BELIEF IN GOD.
“He that cometh unto God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”—(Heb. xi. 6.) This is the first principle and foundation of all religious worship, which, if it be not well and firmly laid in our hearts, all our supplications will be in vain. Now, unless we do believe that He doth accept and bless our duties, we cannot believe that He is such a rewarder, or, as He expressed it in the covenant with Abraham, an “exceeding great reward.” But He hath descended to the lowest instances of a little goat’s hair to the tabernacle, a mite into the treasury, a cup of water to a disciple, to assure us that He despiseth not the meanest of our sincere services.—Owen.
CHURLISH CHRISTIANS.
Some good persons have naturally so much of the Nabal in them, that a man scarce knows how to converse with them. They mingle all the sweet fruits of love with so much harshness and sourness, as makes them ungrateful to those who most need them. I think it is a mistake, that grace only subdues our sinful corruptions; it will, if cared for and used as it ought, cure our natural dispositions, so far as any evil, or occasion of evil, is as it were incorporated with them. If it maketh not the forward meek, the angry patient, the peevish and morose sweet and compliant, how doth it make the leopard lie down with the kid, and the wolf dwell with the lamb?—(Isa. xi. 6.) —Owen.
THE HEART.
Oh, heart! heart! what art thou? A mass of fooleries and absurdities! The vainest, foolishest, craftiest, wickedest thing in nature. And yet the Lord Jesus asks me for this heart, woos me for it, died to win it. O wonderful love! adorable condescension!
“Take it, Lord, and let it be
Ever closed to all but thee.”
—Berridge.
HOW TO ESCAPE DOUBTS.
Are you in depths and doubts, staggering and uncertain, not knowing what is your condition, nor whether you have any interest in the forgiveness that is of God? Are you tossed up and down between hopes and fears and want peace, consolation, and establishment? Why lie you upon your faces? Get up, watch, pray, fast, meditate, offer violence to your lusts and corruptions; fear not, startle not at their crying to be spared; press unto the throne of grace by prayer, supplications, importunities, restless requests; this is the way to take the kingdom of God. These things are not peace, are not assurance; but they are part of the means God hath appointed for the attainment of them.—Owen.