AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“What Manner Of Man Is This?”

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“The Everlasting Father”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Reviewing the three main parts of Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the Messiah, as recorded in Isaiah 9:6
• Explaining the difference between the first Person of the Godhead identified as the “Father”, and the second Person of the Godhead identified as the “Everlasting Father”
• Showing how Christ is the Everlasting Father of creation
• Showing how Christ is the Everlasting Father of providence
• Showing how Christ is the Everlasting Father of the elect as their covenant head
• Showing how Christ is the Everlasting Father of the elect in regeneration and sanctification
• Showing how Christ is the Everlasting Father of the new administration of the gracious covenant

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“Falling Into Trouble”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Providing a definition for the Greek verb, peripiptō, translated in the English as “fall into” and “fell among”
• Highlighting the historic and geographical context for each of the three references in which this Greek verb occurs—Luke 10:30; Acts 27:41; James 1:2
• Making a comparison between these three texts for the purpose of drawing out several interesting connections and practical lessons
• First, historically speaking, there is a 15 year gap between each of the three texts
• Second, the first text is a parabolic lesson, the second text is a historic event and the third text is a pastoral exhortation
• Third, Jesus uses the term in Luke 10, which the words are recorded by Luke; Luke uses the term in Acts 27, but he is recording an event relating to Paul; James uses the word in his letter, but He is addressing a group of believers who had fallen into troubles
• Fourth, in all three texts, that into which something had fallen was very unpleasant
• Fifth, in all three texts, that into which something had fallen created a serious crisis
• Sixth, in all three texts, they who had fallen into something had opportunity to avoid it
• Seventh, in all three texts, they who had fallen inevitably did so according to the will of God
• Eighth, in all three texts, they who had fallen were delivered out of all their troubles by the Lord

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“If thou dost well, shalt thou not be accepted?”—Genesis 4:7

I. It will be proper to inquire, whether a wicked, an unregenerate man, as was Cain, can perform good works. To which may be answered,

1. Adam had a power to do every good work the law required; which men, since the fall, have not. Men indeed, in an unregenerate state, might do many things which they do not; such as reading the Scriptures, attending on public worship, etc. No doubt but the persons in the parable, who were invited to the dinner, could have gone to it, had they had a will, as well as the one did to his farm, and the other to his merchandise. Men have an equal power, had they an heart, a will, an inclination, to go to a place of divine worship, as to a tavern, or alehouse; but it is easy to observe, that persons oftentimes have it…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“He Expounded All Things”

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Preached at North Street Chapel, Stamford, on Lord’s Day Morning, Dec. 8, 1861

These words which, as uttered by my voice, are still sounding in your ears, form a part of the message sent by the Lord Jesus Christ through his servant John to the angel of the church of Smyrna. This, I need not tell you, was one of the seven churches in Asia to which special messages were addressed by the Lord Jesus when he appeared to John in the Isle of Patmos. In that lonely isle, whither John had been banished “for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ,” he had a glorious vision of the Son of God, and by him was bidden to write to the seven churches. It is the opinion of some learned, and, I may add (which is of greater authority), of some gracious interpreters of God’s word—I need only mention among the latter as a proof of my assertion the revered names of Dr. Gill and Mr. Huntington— that these seven churches of Asia Minor have a prophetical aspect; in other words, that they represent seven church states which were to intervene between the apostolic age and the consummation of all things, when our Lord shall come a second time without sin unto salvation. I shall not occupy much of your time in stating the various arguments used to establish this position, more especially as it is not one much commended to my conscience. But they view it thus. They argue that as the Revelation is wholly a prophetical book, it would be very strange and unsuitable to its title if the three first chapters contained in them nothing prophetical; that the glorious appearance of Christ to introduce these messages seems scarcely necessary to send messages to a few particular churches; and that promises are contained in them which seem…

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My dear Friend in the glorious Head of the Church,—I received your epistle, and am greatly obliged to you for it. I was sorry to learn that our dear brother Martin was so ill, but much pleased and profited to find that our blessed Lord so sweetly and powerfully supported his mind.

Indeed, in very deed, there is no God like the God of Jeshurun. None can save like him; none can succour, comfort, and support like him; no, nor can any one give timely reproof like him. Through the rich aboundings of his matchless grace, I have in thousands of instances proved him to be a very present help in time of trouble; yea, and have proved his very reproofs to be mercies. Our covenant God has treasured up in Christ, our glorious Head, an indescribable fulness of all…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“The Prince Of Peace”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Highlighting the three main parts of Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the Messiah, as recorded in Isaiah 9:6
• Providing a definition of “prince” and “peace”
• Explaining how Christ is the Prince (or Captain) of the sinner’s health and welfare
• Showing how the covenant of grace is often called a covenant of peace
• Linking the covenant of peace in Ezekiel 37:26, with the covenant of peace in Hebrews 13:20,21
• Exploring the four passages where this Greek term translated “prince” appears in the New Testament
• Providing a comprehensive overview on the doctrine of the “Prince of Peace”, by comparing and contrasting these four passages—Acts 3:12-15; Acts 5:29-32; Hebrews 2:9,10; Hebrews 12:1,2

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“I Need The Affirmation Of Thy Love, O Lord”

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Some of the points covered in this sermon:
• Providing an overview of the Apostle Paul’s three evangelistic campaigns against the backdrop of a geographical timeline
• Tracing the time and location around which the events of Acts 14:20-22 occurred
• Highlighting the term “confirmed”, providing a definition for the Greek term and the number of time it appears in the New Testament
• Tracing the time and location around which the events of Acts 15:30-35 occurred
• Tracing the time and location around which the events of Acts 15:36-41 occurred
• Tracing the time and location around which the events of Acts 18:18-23 occurred
• Tying together these four texts, by comparing and contrasting the way in which the term “confirmed” is used in each passage
• Drawing from these texts an application for today—there is not a more pressing need among believers, than for the Lord to affirm His everlasting love to their hearts
• Highlighting four ways that a believer may receive the affirmation of God’s love on a daily and weekly basis

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March 9, 1830

My dear Friend in Eternal Union,—Yours came to hand; and very glad I was to receive it, and happy to hear that our dear friend Martin is in any measure better; but the best of all is, the sweet peace of mind which our ever-to-be-adored God is pleased to afford him. I often think of him when my dear Lord affords me access to himself; and sure I am that the union which exists between Christ and his dear family, and between them as one body in him, can never be broken. Let what bonds break that may, this is a bond that can never, no never be broken. Indeed, those very storms and tempests which break in pieces other bonds, only tend, through the sweet teachings of God the Holy Ghost, to make manifest the unalterable nature and divine glory of the bond of the everlasting covenant.

You are right, in very deed you are right; for we only learn the glorious beauties of eternal realities through scenes of affliction, either in body, mind, or estate, or in all put together; and these only tend to good purpose as God the Holy Ghost makes use of them as instruments in his glorious hands; “for no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

I can assure you that I have always been a hard learner, and have always stood in need of much discipline; but such is our dear Lord and Master that he is determined to teach, and teach to profit too. Honours crown his brow! He will bring us to his feet, yea, to his bosom, and cause us experimentally to…

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In the year 1735, the First Part of this work was published, in which are considered the several passages of Scripture made use of by Dr. Whitby and others in favour of the Universal Scheme, and against the Calvinistical Scheme, in which their arguments and objections are answered, and the several passages set in a just and proper light. These, and what are contained in the following part in favour of the Particular Scheme, are extracted from Sermons delivered in a Wednesday evening’s lecture.

Examination of

1. Genesis 4:7
2. Genesis 6:3
3. Deuteronomy 5:29
4. Deuteronomy 8:2
5. Deuteronomy 30:19…

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It should be known by the reader, that the following work was undertaken and begun about the year 1733 or 1734, at which time Dr. Whitby’s Discourse on the Five Points was reprinting, judged to be a masterpiece on the subject in the English tongue, and accounted an unanswerable one; and it was almost in the mouth of every one, as an objection to the Calvinists.

Why do not ye answer Dr. Whitby? Induced hereby, I determined to…

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A Fragment of a Sermon

“One shall say, I am the Lord’s; and another shall call himself by the name of ]acob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.”—Isaiah 44:5

The three characters spoken of in my text were children of God in different stages of experience: the first, in the full assurance of faith, with the enjoyment of peace and pardon in the soul; the second seemed to embrace by far the largest number of God’s family—poor, fearful, staggering, doubting sinners, yet spiritual Jacobs; and the third, those who possessed some good degree of confidence, whose desire was unto the Lord, to serve him with purpose of heart.

I. “One shall say, I am the Lord’s.” Highly favoured and greatly blessed is the soul that can feelingly, honestly and, with the Spirit of God testifying to the conscience, humbly say, “I am the Lord’s.” How many are there of my hearers in the chapel this morning who can thus unhesitatingly declare, “I am the Lord’s”? “My Beloved is mine, and I am his”? I do not think there are many who without a doubt or without fear could say so. Now, if we were in private conversation together, there would be many, doubtless, who would say, “I hope and trust I am the Lord’s; but I fear to be presumptuous.” But there are some here, I dare venture to say, who can well remember the time when the Lord…

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AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR DIVINE WORSHIP; DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND CHURCH MEETINGS.

Sermon—“Root, Shoot And Fruit”

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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 from the Lord is sure to lead to the Lord, and what comes from Satan leads to Satan. Therefore, whatever portion of the Word of God is applied to the mind by the power of God the Holy Ghost, it will invariably lead the mind, in some good degree, to act in conformity to the nature of that very truth which is applied. The Word of God is designed for the real benefit of his people. Now if any branch of this blessed word is applied to the conscience by the Holy Ghost, it is to answer some of the above purposes. If it is a passage of reproof or rebuke, it will lead them to feel a solemn check, and they will fall under it before the Lord and confess their sins with deep humility and prayer; and if it be a passage of admonition, of exhortation, or caution, it will lead them to self-examination, and to…

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