It is an observation of the heathens, that if virtue was to appear in human form, men would be enamoured with her beauty. But alas, this has been proved to be an idle speculation. For that glorious man Jesus, in whom every virtue centered, who was adorned with every grace, who went about doing good, and lived as never man did, yet he was despised and rejected of men. Blindness of mind is a firstborn sin. To see form and comeliness in Jesus, is peculiar to enlightened souls. To hear, love, and obey the holy precepts Christ taught, ariseth from a renewed heart. Morality and good works are at the tongue’s end of every man. The most immoral and profligate are ever ready to applaud,…

Deism, or a rejection of God’s revealed truth, is natural to us all. Hence some have said, ‘The religion of nature is the religion of Satan for it affects a spirit of pride and independence of God, and rebellion against his will. Why does a deist reject the way of salvation by Jesus? Truly, because it is contrary to his natural notions: he cannot reconcile it to the attributes and perfections of Deity. Upon the very same looting many professors abhor, with the utmost indignation, the scripture-doctrines of God’s everlasting love, unconditional election of sinners, and the final perseverance of his saints to eternal life, by Jesus. Now, both deists and pharisees pro­ ceed upon the same principles; carnal reason, pride, and self-righteousness reign in…

Vain confidence begets spiritual sloth. Licentious principles harden the heart in sin, deafen the ear to the calls of grace, and cause the tongue to pronounce evangelical excitements to love and obedience, legal. But the faith of Jesus enlivens to duty, and inspires the soul with godly jealousy and holy watchfulness. So the members of Jesus are blessed, blessed in him with all spiritual blessings; and they enjoy a sweet sense of blessedness in obeying him. ‘Behold I come,’ saith Jesus our head. In the faith of this enable me, Lord, to watch alway, saith every living member. We know but in part; there are infinitely greater blessings to be found in Jesus, more of his Knowledge, his love, his peace, of his image, greater…

Faith, by ancient writers, has been styled ‘the queen of graces.’ As such she displays her dignity, by disdaining to consult any power below the King of saints. When she calls in reason and reflection upon past experience, it is to give all the glory to her sovereign Lord. Thus David makes confession of faith in his king. What was the gigantic size, the formidable appearance, and the haughty threatenings of his Philistine antagonist? To the eye of his faith, all were mean and contemptible; for he saw him that was invisible: he fixed his confidence on the invisible power of the Omnipotent. He considered not himself: ‘he was strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.’ He had sweet experience of…

Outward, gross, abominable sins, self-righteous pharisees cry out against, and profess to humble themselves for; but to mourn over and be humbled for heart-sins and spiritual pride, is peculiar to gracious souls only. We read of two things in the word, the most opposite to each other. Hear and adore the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, ‘humbleth himself to visit man.’ Psalm 113:6. Hear, and be astonished: ‘Man opposeth and exalteth himself against God.’ 2 Thess. 2:4. ‘Pride proceeds out of the heart,’ saith Jesus: this makes us murmur against the God of providence, fretful under his dispensations, forgetful of his benefits, and unthankful for his mercies. Pride opposeth the sovereign God of grace, and would snatch the crown of glory from the…

Thou feeble-minded disciple, weak in faith, thy Jesus speaks not thus to discourage thee from seeking salvation by him only; for he also says, ‘Every one that seeketh findeth.’ But rather he hereby animates and encourages thy soul in striving against every enemy that opposeth thy entering his kingdom by the strait gate, even by his one atonement, and one righteousness only. He designs also to show that men may not only seek, but strive as in an agony, ‘to enter in, but shall not be able.’ Why? Because they expect to enter the kingdom by some other gate than Jesus. But, says the apostle, ‘No man is crowned, except he strives lawfully.’ Earnestness, zeal, activity, avail nothing, while Jesus is not the only object;…