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The Application Of Scripture To The Mind
Manchester, 1841 Messrs. Editors,—I am concerned to know how we may assure ourselves that a passage of Scripture, when applied to the mind, is by God the Holy Spirit, and not by the evil one who lieth in wait to deceive. If you or some of your correspondents will endeavour, through the medium of the Standard, to bring me to a satisfactory conclusion upon that matter, it will be greatly esteemed by your constant reader,—ELIZABETH. Answer. “Elizabeth” says she is “concerned to know how we are to assure ourselves that a passage of Scripture, when applied to the mind, is by God the Holy Spirit, and not by the evil one who lieth in wait to deceive.” Now to me it appears that what comes…
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Two Or Three Covenants?
One of the reasons many Reformed believers assert it is the duty of all sinners to savingly believe on Christ is because they distinguish between the covenant of redemption and the covenant of grace. They believe the covenant of redemption was made between the Father, the Son and the Spirit from eternity, whereas the covenant of grace is made between Jehovah and the sinner in time. They view the covenant of redemption as existing in the background of God’s plan for the ages, whereas the covenant of grace is set in the foreground of man’s responsibility for today. R. C. Sproul outlined this view in his book, “What Is Reformed Theology”. He explained Reformed Theology is primarily concerned with three major covenants—the covenant of redemption,…
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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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The Gospel Law
Some of the points covered in this sermon: • Reviewing the structure of Genesis 5:1-6:8 • The error of subverting God’s sanctification by the gospel law • Explaining the difference between the relationship Adam had with God before the fall, and the relationship regenerate sinners have with God after the fall • Showing the necessity and nature of the new birth • Showing how the regenerate sinner is zealous unto good works and affirming that God has ordained that His elect people should walk in them • Explaining the error of those who believe the heart law is given by God as the rule of conduct for a regenerate sinner’s sanctification • Explaining the error of those who believe the ten commandments are given by…
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Abiding in Christ
A Sermon Preached by Joseph Philpot at Providence Chapel, Eden Street, London, on Tuesday Evening, July 6, 1847 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." John 15:4 Have you ever considered the experience of the disciples when their Lord and Master was sojourning here below? To my mind, there is something very instructive, and, I may add, very encouraging in it. On the one hand, observe how ignorant they were of the nature of Christ's kingdom! Two of the most eminent of them besought him that they might sit, the one on his right hand, and the other on his left, in…
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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,…
