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Sip Not At The Streams
The gospel brings us from a hopeless into a hopeful state, but not into an independent one. We are never to expect freedom from trials and tribulations in this vale of tears; they lie in our way to the end of our hope, the enjoyment of God in glory. Faith takes hold of something that is material, and makes the soul triumph in hope. Hope makes the soul joyful, and excites to patience. Tribulations cause a throne of grace to be prized, a covenant God in Christ to be sought unto and delighted in. In the rough waves of difficulties, in the storm of affliction, in the boisterous sea of temptation, hope is an anchor to the soul. When that is cast within the veil,…
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Planted And Protected
Therefore, drooping soul, cast not off thy confidence in him. A meteor will expire when the earthly matter is spent that maintained the blaze for a time. Profession may carry to a high elevation. Persons may appear as fixed stars in the church of Christ, but time may discover them to be no other than shining meteors, or shooting and falling stars. Yea, angels kept not their first estate; but the Lord’s chosen people is his portion.
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The Body Of Sins And Death
The neglect of this brings on leanness of soul. If this enemy gains ground, it is alarming; if he prevails, it causes mourning; but when he is kept low, and supplies are cut off, his power is weakened, and victory over him is easily gained. Such are the sensitive powers, carnal affections, and sinful inclinations which compose part of our present frame, the body; a body of sin and death.
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Great Is The Mystery Of Godliness
The truths of the gospel are undoubtedly great mysteries to carnal reason. We have naturally no ideas of their existence; but being plainly revealed by the Spirit of truth, they cease to be hid from our knowledge. They are no longer secret mysteries, as to their matter, but plain and open truths to faith. True, the manner of their existence is incomprehensible to reason, and so they will ever remain mysteries to us.
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The Preciousness Of Christ
There are some very remarkable features about this very sacred incident. The shadows of death were already gathering over the dear Redeemer, as the cross at Calvary became nearer and nearer His experience. Here, in our text this evening, we have a woman who had some (we do not know how much), but certainly some discernment as to what lay before Him. We know that, because the Lord Jesus Christ said that what she did was an anointing for His burial.
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Surviving Or Thriving In Grace?
In the busy scenes of life, in the awful moments of death, the formal professor, as well as the profligate and profane, will desire to escape misery and woe, and enjoy heaven and happiness. But alas, how vain and fruitless are such desires. If these may be called good desires, ‘the way to hell is paved with them,’ saith an ancient father of the church. But in this, the wisdom of the children of God is manifested. They are diligent in the use of such means, which, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, will be crowned with a blessed end. They cannot rest in desiring, but in possessing; not in wishing, but enjoying. They find and feel that their souls want continual supplies of…
