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| 1. | Paul's Voyage |
| It is very comforting to consider the nature of our title to the Scriptures. It is something far beyond clearness and certainty. It is, I may say, perfect and wonderful. From Genesis to Malachi, the Spirit of God was surveying a period of nearly four thousand years. He had |
| 2. | Work of the House of God and the Workmen Therein, The |
| The books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, and Zechariah hang together. In Ezra, we get the temple built and worship restored; in Nehemiah, the restoration of the city; Haggai opens out the secret of the hindrances to the work; in Zechariah we have truth presented by which God strengthened the |
| 3. | Gideon, God's Mighty Man of Valor |
| The history of Gideon is of much practical importance. It is the history of one of those revivals in Judges so peculiarly applicable to the present circumstances and need of the Church. |
| 4. | 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 |
| 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)Amongst the numerous hindrances to thorough consecration of heart to Christ, which I earnestly desire for myself and my reader, "the unequal yoke" will be found to occupy a very prominent place indeed. " Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what partnership hath righteousness with unrighteousness |
| 5. | Mystery, The |
| There were two objects embraced in Paul's ministry. He has expressed them in verses 8 and 9 of this chapter, where he states in brief and plain terms the character of his commission as an apostle or evangelizer. |
| 6. | Meditations on Subjects of Interest |
| I. Dispensational Truth. |
| 7. | New Birth*, The |
| I desire to meditate a little on the third chapter of the Gospel of John and its connection with some other parts of Scripture, more particularly in reference to the new birth. I desire to do so for the profitable understanding of what the new man is, and the place |
| 8. | Unveiled Face, The |
| We have a remarkable series of contrasts in the third chapter of this epistle, designed to exhibit the perfect place of blessing in which we are set in Christ. After speaking of his own special relationship, through his ministry, to the believers at Corinth (vv. 1-4), the apostle |
| 9. | Ephesians |
| Chapter 1 |
| 10. | Attractive Power of Christ Crucified; the Separating Power of Christ at His Coming, The |
| John 3:11-17; 12:20-33 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:11-17)
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. 31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. (John 12:20-33); 1 Thess. 4:13-1813 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). |
| 11. | 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Part 2 |
| 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)4. We have only now to consider the philanthropic phase of the unequal yoke. Many will say, " I quite admit that we ought not to mingle ourselves with positive unbelievers in the worship or service of God; but then we can freely unite with such for the furtherance |
| 12. | Typical Character of Genesis 1, 2, 3, The |
| The first chapter of Genesis, with the first three verses of the second, evidently forms a distinct section of the book. It represents creation as the work of God, and the rest consequent upon the work being finished. Nothing else is allowed to mix itself up with this. It |
| 13. | Ephesians Continued, The Epistle to the |
| 2. Then God is dealing with living realities in His word. If doctrines tell me that God is dealing with me, precepts tell me that it is with me God is dealing. God is not revealing an indefinite light that may sparkle before me. He addresses Himself to |
| 14. | Extract: His and Our End Reached |
| "I have just been reading again that lovely fourth chapter of John. What a little heaven it is to sit in spirit there, and be in company with Him that is the eternal life, in full grace dispensing Himself to one of the degraded captives of pollution and death! |
| 15. | In Everything Give Thanks |
| "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." -1 Thess. 5:18 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18). |
| 16. | Light From Heaven Above the Brightness of the Sun, A |
| I would desire particularly to ask the question, Why was it that Jehovah said to Moses- -who was a good man, as we should popularly term it—-" Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from oil thy feet" (Ex. 3:5 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (Exodus 3:5)); but to a wretched rebel like |
| 17. | Truth and Love |
| 1JO2JOThere is a peculiar rest to the heart in meditating on St. John's writings. For in them God in the grace of the Father and the Son seems to shine immediately on the poor sinner; and though all committed to man may have failed, yet in Jesus there is a |
| 18. | Colossians |
| COLThe profound character of this epistle consists in its being, in the first chapter, a concentration of the epistles to the Thessalonians, Ephesians, and Philippians, presenting the person of Christ substantially, to faith, in relation to the subjects of all these three epistles. The second chapter is to teach us |
| 19. | Revelation, On the |
| REVThe glory which shows itself to us at the opening of the Gospel by St. John, is both entitled and described there very simply. It is called "the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father," and borne by one who is described as "full of grace and truth." |
| 20. | Fragment: I Am |
| "I am that I am," was the glorious name under which God introduced Himself to Israel. God over all-none by searching could find Him out: He would be God, and take His own way: and He would have mercy on whom He would have mercy, and would have compassion on |
| 21. | What Is the Church? Her Power, Hopes, Calling, Present Position, and Occupation |
| "Scripture speaks of our place, our privileges, our responsibilities." |
| 22. | Faith's Clue in Sin's Confusions |
| Into creation sin has brought confusion of every sort -confusion of thought, confusion of fact; but the Christian has a key of interpretation to it all. He has the secret with him by which he interprets everything. He sees the confusion, he goes through it all, he feels it, but |
| 23. | Integrity |
| The world's integrity is, like every other thing belonging to fallen man, a mere hollow system of selfishness, though it may be polished over by the decorums and civilities of society. The source from which true integrity must spring, is love to God, and this love can only spring |
| 24. | Self-Contrivances |
| "I have seemed to see a need of everything God gives me, and want nothing that He denies me. There is no dispensation, though afflictive, but, either in it or after it, the Comforter teaches me that I could not have done without it. Whether it be taken from me |
| 25. | Dispersed Among the Gentiles: Esther, The |
| ESTIn the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, on which I have already meditated, we saw the captives brought back to Jerusalem, there to await the coming of the Messiah, that it might be known, whether Israel would accept the Messenger and Savior whom God would send to them. In this |
| 26. | Fragments |
| "The history of Rahab has sometimes encouraged me about unconverted relatives; -her bringing all her family under the shelter of the scarlet line." |
| 27. | Church, an Habitation of God Through the Spirit, The |
| There are two great ideas in this epistle as regards the saints. The grand thought all through it is the grace of God towards them; but, as regards the saints, there are these two ideas about the Church: 1st, its hope; 2nd, what it is now, meanwhile. |
| 28. | Anchorage Within the Veil |
| The apostle had spoken, at the close of the preceding chapter, of "the first principles of the oracles of God," and here again he says, "Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection: not laying again the foundation of repentance from |
| 29. | God's End, and Jacob's Means |
| In chapter 13 we find Abraham raising an altar, when separated from Lot, and in the land. There God appears to him, but not now, as at the first, to bring him into the path of faith; he is in the path of faith and brought into the place |
| 30. | Thine Eye, Is It Single? a Word on Serving |
| "If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." -Matt. 6:22 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. (Matthew 6:22). |
| 31. | Christ's Cross, and God's Due Time |
| 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)In the last verse of this chapter we have, in fact, the summing up of the great principles and ways of God's dealings with man-" grace reigning through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." |
| 32. | We Have Seen the Lord |
| THERE is a word in the Scriptures which says, " God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." I would say to you, Dwell on, rest on, the acceptance of "that finished work," and then go on to |
| 33. | Balaam Hired of Balak and Used of God |
| It is a wonderful thing to see the way in which, through the overruling power of God, the efforts of Satan against the people of God only bring them out the more distinctly in their own place of blessing. |
| 34. | Service, Words on |
| True service begins with Christ, who is the Head; and when Christ is forgotten, then the service is defective. It has lost connection with the spring and fountain of all service, because it is from the Head that all the body, by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, increaseth. |
| 35. | Love of Jesus, The Way of the |
| "The more perfect love is, the more entirely and without distraction will it regard its object. And this will give it, at times, a very different bearing; because its way will be determined by the condition and need of its object. Its way therefore at times may appear harsh |
| 36. | Matthew 19:16-26 |
| 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:16-26)In the apparent dealings of the Lord Jesus, we sometimes find a degree of roughness (though, in spirit, always most blessed gentleness), and this especially when that which was amiable in human nature was brought before Him. Thus, when this young man came running to Him, and said, " |
| 37. | King Uzziah Strengthened, and Strong: a Word of Admonition |
| Uzziah, we learn from this chapter, "sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding of the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper." He went forth and warred, and "the Lord helped him." "He strengthened himself exceedingly." |
| 38. | Watch |
| The flesh in the saints is as bad or worse than any flesh, therefore watch, continue in prayer, be clothed with humility Live no more by memory than by sense, but live by faith; forgetting the things which are behind, and pressing forwards. It was not when Paul was in |
| 39. | End of the Lord, The |
| 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:1-11)There is no possibility of fellowship with God on any other ground than that of grace-no matter when, or where. There never was. True there have been many dealings of God to prove this; but there never could be communion between God and man except in grace. |
| 40. | Father, I Know That All My Life |
| Father, I know that all my life |
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