Daniel 10:21

In the scripture of truth.

The Teaching of Scripture

The Scriptures not only demand our submission, but invite our investigation. Whatever men in the pride of their heart may urge against them, they describe the moral condition of man, and contain truths that suit him through every stage of weakness and sorrow.

I. SOME SOLEMN FACTS NOTED IN THE SCRIPTURES OF TRUTH.

1. The moral ruin of man. The universal and dreadful character of man’s apostacy from God. The fact is everywhere assumed.

2. The Gospel remedy. Scriptures introduce Jesus Christ--born of a woman--made under the law--agonies--death--priestly character--intercession.

3. The means of application. How shall I become a partaker of this salvation? By faith. Then man is a new creature. His conceptions of God are new--his desires are new--pleasures new--pains new--principles and practices new--prospects new--he is an heir of glory.

4. The doom of the impenitent and unbelieving. (Psalms 9:17; Matthew 23:33; Revelation 21:8.)

II. PARTICULAR APPLICATION OF THE SUBJECT. To five classes of hearers.

1. The Self-ignorant. A man may have much knowledge and yet be totally ignorant of himself. There are some of this class everywhere.

2. The Presumptuous. Those whom the Scriptures call “ungodly men, who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.” The men who dream of salvation without the “washing and regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”

3. The Self-righteous. The persons who intend, if it is possible, to go to heaven without the merits of the Saviour. A large class.

4. The Anxious. You need consolation, and it is provided. (Matthew 14:30) The all sufficiency of Christ reaches to you.

5. The Believer. The sacred Scriptures congratulate you. They describe your mercy they proclaim your obligations--they point you to your final home. (Anon.)

The Highest Literature and the Highest Ministry

I. The highest LITERATURE on earth. “The Scripture of truth.” There are many scriptures, or writings, in the world. They abound and are multiplying. There are the scriptures of fiction, sensuality, romance; but there is only one book out of the millions concerning which you can say “the Scripture of truth,” and that is the Bible. The truth is in this book, if anywhere. The truth in relation to man, Christ, God, etc., is here. The truth here is soul-converting, soul-cleansing, soul-strengthening, soul-comforting, soul-ennobling truth.

II. The highest MINISTRY on earth. What is that? Expounding this truth in its relation to men individually. “I will show thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth,” says the heavenly messenger. On this earth no man occupies such a sublime office as he who is the enlightened, faithful, and practical expounder of God’s truth to men. “I will show thee.” The truth of the Scriptures has a relation to all classes of men--the careless, the carnal, the anxious, the self-righteous, the sceptical, the believing, etc. Heaven multiply such expositors! (Homilist.)

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