Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland

Reformed in Doctrine, Worship, and Practice

“Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” Psalm 60:4

  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • What We Contend For
    • What We Believe
    • How We Worship
    • How We Are Organised
    • Important Documents
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Articles
  • Publications
    • Free Presbyterian Magazine
    • Young People’s Magazine
    • Gaelic Supplement – An Earrann Ghàidhlig
    • Synod Reports
    • Religion and Morals Committee Reports
  • Audio
    • Sermons
    • Theological Conferences
    • Youth Conferences
    • Zimbabwe Ndebele sermons
  • Congregations
    • Places of Worship
    • Current Ministers
    • Galleries of FP Churches
  • International
    • Zimbabwe Mission
    • Other International Congregations
    • Translation Work
    • Metrical Psalms in Various Languages
  • History
    • History of the FP Church
    • Congregational Histories
    • Deceased Ministers and Probationers
    • Obituaries
    • Moderators of Synod etc.
  • Spiritual Help
    • How to Find Spiritual Help
    • How may a sinner be saved?
    • How may someone know if they are truly saved?
    • Spiritual Mindedness
    • Scripture and Catechism Exercises
  • Bookshop
Home / Publications / Free Presbyterian Magazine / 1998 to 2003 / September 2000 / Reading the Scriptures Profitably

Reading the Scriptures Profitably

A Sermon by Thomas Watson

Deuteronomy 18:19. And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them.

In this chapter God instructs the people of the Jews about setting a king over them. And there are two things specified to their king in order:

1. His election: “Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose” (verse 15). Good reason God should have the choice of their king, seeing “by Him kings reign” (Prov 8:15).

2. His religion: “When he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites” (verse 18). Here was a good beginning of a king’s reign: the first thing he did after he sat upon the throne was to copy out the Word of God in a book. And in the text: “It shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them”. It shall be with him – the book of the law shall be his daily companion. Charles the Great used to set his crown upon the Bible. Indeed the Bible is the best supporter of the crown. And he shall read therein – it is not below the majesty of a prince to peruse the oracles of heaven: in them are comprised sacred pithy sayings: “I will speak of excellent things” (Prov 8:6). In the Septuagint it is “grave things”; in the Hebrew “princely things”, such as are fit for a God to speak and a king to read. Nor must the king only read the book of the law when he is first installed into his kingdom, but he shall read therein all the days of his life. He must not leave off reading till he leave off reigning. And the reasons why he must be conversant in the law of God are in the subsequent words: (1.) “That he may learn to fear the Lord his God”. Reading of the Word is the best means to usher in the fear of the Lord. (2.) “That he may keep all the words of this law, to do them.” (3) “That he may prolong his days in his kingdom.”

I shall now confine myself to these words: “He shall read in it”, that is, in the book of the law, “all the days of his life”. The holy Scripture is, as Augustine saith, a golden epistle sent to us from God. This is to be read diligently. “Ignorance” of Scripture is “the mother of” error, not “devotion”. “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures” (Mat 22:29). We are commanded to “search the Scriptures” (John 5:39). The Greek word signifies to search as for a vein of silver. How diligently doth a child read over his father’s will and testament, and a citizen peruse his charter! With the like diligence should we read God’s Word, which is our Magna Charta for heaven. It is a mercy the Bible is not prohibited. Trajan the emperor forbade the Jews to read in the book of the law. Let us inquire at this sacred oracle. Apollos was “mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24). Melancthon, when he was young, sucked “the sincere milk of the Word”. Alphonsus, king of Arragon, read over the Bible fourteen times. That Roman lady Cecilia had, by much reading of the Word, made her breast “the library of Christ”, as Jerome speaks.

Were the Scriptures only in their original tongue, many would plead excuse for not reading; but when “this sword of the Spirit” is unsheathed, and the Word is made plain to us by being translated, what should hinder us from a diligent search into these holy mysteries? Adam was forbidden, upon pain of death, to taste of the tree of knowledge: “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen 2:17). But there is no danger of touching this tree of holy Scriptures; if we do not eat of this tree of knowledge, we shall surely die. What will become of them who are strangers to Scripture? “I have written to him the great things of My law; but they were counted as a strange thing” (Hos 8:12). Many lay aside Scripture as rusty armour (Jer 8:9); they are better read in romances than in Paul; they spend many hours “between the comb and the glass”, but their eyes begin to be sore when they look upon a Bible.

The very Turks will rise up in judgement against these Christians; they reverence the books of Moses and, if they find but a leaf wherein any thing of the Pentateuch is written, they take it up and kiss it. They who slight the Word written, slight God Himself, whose stamp it bears. To slight the king’s edict is an affront offered to the person of the king. Scripture-vilifiers are in a damnable state. “Whoso despiseth the Word shall be destroyed” (Prov 13:13). Nor is it enough to read the Word of God, but it should be our care to get some spiritual profit by it, that our souls may be “nourished up in the words of faith” (1 Tim 4:6). Why else was the Scripture written, but that it might profit us? God did not give us His Word only as a landscape, to look upon; but he delivered it to us as a father delivers a stock of money to his son, to profit by it. It is sad not to profit by the Word, to be like a body wasting away, that doth not thrive. Men would be loath to trade and get no profit.

The grand question I am to speak to is this: How we may read the Scriptures with most spiritual profit? It is a momentous question, and of daily use. For the resolution of this question, I shall lay down several rules or directions about reading of Scripture.

Direction 1. If you would profit by reading, remove those things which will hinder your profiting. That the body may thrive, obstructions must be removed. There are three obstructions that must be removed if you would profit by Scripture.

1. Remove the love of every sin. Let a physician prescribe never so good treatments; if the patient takes poison, it will hinder the virtue and operation of the medicine. The Scripture prescribes excellent treatments; but sin lived in poisons all. The body cannot thrive in a fever, nor can the soul under the feverish heat of lust. Plato calls the love of sin a great devil. As the rose is destroyed by the worm which breeds in it, so are the souls of men by those sins they live in.

2. Take heed of the thorns which will choke the Word read. These thorns our Saviour expounds to be “the cares of this world” (Mat 13:22). By “cares” is meant covetousness. A covetous man is a pluralist; he hath such diversity of secular employments that he can scarce find time to read, or if he doth, what blunders doth he commit in reading! While his eye is upon the Bible, his heart is upon the world; it is not the writings of the Apostles he is so much taken with as the writings in his account book. Is this man likely to profit? You may as soon extract oils and syrups out of a flint as he is to derive any real benefit out of Scripture.

3. Take heed of jesting with Scripture. This is playing with fire. Some cannot be merry unless they make bold with God. When they are sad, they bring forth the Scripture as their harp to drive away the evil spirit – as that drunkard who, having drunk off his cups, called to his fellows, “Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out”. In the fear of God beware of this. King Edward IV would not endure to have his crown jested with, but caused him to be executed who said he would make his son heir to the crown, meaning the sign of the crown. Much less will God endure to have His Word jested with. Eusebius relates of one who took a piece of Scripture to jest with, that God struck him with delirium. The Lord may justly give over such persons “to a reprobate mind” (Rom 1:28).

Direction 2. If you would profit, prepare your hearts to the reading of the Word. The heart is an instrument that needs putting in tune. “Prepare your hearts unto the Lord” (1 Sam 7:3). The heathens thought it indecent to be too hasty or rash in the service of their supposed deities. This preparation to reading consists in two things: (1.) In summoning our thoughts together to attend that solemn work we are going about. The thoughts are stragglers; therefore rally them together. (2.) In purging out those unclean affections which do indispose us to reading. The serpent, before he drinks, casts up his poison. In this we should be “wise as serpents”; before we come to these “waters of life” we should cast away the poison of impure affections. Many come rashly to the reading of the Word, and no wonder that they go away without profit if they come without preparation.

Direction 3. Read the Scripture with reverence. Think, every line you read, God is speaking to you. The ark, wherein the law was put, was overlaid with pure gold, and was carried on bars that the Levites might not touch it. (Ex 25:10-15). Why was this but to breed in the people reverence to the law? When Ehud told Eglon he had a message to him from God, he arose from his throne (Judges 3:20). The Word written is a message to us from Jehovah; with what veneration should we receive it!

Direction 4. Read the books of Scripture in order. Though occurrences may sometimes divert our method, yet for a constant course it is best to observe an order in reading. Order is a help to memory; we do not begin to read a friend’s letter in the middle.

Direction 5. Get a right understanding of Scripture. “Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments” (Ps 119:73). Though there are some knots in Scripture, which are not easily untied; yet things essential to salvation the Holy Ghost hath plainly pointed out to us. The knowledge of the sense of Scripture is the first step to profiting. In the law Aaron was first to light the lamps, and then to burn the incense: the lamp of the understanding must be first lighted, before the affections can be inflamed. Get what knowledge you can by comparing Scriptures, by conferring with others, by using the best commentators. Without knowledge, the Scripture is a sealed book; every line is too high for us; and if the Word shoot above our head, it can never hit our heart.

Direction 6. Read the Word with seriousness. Well may we be serious if we consider the importance of those truths which are bound up in this sacred volume. “It is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life” (Deut 32:47). If a letter were to be opened and read wherein a man’s whole estate were concerned, how serious would he be in reading of it! In the Scripture our salvation is concerned; it treats of the love of Christ, a serious subject (Titus 3:4). Christ hath loved mankind more than the angels that fell (Heb 2:16). The loadstone, despising the gold and pearl, draws the iron to it: thus Christ passed by the angels, who were of a more noble extraction, and drew mankind to Him. Christ loved us more than His own life; nay, though we had a hand in His death, yet that He should not leave us out of His will is a love “which passeth knowledge” (Eph 3:19). Who can read this without seriousness?

The Scripture speaks of the mystery of faith, the eternal recompences, the paucity of them that shall be saved: “few chosen” (Mat 20:16). One saith that the names of all the good emperors of Rome might be engraven in a little ring. There are but a few names in the book of life. The Scripture speaks of “striving” for heaven as in an agony (Luke 13:24); it cautions us about falling short of the promised rest (Heb 4:1); it describes the horror of the infernal torments, “the worm and the fire” (Mark 9:44). Who can read this and not be serious? Some have light, feathery spirits; they run over the most weighty truths in haste like Israel, who ate the passover in haste, and they are not benefited by the Word. Read with a solemn, composed spirit. Seriousness is the Christian’s ballast, which keeps him from being overturned with vanity.

Direction 7. Labour to remember what you read. Satan would steal the Word out of our mind (Mat 13:4, 19), not that he intends to make use of it himself, but lest we should make use of it. The memory should be like the chest in the ark, where the law was put. “I have remembered Thy judgments of old” (Ps 119:52). Jerome writes of that religious lady Paula, that she had got most of the Scriptures by heart. We are bid to have the Word dwell in us (Col 3:16). The Word is a jewel that adorns the hidden man, and shall we not remember it? “Can a maid forget her ornaments?” (Jer 2:32). Such as have a disease they call lienteria, in which the meat comes up as fast as they eat it and stays not in the stomach, are not nourished by it. If the Word stays not in the memory, it cannot profit. Some can better remember a piece of news than a line of Scripture; their memories are like those ponds where the frogs live but the fish die.

Direction 8. Meditate upon what you read. “I will meditate in Thy precepts” (Ps 119:15). The Hebrew word to meditate signifies “to be intense in the mind”. In meditation there must be a fixing of the thoughts upon the object: the Virgin Mary “pondered” those things (Luke 2:19). Meditation is the digestion of Scripture. Reading brings a truth into our head; meditation brings it into our heart. Reading and meditation must, like Castor and Pollux, appear together. Meditation without reading is erroneous; reading without meditation is barren. The bee sucks the flower, then works it in the hive, and so turns it to honey; by reading we suck the flower of the Word, by meditation we work it in the hive of our mind, and so it turns to profit. Meditation is the bellows of the affections: “While I was musing, the fire burned” (Ps 39:3). The reason we come away so cold from reading the Word is because we do not warm ourselves at the fire of meditation.

Direction 9. Come to the reading of Scripture with humble hearts. Acknowledge how unworthy you are that God should reveal Himself in His Word to you. God’s secrets are with the humble; pride is an enemy to profiting. It is observed that the ground on which the peacock sits is barren; that heart where pride sits is barren. An arrogant person disdains the counsels of the Word and hates the reproofs; is he likely to profit? “God giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). The most eminent saints have been but of low stature in their own eyes; like the sun in the zenith, they showed least when they were at the highest. David had “more understanding than all his teachers” (Ps 119:99). But how humble was he! “I am a worm, and no man” (Ps 22:6). David in the Arabic tongue signifies a “worm”.

Direction 10. Give credence to the Word written. Believe it to be of God; see the name of God in every line. The Romans, that they might gain credit to their laws, reported that they were inspired by the gods at Rome. Believe the Scripture to be divinely inspired. “All Scripture is” of divine inspiration (2 Tim 3:16). Who but God could reveal the great doctrines of the Trinity, the hypostatical union2, the resurrection? Whence should the Scripture come, if not from God? (1.) Sinners could not be the authors of Scripture. Would they indite such holy lines, or inveigh so fiercely against those sins which they love? (2.) Saints could not be the authors of Scripture. How could it stand with their sanctity to counterfeit God’s name, and put “thus saith the Lord” to a book of their own devising? (3.) Angels could not be the authors of Scripture. What angel in heaven durst personate God and say, “I am the Lord?”

Believe the pedigree of Scripture to be sacred, and to come from the “Father of lights” (James 1:17). The Scripture’s antiquity speaks its divinity. No human histories extant reach further than Noah’s flood, but the Scripture writes of things before time. Besides, the majesty, profundity, purity, harmony of Scripture show it could be breathed from none but God Himself. Add to this the efficacy that the Word written hath had upon men’s consciences. By reading Scripture they have been turned into other men; as might be instanced in Augustine, Junius and others. If you should set a seal upon a piece of marble and it should leave a print behind, you would say there was a strange virtue in that seal; so the fact that the Word written leaves a heavenly print of grace upon the heart, argues it to be of divine authority. If you would profit by the Word, believe it to be of God. Some sceptics question the truth of Scripture; they have the articles of religion in their “creed”, yet not in their belief. “Who hath believed our report?” (Isa 53:1). Unbelief enervates the virtue of the Word, and makes it abortive; who will obey those truths he doth not believe? “The Word did not profit them, not being mixed with faith” (Heb 4:2).

Direction 11. Highly prize the Scriptures. “The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver” (Ps 119:72). Can he make a proficiency in any art who doth slight and deprecate it? Prize this book of God above all other books. Gregory calls the Bible “the heart and soul of God”. The rabbins3 say that a mountain of sense hangs upon every apex and tittle of Scripture. “The law of the Lord is perfect” (Ps 19:7). The Scripture is the library of the Holy Ghost; it is a compendium of divine knowledge, an exact model and platform of religion. The Scripture contains in it the things which we are to believe and the things which we are to practise. It is able to make us wise unto salvation (2 Tim 3:15).

The Scripture is the standard of truth, the judge of controversies; it is the pole star to direct us to heaven (Isa 8:20). “The commandment is a lamp” (Prov 6:23). The Scripture is the compass by which the rudder of our will is to be steered; it is the field in which Christ, the Pearl of price, is hid; it is a rock of diamonds; it is a sacred eyesalve; it mends their eyes that look upon it; it is a spiritual telescope in which the glory of God is resplendent; it is the universal medicine for the soul. The leaves of Scripture are like the leaves of the tree of life, “for the healing of the nations” (Rev 22:2).

The Scripture is both the breeder and feeder of grace. How is the convert born, but by “the Word of truth”? (James 1:18). How doth he grow but by “the sincere milk of the Word?” (1 Peter 2:2). The Word written is the book out of which our evidences for heaven are fetched; it is the sea-mark which shows us the rocks of sin to avoid; it is the antidote against error and apostasy, the two-edged sword which wounds the old serpent. It is our bulwark to withstand the force of lust – like the Capitol of Rome, which was a place of strength and ammunition. The Scripture is the “tower of David”, whereon the shields of our faith hang (Song 4:4). “Take away the Word, and you deprive us of the sun,” said Luther. The Word written is above an angelic embassy, or voice from heaven. “This voice which came from heaven we heard. . . . We have also a more sure word” (2 Pet 1:18,19).

O prize the Word written; prizing is the way to profiting. If Caesar so valued his Commentaries that for preserving them he lost his purple robe, how should we estimate the sacred oracles of God? “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). King Edward VI, on the day of his coronation, had presented before him three swords, signifying that he was monarch of three kingdoms. The king said there was one sword wanting. Being asked what that was, he answered, “The Holy Bible, which is the sword of the Spirit, and is to be preferred before these ensigns of royalty”. Robert, King of Sicily, did so prize God’s Word that, speaking to his friend Petrarcha, he said, “I protest, the Scriptures are dearer to me than my kingdom; and if I must be deprived of one of them, I had rather lose my diadem than the Scriptures”.

Direction 12. Get an ardent love to the Word. Prizing relates to the judgement, love to the affections. “Consider how I love Thy precepts” (Ps 119:159, Rom 7:22). He is likely to grow rich who delights in his trade; “a lover of learning will be a scholar.” Augustine tells us that, before his conversion he took no pleasure in the Scriptures, but afterwards they were his “chaste delights”. David tasted the Word sweeter than the honey which drops from the comb (Ps 19:10). Did Alphonsus king of Sicily recover of a fit of sickness with that great pleasure he took in reading of Quintus Curtius? What infinite pleasure should we take in reading the book of life. There is enough in the Word to breed holy complacency and delight; it is a specimen and demonstration of God’s love to us. The Spirit is God’s love-token, the Word His love-letter. How doth one delight to read over his friend’s letter!

The Word written is a divine treasury, or storehouse; in it are scattered truths as pearls, to adorn “the hidden man of the heart”. The Word written is the true manna, which hath all sorts of sweet taste in it; it is a sovereign elixir, it gives wine to them of an heavy heart. I have read of an ancient rabbi, who in a great concourse of people made proclamation of a sovereign cordial he had to sell. Many resorting to him and asking him to show it, he opened the Bible and directed them to several places of comfort in it. Holy David drank of this cordial: “This is my comfort in my affliction; for Thy Word hath quickened me” (Ps 119:50). “It combines sweetness with truth.” Chyrsostom compares the Scripture to a garden; every line in it is a fragrant flower, which we should wear, not in our bosom, but in our heart. Delight in the Word causeth profit; and we must not only love the comforts of the Word, but the reproofs. Myrrh is bitter to the palate, but good for the stomach.

Return to Table of Contents for The Free Presbyterian Magazine – September 2000

Publications

  • Free Presbyterian Magazine
    • Historic Sermons
    • 1906 to 1909
    • 1910 to 1919
    • 1920 to 1929
    • 1930 to 1939
    • 1940 to 1949
    • 1950 to 1956
    • 1998 to 2003
      • October 2003
        • A View from the Outer Hebrides
        • The Untiring Travellers – Part 2
        • Sanctification – Part 2
        • The Ten Virgins
        • John Wesley 1703-1791
        • A Pastor’s Concern
        • Seeking Great Things
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 2003
        • A Kingdom Where Order Reigns
        • Church Information
        • The Untiring Travellers – Part 1
        • Sanctification – part 1
        • The Achreny Mission – 2. 1815 to 1843
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – part 4
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2003
        • Church Information
        • A Prayer-Hearing God – Part 1
        • The Achreny Mission – Part 3 – After the Disruption
        • Meditation – Its Blessedness
        • Obituary – John Beaton, Raasay
        • African Missions Update
        • Growing Vatican Sovereignty
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Christ as Prophet
      • March 2003
        • What We Make It?
        • King Solomon’s Chariot
        • Samuel Rutherford – St Andrews and Westminster
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – Part 4
        • The Parable of the Talents
        • The Kinsman
        • Scottish Church Initiative for Union
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • May 2003
        • A Powerful Voice
        • Notes and Comments
        • “Ye Shall Ask What Ye Will”- Part 2
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – The Religion of the Bible
        • The Prodigal Son
        • The Study of Providence
        • Poor and Needy
        • John Piper and His Doctrine
        • African Missions
        • Protestant View
      • June 2003
        • No Sense of Need
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Call of Matthew
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – The Christian Doctrine of God
        • The Sower
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 1
        • Meditation Sanctifies
        • Mbuma Zending Meeting – 2003
        • Zimbabwe Ordinations and Inductions
        • Book Reviews
      • July 2003
        • Acceptable Worship
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Grace Glorified in Election
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – Some Further Doctrines
        • The Pharisee and the Publican
        • Rabbi Duncan
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 2
        • A Plea for Prayer
        • Continuing Repentance
        • Book Review: Christmas Evans, The Life and Times of the One-Eyed Preacher of Wales
      • January 2003
        • Thankfulness
        • The Lord God of Elijah
        • Samuel Rutherford – Fair Anwoth by the Solway – 1627 – 1636
        • Manna
        • All of Grace
        • Obituary – Mr Edward Arthur Christensen, Auckland
        • Obituary – Miss Isabel Murray, North Tolsta
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • February 2003
        • Christ’s Infinite Riches
        • Protestant View
        • Church Information
        • The Lord God of Elijah – Part 2
        • Samuel Rutherford – His King’s Palace in Aberdeen
        • The Privilege of Prayer
        • In Possession of the Promises
        • The Rich Man and Lazarus
        • Humiliation and Prayer
        • Book Reviews
        • Notes and Comments
        • Book Review – Sidelights on Bible Characters
        • Book Review – Authentic Christianity: Sermons on the Acts of the Apostles
      • December 2003
        • Nineteenth-Century Drift
        • A Prayer-Hearing God – Part 2
        • The Achreny Mission – 4. After the Disruption – Part 2
        • Meditation – Its Consequences
        • Visit to the Ukraine
        • Book Review – Letters from the South Seas, Margaret Paton
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • April 2003
        • The Promised Land
        • Church Information
        • “Ye Shall Ask What Ye Will”- Part 1
        • Samuel Rutherford – The Last Years
        • The Pearl of Great Price
        • Repentance
        • A Private Among the Padres
        • Damaging Doubts
        • The Prince – Defender of all Faiths
        • Protestant View
      • August 2003
        • What Kind of Faith?
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Head Stone of the Corner
        • The Vineyard
        • Mary and the Spiritual Mind
        • The Achreny Mission – 1. 1760 to 1815
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 3
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Book Review – God’s Hymnbook for the Christian Church
      • September 2002
        • The Shepherd’s Reward
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Jubilee
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Conflict
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – Part 2
        • The Beliver’s Sanctification
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Update
        • The New Archbishop of Canterbury
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
      • October 2002
        • “My Counsel Shall Stand”
        • Church Information
        • The Way to the City
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Consolidation
        • “Your Mercy”and the Jews’ Future
        • Springing Up After Many Days
        • Book Reviews
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2002
        • Christ’s Spiritual Conquests
        • Church Information
        • The Call to the Water of Life – Part 2 (1) A Sermon by William Nixon Revelation 22:17. And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
        • The Right Way (1) Rev J S Sinclair
        • Obituary Mr Murdo Macleod, Elder, Stornoway
        • Book Reviews
        • Foreign Mission News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • May 2002
        • Divine Compassion
        • Book Review – The Antichrist
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Coming to Christ – Part 2
        • A Master in Israel
        • The Cleansing of the Lepper
        • The Christian’s Life
        • The Puritans on Prayer
        • Advice on Preaching
        • The Great Draught of Fishes
        • Book Review – Church and State
      • March 2002
        • “Hear the Word of the Lord”
        • The Blessing of Asher
        • Thomas Cranmer – That God Might Be Truly Worshipped
        • Psalms or Hymns in Public Worship
        • Obituary – Reverend Donald Nicolson
        • Is Britain Being Protected?
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
      • June 2002
        • “Another King, One Jesus”
        • Church Information
        • Pray Without Ceasing
        • The Puritans on Prayer – Part 2
        • Inventing Religion
        • Princeton and Pelagianism
        • Among the Children
        • Hopes of Future Usefulness – A Letter of John Love
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • January 2002
        • “Religion in its Purity”
        • Notes and Comments
        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
        • The Meat Offering
        • The Strength of Faith
        • Thomas Cranmer – Moving Towards a Reformation
        • The Extent of the Atonement
        • Rev John MacDonald (1925-2000) – Obituary
        • Book Review – God and Cosmos
        • Protestant View – Queen Invites Cardinal to Sandringham
      • July 2002
        • The Need for Opened Eyes
        • God’s Wrath Against Sin
        • The Puritans on Prayer – A Wondrous Mysterious Grace
        • Revival in Arran
        • Man’s Righteousness and God’s
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
      • February 2002
        • Offering up Our Desires to God
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Look unto Me and Be Ye Saved
        • Thomas Cranmer – The Man of Extreme Caution
        • The Power of the Gospel
        • The Goodness of God in Redemption
        • Obituary – Mrs Isabella Turner
        • Book Review – Galatians
        • Book Notices
        • Protestant View
      • December 2002
        • “A Zealous, Godly Preacher”
        • The Call to the Water of Life – Part 2
        • Samuel Rutherford – From Birth to New Birth
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – part 3
        • Obituary – Mrs Annie MacIver, North Tolsta
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • April 2002
        • “I am the Resurrection and the Life”
        • Coming to Christ – Part 1
        • Thomas Cranmer – On to the Fire
        • The Plague of Leprosy
        • Divided Allegiance
        • Obituary – Miss Margaret Sutherland
        • Book Review – The Hidden Pathway
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • August 2002
        • Everything Devoted to God’s Service
        • Unity Among the Brethren
        • Those Who Have Feld for Refuge
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Conquest
        • Symptoms of Spiritual Death
        • Book Review – The King’s Daughters
        • African Mission News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • September 2001
        • Knowing God
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Path of the Just
        • Obituary – The late Miss Jean Nicolson
        • Obituary – The late Mrs Lexie MacLeod
        • Raasay Congregation – a Brief History
        • The Knowledge of Sin
        • Induction at Sengera
        • Book Review: The Source of the IRA/Sinn Fein
        • Protestant View
      • October 2001
        • Tragedy
        • “God Gave the Increase”
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – It’s Usefulness for the Church
        • Desires for Glory
        • Calling a Minister
        • The Vatican Archives
        • A Visit to Singapore
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2001
        • Scotland’s Preachers
        • Recent Inductions
        • The Rose of Sharon
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – It’s Usefulness on the Personal Level – Intellectually
        • “Be Strong and of a Good Courage”
        • God’s Wonderful Goodness
        • “Withhold not Correction”
        • Obituary – The late Mr Donald Beaton, Elder, Auckland
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Obituary – The late Mr Donald Beaton, Elder, Auckland
      • May 2001
        • Sinking in Capernaum’s Doom
        • Book Review – Irish Worthies
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Goodwill of God
        • Keeping the Heart in Temptation
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 2
        • The Garden of Nuts
        • The Son of Man Lifted up
        • Obituary – The late John Angus MacLeod
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Kenya
        • Book Review – Faith and Justification
      • March 2001
        • “Just with God”
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Set up from Everlasting
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Priest
        • W S Plumer- Part 2
        • Obituary – The late Rev Alexander McPherson, Perth
        • Pastoral Letter – Rev Alexander McPherson
        • Joseph MacKay
        • Book Review – Forerunner of the Great Awakening
      • June 2001
        • Blessedness
        • Church Information
        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 1
        • Who Belong to the Visible Church?
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 3
        • Religion in the Highlands After 1688 – Part 3
        • Raising Questions Against Darwinism
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • July 2001
        • Cry Aloud Spare Not
        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 2
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • Our African Missions – an Update
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Spring Visit to Ukraine
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • January 2001
        • Looking Forward
        • Book Review – The Government of the Church
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Faith, Its Nature, Origin and Effects
        • Thomas Halyburton and How God May Be Known
        • The Divinity of Christ
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 1
        • Keep a good conscience
        • God’s True Family
        • What is the Object of Faith?
        • Communion in Singapore
      • February 2001
        • Calling the Sabbath a Delight
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Set up from Everlasting
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Prophet
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 2
        • Book Review – Daily Prayer and Praise by Henry Law
        • Psalm 122 – Henry Law
        • The enemies of the Christian
        • African Mission News
        • Protestant View
      • December 2001
        • Protestant View
        • African Mission News
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Book Review – Tell it to the Generation Following
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – Usefulness on the Personal Level
        • The Impossibility of Neutrality
        • “Christian”Entertainment
        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
        • Church Information
        • Notes and Comments
        • A View From Zimbabwe
      • August 2001
        • “There They Preached the Gospel”
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • “He Will Bless Us”
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • “He Delighteth in Mercy”
        • “The Voice of Christianity in Scotland”
        • Obituary – The late Mr Ian M MacLeod, Elder, Dingwall
        • Obituary – The late Mrs Catherine MacKenzie, Stornoway
        • Book Review – Southern Presbyterian Leaders 1683-1911
        • Book Review – The Westminster Confession of Faith, Milestone, Millstone or Manifesto?
      • April 2001
        • Sowing the Seed
        • The Duty of Nations to the Church
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 1
        • “The Finger of God”
        • Obituary – The late Miss Peggy Nicolson, Inverness
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Zimbabwe
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 2000
        • The Resurrection of Christ
        • Church Information
        • Reading the Scriptures Profitably
        • The believer is to put those sins… into the hands of Christ
        • The Puritans and the Ministry
        • Christ Glorifying God
        • Blessed Are They That Mourn
        • The Nature of Vital Piety (2)
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • October 2000
        • The Fear of God
        • Church Information
        • Reading the Scriptures Profitably (2)
        • He indeed is rich in grace whose graces are not hindered by his riches
        • The Puritans and the Ministry (2)
        • James Stewart
        • Christ Healing a Leper
        • Visits To Eastern Europe
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2000
        • “What Are They Among so Many?”
        • Vain Religion
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Desired Haven
        • God may bear long with the wicked, but…
        • Thomas Halyburton
        • James Stewart (2)
        • The Temptation of Christ
        • Book Review
      • May 2000
        • The Church of God From Age to Age
        • Jesus of Nazareth passeth by
        • Rev Lachlan MacLeod (1918-1998) – Obituary
        • “So let him give”
        • The Solemn League and Covenant
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
      • June 2000
        • The Example of the Church in Smyrna
        • Eastern Europe – Spring 2000 Report
        • Church Information
        • The Nature of the New Birth
        • This is Indeed the Christ
        • Obituary The late Mr Alasdair Gillies, M.A., Elder, Dingwall
        • Report of Mbuma Zending Meeting – 29th April 2000
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Ma Donsa One of the Pilgrims at Ingwenya
        • African Mission News
      • March 2000
        • Two Free Churches
        • Sermon The Gracious Invitation of Christ
        • The Rev John Sinclair of Bruan (1801-43)
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • Regeneration Regulating the Affections
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • July 2000
        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Church Information
        • Lift up a Standard for the People
        • At the Westminster Assembly
        • The Earth Corrupt before God
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • Obituary – The late Mr Kenneth Gillies, Elder, Raasay
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • February 2000
        • The Rev. Christopher Munro (1817-85)
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • “Come unto me”
        • Joy and Peace in Believing
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • Negotiations in London
        • Obituary
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Scottish Day Conference
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • January 2000
        • Another Millennium
        • Notes of a Sermon The Earth Filled with His Glory
        • The Second Coming of Christ – Three Main Views
        • The Latter Day Glory
        • Building up the Church of God
        • Princeton Seminary – The Majestic Testimony by David Calhoun.
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • December 2000
        • The Divine Saviour
        • A Sermon by John Kennedy
        • Thomas Halyburton
        • The Late Roderick Macleod,
        • The Aberdeen Church
        • Book Reviews
        • Book Reviews
        • Notes and Comments
      • August 2000
        • Where Are We Now?
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Given in His Fulness
        • Alexander Henderson
        • I cannot always come to Christ
        • Obedience to Christ
        • The Nature of Vital Piety
        • The Puritans for Today
        • Protestant View
      • April 2000
        • The Family Under Attack
        • Sermon
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • The King in Scotland
        • Comments on Psalm 51
        • Unsettling the Settlement
        • The pope’s visit to the Holy Land
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • October 1999
        • Declaring All the Counsel of God
        • Church Information
        • God so Loved the World
        • The Rev. James S. Sinclair
        • The Glasgow Assembly
        • Calvin’s View of the Millennium
        • Book Review
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Annual General Meeting
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • September 1999
        • Old Testament Types
        • Church Information
        • Christ Seeing of the Travail of His Soul
        • Alexander Stewart of Cromarty
        • The Intercession of Christ
        • Resolved to Abolish Episcopacy
        • “And the sun was darkened”
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 1999
        • Morality and Politics
        • Church Information
        • Sermon
        • Rev Alexander Morrison (1925-1999) – Obituary
        • The Charismatic Movement – The Gifts have Ceased
        • Casting down the Walls of Jericho
        • A Visit to Singapore
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • May 1999
        • “Upon this rock I will build my church”
        • The Blessed Poor
        • Rev Angus Mackay
        • Is Christ our High Priest?
        • Signs of Religious Declension
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • March 1999
        • Heaven-provoking Legislation
        • Church Information
        • The Drawing Power of the Cross
        • The Alpha Course Examined
        • Teaching Christianity in Scottish Schools
        • The late Mrs Margaret Tallach, Glasgow
        • Letter by John Love, D.D.
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
      • June 1999
        • Made a Faithful Shepherd
        • Notes and Comments
        • How May Sanctification Be Attained?
        • Protestant View
        • Mbuma Zending Meeting Report
        • Address to Mbuma Zending Meeting
        • Spiritual Pride in Man
        • Church Information
        • Preaching the Unsearchable Riches of Christ
        • The Free Church and the World
      • January 1999
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
        • Church Information
        • Let me see thy countenance
        • The Religion of the Highlands
        • Personal Creed and Resolutions
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Eastern Europe Mission
      • July 1999
        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Pre-eminence of Christ
        • A Man Who Wished to Live Obscurely
        • The Nature of Saving Faith
        • The Light of the World
        • God is: therefore God is to be Worshipped
        • Book Review
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
        • Protestant View
      • February 1999
        • The Purposes of the Lord’s Supper
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society – Appointments
        • The Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God
        • Holy Importunity in Prayer
        • A Heavenly Eternal Crown of Glory
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
      • December 1999
        • The End of a Millennium
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Until the Day Break
        • The Charismatic Movement – The Gifts have Ceased
        • The Rev. Donald Macfarlane of Dingwall
        • The Pagan Origin of Christmas A Reminder
        • Ministers Prepared by Temptation
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • August 1999
        • The Advance of Rome under Hume
        • Notes and Comments
        • Eastern Europe Mission
        • Church Information
        • The Marks of a Time of Revival, and the Means of Bringing it About
        • The Free Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Thy Kingdom Come
        • The National Covenant
        • Work of the Trinitarian Bible Society in 1998
        • Unsettled and Discouraged?
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
      • April 1999
        • The Observance of Easter
        • The Smitten Shepherd and His Flock
        • The Prince of Highland Preachers
        • The Inter-Faith Movement
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 1998
        • The Golden Key of Prayer
        • Church Information
        • Weighed in the Balances
        • Christ, the Way
        • Praying as Beggars
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Our African Mission
        • Patrick Mzamo – A sketch of an African elder and lay-preacher
      • October 1998
        • The Westminster Assembly and Romanism
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Christ Liveth in me *
        • God’s Way of Bringing Sinners to Christ
        • The Effects of Television Violence
        • Sin and Sanctification
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Philemon Ndebele
      • November 1998
        • Faithfulness or Vilification
        • Church Information
        • The Best Security in Evil Times
        • Pentecostal Dialogue with Rome
        • The Prayers of the Aged
        • The Religion of the Highlands – The Persecution of a Highland Laird
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Eastern Europe Mission Work
      • May 1998
        • The Mode of Baptism – A Defence
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • A Vessel Meet for the Master’s Use
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Serving the Lord with Humility
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland on the Internet
        • Booklet Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Story of Mamlotshwa
      • March 1998
        • A Minister of God
        • “I will yet for this be inquired of”
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Godliness With Contentment
        • Protestant View
        • African Mission News
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • Private Prayer and Public Profession
        • Truth and Life
        • The Free Church, Psalms and Hymns
      • June 1998
        • Family Worship
        • Notes and Comments
        • Ma Ngwenya – Mother of the late Rev. B. B. Dube
        • Church Information
        • The Lord is Risen Indeed
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Pastoral Epistles
        • The Church of Scotland and the Bible
        • Mbuma-Zending Meeting – 1998
        • Three Characteristics of True Faith
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Three Characteristics of True Faith
      • July 1998
        • The General Assemblies
        • Church Information
        • The Scriptural Warrant for Creedal Subscription
        • The Pastoral Epistles
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • A Cambuslang Case of Conversion
        • Booklet Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
      • January 1998
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • MaHlabangana
        • Winter Visit to Eastern Europe
        • THE NEW YEAR
        • The Church Built and Kept by the Lord
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Fruits of the Declaratory Act In the Free Church of Scotland
        • Redeeming the Time
        • African Mission News
      • February 1998
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • A Mission Day of Prayer
        • Church Information
        • Leaning Upon her Beloved
        • Brought Home to Heaven
        • Observing the Sabbath
        • Church Deputy’s Visit to North America
        • African Mission News
        • A Faithful Ambassador is Health
      • December 1998
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
        • “My grace is sufficient for thee”
        • The People of the Great Faith
        • Sudden Conversions
        • A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ
        • “Give ye them to eat”
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • August 1998
        • The General Assemblies
        • Sermon – The House of Many Mansions
        • Lessons From the Doctrine of Divine Justice
        • Book Notice
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Paul Magaya – Lay Preacher in Shangani
        • Church Information
      • April 1998
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Mode of Baptism – A Defence
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
        • The Manner of Coming to Christ
        • Book Notice
        • A Lily from the Ukraine
        • Eastern Europe Mission
        • Church Information
        • Called of God
        • Threats to our Religious Liberties
        • Mazwabo’s Amazing Transformation
    • 2004 to 2009
    • 2010 to present
  • Young People’s Magazine
    • 2010 to present
    • 2003 to 2009
  • Gaelic Supplement – An Earrann Ghàidhlig
  • Synod Reports
  • Religion and Morals Committee Reports

Calendar

  1. 19 Apr - 23 Apr - Communion: Glasgow
  2. 26 Apr - 30 Apr - Communion: Mbuma
  3. 3 May - 7 May - Communions: Aberdeen, Grafton, Leverburgh, London

View All Events

Latest Articles

  • Special Offers on New Books for April
  • Homosexuality
  • A timely warning against Arminianism

Recently Added Audio

  • Noah’s believing obedience 8 Apr 2018
  • Job acting as a priest on behalf of his friends 8 Apr 2018
  • The greater glory of the second temple 1 Apr 2018
  • God’s gracious pleas rejected 1 Apr 2018
  • The wise men seeking the Messiah 11 Mar 2018
  • Blessings from God 11 Mar 2018
  • The Spirit of wisdom and understanding 14 Mar 2018
  • Obtaining mercy 25 Mar 2018
  • The Spirit of counsel and might 28 Mar 2018
  • Paul ready to be offered 15 Apr 2018

View All Sermons

Download Latest Issues:
The Free Presbyterian Magazine
Young People’s Magazine

Free Presbyterian Places of Worship

Browse the Church Bookshop

Bookshop Special Offers

Advice to a Young Christian by Jared Bell Waterbury (pb) £5.39
Christian Leaders of the 18th Century by J C Ryle (hb) £11.99
The Holy Spirit: His Gifts and Power by John Owen (pb) £9.59
Witnesses in the Far North edited by Norman Campbell & Robert Dickie (pb) £6.79
Ruth: Her Story for Today by Keith M Watkins (hb) £7.99

Back to top

Website Contact

Rev Keith M Watkins
kmwatkins@fpchurch.org.uk

Moderator of Synod

Rev John MacLeod
6 Church Avenue, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 6BU, UK.
JMacL265@aol.com

Clerk of Synod

Rev Keith M Watkins
252 Briercliffe Road, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 2DQ, UK.
kmwatkins@fpchurch.org.uk

General Treasurer

Mr William Campbell
133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow,
G3 6LE, UK.
wc.fpchurch@btconnect.com

Copyright © 2018 Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland · Log in · Subscribe via RSS

This site uses cookies to improve your experience. Read more.