_Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto Thee._ THOUGHTS OF COMFORT AND COMPLAINT I. Thoughts of complaint (Psalms 102:1). 1. Concerning bodily sufferings. (1) The physical anguish of life (verse 3). (2) The terrible brevity of life (verse 11). 2. Concerning mental sufferings. “I am i... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come._ A REVIVAL OF THE CHURCH, AND SYMPTOMS WHICH PRECEDE IT I. There is a favourable time to promote the revival of the Church. 1. The source to which the Church must look for a revival. The Lord alon... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof._ THE SECRET OF THE STONES Stones and dust! Stones that have fallen out of place and lie scattered on the ground; dust that flies on every wind and drops back again into crevice and heap. Stones that are chipped and stained... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory._ THE BUILDING UP OF ZION I. When may Zion, or the Christian Church, be said to be built up? 1. When sinners are converted to God. 2. When Christian converts grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. 3. When pur... [ Continue Reading ]
_He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer._ GOOD NEWS FOR THE DESTITUTE Trumpets are sounding, banners are displayed, princes and nobles glitter in their array, and the King appears in His glory. But who is this whose mournful wail disturbs the harmony? Whence comes... [ Continue Reading ]
_This shall he written for the generation to come._ OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS THE YOUNG The antecedent to the word “this” are the truths contained in Psalms 102:1 :-- 1. That the Lord will have mercy upon Zion. 2. That the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord. 3. That He will build up Zion.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: Thy years are throughout all generations._ THE DEATH OF GOOD MEN, IN THE MIDST OF THEIR DAYS, CONSIDERED AND IMPROVED I. The reasons of this dispensation. 1. The sovereignty of the Divine will, which is-- (1) Absolute. (2) Uncontrolla... [ Continue Reading ]
_They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure._ A PERISHING WORLD AND AN IMMUTABLE GOD The great practical lesson which we are being daily taught is this, to withdraw our hearts from a changing and decaying world; and fix our hopes, and seek our happiness, in an unchanging and eternal God. This is the... [ Continue Reading ]
_But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have no end._ THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD God is unchangeable in His essence, nature, and perfections. This unchangeableness of God was anciently represented by the figure of a cube, a piece of metal or wood framed four square; when every side is exactly of... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children of Thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before Thee._ GOD’S CARE FOR THE POSTERITY OF HIS SERVANTS I. How far a blessing cometh on the posterity of God’s servants. 1. Good men do convey many temporal mercies to their relations; that is the least. God cann... [ Continue Reading ]