_Compassed about with so great a cloud_ GREAT MEN: The witnesses that God has set before the eyes of men are twofold, the witness of greatness and the witness of goodness, the witness of the hero and the witness of the saint. To name these two together is at once to put the one far above the other... [ Continue Reading ]
_Consider Him that endured such contradiction_ CHRIST’S AFFLICTIONS A LESSON FOR HIS PEOPLE: All heaven considers or looks at Christ. The angels look at Him with reverence and adoring wonder, as their Lord and King. All hell considers or looks at Christ. The devils look at Him with terror and alar... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not yet resisted unto blood_ THE LAW OF CHRIST’S SERVICE I. THE LAW OF CHRIST’S SERVICE. Resistance unto blood. 1. This law is not an arbitrary enactment. It is because the strife is against sin, and sin is an evil so terrible and tremendous that we are to resist unto blood. 2. Christianity is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord_ HOW TO BEAR AFFLICTIONS The proposition that ariseth from the words is this: It is the duty and best wisdom of afflicted Christians to preserve themselves from the vicious extremes of despising the Schastenings of the Lord, or fainting under them. I.... [ Continue Reading ]
_If ye endure chastening_ CHASTENING: WHAT IS IT? “It is for chastening that ye endure”--such is the reading and translation in the R.V. That is the purpose sought and prized; an end that sufficiently justifies God in such dealing with His sons, and that sustains His sons in experience of His deal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Subjection unto the Father of spirits_ DIVINE CORRECTION I. THE DUTY IS SUBJECTION. “Shall we not be in subjection?” This is not opposed to insensibility. There is no patience, no resignation, in bearing what we do not feel. If you do not prize what you give up at the call of God, there can be no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness_ SWEET FRUIT FROM A THORNY TREE: When our heavenly Father “puts His hand into the bitter box” and weighs out to us a portion of wormwood and gall in the form of bodily pain, we very naturally ask the reason why. Nature suggests the quest... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lift up the hands which hang down_ CHRISTIAN COMPASSION: The words of the text are taken from Isaiah 35:3, and are addressed to the believing Hebrews as an admonition to comfort and encourage one another. The disheartened among them are compared to such as had been running in a race, or sustaini... [ Continue Reading ]
_Follow peace._ ., and holiness THE WINNOWING FAN I. TWO THINGS TO BE FOLLOWED. We are to follow peace and holiness; the two are consistent with each other and may be followed together. Peace is to be studied, but not such a peace as would lead us to violate holiness by conforming to the ways of... [ Continue Reading ]