10 The Ten Commandments (choice excerpts) cont'd
The Ten Commandments (choice excerpts) cont’d The sweetest friend—but the most dreadful enemy!
What does every sin deserve?
God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come.
"Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!" Matthew 25:41.
God’s wrath is irresistible. "Who knows the power of Your anger?" Psalms 90:2. Sinners may oppose God’s ways—but not His wrath. Shall the briers contend with the fire? Shall finite contend with infinite? "Have you an arm like God?" Job 40:9.
God’s wrath is dreadful. We are apt to have slight thoughts of God’s wrath; but it is very tremendous and dismal, as if scalding lead should be dropped into one’s eyes. The Hebrew word for wrath signifies heat. To show that the wrath of God is hot, therefore it is compared to fire in the text. Fire, when in its rage, is dreadful. So the wrath of God is like fire, it is most dreadful. Other fire is but painted fire, compared to this. What will it be, when God shall "stir up all His wrath!" Psalms 78:38.
Solomon says, "The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion." Proverbs 19:12. What then is God’s wrath? When God musters up all His forces, and sets Himself in battalia against a sinner—how can his heart endure? "Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with you?" Ezekiel 22:14. Who is able to lie under mountains of wrath? God is the sweetest friend—but the most dreadful enemy!
The wrath of God shall seize upon every part of a sinner. The wrath of God shall seize upon the BODY of a reprobate. The body, which was so tender that it could not bear heat or cold, shall be tormented in the wine press of God’s wrath! Those eyes which before could behold amorous objects, shall be tormented with the sight of devils! Those ears, which before were delighted with music, shall be tormented with the hideous shrieks of the damned!
The wrath of God shall seize upon the SOUL of a reprobate. Ordinary fire cannot touch the soul. God’s wrath burns the soul. The memory will be tormented to remember what means of grace have been abused. The conscience will be tormented with self-accusations. The sinner will accuse himself for presumptuous sins, for misspending his precious hours, and for resisting the Holy Spirit.
The wrath of God is without intermission. Hell is an abiding place—but no resting place; there is not a minute’s rest. Our earthly pains have some abatement; but the torments of the damned have no intermission; he who feels God’s wrath never says, "I am at ease."
The wrath of God is eternal. So says the text. "Eternal fire!" No tears can quench the flame of God’s anger; no, though we could shed rivers of tears. In all pains of this life, men hope for
cessation; but the wrath of God is always feeding upon the sinner. The terror of natural fire is, that it consumes what it burns; but what makes the fire of God’s wrath dreadful is, that it does not consume what it burns. The sinner will forever be in the furnace! After innumerable millions of years, the wrath of God is as far from ending—as it was at the beginning. If all the earth and sea were sand, and every thousand years a little bird should come, and take away a grain of sand, it would be a long while before that vast heap of sand were emptied; but if, after all that time, the damned might come out of hell—there would be some hope; but this word "FOREVER" breaks the heart!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He is worse than dead!
"You were dead in your transgressions and sins." Ephesians 2:1
An unregenerate man cannot perfectly obey all God’s commands. He may as well touch the stars, or walk across the ocean—as yield exact obedience to the law.
He is spiritually DEAD. How can he, being dead, keep the commandments of God perfectly? A dead man is not fit for action. A sinner has the symptoms of death upon him. He has no sense; he has no sense of the evil of sin, of God’s holiness and veracity; therefore he is said to be without feeling. Ephesians 4:19. He has no strength. Romans 5:6. What strength has a dead man? A natural man has no strength to deny himself, or to resist temptation. He is dead!
He is not only dead—but he is worse than dead! A dead man does no hurt. A natural man not only cannot keep the law through weakness—but he breaks it through willfulness! He is BORN in sin, and LIVES in sin. Psalms 51:5. "He drinks iniquity like water." Job 15:16. All the imaginations of his thoughts are evil—and only evil. Genesis 6:5.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ministers are murderers!
"You shall not murder." Exodus 20:13
Soul-murder is the greatest murder of all. The soul is said to be murdered, when it is deprived of its eternal happiness, and is forever in torment. How many are soul-murderers!
Soul-murderers are those who corrupt others by bad example.
Soul-murderers are those who entice others to sin.
Ministers are murderers—who either starve, or poison, or infect souls. They may poison people with error. The basilisk poisons herbs and flowers by breathing on them; so the breath of heretical ministers poisons souls. Error is as damnable as vice!
"When I say to a wicked man, ’You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood." Ezekiel 3:18.
There are many ministers who infect their people with their bad life; they preach one thing—and live another. They are murderers, and the blood of souls will cry against them at the last day! How sad will it be for those who have not only their own sins—but the blood of others to answer for!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sinful nature refined and cultivated
"You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3
What is it to have other gods besides the true God? I fear upon search, we have more idolaters among us than we are aware of.
If we trust in our MORALITY, we make it a god. Many trust to this. None can charge them with gross sin. Morality is but sinful nature refined and cultivated. A man may be outwardly washed—and not inwardly changed. His life may be moral—and yet there may be some reigning sin in his heart! The Pharisee could say, "I am no adulterer" (Luke 18:11); but he could not say, "I am not proud." To trust to one’s morality, is to trust to a spider’s web.
"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away!" Isaiah 64:6
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A lackey to every base lust!
"I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt—out of the house of
bondage." Exodus 20:2
Sin is the true bondage—it enslaves the soul. Sin is the enslaver; it is called a law—because it has a binding power over a man (Romans 7:23). It is said to reign—because it exercises a tyrannical power (Romans 6:12). And men are said to be the servants of sin, because they are so enslaved by it. Romans 6:17.
Israel was not so enslaved in the iron furnace—as the sinner is by sin. They are worse slaves and vassals—who are under the power of sin, than those are who are under the power of earthly tyrants.
Other slaves have only tyrants ruling over their bodies; but the sinner has his soul tyrannized over. That princely part, the soul, which sways the scepter of reason, and was once crowned with perfect knowledge and holiness; is now enslaved, and made a lackey to every base lust!
Other slaves have some pity shown them: the tyrant gives them food, and lets them have hours for their rest. But sin is a merciless tyrant, it will let men have no rest. How does a man wear himself out in the service of sin—waste his body, break his sleep, distract his mind! A wicked man does sin’s drudgery-work every day!
Other slaves are forced against their will. Israel groaned under slavery (Exodus 2:23); but sinners are willing to be slaves of sin! They love their chains! They will not take their freedom; they
"glory in their shame." Php 3:19. They wear their sins, not as their fetters—but their ornaments! They rejoice in iniquity. Jeremiah 11:15.
Sin’s slaves are brought to damnation. Other slaves lie in the iron furnace: sin’s slaves lie in the fiery furnace! What freedom of will has a sinner—when he can do nothing but what sin
commands him? He is enslaved.
But God takes His elect out of the house of bondage! He beats off the chains and fetters of sin; He rescues them from their slavery; He makes them free, by bringing them into "the glorious
liberty of the children of God." Romans 8:21. The law of love now rules, not the law of sin. Though the life of sin is prolonged; yet not the dominion of sin! The saints are made spiritual kings, to rule and conquer their corruptions. It is matter of the highest praise and thanksgiving, to be taken out of the house of bondage, to be freed from enslaving lusts, and made kings to reign in glory forever!
"I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt—out of the house of
bondage." Exodus 20:2
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
God’s flail
God’s children may sometimes be under sore afflictions. They have no charter of exemption from trouble, in this life. While the wicked are kept in sugar, the godly are often kept in brine.
And, indeed, how could God’s power be seen in bringing them out of trouble—if He did not sometimes bring them into it? How could God wipe away the tears from their eyes in heaven—if on earth they shed none?
Doubtless, God sees there is need that His children should be sometimes in the house of bondage. "If need be, you are in heaviness." 1 Peter 1:6. The body sometimes needs a bitter portion—more than a sweet one.
"You refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs." Psalms 66:10-11
Why does God bring His people into an afflicted state?
God gives affliction—to purge our corruption. The eye, though a tender part—yet when infected, we put sharp medicines into it, to purge out the disease. Just so, though the people of God are dear to Him as the apple of His eye—yet, when corruption begins to grow in them, He will apply the sharp medicine of affliction—to purge out the disease.
Affliction is God’s flail to thresh off our husks.
Affliction is a means God uses to purge out sloth, luxury, pride, and love of the world.
God’s furnace is not to consume—but to refine.
God gives us more affliction—that we may have less sin!
God also gives affliction to increase our graces. Grace thrives most in the iron furnace. Grace in the saints is often as fire hidden in the embers; affliction is the bellows to blow it up into a flame!
The more the diamond is cut—the more it sparkles. The more God afflicts us—the more our graces cast a sparkling luster!
The stones which are cut out for a building, are first hewn and squared. The godly are called "living stones." 1 Peter 2:5. God hews and polishes them by affliction, that they may be fit for the heavenly building.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let us examine our ways
"Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." Lamentations 3:40
By self-examination, a man may see how matters stand between God and his soul. It is a spiritual inquisition—a heart-anatomy.
Self-examination is difficult, because it is an inward work—it lies with the heart. External acts of devotion are easy. To lift up the eye, to bow the knee, to read over a few prayers—is as easy as for the Papists to count over a few rosary beads! But to examine a man’s self, to take the heart in pieces, to make a Scripture-trial of our hearts, is not easy. It is easy to spy the faults of others—but it is hard to find out our own faults! Self-examination is difficult, with regard to self-love. As ignorance blinds, so self-love flatters! To a man looking upon himself in the flattering looking-glass of self-love—his virtues appear greater than they are—and his sins less!
Self-examination is needful, because without it we may easily have a cheat put upon us. "The heart is deceitful above all things." Jeremiah 17:9. "The heart is a great impostor."
Self-examination is needful, because of the secret corruption in the heart—which will not be found out, without searching. There are in the heart, "hidden pollutions." It is with a Christian, as with Joseph’s brethren, who, when the steward accused them of having the cup, were ready to swear they had it not; but upon search it was found in one of their sacks. Little does a Christian think what pride, atheism, immorality is in his heart—until he searches it! If there is therefore, such hidden wickedness, like a spring running under ground, we had need examine ourselves, that finding out our secret sin, we may be humbled and repent.
Hidden sins, if not searched out, defile the soul. If corn lies long in the chaff, the chaff defiles the corn. Just so, sins long hidden defile our duties.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If a damned spirit should come from hell
"I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment!" Abraham replied, "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them." "No, father Abraham," he said, "but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent." He said to him, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!" Luke 16:27-31
If an angel should come to you out of heaven, and preach of the excellency of the glorified state, and the joys of heaven, and that in the most moving manner—if the Word preached does not persuade, neither would you be wrought upon, by such an oration from heaven!
If a damned spirit should come from hell, and preach to you in flames, and tell you what a place hell is, and roar out the torments of the damned—it might make you tremble—but it would not convert you—if the preaching of the Word will not do it!
If the Word preached is not effectual to men’s conversion—it will be effectual to their condemnation. The Word will be effectual one way or other; if it does not make your hearts
better, it will make your chains heavier! Dreadful is their case—who go loaded with sermons to hell!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A panacea The Scripture is a golden epistle, written by the Holy Spirit—and sent to us from heaven!
The Scripture is a spiritual looking-glass, to dress our souls by. It shows us heart-sins, vain thoughts, unbelief, etc. It not only shows us our spots—but washes them away!
The Scripture is an armory, out of which we may fetch spiritual artillery to fight against Satan. When our Savior was tempted by the devil, he fetched armor and weapons from Scripture; "it is written!"
The Scripture is a panacea, or universal medicine for the soul; it gives a recipe to cure deadness of heart, Psalms 119:50; pride, 1 Peter 5:5; and infidelity, John 3:36. It is a garden of remedies, where we may gather an herb or antidote, to expel the poison of sin.
The Scripture is "the only standard of conduct"—the rule and platform by which we are to square our lives. It contains in it all things needful to salvation; what duties we are to do, and what sins we are to avoid.
"When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight." Jeremiah 15:16. All true solid comfort is fetched out of the Word. The Word is a spiritual garden, and the promises are the fragrant flowers or spices in this garden. How should we delight to walk among these beds of spices!
The Scripture is a sovereign elixir, or comfort, in an hour of distress. "Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles." Psalms 119:50.
If we would have the Scripture effectual, let us labor not only to have the light of it in our heads; but its power in our hearts!
"I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Psalms 119:11. The Word, locked up in the heart—is a preservative against sin. As one would carry an antidote with him when he comes near an infected place—so David carried the Word in his heart as a sacred antidote to preserve him from the infection of sin.
When we read the holy Scriptures—let us look up to God for a blessing. Let us pray that God would not only give us His Word as a rule of holiness—but His grace as a principle of holiness! It is said, that the alchemist can draw oil out of iron. God’s Spirit can produce grace in the most obdurate heart!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The devil for its father
Consider what evil there is in sin. It is the "accursed thing." Joshua 7:11. It is compared to a plague-sore. 1 Kings 8:38. Without repentance sin tends to final damnation. "The moment of sin passes, the guilt remains." Sin unrepented of, ends in tragedy.
Sin has . . .the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death and damnation for its wages!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Repenting tears
True repentance works a change in the life. Though repentance begins at the heart, it does not end there—but goes into the life. It begins at the heart. If the spring is corrupt—no pure stream can run from it.
What a change did it make in Mary Magdalene! She who before kissed her lovers with wanton embraces—now kisses Christ’s feet! She who used to braid her hair, and dress it with costly jewels, now makes it a towel to wipe Christ’s feet! She whose eyes used to sparkle with lust, and with impure glances to entice her lovers—now become fountains of tears to wash her Savior’s feet! She whose tongue that used to speak vainly and loosely—now is an instrument set in tune to praise God. When her head was a fountain to weep for sin—Christ’s side was a fountain to wash away sin!
There is much sweetness in repenting tears. "Your sorrow shall be turned into joy." John 16:20. Christ turns the water of tears—into wine!
The true penitent breaks off from all sin. One disease may kill—as well as more. One sin lived in—may damn as well as more. The real penitent breaks off secret, gainful, habitual sins; he takes the sacrificing knife of mortification—and runs it through the heart of his dearest lusts!
If you break off your sins—God will become a friend to you! All that is in God shall be yours!
His power shall be yours—to help you! His wisdom shall be yours—to counsel you! His Spirit shall be yours—to sanctify you! His promises shall be yours—to comfort you! His mercy shall be yours—to save you!
Though repentance seems at first to be thorny and bitter—yet from this thorn, a Christian gathers grapes! These considerations may open a vein of godly sorrow in our souls—that we may both weep for sin, and turn from it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You shall do no hurt to yourself
"You shall not murder." Exodus 20:13
You shall do no hurt to yourself. One may be indirectly guilty of self-murder, by intemperance or excess in diet.
Glutting shortens life.
More perish by drink—than by the sword.
Many dig their grave with their teeth.
Too much oil chokes the lamp.
The cup kills more than the cannon.
Excessive drinking causes untimely death.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
God writes down no ciphers in the book of life!
"Six days you shall labor." Exodus 20:9
God would not have any live without working. True religion gives no warrant for idleness. "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ’If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12. A Christian must not only mind heaven—but his vocation. While the pilot has his eye to the star, he has his hand to the helm. Without labor, the pillars of a commonwealth will dissolve, and the earth, like the sluggard’s field, will be overrun with briers. Proverbs 24:31. Adam in innocence, though monarch of the world, must not be idle—but must dress and till the ground. Genesis 2:15. Piety does not exclude industry. Standing water putrefies.
Inanimate creatures are in motion. The sun goes its circuit, the fountain runs, and the fire sparkles.
Animate creatures work. Solomon sends us to the ant to learn labor. Proverbs 6:6; Proverbs 30:25. The bee is the emblem of industry; some of the bees trim the honey, others work the wax, others frame the honeycomb, others lie sentinel at the door of the hive to keep out the drone. And shall not man much more labor?
That law in paradise was never repealed. "In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread." Genesis 3:19. Such professors are to be excluded, who talk of living by faith—but live without working; they are like the lilies which "toil not, neither do they spin." Matthew 6:28. It is a speech of holy and learned Mr. Perkins, "Let a man be endowed with excellent gifts, and hear the Word with reverence, and receive the sacrament—yet if he does not work—all is but hypocrisy." What is an idle person good for? What benefit is a ship which lies always on the shore? What benefit is armor which hangs up and rusts?
To live without working, exposes a person to temptation. Melanchthon calls idleness "the Devil’s bath," because he bathes himself with delight in an idle soul. Satan sows most of his seed of temptation, in idle people. Idleness is the nurse of vice! An idle person stands for a cipher in the world; God writes down no ciphers in the book of life!
An idle person can give no good account of his time. Time is a talent to trade with. The slothful person "hides his talent in the earth;" he does no good; his time is not lived—but lost! An idle person lives unprofitably, he cumbers the ground. God calls the slothful servant "wicked." "You wicked and slothful servant." Matthew 25:26.
Draco, whose laws were written in blood, deprived those of their life, who would not work for their living. In Hetruria, they caused such idle people to be banished. Idle people live in the breach of the commandment, "Six days shall you labor." Let them take heed they are not banished from heaven! A man may as well go to hell for not working—as for not believing!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Creation and Redemption
Great was the work of creation—but greater was the work of redemption. The glory of the redemption was greater than the glory of the creation. Great wisdom was seen in making us—but more miraculous wisdom in saving us. Great power was seen in bringing us out
of nothing—but greater power in helping us when we were worse than nothing. It cost more to redeem than to create us. In creation it was but speaking a word; in redeeming there was shedding of blood! Creation was the work of God’s fingers, Psalms 8:3, redemption was the work of His arm. Luke 1:51. In creation, God gave us ourselves; in the redemption, He gave us Himself. By creation, we have life in Adam; by redemption, we have life in Christ. By creation, we had a right to earth; by redemption, we have a title to a heavenly kingdom.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The devil has two false mirrors
The devil has two false mirrors, which he sets before men’s eyes. The one is a little mirror, in which the sin appears so small that it can hardly be seen; which the devil sets before men’s eyes when they are going to commit sin. You who say that your sin is small—when God shall open the eye of your conscience, you will see it to be great, and worthy of damnation!
The other is a large magnifying glass, wherein sin appears so big that it cannot be forgiven; which the devil sets before men’s eyes after they have sinned.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
We take God’s name in vain
"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, who takes His name in vain." Exodus 20:7
The thing here insisted on is, that great care must be had, that the holy and reverend name of God is not profaned by us, or taken in vain. When we speak slightly of God or His works, He interprets it as a contempt, and taking His name in vain.
We take God’s name in vain, when we use God’s name in idle discourse. God is not to be spoken of, but with a holy awe upon our hearts. How many are guilty here! Though they have God in their mouths—they have the devil in their hearts. It is a wonder that fire does not come out from the Lord to consume them, as it did Nadab and Abihu!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The incense which perfumes our holy things
"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, who takes His name in vain." Exodus 20:7
We take God’s name in vain, when we worship Him with our lips—but not with our hearts. God calls for the heart, "My son, give Me your heart." Proverbs 23:26. The heart is the chief thing in religion; it draws the will and affections after it. The heart is the incense which perfumes our
holy things. The heart is the altar which sanctifies the offering. When we seem to worship God—but withdraw our heart from Him, we take His name in vain. "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain." Matthew 15:8-9
Hypocrites take God’s name in vain—their religion is a lie; they seem to honor God—but they do not love Him; their hearts go after their lusts. "They set their heart on their iniquity." Hosea 4:8. Their eyes are lifted up to heaven—but their hearts are rooted in the earth!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Why so?
"You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3
What is it to have other gods besides the true God? I fear upon search, we have more idolaters among us than we are aware of.
To LOVE anything more than God, is to make it a god.
If we love our estate more than God, we make it a god. The young man in the gospel loved his gold better than his Savior; the world lay nearer his heart than Christ. Matthew 19:22. "This gold with its glitter blinds the eyes." The covetous man is called an idolater. Ephesians 5:5. Why so? Because he loves his estate more than God, and so makes it his god. Though he does not bow down to an idol, if he worships the engraved image in his coins, he is an idolater.
That which has most of the heart, we make a god of.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Man makes a god of the dust of the earth!
"You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3
What is it to have other gods besides the true God? I fear upon search, we have more idolaters among us than we are aware of.
If we trust in our RICHES, we make riches our God. We may take comfort in riches—but not put confidence in them. It is a foolish thing to trust in them. They are deceitful riches, and it is foolish to trust to that which will deceive us. They have no solid consistency, they are like golden dreams, which leave the soul empty when it awakens, or comes to itself.
They are not what they promise! They promise to satisfy our desires—and they increase them! They promise to stay with us—and they take wings.
They are hurtful. "I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner." Ecclesiastes 5:13. It is foolish to trust to that which will hurt oneself. Who would take hold of
the edge of a razor?
Riches are often fuel for pride and lust. Ezekiel 28:5; Jeremiah 5:7.
It is folly to trust in our riches; but how many do, and make money their god! God made man of the dust of the earth, and man makes a god of the dust of the earth! Money is his creator, redeemer, comforter. Money is his creator, for if he has money—he thinks he is made. Money is his redeemer, for if he is in danger, he trusts to his money to redeem him. Money is his comforter, for if he is sad, money is the golden harp to drive away the evil spirit. Thus by trusting to money, we make it a god.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He deifies himself!
"You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3
What is it to have other gods besides the true God? I fear upon search, we have more idolaters among us than we are aware of.
If we trust in our WISDOM, we make it a god. "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom." Jeremiah 9:23. Boasting is the height of confidence. Many a man makes an idol of his wit and abilities—he deifies himself! But how often does God take the wise in their own craftiness!
"He catches those who think they are wise in their own cleverness, so that their cunning schemes are thwarted." Job 5:13
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Our lives should be walking Bibles!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A thousand prayers and praises
"Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22
A thousand prayers and praises do not honor God so much—as the mortifying of one lust!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
God must have the cream!
"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5
The nature of love consists in delighting in an object. Love to God, is a holy fire kindled in the affections, whereby a Christian is carried out strongly after God as the supreme good.
The summary of our duty to God, is love. Love is the soul of religion, and that which constitutes a genuine Christian. Love is the queen of graces; it shines and sparkles in God’s eye!
Scripture knowledge always precedes love. The Spirit shines upon the understanding, and reveals the beauties of wisdom, holiness, and mercy in God. These are the magnet to entice and draw out love to God. Those who do no know God, cannot love Him.
If it is a sincere love, we love God "with all our heart." God will have the whole heart. We must not divide our love between Him, and sin. The true mother would not have the child divided, nor will God have the heart divided; it must be the whole heart.
We must love God for Himself, for His own intrinsic excellencies. We must love Him for His loveliness. "It is a harlot’s love to love the portion, more than the person." Hypocrites love God because He gives them corn and wine. The sincere Christian loves God for Himself; for those shining perfections which are in Him.
We must love God "with all our strength", in the Hebrew text, "with all our vehemency." We must love God—as much as we are able. Christians should be like seraphim, burning in holy love. We can never love God as much as He deserves. Even the angels in heaven cannot love God as much as He deserves.
Love to God must be active in its sphere. Love is an industrious affection! It sets—the head studying for God, the hands working, the feet running in the ways of His commandments. It is called "the labor of love." 1 Thessalonians 1:3. Mary Magdalene loved Christ—and poured her ointments on Him. We think we never do enough, for the person whom we love.
Love to God must be superlative. God is the essence of beauty—a whole paradise of delight. He must have a priority in our love. Our love to God must be above all other things—as the oil swims above the water. We must love God above estate and relations. We may give the creature the milk of our love—but God must have the cream! The spouse keeps the juice of her pomegranates, for Christ. Song of Solomon 8:2.
Our love to God must be constant. Love must be like the motion of the pulse, which beats as long as there is life. "Many waters cannot quench love." Song of Solomon 8:7.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Satan’s masterpiece, his dragnet
Why is it, that men do not obey God?
The not obeying God, is for lack of faith. "Who has believed our report?" Isaiah 53:1 : Did men believe—that sin were so bitter, and that hell followed at its heels—would they go on in sin? Did they believe there was such a reward for the righteous, and that godliness was great gain—would they not pursue it? But they are atheists, and do not fully believe these things; hence it is that they do not obey God.
Satan’s masterpiece, his dragnet by which he drags millions to hell, is to keep them in unbelief! He knows, if he can but keep them from believing the truth—he is sure to keep them from obeying it.
The not obeying God, is also for lack of self-denial. God commands one thing, and men’s lusts command another; and they will rather die, than deny their lusts. If lust cannot be denied—God cannot be obeyed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As the bee sucks sweetness from the flower—so faith sucks all its strength and comfort from Christ.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The golden key which opens heaven!
Prayer is the golden key which opens heaven!
The tree of promise will not drop its fruit, unless shaken by the hand of prayer.
All the benefits of Christ’s redemption, are handed over to us by prayer.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If they had it in their power
To malign holiness is diabolical. It is a sin to lack grace, it is worse to hate it! Some have an antipathy against God because of His purity. "Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!" Isaiah 30:11. Sinners, if it lay in their power, would not only unthrone God—but annihilate Him! If they had it in their power—God would no longer be God. Thus sin is boiled up to a great height.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The frozen snake
Those sins are of greater magnitude, which are mixed with ingratitude. Of all things—God cannot endure to have His kindness slighted. His mercy is seen in reprieving men so long, in wooing them by His Spirit and ministers to be reconciled, in crowning them with so many temporal blessings. And to abuse all this love—when God has been filling up the measure of his mercy, for men to fill up the measure of their sins—is high ingratitude, and makes their sins of a deeper crimson!
Some are worse for God’s mercy. "The vulture," says Aelian, "draws sickness—from perfumes." So the sinner contracts evil—from the sweet perfumes of God’s mercy. Mr. Parry, being condemned to die, Queen Elizabeth sent him her pardon. And after he was pardoned—he conspired and plotted the queen’s death! Just so, some deal with God—He bestows mercy, and
they plot treason against Him. "I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me." Isaiah 1:2. In the fable, the frozen snake, after being warmed, stung him who gave it warmth! Certainly, sins against God’s mercy, are more heinous.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ An idle person
An idle person tempts the devil to tempt him! The devil hires such as stand idle, and puts them
to his work.
"Escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:26
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ When He does not punish!
"Happy is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty." Job 5:17
The godly have some good in them—therefore the devil afflicts them; and some evil in them
—therefore God afflicts them.
The holiness of the saints will not excuse them from sufferings. Christ was the holy one of God
—yet He was in the iron furnace. His spouse is "a lily among thorns." Song of Solomon 2:2
Affliction is not always the sign of God’s anger. We are apt to judge and censure those who are
in an afflicted state. When the barbarians saw the viper on Paul’s hand, they said, "No doubt this man is a murderer!" Acts 28:4. So, when we see the viper of affliction fasten upon the godly, we are apt to censure them, as greater sinners than others. But this rash censuring is for lack of wisdom.
God’s afflicting is so far from evidencing His hatred, that His not afflicting is an evidence of His hatred. "I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom." Hosea 4:14. God punishes most—when He does not punish! His hand is heaviest—when it seems to be lightest. The judge will not burn him in the hand—whom he intends to execute at the stake!
"Ephraim is attached to idols; leave him alone!" Hosea 4:17
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
God sanctifies all our afflictions
God sanctifies all our afflictions. They shall not be destructive punishments—but medicines!
They shall corrode and eat out the venom of sin; they shall polish and refine our grace. The more the diamond is cut—the more it sparkles.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Your Husband
"Your Maker is your Husband." Isaiah 54:5
God is our husband. He esteems us as precious to Him, as the apple of His eye! Zechariah 2:8. He imparts His secrets to us! (Psalms 25:14) He bestows a kingdom upon us for our dowry! (Luke 12:3)
God calls His people, the "dearly beloved of my soul." (Jeremiah 12:7) He rejoices over them with joy. (Zephaniah 3:17) They are His refined silver (Zechariah 13:9); His jewels (Malachi 3:17); His royal diadem (Isaiah 62:3). He gives them the cream and flower of His love. He not only opens His hand and fills them—but opens His heart and fills them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He would only have this flower
It is nothing but your love, which God desires.
The Lord might have demanded your children to be offered in sacrifice; He might have bid you cut and lance yourselves, or lie in hell awhile! But He only desires your love—He would only have this flower.
Is it a hard request, to love God? Was ever any debt easier paid, than this? Is it any labor for the wife to love her husband? Love is delightful.
What is there in our love—that God should desire it? Why would a king desire the love of a woman who is in debt and diseased? God does not need our love. There are angels enough in heaven to adore and love Him. What is God the better for our love? It adds not the least cubit to His essential blessedness. He does not need our love, and yet He seeks it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ My own special treasure!
Obedience is the beauty of a Christian. Obedience makes us precious to God—His favorites. "Now if you will obey Me and keep my covenant—you will be My own special treasure!"
Exodus 19:5. You shall be My portion, My jewels, the apple of My eye. "You are honored, and I love you." Isaiah 43:4.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It mellows and ripens them
Our obedience to God must be free and cheerful—or it is penance, not sacrifice. "If you are willing and obedient." Isaiah 1:19. Though we serve God with weakness, it must be with willingness.
Hypocrites obey God grudgingly, and against their will; they do good, but not willingly. Cain brought his sacrifice—but not his heart. It is a true rule—whatever the heart does not do, is not done.
Willingness is the soul of obedience. God sometimes accepts of willingness without the work—but never of the work without willingness. Cheerfulness shows that there is love in the duty. And love is to our services, what the sun is to fruit—it mellows and ripens them, and makes them come off with a better relish.