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Discussion Forum : Articles and Sermons : Excerpts from "The Believer's Pocket Companion" ~ By William Mason

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 Excerpts from "The Believer's Pocket Companion" ~ By William Mason



The One Thing Needful to Make Poor Sinners
Rich—and Miserable Sinners Happy

By William Mason, 1773




A rod of love to whip you

"The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the
one who loves him disciplines him diligently." Prov. 13:24

Pliny mentions certain trees which grow in the Red Sea,
which, though they are covered with water, and beat
upon by the waves—they stand like an immovable rock.
They are bettered by the roughness of the sea.

Just so, a Christian planted in the Red Sea of Christ's
blood—is armored against all waves of trouble. He is
improved by afflictions; yes, the more he is beat
upon, and though overwhelmed with the billows of
distress and trouble—the better he thrives, and the
more his soul flourishes in spiritual grace! For this is
the loving design of our Lord in all our troubles and
afflictions—to wean us from the world, and to endear
Himself to us! Every affliction has its commission from
Him. It comes with the impress of His love upon it.

I have often found by experience, and confessed with
joy—that a sick bed has proved like a hotbed to my
soul. It has drawn up warm desires, and longing
affections to Christ. And I have sweetly found the Sun
of Righteousness arising upon me—reviving, cheering
and comforting my soul.

When afflictions are most heavy, Christ's presence . . .
makes the world and its troubles most light,
supports under trials,
yields patience and comfort in afflictions, and
sanctifies all of them to the soul's profit!

It is your wisdom to see the rod of chastisement in
the hand of your loving heavenly Father. All your
afflictions are chastenings from the Lord—they are
all sent in love! He deals with you as with a son in
whom He delights, and whom He designs to profit.
He does not punish you with vindictive wrath—He
is not taking vengeance of you for your sins. Your
Father is not so much punishing you for your sins,
as from your sins. That is, in all His chastisements,
He intends your spiritual good . . .
that you should be more a partaker of His holiness;
that sin may be more exceedingly sinful;
that you should more humble and vile in your own eyes,
that Jesus should be more inestimably precious to you.

So that all affliction, is a rod of love to whip you from
the world, self, and sin—into Christ, that you should more
love and enjoy Him, who is your righteousness, life and
salvation.


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 2008/3/10 3:46Profile
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 Re: Excerpts from "The Believer's Pocket Companion" ~ By William Mason

"I hate pride and arrogance!" Proverbs 8:13

What a monster of pride is man! How full of that
cursed venom, is human nature! We cannot receive any
grace or blessing from the Lord—but corrupt nature is
prone to be proud of it—and to boast in it! No one is
exempt from this. I appeal to your hearts. I refer to
your experience. When your heart has been enlarged
in prayer; when your soul has been carried out in
humblings, meltings, longings, aspirings, etc.; when
you have heard the Word with warm affections and
heavenly joy; when your tongue has with sweetness
and liberty talked of Christ to others; when your hand
has been stretched forth to do any good work; now in
all these—have you not found pride very busy? Have
not you been ready to stroke yourself with pleasure,
and to reflect with delight: "Well, now the Lord loves
me indeed! Surely He loves me better—now that I
find myself so holy, and feel myself so heavenly."

But where is our precious Christ all this while? We have
looked at ourselves—until we have lost sight of Him!
We have been admiring our vile selves for our
graces—instead of being in raptures with Christ, who
is altogether lovely, in whom all fullness of grace
dwells, and out of whose fullness we receive grace
upon grace!

"The Lord detests all the proud of heart!" Prov. 16:5


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 2008/3/10 3:48Profile
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Posts: 4994
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 Re:

Where Christ is most precious—
there sin is exceedingly sinful;
and self is humbled and loathed!

But—do we not grow stronger in ourselves, and
find more help and power from ourselves—
to withstand our enemies,
to fight our good fight,
to run our race, and
to perfect holiness?

No! If we think so—it is plain that we are not
growing up into Christ—but growing down into
self! If the Lord has given me to know anything
of this matter, after being upwards of twenty
years in precious Christ, I sincerely declare, that
I find myself to be just that weak, helpless sinner
I was when I first came to Jesus with, "Lord help
me! Lord save me—or I perish!" Yes, I find myself
more helpless now—than I thought myself then.
I see more constant need to put on Christ, and
to say, "truly in the Lord (not in myself) I have
strength!"

I never more firmly believed than now, this truth
of my Lord, "Without Me, you can do nothing." John
15:5. Never, never did I see less cause to trust in
my own strength!

"Hold me up—and I shall be safe!" Psalm 119:117


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Posts: 4994
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 Re:

"I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave Himself for me!" Galatians 2:20

That the believer may live cheerfully and comfortably,
he is exhorted to the free and constant use of Christ.

O consider—Christ is given to us—to be enjoyed by us!

He is the bread of life. We are to feed upon Him daily.

He is the water of life, which our souls are to drink of
constantly.

He is our righteousness. We are to put Him on continually.

So then, we not only have a precious Christ—but we are
also to use Him—and enjoy His preciousness! He is not
only a well of salvation—but we must draw water out of
it with joy—and drink of it to the refreshing of our souls!

Deeply consider, that without this inward enjoyment
of Christ—you cannot be . . .
happy in your soul,
comfortable in your walk,
nor holy in your life.

We must live by faith upon Christ—so as to derive a
continual supply of grace, comfort, and strength
from Him! "I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave Himself for me!" Galatians 2:20


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 2008/3/10 3:49Profile
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Joined: 2006/1/31
Posts: 4994
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 Re:

Perhaps there never was a greater profession of Christ,
than in this day. Yet many, very many professors content
themselves with . . .
the form of godliness—instead of the power;
the mere notion of truth—instead of the experience of it;
the name of faith—instead of the grace of faith;
the mere profession of Christ—instead of the actual
possession of Him. O how few really feel . . .
their hearts happy in Him,
their hopes centered on Him, and
their affections going out after Him!


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 2008/3/10 3:50Profile





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