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Peter’s Transformation
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How Oft, Alas, This Wretched Heart
Some of the points covered in this sermon: • Highlighting the subject and theme of the hymn—the triumphant recovery of a rescued backslider • Showing where the subject of backsliding fits within the framework of sovereign grace • Explaining the distinction between the twofold nature of a regenerate sinner’s soul • Explaining progressive sanctification and showing why it is a wrong doctrine • Explaining the difference between progressive sanctification and growth in grace • Outlining the five stanzas of the hymn, each of which may be viewed as a step forward in the recovery process of a rescued backslider • Stanza 1—A Solemn Confession • Stanza 2—A Gracious Invitation • Stanza 3—A Mournful Petition • Stanza 4—A Joyful Acclamation • Stanza 5—A Compelled Resolution…
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On the Lord’s Chastening
The Lord loves his children too well either to let them sin at ease or live at ease; and though free-willers say that the discriminating grace of God leads to licentiousness, God's quickened family know better; and no others are capable of judging or being witnesses, for they know nothing about it. It is to the glory of grace that the Lord will chasten his people for their sins; not in vindictive wrath, but in love; for as many as the Lord loves, he rebukes and chastens—Revelations 3:19: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” When the dear child of God is under his chastening hand, he is often ready to say, “I cannot be a real Christian,…
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8. The Fall Of Peter
“And Peter followed afar off.”—Luke 22:51-62 Preached in Manchester, 9 August 1842 1. Let us look at the weakness of man and the power of temptation. 2. The criminality of Peter. 3. The matchless display of God's grace. 4. The effect produced. 5. The lesson taught us. 1. The weakness of man and the power of temptation. The weakness of man is very great. Compared with the Almighty God, his Creator and Upholder, he is at his best estate altogether vanity; he is weakness itself. We are not sufficient of ourselves, go as to do anything of ourselves; we know not even what to pray to God for as we ought. May we in humility pray to him to direct us how to pray, and…
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13. Sanctification In Christ
“Sanctified in Christ Jesus.”—1 Corinthians 1:2 A Sermon Preached By William Gadsby In Gower Street Chapel, London, On Lord's Day Morning, May 9th, 1841. I have no doubt that in this assembly, in some corner or other, there are some poor, hobbling souls who are terrified almost to death about the doctrine of sanctification. They read, in the book of God's Word, of the Spirit as a Sanctifier; but they are necessarily obliged to exclaim, “Lord, I am vile!” Sometimes we say respecting people's credit, “Why, it is wrought quite threadbare.” Bless you, in some poor souls there is not a thread left to be made bare. If God the Spirit has brought you there, you will have indeed to exclaim, “Lord, I am vile!”…
