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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Walking In The Light Of The Lord’s Countenance
The psalmist alludes to the jubilee-trumpet, which was sounded throughout the land on the great day of atonement. This was an ordinance of the Lord. (Lev. 25:10.) It was a joyful sound of liberty to God’s people. A true type and just emblem this, of the blowing the great trumpet, and the sound of the everlasting gospel, restoring life, liberty, and salvation, to perishing captive souls. Has the gospel thus proved the power of God to the salvation of our souls? Surely then we must esteem it as the most joyful sound that ever saluted our ears. Joyful, that it is not clogged with any terms and conditions: joyful, that it is not, as some call it, a milder law, proposing mercy on easier performances…
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Redeeming The Time
Light and life are communicated from Jesus to his members, not merely to till their heads with gospel truths, as matters of speculation, or to make them fluent talkers about religion, but chiefly to affect their hearts, renew their minds, and cause them to be close and consistent walkers with Jesus. Without this we only seem to be religious; we deceive ourselves, and our religion is vain. We cannot stand approved in the sight of God, before men, nor to our own consciences. ‘The wise man’s eyes are in his head;’ he looks around him and sees the evil of sin, the vanity of this present world, that its gay pleasures, alluring pastimes, bewitching diversions, are the gilded bait of the god of this world,…
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The Everlasting Covenant Of Peace
The absolute promises of our gracious Lord are the foundation of faith, the encouragement of hope, the excitement of love, the source of comfort, and the spring of true holiness. Why then are not the children of faith always joyful in hope, ever comfortable in love, and constantly happy in the way of holiness? Truly, because an enemy hath sown the tares of unbelief in our nature. This evil root of bitterness continually springs up, and troubles us. It bears the most base, dishonourable fruit, respecting our God; and is most hurtful and poisonous to our souls. Little reason have we to nourish or to strengthen this degenerate plant, with the corrupt notion of those who deny God’s covenant love and faithfulness, and dare teach…
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Going In The Strength Of The Lord God
Wise travelers provide things needful for their journey, and guard against such as lie in wait, by the way, to rob them. Our gracious God calls not his dear children to forsake their native country, to travel to the heavenly city, without furnishing them with a rich supply of all things necessary for their comfort, and also strength to protect them from the power of every enemy. No soldier of his goeth a warfare at his own charge; Christ being both their righteousness and strength, they can want nothing; neither riches nor power. Hence they go on from day to day, glorying in him as their richest treasure, and trusting in him as their almighty strength; and this is their constant song in the house…
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Keep Yourselves From Idols
Idolatry is founded in ignorance of Jesus, the true God, and eternal life. None are spiritual worshippers of God but believers in Jesus. There are many idols in the world, suited to the pride and lusts of our corrupt nature. These we are cautioned against. But in reading this very exhortation, the idol of free-will is ready to present itself; as though disciples, by their own power, were to keep themselves. This notion opposes the Spirit and power of Jesus, and springs from that grand idol, pride. Pride introduces the idol of self-righteousness. This blinds the eye to the glory of the righteousness of Christ, which is freely imputed through faith. Thus this trinity of idols, free-will, pride, and self-righteousness, are in unity with each…
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Behold The Lamb Of God
Nothing can make poor sinners truly happy, but that which taketh away the cause of all misery, sin. This is effected: the Lamb of God hath taken away all sin, by his sacrifice for us. When, by the eye of faith, we behold this Lamb, then all sin is taken away from our conscience. When a soul thinks, ‘Sin has condemned me before God; the law accuseth me daily; it works wrath in my conscience continually; and I am often ready to cry out, oh wretched that I am, who shall deliver me?’—Thanks be to God for a precious Redeemer. The Lamb which God provided, hath done it for ever. All our iniquities were laid upon him. ‘He bare in his own body on the…
