THE tree of life, the ark of Noah, the ladder of Jacob, and the rest of the like kind, what were they but Christ, whom because the world was not worthy so soon to see, nor God willing at once to shew so rich a jewel, He, therefore, enwrapped obscurely in these shadows, till in the fulness of time He saw fit to reveal Him in open mirror directly by His forerunner pointing at Him, “Behold the Lamb of God?”—Samuel Ward.
THE world doth not know, nor is able to make a right judgment of believers; nor do you so, for it is the spiritual man alone that discerneth the things of God. Their infirmities are visible to all, their graces invisible; the king’s daughter is glorious within. And when you are able to make a right judgment of them, you will desire no greater advancement than to be of their society.—John Owen.
THE question is not so much whether you have much faith, but whether you have any. It is not quantity, but quality; not
whether you have a very great religion, but whether you have any at all. A grain of true faith will save the soul; and I have known many, many seasons, when I should be glad to feel certain that I had the thousandth part of a grain. A grain of mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds; and even faith as small as that can move mountains.—J. C. Philpot.
FROM a letter written by John Brown, and addressed to the Synod, which was presented and read after his death, the following is an extract:—”As many of you have been my students, and most of you my younger in years, permit me to beseech you all, to do all in your power to transmit God’s truths as faithfully and diligently to posterity as possible. His truths and cause shall shine on earth, and especially in heaven for ever, be they now as low as they will in Britain.”—(Remains.)
IMPENITENT unbelievers under the preaching of the gospel are the vilest and most ungrateful of all God’s creation. The devils themselves, as wicked as they are, are not guilty of this sin; for Christ is never tendered unto them, they never had an offer of salvation on faith and repentance; this is your peculiar sin, and will be the peculiar aggravation of your misery unto eternity; hear, ye despisers, wonder and perish. Take the advice of the Apostle, “To-day if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, etc.” This day, even this is unto you, in the tender of grace, the acceptable time, this is the day of salvation. Others have had this day as well as you, and have missed their opportunity; take heed lest it be so with you also. How if any one should write it down or peculiarly commit it to remembrance. “This day there was a tender of Christ and salvation in Him made unto my soul; from this time I will resolve to give up myself unto Him.” And if you find your resolutions fail, charge your consciences with what you have engaged, and make yourselves to know that if you go back from it it is a token that you are going to ruin.—John Owen.
THE way to heaven is by Weeping-Cross. Christ’s passion-week was before His ascension day; none passeth to Paradise but by burning seraphims; we cannot go out of Egypt but through the Red Sea; the children of Israel came to Jerusalem through the valley of tears, and crossed the swift river of Jordan before they came to the sweet waters of Siloam.—Brooks.
It is night, because of great trouble which besets us (Luke iii. 1-2). Let us be content with an hard bed, the morn will be a good day. And think ye what a comfort it will be to you, when God puts up His own holy hands to your face, and to your watering eyes, and shall dry them with the napkin of His consolation. Through this short night, lie still in peace, and sleep by faith in God. Be content to lie down in your grave for a night or two; for your Husband, Christ, shall be at your bed-side soon in the morning.—Rutherford.
I LOOK upon the road to heaven as a narrow path that lies between two hedges, and that on the outer side of each hedge is a bottomless ditch. One of these ditches is despair, and the other is presumption. The hedge that keeps the soul from falling into the pit of despair, is that of the promises; and the hedge that keeps the soul from sinking into the abyss of presumption, is that of warnings, precepts, and threatenings. Without the spiritual application of the promises, the soul would lie down in despair; and without the spiritual application of precepts and warnings, it would be swollen with arrogance, puffed up with pride, and ready to burst with presumption.—J. C. Philpot.
BLESSED be God, that though we have less power to stand than Adam had, yet we have better promises, sealed and confirmed by the oath of the Father, the blood of the Son, and witness of the Spirit.—John Brown.