THE PENITENT THIEF.
Let not those whose day is almost gone, before they have begun their work despair. Who knows but that may be done in the evening, that was neglected the whole day before? A gale from heaven may blow, that may put life in an old sinner, and make his flesh fresher than that of a child. The door of the vineyard stands open for labourers to come in even at the eleventh hour. Sovereignty is not pent up to times and ways, but takes a latitude in both.—Thomas Boston.
THE IMPENITENT THIEF.
The most powerful and likely means of grace will not prevail, unless accompanied with special operation of the Spirit. This blaspheming thief was near Christ Himself, and might hear His words and groans. He had the example of his companion moving him to repent. Grace was at work working wonders upon his neighbour. He had a dying preacher to call him to repent. The sun’s light was eclipsed, the earth quaked, the rocks rent, the graves opened; yet for all these he died impenitent, and hard hearted. Think on this, ye that deem it so easy to repent, if you were come to your last.—Thomas Boston.
NO SIN LITTLE.
No sin against God can be little, because it is against the great God of Heaven and earth; if the sinner can find out a little God, it may be easy to find out little sins.—Bunyan.
THE DANGER OF MERE NEGATIONS IN RELIGION.
There is not a more common, nor can there be a more fatal mistake in religion or in religious movements than to put confidence in mere negations, or to expect from them lasting results for good. A negation without a corresponding affirmation—indeed if it is not the outcome of it—is of no avail for spiritual purposes. We must speak because we believe; we deny that which is false only because we affirm and cherish the opposite truth. Otherwise we may resist, and enlist unspiritual men, but we shall not work any deliverance in the land. “Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel” (II Kings x. 28) but “he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.” “And Joash did that which was right in the sight of Jehovah all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (II Chron. xxiv. 2). But “after the death of Jehoiada” “he and his people left the house of Jehovah, God of their fathers, and served groves and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass” (verses 17 and 18).—Dr. Edersheim’s Bible Hist., vii. 23.
THE MOUNTAINS OF JOY.
It is exceedingly beneficial to our souls to mount above this present evil world to something nobler and better. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches are apt to choke everything good within us, and we grow fretful, desponding, perhaps proud and carnal.
May the Spirit of God assist us to leave the mists of fear and the fevers of anxiety, and all the ills which gather in this valley of earth, and to ascend the mountains of anticipated joy and blessedness. May God the Holy Spirit cut the cords that keep us here below, and assist us to mount!—C. H. Spurgeon.