Unbelief, how great its power, how strong its influence! It would for ever blind the eyes, and harden the heart against Jesus and his grace; but ‘he shall divide the spoil with the strong.’ The prophet’s prediction is here clearly fulfilled, the sovereignty of grace is fully displayed. Our Lord’s own doctrine is truly verified in these two thieves: ‘One shall be taken, and the other left.’ Matt. 24:40. Pride is the companion of unbelief. This keeps men in obstinacy; they will not see, they will not bow to God’s sovereignty. But this is a comfortable truth to self-abased souls: God’s power is their hope. But doth our Lord bring sinners to glory without faith, repentance and holiness? Doth he leave his people in their…

We are not to expect the sunshine of joy all the way through this vale of tears. Comfortable frames and feelings, though sweet and delightful, are not always so profitable to the soul. Were we always on the mount of joy, alas, we should forget that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth; but should be for building tabernacles of rest in a polluted place, and cry out with the highly-favoured disciples, ‘It is good for us to be here; but they knew not what they said.’ Luke 9:33. It is the glory of a Christian to live by faith on Jesus; to judge of his Saviour’s love from the word of truth, more than by sense and feeling; yea under dejection and dis­…

In times of dejection and distress, the thoughts of a dear friend, who has comforted us in times past, tend to alleviate the mind. If we are assured of his love to us, we question not his readiness to assist us. So under the affecting loss of a dear brother, Martha addresses the Saviour, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” John 11:21 Inexpressible blessedness, to live in a holy familiarity with the God of love! How simple are David’s words, how freely doth he pour out his complaints, and tell God of his sorrows! Though his soul was bowed down within him, heaviness of mind beset him, the sweet sunshine of joy was overcast by the dark cloud of sorrow,…

Sin, though atoned for by the blood of Jesus, and through the faith of this the soul be made holy and happy, yet it still dwells in us. Hence all our griefs, our sufferings, our wretchedness. God’s judgments are sometimes secret, always just, ever in love to his own. Misery would never afflict us, if sin did not infect us. A good instrument may be out of tune; the hand of a skilful musician is necessary to set it, and display its harmony and sound. God disciplines by afflictions for our profit and his glory. The faith, patience, and valour of God’s soldiers are best known in times of exercise: then how animating to view the love, and trust to the faithfulness of a covenant…