(3) True desires are not only for the favour of God, but for the graces that will alter our natures. Now when desire is for these graces, it is a holy desire. To desire grace, which is as opposite to...  Read More

One objective of Christianity is for us to desire to be sound Christians with all our hearts. Religion is more in the affections of the soul than in the effects and operations. It is more in the reso...  Read More

Emmanuel, God with us. If God is with us in our nature, then he is with us in his love; 'and if God is with us, who shall be against us?' (Rom. 8:31). For this Emmanuel has taken our nature forever; ...  Read More

Emmanuel is a name both of nature and office. It is a name of his nature, God and man; and of his office, which is to reconcile God and man. The pure nature of God, and the fallen nature of man, whic...  Read More

'Behold.' This is the usual harbinger in matters concerning Christ. The word has a threefold force. First as a thing presented to the eye of faith. Second the word gets our attention, for it announce...  Read More

A Christian who, through Christ, draws near to God is the wisest man. He has God's word, reason, and experience to support his choice. Paul suffered, and was not ashamed. Why? 'I know whom I have bel...  Read More

(8) Labour for sincerity in all our actions. Whatever we do for God or man, do it with a single eye, resolved to please God. Let men say what they will, 'a double-minded man is unstable in all his wa...  Read More

(5) Be in God's ways and ordinances in all the good you do. Whether in our Christian or civil calling, all must be sanctified by prayer and a holy dependence upon God for strength, wisdom, and succes...  Read More

(4) Observe and check the first motions of sin in our hearts. You, O man of God, Ay from the lusts of youth' (2 Tim. 2:22). Rebuke the first motions, before they come to delight or action. God abhor...  Read More

Seek to be nearer to God by submitting to his Spirit. The more we grow in spiritual things, the closer access we have to the secrets of God. In our first state, we are altogether flesh and have no sp...  Read More

A wicked man may be convinced that heaven and grace are good things; but his corrupted affections persuade him that it would be better to live in pleasure and lust now; and when death comes then he m...  Read More

Beloved, the devil and devilish-minded men have a special spite to the soul. What do they aim at in all their wrongs and injuries to God's children? Do they care to hurt the body? They will do this r...  Read More

Our chief care must be over our souls. We must desire God to preserve our souls. Whatever becomes of the soul; our principal care must be that the soul be not blemished in the least kind. This body o...  Read More

The mystery of Christ's glory leads us to godliness (1 Tim. 3:16) by stirring us up to being heavenly-minded. The apostle divinely exhorts the Colossians, 'If you are risen with Christ, seek the thin...  Read More

Christ's ascension gives comfort when the church is experiencing affliction. When the church is afflicted, does the church have a glorious Head in heaven who sits and does nothing? No. He sits at the...  Read More

In all the disconsolations of this life there is a world of comfort from Christ's ascension. We must not think of Christ, as if his honours had changed his manners, as it is among men; that now that ...  Read More

Christ's ascension is a ground of contentment in all conditions. What if we lack comfort, houses, or anything on earth, when we have heaven provided for us, and glory provided for us in our Head? Wil...  Read More

Christ's ascension is a comfort in our sins and infirmities. When we have to deal with God the Father, whom we have offended with our sins, let us receive comfort from this: Christ is ascended into h...  Read More

It is a great comfort knowing that Christ ascended for us. It is a singular comfort that Christ ascended as a public person, on our behalf, in our nature, for our good. When we think of Christ in hea...  Read More

(3) Consider the truth that they taught which was contrary to the nature and affections of man. To enforce self-denial to men who are naturally full of self-love, who make an idol of their wisdom and...  Read More

(1) Consider what the world was, an enemy to Christ; being slaves to Satan, being idolaters in love with their own inventions. Here was the wonder of God's love, mercy, and condescension that he shou...  Read More

There are several degrees of the dispensation of salvation. There is first the ordaining of salvation. That took place before the creation of the worlds. Then the promise of salvation. That was when ...  Read More

Preaching must be of Christ. Some may question, 'But must nothing be preached but Christ?' Yes, nothing but Christ, or that which tends to Christ. Whatever is done in preaching to humble men, it is t...  Read More

Some may object that preaching is only for the laying of the foundation of the church; it is not for the church when it is built. Then other disciplines like prayer help and we can do without preachi...  Read More