Why, ‘therefore?’ What had the church done to procure such an inestimable promise? Oh the joyful day of her public espousals to Jesus is come. That day, that blessed day of power, when the loving bride claims her beloved bridegroom, Jesus. Therefore she sings this joyful song, ‘Behold God is my salvation: I will trust, and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.’ The claims of the faith of poor sinners are well pleasing in the sight of God; they honour his word, glorify him, and cause joy in heaven among the angels, while the humble claimants obtain the consolation and joy thereof. ‘Them that honour me I will honour, saith the Lord.’

St. Paul, though an eminently distinguished apostle of Jesus, yet in regard to the salvation of his own soul, his extraordinary gifts procured it not; nor could his former hatred and persecution of Jesus and his members frustrate the electing love of God, or obstruct the sovereign operations of the holy Spirit. But being chosen of God in Christ Jesus, his heart must partake of the precious faith of God’s elect. Love, almighty, wonderful love, seized him. Jesus challenged him as one of his redeemed souls, stopped him in his mad career, touched his heart, and brought him trembling and astonished to his feet. And the power of faith in heart was manifested by the obedient cry of his lips, ‘Lord, what wilt thou have…

The phrase ‘carnal saints,’ the self-righteous look on as a very opprobrious term, as though contradictory to the character of a real Christian: but such persons differ in judgment from an inspired apostle. Paul calls these Corinthian converts, ‘babes in Christ;’ while he says to them, ‘Ye are yet carnal.’ Yea, he appeals to their judgments: ‘Are ye not so?’ Doth not your walk, your words, your strife, your views give sad evidence of the truth of this my assertion? Do you not act and behave too much like men who are strangers to Jesus, and the life and power of vital godliness?

It is the wisdom and joy of disciples to see somewhat of Jesus in every page of the lively oracles. Then the word is searched with pleasure, studied with delight, and is made exceeding profitable to the soul. To this end the sins and backslidings, the humiliations and repentings, the joys and experience of saints of old are recorded. We see their deserts to be the lowest hell; but grace reigns. Though sin abounded in them, yet grace superabounded over them. All is through Jesus: no mercy for sinful man, but through that dear Man and blessed Mediator.

The hearts of disciples enjoy sweet fellowship in the truth, and hence they mutually help and encourage each other’s faith. The Saviour loves to have it so: he blesses them, and manifests himself to them in this way. So it was with the disciples after his crucifixion and death. They resorted together, and communed with each other; and Jesus, though unknown to them at first, joined company with them, expounded the scriptures to them, opened their understandings; and they said one to another, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked with us by the way.’ Luke 24:32

Pride and self-confidence are deeply rooted in the human heart. False hopes are built on self-righteous pleas. By these the heart is blinded to the exceeding sinfulness of sin, hardened against the fear and dread of the Lord; and such live in rebellion against the truth as it is in Jesus. Like Paul, we are all naturally alive without the law; and with these Israelites of old, are ready to say, ‘All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.’ Ex. 19:8. Alas, poor souls utter such words of ignorance and pride, when, like the disciples on the mount, ‘they know not what they say.’ But whom the Lord loves, he proves. The Lord is a jealous God, he will suffer no flesh to glory…