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October 27—Morning Devotion
"I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away."—Isaiah 41:9 Is this thy portion, my soul? Hath the Lord thy God indeed chosen thee? Hath he manifested his love to thee in so distinguishing a way? Take comfort, then, in all thine exercises, when seasons of darkness .and discouragement are around; think of God's choice, and venture on God's love. Art thou distressed, exercised, afflicted? Dost thou call on God, and find no answer? Doth the enemy tempt thee to doubt? Doth thine own unbelieving heart misgive thee? Still recollect, Jesus knows all. He chose thee—and he that chose thee knows all thine exercises; nay, he himself hath appointed them. And remember, thou wast not forced upon him. It was his own free choice first…
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October 14—Morning Devotion
"Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy."—Luke 10:19 Astonishing the mercy, and wonderful the privilege manifested to the followers of the Lamb! Poor, and weak, and helpless, as they are in themselves, yet how strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus! My soul, never lose sight of these blessed things. In Jesus thou art not only a conqueror, but more than conqueror. As the armies in heaven overcame by the blood of the Lamb, so here below, it is all in him, and by him, the victory is obtained. God will bruise-Satan under our feet shortly; but it is God that must bruise him, and it is he that must…
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October 6—Morning Devotion
"Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah."—Psalm 62:8 My soul, the Holy Ghost hath marked this verse with Selah; therefore, pray observe it. You see the argument for trust, because God, that is, the Elohim, is a refuge. Yes, God the Father is a refuge, in his covenant engagements, word, oath, promises. God the Son is a refuge, in his suretyship engagements, in his perfect righteousness, in his blood-cleansing, sin-atoning death and salvation, and in all his securities of grace here, and glory hereafter. God the Holy Ghost is a refuge, in all his blessed offices, characters, and relations; by which he undertakes and fulfils all the purposes of salvation, in…
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How Can I Know I Am One Of God’s Elect?
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Woe Is Me – No Wait
“Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.”—Micah 7:1 It is always encouraging to discover we are not alone when we face a problem or have to struggle with a challenge in life. For believers in Christ the scriptures provide practical examples of men and women who have travelled the pilgrim’s way before us, learning and experiencing what it is to be a stranger in a strange land. When Micah said “Woe is me” at the beginning of chapter seven in his little prophecy he was declaring effectively, “What a miserable man I am. How wearisome my life has become.” It…
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Book 1: Chapter 17, Use To Be Made Of The Doctrine Of Providence
This chapter may be conveniently divided into two parts:—I. A general explanation is given of the doctrine of Divine Providence, in so far as conducive to the solid instruction and consolation of the godly, sect. 1, and specially sect. 2-12. First, however, those are refuted who deny that the world is governed by the secret and incomprehensible counsel of God; those also who throw the blame of all wickedness upon God, and absurdly pretend that exercises of piety are useless, sect. 2-5. Thereafter is added a holy meditation on Divine Providence, which, in the case of prosperity, is painted to the life, sect. 6-11. II. A solution of two objections from passages of Scripture, which attribute repentance to God, and speak of something like an…
