When the fire of divine love burns in the heart, disciples cannot refrain speaking of it to each other. But how transient are the frames of God’s dearest children? Too apt are the strongest believers to live upon sense and feeling, instead of faith and promises. The former may, and often doth fail in enjoyment, but the latter is founded upon the firm immutable foundation of the God of truth, and therefore it is sure and infallible.

It is the glory of the gospel that it reveals glad tidings to hopeless sinners. It finds nothing in us to entitle us to the favour of God: but it brings all hope and consolation to the soul, founded upon the most absolute promises, and the strongest assurance of an immutable God, as verily as it is impossible for any of the heirs of promise to perish. Such is the blessed hope set before us. Happy souls, who have fled to Jesus for refuge, and have laid hold of this hope.

Jesus comforted the heart of a sorrowful widow by restoring her dead son to life again. Could he not also, by the power of his Spirit, consolate the hearts of his dear disciples, without preaching outward rules and directions to them? Plainly he will be heard as our prophet. Those disciples only who obey the word of his doctrine, shall enjoy the consolations of his love. So it seemeth good to our Lord to teach; so it is necessary for us to believe.

The glorious company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the noble army of martyrs, every member of the church of Christ in every age, were called to deny and mortify self. In this there is no difference: all are equally clothed with the same corrupt nature, are men of like passions, and are therefore in danger of self-seeking, and of having their affections attracted from Jesus, to the alluring objects of this present evil world.

It frequently happens, that intervening occurrences seem to contradict the truths of God. Therefore if we judge from sight and appearance, we shall often be deceived. God’s word alone is the rule of faith; what he has declared shall certainly come to pass, however repugnant it may seem to carnal reason. Thus our Saviour declares of Lazarus, ‘This sickness is not unto death.’ Yet he afterwards told his disciples plainly,

In Our natural state we are ever most backward to take guilt to ourselves, most skillful at self-excuses, most averse to self-examination, because we dread self-condemnation; hence we are ever prone to pass judgment at the bar of pride and carnal reason upon the truths of God, because we think they are against us. Oh what is there in such stout-hearted rebels, who are far from righteousness, to invite down the blessed Spirit to enlighten our minds!