"Oh, the mischief of thoughts! A man may deny God in his thoughts: 'The fool hath said in his heart there is no God' (Psalm 14:1). He may commit adultery in his thoughts: 'Whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her in his heart' (Matthew 5:28). A man may murder another in his thoughts: 'Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer' (1 John … [Read more...]
Once a Child of Wrath
"To love and to be propitious are not convertible terms. Even in the human sphere, the unique object of love may at the same time be the unique object of holy wrath and displeasure. It is the denial of God's holiness in relation to sin, as the contradiction of what He is and demands, not to recognize that sin must evoke His wrath. And just as sin belongs to persons, so the … [Read more...]
The Wondrous Blood of Christ
"It was the blood that was of infinite merit and value in the sight of God. It was not the blood of one who was nothing more than a singularly holy man, but of one Who was God's own 'Fellow,' very God of very God (Zec. 13:7). It was not the blood of one who died involuntarily, as a martyr for truth, but of one Who voluntarily undertook to be the Substitute and Proxy for … [Read more...]
Dare Not Go Near the Border of Sin
"Christ did sometimes go among the wicked; not that he approve of their sins, but as a physician goes among the diseased to heal them, so Christ intended to work a cure upon them (Mark 2:17). It was their conversion he aimed at. "Though Jesus Christ did sometimes converse with sinners, yet he could receive no infection by them; his divine nature was a sufficient antidote … [Read more...]
Limp Not
"Reproaches for Christ are ensigns of honour, badges of adoption (1 Peter 4:14), the high honours of accusations, says Chrysostom. Let Christians bind these as a crown about their head. Better have men reproach you for being good, than have God damn you for being wicked. Be not laughed out of your religion. If a lame man laugh at you for walking upright, will you therefore … [Read more...]
Swim Against the Common Stream
"Let us recollect that the saving of souls from death honours Jesus, for there is no saving souls except through his blood. As for you and for me, what can we do in saving a soul from death? Of ourselves nothing, any more than that pen which lies upon the table could write Pilgrim's Progress; yet let a Bunyan grasp the pen, and the matchless work is written. So you and I can do … [Read more...]
Golden Wages
"Let us recollect that the saving of souls from death honours Jesus, for there is no saving souls except through his blood. As for you and for me, what can we do in saving a soul from death? Of ourselves nothing, any more than that pen which lies upon the table could write Pilgrim's Progress; yet let a Bunyan grasp the pen, and the matchless work is written. So you and I can do … [Read more...]