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  LETTERS: THE MISSES CHURCH, GLASGOW (1)
  by Andrew Bonar
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Summary: Andrew Bonar's sermon encourages believers to embrace grace,
mercy, and peace through reverent engagement with Scripture and
prayerful connections with one another.

Topics: "The Importance of Scripture", "Grace and Peace"
Scripture References: Psalm 1:3, Isaiah 41:10, John 14:27, John 15:15, Acts 27:23, Romans 15:13, Galatians 6:6, Philippians 4:7, 2 Timothy 4:17, 1 Peter 5:10

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DESCRIPTION
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Andrew Bonar addresses the sisters of the Misses Church in Glasgow,
expressing his heartfelt wishes for grace, mercy, and peace to be with
them, emphasizing the certainty of these blessings. He encourages them
to engage deeply with the Word of God, likening its reverence to that of
the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies. Bonar reflects on the
strength Paul received from the Lord during his trials, drawing
parallels to the support Christ provides to His followers. He invites
the sisters to share their learnings from Bournemouth, highlighting the
importance of communication and prayer among friends. Bonar concludes
with a reminder of the love Christ has for His followers, akin to His
affection for the sisters at Bethany.

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CONTENT
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GLASGOW, 16th Jan. 1884. MY DEAR SISTERS, --An old minister, whom you
have had some knowledge of, wrote to his friend a salutation that I
offer to you-- 'Grace, mercy, and peace shall be with you.' He did not
say, 'May grace, mercy, and peace be with you,' but he said, 'Grace
shall be with you (see margin), mercy and peace.' He was sure of it; for
he knew that the trees whose roots are in the waters cannot but be kept
fresh and green. Have you been finding much of late in the 'Law of the
Lord' ?

You know that the Word is called 'the Oracles of God,' and this is just
the description of the utterances of God from the Holy of Holies. Read
your Bibles, then, with the same reverence as filled the soul of the
High Priest when he went into the very presence of the Holy One of
Israel. You were studying the interviews of Paul with his Master, and
you made out six, taking in the angel's visit to him as representing
Christ. I made out a seventh visit--at the time of his trial and
approach of his end, from 2 Tim. 4:17: 'The Lord stood by me and
strengthened me.'

Now, as the angel (Acts 27: 23) really stood by Paul in his cabin, so
was not this a real standing-by in personal presence? The Lord Jesus
came into his prison-cell, and just as the other angel in Gethsemane
'strengthened' the Master, probably by a message from the Father, so did
Christ do to His servant there. Are you learning some peculiar lessons
at Bournemouth? Tell me some of them, for 'to communicate to him that
teacheth' is a duty of every hearer (Gal. 6:6). It often seems strange
never to see your faces--nor hear your voices--never to be calling at
your well-known house!

Sometimes pray for us, and that will be equivalent to a kind call from
you, for speaking to the Lord about friends is as kind an act as
speaking directly to friends. --Believe me, ever yours truly in Him who
loved the sisters at Bethany, ANDREW A. BONAR.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/andrew-bonar/letters-the-misses-church-glasgow-1/
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