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A Dream
“And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.”—Genesis 37:12 Reader, I'll not take up much time To apologise, in prose or rhyme; My dream, such as it is, you see; Whate'er's amiss belongs to me. No doubt some men will say, "'Tis naught, And with enthusiasm fraught;" While others will it much esteem, And nay that I the truth, did dream. Perhaps 'twill find a welcome place, In such as live on sovereign grace; If so, then am I quite content, Nor shall I count my time ill spent; But such as live on wit and self, Will hardly have it on their shelf, But with a cheerful mind attempt To hold it up to vain contempt. Well, be it so; I rest secure;…
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The Rule Of Obedience
If the gospel is no rule of obedience (as numbers declare), I am at a loss to know what the apostle means when he says, “The mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets; according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known unto all nations for the obedience of faith.” (Rom 16:25) It is by faith “we wait for the hope of righteousness.” (Gal 5:5) We are “saved by grace, through faith.” (Eph 2:8) The word does not profit, if not “mixed with faith.” (Heb 4:2) “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.” (Heb 11:1) “The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” (Rom 1:17) God purifies…
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Arminians And Mongrel Calvinists
I recollect once asking an Arminian how a soul must be saved; to which he replied, “By the blood of Jesus Christ.” I said, “Do you believe in that Scripture passage, “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin?“ He replied, “I do.” “Do you believe that the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient alone of itself to save a soul from hell?” He said, “I do.” “Then what are sinners sent to hell for?” To which he replied, “For rejecting the Saviour, to be sure.” I said, “Is rejecting the Saviour a sin?” He replied, “Yes.” “Well, then; if the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin, that sin of rejecting the Saviour is among the…
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We Are Pilgrims For A Purpose
And sometimes I have thought, and I still think,—and more than think, I believe,—that the methods God takes in the dispensations of grace are such that he will put it put of the power of the devil to be able to say that there is any circumstance whatever that is a match for grace. If the whole church of God were to be taken to heaven, like the dying thief and some others, as soon as God is pleased to quicken their dead souls, the enemy might have it to say, “Ah! The Lord knows very well that if they were to live long I should get them after all. I should upset their confidence and bring them back into my power; and, therefore, he…
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The Hedge
Job complained that he was hedged in (Job 3:23), that he could not get out, and Satan complained that he could not get in. Jeremiah also complained that he was hedged in and could not get out. (Lam 3:7) Both he and Job, in their fretfulness, overlooked the fact that the same hedge which kept them in, free from danger, kept Satan out.
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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…
