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.”
-
The Terms Of Discipleship
'Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again,’ saith Christ, John 3:7. The blessed effects of this spiritual birth will be evident in the life. Earthly objects will be forsaken, heavenly ones prized. Jesus will be chosen as our beloved master and only hope. He being esteemed our treasure, our hearts will be with him, our affections towards him; and it will be our chiefest delight to hear his voice, and to follow him in the regeneration. Coming to Christ, is turning our backs upon the ‘lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.’ By the faith of Jesus we renounce and forsake all these things as our curse and shame. The clearer views we…
-
Sanctify Us Through Thy Truth
Thus prayed our great High Priest on earth. What he asked in his humiliation, is founded upon the word and will of his Father, and he hath power to effect it in his exaltation. Hence we have the fullest assurance of the perfect sanctification of all his members, hence the desires and breathings of souls after holiness are encouraged, and the prayers of the faithful gather the strongest confidence of success. While our Beloved expresses his affectionate concern for his people’s salvation, we see an equal regard for the honour and glory of his Father’s word. Love for holiness, and love of the truth are inseparable. As the gospel prevails in the heart, holiness is increased. It is first life, then liveliness in the soul;…
-
My Soul Is Cast Down Within Me
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,…
-
Joy Cometh In The Morning
Verily here is a glorious assemblage of comforting truths, like a reviving cordial of rich compounds to enliven drooping spirits. Too, too often do God’s children judge of their Father’s love from corrupt ideas. Through the carnality of their natures, the depravity of their judgment, the weakness of their faith, the uncertainty of their frames and feelings, and the artful insinuations of Satan, their loving Father is considered as an implacable being, full of wrath and anger against them. But this is contrary to God’s revelation of himself in Christ Jesus as a God of love. So also is it injurious and hurtful to the souls of the faithful; for it damps their love, distresses their spirits, deadens the exercise of their graces, and hinders…
-
Bearing The Reproach Of Christ
The profession of Jesus is easy to nature. There is nothing irksome to the flesh in being called a Christian. But to know Jesus in heart, to confess him with the tongue, and to follow him in our life, will ever expose us to reproach and contempt. But if, with Philip, we have really found that blessed person of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, we must, we shall speak of him to others. We shall esteem Jesus our beloved as our richest treasure. Our hearts and affections will be going out after him. Moses's choice will be ours: we shall esteem the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. But fleshly wisdom is contrary to all this. That ever prompts, ‘Save…
-
The Cursed Man
It is very remarkable, after the prophet pronounces the curse of confiding in the flesh, and the blessedness of trusting in the Lord, he immediately adds, ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked,’ ver. 9. Hence we may infer, that the poison of pride, vain confidence in the flesh, and self-righteous hopes, may lurk under the most exalted pretensions to piety, holiness, and perfection. This matter calls for great care and circumspection. As many as are of the works of the law, or who in anywise seek to be made righteous by doing, are under the curse. Gal. 3:10 Think it not contrary to the holiness of God to pronounce such to be cursed, as though the Lord did not hate sin,…
