Verily here is a glorious assemblage of comforting truths, like a reviving cordial of rich compounds to enliven drooping spirits. Too, too often do God’s children judge of their Father’s love from corrupt ideas. Through the carnality of their natures, the depravity of their judgment, the weakness of their faith, the uncertainty of their frames and feelings, and the artful insinuations of Satan, their loving Father is considered as an implacable being, full of wrath and anger against them. But this is contrary to God’s revelation of himself in Christ Jesus as a God of love. So also is it injurious and hurtful to the souls of the faithful; for it damps their love, distresses their spirits, deadens the exercise of their graces, and hinders…

The profession of Jesus is easy to nature. There is nothing irksome to the flesh in being called a Christian. But to know Jesus in heart, to confess him with the tongue, and to follow him in our life, will ever expose us to reproach and contempt. But if, with Philip, we have really found that blessed person of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, we must, we shall speak of him to others. We shall esteem Jesus our beloved as our richest treasure. Our hearts and affections will be going out after him. Moses's choice will be ours: we shall esteem the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. But fleshly wisdom is contrary to all this. That ever prompts, ‘Save…

It is very remarkable, after the prophet pronounces the curse of confiding in the flesh, and the blessedness of trusting in the Lord, he immediately adds, ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked,’ ver. 9. Hence we may infer, that the poison of pride, vain confidence in the flesh, and self-righteous hopes, may lurk under the most exalted pretensions to piety, holiness, and perfection. This matter calls for great care and circumspection. As many as are of the works of the law, or who in anywise seek to be made righteous by doing, are under the curse. Gal. 3:10 Think it not contrary to the holiness of God to pronounce such to be cursed, as though the Lord did not hate sin,…

As mutual love subsists between Jesus and his believing members, so there is a mutual choice of each other. Hence, saith the church, ‘I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.’ Cant. 6:3 So also there is a mutual inhabitation; every believer dwells in Christ, and Christ in him. This is only comfortably experienced by continuing in the truth. For ‘whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God; he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.’ 2 John 9

He that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God. John 3:21. This is an infallible touchstone of true conversion, given by the oracle of truth. He that trusteth to his own heart is a fool. Prov. 28:26 Sincerity may be attended with diffidence. Sincere upright souls know they have to do with a heart-searching God: to him they appeal, and desire to be searched and tried by him. What avails the soul, to obtain a favourable opinion from our vain fellow-mortals, if we are conscious that all is not right within! What peace, what comfort, what joy, though men approve, and the soul itself be ever so confident, while conscience testifies that…

Human nature, how low fallen in misery and wretchedness; yet how high doth it rise in pride! Though the meek Lamb of God is the preacher of sovereign grace and distinguishing love, yet the wrath of man dares to exalt itself against his doctrine. Fury bursts forth like fire, vengeance and resentment break the bounds of the law of God and man, and would instantly have put Jesus to death. Pride is the firstborn of Lucifer. ‘Ye shall be as gods,’ hath tainted our whole nature with the cursed leaven, and will be the last enemy that is destroyed in us. Out of the abundance of pride in the heart, the mouth is opened against God’s sovereign grace, discriminating love, and divine dispensations. ‘Be still,…