William Mason
William Mason (1719-1791) was a High-Calvinist author. For many years he served as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1783 was appointed a Magistrate. He served as editor of the Gospel Magazine before and after the editorship of Augustus Toplady. He is best known for a morning and evening devotional entitled, “A Spiritual Treasury For The Children Of God.”
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A God-Given Sensitivity Towards Sin
Outward, gross, abominable sins, self-righteous pharisees cry out against, and profess to humble themselves for; but to mourn over and be humbled for heart-sins and spiritual pride, is peculiar to gracious souls only. We read of two things in the word, the most opposite to each other. Hear and adore the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, ‘humbleth himself to visit man.’ Psalm 113:6. Hear, and be astonished: ‘Man opposeth and exalteth himself against God.’ 2 Thess. 2:4. ‘Pride proceeds out of the heart,’ saith Jesus: this makes us murmur against the God of providence, fretful under his dispensations, forgetful of his benefits, and unthankful for his mercies. Pride opposeth the sovereign God of grace, and would snatch the crown of glory from the…
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Why The Lord’s People Are Deprived Of Earthly Pleasures
Why should the Lord, who giveth us all things richly to enjoy, lay an embargo on our fully gratifying ourselves in the use of them? Why are we called to daily mortification and self-denial, as to sensual objects? Verily, it is all in love to our souls, that Jesus and spiritual objects might be more enjoyed; for experience proves this life of sense to be opposite to a life of faith. The more pleasure, comfort and happiness we enjoy in the things of this life, the more it tends to make us love the world, and loth to leave it; and so our affections to Jesus cool, our desires after his appearing abate in their fervour, and we lose our longings after the unclouded sight…
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Why Art Thou Cast Down, Oh My Soul?
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…
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Enter In At The Strait Gate
Thou feeble-minded disciple, weak in faith, thy Jesus speaks not thus to discourage thee from seeking salvation by him only; for he also says, ‘Every one that seeketh findeth.’ But rather he hereby animates and encourages thy soul in striving against every enemy that opposeth thy entering his kingdom by the strait gate, even by his one atonement, and one righteousness only. He designs also to show that men may not only seek, but strive as in an agony, ‘to enter in, but shall not be able.’ Why? Because they expect to enter the kingdom by some other gate than Jesus. But, says the apostle, ‘No man is crowned, except he strives lawfully.’ Earnestness, zeal, activity, avail nothing, while Jesus is not the only object;…
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That I May Win Christ
No sooner had good king Hezekiah established his throne in righteousness, restored religion in his kingdom, set his whole heart to serve the Lord, and his God prospered him, but an invading Sennacherib enters his territories, and encamps against his fenced cities. 2 Chron. 32:1. Scripture and experience daily preach to God’s children, ‘This is not your rest;’ you are in a militant state. Though Jesus hath taken possession of the soul, and cast out the strong man armed, think not of folding your arms, and saying, I shall see war no more; for your adversary has many after-games to play. He will not only encamp against your fenced cities, and attack your out-works, but will also attempt your very heart and mind. Beware of…
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Acknowledging Jesus, The Son Of God
If so, we cannot pay too much homage, nor ascribe too much glory to Jesus, as some object. Did Jesus receive from God the Father, honour and glory, by this voice from the excellent glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased?’ 2 Pet. 1:17. Is it the Father’s will that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father? ‘He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father that sent him.’ John 5:23. May we not then boldly say with Paul, on another occasion, ‘As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me in this glorying’ in Jesus, as my Lord and my God. Yea, we will acknowledge him in his lowest…
