The Quotable Matthew Henry (continued)

The Quotable Matthew Henry (continued)

Death more sweetly will death feed on him. godly man, is like a fair gale of wind to convey him to _ the heavenly country, but, to a wicked man, it is an east wind, The greatest and _ wealthiest cannot therefore be the happiest, because they are never the better for their living in this world; as they came naked into it, they shall go naked out of it. But those have something to show in the other world for their living in this world who can say, through grace, that though they came corrupt, and sinful, and _ spiritually naked, into it, they go renewed, and _ sanctified, and well clothed with the righteousness of Christ, out of it. Those that are rich in the graces and comforts of the Spirit have something which, when they die, they shall carry away with them, something which death cannot strip them of, nay, which death will be the impréovement® "of "but; "tas! eter worldly possessions, as we brought nothing into the world a storm, a tempest, that hurries him away in confusion and amazement, to destruction...

Those who will not be persuaded now to fly to the arms of divine grace, which are stretched out to receive them, will not be able to flee from the arms of divine wrath, which will shortly be stretched out to destroy them.

Job 27

It is death indeed that is before us; but,

1. It is but the shadow of death; there is no substantial evil in it; the shadow of a serpent will not sting nor the shadow of a sword kill. 2. It is the valley of the shadow, deep indeed, and dark and dirty; but the valleys are fruitful, and so is death itself fruitful of comforts to God's people. 3. It is but a walk in this valley, (what we have we had from others), so it is certain that we shall carry nothing out, but leave it to others. (1 Tim. 6:7). a gentle pleasant walk. The wicked are chased out of the world, and their souls are required; but the saints take a walk to another world as cheerfully as they take their leave of Psalm 49

We are too apt to look upon death as no more than a debt owing to nature; whereas it is not so; if the nature of man had continued in its primitive purity and rectitude, there would have been no such debt owing to it. It is a debt to the justice of God, a debt to the law. 'Sin entered into. the world and death by sin.' this. 4. It is a walk through it. They shall not be lost in this valley, but get safely to the mountain of spices on the other side of it.

Psalm 23

While a saint can ask proud death, 'Where is thy sting?' Death will ask the proud sinner, 'Where is thy wealth, thy pomp?', and the more he was fattened with prosperity the Psalm 90

Between the death of a godly and wicked man there is a

Death great." difference, ~but — not between the death of a wise man and a fool; the fool is buried and forgotten (Ch. 8: 10), and no one remembered the poor man that by his wisdom delivered the city (Ch. 9: And should it not awaken us to get ready for death, to consider that the thing itself is certain, and the time fixed in the counsel of God, but that we are kept in the dark and uncertainty about it in order that we may be always ready? We cannot be so sure that we shall live forty days as Nineveh now was that 15); so that to both the grave is a land of forgetfulness; and wise and learned men, when they have been awhile there out of sight, grow out of mind, a new generation arises that knew them not. it should stand forty days ...We should be alarmed if we were sure not to live a month, and yet we are careless, though we are not sure to live a day.

Ecclesiastes 2

Jonah 3

When the soul is required it must be resigned, and it is to no purpose to dispute it, either by arms or arguments, by ourselves or by any friend: There

Death cuts off a good man, as a choice imp is cut off to be grafted in a better stock; but it cuts off a wicked man, as a withered branch is cut off for the fire — cuts him off from is no man that has power over his own spirit to retain it, when this world, which he set his heart so much upon, and was, it is summoned to return to God who gave it. It cannot fly anywhere out of the jurisdiction of death, nor find any place where its writs do not run. It cannot abscond so as to escape death's eye, though it is hidden from the eyes of all living. A man has no power to adjourn the day of his death, nor can he by prayers or bribes obtain a reprieve; no bail will be taken, no essoine (excuse), protection, or imparlance (conference), allowed. as it were, one with. Or, as we read it, shall cut him asunder, that is, part body and soul, send the body to the grave to be a prey for devils, and there is the sinner cut asunder. The soul and body of a godly man at death part fairly, the one cheerfully lifted up to God, the other left to the dust; but the soul and body of a wicked man at death are cut asunder, torn asunder, for to them death is the king of terrors (Job. 18: 14). The wicked servant divided himself between God and the world, Christ and Belial, his profession and his lusts, justly therefore will he thus' be divided.

Death is a battle that must be fought, there is no sending to that war (so some read it), no substituting another to muster for us, no champion admitted to fight for us; we must our-

Matthew 24

selves engage, and are concerned

to provide accordingly, as for a

Death is the rending of the veil of flesh which interposes between us and the holy of battle.

Ecclesiastes

Death is there here that should court our stay? When we receive a sentence of death within ourselves, with what a holy triumph should we say, 'Now I am no more in this world', this dark deceitful world, this poor empty world, this tempting defiling world; no more vexed with its thorns and briars, no more endangered by its nets and snares; now I shall wander no more in this howling wilderness, be tossed no more on this stormy sea; 'now I am no more in this world', but can cheerfully quit it, and give it a final farewell. holies; the death of Christ was so, the death of true Christians is so.

It is the most melancholy circumstance in the funerals of our Christian friends, when we have laid their bodies in the dark and silent grave, to go home, and leave them behind; but alas, it is not we that go home, and leave them behind, no, it is they that are gone to the better home, and have left us behind.

Matthew 27

It is better to die, and go along with our Christian friends to that world which is enriched by their removal to it, than stay behind in a world that is impoverished by their departure Gut (of it, Theamore sof our friends are translated hence, the fewer cords we have to bind us to this earth, and the more to draw our hearts heavenwards. How pleasantly does the good man speak of dying, as if John 17

It is altogether owing to the grace of God in Christ that sin is pardoned and death disarmed. The law puts arms into the hand of death, to destroy the sinner; but pardon of sin takes away this power from the law, and deprives death of its strength and sting.

1 Corinthians 15 it were but undressing and going to bed!

Death is a great loss to a carnal worldly man; for he loses all his comforts and all his hopes: but to a good Christian it is gain, for it is the end of all his weakness and misery and the perfection of his comforts and accomplishment of his hopes; it delivers him from all the evils of life, and brings him to the possession of the chief good.

John 11

The most that death does to our Christian friends is to take them out of our sight, not out of being, not out of bliss, not out of all relation to us, only out of sight, and then not out of mind.

John 16

Philippians 1

It should be a pleasure to those that have their home in the other world to think of being 'no more in this world'; for when we have done what we have to do in this world, and are made meet for that, what As the death of the body consists in its separation from the soul, so the death of the soul consists in its separation from God and the divine favour. As the death of the body is the

Deception corruption and putrefaction of to those who do not put a bar in their own-door as infants do not. it, so sin is the corruption or depravation of the soul. As a man who is dead is unable to help himself by any power of 2 Samuel 12 his own, so an habitual sinner is morally impotent: though he has

Debts

a natural power, or the power of

Do not spend that upon yourselves, much less heap it up for yourselves, which you owe to others. The 'wicked borroweth and payeth not again', (Ps. 37:21). Many that are very sensible of the trouble think a reasonable creature, he has not a spiritual power, till he has the divine life or a renewed nature.

Colossians 2

Christ became man, and died, to deliver them from those perplexities of soul, by letting them know that death is not only a conquered enemy, but a reconciled friend, not sent to hurt the soul, or separate it from the love of God, but to put an end to all their grievances and complaints, and to give them a passage to eternal life and blessedness. little of the sin of being in debt.

Romans 13

Deception

A secret emnity to Christ and his gospel is often gilded over with a pretended affection to Caesar and his power. The Jews hated the Roman govern-

Hebrews 2 ment and yet, to serve a turn, could cry 'We have no king but Caesar'.

It is a great work, and it is a work that can be but once done, and therefore had need to be well done. This is matter of comfort to the godly, that they shall die well and die but once; but it is matter of Ezra 4

Though Philip had very lately been deceived in Simon Magus, and had admitted him to baptism, though he afterwards appeared to be no true convert, yet he did not therefore scruple terror to the wicked, who die in their sins, that they cannot return again to do that great work better. to baptize the eunuch upon his profession of faith immediately, without putting him upon a longer trial than usual. If some hypocrites crowd into the church, who afterwards prove

Hebrews 9

Death of Infants

Godly parents have _ great reason to hope concerning their children that die in infancy, that it is well with their souls in the other world for the promise is to us and our children which shall be performed a grief and scandal to us, yet we must not therefore make the door of admission any straiter than Christ has made it; they shall answer for their apostasy, and not we.

Acts 8

Defending Our Rights

Defending Our Rights unjustly censured, our care must be only to clear ourselves, not to recriminate, or throw dirt upon others; and such a variety may there be of circumstances, He renounced his right, rather than by claiming it he would hinder his success. He denied himself, for fear of giving offence; but asserted his right lest his self-denial should prove prejudicial to the ministry. Note, he is likely to plead most effectually for the rights of others who shows a generous disregard to his own. It is plain, in this case, that justice, and not selflove, is the principle by which he is actuated. as may justify us in our practice, without condemning those that practice otherwise.

Matthew 9

Depression

Though they had just now obtained a glorious victory over the Canaanites and were going on conquering and to conquer, yet they speak very discontentedly of all God had done for them and distrustfully of what he would do.

1 Corinthians 9

Defending Ourselves

As to his offences against God, he prays, Lord, enter not into judgment with me _ (143:2), remember not my transgressions

Numbers 21

Heman was a very wise man, and a very good man, a man of God, and a singer too, and one may therefore suppose him to have been a man of a cheerful spirit, and yet now a man of a sorrowful spirit, troubled in mind, and upon the brink of despair. Inward trouble is the sorest trouble, and that which sometimes, the best of God's saints and servants have been severely exercised with. The spirit of man, of the greatest men, will not always sustain his infirmity, but will droop and sink under it.

(25:7), in which he appeals to God's mercy; but, as to his offences against Saul, he appeals to God's justice and begs of him to judge for him as 43:1. Or thus, he cannot justify himself against the charge of sin; he owns his iniquity is great and he is undone if God, in his infinite mercy, do not forgive him; but he can justify himself against the charge of hypocrisy.

Psalm 26

Christ's answer is so framed, as that it might sufficiently justify the practice of his own disciples, and yet not condemn the institution of John, or the practice of his disciples. When the Pharisees

Psalm 88

Desires fomented this dispute, they hoped Christ would cast blame, either on his own disciples, or on John's, but he did neither. Note, when at any time we are Men's characters appear in their choices and desires. 'What wouldst thou have?' tries a man as much as 'What wouldst thou do?' Thus God tried whether

Devotion to God

Solomon was one of the children of this world that say 'Who will show us any good?' or of the children of Light that say 'Lord, friends, that would dissuade us from and discourage us in the service of God and the work of religion. lift up the light of thy countenance upon us.' As we choose we shall have and that is likely to be our portion to which we give the preference, whether the wealth and pleasures of this world or spiritual riches and delights.

Ruth 1

Christ has hereby taught us to go on with resolution in the way of our duty, how violent soever the opposition is, that we meet with in it. We must deny ourselves sometimes in our ease, pleasure, and convenience, rather than give offence even tc those who causelessly take it; but we must not deny ourselves the satisfaction of serving God, and doing good, though offence may unjustly be taken at it. None could be more tender of giving offence than Christ; yet, rather than send this poor man away uncured, he would' venture offending all the scribes and Pharisees that compassed him about.

2 Chronicles 1

Then our desire must be towards him and our delight in him (the word signifies both); we must delight in what we have of God and desire what we yet further hope for. Our desires must not only be offered up to God, but they must all terminate in him, desiring nothing more than God, but still more and more of him. This includes all our prayers, 'Lord, give us Thyself', as that includes all the promises, 'I will be to them a God.'

Mark 3

Psalm 73

Thus the enemies of religion are made more resolute and active by being baffled; and shall its friends be disheartened with every disappointment, who know its cause is righteous and will at last be victorious?

Determination

Nothing could be said more fine, more brave, than this. She seems to have had another spirit, and another speech, now that her sister had gone, and it

John 12 is an instance of the grace of God inclining the soul to the resolute choice of the better part. Draw me thus, and we

Devotion to God will run after thee. Her mother's dissuasions made her the more

Yet, if it had been true, as they said here, that since they returned to the service of the true God, the God of Israel, they had been in want and trouble, was that a reason why resolute; as when Joshua said to the people, You cannot serve the Lord, they said it with the more vehemence, 'Nay but we will'? . . . Our relations they may be, but they cannot be our

Devotion to God they should revolt from him again? That was as much as to say that they served not him, but their own bellies. Those who know God, and put their trust in him, will serve him, though he starve them, though he slay them, though they never see a good day with him in this world, being well assured that they shall not lose by him in the end.

Go to the miners then, thou sluggard in religion; consider their ways, and be wise. Let their courage, diligence, and constancy in seeking the wealth that perisheth shame us out of slothfulness and _ faint-heartedness in labouring for the true riches. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! How much easier and safer! Yet gold is sought for, but grace neglected. Will the hopes of precious things out of the earth (so they call them, though really they are paltry and perishing) be such a spur to industry, and shall not the certain prospect of truly precious things in heaven be much more so?...

Jeremiah 44

Since in him and upon him we live, we ought to live to him; since in him we move, we ought to move towards him; and since in him we have our being, and from him we receive all the supports and comforts of our being, we ought to consecrate our being to him, and to apply to him for a new being, a better being, an eternal well-being.

It is better to get wisdom than gold. Gold is another's, wisdom our own; gold is for the body and time, wisdom for the soul and eternity. Let that which is most precious in God's account be so in ours. See (Prov. 3, 14) ete snr

Acts 17

Diligence

He sought the law of the Lord; that is, he made it his business to enquire into it, searched the Scriptures and sought the knowledge of God, of his mind and will in the Scriptures which is to be found there but not without seeking.

Such is the degeneracy of human nature that there is no true wisdom to be found with any but those who are born again, and who, through grace, partake of the divine nature. As for others, even the most ingenious and industrious, they can tell us no tidings of thislost wisdom...

Ezra 7

If valuable things were too easily obtained men would never learn to take pains . . . What is for necessity is had with a little labour from the surface of the earth; but what is for ornament must be dug with a great deal of pains out of the bowels of it. To be fed is cheap, but to be Men can more easily break through the difficulties they meet with in getting worldly wealth than through those they meet with in getting heavenly wisdom, and they will take more pains to learn how to live in this world than how to live for ever in a better world. fine is chargeable...

Job 28

Discerning God's Hand

He had said, 'The hand of the diligent makes rich', as a means; but, here he ascribes it to 'the blessing of the Lord'; but that blessing is upon the hand of the diligent. It is thus in spiritual riches. Diligence in getting them ordinances of the Gospel, and our opportunities of attending them, bibles, ministers, sabbaths, sacraments, must be improved for the end for which they were instituted, and communion with God kept up by them, and the gifts and graces of the Spirit must be exercised; and this is trading with our talents. is our duty, but God's blessing and grace must have all the glory of that which is acquired, (Deut. 8:17, 18).

Matthew 25

Proverbs 10

Disasters

This reason is further illustrated by the rule God observes in dispensing his gifts; he bestows them on those who improve them, but takes them away from those who bury them. It is a rule among men, that they will rather entrust their money with those who have increased their estates by their industry, than with those who have diminished them by their slothfulness.

He cast off God himself for he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus not because he loved them, for he thought they smote him, but because he feared them thinking they helped his enemies and that if he could bring them into his interest they would help him. Foolish man! It was his own God that smote him and strengthened the Syrians against him, not the gods of Damascus. Had he sacrificed to him and him only he would have helped him. But no marvel that men's affections and devotions are misplaced when they mistake the author of their trouble and their help.

Matthew 13

The work of religion is vineyard work, pruning, dressing, digging, watering, fencing, weeding. We have each of us our own vineyard to keep, our own soul; and it is God's, and to be kept and dressed for him. In this work we must not be slothful, not loiterers, but labourers, working, and working out our own salvation. Work for God will not admit of trifling. A man may go idle to hell; but he that will go to heaven, must be busy.

2 Chronicles 28

Discerning God's Hand

See how God can raise up friends for his people in distress where they little thought of them, and animate men for his service even beyond expectation.

Matthew 20

The endowments of the mind — reason, wit, learning, must be used in subserviency to religion;

Jeremiah 38

the enjoyments of the world —

Those whom Christ designs for estate, credit, interest, power, preferment, must be improved the greatest honours are commonly first laid low. Those for the honour of Christ. The

Discerning God's Hand

Discipline who are designed to excel in knowledge and grace are commonly laid low first, in a sense of their own ignorance and sinfulness. Those whom God will employ are first struck with a sense of their unworthiness to be employed.

Sinners must be put to shame that those who will not be restrained by the shamefulness of their sin before God and their consciences may be restrained by the shamefulness of the punishment before men.

Acts 9

Judges 18

Discernment

Discontent

See what a distinction is put between sins of presumption and sins of infirmity. Alexander the coppersmith, who maliciously withstood Paul, he prays against: 'The Lord reward him according to his works'; but respecting these Christians, who through weakness shrunk from Paul in time of trial, he says, "The Lord lay it not to their charge'.

It is an evidence of a discontented, distrustful, unstable spirit, to be weary of the place in which God hath set us, and to be for leaving it immediately whenever we meet with any uneasiness or inconvenience in ite

Ruth 1

God had given them meat for their hunger, in the manna, wholesome pleasant food and in abundance; he had given them meat for their faith out of the heads of leviathan which he 'broke in pieces' (74:14). But 2 Timothy 4

Discipleship

As long as we live we must be scholars in Christ's school, and sit at his feet; but we should aim to be head-scholars, and to get into the highest form. all this would not serve; they must have meat for their lust, dainties and varieties to gratify a luxurious appetite. Nothing is more provoking to God than our quarrelling with our allotment and indulging the desires of the flesh.

Psalm 119

All the disciples and followers of Jesus Christ must deny themselves. It is the fundamental law of admission into Christ's school, and the first and great lesson to be learned in this school, to deny ourselves; it is both the strait gate, and the narrow way; it is necessary in order to our learning all the other good lessons that are there taught.

Psalm 78

Have nothing to do, he does not say, with those that change, for there may be cause to change for the better; but those that are given to change, that affect change for change-sake, out ofa peevish discontent with that which is, and a fondness for novelty, or a desire to fish in Matthew 16

Discouragements

A good method of religious services, which we have found beneficial to ourselves and others, ought not to be altered without good reason, and therefore not without mature deliberation. troubled waters: 'Meddle not with those that are given to change', either in religion or the civil government; 'come not into their secret'; join not with them in their cabals, nor enter into the mystery of their iniquity. Those that are of a restless, factious, turbulent spirit, commonly pull mischief upon their own head ere they are aware.

Zechariah 7

Discouragements

Observe here the encouragement of God to Joshua to proceed 'Fear not, neither be thou dismayed'. This intimates that the sin of Achan and the consequences of it had been a very great discouragement to Joshua and made his heart almost ready to fail. Corruptions within the church weaken the hands and damp the spirits of her guides and helpers more than oppositions from without. Treacherous

Proverbs 24

Those destroy themselves who are not pleased with what God does for them, but think they can do better for themselves. Well, in both these requests, Providence humoured them, gave them Saul first, and afterwards Jeroboam. And what the better were they for them? Saul was 'given in anger' (given in 'thunder') (1 Sam. 12:18, 19)

Israelites are to be dreaded more than malicious Canaanites. and soon after was 'taken away in wrath', upon Mount Gilboa. The kingly government of the ten tribes was given in anger, not only against Solomon for his defection, but against the ten tribes that desired it, for their discontent and _ disaffection to the house of David; and God was now about to take that away in wrath by the power

Joshua 8

This was a great trial of David's faith whether he would go on in a dependence upon the word of God when so many of his men failed him. When we are disappointed and discouraged in our expectations from second causes, then to go on with cheerfulness confiding in the Divine power, this is giving glory to God by believing against hope in hope. of the king of Assyria. . . First, God often gives in anger what we sinfully and _ inordinately desire, gives it with a curse, and with it gives us up to our own hearts' lusts. Thus he

1 Samuel 30

It was their infirmity to mingle thus tears with the common joys and so to cause a damp upon them. They despised the day of small things and were unthankful for the good they enjoyed because it was not so gave Israel quails. Secondly, what we inordinately desire we are commonly disappointed in, and it cannot save us, as we expected it should.

Hosea 13

Discouragements much as their ancestors had though it was much more than they deserved. In the harmony of public joys let not us be jarring strings. will do us no harm, and which those that put on a little courage and resolution will despise and easily break through. Note, those that will be deterred and driven off by small and seeming difficulties from great and real duties will never bring anything to pass in religion, for there will always arise some wind, some cloud or other, at least in our imagination, to discourage us. Winds and clouds are in God's hands, are designed to try us, and our christianity obliges us to endure hardness.

Ezra 3

At the very time when the adversaries said, Let us cause the work to cease, Judah said, 'Let us even let it fall, for we are not able to go forward with it,' (v. 10). They represent the labourers as tired, and the remaining difficulties, even of that first part of their work, the removing of the rubbish,

Ecclesiastes 11 as insuperable, and _ therefore they think it advisable to desist for the present. Can Judah, that warlike valiant tribe, sneak thus? Active leading men have many times as much ado to grapple with the fears of their friends as with the terrors of their enemies.

As long as we see ourselves in the way of God and duty it is weakness and folly, when we meet with difficulties and discouragements in it, to wish we had never set out in it.

It is a strong temptation to poor ministers to resolve that they will preach no more when they see their preaching slighted and wholly ineffectual. But let people dread putting their ministers into this temptation. Let not their labour be in vain with us, lest we provoke them to say that they will take no more pains with us, and provoke God to say, "They shall take no more'. Yet let not ministers hearken to this temptation, but go on in their duty, notwithstanding their discouragements, for this is the more thankworthy.

Nehemiah 4

If we stand thus magnifying every little difficulty and making the worst of it, starting objections and _ fancying hardship and danger where there is none, we shall never go on, much less go through with our work, nor make anything of it. If the husbandman should decline, or leave off, sowing for the sake of every flying cloud, and reaping for the sake of every blast of wind, he would make but an ill account of his husbandry at the year's end. The duties of religion are as necessary as sowing and reaping, and will turn as much to our own advantage. The discouragements we meet with in these duties are but as winds and clouds, which Jeremiah 20

Those that engage in any great and good work must expect to meet with hindrance and opposition from friends and foes, from within and from without.

Matthew 16

Disobedience

Discretion the loss of it and of evil by the sense of it.

Deuteronomy 30

He left Judea, because he was likely to be persecuted there even to the death; such was the rage of the Pharisees against him, and such their impious policy to devour the manchild in his infancy. To escape their designs, Christ quitted the country, and went where what he did would be less provoking than just under their eye. For, His hour was not yet come, (John 7:30).

Their multiplying of altars dedicated to the God of Israel would introduce altars dedicated to other gods. Note, it is a great sin to corrupt the worship of God, and it will be charged as sin upon those that do it, how plausible soever their pretensions may be. And the way of this, as other sins, is down-hill; those that once deviate from the fixed rule of God's commands will wander endlessly.

John 4

Hosea &

He prudently argues from the principles of their own law, and an incontestable rule of justice, that no man is to be condemned unheard. Had he urged the excellency of Christ's doctrine or the evidence of his miracles, or repeated to them his divine discourse with him (ch. 3), it had been but to cast pearls before swine, who would trample them under their feet, and would turn again and rend him.

'They spread abroad His fame'. This was more an act of zeal than of prudence; and though it may be excused as honestly meant for the honour of Christ, yet it cannot be justified, being done against a particular charge. Whenever we profess to direct our intention to the glory of God, we must see to it that the action be according to the will of God.

John 7

Matthew 9

Disobedience

Kings have sceptres put into their hand, marks of dominion, Never was people so perverse and so desperately resolved in everything to work contrary to God. God bade them go and they would not; He forbade them and they would. Thus is the carnal mind enmity to God. as the crown is of dignity; to imitate this, they put a reed in his right hand. Those who despise the authority of the Lord Jesus, as not to be observed and obeyed, who regard not either the precepts of his word, or the threatenings of his wrath, do, in effect, put a reed in his hand; nay, and, as these here, smite him on the head with it, such is the indignity they do him.

Numbers 14

Our first parents ate the forbidden fruit in hopes of getting thereby the knowledge of good and evil but it was a miserable knowledge they got. Of good by Mark 15

Distrust profession, besides that of eating with publicans and sinners; and

Distrust it is therefore suggested to them, that they should change that profession for another more strict. It appears by the other evangelists (Mark 2:18 and Luke 5:33) that the disciples of the Pharisees joined with them, and we have reason to suspect that they instigated them, making use of John's disciples as their spokesmen, because they, being more in favour with Christ and his disciples, could do it more plausibly. Note it is no new thing for bad men to set good men together by the ears: if the people of God differ in their sentiments, designing men will take that occasion to sow discord, and to incense them one against another, and alienate them one from another, and so make an easy prey of them. If the disciples of John and of Jesus clash, we have reason to suspect the Pharisees have been at work underhand, blowing the coals. Now the complaint is, 'Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples fast not?' It is pity the duties of religion, which ought to be the confirmations of holy love, should be made the occasions of strife and contention.

The many experiences we have had of the goodness of God to us aggravate our distrust of Him. Has he not helped us in six troubles and have we any reason to suspect Him in the seventh. See how deceitful our hearts are? We trust in God when we have nothing else to trust to when need drives us to Him but when we have other things to stay on we are apt to stay too much on them and to lean to our own understanding as long as that has anything to offer but a believing confidence will be in God only when a smiling world courts it most.

2 Chronicles 16

Division

The conquerors gave no quarter so they put to the sword 500,000 chosen men, more, it is said, than ever we read of in any history to have been killed in one battle but the battle was the Lord's who would thus chastise the idolatry of Israel and own the house of David. But see the sad effect of division. It was the blood of Israel that was shed like water by Israelites while the heathen, their neighbours, to whom the name of Israel had formerly been a terror, cried 'Aha, so would we have it.'

Matthew 9

In the best-ordered church in the world there will be something amiss, some mal-administration or other, some grievances, or at least some complaints; those are the best that have the least and the fewest.

2 Chronicles 13

The objection which the disciples of John made against Christ's disciples, for not fasting

Acts 6 so often as they did; which they are charged with, as another instance of the looseness of their So liable are the best things in the world to be corrupted, and

Doubts

Christians to question their adoption, 'if thou be the Son of God') and to concur with the operations of the good Spirit, who witnesses to their adoption. the gospel and its institutions, which are at perfect harmony with themselves and _ one another, to be made the engines of variance, discord, and contention. This is no reproach to our religion, but a very melancholy evidence of the corruption and depravity of human nature. Note, How far will pride carry Christians in opposition to one

Job 27

A child of God startles at the very thought of despairing of help in God; you cannot vex him with anything so much as if you offer to persuade him that there is no help for him in God. David comes to God, and tells him what his enemies said of him, as Hezekiah spread another! Even so far as to set Christ and his own apostles at variance, and make them rivals and competitors.

1 Corinthians 1

Rabshakeh's blasphemous letter before the Lord. 'They - say, there is no help for me in thee; but *ord:) ifs its besso, elt-ant undone. They say to my soul, there is no salvation,' (for so the word is) 'for him in God; but Lord, do thou say unto my soul, I am thy salvation, and that shall satisfy me, and in due time silence them.'

Ministers should avoid, as much as may be, what will occasion disputes; and would do well to insist on the great and practical points of religion, about which there can be no disputes; for even disputes about great and necessary truths draw off the mind from the main design of Christianity, and eat out the vitals of religion.

Psalm 3

1 Timothy 1

The souls of good men are often straitened by doubts and fears, cramped and fettered through the weakness of faith and the prevalency of corruption; and it

Divine Patience

We are not only so disobedient that we have need of 'precept upon precept' to bring us to our duty, but so distrustful that we have need of promise upon promise to bring us to our comfort. is then their duty and interest to apply themselves to God, and beg of Him to set them at liberty and to enlarge their hearts, that they may run the way of His commandments.

Jeremiah 33

Psalm 142

The leper was confident of Christ's power, but put an 'if' upon his will (Matt. 8:2); 'If thou wilt, thou canst.' This poor man referred himself to his good will, but put an 'if' upon his power, because his disciples,

Doubts

To resolve that our hearts shall not reproach us while we still hold fast our integrity is to baffle the designs of the evil spirit (who tempts good

Doubts with oil while the Bridegroom tarries as they will be when the Bridegroom comes, how well were it for them. who cast out devils in his name, had been non-plussed in this case. Thus Christ suffers in his honour by the difficulties and follies of his disciples.

Numbers 14

Mark 9

When diseased sinners come to this that they are content to do anything, to submit to anything, to part with anything, for a cure, then, and not till then, there begin to be some hopes of them. Then they will take Christ on His own terms when they are made willing to have Christ upon any terms.

Duty

Though, as a faithful prophet, he foresaw and foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, yet, as a faithful Israelite, he prayed earnestly for the preservation of it, in obedience to that command, 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem'. Though the will of 2 Kings 5

God's purpose is the rule of prophecy and patience, the will of his precept is the rule of prayer and practice. God himself, though he has determined, does not desire, the death of sinners.

Those that were sick of these bodily diseases took the pains to come far and had the patience to wait long for a cure; any of us would have done the same, and we ought to do so but Oh that men were as wise for their souls, and as solicitous to get their spiritual diseases healed!

Jeremiah 28

A great difference should be made between plain and positive duty, and the improvement of a present opportunity of doing or getting good. Many a thing which is good for us to do, yet cannot be said to be, by express and indispensable commandment, our duty at this or that time.

John 5

Effectual Call

The call and offer of the Gospel are like Cyrus's proclamation; deliverance is preached to the captives (Luke 4, 18). Those that are bound under the unrighteous dominion of sin and bound over to the righteous judgment of God may be made free by Jesus Christ. Whoever will, by repentance and faith, return to God, his duty to God, his happiness

2 Corinthians 8

Earnestness

They did not seek the Lord while He might be found and now He would not be found. Oh, if men would but be as earnest for Heaven while their day of Grace lasts as they will be when it is over, would be as solicitous to provide themselves ' in God, Jesus Christ has opened the way for him and let him go up out of the slavery of sin into the glorious liberty of the children of God. The offer is general to all. Christ makes it in pursuance of the grant which

Election the Father has made him of all power in heaven and in earth (a much greater dominion than that given to Cyrus, v. 2) and of the charge given him to build God a house, to set him up a church in the world, a_ kingdom among men. Many that hear this joyful sound choose to sit still in Babylon, are in love with their sins and will not venture upon the difficulties of a holy life. But some there are that break through the discouragements and resolve to build the house of God, to make heaven of their religion whatever it cost them and they are those whose spirit God has raised above the world and the flesh and whom he has made willing in the day of his power. Thus will the heavenly Canaan be replenished though many perish in Babylon and the gospel offer will not be made in vain.

The Gospel command is like this recorded here; and the command is rational and just; though our hands are withered, and we cannot of ourselves stretch them forth, we must attempt it, must, as well as we can, lift them up to God in prayer, lay hold on Christ and eternal life, and employ them in good works; and if we do our endeavour, power goes along with the word of Christ, he effects the cure. Though our hands be withered yet if we will not offer to stretch them out, it is our own fault that we are not healed; but if we do, and are healed, Christ and his power and grace must have all the glory.

Mark 3

Election

The not being included among the elect is not the proper cause of infidelity, but merely the accidental cause. But faith is the gift of God, and the effect of predestination.

Ezra 1

Comparing them together, it is intimated that we are brought to Christ by the force of his call to us, not of our promises

John 10 to him; it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy; He calls whom he will (Rom. 9: The original of the brotherhood that is between Christians and the relation wherein they stand one to another is election. And 16). And further, note, though chosen vessels may make excuses, and delay their compliance with divine calls a great while, yet Christ will at length answer their excuses, conquer their unwillingness, and bring them to his feet; when Christ calls, he will overcome, and make the call effectual (1 Sam. 3:10). His excuse is laid aside as insufficient; 'Let the dead bury it is a good reason why we should 'love one _ another', because we are all beloved of God, and were beloved of him in his counsels when there was not any thing in us to merit his love. The election of these Thessalonians was known _ to the apostles, and therefore might be known to themselves, and that by the fruits and effects thereof — their sincere faith, their dead'.

Matthew &

Election love and meekness, a hearty, friendly, cheerful disposition, and hope, and love, by the successful preaching of the gospel among them. is the life of the flesh; it contributes to a good constitution of body; people grow fat with good humour. A fretful, envious, discontented spirit, 1 Thessalonians 1

Emotion and Health is its own punishment; it consumes the flesh, preys upon the animal spirits, makes the countenance pale, and is the rottenness of the bones.

Wrath kills the foolish man, his own wrath, and therefore he is foolish for indulging it; it is a fire in his bones, in his blood, enough to put him into a fever. Envy is the rottenness of the bones, and so slays the silly one that frets himself with it.

Proverbs 14

He has so little regard to himself as to abandon his own

Job 5 life, and to think it no harm to indulge his passion even to death, to kill himself with fretting. We read of 'wrath that kills the foolish man', and 'envy that slays the silly one' (Job 5:2), and foolish silly ones indeed those are that cut their own throats with their own passions, that fret themselves into' consumptions and other weaknesses, and put themselves into It is a common principle, every one for himself. Now, if this be rightly understood, it will be a reason for the cherishing of gracious dispositions in ourselves and the crucifying of corrupt ones. We are friends or enemies to ourselves, even in respect of present comfort, according as we are or are not governed by religious principles. fevers with their own intemperate heats.

A cruel, froward, ill-natured man troubles his own flesh, and so his sin becomes his punishment ... He is vexatious to his

Jonah

Emptiness of Life nearest relations, that are, and should be, to him as his own flesh? (Eph.'35:29), 1Envy}" arid, malice, and greediness of the world, are the rottenness of the bones and the consumption of the flesh.

Solomon had shown the vanity of pleasure, gaiety, and fine works, of honour, power, and royal dignity; and there is many a covetous worldling that will agree with him, and speak

Proverbs 11 as slightly as he does of. these things; but money, he thinks, The foregoing verse showed how much our reputation, this how much our health, depends upon the good government of our passions and the preserving of ihe "temper of the: mind: A healing spirit, made up of is a substantial thing, and if he can but have enough of that he is happy. This is the mistake which Solomon attacks, and attempts to rectify, in these verses; he shows that

Endurance there is as much vanity in great riches, and the lust of the eye about them, as there is in the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life, and a man can make himself no more happy by hoarding an estate than by spending it. he closed up the canon of the scripture by the pen of his beloved disciple, and then his parting word was, 'Surely, I come quickly; I leave you awhile, but I will be with you again shortly' (Rev. 22:20). By this it appears that he did not part in anger, but in love, and that it is his will we should keep up both our communion with him and our expectation of him.

Ecclesiastes 5

Encouragement

Mutual helpfulness is brotherly

Matthew 28 duty .. . Christ's soldiers should thus strengthen one another's hands in their spiritual warfare. The strong must succour and help the weak. Those _ that through grace are conquerors

For bloody persecutors, when they perceive themselves applauded for that which every one ought to cry shame upon them for, are encouraged to go on, and have their hands strengthened and their hearts hardened, and the checks of their own consciences smothered; nay, it is as strong a temptation to them to do the like as it was here to Herod, 'because he saw over temptation must counsel and comfort and pray for those that are tempted. . . The members of the natural body help one another (1 Cor. 12, 21).

2 Samuel 10 it pleased the Jews.'

By what the prophet said he perceived that his former attempts for reformation were well pleasing to God and, therefore, he revived them and did what was then left undone.

Actsl2

Such faithful souls can hear their own praises without being puffed up; the commendation of what is good in us is designed, not for our pride, but for our encouragement to continue therein, and should be accordingly improved.

It is good when commendations thus quicken us to our duty and when the more we are praised for doing well, the more vigorous we are in well doing.

3 John

2 Chronicles 19

Two solemn farewells we find our Lord Jesus giving to his church, and his parting word at both of them is very encouraging; one was here, when he closed up his personal converse with them, and then his parting word was,

Endurance

Good men, by setting their sorrow continually before them, have been ready to halt, who, by setting God always before them, have kept their standing.

'Lo, I am with you always; I leave you, and yet still I am with you'; the other was, when Psalm 38

Entreaty Precedes Judgment

Envy

Entreaty Precedes Judgment

To be secretly pleased with the death or decay of others, when we are likely to get by it, with their fall when we may thrive upon it, is a sin which most easily besets us, but is not thought to be such a bad thing, and so provoking to God, as really it is. We are apt to say, when those who stand in our light, in our way, are removed, when they break or fall into disgrace, 'We shall be replenished now that they are laid waste.' But this comes from a The generality of them slighted the call and turned a deaf ear to it. The messengers went from city to city; some to one and some to another and used pressing entreaties with the people to come up to Jerusalem to keep the Passover but they were so far from complying with the message that they abused those that brought it, laughed them to scorn and mocked them. Not only refused but refused with disdain. Tell them of the God of Abraham! they knew him not. They had other gods to serve, Baal and Ashtaroth. Tell them of the Sanctuary! their high places were as good. Tell them of God's mercy and wrath! they neither dreaded the one nor desired the other. No marvel that the king's messengers were thus despitefully used by this apostate race, when God's messengers were so, his. servants. the prophets, who produced credentials from Him. The destruction of the ten tribes was now at hand. It was but two or three years after this that the king of Assyria laid siege to Samaria which ended in the captivity of those tribes. Just before this they had not only a king of their own that permitted them to return to God's Sanctuary but a king of Judah that earnestly invited them to do it. Had they generally accepted this invitation selfish covetous principle, and a desire to be placed alone in the midst of the earth, as if we grudged that any should live by us. This comes from a want of that love to our neighbour as to ourselves which the law of God so expressly requires, and from that inordinate love of the world as our happiness which the love of God _ so expressly forbids.

Ezekiel 26

Though the acts and instances of strife and envy are very common, yet none are willing to own the principles, or to acknowledge themselves envious and contentious.

Romans 13 "You are envious' at each other's gifts. In ch. 13:4, the same word is thus translated. You quarrel and contend about them. This they certainly did. And _ this behaviour the apostle here reprehends, and labours to rectify. 'Only of pride cometh contention'. These contests in the church of Corinth sprang from this original. It was a quarrel it might have prevented their ruin but their contempt of it hastened and aggravated it and left them inexcusable.

2 Chronicles 30

Evangelism about precedency (as most quarrels among Christians are, with whatever pretences they are gilded over); and it is no wonder that a quarrel about precedency should extinguish charity. When all would stand in the first rank, no wonder if they jostle, or throw down, or thrust back, their brethren. Gifts may be valued for their use, but they are mischievous when made the fuel of pride and contention. This therefore the apostle endeavours to prevent. as our highest end — 'this is life eternal'.

If man had continued innocent, the knowledge of the only true God would have been life eternal to him; but now that he is fallen there must be something more; now that we are under guilt, to know God is to know him as a righteous Judge, whose curse we are under; and nothing is more killing than to know this. We are therefore concerned to know Christ as our Redeemer, by whom alone we can now have access to God; it isselife eternal, to. (belevesin Christ.

1 Corinthians 12

It is not grieved at the good of others; neither at their gifts nor at their good qualities, their honours nor their estates. If we love our neighbour we shall be so far from envying his welfare, or being displeased with it, that we shall share in it and rejoice at it. His bliss and sanctification will be an addition to ours, instead of impairing or lessening it. This is the proper effect of kindness and benevolence: envy is the effect of illwill. The prosperity of those to whom we wish well can never grieve us; and the mind which is bent on doing good to all can never wish ill to any.

John 17

Evangelism

Not the Levites only but every Israelite must, in his place, help to make known to the sons of men, God's mighty acts. (Ps. 145, 12).

Joshua 4

The. purity, and. Jove of,.the primitive Christians, their heavenly-mindedness, contempt of the world, and patient sufferings, were the brightness of the church's_ rising, which drew many into it.

1 Corinthians 13

Isaiah 60

Eternal Life

The knowledge they have, they must communicate for the good of others; not put it under a bushel, but spread it. The talent must not be buried in a napkin, but traded with. The disciples of Christ must not muffle themselves up in privacy and obscurity, under pretence of contemplation, modesty, or Christ died to bring us to God. To know him as our Creator, and to love him, obey him, submit to him, and trust in him, as our owner, ruler, and benefactor — to devote ourselves to him as our sovereign Lord, depend upon him as our chief good, and direct all to his praise

Evangelism great hindrance to their children and a stumbling-block in their way; see (Eph. 6:4). And it is by the tenderness of parents, and dutifulness of children, that God ordinarily furnishes his church with a seed to serve him, and propagates religion from age to age. self-preservation, but, as they have received the gift, must minister the same (Luke 12:3).

Matthew 5

Christ has many ways of gaining the heart, and by the grant of a temporal mercy may make way for better things.

Colossians 3

Those who can do little else towards the conviction and conversion of others may and should bring them to those means of grace which they themselves have found effectual.

Evil Spirits

Had it been the true Samuel when Saul desired to be told what he should do he would have told him to repent and make his peace with God and recall David from his_ banishment and would then have told him that he might hope in this way to find mercy with God but instead of that he represents his case as helpless and hopeless serving him as he did Judas to whom he was first a tempter and then a tormentor, persuading him first to sell his master and then to hang himself.

John 4

Those who have experienced special instances of God's power and goodness, in temporal or spiritual things, should be ready upon all occasions to communicate their experiences, for the glory of God and the instruction and encouragement of others. See David's collection of his experiences, his own and others', (Ps. 34: 4—6). It isadebt we owe to our benefactor, and to our brethren. God's favours are lost upon us, when they are lost with us, and go no further.

1 Samuel 28

John 9

Excuses

It is our duty not only to hold fast, but to hold forth the word of life; not only to hold it fast for our own benefit, but to hold

See what a hard thing it is to convince the children of disobedience of their sin and to strip them of their fig-leaves. it forth for the benefit of others, to hold it forth as the candlestick holds forth the candle, which makes it appear to advantage all around, or as the luminaries of the heavens, which shed their influence far and wide.

1 Samuel 15

This servant thought that his account would pass well enough, because he could say, 'There thou hast that is thine. Lord, I was no spendthrift of my estate, no prodigal of my time, no profaner of my sabbaths, no opposer of good ministers and good preaching; Lord, I never

Philippians 2

The bad temper and example of

imprudent parents often prove a

Externals

Experimental Religion ridiculed my bible, nor set my wits to work to banter religion, nor abused my power to persecute any good man; I never drowned my parts, nor wasted God's good creatures in drunkenness and gluttony, nor ever to my _ knowledge did I injure any body'. Many that are called Christians, build great hopes for heaven upon their being able to make such an account; yet all this amounts to no more than 'there thou hast that is thine'; as if no more were required, or could be expected.

The graciousness of our Redeemer is best discovered by an experimental taste of it. There must be an immediate application of the object to the organ of taste; we cannot taste at a distance, as we may see, and hear, and smell. To taste the graciousness of Christ experimentally supposes our being united to him by faith, and then we may taste his goodness in -all his providences, in all our spiritual concerns, in all our fears and temptations, in his word and worship every day.

Matthew 25

Those who lay the blame of their sins either upon their constitution or upon their condition in the world, or who pretend they are under a fatal necessity of sinning, wrong God, as if he were the author of sin. . . In other scriptures the devil is called 'the tempter', and other things may sometimes concur to tempt us; but neither the devil nor any other person or thing is to be blamed so as to excuse ourselves; for the true original of evil and temptation

1 Peter 2

Externals

David in his Psalms often called the tabernacle a temple as (Ps85:9 9827 Ay 2989 GbeA: 138:2) because it answered the intention of a temple though it was made but of curtains. Wise and good men value not the show while they have the substance.

2 Samuel 7 is in our own hearts.

He teaches us several good lessons, as, not to admire bodily bulk, or beauty, or strength, nor to value persons or think the better of them for such advantages, but to judge of men by their wisdom and conduct, their industry and application to business, which are characters that deserve respect.

James 1

Experience

There is many a profitable good lesson to be learned by experience. We are very unapt scholars if we have not learned by experience the evil of sin, the treachery of our own hearts, the vanity of the world, the goodness of God, the gains of godliness and the like.

Proverbs 30

It is intimated, that the people, as long as they had the fruits of the earth brought in their Genesis 30

Externals

The holy place was at first but a tabernacle, mean and movable, showing itself to be short-lived, and not designed to continue always. Why might not this holy place, though built of stones, be decently brought to its end, and give place to its betters, season, presented to the Lord his dues out of them, and brought the offerings to the altar and tithes to those that served at the altar. Note, a people may be filling up the measure of their iniquity apace, and yet may keep up a course of external performances in religion. as well as that though framed of curtains? As it was no dishonour, but an honour to God, that the tabernacle gave way to the temple, so it is now that the material temple gives way to the spiritual one, and so it will be when, at last, the spiritual temple shall give way to the eternal one.

Joell

Even good men are apt to be too much enamoured with outward pomp and gaiety, and to overvalue it, even in the things of God; whereas we should be, as Christ was, dead to it, and look upon it with contempt.

Acts 7

They forgot how many providences, concerning Solomon's temple, had manifested how

Faith little God cared for that outward glory which they had so much admired, when the people were wicked (2 Chron. 7:21). This house, which is high, sin will bring low. Christ had lately looked upon the precious souls, and wept for them (Luke

A lively active faith can take encouragement from the least intimation of the divine favour, a merciful hint of providence will encourage those who make diligent search.

Exodus 2

19:41). The disciples look upon the pompous buildings, and are ready to weep for them. In this, She believed, upon the report she had heard of the wonders wrought for Israel, that their God was the only true God and that their declared design upon Canaan would undoubtedly take effect and in this faith she sided with them, protected them and courted their favour. Had she said 'I believe God is yours and Canaan yours but I dare not show you any kindness' her faith had been dead and inactive and would not have justified her. as in other things, his thoughts are not like ours. It was weakness, and meanness of spirit, in the disciples, to be so fond of the fine buildings; it was a childish thing.

They would have _ Christ look upon them, and be as much in love with them as they were; he would have them look upon them, and be@-as® deadito thei ast) he was.

Joshua 2

He pitched near a famous well that his army might not be Matthew 24

Faith distressed for want of water and gained the higher ground which possibly might be of some advantage to him, for the Midianites were beneath him in the valley. Faith in God's promises must not slacken but rather quicken our endeavours. When we are sure God goes before us, then we must bestir ourselves. (2 Sam. 5:24). now few, he believed they would be multiplied, and therefore, built the walls so as to make room for them; had he not depended upon this he might have thought walls without a city as great a reproach as a city without walls.

Nehemiah 7

Tf thou shouldst decline the service, enlargement and deliverance will arise to the Jews from another place.' This was the language of a strong faith, which staggered not at the promise when the danger was most threatening, but against hope believed in hope. Instruments may fail, but God's covenant will not.

Judges 7

Learn to reason as Manoah's wife did. If God had designed me to perish under his wrath he would not have given me such distinguishing tokens of his favour. Oh, woman, great is thy faith.

Judges 13

Esther 4

See the power of God who kills and makes alive again. See the power of prayer. As it has the key of the clouds so it has the key of death. See the power of faith. That fixed law of nature

With what constancy he depends upon him: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him (v. 15). This is a high expression of faith, and what we should all labour to come up to — to trust in God, though he slay us, that is, we must be well pleased with God as a friend even when he seems to come forth against us as an enemy (ch. 23:8—10). We must believe that all shall work for good to us even when all seems to make against us (Jer. 24:5). We must proceed and persevere in the way of our duty, though it cost us all that (that death is a way whence there is no return) shall rather be dispensed with than that this believing Shunamite shall be disappointed.

2 Kings 4

An active faith can give thanks for a promise though it be not yet performed knowing that God's bonds are as good as ready money. God has spoken in His holiness, I will rejoice (Ps. 60:5). is dear to us in this world, even life itself (Heb. 11:35). We must depend upon the performance of the promise when all the ways leading to it are shut up (Rom. 4:18). We must rejoice in God when we have nothing else to rejoice in, and cleave to him, yea, though we cannot for the present find comfort in him. In 2 Chronicles 20

Nehemiah walled the city in faith, and with an eye to that promise of the replenishing of it which God had lately made by the prophet (Zech. 8, v. 3) etc. Though the people were

Faith

I give thee up Ephraim?' (Hos. a dying hour we must derive from him living comforts; and this is to trust in him though he slay us.

11585.9)8 Psalm 77

So full is he of the comfort of God's presence with him, the divine protection he is under, and the divine promise he has to depend upon, that in a transport of joy he stirs up himself and others to give God the glory of it: Sing unto the Lord, praise you the Lord. Here appears a great change with him since he began this discourse; the clouds are blown over, his complaints all silenced and turned into thanksgivings. He has now an entire confidence in Job 13 'My eyes fail while I wait for my God'; he had almost looked his eyes out in expectation of deliverance. Yet his pleading this with God is an indication that he is resolved not to give up believing and praying. His throat is dried, but his heart is not; his eyes fail, but his faith does not. Thus our Lord Jesus, on the cross, cried out, 'Why hast Thou forsaken me?' yet, at the same times heickept "hold "of his relation to him: 'My God, My God.' that God whom he was distrusting (v. 7); he stirs up himself to praise that name which he was resolving no more to make mention of (v. 9). It was the lively exercise of faith that made this happy change, that turned his sighs into songs and _ his tremblings into triumphs.

Psalm 69

If fear and melancholy ask such peevish questions, let faith answer them from the Scripture: 'Will the Lord cast us off for ever?' God forbid (Rom. 11:1), no, "The Lord will not cast off His people' (94:14). 'Will He be favourable no more?' Yes He will, "for though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion.' (Lam. 3:32). 'Is His mercy clean gone for ever?' No, 'His mercy endures for ever'; as it is 'from everlasting' it is 'to everlasting'

Jeremiah 20

The prophet did himself lift up his eyes and see the four horns, and saw them so formidable that he began to despair of the safety of every good man, and the success of every good work; but) "the * Lord? "then 'showed him four carpenters', or 'smiths' who were' empowered to cut off these horms, (vs, 205.21). With'an. eye. of sense we see the power of the enemies of the church; look which way we will, the world (103:17). 'Doth His promise fail for evermore?' No, 'it is impossible for God to lie' (Heb. 6:18). 'Hath God forgotten to be gracious?" No, 'He cannot deny Himself' and His own name which He _ hath proclaimed 'sracious and merciful' (Exod. 34:6). 'Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?' No, they are 'new every morning' (Lam. 3: 23); and therefore 'How shall shows us that. But it is with an eye of faith that we see it safe, notwithstanding; it is the Lord that shows us that, as he opened the eyes of the prophet's servant to see the angelic guards

Faith round about his master (2 Kings had faith enough to _ bring him upon the water, yet, because not enough to carry him through, Christ tells him he had «but ttle. 2, Our <discouraging doubts and fears are 6:17). Zechariah 1

It was a great honour which Christ put upon this Centurion, when he gave him a blank, as all owing to the weakness of our faith. Therefore we doubt, because we are but of little faith. It is the business of faith to resolve doubts, the doubts of sense, in a stormy day, so it were; 'Be it done as thou believest'. What could he have more? Yet what was said to him is said to us all, 'Believe, and ye shall receive, only believe'. See here the power of Christ, and the power of faith. As Christ can do what he will, so an active believer may have what he will from Christ; the oil of grace multiplies, and stays not till the vessels of faith fail. as even then to keep the head above water. Could we but believe more, we should doubt less. . . Our doubts and fears would soon vanish before a strict enquiry into the cause of them; for, all things considered, there

Matthew 8 is no good reason why Christ's disciples should be of a doubtful mind, no, not in a stormy day, because he is ready to them, 'a very present help'.

Still it is put to us, 'Believe we that Christ is able to do for us', by the power of his merit and intercession in heaven, of his Spirit and grace in the heart, and of his providence and dominion in the world? To believe the power of Christ is not only to assure ourselves of Matthew 14

Christ treated her thus, to try her; he knows what is in the heart, knew the strength of her faith, and how well able she was, by his grace, to break through such discouragements; he therefore met her with toem, 'thatthe trial of 'her faith might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory,' it, but to commit ourselves to it, and encourage ourselves in it.

Though he had kept them in suspense awhile, and had not helped them at first, they honestly imputed that to his wisdom, not to his weakness, and were still confident of his ability.

(1. Pet, 3:6, -7)i. This was like God's tempting Abraham (Gen. 22:1), like the angel's wrestling with Jacob, only to put him upon wrestling (Gen. 32:24). Many of the methods. of Christ's providence, and especially of his grace, in dealing with his people, which are dark and perplexing, may be explained with the key of this story, which is for that end left upon record, to teach us that there may be love in Christ's heart

Matthew 9

He rebuked him, for as many as he loves and saves, he reproves and chides; 'O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?' Note, 1. Faith may be true, and yet weak; at first like a grain of mustard seed Peter

Faith many thousands that perished in the destruction of Jerusalem, there was not so much as one Christian. See (Euseb. Eccl. Hist. lib 3 cap 5). Thus the prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself (Prov. 22:3; Heb. 11:7). This warning was not kept private. St. Matthew's gospel was published long before that destruction, so that others might have taken the advantage of it; but their perishing through their unbelief of this, was a figure of their eternal perishing through their unbelief of the warnings Christ gave concerning the wrath to come. while there are frowns in his face, and to encourage us, therefore, 'though he slay us, yet to trust in him'.

It is her faith that he commends. There were _ several graces that shone bright in her conduct of this affair — wisdom, humility, meekness, patience, perseverance in prayer; but these were the product of her faith, and therefore Christ fastens upon that as most commendable; because of all graces faith honours Christ most, therefore of all graces Christ honours faith most.

Matthew 15

Matthew 24

Faith in general is a firm assent to, a compliance with, and a confidence in, all divine revelation. The faith here required, He believes it with application, not only in general, "Thou canst do everything' (as John 11:22), but, 'Thou canst make me clean'. Note, what we believe of the power of Christ we must bring home to our particular case; "hou canst do this for me'. is that which had for its object that particular revelation by which Christ gave his disciples power to work miracles in his name, for the confirmation of the doctrine they preached. It was a faith in this revelation that they were defective in.

Mark 1

It justifies us (Rom. 5:1), and so removes mountains of guilt, and casts them into the depths of the sea, never to rise up in judgment against us (Mic. 7:19).

Matthew 17

Now those to whom Christ said this immediately, did not live to see this dismal day, none of all the twelve but John only; they needed not to be hidden in the mountains (Christ hid them in heaven), but they left the direction to their successors in profession, who pursued it, and it was of use to them; for when the Christians in Jerusalem and Judea saw the ruin coming on, they all retired

It purifies the heart (Acts 15:9), and so removes mountains of corruption, and makes them plains before the grace of God (Zech. 4:7). It is by faith that the world is conquered, Satan's fiery darts are quenched, a soul is crucified with Christ, and yet lives; by faith we set the Lord always before us, and see him that is invisible, and have him present to our minds; and this to a town called Pella, on the other side of Jordan, where they were safe; so that of the is effectual to remove mountains, for at the presence of the

Faith

Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, the mountains were not only moved, but removed, (Ps. 114:4—7). credulity by bold assertions, but with the greatest fairness imaginable quitted all demands of their faith, further than he produced warrants for these demands. Christ is no hard master, who expects to reap in assents where he has not sown in arguments. None shall perish for the disbelief of that which was not proposed to them with sufficient motives of credibility, Infinite Wisdom itself being judge.

Mark 11

First, to be a Christian indeed is to believe on Christ's name; it is to assent to the Gospel discovery, and consent to the Gospel proposal, concerning him. His name is the Word of God; the King of kings, the Lord our righteousness; Jesus a Saviour.

Now to believe on his name... Believe your own eyes, your own reason; the thing speaks itself plainly enough. As the invisible things of the Creator are clearly seen by his works of creation and common _ providencemi( Rom. 41:20) te someine invisible things of the Redeemer were seen by his miracles, and by all his works both of power and mercy; so that those who were not. convinced by these works were 'without excuse'. is to acknowledge that he is what these great names bespeak him to be, and to acquiesce in it, that he may be so for us.

Secondly, believing in Christ's name is receiving him as a gift from God. We must receive his doctrine as true and_ good; receive his law as just and holy; receive his offers as kind and advantageous; and we must receive the image of his grace, and impressions of his love, as John 10 the governing principle of our affections and actions.

The crosses and comforts of this present time would not make such an impression upon us as they do if we did but believe the things of eternity as we ought.

John 1

A good opinion of Christ is far short of a lively faith in Christ; many give Christ a good word that give him no more. These here said, 'This is the prophet, and this is the Christ', but could not persuade themselves to leave

John 11

What it is to believe; it is to 'know surely', to know 'that it is so of a truth'. The disciples were very weak and defective in knowledge; yet Christ, who knew them better than they knew themselves, passes his word for them that they did believe. We may know surely that which we neither do nor can know fully; may 'know the certainty of the things which all and follow him; and so this their testimony to Christ was but a testimony against themselves.

John 7

He did not wind himself into the affections of the people, nor wheedle them by sly insinuations, nor impose upon their

Faith

If with God saying and doing are not two things, then with us believing and enjoying should are not seen', though we cannot particularly describe the nature of them. 'We walk by faith', which knows surely, 'not' yet 'by sight', which knows clearly.

not.

Acts 27

John 17

From faith engrafting us into Christ, to faith deriving virtue from him as our root; both implied in the next words, 'The just shall live by faith'. 'Just by faith', there is faith justifying us; 'live by faith', there is faith maintaining us; and so 'there is a righteousness from faith to faith.' Faith is all in all, both in the beginning and progress of a Christian life. It is not from faith to works, as if faith put us into a justified state, and then works preserved and maintained us in it, but it is We should have said 'Let his ignominious death be private, and his glorious resurrection public'. But God's thoughts are not as ours; and he ordered it that his death should be public before the sun, by the same token that the sun blushed and hid his face upon it. But the demonstrations of his resurrection should be reserved as a favour for his particular friends, and by them be published to the world, that those might be blessed who have not seen, and yet have believed. all along from faith to faith.

Romans 1

He consented to him as his Lord and his God. In faith there must be the consent of the will to gospel terms, as well as the assent of the understanding to gospel truths. We must accept of An 'anointed Saviour', so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Saviour in all his three anointed offices, as prophet, priest, and king — trusting in him, accepting of him, and adhering to him, in all these.

Christ to be that to us which the Father hath appointed him.

John 20

Romans 3 'Hiss feet -and ankle: (bones received strength', which they had not done if he had not attempted to rise, and been helped up; he does his part, and Peter does his, and yet it is Christ that does all: it is he that puts strength into him. As the bread was multiplied in the breaking, and the water turned into wine in the pouring out, so strength was given to the cripple's feet in his stirring them and using them.

When God intends some special blessing, some child of promise, for his people, he commonly puts a sentence of death upon the blessing itself, and upon all the ways that lead to it. Joseph must be enslaved and imprisoned before he be advanced.

Romans 4

Moving mountains is a great achievement in the account of men; but one dram of charity is, in God's account, of much greater worth than all the faith of this sort in the world. Those Acts 3 may do many wondrous works in Christ's name whom yet he will disown, and bid depart from him, as_ workers' of iniquity (Matt. 7:22, 23). Saving faith is ever in conjunction with charity, but the faith of miracles may be without it.

>C) Scat ced there i: verte

1 Corinthians 13

The design of it is to show that those only are just or righteous who do truly live, who are freed from death and wrath, and restored into a state of life in the favour of God; and that it is only through faith that persons become righteous, and as such obtain this life and happiness — that they are accepted of God, and enabled to live to him now, and are entitled to an eternal life in the enjoyment of him hereafter.

The faith sof "a Christian® 4s properly conversant about things revealed, but not seen. Sense converses with things sensible and present; reason is a higher guide, which by sure deductions can infer the operation of causes, and the certainty of events; but faith ascends further

Galatians 3

There must be a sound believing of the great truths of Christianity, and a resolute cleaving to them, in times of trial. That faith which is spoken of here still, and assures us of abundance of particulars that sense and reason could never have found out, upon the credit of revelation; it is 'the evidence of things not seen'. as tried by afflictions consists in a belief of the power, and word, and promise of God.

1 Peter 1

James 1

To believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ is, 1) To discern what he is, according to his name, to have an intellectual view of his person and office, Thus we see that our persons are justified before God by faith, but our faith is justified before men by works. as the Son of God, and the anointed Saviour of the world.

James 2 'That every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life' (John 6:40). 2) To approve him in judgment and conscience, in conviction and consciousness of our case, as one wisely and wonderfully prepared and adapted for the whole work of eternal salvation.

Faith that had 'obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful', and would not, to obtain mercy of man, be unfaithful to God or to his prince; he therefore tells him the truth, the whole truth.

3) To consen? ito "himyand acquiesce in him, as_ our Redeemer and recoverer unto God. 4) To trust to him, and rely upon him, for the full and final discharge of his saving office. 'Those that know thy name will put their trust in thee' (Ps. 9:10).

Jeremiah 37

If ministers, who are reprovers by office, connive at sin and indulge sinners, either show them not their wickedness or show them not the fatal consequences of it, for fear of displeasing them and getting their ill-will, they hereby make themselves partakers of their guilt and are rebellious like them. If people will not do their duty in reforming, yet let ministers do theirs in reproving.

1 John 3

Faithfulness

Let not Jeremiah himself distrust the truth of what he had delivered in God's name because it met with such a daring opposition and contradiction. If what we have spoken be the truth of God, we must not unsay it because men gainsay it; for great is the truth and will pre-

Ezekiel 2 vail. It will stand, therefore let us stand to it, and not fear that men's unbelief or _ blasphemy will make it of no effect.

It appears by his contest with Amaziah the priest of Bethel that he met with opposition in his work, but was a man of undaunted resolution in it, faithful and bold in reproving sin and denouncing the judgments of God for it, and pressing in his exhortations to repentance and reformation.

Jeremiah 28

Jeremiah's life and comfort are in Zedekiah's hand, and he has now a petition to present to him for his favour, and yet, having this opportunity, he tells him plainly that there is a word from the Lord, but no word of comfort for him or his people:

Amos (Intro.)

'Thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon. If Jeremiah had consulted with flesh and blood, he would have given him a plausible answer, and, though he would not have told him a lie, yet he might have chosen whether he would tell him the worst at this time; what occasion was there for it, when he had so often told it him before? But Jeremiah was one

It is observable that he who had but two talents, gave up his account as cheerfully as he who had five; for our comfort, in the day of account, will be according to our faithfulness, not according to our usefulness; our sincerity, not our success; according to the uprightness of our hearts, not according to the degree of our opportunities.

Matthew 25

False Repentance

False Hopes have, answerable to what they hear, are but a mere flash, like

That which they thought would have been their shelter was made their prison first and then their grave. So shall we be disappointed in that which we flee to from God. the crackling of thorns under a pot. We read of hypocrites, that they delight to know God's ways (Isa. 58:2); of Herod, that he heard John gladly (Ch. 6:20); of others, that they rejoiced in his light (John 5:35); of those to whom Ezekiel was a lovely song (Ezek. 33:32); and those represented here by the stony ground, received the word with gladness, and yet came to nothing.

Joshua 10

The Elamites were famous archers, but, 'Behold I will break the bow of Elam' (v. 35), will ruin their artillery, and then the chief of their might is gone. God often orders it so that that which we most trust to first

Mark 4 fails us, and that which was the chief of our might proves the least of our help.

False Humility

Jeremiah 49

Here was a show of humility and. anodesty.._ Peter herein seemed to have, and no doubt he really had, a great respect for his Master, as he had (Luke 5:8). Thus many are beguiled of their reward in a voluntary humility (Col. 2:18, 23), such

Her deceivers have created her as much vexation as her destroyers. The staff that breaks under us may do us as great a mischief as the staff that beats us (Ezek. 29: 65.7). Lamentations 1 a self-denial as Christ neither appoints nor accepts; for, under this show of humility there was a real contradiction to the will of the Lord Jesus: 'I will wash thy feet', saith Christ; "But thou never shalt', saith Peter, It is not a fitting thing'; so making himself wiser than Christ. It is not humility, but infidelity, to put away the offers of the gospel, as if too rich to be made to us or too good news to be true.

Those who neglect God, and seek to creatures for help, will certainly be disappointed; those who depend upon them for support will find them, not 'foundations', but 'broken reeds'; those who depend upon them for supply will find them, not 'fountains', but 'broken cisterns'; those who depend upon them for comfort and a cure will find them 'miserable comforters' and 'physicians of no value.'

John 13

Hosea 5

False Repentance

Many are much affected with the word for the present, who yet receive no abiding benefit by it. The motions of soul they

We are greatly confounded, ashamed of ourselves and our poverty; for «that, is\ it. that

False Repentance

Note, it is folly to think that God should do for us while we hold fast our iniquity as he did for those that held fast their integrity. they complain of, that is it that they blush at the thoughts of, rather than of their sin: We are confounded because we have forsaken the land (forced so to do by the enemy), not because we have forsaken the Lord, being drawn aside of our own lust and enticed — because our dwellings have cast us out, not because our God has cast us off. Thus unhumbled hearts lament

Jeremiah 21

Fashion

He let it grow till it was a burden to him and was heavy on him nor would he cut it as long as he could bear it. As pride feels no cold so it feels no heat and that which feeds and gratifies it is uncomplained of though very uneasy. their calamity, but not their iniquity, the procuring cause of it.

Jeremiah 9

Those that will not take the direction of God's grace how to get clear of their sins would yet be glad of the directions of his providence how to get clear of their troubles. .. All their care is 2 Samuel 14

Many of these things, we may suppose, were very odd and ridiculous, and, if they had not been in fashion, would have been hooted at. They were fitter /to be) toys "for children to play with than ornaments for grown people to go to Mount Zion in. to get rid of their trouble, not to make their peace with God and be reconciled to him — 'That our enemy may go up from us', not, 'That our God may return to us'. Thus Pharaoh (Exod. 10:17). 'Entreat the Lord that He may take away this death'. All their hope is that God had done wondrous works formerly in the deliverance of Jerusalem when Sennacherib besieged it, at the prayer of Isaiah "— so welfare told (2 32:20, 21), and who can tell but he may destroy _ these besiegers (as he did those) at the prayer of Jeremiah? But they did not consider how aifferent) the, 'character' -of Zedekiah and his people was from that of Hezekiah and his people; those were days of general reformation and piety, these of general corruption and apostasy. Jerusalem is now the reverse of what it was then.

Isaiah 3

Fasting

Hereby we own ourselves unworthy of our necessary food, and that we have forfeited it and deserve to be _ wholly deprived of it, we punish ourselves and mortify the body, which has been the occasion of sin, we keep it in a frame fit to serve the soul in serving God, and, by the appetite's craving food, the desires of the soul towards that which is better than life, and all the supports of it, are excited. This was in a special manner seasonable now that God was depriving

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