Wisdom Of Life

" Thy love to me was wonderful."    [2 Samuel 1:26] Come, dear brothers and sisters, let each one of us speak for himself of the wonderful love, not of Jonathan, but of Jesus. We will not relate what we have been told, but the things which we have tasted and handled-of the love of Christ. Your love to me, O Jesus, was wonderful when I was a stranger wandering far from you, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. Your love restrained me from committing the sin which is unto death, and withheld me from self-destruction. Your love held back the axe when Justice said, “Cut it down! why cumbereth it the ground?” [Luk.13:7 ] Your love drew me into the wilderness, stripped me there, and made me feel the guilt of my sin, and the burden of mine iniquity. Your love spoke thus comfortably to me when, I was sore dismayed—“Come unto me, and I will give thee rest.” [Mat. 11:28]  Oh, how matchless your love when, in a moment, you did wash my sins away, and make my polluted so

"Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD." [Psalms 138:5] The time when Christians begin to sing in the ways of the Lord is when they first lose their burden at the foot of the Cross. Not even the songs of the angels seem so sweet as the first song of rapture which gushes from the inmost soul of the forgiven child of God. You know how John Bunyan describes it. He says when poor Pilgrim lost his burden at the Cross, he gave three great leaps, and went on his way singing — “Bless Cross! bless Sepulchre! bless rather be the Man that there was put to shame for me!” Believer, do you recollect the day when your fetters fell off? Do you remember the place when Jesus met you, and said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have blotted out as a cloud your transgressions, and as a thick cloud your sins; they shall not be mentioned against you any more forever.” Oh! what a sweet season is that when Jesus takes away the pain of sin. W

"In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."    [Jeremiah 23:6] It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not think they would if they could always see their perfection in Christ. There are some who are always talking about corruption, and the depravity of the heart, and the innate evil of the soul. This is quite true, but why not go a little further, and remember that we are “perfect in Christ Jesus [Colossians 1:28]. ” It is no wonder that those who are dwelling upon their own corruption should wear such downcast looks; but surely if we call to mind that “Christ is made unto us righteousness [2 Corinthians 5:1], ” we shall be of good cheer. What though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault me, though th

"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"    [Ephesians 1:11] When Jesus gave himself for us, he gave us all the rights and privileges which went with himself; so that now, although as eternal God, he has essential rights to which no creature may venture to pretend, yet as Jesus, the Mediator, the federal head of the covenant of grace, he has no heritage apart from us. All the glorious consequences of his obedience unto death are the joint riches of all who are in him, and on whose behalf he accomplished the divine will. See, he enters into glory, but not for himself alone, for it is written, “Whither the Forerunner is for us entered.” [Heb. 6:20]. Does he stand in the presence of God?—“He appears in the presence of God for us.” [Heb. 9:24] . Consider this, believer. You have no right to heaven in yourself: your right lies in Christ. If you are pardoned, it

"And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly . For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines."   [2 Samuel 5:24] The members of Christ’s Church should be very prayerful, always seeking the unction of the Holy One to rest upon their hearts, that the kingdom of Christ may come, and that his “will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven [Matthew 6:10] ;” but there are times when God seems especially to favour Zion, such seasons ought to be to them like “the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees.” We ought then to be doubly prayerful, doubly earnest, wrestling more at the throne than we have been wont to do. Action should then be prompt and vigorous. The tide is flowing—now let us pull manfully for the shore. O for Pentecostal outpourings and Pentecostal labours. Christian, in yourself there are times “when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the

"Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth."   [Genesis 8:11] Blessed be the Lord for another day of mercy, even though I am now weary with its toils. Unto the preserver of men lift I my song of gratitude. The dove found no rest out of the ark, and therefore returned to it; and my soul has learned yet more fully than ever, this day, that there is no satisfaction to be found in earthly things—God alone can give rest to my spirit. As to my business, my possessions, my family, my attainments, these are all well enough in their way, but they cannot fulfil the desires of my immortal nature. “Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you [Psalm 116:7]. ” It was at the still hour, when the gates of the day were closing, that with weary wing the dove came back to the master: O Lord, enable me this evening thus to return to Jesus. She coul

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." [2 Corinthians 4:18] In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal. Whether it be for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith. Looking into the future we see sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. Looking further yet, the believer’s enlightened eye can see death’s river passed, the gloomy stream forded, and the hills of light attained on which stands the celestial city; he sees himself enter within the pearly gates, hailed as more than conqueror, crowned by the hand of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with h

"And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."    [Luke 2:20] What was the subject of their praise? They praised God for what they had heard—for the good tidings of great joy that a Saviour was born unto them. Let us copy them; let us also raise a song of thanksgiving that we have heard of Jesus and his salvation. They also praised God for what they had seen. There is the sweetest music—what we have experienced, what we have felt within, what we have made our own—“the things which we have made touching the King [Psalm 45:1] .” It is not enough to hear about Jesus: mere hearing may tune the harp, but the fingers of living faith must create the music. If you have seen Jesus with the God-giving sight of faith, suffer no cobwebs to linger among the harp strings, but loud to the praise of sovereign grace, awake your psaltery and harp. One point for which they praised God was the agreement betwee

"Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."    [Colossians 1:28 ] Do you not feel in your own soul that perfection is not in you? Does not every day teach you that? Every tear which trickles from your eye, weeps “imperfection;” every harsh word which proceeds from your lip, mutters “imperfection.” You have too frequently had a view of your own heart to dream for a moment of any perfection in yourself. But amidst this sad, consciousness of imperfection, here is comfort for you—you are “perfect in Christ Jesus [Colossians 1:28].” In God’s sight, you are “complete in him [Colossians 2:10];” even now you are “accepted in the Beloved [Ephesians 1:6].” But there is a second perfection, yet to be realized, which is sure to all the seed. Is it not delightful to look forward to the time when every stain of sin shall be removed from the believer, and He shall be presented faultless before the throne

" But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."    [Luke 2:19] There was an exercise, on the part of this blessed woman, of three powers of her being: her memory —  she kept all these things; her affections — she kept them in her heart; her intellect — she pondered them; so that memory, affection, and understanding, were all exercised about the things which she had heard. Beloved, remember what you have heard of your Lord Jesus, and what he has done for you; make your heart the golden pot of manna to preserve the memorial of the heavenly bread whereon you have fed in days gone by. Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have either felt, or known, or believed, and then let your fond affections hold him fast for evermore. Love the person of your Lord! Bring forth the alabaster box of your heart, even though it be broken, and let all the precious ointment of your affection come streaming on his pierced feet. Let your intellect be exerc

"And of his fulness we have all received, and grace for grace."    [John 1:16] These words tell us that there is a fulness in Christ. There is a fulness of essential Deity, for “in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead [Colossians 2:9] .” There is a fulness of perfect manhood, for in Him, bodily, that Godhead was revealed. There is a fulness of atoning efficacy in His blood, for “the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin [1 John 1:7b]. ” There is a fulness of justifying righteousness in His life, for “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus [Romans 8:1] .” There is a fulness of divine prevalence in His plea, for “Thereforre He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him; since He always lives to make intercession for them [Hebrews 7:25] .” There is a fulness of victory in His death, for through death He destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil. There is a fulness of efficac

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"     [Matthew 6:26] God’s people are doubly His children, they are His offspring by creation, and they are His sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are privileged to call Him, “Our Father in heaven [Matthew 6:9] .” Father! Oh, what precious word is that. Here is authority: “If I be a Father, where is Mine honour?” If you be sons, where is your obedience? Here is affection mingled with authority; an authority which does not provoke rebellion; an obedience demanded which is most cheerfully rendered, which would not be withheld even if it might. The obedience which God’s children yield to Him must be loving obedience. Do not go about the service of God as slaves to their taskmaster’s toil, but run in the way of His commands because it is your Father's way. Yield your bodies as instruments of righteousness, because ri

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."  [Matthew 7:7] When God has you in a waiting period, don’t put your life on hold. Instead, imitate the habits that grow strong faith. The Bible says there are five things you should keep on doing even in the waiting period. => Keep on praying.  The Bible says,  “ Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."  [Matthew 7:7] . Keep on praying, and you will get your answer. => Keep on serving.  Romans 12:11 says,  “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”   Don’t worry about having a significant ministry. Just make your ministry significant." => Keep on meeting together , .  The Bible says in Hebrews 10:25,  “ Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." => Keep

"I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us."   [Isaiah 63:7] Then why can you not to do this? Are there no mercies which you have experienced? What, though you are gloomy now, can you forget that blessed hour when Jesus met you, and said, “Come to me”? [Matthew 11:28] Can you not remember that rapturous moment when he snapped your fetters, dashed you chains to the earth, and said, “I came to break your bonds and set you free”? Or if the love of your espousals be forgotten, there must surely be some precious milestone along the road of life not quite grown over with moss, on which you can read a happy memorial of his mercy towards you? What, did you never have a sickness like that which you are suffering now, and did He not restore you? Wert you never poor before, and did He not supply your wants? Was you never in straits before, and did He not deliver you? Arise, go to the river of your ex

" Martha was cumbered about much serving."    [Luke 10:40] Her fault was not that she served: the condition of a servant well becomes every Christian. “I serve,” should be the motto of all the princes of the royal family of heaven. Nor was it her fault that she had “much serving.” We cannot do too much. Let us do all that we possibly can; let head, and heart, and hands, be engaged in the Master’s service. It was no fault of hers that she was busy preparing a feast for the Master. Happy Martha, to have an opportunity of entertaining so blessed a guest; and happy, too, to have the spirit to throw her whole soul so heartily into the engagement. Her fault was that she grew “cumbered with much serving,” so that she forgot him, and only remembered the service. She allowed service to override communion, and so presented one duty stained with the blood of another. We ought to be Martha and Mary in one: we should do much service, and have much communion at the same time. For this we

"Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler."    [Psalm 91:3] God delivers His people from the snare of the fowler in two senses. From, and out of. First, He delivers them from the snare, does not let them enter it; and secondly, if they should be caught therein, He delivers them out of it. The first promise is the most precious to some; the second is the best to others.  “He shall deliver you from the snare.”  Trouble is often the means whereby God delivers us. God knows that our backsliding will soon end in our destruction, and He in mercy sends the rod. We say, “Lord, why is this?” not knowing that our trouble have been the means of delivering us from far greater evil. Many have been thus saved from ruin by their sorrows and their crosses; these have frightened the birds from the net. At other times, God keeps His people from the snare of the fowler by giving them great spiritual strength, so that when they are tempted to do evil they say, “How then can I do

"In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you , because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God."    [John 16:26–27] Do not make God’s Son more of a Mediator than he is, Jesus says: “I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you.” In other words, I’m not going to insert myself between you and the Father, as though you can’t go to him directly. Why? “Because the Father himself loves you.”  This is astonishing, Jesus is warning us not to think of God Almighty as unwilling to receive us directly into his presence. By “directly” I mean what Jesus meant when he said, “I am not going to take your requests to God for you. You may take them directly. He loves you, and He wants you to come, or He is not angry at you.”  It is absolutely true that no sinful human being has any access to the Father except through Jesus’ blood (Hebrews10:19–20).He intercedes for us no

"Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one, And said: "I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people."    [Psalm 89:19] Why was Christ chosen out of the people? Speak, my heart, for heart-thoughts are best. Was it not that He might be able to be our brother, in the blest tie of kindred blood? Oh, what relationship there is between Christ and the believer! The believer can say, “I have a Brother in heaven; I may be poor, but I have a Brother who is rich, and is a King, and will He suffer me to want while He is on his throne? Oh, no! He loves me; He is my Brother.” Believer, wear this blessed thought, like a necklace of diamonds, around the neck of your memory; put it, as a golden ring, on the finger of recollection, and use it as the King’s own seal, stamping the petitions of your faith with confidence of success. He is a brother born for adversity [Proverbs 17:17] , treat Him as such. Christ was also chosen out of the people that H

"So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?"   [Job 1:9] This was the wicked question of Satan concerning that upright man of old, but there are many in the present day concerning whom it might be asked with justice, for they love God after a fashion because he prospers them; but if things went ill with them, they would give up all their boasted faith in God. If they can clearly see that since the time of their supposed conversion the world has gone prosperously with them, then they will love God in their poor carnal way; but if they endure adversity, they rebel against the Lord. Their love is the love of the table, not of the host; a love to the cupboard, not to the master of the house. As for the true Christian, he expects to have his reward in the next life, and to endure hardness in this. The promise of the old covenant was prosperity, but the promise of the new covenant is adversity. Remember Christ’s words: "Every branch in Me that d

"Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?"   [Ezekiel 15:2] These words are for the humbling of God’s people; they are called God’s vine, but what are they by nature more than others? They, by God’s goodness, have become fruitful, having been planted in a good soil; the Lord has trained them upon the walls of the sanctuary, and they bring forth fruit to His glory; but what are they without their God? What are they without the continual influence of the Spirit, begetting fruitfulness in them? O believer, learn to reject pride, seeing that you have no ground for it. Whatever you are, you have nothing to make you proud. The more you have, the more yoy are in debt to God; and you should not be proud of that which renders you a debtor. Consider yours origin; look back to what you wast. Consider what you would have been but for divine grace. Look upon yourself as you are now. Do not your conscience reproach you?

"He was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst?"     [Judges 15:18] Samson was thirsty and ready to die. The difficulty was totally different from any which the hero had met before. Merely to get thirst assuaged is nothing like so great a matter as to be delivered from a thousand Philistines! but when the thirst was upon him, Samson felt that little present difficulty more weighty than the great past difficulty out of which he had so specially been delivered. It is very usual for God’s people, when they have enjoyed a great deliverance, to find a little trouble too much for them. Samson slays a thousand Philistines, and piles them up in heaps, and then faints for a little water! Jacob wrestles with God at Peniel [Genesis 32:24-25] , and overcomes Omnipotence itself, and then goes “halting on his thigh !” Strange that there must be a shrinking of the sinew whenever we

" And so all Israel shall be saved : as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins."   [Romans 11:26-27] When Moses sang at the Red Sea, it was his joy to know that all Israel were safe. Not a drop of spray fell from that solid wall until the last of God’s Israel had safely planted his foot on the other side the flood. That done, immediately the floods dissolved into their proper place again, but not till then. Part of that song was, “Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed [Exodus 15:13] .” In the last time, when the elect shall sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and of the Lamb, it shall be the boast of Jesus, “Of all whom thou hast given me, I have lost none [John 18:9] .” In heaven there shall not be a vacant throne. “For all the chosen race, shall meet around the throne, shall bless the conduct of his grac

"Abel was a keeper of sheep."    [Genesis 4:2] As a shepherd Abel sanctified his work to the glory of God, and offered a sacrifice of blood upon his altar, and the Lord had respected  Abel and his offering [v4]. This early type of our Lord is exceedingly clear and distinct. Like the first streak of light which tinges the east at sunrise, it does not reveal everything, but it clearly manifests the great fact that the sun is coming. As we see Abel, a shepherd and yet a priest, offering a sacrifice of sweet smell unto God, we discern our Lord, who brings before his Father a sacrifice to which Jehovah ever has respect. Abel was hated by his brother—hated without a cause; and even so was the Saviour: the natural and carnal man hated the accepted man in whom the Spirit of grace was found, and rested not until his blood had been shed. Abel fell, and sprinkled his altar and sacrifice with his own blood, and therein sets forth the Lord Jesus slain by the enmity of man while serving

"I sought him, but I did not find him."   [Song of Songs 3: 1] Tell me where you lost communion with Christ, and I will tell you the most likely place you found him. Have you lost Christ in prayer because prayer rooms are hampered? Then that is where you should look for and find him. Did you lose Christ as a result of sin? There is no other way for you to find Christ but to stop committing it, and through the Holy Spirit trying to turn off the limb where passion lives. Did you lose Christ by ignoring the Bible? You must find Christ in the Bible. How true this saying, "Look for something in the place where you dropped it, because that is where it is." So look for Christ in the place where you lose him, because he has not gone from there. But back to Christ is hard work. Bunyan tells the story, the pilgrim found the piece of the road back to the Arbor of Ease [1] , where he lost his roll, of his own, is the hardest he's ever been through. Advanced twenty miles ea

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures." [Luke 24:45] He whom we viewed last evening as opening Scripture, we here perceive opening the understanding. In the first work he has many fellow-labourers, but in the second he stands alone; many can bring the Scriptures to the mind, but the Lord alone can prepare the mind to receive the Scriptures. Our Lord Jesus differs from all other teachers; they reach the ear, but he instructs the heart; they deal with the outward letter, but he imparts an inward taste for the truth, by which we perceive its savour and spirit. The most unlearned of men become ripe scholars in the school of grace when the Lord Jesus by his Holy Spirit unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom to them, and grants the divine anointing by which they are enabled to behold the invisible. Happy are we if we have had our understandings cleared and strengthened by the Master! How many men of profound learning are ignorant of eternal

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."   [Hebrews 4:9] How different will be the state of the believer in Heaven from what it is here! Here he is born to toil and suffer weariness, but in the land of the immortal, fatigue is never known. Anxious to serve his Master, he finds his strength unequal to his zeal: his constant cry is, "Help me to serve You, O my God." If he be thoroughly active, he will have much labour; not too much for his will, but more than enough for his power, so that he will cry out, "I am not wearied of the labour, but I am wearied in it." Ah! Christian, the hot day of weariness lasts not forever; the sun is nearing the horizon; it shall rise again with a brighter day than you have ever seen upon a land where they serve God day and night, and yet rest from their labours. Here, rest is but partial, there, it is perfect. Here, the Christian is always unsettled; he feels that he has not yet attained. There, all are at res

"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."   [Romans 12:4-5] We only learn who we are in relationship. We only learn our true identity in community. You’ll never learn who you really are by yourself. You only learn it in relationships. That means you must connect with others for fellowship. If you had been born and lived your entire life to adulthood with no human contact, you wouldn’t have the slightest idea who or what you were. You wouldn’t even know you were a human being. You only know that because you’re in relationship to other human beings. You learn your identity by being in relationships. The Bible says we need to be connected to God’s family, the Body of Christ: " For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form on

"And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. "   [2 Samuel 11:2] At that hour David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation. Both at home and abroad we are liable to meet with allurements to evil; the morning opens with peril, and the shades of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps, but woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure are more exposed to danger than any others. The armour-bearer of Sin is Self-confidence. David should have been engaged in fighting the Lord's battles, instead of which he tarried at Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxurious repose, for he arose from his bed at eventide. Idleness and luxury are the devil's jackals, and find him abundant

"Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads."  [Revelation 14:1] The apostle John was privileged to look within the gates of heaven, and in describing what he saw, he begins by saying, "I looked, and behold, a Lamb!" This teaches us that the chief object of contemplation in the heavenly state is "the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world [John 1:29]. " Nothing else attracted the apostle's attention so much as the person of that Divine Being, who has redeemed us by his blood. He is the theme of the songs of all glorified spirits and holy angels. Christian, here is joy for you; you have looked, and you have seen the Lamb. Through your tears, your eyes have seen the Lamb of God taking away your sins. Rejoice, then. In a little while, when your eyes shall have been wiped from tears, you will see the same Lamb exalted on hi

"Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."    [Isaiah 41:14] This morning let us hear the Lord Jesus speak to each one of us: “I will help thee.” “It is but a small thing for me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already. What! not help you? Why, I bought thee with my blood. What! not help you? I have died for thee; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? Help you! It is the least thing I will ever do for you; I have done more, and will do more. Before the world began I chose thee [Ephesians 1:4]. I made the covenant for thee. I laid aside my glory and became a man for you; I gave up my life for thee; and if I did all this, I will surely help thee now. In helping thee, I am giving thee what I have bought for thee already. If thou hadst need of a thousand times as much help, I would give it thee; thou requirest little compared with what I am ready to give. '

" For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer."   Psalms 109:4 Lying tongues were busy against the reputation of David, but he did not defend himself; he moved the case into a higher court, and pleaded before the great King himself. Prayer is the safest method of replying to words of hatred. The Psalmist prayed in no cold-hearted manner, he gave himself to the exercise—threw his whole soul and heart into it—straining every sinew and muscle, as Jacob did when wrestling with the angel. Thus, and thus only, shall any of us speed at the throne of grace. As a shadow has no power because there is no substance in it, even so that supplication, in which a man’s proper self is not thoroughly present in agonizing earnestness and vehement desire, is utterly ineffectual, for it lacks that which would give it force. “Fervent prayer,” says an old divine, “like a cannon planted at the gates of heaven, makes them fly open.” The common fault with the most of us is our

"Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said."   [2 Samuel 7:25] God’s promises were never meant to be thrown aside as waste paper; he intended that they should be used. God’s gold is not miser’s money, but is minted to be traded with. Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see his promises put in circulation; he loves to see his children bring them up to him, and say, “Lord, do as You have said.” We glorify God when we plead his promises. Do you think that God will be any the poorer for giving you the riches he has promised? Do you dream that he will be any the less holy for giving holiness to you? Do you imagine he will be any the less pure for washing you from your sins? He has said “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool [Isaiah 1:18] . ”

"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me."    [Matthew 14:30] Sinking times are praying times with the Lord’s servants. Peter neglected prayer at starting upon his venturous journey, but when he began to sink his danger made him a suppliant, and his cry though late was not too late. In our hours of bodily pain and mental anguish, we find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is driven upon the shore by the waves. The fox hies to its hole for protection; the bird flies to the wood for shelter; and even so the tried believer hastens to the mercy seat for safety. Heaven’s great harbour of refuge is All-prayer; thousands of weather-beaten vessels have found a haven there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us to make for it with all sail. Short prayers are long enough. There were but three words in the petition which Peter gasped out, but they were sufficient for his purpose. Not leng

" Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save ."    [ Isaiah 63: 1] By the words “to save” we understand the whole of the great work of salvation, from the first holy desire onward to complete sanctification. The words are multum in parro (Much in miniature): indeed, here is all mercy in one word. Christ is not only “mighty to save” those who repent, but he is able to make men repent. He will carry those to heaven who believe; but he is, moreover, mighty to give men new hearts and to work faith in them. He is mighty to make the man who hates holiness love it, and to constrain the despiser of his name to bend the knee before him. No, this is not all the meaning, for the divine power is equally seen in the after-work. The life of a believer is a series of miracles wrought by “the Mighty God.” The bush burns, but is not cons

"Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber"    [1 Kings 22:48] Solomon’s ships had returned in safety [1 Ki. 9:26] , but Jehoshaphat’s vessels never reached the land of gold. Providence prospers one, and frustrates the desires of another, in the same business and at the same spot, yet the Great Ruler is as good and wise at one time as another. May we have grace today, in the remembrance of this text, to bless the Lord for ships broken at Ezion-geber, as well as for vessels freighted with temporal blessings; let us not envy the more successful, nor murmur at our losses as though we were singularly and specially tried. Like Jehoshaphat, we may be precious in the Lord’s sight, although our schemes end in disappointment. The secret cause of Jehoshaphat’s loss is well worthy of notice, for it is the root of very much of the suffering of the Lord’s people; it was his alliance with a sinful family, his f

" And ye are Christ's ; and Christ is God's."   [1 Corinthians 3:23] “Ye are Christ's.” You are his by donation, for the Father gave you to the Son; his by his bloody purchase, for he counted down the price for your redemption; his by dedication, for you have consecrated yourself to him; his by relation, for you are named by his name, and made one of his brethren and joint-heirs [Romans 8:17] . Labour practically to show the world that you are the servant, the friend, the bride of Jesus. When tempted to sin, reply, “I cannot do this great wickedness [Genesis 39:9] , for I am Christ's.” Immortal principles forbid the friend of Christ to sin. When wealth is before you to be won by sin, say that you are Christ's, and touch it not. Are you exposed to difficulties and dangers? Stand fast in the evil day, remembering that you are Christ's. Are you placed where others are sitting down idly, doing nothing? Rise to the work with all your powers; and when the s

"But I have prayed for thee, t hat thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."   Luke 22:32 How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer’s never- ceasing intercession for us. When we pray, he pleads for us; and when we are not praying, he is advocating our cause, and by his supplications shielding us from unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter—“Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat [v31] ; but”—what? “But go and pray for yourself.” That would be good advice, but it is not so written. Neither does he say, “But I will keep you watchful, and so you shall be preserved.” That were a great blessing. No, it is, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” We little know what we owe to our Saviour’s prayers. When we reach the hill-tops of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God hath led us, how we shall praise him who, before the eternal throne, undid the mi