Beatitudes

This perfume of free grace!

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

Only those who are poor in spirit, are capable of
receiving grace. He who is swollen with self-excellency
and self-sufficiency—is not fit for Christ. He is full already.
If the hand is full of pebbles—it cannot receive gold. The
glass is first emptied, before you pour in wine. God first
empties a man of himself, before He pours in the precious
wine of His grace.

He who is poor in spirit—is a Christ-admirer. He has high
thoughts of Christ. He sees himself naked—and flies to
Christ, to be clothed in the garments of His righteousness.
He sees himself wounded—and as the wounded deer runs
to the water—so he thirsts for Christ's blood, the water of
life. "Lord!" says he, "give me Christ or I die!" His conscience
has turned into a fiery serpent and has stung him; now he
will give all the world—for a brazen serpent! He sees himself
in a state of death; and how precious is one leaf of the tree
of life, which is both for food and medicine! The poor in spirit
sees that all his riches lie in Christ—"wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification" In every need, he flies to this storehouse! He
adores the all-fullness in Christ.

He who is poor in spirit—is an exalter of free grace. None so
magnify God's mercy—as the poor in spirit. The poor are very
thankful. When Paul had tasted mercy—how thankfully does
he adore free grace! "The grace of our Lord was exceeding
abundant" (1 Timothy 1:14). It was super-exuberant grace!
He sets the crown of his salvation—upon the head of free
grace! As a man who is condemned and has a pardon sent to
him—how greatly he proclaims the goodness and mercifulness
of his prince! So Paul displays free grace in its magnificent
colors. He interlines all his epistles with free grace! As a vessel
which has been perfumed, makes the water taste of it—so Paul,
who was a vessel perfumed with mercy, makes all his epistles
to taste of this perfume of free grace! Those who are poor
in spirit, bless God for the least crumb which falls from the table
of free grace! Labor for poverty of spirit. Christ begins with this,
and we must begin here if ever we are saved. Poverty of spirit
is the foundation stone, on which God lays the superstructure
of eternal glory!

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

Worms should be made kings!

"Don't be afraid, little flock, because your Father
delights to give you the kingdom!" Luke 12:32

See here the mercy and bounty of God, who has prepared
a kingdom for His people. It is a favor that we poor worms
should be allowed to live. But that worms should be made
kings—this is divine bounty! It is mercy to pardon us—but it
is rich mercy to crown us! 'Behold, what kind of love is this!'

Earthly princes may bestow great gifts on their subjects—but
they keep the kingdom to themselves. Though Pharaoh advanced
Joseph to honor and gave him a ring from his finger—yet he kept
the kingdom to himself. 'Only in the throne will I be greater than
you' (Genesis 41:40). But God gives a kingdom to His people—He
sets them upon the throne!

How David admires the goodness of God in bestowing upon him
a temporal kingdom. 'Then king David went in, and sat before the
Lord and said—Who am I, O Lord God—and what is my house, that
You have brought me hitherto?' (2 Samuel 7:18). He wondered
that God should take him from the sheepfold—and set him on the
throne—that God should turn his shepherd's staff into a king's
scepter! O then, how may the saints admire the riches of grace—
that God should give them a glorious kingdom above all the
princes of the earth—nay, far above all heavens!

God thinks nothing too good for His children. We many times think
much of a tear, a prayer, or to sacrifice a sin for Him—but He does
not think a kingdom is too much to bestow upon us! How will the
saints read over the lectures of free grace in heaven, and trumpet
forth the praises of that God, who has crowned them with such
astonishing loving-kindness!

See here, that which may make the people of God long for death.
Then, they shall enter upon their glorious kingdom! Indeed the
wicked may fear death. It will not lead them to a kingdom—but to
a horrid prison. Hell is the jail where they must lie rotting forever
with the devil and his demons!

Only the blood of Christ can soften it!

"I will take away their hearts of stone and
give them tender hearts!" Ezekiel 11:19

Oh the misery of a hard heart!

A heart of stone is insensible. A stone is not
sensible of anything. Lay a heavy weight upon
it; or grind it to powder—it does not feel. So it
is with a hard heart—it is insensible to both its
own sin and God's wrath. The stone in the
kidneys is felt—but not the stone in the heart.
"Having lost all sensitivity" (Ephesians 4:19).

A heart of stone is inflexible. A stone will not
bend. Just so, the hard heart will not comply with
God's command. It will not stoop to Christ's scepter.
A heart of stone will sooner break, than bend by
repentance. It is so far from yielding to God, that
like the anvil—it beats back the hammer. A heart
of stone will "always resist the Holy Spirit." (Acts 7:51)

A hard heart is void of all grace. While the wax is
hard—it will not take the impression of the seal.
Just so, the heart, while it is hard—will not take the
stamp of grace. It must first be made tender and
melting. The plough of the Word will not penetrate
a hard heart!

A hard heart is good for nothing—but to make
fuel for hellfire. "Because of your hardness and
unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for
yourself in the day of wrath!" (Romans 2:5).

Hell is full of hard hearts—there is not one soft heart
there! There is much weeping there—but no softness.
We read of "vessels of wrath—prepared for destruction"
(Romans 9:22). Hardness of heart, fits these vessels
for hell, and makes them like withered wood, which
is fit only to burn!

Hardness of heart makes a man's condition worse
than all his other sins besides. If one is guilty of
great sins—yet if he can mourn, there is hope. But
hardness of heart binds guilt fast upon the soul. It
seals a man under wrath. It is not heinousness of
sin—but hardness of heart—which damns!

Oh the misery of a hard heart!

A stony heart is the worst heart. If it were bronze,
it might be melted in the furnace; or it might be
bent with the hammer. But a stony heart is such,
that only the arm of God can break it—and only
the blood of Christ can soften it!

"I will take out your stony heart of sin and give
you a new, obedient heart." Ezekiel 36:26

View sin in the red glass

View sin in the red glass of Christ's sufferings.
The least sin cost His blood. Would you take a true
view of sin? Go to Golgotha! Jesus Christ poured out
His soul, as an offering for sin! Read the greatness
of your sin—in the deepness of Christ's wounds! Let
not Satan cast such a mist before your eyes—that
you cannot see sin in its right colors! Remember,
not only do great sins carry men to hell—but lesser
sins as well. "The wages of sin is death!" Every sin
is damnable. There is death and hell in every sin.
The least sin without repentance—will be a lock
and bolt to shut men out of heaven.

A tear dropping from the eye of faith

"Blessed are those who mourn." Matthew 5:8

It is a sign that the Sun of Righteousness has risen
upon us, when our frozen hearts thaw and melt for sin.
Weeping for sin is a sign of the new birth. As soon as
the child is born—it weeps. Mourning shows a 'heart
of flesh' (Ezekiel 36:26). A stone will not melt. When
the heart is in a melting frame—it is a sign the heart
of stone is taken away.

"Let your tears flow like a river. Give yourselves no
rest from weeping day or night." Lament. 2:18

Tears for sin, are blessed tears.

Tears poison our corruptions. Salt-water kills worms.
Just so, the brinish water of repenting tears will help to
kill that worm of sin which would gnaw the conscience.

Mourning also fences us against the devil's temptations.
Temptations are called 'fiery darts' (Ephesians 6:16),
because indeed they set the soul on fire. Temptations
enrage anger, and inflame lust. Now the waters of holy
mourning, quench these fiery darts! Wet gunpowder will
not easily catch fire. Just so, when the heart is wetted
and moistened with sorrow—it will not so easily catch
the fire of temptation.

Penitential tears are precious. Tears dropping from a
mournful, penitent eye, are like water dropping from
the roses—very sweet and precious to God. A fountain
in the garden makes it pleasant. That heart is most
delightful to God—which has a fountain of sorrow
running in it. 'Mary stood at Christ's feet weeping'
(Luke 7:38). Her tears were more fragrant than her
ointment. The incense, when it is broken, smells
sweetest. When the heart is broken for sin, then
our services give forth their sweetest perfume.

Surely, God delights much in tears—else He would
not keep a bottle for them. "You keep track of all
my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your
bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book."
Psalm 56:8. Tears are powerful orators for God's
mercy. Tears melt the heart of God. When a man
comes weeping in prayer and smites on his breast,
saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"—this melts
God's heart towards him. Tears, though they are
silent—yet have a voice, "The Lord has heard the
voice of my weeping!" (Psalm 6:8). Tears in the
child's eye sometimes move the angry father to
spare the child. Penitential tears melt God's heart
and bind His hand. Tears have a mighty influence
upon God.

Repentant tears are sweet. Mourning is the way to
solid joy. A Christian thinks himself sometimes in the
suburbs of heaven—when he can weep. Sugar when
it melts is sweetest. When a Christian melts in tears,
now he has the sweetest joy. When the daughter of
Pharaoh descended into the river—she found a babe
there among the reeds. Just so, when we descend into
the river of repenting tears—we find the babe Jesus
there, who shall wipe away all tears from our eyes.

Tears water our graces and make them flourish. Where
the springs of sorrow run—there the heart bears a fruitful
crop. The tender-eyed Christian usually brings forth more
of the fruit of the Spirit. A weeping eye is the water-pot
to water our graces!

If there is so much profit and benefit in gospel-sorrow,
then let every Christian wash his face every morning in
the laver of tears.

Our mourning for sin here—will prevent mourning in hell.
Hell is a place of weeping (Matthew 8:12). The damned
mingle their drink with weeping. God is said to have His
bottle for our tears. Those who will not shed a bottle-full
of tears—shall hereafter shed rivers of tears. "Woe to you
who laugh now—for you shall mourn and weep!" (Luke 6:
25). You have sometimes seen sugar lying in a damp
place, dissolve into water. Just so, all the sugared joys
of the wicked, dissolve at last into the water of tears!

There is but one way to blessedness, and that is through
the valley of tears. If you do not go this way, you will miss
Paradise. "I tell you, unless you repent, you shall all likewise
perish"' (Luke 13:3). There is only one way leading to heaven,
and that is a tear dropping from the eye of faith. A man
may have a disease in his body, which twenty medicines will
heal. But only the medicine of repentance, will heal the
mortal disease of sin.

Think what a sinner you have been. You have filled God's
book with your debts—and what need you have to fill His
bottle with your tears!

He who weeps here is a blessed mourner. He who weeps
in hell is a cursed mourner. If God's bottle is not filled
with tears—His vial will be filled with wrath!

Repentant tears are but finite. It is but a short time that we
shall weep. After a few showers fall from our eyes, we shall
have a perpetual sunshine. "God shall wipe away all tears!"
(Revelation 7:17). When sin shall cease—tears shall cease!
"Weeping may endure for a night—but joy comes in the
morning!" (Psalm 30:5)

The way to be like Jesus

To render evil for evil is brutish;
to render evil for good is devilish;
to render good for evil is Christian.

"Blessed are the meek." Matthew 5:5

Meekness is a grace whereby we are enabled by
the Spirit of God, to moderate our angry passions.
Meekness has a divine beauty and sweetness in
it. This meekness consists in three things:
the bearing of injuries,
the forgiving of injuries,
the recompensing good for evil.

Meekness is opposed to:
anger,
malice,
revenge and
evil-speaking.

Meekness is a great ornament to a Christian. "The
ornament of a meek spirit—which is so precious to
God!" (1 Peter 3:4). How lovely is a saint in God's
eye, when adorned with this jewel! No garment
is more befitting to a Christian, than meekness.
Therefore we are bid to put on this garment, "Put
on therefore as the elect of God—meekness."
(Colossians 3:12)

Meekness is a noble and excellent spirit. A meek man
is a valorous man. He gets a victory over himself! Anger
arises from weakness of character. The meek man is able
to conquer his fury. "He who is slow to anger is better
than the mighty; controlling one's temper is better than
capturing a city." (Proverbs 16:32). To yield to one's
anger is easy—it is swimming along with the tide of
corrupt nature. But to turn against nature—to resist
anger, to "overcome evil with good"—this is truly
Christian.

Meekness is the best way to conquer and melt the
heart of an enemy. Meekness melts and thaws the
heart of others. The greatest victory is to overcome
an enemy—without striking a blow! Mildness prevails
more than fierceness. Anger makes an enemy of a
friend. Meekness makes a friend of an enemy.

Meekness is the way to be like Jesus—"Learn of
Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart." Mat. 11:29.
It is not profession which makes us like Jesus—but
imitation. Where meekness is lacking—we are like
brutes. Where it is present—we are like Jesus.

The hypocrite's desire

"Let me die the death of the righteous!"
Numbers 23:10

This was Balaam's desire. The hypocrite, when he
is about to die and can keep his sins no longer—
now he desires a passport to carry him to heaven!
Such desires as these are found among the damned.

Hypocrites have desires—but no endeavors.
They would like to go to heaven—but they
will take no pains. But true desire is always
quickened into endeavor.

The hypocrite would have . . .
heaven—and his sins too,
heaven—and his pride too,
heaven—and his covetousness too.
"They have gone astray and have followed
the path of Balaam—who loved the wages
of unrighteousness." 2 Peter 2:15

The true Christian says, "Give me Christ on any
terms. Let God propound whatever articles He
will—I will subscribe to them. Would He have me
deny myself? Would He have me mortify sin? I
am content to do anything—just so that I may
have Christ!" Hypocrites would have Christ—but
they will not part with their beloved lust for Him!

The hypocrite does not desire grace for itself.
He desires grace—only as a bridge to lead him
over to heaven. He does not so much search
after grace—as glory. He does not so much
desire the way of righteousness—as the crown
of righteousness. His desire is not to be made
like Christ—but to reign with Christ. This is the
hypocrite's desire.

But a child of God desires grace for itself, and
Christ for Himself. To a believer, not only is
heaven precious—but Christ is precious, "Yes, He
is very precious to you who believe!" 1 Peter 2:7

Cruel mercy

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain
mercy." Matthew 5:7

When the sun shines—the ice melts. When the Sun of
righteousness once shines with beams of grace upon
the soul—then it melts in mercy and tenderness.

Mercifulness is a melting disposition whereby we lay
to heart the miseries of others, and are instrumental
for their good. We must chiefly be merciful to the
SOULS of others. Indeed soul-mercy is the chief of
mercies. The soul is the most precious thing; it is a
rich diamond set in a ring of clay. Had we seen that
madman in the gospel cutting himself with stones—
it would have moved our pity (Mark 5:5). To see a
sinner stabbing himself and having his hands imbrued
in his own blood, should cause us to sincerely pity him.

That is a cruel mercy—when we see men go on in
sin, and we let them alone. And that is a merciful
cruelty—when we are sharp against men's sins and
will not let them go to hell quietly.

Fond sentimentality is no better than cruelty.

The surgeon cuts and lances the flesh—but it is in
order to a cure. They are healing wounds. So when
we lance men's consciences and let out the blood of
sin, we exercise spiritual surgery. This is showing
mercy.

"Rescue others by snatching them from the fire!"
(Jude 23). If a man had fallen into the fire, though
you hurt him a little in pulling him out—he would be
thankful and take it as a kindness. Some men, when
we tell them of sin say, 'O, you are unloving!' No! it
is showing mercy. If a man's house were on fire, and
another should see it and not tell him of it, for fear of
waking him—would not this be cruelty? When we see
others sleeping in their sin, and the fire of God's wrath
ready to burn them up—and we are silent—is not this
cruelty?

They are unmerciful ministers who, instead of
breaking the bread of life—fill their people's heads
with airy speculations and notions! Some ministers
endeavor only to be admired. They go into the pulpit
only to amuse the people. Such ministers give poison
to their people in a golden cup! They are the devil's
ambassadors, who ride up and down, and with Satan
compass the earth—to deceive and devour souls!

The children which faith bears

"Those who have believed God might be careful
to devote themselves to good works." Titus 3:8

Grace does not lie as a sleepy habit in the soul,
but will put forth itself in vigorous and glorious
actings. Grace can no more be concealed, than
fire. Grace does not lie in the heart as a stone
in the earth—but as seed in the earth. It will
spring up into good works! "Our people must
also learn to devote themselves to good works."
Titus 3:14

The lamp of faith must be filled with the oil of
charity. Faith alone justifies—but justifying faith
is never alone. You may as well separate weight
from lead, or heat from fire—as works from faith.

Good works, though they are not the causes of
salvation—yet they are evidences of salvation.
Though they are not the foundation—yet they
are the superstructure. Faith must not be built
upon works—but works must be built upon faith.
"You are married to Christ—that we should bring
forth fruit unto God." Romans 7:4. Faith is the
grace which marries Christ, and good works
are the children which faith bears.

Works are distinct from faith—as the sap in the
vine is different from the clusters of fruit which
grow upon it.

Works are the touchstone of faith. "Show me
your faith by your works." James 2:18

Works honor faith. These fruits adorn the 'trees
of righteousness'. This queen—faith, has the
handmaids of good works waiting upon her.

Good works are more visible and conspicuous than faith.
Faith is a more hidden grace. It may lie hidden in the
heart and not be seen—but when works are joined with
it, now it shines forth in its native beauty! Though a
garden is ever so decked with flowers—yet they are not
seen until the light comes. So the heart of a Christian
may be enriched with faith—but it is like a flower in the
night. It is not seen until works come. When this light
shines before men, then faith appears in its orient colors!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Strewing flowers on a dead corpse!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall
see God." Matthew 5:8

External morality is not heart-purity. A person
may be clothed with great moral virtues, such as
justice, charity, prudence, and temperance—and
yet go to hell.

We must not rest in mere outward morality. A swine
may be washed—yet be a swine still. Morality does
but wash a man—grace changes him. Morality may
shine in the eyes of the world—but it differs as much
from purity, as a pebble differs from a diamond!

Morality is but strewing flowers on a dead corpse!

A man who is but highly moral—is but a tame devil.

How many have made 'morality' their Savior!
Morality will damn—as well as vice! A boat may
be sunk with gold—as well as with dung.

The moral person, though he will not commit gross
sins—yet he is not sensible of heart sins. He is not
troubled for unbelief, hardness of heart, vanity of
thoughts. He abhors gross-sins, not gospel-sins.

The snake has a fine appearance—but has a deadly
sting! Just so, the moral man is fair to look on—but
has a secret antipathy against the holy ways of God.

Morality is not to be rested in. The heart must be pure.
God would have Aaron wash the inner parts of the
sacrifice (Leviticus 9:14). Morality does but wash the
outside; the inside must be washed. "Blessed are the
pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

How befilthying a thing it is

"Unto Him who loved us, and washed us from
our sins in His own blood!" Revelation 1:5

We are all loathsome to God, before we are
washed pure in the blood of Christ!

By nature, we are all in a filthy and cursed condition.
We are a lump of clay and sin mingled together. Sin
not only blinds us—but defiles us. It is called filthiness
(James 1:21). And to show how befilthying a thing
it is, it is compared . . .
to a plague of the heart (1 Kings 8:38),
to corruption (Deuteronomy 32:5),
to vomit (2 Peter 2:22),
to a menstrual cloth (Isaiah 30:22).

If all the evils in the world were put together and their
quintessence strained out—they could not make a thing
so black and polluted as sin is! A sinner is a devil in
a man's shape! When Moses' rod was turned into a
serpent—he fled from it. If God would open men's eyes
and show them their deformities and damnable spots
—they would fly from themselves, as from serpents!

When grace comes—it washes off this hellish filth!
It turns ravens into swans. It makes those who are
as black as hell—to become as white as snow!

"Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from all
wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that
are His very own." Christ shed His blood—to wash
off our filth. The cross was both an altar and a laver.
Jesus died not only to save us from wrath (1 Thes.
1:10)—but to save us from sin! (Matthew 1:21).
Out of his side came water which signifies our
cleansing—as well as blood which signifies our
justifying (1 John 5:6).

Caterers for their lusts!

"If I regard iniquity in my heart" Psalm 66:18

What is it to regard iniquity in the heart?

When we INDULGE in sin. When sin not only lives
in us—but when we live in sin. Some will leave all
their sins, but one. Jacob would let all his sons go,
but Benjamin. The fowler holds the bird fast enough
by one claw. Just so, Satan can hold a man by one sin.

Others HIDE their sins. Many deal with their sins
as Moses' mother dealt with her son. She hid him
in the basket, as if she had left him—but her eye
was still upon him—and in the end, she became his
nurse (Exodus 2:9). Just so, many seem to leave
their sins—but they only hide them from the eye
of others. Their heart still goes after them, and at
last they nurse and give breast to their sins.

To regard iniquity is to DELIGHT in iniquity. Though
a child of God sins—yet he does not take a delight in
sin. "I do the very thing I hate" (Romans 7:15). But
the wicked make a recreation of sin. They "delight in
wickedness" (2 Thessalonians 2:12). Never did one
feed with more delight on a meal he loves—than a
wicked man does upon the forbidden fruit!

To regard iniquity is to make PROVISION for sin. "Make
no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."
(Rom. 13:14). The wicked are caterers for their lusts.
This is to make provision for the flesh—when one studies
to satisfy the flesh and provide fuel for lust. Thus Amnon
made provision for the flesh (2 Samuel 13:5). He pretends
to be sick, and his sister Tamar, must be his nurse. She
must serve his food to him—by which means he defiled
her virginity. It is sad when men's concern is not to be
holy—but to satisfy lust!

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and
after that to face judgment." Hebrews 9:27

The wicked tread upon the banks of the bottomless
pit. If death gives them a jog—they tumble in!

"Prepare to meet your God!" Amos 4:12

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Run to this heavenly Father!

"The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort."
    2 Corinthians 1:3

Christians should look upon God under this notion—the
Father of all mercy, sitting upon a throne of grace. We
should run to this heavenly Father in all conditions!

We should run to our Father with our sins, as that sick
child who, as soon as he found himself ill—he ran to his
father to help him, "My head! My head!" 2 Kings 4:19
So in case of sin—run to God and say: "My heart! My
heart! O this dead heart—Father, quicken it! This hard
heart—Father, soften it! Father, my heart, my heart!"

We should run to our Father with our temptations.
A child, when another strikes him, runs to his father.
So when the devil strikes us with his temptations, let
us run to our Father: "Father, Satan assaults and hurls
in his fiery darts at me! Father, it is Your child who is
assaulted by this red dragon! Father, take off the
tempter!"

"Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares about
you!" 1 Peter 5:7. What a sweet privilege is this! When
any burden lies upon our hearts—we may go to our
Father and unload all our cares and griefs into His
loving bosom! "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He
will support you; He will never allow the righteous to
be shaken!" Psalm 55:22

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sin first enslaves—and then damns!

"I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a
slave to sin." John 8:34

"You are of your father the Devil, and you want
to carry out your father's desires!" John 8:44

It is the sad misery of an unregenerate person,
that he is in a state of vassalage. He is under the
tyranny of sin. "It is the greatest slavery in the
world for a man to be a slave to his own passions!"

A wicked man is as much a slave—as he who works in
the galley! Look into his heart—and there are legions
of lusts ruling him! He must do what sin will have him
to do. A slave is at the service of a usurping tyrant. If
he bids him dig in the mine, or hew in the quarries, or
tug at the oar—he must do it. Thus every wicked man
must do what corrupt nature, inspired by the devil, bids
him to do. If sin bids him to be drunk, or to be unchaste
—he is at the command of sin, as the donkey is at the
command of the driver.

Sin first enslaves—and then damns!

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have
become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to
holiness, and the result is eternal life." Romans 6:22

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"They wear themselves out with all their sinning!"
    Jeremiah 9:5

Sin lays a heavy yoke upon men. The commands of
sin are burdensome. Let a man be under the power
and rage of any lust (whether it be covetousness or
ambition), how he tires and excruciates himself! What
hazards does he run, even to the endangering of his
health and soul, that he may satisfy his lust!

"Virtue is easier than vice." Temperance is easier than
drunkenness. Doing justice is less burdensome than
crime. There is more difficulty and perplexity in the
contrivement and pursuit of wicked ends—than in
obeying the sweet and gentle precepts of Christ.

Hence it is, that a wicked man is said to 'pregnant with
evil and conceives trouble' (Psalm 7:14), to show what
anxious pain and trouble he has in bringing about his
wickedness! Many have gone with more pain to
hell—than others have to heaven!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

God is still the same God

"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have
called you by name; you are Mine. When you go
through deep waters and great trouble, I will be
with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown! When you walk through the fire
of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames
will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3

God is still the same God.

He has as much love in His heart to pity us,
and as much strength in His arm to help us!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He is precious

"To you who believe, He is precious." 1 Peter 2:7

See the preciousness in Christ.

His name is precious; it is as ointment poured forth.
His blood is precious; it is as balm poured forth.
His love is precious; it is as wine poured forth.

Jesus Christ is made up of all sweets and delights.
He Himself is all that is desirable. He is . . .
light to the eye,
honey to the taste,
joy to the heart.

"Yes, He is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved,
and this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16

We truly love Christ, when we love Him for His
loveliness, namely—that infinite and superlative
beauty which shines in Him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When we were bitten by the old serpent

"Christ loved the church and gave Himself
up for her!" Ephesians 5:25

Love made our dear Lord suffer for us. The pelican
out of her love to her young ones, when they are
bitten by serpents, feeds them with her own blood
to recover them. Just so, when we were bitten by
the old serpent, Christ fed us with His own blood,
that He might recover us.

"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so
great you will never fully understand it!" Ephes. 3:19

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Such a wonder-working grace

"In every situation take the shield of faith,
and with it you will be able to extinguish the
flaming arrows of the evil one!" Ephes. 6:16

"Everyone born of God overcomes the world.
This is the victory that has overcome the
world—even our faith." 1 John 5:4

Why is faith such a wonder-working grace?

Faith unites the soul to Christ, and that blessed
Head sends forth grace into the members. "I can
do all things through Christ, who give me strength!"
Philippians 4:13. Faith goes to Christ—and fetches
His strength into the soul.

Faith works a contempt of the world into the heart.
Faith gives a true map of the world, "When I surveyed
all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to
achieve—everything was meaningless, a chasing after
the wind; nothing was gained under the sun!" Ecc. 2:11

Faith shows the world in its night-dress, having all its
jewels pulled off. Faith makes the world appear in its
true state. Faith shows the soul better things than the
world. It gives a sight of Christ and eternal glory. It
gives a prospect of heaven. Faith climbs up above sense
and reason, into heaven and sees Christ—and the soul,
having once viewed His superlative excellencies, becomes
crucified to the world. Says the Christian, "Yes, everything
else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything
else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ!"
Philippians 3:8

Faith gets strength from God's promises. Faith lives upon
the promises. Take the fish out of the water—and it dies.
Take faith out of a promise—and it cannot live. The promises
are breasts of consolation. The child by sucking the breast,
gets strength. Faith gets strength by sucking the breast of
a promise. When faith begins to be weak and is ready to
faint in the day of battle, then the promises muster their
forces together, and all come in for faith's relief—and now
it is able to hold out in the fiery trial.

Faith gives the soul a right notion of suffering. Faith draws
the true picture of sufferings. What is suffering? Faith says,
"it is but the suffering of the body—which must shortly by
the course of nature, drop into the dust." Thus faith gives
the soul a just measure of sufferings—which enables a
Christian to prostrate his life at the feet of Christ.

Faith picks sweetness out of suffering. The bee gathers
the sweetest honey from the bitterest herb. So faith
gathers the sweetest comforts, from the sharpest trials.
Faith looks upon suffering as God's love-token! "Afflictions
are sharp arrows—but they are shot from the hand of a
loving Father!" Faith can taste honey at the end of the
afflicting rod. Faith fetches joy out of suffering, "Your
sorrow will turn to joy!" John 16:20. Faith gets honey
from the belly of the lion. Faith finds a jewel under the
cross! "We know that all things work together for the
good of those who love God: those who are called
according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A lovely garment

"Be clothed with humility." 1 Peter 5:5

Humility is a lovely garment. Let a child of God
look at his face every morning in the looking-glass
of God's Word, and see his sinful spots. This will
make him walk humbly all the day after. God
cannot endure to see his children grow proud.
He allows them to fall into sin, as he did Peter,
that their plumes of pride may fall off, and that
they may walk humbly.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The scars and infirmities of God's children!

"I will spare them as a father spares an
obedient and dutiful child." Malachi 3:17

God will bear with many infirmities in His children.
A father bears much with a child he loves. We often
grieve the Spirit, and abuse His kindness. God will
pass by much disobedience in His children.

"He has not seen iniquity in Jacob." Numbers 23:21
God's love does not make Him blind. He sees sin in
His people—but not with an eye of revenge. He see
their sins with an eye of pity. He sees sin in His children
as a physician sees a disease in his patient. He has not
seen iniquity in Jacob, so as to destroy him. God may
use the rod (2 Samuel 7:14), not the scorpion. O how
much is God willing to pass by in His children—because
they are His children!

God takes notice of the good that is in His children—and
passes by the infirmity. God does quite contrary to us.
We often take notice of the evil that is in others and
overlook the good. Our eye is upon the flaws of others.
But God takes notice of the good that is in His children.
God sees their faith—and winks at their failings! "Sarah
obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord." The Holy Spirit does
not mention her unbelief and laughing at the promise—
but takes notice of the good in her. God puts his finger
upon the scars and infirmities of His children!

How much did God wink at, in Israel His firstborn!
Israel often provoked Him with their murmurings—
but God answered their murmurings with mercies.
He spared them—as a father spares his son.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The sacred ointment

They godly often spot themselves with sin.

Though sin is in itself deadly—but being tempered with
repentance and mixed with the sacred ointment of
Christ's blood—the venomous damning nature of it is
taken away!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

They are not eagles—but earthworms!

Those who are God's children, are of a more noble
and celestial spirit than men of the world. They "set
their minds on things above, not on earthly things"
(Colossians 3:2). 'Whoever is born of God, overcomes
the world' (1 John 5:4). The children of God live in a
higher region. They are compared to eagles (Isaiah
40:31), in regard of their sublimeness and heavenly
mindedness. Their souls are fled aloft. Christ is in their
heart (Colossians 1:27) and the world is under their
feet (Revelation 12:1).

Men of the world are ever tumbling in thick clay.
They are 'sons of earth'. They are not eagles—
but earthworms! The saints are of another spirit.
They are born of God and walk with God as the
child walks with the father. "Noah walked with God"
(Genesis 6:9). God's children show their high pedigree
in their heavenly life (Philippians 3:20).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Our father, which art in hell

"You have taken off your old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed
in knowledge in the image of its Creator." Col. 3:9-10

The child resembles the father. God's children are like
their heavenly Father. They bear His very image and
impress.

Wicked men say they are the children of God—but there
is too great an unlikeness. The Jews bragged that they
were Abraham's children—but Christ disproves them by
this argument, because they were not like Him. "You are
determined to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth
that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things!"
(John 8:40). "You—Abraham's children, and go about to
kill Me! You are more like Satan, than Abraham!" "You
are of your father the devil!" (verse 44). Such as are
proud, earthly, and malicious may truly say, "Our father
which art in hell." It is blasphemy to call God our Father,
and make the devil our pattern! God's children resemble
Him in meekness and holiness. They are His walking
pictures. As the seal stamps its print and likeness upon
the wax—so does God stamp the print and image of
His own beauty upon His children.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

God is either ignorant, or impotent

All mankind are divided into two ranks—either they
are the children of God, or the children of the devil.

The first sign of heavenly sonship, is tenderness of heart.
"Because your heart was tender" (2 Chronicles 34:27). A
childlike heart is a tender heart. He who before had a flinty
heart—has now a fleshy heart. A tender heart is like melting
wax to God. He may set whatever seal He will upon it. This
tenderness of heart shows itself three ways.

[1] A tender heart grieves for sin. A child weeps for
offending his father. Peter showed a tender heart when
Christ looked upon him and he remembered his sin, and
wept like a child. It is reported that Peter never heard a
rooster crow, but he wept. The least hair makes the eye
weep. The least sin makes the heart smite.

[2] A tender heart melts under mercy. The heart is
never so kindly dissolved, as under the sunbeams of God's
mercy. See how David's heart was melted with God's
kindness: "Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my
family, that You have brought me this far?" (2 Samuel
7:18). There was a gracious thaw upon his heart. So says
a child of God, "Lord, who am I—a piece of dust and sin
kneaded together—that the orient beams of free grace
should shine upon me? Who am I, that You should pity
me when I lay in my blood—and spread the golden wings
of mercy over me!" The soul is overcome with God's
goodness—the tears drop, and the love flames. God's
mercy has a melting influence upon the soul.

[3] A tender heart trembles under God's threatenings.
"My flesh trembles in fear of You!" (Psalm 119:120). If the
father is angry—the child trembles. When ministers denounce
the threats of God against sin—tender souls sit in a trembling
posture. This trembling frame of heart, God delights in. "To
this man will I look, even to him who trembles at Your word!"
(Isaiah 66:2). A wicked man, like the Leviathan, 'is made
without fear' (Job 41:33). He neither believes God's promises
—nor dreads God's threatenings. Let judgment be denounced
against sin—he laughs. He thinks that God is either ignorant
and does not see—or impotent and cannot punish. "The
mountains quake before Him and the hills melt away. The
earth trembles at His presence!" (Nahum 1:5). But the hearts
of the ungodly are more obdurate than the rocks! A hardened
sinner like Nebuchadnezzar has "the heart of a beast given to
him" (Daniel 4:16). A childlike heart is a tender heart. The
heart of stone is taken away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

More odious to God than a serpent!

"You are of purer eyes than to behold evil."
     Habakkuk 1:13

God is holy. Purity is the chief robe with which God
adorns Himself. Will this holy God endure to have
an impure heart come near Him? Will a man lay a
viper in his bosom! God's image consists in holiness.
To those who do not have this image and superscription
upon them, He will say "I never knew you!" God delights
in no heart, but where He may see His own likeness. Love
is founded upon likeness. God loves the pure in heart.

The holy God and the unrepentant sinner—cannot
dwell together. None can dwell together but friends
—but there is no friendship between God and the
sinner, both of them being of a contrary judgment
and disposition. An impure heart is more odious
to God than a serpent! God gave the serpent its
venom—but Satan fills the heart with sin. 'Satan
has filled your heart!' Acts 5:3. The Lord abhors
a sinner! He will not come near him—having his
plague-sores running. 'My soul loathed them!'
Zechariah 11:8

Heaven is a pure place. It is an "undefiled inheritance"
1 Peter 1:4. No unclean beasts shall come into
the heavenly ark! "Nothing evil will be allowed to
enter!" Revelation 21:27

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Matthew 5:8. Purity of heart is the jewel which is hung
only upon the elect! Chastity distinguishes a virtuous
woman from a harlot. Just so, the true Christian is
distinguished from the hypocrite—by his heart-purity.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A dead wife cannot please her husband

"Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure.
But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and
unbelieving, because their minds and consciences
are defiled." Titus 1:15

Until the heart is pure—all our holy things (that is—our
religious duties) are polluted. They are but splendid sins!

Under the law, whatever a leper touched was unclean.
If he had touched the altar or sacrifice, the altar would
not cleanse him—but he would defile the altar.

A filthy hand defiles the purest water. Just so, an
impure heart defiles all religious duties—he drops
poison upon them all.

A pure stream running through muddy ground, is polluted.
Just so, the holiest duties, running through an impure heart,
are polluted. A sinner's works are called "dead works" (Heb.
6:1). And those works which are dead, cannot please God.
A dead wife cannot please her husband.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There goes an idolater!

"Covetousness which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5

Covetousness is the root of idolatry. The covetous
person bows down to the image of gold. His money
is his god—for he puts his trust in it.

Money is his creator. When he has abundance
of wealth, then he thinks he is 'made'.

Money is his redeemer. If he is in any trouble,
he flies to his money and that must redeem him.

Money is his comforter. When he is sad he counts
over his money, and with this golden harp he drives
away the evil spirit.

When you see a covetous man, you may say,
"There goes an idolater!"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

An evil heart of unbelief

"An evil heart of unbelief." Hebrews 3:12

An unbelieving heart is evil in the highest degree.
It is full of the poison of hell. Unbelief is the foul
medley of all sins—the root and receptacle of sin.

Unbelief is a God-affronting sin. It calls in question
God's power, mercy and truth. "The one who does
not believe God, is actually calling God a liar!" Can
a greater affront be cast upon the God of glory!

Unbelief hardens the heart. These two sins are linked
together—"He upbraided them with their unbelief and
hardness of heart" (Mark 16:14). Unbelief breeds the
stone of the heart. He who does not believe God's
threatenings—will never fear Him. He who does not
believe God's promises—will never love Him. What is
said of the Leviathan, is true of the unbeliever. "Its
heart is as hard as rock, as hard as a millstone!"
(Job 41:24). Unbelief first pollutes the heart—and
then hardens it!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Let that room be washed with holy tears!

Holiness is the angels' glory. They are pure virgin-spirits.
Take away purity from an angel—and he is but a devil!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall
see God." Matthew 5:8

The heart must especially be kept pure, because the
heart is the chief seat or place of God's residence. God
dwells in the heart. He takes up the heart for His own
lodging, therefore it must be pure and holy.

A king's palace must be kept from defilement, and
especially his throne. How holy ought that to be! If
the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, the heart
is the holy of holies! Oh take heed of defiling the
room where God chiefly dwells! Let that room be
washed with holy tears!

The heart must especially be pure, because it is
the heart which sanctifies all that we do. If the
heart is holy, all is holy—our affections holy, our
duties holy.

Purity of heart is that which beautifies a soul in God's
eye. You are but a spiritual leper—until you are pure
in heart. God is in love with the pure heart, for He sees
His own picture drawn there. The pure in heart, have
the embroidery and workmanship of the Holy Spirit
upon them.

The pure heart is God's paradise where He delights
to walk. It is God's lesser heaven. The dove delights
in the purest air. The Holy Spirit who descended in
the likeness of a dove, delights in the purest soul.
God says of the pure in heart, as of Zion, "This is
My rest forever, here will I dwell" (Psalm 132:14).

God loves the loveliest complexion. The pure in heart
is Christ's bride, decked and bespangled with the
jewels of holiness. "You have ravished My heart with
one of your eyes!" (Song 4:9). Your eyes, that is,
your graces; these as a chain of diamonds, have
drawn My heart to you.

Of all hearts, God loves the pure heart best. You
who dress yourself by the looking-glass of the Word
and adorn 'the hidden person of your heart', are most
precious in God's eyes, though you may be as bleary
eyed as Leah, or as lame as Barzillai. Yet being 'pure
in heart', you are the mirror of beauty and may say
"Yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord!"
(Is. 49:5). How may this raise the esteem of purity!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Before conversion

Before conversion, the sinner is compared . . .
to a stone for his hardness of heart (Zech. 7:12),
to a wolf for his savageness (Matthew 7:15)
to a lion for his fierceness (Isaiah 11:6),
to a bee for his sting (Psalm 118:12),
to an adder for his poison (Psalm 140:3).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fading, not filling

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled." Mt. 5:6

Here is the excellency of righteousness above all
other things. A man may hunger after the world
and not be filled. The world is fading, not filling.
Cast three worlds into the heart—yet the heart is
not full. But righteousness is a filling thing; nay,
it so fills that it satisfies!

A man may be filled and not satisfied. A sinner
may take his fill of sin—but that is a sad filling.
It is far from satisfaction. He shall have his belly
full of sin; he shall have enough of it—but this is
not a filling to satisfaction. This is such a filling
that the damned in hell have! They shall be
full of the fury of the Lord!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Oh, take heed of this sweet poison!

The love of sin makes sin taste sweet, and this
sweetness in sin bewitches the heart.

It is worse to love sin than to commit it. A man
may be overtaken with sin (Galatians 6:1). He
who has stumbled upon sin unawares will weep
—but the love of sin hardens the heart and keeps
the devil in possession. In true mourning there
must be a grieving for sin. But how can a man
grieve for that sin which his heart is in love with?
Oh, take heed of this sweet poison! The love
of sin freezes the soul in impenitence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Suck damnation out of the
sweet flower of God's mercy!

"I will have peace even though I follow my
own stubborn heart." Deuteronomy 29:19

How many, spider-like, suck damnation out of
the sweet flower of God's mercy! "Oh," says
one, "Christ died for me!" Many a bold sinner plucks
death from the tree of life, and through presumption,
goes to hell by that ladder of Christ's blood—by which
others go to heaven! It is sad when the goodness of
God, which should 'lead to repentance' (Romans 2:4),
leads to presumption.

O sinner, do not hope yourself into hell. Take heed
of being damned upon a presumption! You say
"God is merciful"—and therefore you go on securely
in sin. But who is mercy for—the unrepentant sinner
or the mourning sinner? 'Let the wicked forsake his
way, and return to the Lord, and He will have mercy
upon him' (Isaiah 55:7). No mercy without forsaking sin!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

288 opinions about the way to happiness

In what does happiness consist?

Millions of people mistake both the nature of happiness, and the way there. Some of the learned have noted 288 opinions about the way to happiness—and all have shot wide of the mark!

How do men thirst after the world—as if the pearl of happiness hung upon an earthly crown! "Oh," says one, "if I had but such an estate—then I would be happy! Had I but such a comfort—then I would sit down satisfied!" Well, God gives him that comfort and lets him suck the very juice out of it—but, alas, it falls short of his expectation. It cannot fill the emptiness and longing of his soul!

Happiness does not lie in the acquisition of worldly things. Happiness cannot by any chemistry—be extracted from the world. Christ does not say, 'Happy are the rich,' or 'Happy are the noble.' Yet too many idolize these things. How ready is man to terminate his happiness in external worldly things! If they have but worldly accommodations, they are ready to say with that brutish fool in the gospel, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years, take your ease—eat, drink and be merry!"

But alas! The tree of happiness does not grow in an earthly paradise. Has not God 'cursed the ground' because of sin? Yet many are digging for happiness here—as if they would fetch a blessing out of a curse! A man may as well think to extract oil out of a stone, or fire out of water—as happiness out of earthly things!

King Solomon had more worldly things than any man. His crown was hung full of jewels. He had treasuries of gold. He had the flower and quintessence of all delights—sumptuous fare, stately edifices, vineyards, lands, all sorts of music to enchant and ravish the senses with joy. If there were any rarity—it was present in king Solomon's court. Thus did he bathe in the perfumed waters of pleasure.

Never did the world cast a more smiling aspect upon any man! Yet when he comes to give his impartial verdict, he tells us that the world has 'vanity' written upon its frontispiece; and all those golden delights he enjoyed, were but a painted felicity—a glorious misery! "Behold! All was vanity!" Happiness is too noble and delicate a plant, to grow in this world's soil. Worldly joys are but sugared lies—pleasant deceits—which have not one grain of true happiness! Nothing on earth can satisfy the soul's desires!

"The world passes away!" (1 John 2:17). Worldly delights are winged. They may be compared to a flock of birds in the garden—which stay a little while—but when you come near to them—they take their flight and are gone! Just so, "riches make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven!" They are like a meteor which blazes—but soon burns out. They are like a castle made of snow—lying under the fiery beams of the sun. Worldly comforts are like tennis balls—which are bandied up and down from one to another. They are like a bouquet of flowers—which withers while you are smelling it. They are like ice—which melts away while it is in your hand.

Those things which do more vex than comfort—cannot make a man truly happy. As riches are compared to wind—to show their vanity; so they are compared to thorns—to show their vexation. Thorns are not more apt to tear our garments—than riches to tear our hearts! They are thorns in the gathering—and they prick with anxious care. They pierce the head with care of getting, so they wound the heart with fear of losing. Happiness is not to be fetched out of the earth! Worldly comforts cannot make you happy. You might live rich—and die cursed! You might treasure up an estate—and God might treasure up wrath!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Most fish

Most fish go to the Devil's net! "Enter through
the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad
is the road that leads to destruction, and many
enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow
the road that leads to life, and only a few find it!"
Matthew 7:13-14

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A godly man hates

A righteous person breathes after holiness (Psalm 119:5).
Though sin cleaves to his heart—yet his heart does not
cleave to sin. "I do the very thing I hate!" (Romans 7:15).
A godly man hates the sin to which Satan most tempts,
and his heart most inclines (Psalm 119:128).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The depth of mercy, and the height of love!

"Behold! How great is the love the Father has lavished
on us—that we should be called children of God!"
1 John 3:1

God showed power in making us His creatures—but love
in making us His sons. Plato gave God thanks that He had
made him a man and not a beast—but what cause have
they to adore God's love—who has made them His children!
That we may the better behold God's love in making us
His children, consider three things.

1. We were deformed—so did not DESERVE to be made
God's children. God did not adopt us when we were clothed
with the robe of innocence in paradise, when we were hung
with the jewels of holiness; but when we were in our blood
and had our leprous spots upon us! The time of our loathing
—was the time of God's loving!

2. As we did not deserve to be made God's children, so
neither did we DESIRE it. No rich man will force another to
become his heir against his will. If a king should go to adopt
a beggar and make him heir of the crown, if the beggar should
refuse the king's favor and say, 'I had rather be a beggar still
—I do not want your riches'; the king would take it in high
contempt of his favor, and would not adopt him against his
will. Thus it was with us. We had no willingness to be made
God's children. We desired to be beggars still—but God out
of his infinite mercy and indulgence, not only offers to make
us children—but makes us willing to embrace the offer
(Psalm 110:3). What stupendous love was this!

3. It is the wonder of love that God should adopt us for
His children, when we were ENEMIES. No man would
adopt an enemy to be his heir. But that God should make
us Hs children—when we were His enemies; that He should
make us heirs to the crown—when we were traitors to the
crown—oh amazing, astonishing love!

We had done God all the injury and spite we could, defaced
His image, violated His law, trampled upon His mercies—but
when we had angered Him, He adopted us! What stupendous
love was this! Such love was never shown to the angels! When
they fell, God did not make them children—but prisoners. They
were heirs only to 'the treasures of wrath'! (Romans 2:5).

Let us admire His wondrous love. When we were breathing
forth enmity against God—He conquered our stubbornness
with kindness, and not only pardoned—but adopted us! It is
hard to say which is greater—the mystery, or the mercy.
This is such amazing love as we shall be searching into and
adoring to all eternity! The bottom of it cannot be fathomed
by any angel in heaven. God's love in making us His children
is a rich love. It is love in God to feed us—but it is rich love
to adopt us! It is love to give us a crumb—but it is rich love
to make us heirs to a crown!

It is a distinguishing love, that when God has passed by so
many millions, He should cast a favorable aspect upon you!
Most are made vessels of wrath, and fuel for hell. And that
God should say to you, 'You are My son!'—here is the depth
of mercy, and the height of love! Who, O who, can tread
upon these hot coals, and his heart not burn in love to God!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pharisaic purity

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall
see God." Matthew 5:8

If the heart is not pure, we differ nothing from a
Pharisaic purity. The Pharisees' holiness consisted
chiefly in externals. Theirs was an 'outside purity'.
They never minded the inside of the heart. 'Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You
are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and
the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed
and self-indulgence! Hypocrites! You are like
whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside
but filled on the inside with dead people's bones
and all sorts of impurity!' (Matthew 23:25, 27).
The Pharisees were good only on the surface. They
were like a rotten post, overlaid with fine paint.

"For I tell you that unless your righteousness
surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers
of the law, you will certainly not enter the
kingdom of heaven!" Matthew 5:20

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For every crumb of His patience

"When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried
out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes
to do wrong." (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

God forbears punishing—therefore men forbear repenting.
He does not smite upon their back by correction—therefore
they do not smite upon their thigh by humiliation (Jer. 31:19).
The sinner thinks thus: "God has spared me all this while;
surely He will not punish me." "He says to himself—God has
forgotten; He covers His face and never sees!" (Psalm 10:11).

In infinite patience God sometimes adjourns His judgments a
while longer. He is not willing to punish (2 Peter 3:9). God is
like the bee, which naturally gives honey—but stings only
when it is provoked. But alas, how is His patience abused!
God's patience hardens most. Because God stops the vial
of His wrath—sinners stop the conduit of tears!

To be hardened under God's patience, makes our condition far
worse. Incensed justice will revenge abused patience! God was
patient towards Sodom—but when they did not repent, He made
the fire and brimstone flame about their ears! Sodom, which was
once the wonder of God's patience—is now a standing monument
of God's severity. Long forbearance is no forgiveness. God may
keep off the stroke awhile—but His justice is not dead—but only
sleeps. God has leaden feet but iron hands. The longer God is
taking His blow—the sorer it will be when it comes. The longer
a stone is falling—the heavier it will be at last. The longer God
is whetting his sword—the sharper it cuts!

How dreadful will their condition be—who sin because God is
patient with them. For every crumb of His patience—God
puts a drop of wrath into His vial. The longer God forbears
with a sinner—the more interest he is sure to pay in hell.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A watery eye and a whorish heart

"Blessed are those who mourn." Matthew 5:4

Gospel-mourning is joined with self-loathing. The
sinner admires himself—the penitent loathes himself.
"You shall loath yourselves in your own sight for all
your evils." Ezekiel 20:43 A true penitent is troubled
not only for the shameful consequence of sin—but for
the loathsome nature of sin; not only the sting of sin
—but the deformed face of sin. The true mourner
cries out, "O these impure eyes! O this heart which is
a conclave of wickedness!" He not only leaves sin—
but loathes sin.

Gospel-mourning must be purifying. Our tears
must make us more holy. We must so weep for sin,
as to weep out sin. Our tears must drown our sins.
We must not only mourn—but turn. "Turn to me
with weeping" (Joel 2:12). What good is it, to
have a watery eye and a whorish heart? True
tears are cleansing. They are like a flood that carries
away all the rubbish of our sins away with it. The
waters of holy mourning are like the river Jordan,
wherein Naaman washed and was cleansed of his
leprosy. Though our sins be as scarlet—yet by
washing in this river of repentance, they become
white as snow.

Gospel-mourning must be joined with hatred of sin.
We must not only abstain from sin—but abhor sin.
The dove hates the least feather of the hawk. A true
mourner hates the least motion to sin. A true mourner
is a sin-hater. He looks upon sin as the most deadly
evil—as the essence of all evil. Sin looks more ghastly
than death or hell. A true mourner is implacably incensed
against sin. He will never admit of any terms of peace.
Anger may be reconciled—hatred cannot. True mourning
begins in the love of God—and ends in the hatred of sin.

There is that in the best Christian, which is contrary to
God. There is that in him, which deserves hell—and shall
he not mourn? A ship that is always leaking must have
the water continually pumped out. While the soul leaks by
sin, we must be still pumping at the leak by repentance.
The washing of our souls daily in the brinish waters of
repentance, is the best way both to prevent and cure
the falling into relapses.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Set your affection on things above

"Set your affection on things above, not
on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2

He who has a heavenly spirit—shall go to the heavenly
kingdom. Do you live above the world? The eagle does
not catch flies—she soars aloft in the air. Do you pant
after glory and immortality? Do you abhor that which is
sordid and carnal? Can you trample upon all sublunary
things? Is heaven in your eye—and Christ in your heart
—and the world under your feet