmed1 and attracted towards ,him through the great truth that it recognizes and rejoices in1 that ,christ has really loved me and chosen me1 and set ,his heart upon me8 ,but while it is true that every child of ,god knows the love of ,christ1 it is equally true that all the children of ,god do not know this love to the same extent4 ,there are in ,christ's family1 babes1 young men1 strong men1 and fathers4 ,and as they grow and progress in all other matters1 so they most certainly make advances here4 ,indeed1 an increase of love1 a more perfect apprehension of ,christ's love1 is one of the best and most infallible gauges whereby we may test ourselves whether we have grown in grace or not4 ,if we have grown in grace1 it is absolutely certain that we shall have advanced in our knowledge and reciprocation of the love of ,christ4 ,many have believed in ,jesus1 and know a little of ,his love2 but1 ,o6 it is little indeed they know1 in comparison with some others who have been brought into the inner chamber1 and made to drink of the spiced wine of ,christ's pomegranate4 ,some have begun to climb the mountain1 and the view which lies at their feet is lovely and passing fair1 but the landscape is not such as would greet their eyes if they could but stand where advanced saints are standing1 and could look to the east and to the west1 to the north and to the south1 and see all the lengths1 and breadths1 and depths1 and heights of the love of ,christ which passeth knowledge4 ,clear ,shining after ,rain4 ,the sway of ,christ as ,king1 according to ,david's description1 is like ,clear shining after rain1 whereby the tender grass is made to spring out of the earth4 ,so have we often seen it4 ,after a heavy shower of rain1 or after a continued rainy season1 when the sun shines1 there is a delightful clearness and freshness in the air that we seldom perceive at other times4 ,perhaps the brightest weather is just when the rain has ceased1 when the wind has drifted away the clouds1 and the sun peers forth from his chambers to gladden the earth with his smiles4 ,and thus is it with the ,christian's exercised heart4 ,sorrow does not last forever4 ,after the pelting rain of adversity cometh ever and anon the clear shining4 ,tried believer1 consider this4 ,after all thy afflictions there remaineth a rest for the people of ,god4 ,there is a clear shining coming to thy soul when all this rain is past4 ,when thy time of rebuke is over and gone1 it shall be to thee as the earth when the tempest has sobbed itself to sleep1 when the clouds have rent themselves to rags1 and the sun peereth forth once more as a bridegroom in his glorious array4 ,to this end1 sorrow coperates with the bliss that follows it1 like rain and sunshine1 to bring forth the tender blade4 ,the tribulation and the consolation work together for our good4 ,as the sufferings of ,christ abound in us1 so our consolation also aboundeth by ,christ4 ,the clear shining after rain produces an atmosphere that refreshes herbs and cereals3 and the joy of the ,lord1 after seasons of sorrow1 makes the soul fruitful4 ,thus we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,a ,quiet ,heart4 ,unless the heart be kept peaceable1 the life will not be happy4 ,if calm doth not reign over that inner lake within the soul1 which feeds the rivers of our life1 the rivers themselves will always be in storm4 ,our outward acts will always tell that they were born in tempests1 by being tempestuous themselves4 ,we all desire to lead a joyous life2 the bright eye and the elastic foot are things which we each of us desire2 to carry about a contented mind is that to which most men are continually aspiring4 ,let us remember1 that the only way to keep our life peaceful and happy1 is to keep the heart at rest2 for come poverty1 come wealth1 come honor1 come shame1 come plenty1 or come scarcity1 if the heart be quiet1 there will be happiness anywhere4 ,but whatever the sunshine and the brightness1 if the heart be troubled1 the whole life must be troubled too4 ,a ,rich ,life4 ,when one of our kings came back from captivity1 as old chroniclers tell1 there were fountains in ,cheapside which flowed with wine4 ,so bounteous was the king1 and so glad the people1 that instead of water1 they made wine flow free to everybody4 ,there is a way of making our life so rich1 so full1 so blessed to our fellow-men1 that the metaphor may be applicable to us1 and men may say1 that our life flows with wine when other men's lives flow with water4 ,ye have known some such men4 ,john ,howard's life was not like our poor1 common lives3 he was so benevolent1 his sympathy with the race so self-denying1 that the streams of his life were like generous wine4 ,you have known personally1 it may be1 some eminent saint1 one who lived very near to ,jesus3 when he talked1 there was an unction and a savor about his words1 a solidity and a strength about his utterances1 which you could appreciate1 though you could not attain unto it4 ,you have sometimes said1 ,i wish my words were as full1 as sweet1 as mellow1 and as unctuous as the words of such a one4 ,o1 ,i wish my actions were just as rich1 had as deep a color1 and as pure a taste1 as the acts of some other to whom you point4 ,all ,i can do seems but little and empty when compared with his high attainments4 ,o1 that ,i could do more6 ,o1 that ,i could send streams of pure gold into every house1 instead of my poor dross6 ,well1 ,christian1 this should stimulate thee to keep thine heart full of rich things4 ,never1 never neglect the ,word of ,god2 that will make thy heart rich with precept1 thy head rich with understanding1 and thy bowels rich with compassion2 then1 thy conversation1 when it flows through thy mouth1 will be from thy soul1 and1 like all that is within thee1 rich1 unctuous1 and savory4 ,only let thy heart be full of sweet1 generous love1 and the stream that flows from thy lips will be sweet and generous4 ,above all1 get ,jesus to live in thine heart1 and then out of thee shall flow rivers of living water1 more exhilarating1 purer1 and more satiating than the water of the well of ,sychar1 of which ,jacob drank4 ,go forth1 with ,christian1 to the great mine of unsearchable riches1 and cry unto the ,holy ,spirit to make thy heart rich unto salvation4 ,so shall thy life and conversation be a boon to thy fellows2 and when they see thee1 thy visage shall shine1 and thy face shall be as the angel of ,god4 ,he hath ,said4 ,the apostles1 like their ,master1 were always very ready at quotations4 ,as inspired men they could have always used fresh words1 yet they preferred 7and herein they are an example to us7 to quote old words upon which the seal of divine authority has been set aforetime--,he hath said4 ,let us do the same1 for1 though the words of ministers may be sweet1 the words of ,god are sweeter2 and though original thoughts may have the charm of novelty1 yet the ancient words of ,god have the ring1 and the weight1 and the value of old and precious coins1 and they will never be found wanting in the day when we require to use them4 ,he hath said1 not only chases away doubts and fears1 but it also yields nourishment to all our graces4 ,when the apostle would make us contented1 he says1 ,be content with such things as ye have3 for ,he hath said2 and when he would make us bold and courageous1 he puts it thus forcibly1 ,he hath said1 ,i will never leave thee1 nor forsake thee4 ,so that we may boldly say1 ,the ,lord is my helper1 and ,i will not fear what man shall do unto me4 ,when the apostle ,paul would nourish faith1 he does it by feeding us from ,scripture with the examples of ,abraham1 of ,isaac1 of ,jacob1 of ,moses1 of ,gideon1 of ,barak1 and of ,jephthah4 ,when another apostle would calm us with a lesson of patience1 he says1 ,ye have heard of the patience of ,job2 or if it be our prayerfulness that he wants to stir up1 he says1 ,elias was a man subject to like passions as we are1 and he prayed and prevailed4 ,he hath said1 is refreshing food for every grace1 and a decisive death-blow for every sin4 ,here you have nourishment for that which is good1 and poison for that which is evil4 ,search1 then1 the ,scriptures1 for so shall you grow healthy1 strong1 and vigorous in the divine life4 ,but besides searching them by reading1 and treasuring them by memory1 we should test them by experience1 and so often as a promise is proven to be true1 we should make a mark against it1 and note that we also can say1 as did one of old1 ,this is my comfort in my affliction2 for ,thy word hath quickened me4 ,wait on the ,lord1 said ,isaiah1 and then he added1 ,wait1 ,i say1 on the ,lord1 as if his own experience led him to echo the voice of ,god to his hearers4 ,test the promise2 take ,god's bank-note to the counter1 and mark if it be cashed4 ,grasp the lever which he ordains to lift your trials1 and try if it possesses real power4 ,cast this divine tree into the bitter waters of your ,marah1 and learn how it will sweeten them4 ,take this salt1 and throw it into the turbid waters1 and witness if they be not made sweet1 as were the waters of old by the prophet ,elisha4 ,taste and see that the ,lord is good 444 for there is no want to them that fear ,him4 ,safety in ,conflict4 ,the way that ,god keeps ,his people in security is not by shutting out their enemies from attacking them1 but by sustaining them while engaged in the conflict4 ,it is not much to preserve ones' self behind a wall which cannot be scaled1 but to stand where arrows are flying thick as hail1 where lances are being pushed with fury1 where the sword-cuts are falling on every part1 and in the midst of all to prove invulnerable1 invincible1 immortal1 this is to wear a divine life which cannot be conquered by human power4 ,such is the calling of the ,christian4 ,god will put us where we must be tried and tempted4 ,if we are not tried1 there is no honor to ,him who preserves us2 and if we are not tempted1 there is no gratitude to ,his grace who delivers us out of temptations4 ,the ,lord does not put his plants into a hot-house1 as some gardeners do2 no1 ,he sets them out in the open air1 and if the frost is coming1 ,he says1 ,ah6 but no frost can kill them1 and they will be all the sturdier in the summer for the cold in the winter4 ,he does not shelter them either from the heat of the sun1 or from the chills of the night4 ,in this world we must have tribulation1 and we must have much of it too1 for it is through much tribulation we inherit the kingdom4 ,what ,god does for ,his people is this3 ,he keeps them in tribulation1 preserves them in temptation1 and brings them joyfully out of all their trials4 ,so1 ,christian1 you may rejoice in your security2 but you must not think that you are not to be attacked2 you are like a stream from ,lebanon1 to be dashed down many a cascade1 to be broken over many a rough rock1 to be stopped up with many a huge stone1 to be impeded by many a fallen tree2 but you are to dash forward with the irresistible force of ,god1 sweeping everything away1 till you find at last the place of your perfect rest4 ,to-morrow4 ,if to-morrows are not to be boasted of1 are they good for nothing8 ,no1 blessed be ,god4 ,there are a great many things we may do with to-morrows4 ,i will tell you what we may do with them if we are the children of ,god4 ,we may always look forward to them with patience and confidence1 that they will work together for our good4 ,we may say of the to-morrows1 ,i do not boast of them1 but ,i am not frightened at them2 ,i would not glory in them1 but ,i will not tremble about them4 ,yes1 we may be very easy and very comfortable about to-morrow2 we may remember that all our times are in ,his hands1 that all events are at ,his command2 and though we know not all the windings of the path of providence1 yet ,he knows them all2 they are all settled in ,his book1 and our times are all ordered by ,his wisdom4 ,and1 therefore1 we may look upon the to-morrows as we see them in the rough bullion of time1 about to be minted into every-day's expenditure1 and we may say of them all1 ,they shall all be gold2 they shall all be stamped with the ,king's impress1 and therefore1 let them come2 they will not make me worse--they will work together for my good4 ,yea1 more1 a ,christian may rightly look forward to his to-morrows1 not simply with resignation1 but also with joy4 ,to-morrow to a ,christian is a happy thing2 it is one stage nearer glory4 ,it is one step nearer heaven to a believer2 it is just one knot more sailed across the dangerous sea of life1 and he is so much the nearer to his eternal port4 ,to-morrow6 the ,christian may rejoice at it2 he may say of to-day1 ,o day1 thou mayst be dark1 but ,i shall bid thee good by1 for lo1 ,i see the morrow coming1 and ,i shall mount upon its wings1 and shall flee away and leave thee and thy sorrows far behind me4 ,a ,full ,heart4 ,you have seen the great reservoirs provided by our water companies1 in which water for the supply of thousands of houses is kept4 ,now1 the heart is the reservoir of man1 from which the streams of his life flow4 ,that life may flow through different pipes--the mouth1 the hand1 the eye2 but still all the issues of hand1 of eye1 of lip1 derive their source from the great fountain and central reservoir1 the heart2 and hence there is no difficulty in showing the great necessity that exists for keeping this reservoir in a proper state and condition1 since otherwise that which flows through the pipes must be tainted and corrupt4 ,not only must the heart be kept pure1 but it must also be kept full4 ,however pure the water may be in the central reservoir1 it will not be possible for us to have an abundant supply1 unless the reservoir itself be full4 ,an empty fountain will most assuredly beget empty pipes2 let the machinery be never so accurate1 let everything else be well ordered1 yet if that reservoir be dry1 we may wait in vain for water4 ,see1 then1 the necessity of keeping the heart full2 and let the necessity make you ask this question3 ,but how can ,i keep my heart full8 ,how can my emotions be strong8 ,how can ,i keep my desires burning and my zeal inflamed8 ,christian6 there is one text which will explain all this3 ,all my springs are in ,thee1 said ,david4 ,if thou hast all thy springs in ,god1 thy heart will be full enough4 ,if thou goest to the foot of ,calvary1 there will thy heart be bathed in love and gratitude4 ,if thou art often in the vale of retirement1 talking with thy ,god1 thy heart shall be full of calm resolve4 ,if you goest with thy ,master to the hill of ,olivet1 with ,him to weep over ,jerusalem1 then will thy heart be full of love for never-dying souls4 ,if thou art continually drawing thine impulse1 thy life1 the whole of thy being from the ,holy ,spirit1 without whom thou canst do nothing1 and if thou art living in close communion with ,christ1 there will be no fear of thy having a dry heart4 ,he who lives without prayer--he who lives with little prayer--he who seldom reads the ,word--he who seldom looks up to heaven for a fresh influence from on high--he will be the man whose heart will become dry and barren2 but he who calls in secret on his ,god--who spends much time in holy retirement--who delights to meditate on the words of the ,most ,high--whose soul is given up to ,christ--who delights in ,his fulness1 rejoices in his all-sufficiency1 prays for his second coming1 and delights in the thought of his glorious advent--such a man must have an overflowing heart2 and as his heart is1 such will his life be4 ,it will be a full life2 it will be a life that will speak from the sepulchre1 and wake the echoes of the future4 ,keep thine heart with all diligence1 and entreat the ,holy ,spirit to keep it full2 for otherwise1 the issues of thy life will be feeble1 shallow1 and superficial2 and thou mayest as well not have lived at all4 ,o for a heart thus full1 and deep1 and broad6 ,find the man that hath such a heart1 and he is the man from whom living waters shall flow1 to make the world glad with their refreshing streams4 ,persevering ,prayer4 ,do not give up those prayers which ,god's ,spirit has put in your hearts--for remember1 the things you have asked for are worth waiting for4 ,besides1 you are a beggar when you are in prayer2 therefore you must not be a chooser as to the time when ,god shall hear you4 ,if you had right ideas of yourself1 you would say1 ,it is a wonder that ,he ever listens to me at all1 so unworthy as ,i am4 ,does the ,infinite indeed bow ,his ear to me8 ,may ,i hope ,he will at last listen to me8 ,then ,i may well continue my prayers4 ,and recollect it is your only hope3 there is no other ,saviour4 ,this or none--,christ's blood or else eternal wrath4 ,and to whom shall you go1 if you turn away from ,him8 ,none ever yet perished pleading for mercy2 therefore keep on4 ,besides1 better men than you have had to wait4 ,kings1 and patriarchs1 and prophets have waited2 therefore surely you can be content to sit in the ,king's antechamber a little while4 ,it is an honor to sit as ,mordecai did at the gate4 ,pray on--wait on6 ,ah6 says one1 that is just what ,i have been doing a long time4 ,yes1 yes1 there are different kinds of waiting4 ,a man says1 ,i have been waiting3 but he has folded his arms and gone to sleep4 ,you may wait in that way till you are lost4 ,the waiting ,i mean is getting all things ready--the waiting of the poor sufferer for the physician1 who cries out in pain1 ,is the doctor coming8 ,i will be surety for my ,master when ,i say that none such will be sent empty away4 ,he will never break his promise4 ,try ,him--,,try ,,him6 ,humility4 ,what is humility of mind8 ,humility is to make a right estimate of one's self4 ,it is no humility for a man to think less of himself than he ought1 though it might rather puzzle him to do that4 ,some persons1 when they know they can do a thing1 tell you they cannot3 but you surely would not call that humility8 ,a man is asked to take part in some good work3 ,no1 he says1 ,i have no ability2 yet1 if you were to say so of him1 he would be offended at you4 ,it is not humility for a man to stand up and depreciate himself1 and say he cannot do this1 that1 or the other1 when he knows that it is untrue4 ,if ,god gives a man a talent1 do you think the man does not know it8 ,if a man has ten talents1 he has no right to be dishonest to his ,maker1 and to say1 ,lord1 thou hast only given me five4 ,it is not humility to underrate your endowments3 humility is to think of yourself1 if you can1 as ,god thinks of you4 ,it is to feel that if we have talents1 ,god has given them to us1 and let it be seen that1 like freight in a vessel1 they tend to sink us low4 ,the more we have1 the lower we ought to lie4 ,humility is not to say1 ,i have not this gift2 but it is to say1 ,i have the gift1 and ,i must use it for my ,master's glory4 ,i must never seek any honor for myself2 for what have ,i that ,i have not received8 ,humility is to feel that we have no power of ourselves1 but that it all cometh from ,god4 ,humility is to lean on our ,beloved1 saying1 ,i can do all things through ,christ1 who strengtheneth me4 ,it is1 in fact1 to annihilate self1 and to exalt the ,lord ,jesus ,christ as ,all in ,all4 ,look ,upwards4 ,christian6 in all thy troubles1 look unto ,god1 and be saved4 ,in all thy trials and afflictions1 look unto ,christ1 and find deliverance4 ,in all thine agony1 in all thy repentance for thy guilt1 look unto ,christ1 and find pardon4 ,remember to put thine eyes heavenward1 and thine heart heavenward too4 ,bind round thyself a golden chain1 and put one link of it in the staple in heaven4 ,look unto ,christ2 fear not4 ,there is no stumbling when a man walks with his eyes up to ,jesus4 ,he that looks at ,christ walks safely4 ,the ,use of ,trial4 ,trials teach us what we are2 they dig up the soil1 and let us see what we are made of2 they just turn up some of the ill weeds on to the surface4 ,faith ,necessary4 ,whatsoever things are lovely1 and pure1 and of good report1 try and gain them2 but remember that all these things put together1 without faith1 do not please ,god4 ,virtues1 without faith1 are whitewashed sins4 ,unbelief nullifies everything4 ,it is the fly in the ointment2 it is the poison in the pot4 ,without faith--with all the virtues of purity1 with all the benevolence of philanthropy1 with all the kindness of disinterested sympathy1 with all the talents of genius1 with all the bravery of patriotism1 and with all the decision of principle--you have no title to divine acceptance1 for without faith it is impossible to please ,god4 ,faith fosters every virtue2 unbelief withers every virtue in the bud4 ,thousands of prayers have been stopped by unbelief2 many songs of praise1 that would have swelled the chorus of the skies1 have been stifled by unbelieving murmurs2 many a noble enterprise conceived in the heart has been blighted ere it could come forth by unbelief4 ,faith is the ,samsonian lock of the ,christian3 cut it off1 and he can do nothing4 ,peter1 while he had faith1 walked on the waves of the sea4 ,but presently there came a billow behind him1 and he said1 ,that will sweep me away2 and then another before1 and he cried out1 ,that will overwhelm me2 and he thought1 ,how could ,i be so presumptuous as to walk on the top of these waves8 ,and as soon as he doubted1 he began to sink4 ,faith was ,peter's life-buoy--it kept him up2 but unbelief sent him down4 ,the ,christian's life may be said to be always walking on the water1 and every wave would swallow him up2 but faith enables him to stand4 ,the moment you cease to believe1 that moment distress and failure follow4 ,o1 wherefore dost thou doubt1 then8 ,christ ,altogether ,lovely4 ,in calling the ,lord ,jesus altogether lovely1 the ,church asserts that she sees nothing in ,him which she does not admire4 ,the world may rail at ,his cross and call it shameful2 to her it is the very centre and soul of glory4 ,a proud and scornful nation might reject their ,king because of ,his manger-cradle and peasant-garb1 but to her eye the ,prince is glorious in this poor apparel4 ,he is never without beauty to her2 never is ,his visage marred1 or his glory stained4 ,she presses ,his pierced feet to her bosom1 and looks upon their wounds as jewels4 ,fools stand by ,his cross and find full many a theme for jest and scorn3 she discovers nothing but solemn reason for reverent adoration and unbounded love4 ,viewing ,him in every office1 position1 and relationship1 she cannot discover a flaw2 in fact1 the thought of imperfection is banished far away4 ,she knows too well ,his perfect ,godhead and ,his spotless manhood1 to offer a moment's shelter to the thought of a blemish in ,his immaculate person2 she abominates every teaching that debases ,him2 she spurns the most gorgeous drapery that would obscure ,his beauteous features2 yea1 so jealous is she of ,his honor1 that she will hear no spirit which doth not witness to ,his praise4 ,a hint against ,his undefiled conception or ,his unsullied purity would stir her soul to holy wrath1 and speedy would be her execration1 and relentless her execution of the heresy4 ,nothing has ever aroused the ire of the ,church so fully as a word against her ,head4 ,to all true believers this is high treason1 and an offence which cannot be treated lightly4 ,jesus is without a single blot or blemish1 altogether lovely4 ,yet this negative praise1 this bold denial of fault1 is far from representing the fulness of the loving admiration of the ,church4 ,jesus is positively lovely in her eyes4 ,not barely comely1 nor merely fair1 ,his beauties are attracting beauties1 and ,his glories are such as charm the heart4 ,love looks forth from those dove's eyes1 washed with milk1 and fitly set2 it flows from those lips like lilies dropping sweet-smelling myrrh1 and it sparkles on those hands which are full of gold rings1 set with chrysolite4 ,but although this utterance of the ,church is the very climax of the language of praise1 and was doubtless intended as the acme of all description1 yet it is not possible that this one sentence1 even when expanded by the most careful meditation1 should be able to express more than a mere particle of the admiration felt4 ,like a son of ,anak1 the sentence towers above all others2 but its stature fails to reach the towering height of ,heaven-born love4 ,it is but a faint symbol of unutterable affection2 a choice pearl washed on shore from the deep sea of love4 ,the ,remedy for ,doubts4 ,the best way to get your faith strengthened is to have communion with ,christ4 ,if you commune with ,christ you cannot be unbelieving4 ,when his left hand is under my head1 and his right hand doth embrace me1 ,i cannot doubt4 ,when my ,beloved sits at his table1 and ,he brings me into ,his banqueting-house1 and ,his banner over me is ,love1 then1 indeed1 ,i do believe4 ,when ,i feast with ,him1 my unbelief is abashed1 and hides its head4 ,speak1 ye that have been led in the green pastures1 and have been made to lie down by the still waters2 ye who have seen ,his rod and ,his staff1 and hope to see them even when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death2 speak1 ye that have sat at ,his feet with ,mary1 or laid your head upon his bosom with the well-beloved ,john2 have you not found when you have been near to ,christ your faith has grown strong1 and when you have been far away from ,him1 your faith has become weak8 ,it is impossible to look ,christ in the face and then doubt ,him4 ,when you cannot see ,him1 then you doubt ,him2 but you must believe when your ,beloved speaks unto you1 and says1 ,rise up1 my love1 my fair one1 and come away4 ,there is no hesitation then2 you must arise from the lowlands of your doubt up to the hills of assurance4 ,all ,things working for ,good4 ,christ is the arbiter of all events2 in everything ,his sway is supreme2 and ,he exercises ,his power for the good of ,his ,church4 ,he spins the thread of events1 and acts from the distaff of destiny1 and does not suffer those threads to be woven otherwise than according to the pattern of ,his loving wisdom4 ,he will not allow the mysterious wheel to revolve in any way which shall not bring good unto ,his chosen4 ,he makes their worst things blessings to them1 and their best things he sanctifies4 ,in times of plenty1 ,he blesses their increase2 in times of famine1 ,he supplies all their needs4 ,as all things are working for ,his glory1 so all things are working for their good4 ,the ,triumph of ,grace4 ,it is one of the greatest of wonders that all men do not love ,christ4 ,nothing manifests more clearly the utter corruption of our race than the fact that ,he was despised and rejected of men4 ,those1 however1 who have seen the fountains of the great deep of human depravity broken up1 are not at a loss to account for the treatment of the ,messiah4 ,it was not possible that darkness should have fellowship with light1 or ,christ with ,belial4 ,fallen man could not walk with ,jesus1 for the two were not agreed4 ,it was but the necessary result of the contact of two such opposites that the guilty creature should hate the ,perfect ,one4 ,crucify ,him1 crucify ,him1 is the natural cry of fallen man4 ,our first wonder is displaced1 and another wonder fills the sphere of thought4 ,did we marvel that all men do not love8--it is a greater marvel still that any man does love ,jesus4 ,in the first case we saw the terrible blindness which failed to discover the brightness of the sun--with a shudder we saw it1 and were greatly amazed2 but in this second instance we behold ,jesus of ,nazareth opening the fast-closed eye1 and scattering the ,egyptian darkness with the ,divine radiance of ,his marvellous light4 ,is this less a wonder8 ,if it was a strange thing to witness the fearful ravings of the demoniac among the tombs1 it is surely far more a prodigy to see that same man sitting at the feet of ,jesus clothed and in his right mind4 ,it is indeed a triumph of grace when man's heart is brought to give its affection to ,jesus1 for it proves that the work of ,satan is all undone1 and that man is restored from his fallen state4 ,religion a ,personal ,matter4 ,some men say that they will test the holiness of ,christ's religion by the holiness of ,christ's people4 ,you have no right1 ,i reply1 to put the question to any such test as that4 ,the proper test that you ought to use is to try it yourselves--to taste and see that the ,lord is good4 ,by tasting and seeing you will prove ,his goodness1 and by the same process you must prove the holiness of ,his ,gospel4 ,your business is to seek ,christ crucified for yourselves1 not to take the representation of another man concerning the power of grace to subdue corruption and to sanctify the heart4 ,inasmuch as ,god has given you a ,bible1 ,he intended you to read it1 and not to be content with reading men4 ,you are not to be content with feelings that rise through the conversation of others2 your only power to know true religion is1 by having ,his ,holy ,spirit operating upon your own heart1 that you may yourself experience what is the power of religion4 ,you have no right to judge religion from anything extra or external from itself4 ,and if you despise it before you have tried it yourself1 you must stand confessed in this world as a fool1 and in the next world as a criminal4 ,and yet this is so with most men4 ,if you hear a man rail at the ,bible1 you may usually conclude that he never reads it4 ,and you may be quite certain if you hear a man speak against religion1 that he never knew what religion was4 ,true religion1 when once it takes possession of the heart1 never allows a man to quarrel with it4 ,that man will call ,christ his best friend who knows ,christ at all4 ,we have found many who have despised the enjoyments of this world1 but we never found one who turned from religion with disgust or with satiety1 after having once enjoyed it4 ,no6 no6 you chose your own delusions1 and you chose them at your own risk2 you foster them at your own peril4 ,for if you take your religion from other people1 and are led by the example of professors to discard religion1 you are nevertheless guilty of your own blood4 ,god has not left you to the uncertain chart of men's characters3 ,he has given you ,his own ,word2 the more sure word of testimony1 whereunto you do well that ye take heed4 ,strength ,through ,weakness4 ,the way to grow strong in ,christ is to become weak in yourself4 ,god poureth no power into man's heart till man's power is all poured out4 ,the ,christian's life is one of daily dependence on the grace and strength of ,god4 ,begin ,well4 ,i have known men run the race of religion with all their might1 and yet they have lost it because they did not start right4 ,you say1 ,well1 how is that8 ,why1 there are some people who on a sudden leap into religion4 ,they get it quickly1 and they keep it for a time1 and at last they lose it because they did not get their religion the right way4 ,they have heard that before a man can be saved1 it is necessary that1 by the teaching of the ,holy ,spirit1 he should feel the weight of sin1 that he should make a confession of it1 that he should renounce all hope in his own works1 and should look to ,jesus ,christ alone4 ,they look upon all these things as unpleasant preliminaries1 and1 therefore1 before they have attended to repentance1 before the ,holy ,spirit has wrought a good work in them1 before they have been brought to give up everything and trust to ,christ1 they make a profession of religion4 ,this is just setting up in business without a stock in trade1 and there must be a failure4 ,if a man has no capital to begin with1 he may make a fine show for a little time1 but it shall be as the crackling of thorns under a pot1--a great deal of noise and much light for a little while1 but it shall die out in darkness4 ,how many there are who never think it necessary that there should be heart work within6 ,let us remember1 however1 that there never was a man who had a changed heart without his first having a miserable heart4 ,we must pass through that black tunnel of conviction before we can come out upon the high embankment of holy joy2 we must first go through the ,slough of ,despond before we can run along the ,walls of ,salvation4 ,there must be ploughing before there is sowing2 there must be many a frost1 and many a sharp shower1 before there is any reaping4 ,but we often act like little children who pluck flowers from the shrubs1 and plant them in their gardens without roots2 then they say how fair and how pretty their little garden is2 but wait a while1 and all their flowers are withered1 because they have no roots4 ,this is all the effect of not having a right start1 not having the root of the matter4 ,what is the good of outward religion1 the flower and the leaf of it1 unless we have the root of the matter in us--unless we have been ploughed with the plough of the ,spirit1 and then have been sown with the sacred seed of the ,gospel1 in the hope of bringing forth an abundant harvest8 ,there must be a good start in running the ,christian race1 for there is no hope of winning unless the start be right4 ,the ,robe of ,righteousness4 ,our court-dress in heaven1 and our garment of sanctification for daily wear1 are the condescending gifts of ,christ's love4 ,cross-,bearers4 ,what an honorable position was that of ,simon the ,cyrenian1 to be cross-bearer to ,jesus ,christ6 ,we could almost weep that we were not there1 that we might have had the honor of carrying ,christ's cross for ,him4 ,but we need not weep1 for we shall have ,his cross to carry if we are ,his people4 ,there are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below4 ,there shall be none among the throng of the glorified who had not their cross on earth4 ,hast thou a cross1 believer8 ,shoulder it manfully6 ,up with it6 ,go along thy journey with unshrinking footsteps and a rejoicing heart1 knowing that since it is ,christ's cross it must be an honor to carry it2 and that while you are bearing it you are in blessed company1 for you are following ,him4 ,the ,happiness of ,religion4 ,let a man truly know the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and he will be a happy man2 and the deeper he drinks into the ,spirit of ,christ1 the happier will he become4 ,that religion which teaches misery to be a duty is false upon the very face of it1 for ,god1 when ,he made the world1 studied the happiness of ,his creatures4 ,you cannot help thinking1 as you see everything around you1 that ,god has sedulously1 with the most strict attention1 sought ways of pleasing man4 ,he has not merely given us absolute necessaries1 ,he has given us more2 not simply the useful1 but even the ornamental4 ,the flowers in the hedgerow1 the stars in the sky1 the beauties of nature1 the hill and the valley--all these things were intended not merely because we needed them1 but because ,god would show how ,he loved us1 and how anxious he was that we should be happy4 ,now1 it is not likely that the ,god who made a happy world would send a miserable salvation4 ,he who is a happy ,creator will be a happy ,redeemer2 and those who have tasted that the ,lord is gracious1 can bear witness that the ways of religion are ways of pleasantness1 and all her paths are peace4 ,and if this life were all1 if death were the burial of all our life1 and if the shroud were the winding-sheet of eternity1 still to be a ,christian would be a bright and happy thing1 for it lights up this valley of tears1 and fills the wells in the valley of ,baca to the brim with streams of love and joy4 ,unchangeable4 ,there is one place where change cannot put its finger2 there is one name on which mutability can never be written2 there is one heart which can never alter--that place is the ,most ,holy--that heart is ,god's--that name is ,love4 ,increase of ,faith4 ,the way in which most men get their faith increased is by great trouble4 ,we do not grow strong in faith in sunshiny days4 ,it is in stormy weather that faith grows stronger4 ,faith is not an attainment that droppeth like the gentle dew from heaven2 it generally comes in the whirlwind and the storm4 ,look at the old oaks2 how is it that they have become so deeply-rooted in the earth8 ,ask the ,march winds1 and they will tell you4 ,it was not the ,april shower that did it1 or the sweet ,may sunshine1 but the rough wind shaking the tree to and fro1 causing its roots to strike deeper and to take a firmer hold4 ,and so must it be with us4 ,we cannot make great soldiers in the barracks at home2 they must be made amidst flying shot and thundering cannon4 ,we cannot expect to make good sailors on the ,serpentine2 they must be trained far away on the deep sea1 where the wild winds howl1 and the thunders roll like drums in the march of the ,god of armies4 ,storms and tempests are the things that make men tough and hardy mariners4 ,they see the works of the ,lord1 and ,his wonders in the deep4 ,it is thus with ,christians4 ,great-faith must have great trials4 ,mr4 ,great-heart would never have been ,mr4 ,great-heart if he had not once been ,mr4 ,great-trouble4 ,valiant-for-truth would never have put to flight those foes1 and have been so valiant1 if the foes had not first attacked him4 ,we must expect great troubles before we shall attain to much faith4 ,communion with ,christ4 ,one hour with ,christ is worth an eternity of all earth's joys2 and communion with ,him is the best1 the surest1 and the most ecstatic foretaste of the bliss of heaven4 ,the ,soul ,satisfied in ,christ4 ,he who delights in the possession of the ,lord ,jesus hath all that heart can wish4 ,as for created things1 they are like shallow and deceitful brooks2 they fail to supply our wants1 much less our wishes4 ,the bed of earthly enjoyment is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it1 and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it2 but in ,jesus there is room for imagination's utmost stretch and widest range4 ,when ,jesus is enjoyed1 ,he puts a fulness into all other mercies2 ,his house is full when ,he is there2 ,his throne of grace is full when ,he sits on it2 and ,his guest-chamber is full when ,he is master of the feast4 ,the creature without ,christ is an empty thing1 a lamp without oil1 a bone without marrow2 but when ,christ is present our cup runneth over1 and we eat bread to the full4 ,a dinner of herbs1 when we have communion with ,him1 is as rich a feast as a stalled ox2 and our narrow cot is as noble a mansion as the great house of the wealthy4 ,go not abroad1 ye hungry wishes of my soul--stay ye at home1 and feast on ,jesus2 for abroad ye must starve1 since all other beloveds are empty and undesirable4 ,stay with ,christ1 and eat ye that which is good1 and delight yourself in fatness4 ,the ,lord's ,jewels4 ,goldsmiths make exquisite forms from precious material3 they fashion the bracelet and the ring from gold4 ,god maketh ,his precious things out of base material2 and from the black pebbles of the defiling brooks ,he hath taken up stones1 which ,he hath set in the golden ring of ,his immutable love1 to make them gems to sparkle on ,his finger forever4 ,memorials of ,jesus4 ,the love of the ,church extends beyond the person of the ,bridegroom1 and reaches to everything connected with ,him4 ,all thy garments smell of myrrh1 and aloes1 and cassia1 out of the ivory palaces1 whereby they have made thee glad4 ,his very vestments are precious in her esteem4 ,she rejoices to sing of ,him in ,his priestly garments4 ,the mitred crown1 the embroidered vest1 ,with graceful dignity ,he wears2 ,and in full splendor on ,his breast ,the sacred oracle appears4 ,arrayed in ,his royal robes1 ,he is not less glorious in her eyes3 she loves to see ,his crown1 and own her ,king4 ,there is not a word which ,his lip hath uttered1 nor a place whereon ,his foot hath trodden1 nor a vessel which ,his hands have handled1 which is not wholly consecrated in her esteem4 ,we are no worshippers of the ragged relics so fondly hoarded by ,rome2 but we have other and far better memorials--holy things that are of inestimable worth4 ,his written ,word1 over which1 we even now see that loving hand moving as it did when1 many a year ago1 it wrote each character2 the echo of his departed voice not yet buried in silence2 his wine-cup not yet empty2 his blood still flowing1 and his benediction still breathing peace upon us3 all these still remain1 and are valued above all price4 ,we esteem ,his ordinances1 and we triumph in ,his teaching1 however the world-wise may contemn it4 ,his service is our delight2 to stand at ,his gates is honor1 and to run before ,his chariot is bliss4 ,as for ,his people1 we greet them as saints1 we call them our brethren1 and they are most near and dear to us for ,his sake4 ,the meanest beggar in ,his ,church is of more account to us than the proudest monarch out of it4 ,because he belongs to ,christ1 is always a sufficient reason for the outflow of our affection2 for all that is ,his is dear to us4 ,freely ,give4 ,o ,christian1 whenever thou art inclined to an avaricious withholding from the ,church of ,god1 think of thy ,saviour giving up all that ,he had to serve thee6 ,and canst thou then--when thou beholdest self-denial so noble--canst thou then be selfish1 and regard thy dainties of more account than their necessities1 when the claims of the poor of the flock are pressed upon thee8 ,remember ,jesus2 think thou seest ,him looking upon thee1 and saying1 ,i gave ,myself for thee1 and dost thou withhold thyself from me8 ,for if thou dost1 thou knowest not my love in all its heights1 and depths1 and lengths1 and breadths4 ,religion--a ,present ,enjoyment4 ,religion has its present enjoyments4 ,speak1 ye that know them1 for ye can tell2 yet ye cannot recount them all4 ,o1 would ye give up your religion for all the joys that earth calls good or great8 ,say1 if your immortal life could be extinguished1 would you give it up1 even for all the kingdoms of this world8 ,o1 ye sons of poverty1 has not this been a candle to you in the darkness8 ,has not this lightened you through the heavy shades of your tribulation8 ,o1 ye sons of toil1 has not this been your rest1 your sweet repose8 ,have not the testimonies of ,god been your song in the house of your pilgrimage8 ,o1 ye children of sorrow1 racked with pain1 has not religion been to you a sweet quietus in your sufferings8 ,is not religion worth having in the sick chamber8 ,and ye men of business1 speak for yourselves4 ,you have hard struggles to pass through life4 ,sometimes you have been driven to a great extremity1 and whether you would succeed or not seemed to hang upon a thread4 ,has not your religion been a joy to you in your difficulties8 ,has it not calmed your minds8 ,when you have been fretted and troubled about worldly things1 have you not found it pleasant to enter your closet1 and shut to the door1 and tell your ,father in secret all your cares8 ,and1 ,o1 ye that are rich1 cannot you bear the same testimony1 if you have loved the ,master8 ,what had all your riches been to you without a ,saviour8 ,can you not say that your religion did gild your gold1 and make your silver shine more brightly8 ,for all things that you have are sweetened by this thought1 that you have all these and ,christ too4 ,was there ever a child of ,god who could deny this8 ,we have heard of many infidels who grieved over their infidelity when they came to die3 did you ever hear of any one on his death-bed looking back on a life of holiness with sorrow8 ,never1 never did we know a ,christian who repented of his ,christianity4 ,we have seen ,christians so suffering1 that we wondered that they lived2 so poor1 that we wondered at their misery2 we have seen them so full of doubts1 that we pitied their unbelief2 but we never heard them say1 even then1 ,i regret that ,i gave myself to ,christ4 ,no2 with the dying clasp1 when heart and flesh were failing1 we have seen them hug this treasure to their breast1 and press it to their heart1 still feeling that this was their life1 their joy1 their all4 ,o6 if ye would be happy1 if ye would be saved1 if ye would strew your path with sunshine1 and dig out the nettles and blunt the thorns1 ,seek first the kingdom of ,god1 and ,his righteousness2 and all these things shall be added unto you4 ,seek not happiness first2 seek ,christ first2 and happiness shall come after4 ,seek ye first the ,lord1 and then ,he will provide for you in this life1 and ,he will crown it with everything that is glorious in the life to come4 ,our ,lord ,jesus4 ,whatever blissful consequences flow from the perfect obedience1 the finished atonement1 the resurrection1 ascension1 or intercession of the ,lord ,jesus1 all are ours by ,his own gift4 ,upon ,his breastplate ,he is now wearing our names2 and in ,his authoritative pleadings at the throne ,he remembers us and pleads our cause4 ,the advantages of ,his high position1 ,his dominion over principalities and powers1 and ,his absolute majesty in heaven1 ,he employs for the benefit of them that trust in ,him4 ,his high estate is as much at our service as was ,his condition of abasement4 ,he who gave ,himself for us in the depths of woe and death1 doth not withdraw the grant now that ,he is enthroned in the highest heavens4 ,christ hath no dignity which ,he will not employ for our exaltation1 and no prerogative which ,he will not exercise for our defence4 ,christ everywhere and in every way is our portion1 forever and ever most richly to enjoy4 ,providence4 ,the boundless stores of ,providence are engaged for the support of the believer4 ,christ is our ,joseph1 who has granaries full of wheat2 but ,he does not treat us as ,joseph did the ,egyptians1 for ,he opens the door of his storehouse1 and bids us call all the good thereof our own4 ,he has entailed upon ,his estate of ,providence a perpetual charge of a daily portion for us2 and ,he has promised that one day we shall clearly perceive that the estate itself has been well-farmed on our behalf1 and has been always ours4 ,the axle of the wheels of the chariot of ,providence is ,infinite ,love1 and ,gracious ,wisdom is the perpetual charioteer4 ,the ,intercession of ,christ4 ,the ,lord ,jesus has led captivity captive1 and now sits at the right hand of ,god1 forever making intercession for us4 ,can your faith picture ,him8 ,like a ,levitical high priest of old ,he stands with outstretched arms3 there is majesty in ,his mien1 and with authority ,he pleads4 ,on ,his head is the bright shining mitre of ,his priesthood1 and on ,his breast are glittering the precious stones whereon the names of ,his people are everlastingly engraven4 ,hear ,him as he pleads--hear you not what it is8 ,is that your prayer which ,he is mentioning before the throne8 ,the prayer that this morning you offered1 ,christ is now offering before ,his ,father's throne4 ,the vow which just now you uttered1 ,he is now uttering there4 ,he is the ,altar and ,priest1 and with ,his own sacrifice ,he perfumes our prayers4 ,and yet1 mayhap1 you have been praying long1 and had no answer4 ,poor1 weeping suppliant6 thou hast sought the ,lord and ,he hath not seemed to hear thee1 or at least not answered thee to thy soul's delight1 and thou art full of darkness and heaviness on account of this4 ,look to ,him1 and be lightened4 ,if thou dost not succeed1 ,he will2 if thy intercession be unnoticed1 ,his cannot be passed away2 if thy prayers can be like water spilt on the ground1 which cannot be gathered up1 yet ,his prayers are not like that2 ,he is ,god's ,son--,he pleads and must prevail4 ,god cannot refuse ,his own ,son what ,he now asks--,he who once bought mercies with ,his blood4 ,o1 be of good cheer1 continue still thy supplication1 for ,jesus ever liveth to make intercession for thee4 ,holiness4 ,holiness is the architectural plan upon which ,god buildeth up ,his living temple4 ,the ,new ,heart4 ,god does not promise that ,he will improve our nature1 or that ,he will mend our broken hearts4 ,no2 the promise is1 that ,he will give us new hearts and right spirits4 ,human nature is too far gone ever to be mended4 ,it is not a house which is a little out of repair1 with here and there a slate blown from the roof1 and here and there a piece of plaster broken down from the ceiling4 ,no2 it is rotten throughout2 the very foundations have been sapped2 there is not a single timber in it which is sound2 it is all rottenness from its uppermost roof to its lowest foundation1 and ready to fall4 ,god doth not attempt to mend2 ,he does not shore up the walls1 and re-paint the door2 ,he does not garnish and beautify1 but ,he determines that the old house shall be entirely swept away1 and that ,he will build a new one4 ,it is too far gone to be mended4 ,if it were only a little out of repair1 it might be restored4 ,if only a wheel or two of that great thing called ,manhood were out of repair1 then ,he who made man might put the whole to rights2 ,he might put a new cog where it had been broken off1 and another wheel where it had gone to ruin1 and the machine might work anew4 ,but no2 the whole of it is out of repair2 there is not one lever which is not broken2 not one axle which is not disturbed4 ,the whole head is sick1 and the whole heart is faint4 ,from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head1 it is wounds1 and bruises1 and putrefying sores4 ,the ,lord1 therefore1 does not attempt the repairing of this thing1 but ,he says1 ,a new heart also will ,i give you1 and a new spirit will ,i put within you4 ,the ,christian's ,daily ,cross4 ,believer1 ,christ ,jesus presents thee with thy crosses1 and they are no mean gifts4 ,joy ,over the ,repenting4 ,the angels know what the joys of heaven are1 and therefore they rejoice over one sinner that repenteth4 ,we talk about pearly gates1 and golden streets1 and white robes1 and harps of gold1 and crowns of amaranth2 but if an angel could speak to us of heaven1 he would smile and say1 ,all these fine things are but child's talk1 and ye are little children1 and ye cannot understand the greatness of eternal bliss2 and therefore ,god has given you a child's horn-book1 and an alphabet1 in which you may learn the first rough letters of what heaven is1 but what it is thou dost not know4 ,o mortal1 thine eye hath never yet beheld its splendors2 thine ear hath never yet been ravished with its melodies2 thy heart has never been transported with its peerless joys4 ,yes1 we may talk1 and think1 and guess1 and dream1 but we can never measure the infinite heaven which ,god has provided for ,his children4 ,but the angels know its glory2 hence a reason that they rejoice over the repenting sinner who has thus become heir to such an inheritance4 ,god's ,tender ,care4 ,how careful ,god is of ,his people2 how anxious ,he is concerning them1 not only for their life1 but for their comfort4 ,does ,he say1 ,strengthen ye1 strengthen ye my people8 ,does ,he say to the angel1 ,protect my people8 ,does ,he not say to the heavens1 ,drop down manna to feed my people8 all that1 and more also4 ,his tender regard secures to them4 ,but to show us that ,he is not only regardful of our interests1 but also of our superfluities1 ,he says1 ,comfort ye1 comfort ye my people4 ,he would have us not only ,his living people1 and ,his preserved people1 but ,he would have us ,his happy people too4 ,he likes ,his people to be fed2 but what is more1 ,he likes to give them ,wines on the lees well refined1 to make glad their hearts4 ,he will not only give them bread1 but ,he will give them honey too2 ,he will not simply give them milk1 but ,he will give them wine and milk4 ,comfort ye1 comfort ye my people3 it is the ,father's yearning heart1 careful even for the little things of ,his people4 ,comfort ye that one with a tearful eye2 ,comfort ye yon child of mine with an aching heart2 ,comfort ye that poor bemoaning one2 ,comfort ye1 comfort ye my people1 saith your ,god4 ,the ,christian's ,crown4 ,have ,christians a crown8 ,o1 yes2 but they do not wear it every day4 ,they have a crown1 but their coronation-day is not yet arrived2 they have been anointed monarchs2 they have some of the authority and dignity of monarchs1 only they are not crowned monarchs yet4 ,but the crown is made4 ,god will not have to order heaven's goldsmiths to fashion it in after-time3 it is made already1 hanging up in glory4 ,god hath laid up for me a crown of righteousness4 ,obedience to ,god's ,will4 ,to the ,christian there is no argument so potent as ,god's will4 ,god's will is the believer's law4 ,he doth not ask what shall it profit him--what shall be the good effect of it upon others1 but he simply says1 ,doth my ,father command it8 ,and his prayer is1 ,o ,holy ,spirit1 help me to obey1 not because ,i see how it shall be good for me1 but simply because thou commandest4 ,it is the ,christian's privilege to do ,god's commandments1 ,hearkening to the voice of ,his ,word4 ,the ,gospel4 ,there is everything in the gospel that you want4 ,do you want something to bear you up in trouble8 ,it is in the gospel3 ,as thy days1 so shall thy strength be4 ,do you need something to nerve you for duty8 ,there is grace all-sufficient for everything which ,god calls you to undergo or to accomplish4 ,do you need something to light up the eye of your hope8 ,o6 there are joy-flashes in the gospel which make your eye flash back again the immortal fires of bliss4 ,do you want something to make you stand steadfast in the midst of temptation8 ,in the gospel there is that which can make you immovable1 always abounding in the work of the ,lord4 ,there is no passion1 no affection1 no thought1 no wish1 no power which the gospel has not filled to the very brim4 ,the gospel was evidently meant for manhood3 it is adapted to it in its every part4 ,there is knowledge for the head2 there is love for the heart2 there is guidance for the foot4 ,believing ,prayer4 ,prayers are heard in heaven very much in proportion to our faith4 ,little faith will get very great mercies1 but great faith still greater4 ,it was the custom in old times1 for all the poor in the parish to call at every house with bowls for provisions2 and whatever size the bowl was1 every generous person would fill it4 ,faith is our bowl3 if we have got only little faith1 we shall get that filled2 but if we have got great faith1 we shall have that filled also4 ,little faith getteth much2 but great faith is a noble and princely merchant1 and doth a great trade--it obtaineth millions where little faith only gaineth hundreds4 ,great faith getteth hold of ,god's treasure4 ,warfare for ,sin4 ,o ,christian1 never take hold of sin1 except with a gauntlet on thy hand2 never go to it with the kid-glove of friendship2 never talk delicately of it2 but always hate it in every shape4 ,if it comes to thee as a little fox1 take heed of it1 for it will spoil the grapes4 ,whether it bounds towards thee as a roaring lion1 seeking whom it may devour1 or makes advances in an attractive form1 with graceful mien1 seeking by a pretended affection to entice thee into sin--beware2 for its hug is death1 and its clasp destruction4 ,sin of every kind thou art to war with--of lip1 of hand1 of heart4 ,however gilded with profit2 however varnished with the seemliness of morality2 however complimented by the great1 or however popular with the multitude1 thou art to hate sin everywhere1 in all its disguises1 at every time1 and in every place4 ,not one sin is to be spared1 but against the whole is to be proclaimed an utter and entire war of extermination4 ,how to ,read the ,bible4 ,you may read the ,bible continuously1 and yet never learn anything by it1 unless it is illuminated by the ,spirit2 and then the words shine forth like stars4 ,the book seems made of gold leaf2 every single letter glitters like a diamond4 ,o6 it is a blessed thing to read an illuminated ,bible lit up by the radiance of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,hast thou read the ,bible1 and yet have thine eyes been unenlightened8 ,go and say1 ,o ,lord1 illuminate it2 shine upon it2 for ,i cannot read it to profit1 unless ,thou enlightenest me4 ,blind men may read the ,bible with their fingers1 but blind souls cannot4 ,we want a light to read the ,bible by2 there is no reading it in the dark4 ,a ,view of ,christ4 ,a view of ,christ is always beneficial to a ,christian--too much of ,christ we cannot have--there can be no tautology where ,his name is mentioned4 ,give us ,christ always1 ,christ ever4 ,the monotony of ,christ is sweet variety2 and even the unity of ,christ hath in it all the elements of harmony4 ,christ on ,his cross and on ,his throne1 in the manger and in the tomb--,christ everywhere is sweet to us4 ,we love ,his name1 we adore ,his person1 we delight to hear of ,his works--the theme is ever new4 ,there are some who complain that their love to the ,saviour is faint and cold4 ,but this would not be if they were more with ,jesus4 ,the closer you live to ,christ1 and the more you know ,him1 the better you will love ,him4 ,do not try to produce in yourself a certain degree of love to ,christ by some extraordinary means2 but go into ,his presence1 meditate upon ,him continually1 picture to yourself ,his sufferings for you1 and then you will love ,him--it will become easy to you1 for ,he will draw your poor heart closer to himself1 as you thus think about ,him2 and your love to ,him will grow just in proportion as you realize ,his love to you4 ,the ,author and ,finisher of ,faith4 ,o ,lord6 of what small account are the best of men apart from ,thee6 ,how high they rise when ,thou liftest them up6 ,how low they fall if ,thou withdraw ,thy hand6 ,it is our joy1 amidst distress1 when ,thou enablest us to say1 ,though ,he slay me1 yet will ,i trust in ,him2 but if ,thou take away ,thy ,spirit1 we cannot even trust ,thee in the brightest day4 ,when storms gather round us we can smile at them1 if ,thou be with us2 but in the fairest morn which ever shone on human heart1 we doubt and we miscarry if ,thou be not with us still1 to preserve and strengthen the faith which ,thou hast ,thyself bestowed4 ,the ,glad ,command4 ,delight thyself in the ,lord4 ,this law of one command is no stony law to be written upon tablets of granite1 but it contains a precept1 for sparkling brightness worthy to be written on amethysts and pearls4 ,delight thyself in the ,lord4 ,when delight becomes a duty1 duty must certainly be a delight4 ,when it becomes my duty to be happy1 and ,i have an express command to be glad1 ,i must indeed be foolish if ,i refuse my own joys1 and turn aside from my own bliss4 ,o1 what a ,god we have1 who has made it our duty to be happy6 ,what a gracious ,god1 who accounts no obedience to be so worthy of his acceptance as a gladsome obedience rendered by a joyous heart4 ,delight thyself in the ,lord4 ,untiring ,delight4 ,who ever called the sea monotonous8 ,even to the mariner1 travelling over it as he does1 sometimes by the year together1 there is always a freshness in the undulation of the waves1 the whiteness of the foam of the breaker1 the curl of the crested billow1 and the frolicsome pursuit of every wave by its long train of brothers4 ,which of us has ever complained that the sun gave us but little variety8 ,what though at morn he yoke the same steeds1 and flash from his car the same golden glory1 climb with dull uniformity the summit of the skies1 then drive his chariot downward1 and bid his flaming coursers steep their burning fetlocks in the western deep8 ,or who among us would complain loathingly of the bread which we eat1 that it palls upon the sense of taste8 ,we eat it to-day1 to-morrow1 the next day2 we have eaten it for years which are passed2 still the one unvarying food is served upon the table1 and bread remains the staff of life4 ,translate these earthly experiences into heavenly mysteries4 ,if ,christ is your food and your spiritual bread2 if ,christ is your sun1 your heavenly light2 if ,christ is the sea of love in which your passions swim1 and all your joys are found1 it is not possible that you as ,christian men1 should complain of monotony in ,him4 ,he is the same yesterday1 to-day1 and forever2 and yet ,he has the dew of ,his youth4 ,he is like the manna in the golden pot1 which was always the same2 but he is also like the manna which came down from heaven1 every morning new4 ,he is as the rod of ,moses1 which was dry1 and changed not its shape2 but he is also to us as the rod of ,aaron1 which buds1 and blossoms1 and brings forth almonds4 ,divine ,teaching4 ,in the depth of troubles we learn the sufficiency of grace4 ,well may they glory in tribulations also1 who have learnt in them the most profitable lessons of grace--proved in them how ample is the provision of grace1 and realized in them the certainty of the triumph of grace4 ,i know not whether all soldiers love the thought of war--some do2 there are many who pant for a campaign4 ,how often an officer of low rank has repeated the murmur1 ,there is no promotion2 no hope of rising2 no honors2 no prize-money1 as if we had to fight4 ,could we rush to the cannon's mouth1 there would be some prospect before us of gaining promotion in the ranks4 ,men get few medals to hang upon their breasts who never know the smell of gunpowder4 ,the brave days1 as men call them1 of ,nelson and ,trafalgar have gone by2 and we thank ,god for it4 ,still we do not expect to see such brave old veterans1 the offspring of this age1 as those who are still to be found lingering in our hospitals1 the relics of our old campaigns4 ,no1 brethren1 we must have trials if we are to get on4 ,young men do not become midshipmen altogether through going to the school at ,greenwich1 and climbing the mast on dry land2 they must go out to sea4 ,we must do business in great waters2 we must be really on the deck in a storm1 if we would see the works of the ,lord and his wonders in the deep4 ,we must have stood side by side with ,king ,david2 we must have gone down into the pit to slay the lion1 or have lifted up the spear against the eight hundred1 if we would know the saving strength of ,god's right hand4 ,conflicts bring experience1 and experience brings that growth in grace which is not to be attained by any other means4 ,seeking ,christ4 ,consider1 ,o waiting soul1 that the mercy is worth tarrying for4 ,is it not salvation--thy soul's deliverance from hell8 ,a long tarrying at the gate of mercy will be well repaid1 if the ,king1 at last1 will give thee this jewel of exceeding price4 ,bethink thee1 also1 how utterly unworthy thou art of the mercy2 therefore be not loath to humble thyself1 or patiently to abide the sovereign will of ,jehovah4 ,proud men must be noticed at once1 or they will depart2 but thou hast nothing to boast of1 and shouldst feel that if ,he disregarded thee for a long season1 thine unworthiness could demand no apology for his delay4 ,moreover1 remember that ,he will hear at last4 ,his promise would be violated1 if one praying soul could perish2 for ,he has said1 ,seek1 and ye shall find--,whosoever calleth on the name of the ,lord shall be saved4 ,the delay may be for thy good1 to lay thee lower in the dust of self-abasement1 or to make thee more earnest for the blessing4 ,possibly the ,lord intends to try thy faith1 that1 like the woman of ,syrophenicia1 thou mayst reflect honor on ,him by thy confidence in ,him4 ,pray on1 for the ,lord is good unto them that wait for ,him1 to the soul that seeketh ,him4 ,christ in ,you4 ,what is it to have ,christ in you8 ,the ,romanist hangs the cross on his bosom2 the true ,christian carries the cross in his heart2 and a cross inside the heart is one of the sweetest cures for a cross on the back4 ,if you have a cross in your heart--,christ crucified in you1 the hope of glory--the cross of this world's troubles will seem to you light enough1 and you will easily be able to sustain it4 ,christ in the heart1 means ,christ believed in1 ,christ beloved1 ,christ trusted1 ,christ espoused1 ,christ communed with1 ,christ as our daily food1 and ourselves as the temple and palace wherein ,jesus ,christ daily walks4 ,ah6 there are many who are total strangers to the meaning of this phrase4 ,they do not know what it is to have ,jesus ,christ in them4 ,though they know a little about ,christ on ,calvary1 they know nothing about ,christ in the heart4 ,now1 remember1 that ,christ on ,calvary will save no man1 unless ,christ be in the heart4 ,the ,son of ,mary1 born in the manger1 will not save you1 unless ,he be also born in your heart1 and live there--your joy1 your strength1 and your consolation4 ,consolation4 ,consolation is the dropping of a gentle dew from heaven on desert hearts beneath2 it is one of the choicest gifts of divine mercy4 ,self-,examination4 ,if so be ye have tasted that the ,lord is gracious4 ,if--then there is a possibility that some may not have tasted that the ,lord is gracious1 and it is needful to inquire whether we are amongst the number who know the grace of ,god by heart-experience4 ,there is no spiritual revelation which may not be a matter of heart-searching4 ,at the very summit of holy delight we meet the challenge of sentinel ,if--,if ye then be risen with ,christ2 and at the very bottom of the hill1 even at ,repentance-gate itself1 ,he meets us with a warrant of arrest1 until ,he sees whether our sorrow is the godly sorrow which needeth not to be repented of4 ,if thou be the ,son of ,god1 is not always a temptation of the devil1 but often a very healthy inquiry1 most fittingly suggested by holy anxiety to men who would build securely upon the ,rock of ,ages4 ,at the ,lord's ,table itself it is proper for us to pray1 ,lord1 is it ,i8 when there is a ,judas in the company2 and after the most intimate fellowship1 ,christ exclaimed1 ,simon1 son of ,jonas1 lovest thou me8 ,let no enjoyment of ordinances1 let no high and rapt fellowship which we may have known1 exempt us from the great duty of proving ourselves whether we be in the faith4 ,examine yourselves then in this matter1 and rest not satisfied until you can say1 ,there is no 'if' about it2 ,i have tasted that the ,lord is gracious4 ,heaven an ,inheritance4 ,the inheritance of the saints4 ,so then1 heaven1 with all its glories1 is an inheritance4 ,now1 an inheritance is not a thing which is bought with money1 earned by labor1 or won by conquest4 ,if any man hath an inheritance1 in the proper sense of that term1 it came to him by birth4 ,and thus it is with heaven4 ,the man who shall receive this glorious heritage1 will not obtain it by the works of the law1 nor by the efforts of the flesh2 it will be given to him as a matter of most gracious right1 because he has been begotten again unto a lively hope1 by the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ from the dead2 and has thus become an heir of heaven by blood and birth4 ,they who come unto glory are sons2 for is it not written1 ,the ,captain of our salvation bringeth many sons unto glory8 ,they come not there as servants2 no servant has any right to the inheritance of his master4 ,be he never so faithful1 yet is he not his master's heir4 ,but because ye are sons--sons by the ,spirit's regeneration--sons by the ,father's adoption--because by supernatural energy ye have been born again1 ye become inheritors of eternal life1 and ye enter into the many mansions of our ,father's house above4 ,let us always understand1 then1 when we think of heaven1 that it is a place which is to be ours1 and a state which we are to enjoy as the result of birth--not as the result of work4 ,except a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god4 ,that kingdom being an inheritance1 until ye have the new birth ye can have no claim to enter it4 ,the ,sleep of ,death4 ,the sleep of death--what is this sleep8 ,we know that the surface idea connected with sleep is that of resting4 ,the eyes of the sleeper ache no more with the glare of light or with the rush of tears2 his ears are teased no more with the noise of strife or the murmur of suffering2 his hand is no more weakened by long protracted effort and painful weariness2 his feet are no more blistered with journeyings to and fro along a rugged road2 there is ease for aching heads1 and overtaxed nerves1 and heavy hearts1 in the sweet repose of sleep4 ,on yonder couch1 however hard1 the laborer shakes off his toil1 the merchant his care1 the thinker his difficulties1 and the sufferer his pains4 ,sleep makes each night a ,sabbath for the day4 ,sleep shuts to the door of the soul1 and bids all intruders tarry for a while4 ,so is it with the body while it sleeps in the tomb4 ,the weary are at rest3 the servant is as much at ease as his lord4 ,no more the worker leans on his spade1 no more the thinker props his pensive head4 ,the wheel stands still2 the shuttle is not in motion2 the hand which turned the one and the fingers which threw the other are quiet also4 ,the grave shuts out all disturbance1 labor1 or effort4 ,the toilworn believer quietly sleeps1 as does the child weary with its play1 when it shuts its eyes and slumbers on its mother's breast4 ,o6 happy they who die in the ,lord2 they rest from their labors1 and their works do follow them4 ,we would not shun toil1 for though it be in itself a curse1 it is1 when sanctified1 a blessing2 yet toil for toil's sake we would not choose3 and when ,god's work is done1 we are too glad to think that our work is done too4 ,the mighty ,husbandman1 when we have fulfilled our day1 shall bid ,his servants rest upon the best of beds1 for the clods of the valley shall be sweet to them4 ,their repose shall never be broken until ,he shall rouse them up to give them their full reward4 ,guarded by angel-watchers1 curtained by eternal mysteries1 resting on the lap of mother earth1 ye shall sleep on1 ye heritors of glory1 till the fulness of time shall bring you the fulness of redemption4 ,foretastes of ,heaven4 ,is it possible for us to know anything whatever of our heavenly home8 ,is there power in human intellect to fly into the land of the hereafter1 where ,god's people rest eternally8 ,our inquiry is met at the outset by what seems a positive denial3 ,eye hath not seen1 nor ear heard1 neither have entered into the heart of man1 the things which ,god hath prepared for them that love ,him4 ,if we paused here1 we might give up all idea of beholding from hence that goodly land and ,lebanon2 but we do not pause1 for1 like the apostle1 we go on with the text1 and we add1 ,but ,god hath revealed them unto us by ,his ,spirit4 ,it is possible to look within the veil2 ,god's ,spirit can turn it aside for a moment1 and bid us take a glimpse1 though it be a distant one1 at that unutterable glory4 ,there are ,pisgahs even now on the earth1 from the top of which the celestial ,canaan can be beheld2 there are hallowed hours in which the mists and clouds are swept away1 and the sun shineth in his strength1 and our eye1 being freed from its natural dimness1 beholds something of that land which is very far off1 and sees a little of the joy and blessedness which is reserved for the people of ,god hereafter4 ,by the ,holy ,spirit there is given to them1 even now1 in seasons of blissful communion1 such experiences1 joys1 and feelings1 as seem to bring heaven down to them1 and make them able to realize1 in some faint measure1 what heaven itself must be4 ,the ,work of the ,spirit4 ,let us ever remember that ,christ on the cross is of no value to us apart from the ,holy ,spirit in us4 ,in vain that blood is flowing1 unless the finger of the ,spirit applies the blood to our conscience2 in vain is that garment of righteousness wrought out1 unless the ,holy ,spirit wraps it around us1 and arrays us in its costly folds4 ,the river of the water of life cannot quench our thirst1 till the ,spirit presents the goblet and lifts it to our lips4 ,all the things which are in the paradise of ,god could never be blissful to us1 so long as we are dead souls--and dead we are1 until that heavenly wind comes and breathes upon us1 that we may live4 ,we do not hesitate to say1 that we owe as much to ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 as we do to ,god the ,son4 ,indeed1 it were a high sin and misdemeanor to attempt to put one person of the divine ,trinity before another4 ,thou1 ,o ,father1 art the source of all grace1 all love and mercy towards us4 ,thou1 ,o ,son1 art the channel of ,thy ,father's mercy1 and without ,thee ,thy ,father's love could never flow to us4 ,and ,thou1 ,o ,spirit1 art ,he who enables us to receive that divine virtue which flows from the fountain-head1 the ,father1 through ,christ the channel1 and which1 by ,thy means1 enters into our heart1 and there abides1 and brings forth its glorious fruit4 ,magnify1 then1 the ,spirit4 ,there never yet was a heavenly thought1 a hallowed deed1 or a consecrated act1 acceptable to ,god by ,jesus ,christ1 which was not worked in us by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,peace4 ,the believer enjoys1 in favored seasons1 such an intimacy with the ,lord ,jesus1 as fills his heart with an overflowing peace4 ,o6 there are sweet words which ,jesus whispers in the ears of ,his people1 and there are love-visits which ,he pays to them1 which a man would not believe1 even though it should be told unto him4 ,he who would comprehend it1 must experience in his own heart what it is to have fellowship with the ,father1 and with ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ4 ,there is such a thing as ,christ manifesting ,himself to us as ,he does not unto the world4 ,all doubting thoughts are banished then1 and we can say1 ,i am my ,beloved's1 and my ,beloved is mine4 ,this is the one all-absorbing feeling4 ,and what wonder is it that the believer has such deep peace1 when ,christ thus dwells in the heart1 and reigns there without a rival8 ,it were a miracle of miracles1 if we did not have peace4 ,but how is it that our peace is not more continuous8 ,the only explanation of our frequent loss of peace is1 that our communion is broken1 and our fellowship is marred2 else would our peace be like a river1 and our righteousness like the waves of the sea4 ,live near the cross1 and your peace shall be continual4 ,earth's ,seasons4 ,the things which are seen are types of the things which are not seen4 ,the works of creation are pictures to the children of ,god of the secret mysteries of grace4 ,god's truths are the apples of gold1 and the visible creatures are the baskets of silver4 ,the very seasons of the year find their parallel in the little world of man within4 ,we have our winter--dreary1 howling winter--when the north wind of the law rusheth forth against us2 when every hope is nipped2 when all the seeds of joy lie buried beneath the dark clods of despair2 when our soul is fast fettered like a river bound with ice1 without waves of joy1 or flowings of thanksgiving4 ,thanks be unto ,god1 the soft south wind breathes upon our soul1 and at once the waters of desire are set free1 the spring of love cometh on1 flowers of hope appear in our hearts1 the trees of faith put forth their young shoots1 the time of the singing-birds cometh in our hearts1 and we have joy and peace in believing through the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,that happy springtide is followed in the believer by a rich summer1 when his graces1 like fragrant flowers1 are in full bloom1 loading the air with perfume2 and fruits of the ,spirit1 like citrons and pomegranates1 swell into their full proportion in the genial warmth of the ,sun of ,righteousness4 ,then cometh the believer's autumn1 when his fruits grow ripe1 and his fields are ready for the harvest2 the time has come when his ,lord shall gather together his pleasant fruits1 and store them in heaven2 the feast of ingathering is at hand--the time when the year shall begin anew1 an unchanging year1 like the years of the right hand of the ,most ,high4 ,love ,undeserved4 ,there is nothing which makes one love ,christ1 so much as a sense of ,his love balanced with a sense of our unworthiness of it4 ,it is sweet to think that ,christ loves us2 but1 ,o1 to remember that we are black as the tents of ,kedar1 and yet he loves us6 ,this is a thought which may well wean us from everything else beside4 ,the ,infallible ,commentary4 ,those who would best know ,god's ,word1 must study it in its own light4 ,a ,place of ,trust4 ,take care that thou puttest all thy dear ones into ,god's hand4 ,thou hast put thine own soul there1 put their souls and bodies likewise into ,his custody4 ,thou canst trust ,him for temporals for thyself1 trust thy jewels with ,him4 ,feel that they are not thine own1 but that they are ,god's loans to thee--loans which may be recalled at any moment--precious denizens of heaven1 not entailed upon thee1 but of which thou art only a tenant at will4 ,your possessions are never so safe as when you are willing to resign them1 and you are never so rich as when you put all you have into the hand of the ,lord4 ,you shall find it greatly mitigate the sorrow of bereavements1 if before bereavement you shall have learned to surrender every day all the things which are dearest to you1 into the keeping of your gracious ,god4 ,consider ,him4 ,o believer1 who art weary and disheartened because of the roughness of the way1 look at the ,master's footsteps1 and see how ,he suffered4 ,you are tried and troubled1 and you ask for consolation4 ,what better can be afforded you than what is presented to you in the fact that ,jesus ,christ is one with you in your nature--that ,he has suffered all that you are now suffering--that your pathway has been aforetime trodden by ,his sacred foot--that the cup of which you drink is a cup which ,he has drained to the very bottom--that the river through which you pass is one through which ,he swam1 and every wave and billow which rolls over your head did in old time roll over ,him4 ,come6 are you ashamed and unwilling to suffer what your ,master suffered8 ,shall the disciple be above his ,master1 and the servant above his ,lord8 ,shall he die upon a cross1 and will not you bear the cross8 ,must ,he be crowned with thorns1 and shall you be crowned with laurel8 ,is ,he to be pierced in hands and feet1 and are ,his followers to feel no pain8 ,o1 cast away the fond delusion4 ,look to ,him who endured the cross1 despising the shame1 and be ready to endure and to suffer even as ,he did4 ,you have ,his example to guide you1 and ,his sympathy to cheer you4 ,the ,joy of ,pardon4 ,o what a joyous thing it is to have a ray of heavenly sunlight in the soul1 and to hear the very voice of ,god as ,he walks in the garden of our souls in the cool of the day1 saying to us1 ,son1 thy sins which are many1 are all forgiven thee4 ,the whisper of that heavenly voice may raise our heart to bliss almost divine4 ,it confers a joy not to be equalled by all the pleasures1 the riches1 and the enjoyments of this world can afford4 ,to have the divine kiss of acceptance1 to be robed in the best robe1 to wear the ring on the hand and the shoes on the feet1 to hear the heavenly music and dancing with which returning prodigals are welcomed to their ,father's house--this1 indeed1 is bliss and blessedness worth worlds to realize4 ,inexhaustible ,promises4 ,god's promises are not exhausted when they are fulfilled1 for when once performed1 they stand just as good as they did before1 and we may wait a second accomplishment of them4 ,man's promises1 even at the best1 are like a cistern which holds but a temporary supply2 but ,god's promises are as a fountain1 never emptied1 ever overflowing1 so you may draw from them the whole measure of that which they apparently contain1 and they shall be still as full as ever4 ,the ,fulness of ,christ4 ,at our very best we are strangers to much of the incomparable sweetness of ,christ4 ,we shall never exhaust ,his goodness by our praise1 for ,he is ever so fresh1 and has so much of the dew of ,his youth1 that every day he has a new song to sing4 ,we shall find ,him a new ,christ every day of our lives1 and yet ,he is ever the same2 ,his surpassing excellence and unexhausted fulness thus constantly renew our love4 ,o ,jesus6 none can guess how great is the least of ,thine attributes1 or how rich the poorest of ,thy gifts4 ,true ,blessing4 ,christ1 when ,he blesses1 blesses not in word only1 but in deed4 ,the lips of truth cannot promise more than the hands of love will surely give4 ,faith and ,feeling4 ,we are saved by faith1 and not by feeling2 yet there is a relation between holy faith and hallowed feeling like that between the root and the flower4 ,faith is permanent as the root which is ever embedded in the soil2 feeling is casual1 and has its seasons--the bulb does not always shoot up the green stem1 far less is it always crowned with its many flowers4 ,faith is the tree1 the essential tree3 our feelings are like the appearance of that tree during the different seasons of the year4 ,sometimes our soul is full of bloom and blossom1 and the bees hum pleasantly1 and gather honey within our hearts4 ,it is then that our feelings bear witness to the life of our faith1 just as the buds of spring bear witness to the life of the tree4 ,anon1 our feelings gather still greater vigor1 and after we come to the summer of our delights1 again perhaps1 we begin to wither into the sear and yellow leaf of autumn2 nay1 sometimes the winter of our despondency and despair will strip away every leaf from the tree1 and our poor faith stands like a blasted stem without a sign of verdure4 ,and yet1 so long as the tree of faith is there1 we are saved4 ,whether faith blossom or not1 whether it bring forth joyous fruit in our experience or not1 so long as it be there in all its permanence1 we are saved4 ,yet should we have the gravest reason to distrust the life of our faith1 if it did not sometimes blossom with joy1 and often bring forth fruit unto holiness4 ,near ,home4 ,the best moment of a ,christian's life is his last one1 because it is the one which is nearest heaven2 and then it is that he begins to strike the key-note of the song which he shall sing to all eternity4 ,o6 what a song will that be6 ,beauty in ,christ4 ,there is a thing called beauty1 which wins upon the hearts of men4 ,mighty men1 not a few1 have bowed before it1 and paid it homage2 but if you want true beauty1 look into the face of ,jesus1 for there you have the concentration of all loveliness4 ,there is no beauty anywhere but in ,christ4 ,o sun1 thou art not fair1 when once compared with ,him4 ,o1 fair world1 and grand creation of a glorious ,god1 thou art but a dim and dusky blot compared with the splendors of ,his face4 ,when we shall see ,christ1 we shall be compelled to say that we never knew what loveliness was before4 ,when the clouds are swept away1 when the curtains which hide ,him from our view are drawn aside1 we shall find that not anything we have seen or heard of1 grand or graceful1 in the wide universe1 will bear a moment's comparison with ,him1 who was once seen as a root out of a dry ground1 but shall presently fill heaven and earth with lustre1 and gladden all hearts with ,his glory4 ,the ,savior's ,legacy4 ,peace ,i leave with you4 ,our ,savior here means peace with ,god1 and peace with our own conscience4 ,peace with ,god--for ,he hath reconciled us to himself by ,jesus ,christ1 and now there is peace on earth1 and good will towards men4 ,christ has put our sins away1 and therefore there is a virtual substantial peace established between ,god and our souls4 ,this1 however1 might exist without our clearly understanding and rejoicing in it4 ,christ has1 therefore1 given this further witness--peace in the conscience4 ,peace with ,god is the treaty3 peace with conscience is the publication of it4 ,peace with ,god is the fountain1 and peace with conscience is the crystal stream which issues from it4 ,there is a peace decreed in the court of divine justice in heaven2 and then there follows as a necessary consequence1 as soon as the news is known1 a peace in the minor court of human judgment1 wherein conscience sits upon the throne to judge us according to our works4 ,the legacy1 then1 of ,christ is a twofold peace2 a peace of friendship1 of agreement1 of love1 of everlasting union between the elect and ,god2 and a peace of sweet enjoyment1 of quiet rest to the understanding and the conscience4 ,when there are no winds above1 there will be no tempests below3 when heaven is serene1 earth is quiet4 ,conscience reflects the complacency of ,god4 ,therefore being justified by faith1 we have peace with ,god1 through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,needless ,poverty4 ,many a believer lives in the cottage of doubt when he might live in the mansion of faith4 ,the ,sin of ,unbelief4 ,to doubt the lovingkindness of ,god1 is thought by some to be a very small sin2 in fact1 some have even exalted the doubts and fears of ,god's people into fruits and graces1 and evidences of great advancement in experience4 ,but to doubt the kindness1 the faithfulness1 and the love of ,god1 is a very heinous offence4 ,that can be no light sin which makes ,god a liar2 and yet unbelief does in effect cast foul and slanderous suspicion upon the veracity of the ,holy ,one of ,israel4 ,that can be no small offence which charges the ,creator of heaven and earth with perjury2 and yet1 if ,i mistrust ,his oath1 and will not believe ,his promise1 sealed with the blood of ,his own ,son1 ,i count the oath of ,god to be unworthy of my trust2 and so ,i do1 in very deed1 accuse the ,king of ,heaven as false to ,his covenant and oath4 ,besides1 unbelief of ,god is the fountain of innumerable sins4 ,as the black cloud is the source of many rain-drops1 so dark unbelief is the parent of many crimes4 ,it is a sin which should be condemned by every believer1 should be struggled against1 should if possible be subdued1 and certainly should be the object of our deep repentance and abhorrence4 ,the ,one ,family4 ,the universe of ,god is one3 heaven and earth are not so separate as unbelief has dreamed4 ,as the ,lord hath but one family1 written in one register1 redeemed with one blood1 quickened by one ,spirit1 so this whole household abides in one habitation evermore4 ,we who are in the body abide in the lower room1 which is sometimes dark and cold1 but bears sufficient marks that it is a room in ,god's house2 for to the eye of our faith1 it is often lit up with heavenly lustre1 and we1 even we1 while we are yet here1 are by blessed earnests made partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light4 ,it is the same house1 ,i say1 but ours is the lower room1 while our glorified brethren are up there in the upper story1 where the sunlight streams in everlastingly1 where no chilling winds or poisonous breath can ever reach4 ,and1 to a great extent1 there is a likeness between the lower room and the upper room4 ,as on earth we prepare for heaven1 so the state of the saints on earth is heaven foreshadowed4 ,in many respects the condition of the child of ,god on earth is a type of his condition in heaven2 and what the character of the saints is above1 that should be the character of the saints below4 ,we may very safely take for our example those glorified spirits4 ,we need not be afraid that we shall be led astray by imitating them1 by learning their occupations1 or by attempting to share their joys4 ,surely the things in heaven are patterns of the things on earth1 and as they are before the throne so ought we to be4 ,nay2 so we shall be in proportion as we live up to our privileges1 and receive the likeness and image of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the ,spirit of ,praise4 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul3 and all that is within me1 bless ,his holy name4 ,wake up my memory1 and find matter for the song4 ,tell what ,god has done for me in days gone by4 ,fly back1 ye thoughts1 to my childhood1 sing of cradle-mercies4 ,review my youth and its early favors4 ,sing of long-suffering grace which followed my wanderings1 and bore with my rebellions4 ,review before my eyes that gladsome hour when first ,i knew the ,lord1 and tell over again the matchless story of ,his mercy4 ,awake up my judgment1 and give measure to the music4 ,come forth my understanding1 and weigh ,his lovingkindness in the balance4 ,see if thou canst count the small dust of ,his mercies4 ,see if thou canst estimate the unsearchable riches which ,god hath given thee in ,his unspeakable gift of ,christ ,jesus4 ,recount ,his eternal love to thee4 ,reckon up the treasures of that everlasting covenant which ,he made on thy behalf1 and which was ordered in all things and sure4 ,sing aloud of that divine wisdom which contrived1 of that love which planned1 and of that grace which carried out the scheme of thy redemption4 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul6 ,for doth not all nature around me praise ,him8 ,if ,i were silent ,i should be an exception to the universe4 ,doth not the thunder praise ,him as it rolls like drums in the march of the ,god of ,armies8 ,do not the mountains praise ,him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration8 ,does not the lightning write ,his name in letters of fire upon the midnight darkness8 ,hath not the whole earth a voice1 and shall ,i1 can ,i1 be silent8 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul4 ,love to ,christ4 ,have you a friend at court--at heaven's court8 ,is the ,lord ,jesus your friend8 ,can you say that you love ,him1 and has ,he ever revealed himself in the way of love to you8 ,oh6 to be able to say1 ,christ is my friend1 is one of the sweetest things in the world4 ,the love of ,christ casts not out the love of relatives1 but it sanctifies our creature love1 and makes it sweeter far4 ,earthly love is sweet1 but it must pass away2 and what will you do if you have no wealth but the wealth which fadeth1 and no love but the love which dies1 when death shall come8 ,oh1 to have the love of ,christ6 ,you can take that across the river of death with you2 you can wear it as your jewel in heaven1 and set it as a seal upon your hand2 for ,his love is strong as death1 and mightier than the grave4 ,the ,first ,lesson4 ,the doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance4 ,he cannot learn aright who has not first been taught that he knows nothing4 ,it is a good thing for a man to feel that he is only beginning to learn1 and to be willing to submit his heart to the teachings of ,god's ,spirit1 that he may be guided in everything by ,him4 ,the prayer of the quickened soul is1 ,teach thou me4 ,we become as little children when ,god begins to deal with us4 ,danger of ,prosperity4 ,high places1 and ,god's praise1 do seldom agree3 a full cup is not easily carried without spilling3 he that stands on a pinnacle needs a clear head and much grace4 ,idleness4 ,some temptations come to the industrious1 but all temptations attack the idle4 ,idle ,christians are not tempted of the devil so much as they do tempt the devil to tempt them4 ,idleness sets the door of the heart ajar1 and asks ,satan to come in2 but if we are occupied from morning till night1 should ,satan get in1 he must break through the door4 ,under sovereign grace1 and next to faith1 there is no better shield against temptation than obedience to the precept1 that ye be ,not slothful in business2 fervent in spirit2 serving the ,lord4 ,grace4 ,grace is always grace1 but it never seems so gracious as when we see it brought to our unworthy selves4 ,obtaining ,promises4 ,god sometimes gives ,his people fresh promises by faith1 just before a trial is about to come upon them4 ,it was so with ,elijah4 ,god said to him1 ,go to the brook ,cherith2 behold1 ,i have commanded the ravens to feed thee there4 ,this was at the beginning of the famine4 ,there he abode1 and ,god fulfilled the promise1 for by faith ,elijah had obtained it4 ,acting upon faith1 still dependent upon ,god1 he abides at ,cherith1 and as the result of this faith1 ,god gives him a fresh promise1 ,arise1 get thee to ,zarephath--,i have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee4 ,the faith which received the first promise1 obtained the honor of a second4 ,so with us4 ,if we have had a little promise1 and up till now have realized it2 if we have lived upon it and made it the stay and support of our souls1 surely ,god will give us another and a greater one4 ,and so1 from promise to promise speeding our way1 we shall find the promises to be rounds of the ladder which ,jacob saw1 the top whereof shall reach to heaven4 ,doubt and be distrustful about the promise which you have1 and you cannot expect ,god to increase ,his revelation to your soul4 ,be afraid and unbelieving about that promise which was laid to your heart yesterday1 and you shall not have a new one to-morrow4 ,but act in simple faith upon what ,god has already given you1 and you shall go from strength to strength1 receiving grace upon grace1 and promise upon promise4 ,the ,spirit of ,god shall whisper into your soul some promise which shall come home with as much power as though an angel from heaven had spoken it to you1 and you shall through faith obtain promises which before were beyond your reach4 ,sympathy4 ,sympathy is especially a ,christian's duty4 ,consider what the ,christian is1 and you will say that if every other man were selfish1 he should be disinterested2 if there were nowhere else a heart which had sympathy for the needy1 there should be one found in every ,christian breast4 ,the ,christian is a king3 it becometh not a king to be meanly caring for himself4 ,was ,alexander ever more royal than when1 while his troops were suffering from thirst1 he put aside a bowl full of the precious liquid1 which a soldier offered him1 and said it was not fitting for a king to drink while his subjects were thirsty2 he had rather share their sorrow with them8 ,o ye1 whom ,god has made kings and princes1 reign royally over your own selfishness1 and act with the honorable liberality which becomes the seed royal of the universe4 ,you are sent into the world to be saviours of others2 but how shall you be so if you care only for yourselves8 ,it is yours to be lights2 and doth not a light consume itself while it scatters its rays into the thick darkness8 ,is it not your office and privilege to have it said of you1 as of your ,master--,he saved others1 himself he cannot save8 ,endure ,hardness4 ,soldier of ,christ1 thou wilt have to do hard battle4 ,there is no bed of down for thee2 there is no riding to heaven in a chariot3 the rough way must be trodden2 mountains must be climbed2 rivers must be forded2 dragons must be fought2 giants must be slain2 difficulties must be overcome2 and great trials must be borne4 ,it is not a smooth road to heaven2 those who have gone but a very few paces therein1 have found it to be rough and rugged4 ,yet it is pleasant2 it is the most delightful journey in all the world2 not because it is easy in itself1 it is only pleasant because of the company2 because of the sweet promises on which we lean2 because of our ,beloved who walks with us through all the rough and thorny brakes of this vast wilderness4 ,christian soldiers1 expect conflict3 ,think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you1 as though some strange thing happened unto you4 ,as truly as thou art a child of ,god1 thy ,saviour hath left thee for ,his legacy--,in the world ye shall have tribulation4 ,yet remember that this tribulation is the way to enter the kingdom2 therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of ,jesus ,christ4 ,usefulness4 ,christ1 my ,master1 goes about doing good1 and if you would walk with ,him1 you must go about upon the same mission4 ,the ,church and the ,world4 ,christian men ought so to live that it were idle to speak of a comparison between them and the men of the world4 ,it should not be a comparison1 but a contrast4 ,no scale of degrees should be possible3 the believer should be a direct and manifest contradiction to the unregenerate4 ,the life of a saint should be altogether above and out of the same list as the life of a sinner4 ,we should compel our critics not to confess that moralists are good1 and ,christians a little better2 but while the world is darkness1 we should manifestly be light2 and while the world lieth in the ,wicked ,one1 we should most evidently be of ,god1 and overcome the temptations of that ,wicked ,one4 ,wide as the poles asunder1 are life and death1 light and darkness1 purity and sin4 ,there should be as much difference between the worldling and the ,christian1 as between hell and heaven1 between destruction and eternal life4 ,as we hope at last that there shall be a great gulf separating us from the doom of the impenitent1 there should be here a deep and wide gulf between us and the ungodly4 ,the purity of our character should be such1 that men must take knowledge of us that we are of another and superior race4 ,if we were what we profess to be1 there would be no difficulty in detecting the ,christian from the worldling4 ,but1 alas6 the ,church is so much adulterated1 that we have to abate our glorying1 and cannot exalt our character as we would4 ,o1 for the time when our conversation shall be in heaven1 and the ignoble life of the worldly man shall be rebuked by our ,christ-like character6 ,god grant us more and more to be clearly a chosen generation1 a royal priesthood1 a holy nation1 a peculiar people2 that we may show forth the praises of ,him who has called us out of darkness into his marvellous light4 ,the ,fight of ,faith4 ,like the ,spartans1 every ,christian is born a warrior4 ,it is his destiny to be assaulted2 it is his duty to attack4 ,part of his life will be occupied with defensive warfare4 ,he will have to defend earnestly the faith once delivered to the saints2 he will have to resist the devil2 he will have to stand against all his wiles2 and having done all1 still to stand4 ,he will1 however1 be but a sorry ,christian if he acteth only on the defensive2 he must be one who goes against his foes4 ,he must be able to say with ,david1 ,i come against thee in the name of the ,lord of hosts1 the ,god of the armies of ,israel whom thou hast defied4 ,he must wrestle not with flesh and blood1 but against principalities and powers4 ,he must have weapons for his warfare--not carnal--but mighty through ,god to the pulling down of strongholds4 ,he must not be content to live in the stronghold well-guarded1 but he must go forth to attack the castles of the enemy1 and to drive the ,canaanite out of the land4 ,but there are many ways in which the ,christian may1 to a great degree1 forget his martial character4 ,and1 alas6 there are not a few who1 if they be ,christians at all1 certainly know but very little of that daily warfare to which the ,captain of our salvation calleth ,his disciples4 ,they have a soft religion2 a religion which shuns opposition2 a reed-like religion1 which bows before every blast1 unlike that cedar of godliness which standeth aloft in the midst of the storm1 and claps its boughs in the hurricane for very joy of triumph1 though the earth be all in arms abroad4 ,such men lack the faith which shares the glory4 ,though saved1 yet their names shall not be found written among the mighty men who1 for our ,great ,commander's sake1 are willing to suffer the loss of all things1 and to go forth without the camp bearing ,his reproach4 ,o1 let us never be contented with such inglorious ease1 but earnestly and manfully fight the ,lord's battles4 ,is it a little thing for a follower of ,christ to be losing the immortal honor of serving the ,lord8 ,what will not men do to win fame8 and shall we1 when it lies at our doors1 turn idly aside and cast our glory to the ground8 ,let us be up and doing1 for it is no light thing to be losing the honor of a faithful servant of ,christ4 ,life's ,great ,object4 ,as ,christians1 we ought ever to be distinguished from the world in the great object of our life4 ,as for worldly men1 some of them are seeking wealth1 others of them fame2 some seek after comfort1 others after pleasure4 ,subordinately you may seek after any of these1 but your main and principal motive as a ,christian should always be to live for ,christ4 ,to live for glory8 ,yes1 but for ,his glory4 ,to live for comfort8 ,yes1 but be all your consolation in ,him4 ,to live for pleasure8 ,yes1 but when you are merry1 sing psalms1 and make melody in your hearts to the ,lord4 ,to live for wealth8 ,yes1 but to be rich in faith4 ,you may lay up treasure1 but lay it up in heaven1 where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt1 and where thieves do not break through nor steal4 ,you can make the most common calling become really sacred by dedicating your daily life wholly to the service of ,jesus1 taking as your motto1 ,for me to live is ,christ4 ,there is such a thing as living thus a consecrated life2 and if any deny its possibility let them stand self-convicted1 because they obey not that precept3 ,whether therefore ye eat1 or drink1 or whatsoever ye do1 do all to the glory of ,god4 ,love's ,circumference4 ,the ,christian's sympathy should ever be of the widest character1 because he serves a ,god of infinite love4 ,when the precious stone of love is thrown by grace into the crystal pool of a renewed heart1 it stirs the transparent life-floods into ever-widening circles of sympathy3 the first ring has no very wide circumference--we love our household2 for he who careth not for his own household is worse than a heathen man4 ,but mark the next concentric ring--we love the household of faith3 ,we know that we have passed from death unto life1 because we love the brethren4 ,look once more1 for the ever-widening ring has reached the very limit of the lake1 and included all in its area1 for supplications1 prayers1 intercessions1 and giving of thanks are to be made for all men4 ,a follower of ,jesus means a friend of man4 ,a ,christian is a philanthropist by profession1 and generous by force of grace2 wide as the reign of sorrow is the stretch of his love1 and where he cannot help he pities still4 ,the ,way to ,heaven4 ,there is no way to heaven1 whatever thy hopes may be1 but through ,christ3 there is no way to the gates of pearl but through the bleeding side of ,jesus4 ,these are the gates of paradise--these bleeding wounds4 ,if thou wouldst find thy way to ,god's bright throne1 find first thy way to ,jesus' cross2 if thou wouldst know the way to happiness1 tread in that path of misery which ,jesus trod4 ,what6 attempt another way8 ,art thou mad enough to think that thou canst rend the posts1 and bars1 and gates of heaven1 from their perpetual places1 and force thy way by thy created strength8 ,or dost thou think to purchase with thy riches and thy gold a foothold in paradise8 ,fool6 what is thy gold1 where streets are made of it1 and where the gates are solid pearl8--where the foundations are of jasper1 and the walls whereof are precious gems8 ,and dost thou think to get there by thy merits8 ,ah6 by pride fell the angels1 and by thy pride thou fallest4 ,heaven is not for such as thou art4 ,but dost thou say1 ,i will leave my wealth1 after ,i have gone1 to charities2 ,i will build a hospital1 or feed the poor8 ,then let men pay thee3 thou hast wrought for them1 let them pay the debt2 let them rear the stony pillar1 and set thine effigy upon the top thereof4 ,if thou hast wrought for thy country1 let thy country pay thee what they owe thee4 ,but ,god--what does ,he owe to thee8 ,thou hast forgotten ,him2 thou hast despised ,his ,son2 thou hast rejected ,his gospel4 ,be thou warrior1 statesman1 patriot--let men pay thee2 ,god owes thee nothing2 and all thou canst do1 if thou comest not in the right way through ,jesus ,christ1 who lived and died1 and is alive forevermore1 and hath the keys of heaven at his girdle1 will not bribe ,him to admit thee to ,his palace4 ,religion ,exemplified4 ,i would not give much for your religion unless it can be seen4 ,lamps do not talk1 but they do shine3 a lighthouse sounds no drum1 it beats no gong2 and yet1 far over the waters its friendly spark is visible to the mariner4 ,so let your actions shine out your religion4 ,let the main sermon of your life be illustrated by all your conduct1 and it shall not fail to be illustrious4 ,the ,right ,estimate4 ,the higher a man is in grace1 the lower he will be in his own esteem4 ,vessels of ,mercy4 ,god's chosen ones are spoken of as vessels of mercy4 ,now we know that a vessel is nothing but a receiver4 ,a vessel is not a fountain1 but only a container and holder of that which is poured out into it4 ,such are the redeemed of ,god2 they are not fountains by nature1 out of whom there springeth up anything which is good2 they are simply receivers4 ,at one time they are full of themselves1 but grace empties them1 and then as empty vessels they are set in the way of ,god's goodness2 ,god fills them to the brim with ,his lovingkindness1 and so they are proved to be the vessels of ,his mercy4 ,they may as vessels afterwards give out to others1 but they can only give out what ,god has put in them2 they may work out their own salvation with fear and trembling1 but they cannot work it out unless ,god worketh in them both to will and to do of ,his good pleasure4 ,they may run over with gratitude1 but it is only because ,god has filled them with grace2 they may stream forth with holiness1 but it is only because the ,lord keeps the supply overflowing4 ,they are receivers1 and receivers only4 ,christian ,diligence4 ,we find in the ,scripture that most of the great appearances which were made to eminent saints were made when they were busy4 ,moses kept his father's flock when he saw the burning bush2 ,joshua is going round about the city of ,jericho when he meets the angel of the ,lord2 ,jacob is in prayer1 and the angel of ,god appears to him2 ,gideon is threshing1 and ,elisha is ploughing1 when the ,lord calls them2 ,matthew is at the receipt of custom1 when he is bidden to follow ,jesus2 and ,james and ,john are fishing4 ,the ,almighty ,lover of the souls of men is not wont to manifest ,himself to idle persons4 ,he who is slothful and inactive1 cannot expect to have the sweet company of his ,saviour4 ,comfort ye ,my ,people4 ,god never gives ,his children a duty to do without giving them the means to do it2 and when ,he tells us to comfort ,his people1 we may be certain that there are means whereby they may be comforted4 ,child of ,god6 art thou at a loss for a topic to comfort the aching heart8 ,tell of the ancient things of former days2 whisper in the mourner's ear electing grace1 and redeeming mercy1 and ,divine love4 ,when thou findest a troubled one1 tell him of the covenant1 in all things ordered well2 tell him what the ,lord hath done in former days1 how ,he cut ,rahab1 and wounded the dragon2 tell him the wondrous story of ,god's dealings with ,his people2 tell him that ,god1 who divided the ,red ,sea1 can make a highway for ,his people through the deep waters of affliction--that ,he who appeared in the burning bush1 which was not consumed1 will support him in the furnace of tribulation2 tell him of the marvellous things which ,god has wrought for ,his chosen people3 surely there is enough there to comfort him2 tell him that ,god watcheth the furnace as the goldsmith the refining-pot4 ,if that does not suffice1 tell him of his present mercies2 tell him that he has much left1 though much is gone2 tell him there is now no condemnation to them which are in ,christ ,jesus2 tell him that now he is accepted in the ,beloved2 tell him that he is now adopted1 and that his standing is safe2 tell him that ,jesus is above1 pleading his cause2 tell him that though earth's pillars shake1 ,god is a refuge for us2 tell the mourner that the everlasting ,god faileth not1 neither is weary4 ,but if this is not enough1 tell him of the future2 whisper to him that there is a heaven with pearly gates1 and golden streets2 tell him that ,a few more rolling suns at most1 ,will land him on fair ,canaan's coast1 and therefore he may well bear his sorrows2 tell him that ,christ is coming1 and that ,his sign is in the heavens1 ,his advent is near1 ,he will soon appear to judge the earth with equity1 and ,his people in righteousness4 ,and if that suffice not1 tell him all about that ,saviour who lived and died2 take him to ,calvary2 picture to him the bleeding hands1 and side1 and feet2 tell him of the thorn-crowned ,king of grief2 tell him of the mighty ,monarch of woe and blood1 who wore the scarlet of mockery which was yet the purple of the empire of grief2 tell him that ,he ,himself bore our sins in ,his own body on the tree4 ,thus1 by ,god's blessing1 thou shalt accomplish thy mission1 and comfort one of ,his people4 ,comfort ye ,my people1 saith your ,god4 ,self4 ,faith will never be weak if self be weak1 but when self is strong1 faith cannot be strong2 for self is very much like what the gardener calls the sucker1 at the bottom of the tree1 which never bears fruit1 but only draws away the nourishment from the tree itself4 ,now1 self is that sucker which diverts the nourishment from faith1 and you must cut it up1 or else your faith will always be little faith1 and you will have difficulty in maintaining any comfort in your soul4 ,strength through ,joy4 ,it is when the mind is happy that it can be laborious4 ,the joy of the ,lord is your strength4 ,the ,refiner's ,fire4 ,there is not an ingot of silver in heaven's treasury1 which has not been in the furnace on earth1 and been purified seven times2 there is not a gem which the ,divine ,jeweller has not exposed to every sort of test2 there is not an atom of gold in the ,redeemer's crown which has not been molten among the hottest coals1 so as to rid it of its alloy4 ,it is universal to every child of ,god4 ,if you are a servant of the ,lord1 you must be tried as gold is tried4 ,heart-,learning4 ,we can learn nothing of the gospel except by feeling its truths4 ,there are some sciences that may be learned by the head1 but the science of ,christ crucified can only be learned by the heart4 ,the ,hope of ,heaven4 ,believers are not only to be with ,christ1 and to behold ,his glory1 but they are to be like ,christ1 and to be glorified with ,him4 ,is ,he glorious8 ,so shall they be4 ,is ,he enthroned8 ,so shall they be4 ,does ,he wear a crown8 ,so shall they4 ,is ,he a priest8 ,so shall they be kings to share ,his dominion1 and priests to offer acceptable sacrifices forever4 ,mark1 that in all ,christ has1 believers participate4 ,they are to reign with ,christ1 and have a portion of ,his joy2 to be honored with ,him1 to be accepted in ,him4 ,this is heaven indeed6 ,if you have this hope1 ,i beseech you hold it fast1 live on it1 rejoice in it4 ,a hope so much divine1 ,may trials well endure2 ,may purge your soul from sense and sin1 ,as ,christ the ,lord is pure4 ,live near your ,master now1 so shall your evidences be bright2 and when you come to cross the flood1 you shall see ,him face to face1 and what that is only they can tell who enjoy it every hour4 ,but if you have not this bright hope1 how is it that you can live content8 ,you are going through a dark world to a darker eternity4 ,i beseech you stop and pause4 ,consider for a moment whether it is worth while to lose heaven for this poor earth4 ,what6 pawn eternal glories for the pitiful pence of a few moments of the world's enjoyments8 ,no1 stop1 ,i beseech you2 weigh the bargain ere you accept it4 ,what shall it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul8 ,what wailing and gnashing of teeth shall there be over the carelessness or misadventure by which men lose such a heaven as this8 ,rejoice ,always4 ,whenever a ,christian man yields to a mournful1 desponding spirit1 under his trials2 when he does not seek grace from ,god to battle manfully and cheerfully with trouble2 when he does not ask his heavenly ,father to give him strength and consolation whereby he may be enabled to rejoice in the ,lord at all times1 he does dishonor to the high1 and mighty1 and noble principles of ,christianity1 which are fitted to bear a man up1 and make him happy even in times of the deepest affliction4 ,it is the boast of the gospel that it lifts the heart above trouble2 it is one of the glories of our religion that it makes us say1 ,although the fig-tree shall not blossom1 neither shall fruit be in the vine1 the labor of the olive shall fail1 and the field shall yield no meat1 yet will ,i rejoice in the ,lord1 ,i will joy in the ,god of my salvation4 ,religion a ,present ,concern4 ,religion must be a thing of the present1 because the present has such intimate connections with the future4 ,we are told in ,scripture that this life is a seed-time1 and the future is the harvest1 he that soweth to the flesh1 shall of the flesh reap corruption2 he that soweth to the spirit1 shall of the spirit reap life everlasting4 ,as the seed generates the plant1 even so doth this present life generate the eternal future4 ,heaven and hell are1 after all1 but the developments of our present character1 for is it not written1 he that is holy1 let him be holy still2 he that is unjust1 let him be unjust still8 ,do we not know that in the heart of every sin condemnation slumbers8 ,is it not a fearful truth that the germ of everlasting torment sleeps in every vile wish1 every unholy thought1 every unclean act1 so that hell is but a great breaking out of slumbering lava1 which had been so quiet1 that while the mountain was covered with fair verdure1 even to its summit1 death comes and bids that lava rise2 and down the steeps of manhood's eternal existence1 the fiery lava of eternal misery doth pour itself8 ,yet it was there before1 for sin is hell1 and rebellion against ,god is the prelude of misery4 ,so is it with heaven2 ,i know that heaven is a reward1 not of debt but of grace2 but still the ,christian has that within him which forestalls for him a heaven4 ,what did ,christ say8 ,i give unto my sheep eternal life4 ,he did not say1 ,i will give1 but ,i do give4 ,as soon as they believe in ,me1 ,i give them eternal life4 ,he that believeth on ,him that sent ,me hath everlasting life1 and shall not come into condemnation4 ,the ,christian hath within him the seed-beds of a paradise2 in due time the light which is sown for the righteous1 and the gladness which is sown for the upright in heart1 shall spring up1 and they shall reap the harvest4 ,is it not plain1 then1 that religion is a thing which we must have here8 ,is it not prominently revealed that religion is important for the present8 ,for if this life be the seed-time of the future1 how can ,i expect to reap in another world other harvests than ,i have been sowing here8 ,how can ,i trust that ,i shall be saved then1 unless ,i am saved now8 ,how can ,i have hope that heaven shall be my eternal inheritance1 unless the earnest be begun in my own soul on earth8 ,trouble ,lightened4 ,i am persuaded that if we looked more to ,jesus1 our troubles would not appear either so great or so grievous4 ,in the darkest night of trial1 looking to ,christ will clear the ebon sky4 ,when the darkness seems thick1 like that of ,egypt1 darkness that might be felt1 even then1 like a bright lightning flash1 as vivid1 but not so transient1 will a look to ,jesus prove4 ,one glimpse of ,him may well suffice for all our toils while on the road4 ,looking to ,him will illuminate the most dreary way4 ,cheered by ,his voice1 nerved by ,his strength1 we are prepared to do and to suffer1 even as he did1 unto the end4 ,o1 weary and troubled ,christians1 look unto ,him1 and be lightened6 ,the ,gospel ,requirement4 ,the gospel is not a scheme of giving to ,god1 but of receiving from ,god4 ,it is taking of ,his fulness1 drinking out of ,his wells of salvation1 receiving from ,his storehouse4 ,sinner6 remember all that ,god asks of thee1 in order to thy salvation1 is1 that thou wouldst be a receiver1 and this ,he gives thee1 even the power to receive4 ,he asks thee not to do anything1 but to hold out thine empty hand1 and take all thou wantest4 ,he does not bid thee store thy granaries and become rich1 but he bids thee simply confess thy poverty1 and open the doors of thine empty chambers1 that ,he may pour thee out a blessing such as thou shalt scarcely find room to contain4 ,hast thou learnt this truth8 ,hast thou come to live as a receiver at the hand of ,god8 ,hast thou stood at ,mercy's gate1 humbly seeking salvation8 ,for1 if thou hast not--if thou hast never yet been willing to take the riches of grace from ,god instead of giving to ,him of thine own worthless doings--if thou art not willing to be a recipient of ,his gratuitous goodness1 thou art a total stranger to everything like the gospel of ,christ4 ,ye are ,not ,your ,own4 ,if you are a child of ,god1 you belong wholly and entirely to ,christ4 ,yet are there not many who seem to imagine that if they save a corner in their souls for their religion1 all will be well8 ,satan may stalk across the broad acres of their judgment and their understanding1 and he may reign over their thoughts and their imaginations2 but if in some quiet nook there be preserved the appearance of religion1 all will be right4 ,oh6 be not deceived in this2 ,christ never went halves in a man yet4 ,he will have the whole of you1 or ,he will have none of you4 ,he will be ,lord paramount1 ,master supreme1 absolute ,monarch1 or else ,he will have nothing to do with you4 ,you may serve ,satan1 if you will1 but when you serve ,him1 you shall not serve ,christ too4 ,if you are not wholly given up to ,god--if1 in the intent and purpose of your souls1 every thought1 and wish1 and power1 and talent1 and possession be not devoted and consecrated to ,christ1 you have no reason to believe that you have been redeemed by ,his precious blood4 ,in ,his people1 whom ,he has purchased for ,his own1 ,he will reign without a rival4 ,christ will not be part-proprietor of any man4 ,continue in ,prayer4 ,be much in prayer4 ,god's plants grow faster in the warm atmosphere of the closet--it is a forcing-place for spiritual vegetation4 ,he who would grow strong must often kneel at the throne of grace4 ,of all training practice for spiritual battles1 knee practice is the most healthful and strengthening4 ,the ,holy ,saviour4 ,there is an expression used by the apostle ,paul respecting the ,lord ,jesus1 which is very beautiful and significant--who knew no sin4 ,it does not merely say did none1 but knew none4 ,sin was no acquaintance of ,his2 ,he was acquainted with grief1 but no acquaintance of sin4 ,he had to walk in the midst of its most frequented haunts1 but did not know it4 ,not that ,he was ignorant of its nature1 or unaware of its penalty1 but ,he did not know it2 ,he was a stranger to it2 ,he never by word1 by nod1 or by smile1 gave it the faintest recognition4 ,of course ,he knew what sin was1 for ,he was very ,god1 but with sin ,he had no communion1 no fellowship1 no brotherhood4 ,he was a perfect stranger in the presence of sin2 ,he was a foreigner2 ,he was not an inhabitant of that land where sin is acknowledged4 ,he passed through the wilderness of suffering1 but into the wilderness of sin ,he could never go4 ,he knew no sin3 mark that expression and treasure it up2 and when you are thinking of your ,substitute1 and behold ,him bleeding upon the cross1 think that you see written in those lines of blood1 ,he knew no sin4 ,mingled with the redness of ,his blood--that ,rose of ,sharon--behold the purity of ,his nature--the ,lily of the ,valley--,he knew no sin4 ,christ our ,example4 ,remember the blessed example of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,this surely will teach you not to live to yourself6 ,for ye know the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that1 though ,he was rich1 yet for our sakes ,he became poor1 that we through ,his poverty might be rich4 ,his heart is made of tenderness1 ,his bowels melt with love4 ,in all our afflictions ,he is afflicted4 ,since the day when ,he became flesh of our flesh1 ,he hath never hidden ,himself from our sufferings4 ,our glorious ,head is moved with all the sorrows which distress the members4 ,crowned though ,he now is1 ,he forgets not the thorns which once ,he wore2 amid the splendors of ,his regal state in ,paradise1 ,he is not unmindful of ,his children here below4 ,still is ,he persecuted when ,saul persecutes the saints2 still are ,his brethren as the apple of ,his eye1 and very near ,his heart4 ,if ye can find in ,christ a grain of selfishness1 consecrate yourselves unto your lusts1 and let ,mammon be your ,god4 ,if ye can find in ,christ a solitary atom of hardness of heart and callousness of spirit1 then justify yourselves1 ye whose hearts are as stone to the wailing of the desolate4 ,but if ye profess to be followers of the ,man of ,nazareth1 be ye full of compassion2 ,he feedeth the hungry lest they be faint by the way2 ,he bindeth up the broken in heart and healeth all their wounds2 ,he heareth the cry of the needy and ariseth to their help4 ,if ye are ,his disciples1 go and do likewise4 ,god's ,government4 ,there are still people to be found foolish enough to believe that events occur at hap-hazard1 without divine predestination1 and different calamities transpire without the overruling hand1 or the direct agency of ,god4 ,alas6 for us1 if chance had aught to do with events of our life4 ,we should be like poor mariners1 put out to sea in an unsafe vessel1 without a chart and without a helm2 we should know nothing of the port to which we might ultimately come2 we should only feel that we were now the sport of the winds1 the captives of the tempest1 and might soon be the victims of the all-devouring deep4 ,alas6 poor orphans were we all1 if we were indebted for food and clothing1 for present comfort and future prospects1 to nothing but chance4 ,no father's care to watch over us1 but left to the fickleness and fallibility of mortal things6 ,what were all that we see about us1 but a great sand-storm in the midst of a desert1 blinding our eyes1 preventing us from ever hoping to see the end through the darkness of the beginning8 ,we should be pilgrims in a pathless waste1 where there were no roads to direct us--travellers who might be overturned and overwhelmed at any moment1 and our bleached bones left the victims of the tempest1 unknown1 or forgotten of all4 ,thank ,god1 it is not so with us4 ,we believe that everything which happens to us is ordered by the wise and tender will of ,him who is our ,father and our ,friend2 we see order in the midst of confusion2 we see purposes accomplished where others discern nothing but void and vacancy4 ,we believe that ,he hath ,his way in the whirlwind and in the storm1 and the clouds are the dust of ,his feet4 ,the ,secret of ,strength4 ,art thou proud1 believer1 because thou hast been profitable to the ,church1 and done some little service to thy times8 ,who maketh thee to differ1 and what hast thou which thou hast not received8 ,hast thou shed a little light upon the darkness8 ,ah6 who lit thy candle--and who is it who keeps thee still shining1 and prevents thee from being extinguished8 ,hast thou overcome temptation8 ,hang not up thy banner2 do not decorate thine own bosom with the glory2 for who made thee strong in the battle8 ,who made thy sword sharp1 and nerved thine arm to strike the foe8 ,remember1 thou hast done nothing whatever of thyself4 ,if thou be this day a vessel unto honor1 decorated and gilded--if now thou art a precious vase1 filled with the sweetest perfume1 yet thou didst not make thyself so4 ,thou art the clay1 but who is the potter8 ,if thou be a vessel unto honor1 yet not a vessel unto thine own honor1 but a vessel unto the honor of ,him who made thee4 ,if thou standest among thy fellow-men as the angels stand above the fallen spirits--a chosen one1 distinguished from them--yet remember1 it was not any goodness in thyself which made thee to be chosen2 nor has it been any of thine own efforts1 or thine own power1 which lifted thee out of the miry clay1 set thy feet on the rock1 and established thy goings4 ,off with the crown from thy proud head1 and lay down thine honors at the feet of ,him who gave them to thee4 ,with cherubim and seraphim veil thy face1 and cry1 ,not unto us1 not unto us1 but unto ,his name be all the glory forever and ever4 ,and when thou art thus bowed down with humility1 be thou prepared to learn this other lesson--never depend on thyself again4 ,if thou hast aught to do1 go not forth to do it leaning on an arm of flesh4 ,first bow thy knee1 and ask power of ,him who makes thee strong1 and then thou shalt come back from thy labor rejoicing4 ,but if thou goest in thine own strength1 thou shalt break thy ploughshare on the rock2 thou shalt sow thy seed by the side of the salt sea upon the barren sand1 and thou shalt look upon the naked acres in years to come1 and they shall not yield thee so much as a single blade to make glad thine heart4 ,trust ye in the ,lord forever3 for in the ,lord ,jehovah is everlasting strength4 ,that strength is not available to you so long as you repose in any strength of your own4 ,he will help you if you confess your weakness2 but if you are strong in yourself1 ,he will take way his own power from you1 and you will stumble and fall4 ,learn1 then1 the grace of depending daily upon ,god1 so shalt thou be clothed with becoming humility4 ,nature and ,grace4 ,you will never perceive ,god in nature1 until you have learned to see ,god in grace4 ,we have heard a great deal about going up from nature to nature's ,god4 ,impossible6 ,a man might as well attempt to go from the top of the ,alps to heaven4 ,there is still a great gulf between nature and ,god to the natural mind4 ,you must first of all perceive ,god incarnate in the person of ,christ1 before you will perceive ,god omnipotent in the creation which ,he has made4 ,you have heard a great deal about men delighting to worship in the forest glades1 who disdain to frequent the sanctuary of the saints4 ,ay2 but there was little truth in it4 ,there is often great sound where there is much emptiness2 and you will frequently find that those men who talk most of this natural worship1 are those who do not worship ,god at all4 ,god's works are too gross a medium to allow the light4 ,rugged is the path and dark the atmosphere1 if we go by way of the creatures to find out the ,creator to perfection4 ,but when ,i see ,christ1 ,i see ,god's new and living way between my soul and my ,god1 most clear and pleasant4 ,i come to my ,god at once1 and finding ,him in ,christ1 ,i find ,him everywhere else besides4 ,look to ,christ4 ,would you be free from doubts8 ,would you rejoice in the ,lord with faith unmoved1 and confidence unshaken8 ,then look to ,jesus6 ,certain ,i am that if we lived more with ,jesus1 were more like ,jesus1 and trusted more to ,jesus1 doubts and fears would be very scarce and rare things4 ,love in ,chastening4 ,god's people are often chastened1 and the ,lord's hand lieth heavy upon them2 yet there is paternal goodness in their chastenings1 and infinite lovingkindness in their tribulations4 ,did you ever hear this parable8 ,there was a certain shepherd who had a sheep which he desired to lead into another and better field2 he called it1 and it would not come2 he led it1 and it would not follow2 he drove it1 but it would only follow its own devices4 ,at last he thought within himself1 ,i will do this4 ,the sheep had a little lamb by its side1 and the shepherd took the lamb up in his arms1 and carried it away1 and then the ewe came too4 ,and so with you2 ,god has been calling to you1 and you did not come2 ,christ said1 ,come1 and you would not2 ,he sent affliction1 and you would not come2 at length ,he took your child away1 and you came forthwith2 you followed the ,saviour then4 ,you see it was loving work on the shepherd's part4 ,he did but take the lamb to save the sheep1 and the ,saviour but took your child to heaven that ,he might bring you there also4 ,oh1 blessed afflictions1 blessed losses1 blessed deaths1 which end in spiritual life6 ,you know that if a man desires to gather a harvest from his field1 he first ploughs it up4 ,the field might complain1 and say1 ,why these scars across my face8 ,why this rough upturning8 ,because there can be no sowing till there has been ploughing2 sharp ploughshares make furrows for good seed4 ,or take yet another picture from nature3 a man desireth to make of a rusty piece of iron1 a bright sword which shall be serviceable to a great warrior4 ,what doth he do8 ,he putteth it into the fire1 and melteth it2 he taketh away all its dross1 and removeth all its tin2 then he fashioneth it with his hammer2 he beateth it full sore upon the anvil2 he anneals it in one fire after another1 till at last it comes out a good blade which will not snap in the day of warfare4 ,this is what ,god doeth with you--,i pray you do not misread the book of ,god's providence2 for if you read it aright it runs thus--,i will have mercy on this man1 and therefore have ,i smitten him and wounded him4 ,as many as ,i love ,i rebuke and chasten4 ,come1 therefore1 let us return unto the ,lord1 for ,he hath wounded and ,he will heal2 ,he hath smitten and ,he will bind us up4 ,enduring the ,cross4 ,for the joy that was set before ,him ,he endured the cross4 ,what was the joy8 ,oh1 'tis a thought must melt a rock1 and make a heart of iron move1 that the joy which was set before ,jesus1 was principally the joy of saving us4 ,i know it was the joy of fulfilling ,his ,father's will--of sitting down on ,his ,father's throne--of being made perfect through suffering2 but still ,i know that this is the grand1 great motive of the ,saviour enduring the cross--the joy of saving us4 ,do you know what the joy is of doing good to others8 ,if you do not1 ,i pity you1 for of all joys which ,god has left in this poor wilderness1 this is one of the sweetest4 ,do you know it8 ,have you never felt that joy divine1 when your gold has been given to the poor1 and your silver has been dedicated to the ,lord1 when you bestowed it upon the hungry--and you have gone aside1 and said1 ,i feel it is a joy worth living for to feed the hungry1 and clothe the naked1 and to do good to my poor suffering fellow-creatures8 ,now1 this is the joy which ,christ felt2 it was the joy of feeding us with the bread of heaven2 the joy of clothing poor1 naked sinners in ,his own righteousness2 the joy of finding a home for homeless souls1 of delivering us from the prison of hell1 and giving us the eternal enjoyments of heaven4 ,see the greatness of ,his love which thus led ,him to endure the cross and despise the shame1 that ,he might save sinners4 ,truly ,christ's love passeth knowledge6 ,christians6 if ,christ endured all this for the joy of saving you1 will you be ashamed of bearing or suffering anything for ,christ8 ,surely love to ,him who hath so loved us should make us willing to endure all things for ,his sake4 ,do you feel that in following ,christ you must lose by it--lose honor1 position1 wealth8 ,do you feel that in being a ,christian you incur ridicule and reproach8 and will you turn aside because of these little things1 when ,he would not turn aside1 but endured the cross and despised the shame8 ,no1 by the grace of ,god let every ,christian say1-- ,now for the love ,i bear ,his name1 ,what was my gain ,i count my loss2 ,my former pride ,i call my shame1 ,and nail my glory to ,his cross4 ,for me to live is ,christ2 to die is gain4 ,living1 ,i will be ,his2 dying1 ,i will be ,his4 ,i will live to ,his honor1 and serve ,him wholly4 ,i will take up my cross1 and follow ,him1 rejoicing if ,i am counted worthy to suffer for ,his name's sake4 ,christian ,gravity4 ,when we make a profession of our faith in ,christ1 we are not to drape our faces in gloom1 but rather to light our hearts with a purer joy than we ever knew before2 and yet we must put away all unseemly levity4 ,i said of laughter1 it is mad4 ,i said it1 too1 in the day of the gladness of my heart4 ,the madman's frolics1 the drunkard's boisterous mirth--these compare not with the serene pleasure of our princely expectations4 ,walk as those who are looking for the coming of the ,son of ,man1 hearing this voice in your ears1 ,what manner or person ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness8 ,short-,sightedness4 ,what short-sighted creatures we often are6 ,we think we see the end when we are only viewing the beginning4 ,we get our telescope out sometimes to look to the future1 and we breathe on the glass with the hot breath of our anxiety1 and then we think we see clouds and darkness before us4 ,if we are in trouble1 we see ,every day new straits attend1 ,and wonder where the scene will end4 ,nay2 we conclude that it must end in our destruction4 ,we imagine ,god hath forgotten to be gracious4 ,we think ,he hath in anger shut up the bowels of compassion4 ,oh1 this short-sightedness6 ,when you and ,i ought to believe in ,god2 when we ought to look at the heaven which awaiteth us1 and the glory for which these light afflictions are preparing us2 when we ought to be looking through the cloud to the eternal sun which never knows an eclipse2 when we should be resting on the invisible arm of the immortal ,god1 and triumphing in ,his love1 we are mourning and distrusting4 ,god forgive us for this1 and enable us henceforth to look not at our troubles1 but above them1 even to ,him who1 with infinite wisdom and love1 is guiding us1 and has promised to bring us safely through4 ,steadfastness4 ,if you had more faith1 you would be as happy in the furnace as on the mountain of enjoyment2 you would be as glad in famine as in plenty2 you would rejoice in the ,lord when the olive yielded no oil1 as well as when the vat was bursting and overflowing its brim4 ,if you had more confidence in ,god1 you would have far less of tossings up and down2 and if you had greater nearness to ,christ1 you would have less vacillation4 ,at times you can bid defiance to the rage of ,satan1 boldly meet every attack1 and resist every temptation2 but too often you are fearful and irresolute1 and ready to run away from the fight instead of making valiant resistance4 ,but if you always remember ,him who endured such contradiction of sinners against ,himself1 you might always be firm and steadfast4 ,live near your ,master1 and you shall not be thus changeful and uncertain4 ,beware of being like a weathercock4 ,seek of ,god1 that ,his law may be written on your heart as if it were written in stone1 and not as if it were written in sand4 ,seek that ,his grace may come to you like a river1 and not like a brook which fails4 ,seek that you may keep your conversation always holy2 that your course may be like the shining light which tarries not1 but burns brighter and brighter until the fulness of the day4 ,seek that the ,god of all grace may establish1 strengthen1 settle you4 ,be not ,high-minded1 but ,fear4 ,while we most earnestly seek after the full assurance of faith1 knowing it is our strength and our joy1 let us at the same time remember that there is a temptation connected with it4 ,when thou hast gained this full assurance1 believer1 then be on thy watch-tower1 for the next temptation will be1 ,soul1 take thine ease2 the work is done2 thou hast attained2 now fold thine arms2 sit thou still2 all will end well2 why needest thou too much to vex thyself8 ,take heed in those seasons when you have no doubts4 ,watch and pray1 that ye enter not into temptation4 ,let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall4 ,i said1 ,i shall never be moved4 ,lord1 by ,thy favor ,thou hast made my mountain to stand strong4 ,and what next8 ,thou didst hide ,thy face1 and ,i was troubled4 ,bless ,god for full assurance2 but1 remember1 nothing but careful walking can preserve it4 ,full assurance is a priceless pearl2 but when a man has a precious jewel1 and he walks the streets1 he ought to be much afraid of pickpockets4 ,so1 when the ,christian has full assurance1 let him be sure that ,satan will try to rob him of it4 ,let him be more circumspect in his walk1 and more diligent in his watch than he was before4 ,evidence of the ,new ,life4 ,if so be ye have tasted that the ,lord is gracious1 it is certain evidence of a divine change2 for men by nature find no delight in ,jesus4 ,i do not inquire what your experience may have been1 or may not have been2 if ,christ be precious to you1 there has been a work of grace in your heart2 if you love ,him1 if ,his presence be your joy1 if ,his blood be your hope1 if ,his glory be your object and aim1 and if ,his person be the constant love of your soul1 you could not have had this taste by nature1 for you were dead2 you could not have acquired this taste by learning1 for this is a miracle which none but the ,god who is supreme over nature could have wrought in you4 ,let every tried and troubled ,christian1 who1 nevertheless1 does taste that the ,lord is good1 take consolation from this4 ,the upright love thee4 ,a few ,names even in ,sardis4 ,thou hast a few names even in ,sardis1 which have not defiled their garments4 ,here we have special preservation4 ,mark it carefully4 ,thou hast a few names4 ,only a few2 not so few as some think1 but not so many as others imagine4 ,a few compared with the mass of professors3 a few compared even with the true children of ,god1 for many of them have defiled their garments4 ,there were but a few1 and those few were even in ,sardis4 ,there is not a ,church on earth which is so corrupt but has a few4 ,take heart1 ,christians2 there are a few in ,sardis4 ,do not be quite cast down4 ,some heroes have not turned their backs in the day of battle2 some mighty men still fight for the truth4 ,but be careful1 for1 perhaps1 you are not one of the few4 ,since there are but a few1 there ought to be great searchings of heart4 ,let us look to our garments1 and see whether they be defiled4 ,and since there are but few1 be active4 ,the fewer the workmen to do the work1 the greater reason is there that you should be active4 ,be instant in season1 out of season4 ,oh6 if we had hundreds behind us1 we might say1 ,let them do the work2 but if we stand with only a few1 how should each of those few exert themselves6 ,stir yourselves up1 then1 to the greatest activity1 for verily there are but a few in ,sardis who have not defiled their garments4 ,above all1 be prayerful4 ,put up your earnest cries to ,god that ,he would multiply the faithful1 that ,he would increase the number of chosen ones who stand fast1 and that ,he would purify the ,church4 ,cry unto ,god that the day may come when the much fine gold shall be no longer dim2 when the glory shall again return to ,zion4 ,beg of ,god to remove the cloud1 to take away the darkness that may be felt4 ,be doubly prayerful1 for there are but few in ,sardis who have not defiled their garments4 ,increase of ,strength4 ,the troubles with which the plants of ,god's right-hand planting are assailed when they are saplings are very inconsiderable compared with those which blow about them when they become1 like cedars1 strongly rooted4 ,when we grow strong1 so sure as our strength increases1 our sufferings1 our trials1 our labors1 or our temptations1 will be multiplied4 ,god's power is never communicated to any man to be laid up in store4 ,the food which is given to strengthen us1 like the manna which was gathered by the ,israelites in the wilderness1 is intended for immediate use4 ,when the ,lord puts upon our feet the shoes of iron which ,he has promised us in the covenant1 it is that we may walk in them--not that we may put them into our museum1 and gaze upon them as curiosities4 ,if ,he gives us a strong hand1 it is because we have a strong foe to fight with4 ,if ,he shall give us a great meal1 as ,he did ,elijah of old1 it is that we may go for a forty-day's journey in the strength of that meal4 ,the ,triumphant ,deliverance4 ,when the ,israelites went forth out of the land of ,egypt1 they took with them the whole of their possessions1 according to the word of the ,lord--,not a hoof shall be left behind4 ,what does this teach us8 ,why1 not only that all ,god's people shall be saved1 but that all which ,god's people ever had shall be restored4 ,all which ,jacob ever took down to ,egypt shall be brought out again4 ,have ,i lost a perfect righteousness in ,adam8 ,i shall have a perfect righteousness in ,christ4 ,have ,i lost happiness on earth in ,adam8 ,god will give me much happiness here below in ,christ4 ,have ,i lost heaven in ,adam8 ,i shall have heaven in ,christ2 for ,christ came not only to seek and to save the people who were lost1 but that which was lost2 that is1 all the inheritance1 as well as the people2 all their property4 ,not the sheep merely1 but the good pasture which the sheep had lost2 not only the prodigal son1 but all the prodigal son's estates4 ,everything was brought out of ,egypt2 not even ,joseph's bones were left behind4 ,the ,egyptians could not say that they had a scrap of the ,israelites' property--not even one of their kneading troughs1 nor one of their old garments4 ,and when ,christ shall have conquered all things to ,himself1 the ,christian shall not have lost one atom by the toils of ,egypt1 but shall be able to say1 ,o death1 where is thy sting8 ,o grave1 where is thy victory8 ,o hell1 where is thy triumph8 ,thou hast not a flag nor a pennon to show of thy victory2 there is not a casque or a helmet left upon the battle-field2 there is not a single trophy which thou mayst raise up in hell in scorn of ,christ4 ,he hath not only delivered ,his people1 but they have gone out with flying colors4 ,stand and admire and love the ,lord1 who thus delivers all ,his people4 ,great are ,thy works1 ,o ,lord1 and marvellous are ,thy doings2 and that my soul knoweth right well4 ,a ,complete ,saviour4 ,it would be inconsistent with the character of ,him by whom are all things1 if ,he had sent an incomplete ,saviour2 that is1 if ,he had left us to do part ourselves1 and for ,christ to do the rest4 ,look at the sun4 ,god wills for the sun to light the earth3 doth he ask the earth's darkness to contribute to the light8 ,doth ,he question the night1 and ask whether it has not in its sombre shades something which it may contribute to the brightness of noon8 ,no2 up rises the sun in the morning1 like a giant to run his race1 and the earth is made bright4 ,and shall ,god turn to the dark sinner1 and ask him whether there is anything in him which may contribute to eternal light8 ,no2 ,jesus rises as the ,sun of ,righteousness1 with healing beneath ,his wings1 and darkness is1 at ,his coming1 light4 ,he alone is the light of the world2 ,his own arm brought salvation2 ,he asks no help from man1 but giveth all and doeth all of ,his own rich grace1 and is a complete and perfect ,saviour4 ,home-,mercies4 ,when we realize that all our daily mercies come to us as the gifts of our ,father in heaven1 it makes them doubly precious to us4 ,there is nothing which tastes as sweet to the school-boy as that which comes from home4 ,so with the ,christian4 ,all his mercies are sweeter because they are home-mercies--they come from above2 the land in which he lives is not like the land of ,egypt1 fed by a river2 but it drinketh water of the rain or heaven4 ,happy the lot of that man who thus receives everything as coming from ,god1 and thanks his ,father for it all6 ,it makes anything sweet1 when he knows it comes from heaven4 ,this thought1 also1 has a tendency to keep us from an overweening love of the world4 ,the spies went to ,eshcol1 and fetched thence an immense cluster of the grapes which grew there2 but you do not find that the people said1 ,the fruits we have received from the land of promise1 make us contented to stay in the wilderness4 ,no2 they saw that the grapes came from ,canaan1 and thereupon they said1 ,let us go on and possess the land4 ,and so1 when we get rich mercies1 if we think they come from the natural soil of this earth alone1 we might well feel a wish to stay here4 ,but if we know that they come from a foreign clime1 we are naturally anxious to go ,where our dear ,lord ,his vineyard keeps1 ,and all the clusters grow4 ,christian1 rejoice then in the thought that all thou hast cometh from above2 thy daily bread cometh not so much from thine industry as from thy heavenly ,father's care2 thou seest stamped upon every mercy heaven's own inscription1 and every blessing comes down to thee perfumed with the ointment1 and the spikenard1 and the myrrh of the ivory palaces1 whence ,god dispenses ,his bounties4 ,grace ,doth ,much ,more ,abound4 ,there has never been a period in this world's history when it was wholly given up to sin4 ,god has always had ,his servants on earth2 at times they may have been hidden by fifties in the caves1 but they have never been utterly cut off4 ,grace may be low2 the stream might be very shallow1 but it has never been wholly dry4 ,the clouds have never been so universal as to hide the day4 ,but the time is fast approaching when grace shall extend all over our world1 and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the ,lord1 as the waters cover the sea4 ,grace doth much more abound2 and whatever possessions the world has lost by sin1 it has gained far more by grace4 ,it is true we have been expelled from a garden of delights1 where peace1 love1 and happiness found a glorious habitation1 but we have through ,jesus a fairer inheritance4 ,the plains of heaven exceed the fields of paradise in the ever-new delights which they afford1 while the tree of life1 and the river from the throne1 render the inhabitants of the celestial regions more than imparadised4 ,it is true that we have become subject to death by sin1 yet has not grace revealed an immortality for the sake of which we are glad to die8 ,life lost in ,adam is more than restored in ,christ4 ,our original robes were rent asunder by ,adam1 but ,jesus has clothed us with a divine righteousness1 far exceeding in value even the spotless robes of created innocence4 ,we mourn our low and miserable condition through sin1 but we rejoice at the thought1 that we are now more secure than before we fell1 we are brought into closer alliance with ,jesus than our creature standing could ever boast4 ,o ,jesus6 ,thou hast won us an inheritance more wide than ,adam ever lost2 ,thou hast filled our coffer with greater riches than our sin has ever lavished2 ,thou hast loaded us with honors1 and endowed us with privileges far more excellent than our natural birthright could have procured us4 ,truly1 truly1 grace doth much more abound4 ,unsubmissive ,prayers4 ,when we look at our prayers1 we have much reason to deplore the unsubmissive spirit which too often pervades them4 ,how often have we in our prayers not simply wrestled with ,god for a blessing--for that was allowable--but we have imperiously demanded it6 ,we have not said1 ,deny this to me1 ,o my ,god1 if so thou pleasest2 we have not been ready to say1 as the ,redeemer did1 ,nevertheless1 not as ,i will1 but as ,thou wilt2 but we have asked after the blind inclination of our ignorance1 as if we could brook no denial from the omniscient counsel of ,his will4 ,forgetful of a humble deference to our ,lord's superior wisdom and grace1 we have asked and declared that we would not be content unless we had that particular desire upon which our hearts were set4 ,now1 whenever we come to ,god1 and ask for anything which we consider a real good1 we have a right to plead earnestly2 but we err when we go beyond the bounds of earnestness1 and come to demand4 ,it is ours to ask for a blessing1 but not to define what the blessing shall be4 ,it is ours to place our head beneath the mighty hands of divine benediction1 but it is not ours to uplift the hands1 as ,joseph did those of ,jacob1 and say1 ,not so1 my father4 ,we must be content if ,he gives the blessing cross-handed2 quite as content that ,he should put ,his left hand on our head as the right4 ,we must not intrude into ,god's almonry1 ,it is the ,lord1 let ,him do as seemeth ,him good4 ,prayer was never meant to be a fetter upon the sovereignty of ,god4 ,we must always subjoin at the bottom of the prayer this heavenly postscript1 ,father1 deny this if it be most for ,thy glory4 ,christ will have nothing to do with dictatorial prayers4 ,more than ,conquerors4 ,the ,christian is to be a conqueror at last4 ,do you think that we are forever to be the drudges and the slaves of sin1 sighing for freedom1 and yet never able to escape from its bondage8 ,no6 ,soon the chains which confine me shall be broken1 the doors of my prison shall be opened1 and ,i shall mount to the glorious city1 the abode of holiness1 where ,i shall be entirely freed from sin4 ,we who love the ,lord are not to sojourn in ,mesech for aye4 ,the dust may defile our robes now1 but the day is coming when we shall rise and shake ourselves from the dust1 and put on our beautiful garments4 ,it is true we are now like ,israel in ,canaan4 ,canaan is full of enemies2 but the ,canaanites shall and must be driven out1 and the whole land from ,dan to ,beersheba shall be the ,lord's4 ,christians1 rejoice6 ,you are soon to be perfect1 soon to be free from sin1 without one wrong inclination1 one evil desire4 ,you are soon to be as pure as the angels in light2 nay1 more1 with your ,master's garments on1 you are to be holy as the holy ,one4 ,can you think of that8 ,is it not the very sum of heaven1 the rapture of bliss1 the sonnet of the hill-tops of glory--that you are to be perfect8 ,no temptation can reach you1 nor if the temptation could reach you would you be hurt by it2 for there will be nothing in you which could in any way foster sin4 ,it would be as when a spark falls upon an ocean2 your holiness would quench it in a moment4 ,yes1 washed in the blood of ,jesus1 you are soon to walk the golden streets1 white-robed and white-hearted too4 ,o1 rejoice in the immediate prospect1 and let it nerve you for the present conflict4 ,christian ,gladness4 ,eminent as ,david was for his piety1 he was equally eminent for the joyfulness and gladness of his heart4 ,it is often thought by worldly people1 that the contemplation of divine things has a tendency to depress the spirits4 ,now1 there is no greater mistake4 ,no man is so happy1 but he would be happier still if he had religion4 ,the man who has a fulness of earthly pleasure1 would not lose any part of his happiness1 had he the grace of ,god in his heart2 rather that joy would add sweetness to all his prosperity2 it would strain off many of the bitter dregs from his cup1 and show him how to extract more honey from the honeycomb4 ,godliness can make the most melancholy joyful1 while it can make the joyous ones more joyful still1 lighting up the face with a heavenly gladness1 making the eyes sparkle with tenfold more brilliance2 and happy as the worldly man may be1 he shall find that there is sweeter nectar than he has ever drunk before1 if he comes to the fountain of atoning mercy2 if he knows that his name is registered in the book of everlasting life4 ,temporal mercies will then have the charm of redemption to enhance them4 ,they will be no longer to him as shadowy phantoms which dance for a transient hour in the sunbeam4 ,he will account them more precious because they are given to him1 as it were1 in some codicils of the divine testament1 which hath promise of the life which now is1 as well as of that which is to come4 ,while goodness and mercy follow him all the days of his life1 he will be able to stretch forth his grateful anticipations to the future when he shall dwell in the house of the ,lord forever1 and to say with the ,psalmist1 ,thou hast made me most blessed forever3 ,thou hast made me exceeding glad with ,thy countenance4 ,the ,condescension of ,christ4 ,when the ,saviour appeared among men1 it was not as one lifted up from the ranks to procure station for ,himself1 but as one who descended from the heavens to convey blessings to the people4 ,the ignorant and the illiterate find in ,him their best friend4 ,he is no stern law-giver1 who1 wrapped up in ,his own integrity1 looks upon the transgressor with the eye of justice2 neither is ,he simply the bold enunciator of penalty and punishment1 nor the pitiless denouncer of crime and iniquity4 ,he is the gentle lover of our souls2 the good ,shepherd coming forth1 not so much to slay the wolf1 as to save the sheep4 ,as the nurse tenderly watches over her child1 so ,he watches for the souls of men2 and like as a father pitieth his children1 so does ,jesus pity poor sinners4 ,it is not so much drawing sinners up to ,him1 as coming down to them2 not standing on the mountain-top and bidding them ascend1 but coming down from the mountain1 and mingling in social intercourse with them2 coming down from the high pastures after ,his sheep in the glens1 and in the ravines1 that ,he may lay hold of them1 lift them on ,his mighty shoulders1 and bear them up to the place where ,he shall fold them in purity1 bless them with all grace1 and preserve them unto future glory4 ,all of ,grace4 ,god's people1 after they are called by grace1 are preserved in ,christ ,jesus2 they are kept by the power of ,god through faith unto salvation2 they are not suffered to sin away their eternal inheritance1 but as temptations arise1 they have strength given with which to encounter them2 and as sin defiles them1 they are washed afresh1 and again cleansed4 ,but mark1 the reason why ,god keeps ,his people1 is the same as that which made them ,his people--,his own free1 sovereign grace4 ,if you have been delivered in the hour of temptation1 pause and remember that you were not delivered for your own sake4 ,there was nothing in you which deserved the deliverance4 ,if you have been fed and supplied in your hour of need1 it is not because you have been a faithful servant of ,god1 or because you have been a prayerful ,christian2 it is simply and only because of ,god's mercy4 ,he is not moved to anything ,he does for you by anything which you do for ,him2 ,his motive for blessing you lies wholly and entirely in the depths of ,his own bosom4 ,blessed be ,god1 ,his people shall be kept4 ,nor death nor hell shall e'er remove ,his favorites from ,his breast2 ,in the dear bosom of ,his love ,they must forever rest4 ,but why8 ,because they are holy8 ,because they are sanctified8 ,because they serve ,god with good works8 ,no1 but because ,he1 in ,his sovereign grace1 has loved them1 does love them1 and will love them to the end4 ,thus1 salvation from first to last is all of grace4 ,then how humble a ,christian ought to be6 ,we have nothing whatever to do with our salvation2 ,god has done it all4 ,it is mercy undeserved which we have received4 ,it is ,his boundless1 fathomless love which has led ,him to save us2 and it is the same love and mercy which upholds us now4 ,to ,him be glory6 ,this ,man ,receiveth ,sinners4 ,this man receiveth sinners4 ,poor sinsick sinner1 what a sweet word this is for thee6 ,respond1 respond to it1 and say1 ,surely1 then1 ,he will not reject me4 ,let me encourage thee to come to my ,master1 that thou mightest receive ,his great atonement1 and be clothed with all ,his righteousness4 ,mark3 those whom ,i address1 are the bona fide1 real1 actual sinners2 not those who only say they are sinners with a general confession1 but those who feel their lost1 ruined1 hopeless condition4 ,all these are frankly and freely invited to come to ,jesus ,christ1 and to be saved by ,him4 ,come1 poor sinner1 come4 ,come1 because ,he has said ,he will receive you4 ,i know thy fears2 ,i know thou sayest in thy heart1 ,he will reject me4 ,if ,i present my prayer1 ,he will not hear me2 if ,i cry unto ,him1 yet per-adventure1 the heavens will be as brass2 ,i have been so great a sinner1 that ,he will never take me into ,his house to dwell with ,him4 ,poor sinner6 say not so2 ,he hath published the decree4 ,is not this enough8 ,he has said1 ,him that cometh to me ,i will in no wise cast out4 ,dost thou not venture on that promise8 ,wilt thou not go to sea in a ship as stanch as this4 ,he hath said it8 ,it has been often the only comfort of the saints2 on this they have lived1 on this they have died4 ,he hath said it4 ,what6 dost thou think ,christ would tell thee ,he will receive thee1 and yet not do so8 ,would ,he say1 ,come ye to the supper1 and yet shut the door upon you8 ,no2 if ,he has said ,he will cast out none that come to ,him1 rest assured ,he cannot1 ,he will not cast you out4 ,come1 then1 try ,his love on this ground1 that ,he has said it4 ,come1 and fear not1 because remember1 if thou feelest thyself to be a sinner1 that feeling is ,god's gift2 and therefore thou mayst very safely come to ,one who has already done so much to draw thee4 ,if thou feelest thy need of a ,saviour1 ,christ made thee feel it2 if thou hast a wish to come after ,christ1 ,christ gave thee that wish2 if thou hast any desire after ,god1 ,god gave thee that desire2 if thou canst sigh after ,christ1 ,christ made thee sigh2 if thou canst weep after ,christ1 ,christ made thee weep4 ,ay1 if thou canst only wish for ,him with the strong wish of one who fears he never can find1 yet hopes he may--if thou canst but hope for ,him1 ,he has given thee that hope4 ,and ,o1 wilt not thou come to ,him8 ,thou hast some of the ,king's bounties about thee now2 come and plead what ,he hath done2 there is no suit which can ever fail with ,god1 when thou pleadest this4 ,come to ,him1 and thou wilt find it is true which is written1 that this man receiveth sinners4 ,wherein ,ye ,greatly ,rejoice4 ,wherein ye greatly rejoice1 though now for a season1 if need be1 ye are in heaviness4 ,and can a ,christian greatly rejoice while he is in heaviness8 ,yes1 most assuredly he can4 ,mariners tell us that there are some parts of the sea where there is a strong current upon the surface going one way1 while1 down in the depths there is a strong current running the other way4 ,two seas also do not meet and interfere with one another1 but one stream of water on the surface is running in one direction1 and another below in an opposite direction4 ,now1 the ,christian is like that4 ,on the surface there is a stream of heaviness rolling in dark waves1 but down in the depths there is a strong under-current of great rejoicing which is always flowing there4 ,do you ask what is the cause of this great rejoicing8 ,the apostle tells us1 ,wherein ye greatly rejoice4 ,what does he mean8 ,refer to his epistle1 and you will see4 ,he is writing to the strangers scattered throughout ,pontus1 etc4 ,and the first thing which ,he says to them is1 that they are elect according to the foreknowledge of ,god4 ,this is an assurance wherein ye greatly rejoice4 ,ah6 even when the ,christian is most in heaviness through manifold temptations1 what a mercy it is that he can know that he is still elect of ,god6 ,any man who is assured that ,god has chosen him from before the foundation of the world1 may well say1 ,wherein ,i greatly rejoice4 ,let us reflect on this4 ,before ,god made the heavens and the earth1 or laid the pillars of the firmament in their golden sockets1 ,he set ,his love upon me2 upon the breast of the great ,high ,priest ,he wrote my name2 and in ,his everlasting book it stands1 never to be erased--elect according to the foreknowledge of ,god4 ,why1 this may make a man's soul leap within him1 and all the heaviness which the infirmities of the flesh may lay upon him shall be but as nothing2 for this tremendous current of ,his overflowing joy shall sweep away the mill-dam of his grief4 ,bursting and overleaping every obstacle1 it shall overflood all his sorrows till they are drowned and covered up1 and shall not be mentioned any more forever4 ,wherein ye greatly rejoice4 ,come1 ,christian6 thou art depressed and cast down4 ,think for a moment3 thou art chosen of ,god and precious4 ,let the bell of election ring in thine ear--that ancient ,sabbath-bell of the covenant2 and let thy name be heard in its notes1 and say1 ,i beseech thee1 say1 doth not this make thee greatly rejoice1 though now for a season1 if need be1 thou art in heaviness through manifold temptations8 ,again1 you will see another reason4 ,the apostle says that we are elect through sanctification of the ,spirit1 unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of ,jesus ,christ--wherein we greatly rejoice4 ,is the obedience of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ girt about my loins1 to be my beauty and my glorious dress8 and is the blood of ,jesus sprinkled upon me1 to take away all my guilt and all my sin8 and shall ,i not in this greatly rejoice8 ,what shall there be in all the depressions of spirit which can possibly come upon me which shall make me break my harp1 even though ,i should for a moment hang it upon the willows8 ,do ,i not expect that yet again my songs shall mount to heaven2 and even now1 through the thick darkness1 do not the sparks of my joy appear1 when ,i remember that ,i have still upon me the blood of ,jesus1 and still about me the glorious righteousness of the ,messiah8 ,but the great and cheering comfort of the apostle is1 that we are elect unto an inheritance incorruptible1 and undefiled1 and that fadeth not away1 reserved in heaven for us1 even as we are reserved for it4 ,well may this indeed make him greatly rejoice4 ,he is drawing near the gates of death1 and his spirit is in heaviness1 for he has to leave behind him all that life holds dear4 ,besides1 sickness brings upon him naturally a depression of spirits4 ,but you sit by him in his chamber1 and you begin to talk to him of the ,sweet fields beyond the swelling flood1 ,arrayed in living green4 ,you tell him of ,canaan on the other side the ,jordan--of the land which floweth with milk and honey--of the ,lamb in the midst of the throne1 and of all the glories which ,god hath prepared for them who love ,him2 and you see his dull eye light up with seraphic brightness1 his heaviness is all gone1 and the language of his heart is-- ,on ,jordan's stormy banks ,i stand1 ,and cast a wishful eye ,to ,canaan's fair and happy land1 ,where my possessions lie4 ,the anticipation of the coming glory and happiness fills him with joy unspeakable4 ,changefulness4 ,how varied is the experience of the believer in his spiritual life6 ,what changes there are in the weather of his soul6 ,what bright sunlight days6 ,what dark1 cloudy nights6 ,what calms1 as though his life were a sea of glass6 ,what terrible trials1 as though his life were a tempestuous ocean6 ,one time we find him crying1 ,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast thou forsaken me1 and anon he sings1 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul1 and all that is within me bless ,his holy name4 ,one hour we hear him sigh forth1 ,i sink in deep mire where there is no standing1 and then we find him exulting1 ,the ,lord is my light1 and my salvation1 whom shall ,i fear3 the ,lord is the strength of my life1 of whom shall ,i be afraid4 ,how wondrously he rises to heaven1 and how awfully he dives into the deeps6 ,surely we who have known anything of the spiritual and inner life do not marvel at this1 for we have felt these changes4 ,alas6 what a contrast between the sin which doth so easily beset us1 and the grace which gives us to reign in heavenly places4 ,how different the sorrow of an abject distrust which breaketh us in pieces as with a strong east wind1 and the joy of a holy confidence which bears us on to heaven as a propitious gale6 ,what changes between walking with ,god to-day1 and falling into the mire to-morrow1 triumphing over sin1 death1 and hell yesterday1 and to-day led captive by the lusts of the flesh and of the mind4 ,verily1 we cannot understand ourselves1 and a description which would suit us at one time1 would be ill-adapted at another time4 ,changeable1 indeed1 is our experience2 but oh1 what a mercy that ,christ does not change6 ,varied as our experience may be1 ,his grace is varied to meet it1 for ,he has grace to help us in every time of need1 and with infinite and unfailing good-will supplies us in the strength proportioned to our day4 ,thoughts of ,christ4 ,jesus6 what infinite sweets in ,his name6 ,our impressions on surveying ,him may be compared to some of those lenses you have seen1 which you may take up and hold one way1 and you see one light1 and another way1 and you see another light1 and whichever way you turn them you will always see some precious sparkling of light1 and some new colors starting up to your view4 ,ah6 take ,jesus for your theme2 consider ,him2 think of ,his relation to your own soul1 and you will never get through that one subject4 ,think of ,his eternal relationship to you2 and also of your known and manifest relationship to ,him since you have been called by ,his grace4 ,think how ,he has become your brother2 how ,his heart has beaten in sympathy with yours2 how ,he has kissed you with the kisses of ,his love1 and ,his love has been sweeter to you than wine4 ,look back upon some happy1 sunny spots in your history1 where ,jesus has whispered1 ,i am yours1 and you have said ,my beloved is mine4 ,think of some choice moments1 when an angel has stooped from heaven1 and taken you up on his wings1 and carried you aloft1 to sit in heavenly places where ,jesus sits1 that you might commune with ,him4 ,or think of some moments1 when you have had what ,paul sets so much store by--fellowship with ,christ in ,his sufferings--when you have felt that you could die for ,christ1 even as you have in the rich experience of your baptism1 died with ,him1 and risen with ,him4 ,think of your relationship to ,christ which is to be developed in heaven4 ,imagine the hour to have come when you shall greet the blood-besprinkled hand on the eternal shore1 and when the ,lord ,jesus shall salute you as more than a conqueror1 and put a crown upon your head more glittering than the stars4 ,oh6 take ,jesus for your constant theme1 and you will every day find fresh thoughts arise out of ,his grace1 ,his beauty1 ,his glory4 ,in ,him you have an unfailing subject of delight1 object of attraction1 and centre of love4 ,a ,lesson of ,humility4 ,when ,jesus sent forth ,his seventy disciples1 endowed with miraculous powers1 they performed great wonders1 and naturally enough were somewhat elated4 ,in their words1 ,behold1 even devils were subject to us1 ,jesus marked their tendency to pride and self-congratulation4 ,and what was the sacred lesson ,he taught to prevent their being exalted above measure8 ,nevertheless1 said ,he1 rejoice not in this1 but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven4 ,the assurance of our interest in ,christ will tend to keep us humble in the day of our prosperity2 it will act as a secret ballast to us to know that we have something better than these earthly blessings1 therefore we must not set our affections upon the things of earth1 but let our hearts be where our greatest treasure is4 ,better than any lancet to spill the superfluous blood of our boasting--better than any bitter medicine to chase the burning fever of our pride1 is this most precious and hallowed wine of the covenant--a remembrance of our safety in ,christ4 ,this1 opened up to us by the ,spirit1 will suffice to keep us in that happy lowliness which is our true position4 ,but when at any time we are cast down with multiplied troubles1 the very same fact which kept us humble in prosperity will preserve us from despair in adversity4 ,for the apostle ,paul was surrounded by a great fight of affliction2 and yet he could say1 ,nevertheless ,i am not ashamed4 ,but what is it which preserves him from sinking8 ,it is the same truth which kept the ancient disciples from overweening pride4 ,it is the sweet persuasion of his interest in ,christ4 ,for ,i know whom ,i have believed1 and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which ,i have committed unto him against that day4 ,then let us seek earnestly to obtain this full assurance of faith1 for it will help us in all states of experience4 ,let us not rest content till we can say with ,paul1 ,i know whom ,i have believed4 ,promises and ,precepts4 ,if thou wouldst have the promises fulfilled to thee1 look to it that thou dost comply with the precept annexed to the promise4 ,follow the example of ,moses4 ,moses knew that there was a promise given to the people of ,israel1 that they should be the world's blessing2 but in order to obtain it1 it was necessary that he should practise self-denial1 therefore he refused to be called the son of ,pharaoh's daughter2 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of ,god1 than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season4 ,if the promise commands thee to deny thyself1 thou canst not obtain it without4 ,do it1 and thou shalt have its fulfilment4 ,or suppose that the promise requires courage--use courage4 ,or does the promise require obedience--be obedient4 ,remember how ,rahab hung out from her window the scarlet line1 because that was the test of her faith4 ,so do thou4 ,whatsoever ,christ hath said unto thee1 do it4 ,neglect no command1 however trivial it may seem4 ,do what thy ,master tells thee1 asking no questions1 for he is an ill servant who questions his ,lord's command4 ,doubtless thou too1 like the ,ethiopian eunuch1 shalt go on thy way rejoicing when thou hast been obedient4 ,or is the promise made to those who bear a good report of the land8 ,remember1 ,caleb and ,joshua were the only two who obtained the promise1 because they alone honored ,god4 ,so do thou honor ,god4 ,let a scoffing world hear thine unvarying testimony that thy ,god is good and true4 ,let not thy groanings and thy murmurings make men suspect that thou hast a hard master1 and that ,his servants have no joys1 no comforts1 no delights4 ,let it be known that ,he whom thou servest is no ,egyptian task-master2 ,his yoke is easy2 ,his service pleasure1 ,his reward unspeakable4 ,them that honor ,me1 ,i will honor4 ,be thou careful to obey the precepts1 and ,god will fulfil to thee the promises4 ,sweetness in ,sorrow4 ,do you not feel1 in looking back upon seasons of affliction1 that they have been times when1 notwithstanding the trials1 you have had unusual peace and happiness in your heart8 ,there is a sweet joy which comes to us through sorrow4 ,the bitter wine of sorrow acts with a tonic influence upon the whole system4 ,the sweet cup of prosperity often leaves a bitterness in the taste2 but the bitter cup of affliction1 when sanctified1 always leaves a sweet flavor in the mouth4 ,there is joy in sorrow4 ,there is music in this harp with its strings all unstrung and broken4 ,there are a few notes we hear from this mournful lute which we never get from the loud-sounding trumpet4 ,we obtain a softness and melody from the wail of sorrow1 which we never get from the song of joy4 ,must we not account for this by the fact1 that in our troubles we live nearer to ,god8 ,our joy is like the wave as it dashes upon the shore--it throws us on the earth4 ,but our sorrows are like that receding wave which sucks us back again into the great depth of ,godhead4 ,we should have been stranded and left high and dry upon the shore1 if it had not been for that receding wave1 that ebbing of our prosperity1 which carried us back to our ,father and to our ,god again4 ,blessed affliction6 it has brought us to the mercy-seat2 given life to prayer2 enkindled love2 strengthened faith2 brought ,christ into the furnace with us1 and then brought us out of the furnace to live with ,christ more joyously than before4 ,little-faith4 ,one inconvenience of little-faith is1 that while it is always sure of heaven1 it very seldom thinks so4 ,little-faith is quite as secure for heaven as ,great-faith4 ,when ,jesus ,christ counts up ,his jewels at the last day1 ,he will take to ,himself the little pearls as well as the great ones4 ,if a diamond be never so small1 yet it is precious because it is a diamond4 ,so faith1 be it never so little1 if it be true faith1 is like precious with that which apostles obtained4 ,christ will never lose even the smallest jewel of ,his crown4 ,little-faith is always secure of heaven1 because the name of ,little-faith is in the book of eternal life4 ,little-faith was chosen of ,god before the foundation of the world4 ,little-faith was bought with the blood of ,christ2 ay1 and he cost as much as ,great-faith4 ,for every man a shekel1 was the price of redemption4 ,every man1 whether great or small1 prince or peasant1 had to redeem himself with a shekel4 ,christ has bought all1 both little and great1 with the same most precious blood4 ,little-faith is always secure of heaven1 for ,god has begun the work in him1 and ,he will carry it on4 ,god loves him1 and ,he will love him unto the end4 ,god has provided a crown for him1 and ,he will not allow the crown to hang there useless2 ,he has erected for him a mansion in heaven1 and ,he will not allow the mansion to stand untenanted forever4 ,little-faith is always safe1 but he very seldom knows it4 ,if you meet him he is sometimes afraid of hell2 very often afraid that the wrath of ,god abideth on him4 ,he will tell you that the country on the other side the flood can never belong to one so base as he4 ,sometimes it is because he feels himself so unworthy2 another time it is because the things of ,god are too good to be true1 he says2 or he cannot think they can be true to such a one as he4 ,sometimes he is afraid he is not elect2 another time he fears that he has not been called aright1 or that he has not come to ,christ aright2 anon1 his fears are that he will not hold on to the end1 that he shall not be able to persevere2 and if you kill a thousand of his fears1 he is sure to have another host by to-morrow2 for unbelief is one of those things which you cannot destroy2 you may kill it over and over again1 but still it lives4 ,it is one of those ill weeds which sleep in the soil even after it has been burned1 and it only needs a little encouragement1 or a little negligence1 and it will sprout up again4 ,now1 ,great-faith is sure of heaven1 and he knows it4 ,he climbs ,pisgah's top1 and views the landscape o'er2 he tastes of the sweetness of paradise even before he enters within the pearly gates2 he sees the streets which are paved with gold2 he beholds the walls of the city1 the foundations whereof are of precious stones2 he hears the mystic music of the glorified1 and begins to smell on earth the perfumes of heaven4 ,but poor ,little-faith can scarcely look at the sun2 he very seldom sees the light2 he gropes in the valley1 and while all is safe1 he always thinks himself unsafe4 ,to be with ,christ4 ,to be with ,christ4 ,who can comprehend this but the ,christian8 ,it is a heaven which worldlings care not for4 ,they know not what a mass of glory is crowded into that one sentence3 ,to be with ,christ4 ,but to the believer the words are a concentration of bliss4 ,take only one of the many precious thoughts the words suggest--the sight of ,christ4 ,thine eye shall see the ,king in ,his beauty4 ,we have heard of ,him1 and can say1 ,whom having not seen we love4 ,but then we shall see ,him4 ,yes1 we shall actually gaze upon the exalted ,redeemer4 ,realize the thought4 ,is there not a heaven within it8 ,thou shalt see the hands which were nailed to the cross for thee2 thou shalt see the thorn-crowned head1 and with all the blood-washed throng1 shalt thou bow with lowly reverence before ,him1 who bowed in lowly abasement for thee4 ,faith is precious1 but what must sight be8 ,to view ,jesus as the ,lamb of ,god through the glass of faith1 makes the soul rejoice with joy unspeakable2 but oh6 to see ,him face to face1 to look into those eyes1 to hear that voice--rapture begins at the very mention of it6 ,if even to think of it is so sweet1 what must the vision be when we shall talk with ,him1 even as a man talketh with his friend--for the vision of ,christ implies communion4 ,all that which the spouse desired in ,solomon's ,song1 we shall have1 and ten thousand times more4 ,then will the prayer be fulfilled1 ,let ,him kiss me with the kisses of ,his mouth3 for ,thy love is better than wine4 ,then we shall be able to say1 ,his left hand is under my head1 and ,his right hand doth embrace me4 ,then shall we experience the promise1 ,they shall walk with me in white1 for they are worthy4 ,and then we will pour out the song of gratitude1 a song such as we have never sung on earth1 tuneful1 dulcet1 pure1 full of serenity and joy1 no discord to mar its melody2 a song rapt and seraphic4 ,happy day1 when vision and communion shall be ours in fulness--when we shall know even as we are known6 ,,index4 ,,page ,the ,preciousness of the ,promises4 #e ,sorrow's ,discipline4 #g ,the ,christian ,warfare4 #h ,the ,privileges of ,trial4 #aj ,the ,joy of ,victory4 #aa ,light in the ,cloud4 #ac ,good ,works4 #af ,the ,knowledge of ,christ's ,love4 #ah ,clear ,shining after ,rain4 #ba ,a ,quiet ,heart4 #bc ,a ,rich ,life4 #bd ,he hath ,said4 #bg ,safety in ,conflict4 #cj ,to-morrow4 #cb ,a ,full ,heart4 #cd ,persevering ,prayer4 #cg ,humility4 #ci ,look ,upwards4 #da ,the ,use of ,trial4 #da ,faith ,necessary4 #db ,christ ,altogether ,lovely4 #dd ,the ,remedy for ,doubts4 #dg ,all ,things ,working for ,good4 #dh ,the ,triumph of ,grace4 #di ,religion a ,personal ,matter4 #ea ,strength through ,weakness4 #ec ,begin ,well4 #ed ,the ,robe of ,righteousness4 #ef ,cross-,bearers4 #eg ,the ,happiness of ,religion4 #eh ,unchangeable4 #ei ,increase of ,faith4 #fj ,communion with ,christ4 #fa ,the ,soul satisfied in ,christ4 #fb ,the ,lord's ,jewels4 #fc ,memorials of ,jesus4 #fd ,freely give4 #ff ,religion--a ,present ,enjoyment4 #fg ,our ,lord ,jesus4 #gj ,providence4 #ga ,the ,intercession of ,christ4 #gb ,holiness4 #gc ,the ,new ,heart4 #gd ,the ,christian's ,daily ,cross4 #ge ,joy over the ,repenting4 #gf ,god's ,tender ,care4 #gg ,the ,christian's ,crown4 #gh ,obedience to ,god's ,will4 #gi ,the ,gospel4 #hj ,believing ,prayer4 #ha ,warfare for ,sin4 #hb ,how to read the ,bible4 #hc ,a ,view of ,christ4 #hd ,the ,author and ,finisher of ,faith4 #he ,the ,glad ,command4 #hf ,untiring ,delight4 #hg ,divine ,teaching4 #hi ,seeking ,christ4 #ia ,christ in ,you4 #ib ,consolation4 #ic ,self-,examination4 #id ,heaven an ,inheritance4 #ie ,the ,sleep of ,death4 #ig ,foretastes of ,heaven4 #ii ,the ,work of the ,spirit4 #aja ,peace4 #ajc ,earth's ,seasons4 #ajd ,love ,undeserved4 #ajf ,the ,infallible ,commentary4 #ajf ,a ,place of ,trust4 #ajg ,consider ,him4 #ajh ,the ,joy ,of ,pardon4 #aji ,inexhaustible ,promises4 #aaj ,the ,fulness of ,christ4 #aaa ,true ,blessing4 #aaa ,faith and ,feeling4 #aab ,near ,home4 #aac ,beauty in ,christ4 #aad ,the ,savior's ,legacy4 #aae ,needless ,poverty4 #aaf ,the ,sin of ,unbelief4 #aag ,the ,one ,family4 #aah ,the ,spirit of ,praise4 #abj ,love to ,christ4 #abb ,the ,first ,lesson4 #abc ,danger of ,prosperity4 #abc ,idleness4 #abd ,grace4 #abd ,obtaining ,promises4 #abe ,sympathy4 #abg ,endure ,hardness4 #abh ,usefulness4 #abi ,the ,church and the ,world4 #acj ,the ,fight of ,faith4 #acb ,life's ,great ,object4 #acd ,love's ,circumference4 #acf ,the ,way to ,heaven4 #acg ,religion ,exemplified4 #aci ,the ,right ,estimate4 #aci ,vessels of ,mercy4 #adj ,christian ,diligence4 #ada ,comfort ye my ,people4 #adb ,self4 #ade ,strength through ,joy4 #ade ,the ,refiner's ,fire4 #adf ,heart-,learning4 #adf ,the ,hope of ,heaven4 #adg ,rejoice ,always4 #adi ,religion a ,present ,concern4 #aej ,trouble ,lightened4 #aeb ,the ,gospel ,requirement4 #aec ,ye are not your own4 #aee ,continue in ,prayer4 #aef ,the ,holy ,savior4 #aeg ,christ our ,example4 #aeh ,god's ,government4 #afj ,the ,secret of ,strength4 #afb ,nature and ,grace4 #afe ,look to ,christ4 #aff ,love in ,chastening4 #afg ,enduring the ,cross4 #afi ,christian ,gravity4 #agb ,short-,sightedness4 #agc ,steadfastness4 #agd ,be not high-minded1 but fear4 #agf ,evidence of the ,new ,life4 #agg ,a few ,names even in ,sardis4 #agh ,increase of ,strength4 #aha ,the ,triumphant ,deliverance4 #ahb ,a ,complete ,savior4 #ahd ,home-,mercies4 #ahe ,grace doth much more abound4 #ahg ,unsubmissive ,prayers4 #aij ,more than ,conquerors4 #aib ,christian ,gladness4 #aid ,the ,condescension of ,christ4 #aif ,all of ,grace4 #aig ,this man receiveth sinners4 #aii ,wherein ye greatly rejoice4 #bjb ,changefulness4 #bjg ,thoughts of ,christ4 #bji ,a ,lesson of ,humility4 #bab ,promises and ,precepts4 #bad ,sweetness in ,sorrow4 #baf ,little-,faith4 #bah ,to be with ,christ4 #bba