A Goodly Heritage

 "How much  more?"  Never let us suppose that God is unwilling to hear. There is no exhausting that infinite fullness treasured up in Him. It is one of Philip Henry's quaint sayings, "When Abraham interceded for Sodom, God granted as long as he asked; Abraham left off first." God is able to do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine." 'It is said,' observes the saintly Rutherford, '"He answered not a word." But it is not said, "He  heard  not a word." These two differ much. Christ often  hears , when He does not  answer . His  not answering  is an answer, and speaks thus, "Pray on, go on, and cry; for the Lord holds His door fast bolted, not to keep you out, but that you may knock and knock."' Can we doubt either His willingness or ability to hear, when we think of Him who is our Advocate with the Father?—the Angel Intercessor with His censer "full of much incense," sprinkling therewith

"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint!" Isaiah 40:31 The source of strength in any life—must be God. It is only when we are co-workers with him—that we are unconquerable. If we would be strong, therefore, able to resist sin, able to do valiant battle for the truth, able to touch other lives with healing, uplifting influences—we must  abide in Christ . Then  his strength  shall be in our heart and in our arm. It is told of General Gordon, that each morning, during his journey in the Sudan country, for half an hour there lay outside his  tent a white handkerchief . The whole camp knew well what it meant, and looked upon the little signal with the utmost respect; no foot dared cross the threshold of that tent while the little guard lay there. No message, however pressing, was to be delivered. Matters of life and death must wait until the  white signal  w

( J. R. Miller , "Home-Making" 1882) Four walls do not make a home —though it is a palace filled with all the elegances which wealth can buy! The  home-life  itself is more important than the  house  and its adornments. By the  home-life , is meant the happy art of living together in tender love. We enter some homes, and they are full of  sweetness —as fields of summer flowers are full of fragrance. All is order, beauty, gentleness and peace. We enter other homes, where we find jarring, selfishness, harshness and disorder. This difference is not accidental. They are influences at work in each home, which yield just the result we see in each. No home-life can ever be better than the life of those who make it. Homes are the real schools in which men and women are trained—and fathers and mothers are  the real teachers and builders of life!  Sadly, the  goal  which most parents have for their home—is to have as good and showy a house as they can afford, furnished in as rich

by Archibald Alexander   "One thing you lack." Mark 10:21 The history of this young man is given by three of the evangelists, Matthew 19, Mark 10, Luke 18, in nearly the same words. It is therefore doubtless worthy of our marked attention. This youth possessed many things, and yet was deficient in one. He was  rich . He was possessed of power , for Luke calls him "a ruler." He was remarkable for his  morality . Few young men in our day could compare with him in this respect. When our Savior, to try him, mentioned several of the commandments of the second table, in which our duty to our fellow-men is enjoined, this young man was able to say, "All these have I kept from my youth up." And our Lord did not deny the truth of his assertion; yes, he admitted it, for Mark says, "Then Jesus beholding him, loved him." He was pleased with the purity and blamelessness of his external conduct. Yet this youth had no proper knowledge of the state of h

“Is it indeed for the saints’ advantage, to be weaned from love of and delight in ensnaring earthly vanities; to be quickened and urged forward with more haste to heaven; to have clearer discoveries of their own hearts; to be taught to pray more fervently, frequently, spiritually; to look and long for the rest to come, more ardently? If these be for their advantage, experience teaches us that no condition is ordinarily blessed with such fruits as these, like an afflicted condition. Is it well then to repine and droop because your Father consults the advantage of your soul rather than the gratification of your humours? Because he will bring you to heaven by a nearer way than you are willing to go? Is this a due requital of his love, who is pleased so much to concern himself in your welfare? Who does more for you than he will do for thousands in the world upon whom he will not lay a rod or dispense an affliction to them for their good? (Hosea 4:17). But alas! We judge by sense and re

That Christ should come from the eternal bosom of his Father, to a region of sorrow and death, John i. 18; that God should be manifested in the flesh, the Creator made a creature, Isa. liii. 4; that he that was clothed with glory, should be wrapped with rags of flesh, 1 Tim. iii. 16; that he that filled heaven, should be cradled in a manger, John xvii. 5; that the God of Israel should fly into Egypt, Mat. ii. 14; that the God of strength should be weary; that the judge of all flesh should be condemned; that the God of life should be put to death, John xix. 41; that he that is one with his Father, should cry out of misery, 'O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me!' Mat. xxvi. 39: that he that had the keys of hell and death, Rev. i. 18, should lie imprisoned in the sepulchre of another, having, in his lifetime, nowhere to lay his head; nor after death, to lay his body, John xix. 41, 42; and all this for man, for fallen man, for miserable man, for worthless ma

Union with God is the basis of communion with him; for how can those walk or talk together who are not agreed? O then be joined to the Lord, and become one spirit! But, my soul, mistake not communion, for it lies not in a flaming profession, nor in the performance of Christian duties, as reading, hearing, praying, praising, though enjoyed in these; nor in the greatest abilities, and brightest talents; nor in lofty expressions in prayer; nor in the knowledge of divine things. What is it then? It is just a  dwelling in and with God, and God dwelling in and with the soul . It is God's love going out on the soul, and the soul in love going out on God. God dwells in the duty with supplies of grace, in the meditation as its subject, and in the heart as a portion and chief good. And the soul dwells in God as her ultimate end, dilates in his fullness, delights in his bliss. The soul that is blessed with such a communion, favored with such a fellowship, knows no other object for her lo

"In whom also after you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."  Ephesians 1:13 Sealing is  subsequent  to believing--"In whom  after  you believed, you were sealed." In legal documents the writing always precedes the sealing.  That  is the last act, and follows even the signing, putting an attesting stamp on the whole document, from the first word to the last signature. So in grace. The Spirit begins the work. He writes the first lines of divine truth on the soul; he makes the first impression on the heart of stone, which under his operation becomes a heart of flesh; he writes every truth that he thus makes known on the fleshy tables of the heart. He thus gives faith and hope, and then he comes with his special inward witness, and seals the truth and reality of his own work, so as not only to make it plain and clear, but to ratify and confirm it beyond all doubt and fear, questioning or dispute, either by our self or others. The work of

"Therefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."  Hebrews 2:17 God gave the persons of the elect into the hands of his dear Son, as Jacob committed Benjamin into the hands of Judah; and as Judah accepted Benjamin, so Christ accepted the Church and undertook to bring it unto God, or he himself would bear the blame forever. But how this faithfulness was tried! Men tried it; devils tried it; God tried it; but it came gloriously through all. Yet what loads were laid upon it! How the very knees of Jesus, so to speak, staggered beneath it! How, as Deer says, he had– "Strength enough, and none to spare!" How he had to sustain the curse of the law and the load of imputed sin! How he had to drink up a very hell of inward torment! How he had to be agonized in body, and more than agonized in soul! What bloody sw

For another thing, read the Bible with an earnest desire to  understand  it.  Do not think for a moment, that the great object is to  turn over a certain quantity of printed paper , and that it matters nothing whether you understand it or not. Some ignorant people seem to imagine, that all is done if they  advance so many chapters every day , though they may not have a notion what they are all about, and only know that they have pushed on their bookmark ahead so many pages. This is turning Bible reading into a  mere ritual form . It is almost as bad as the  Popish  habit of 'buying indulgences' — by saying an astounding number of 'Ave-Marias' and 'Pater-nosters' ( Hail-Mary's  and  Our-Father's  — on their 'rosary beads'.) It reminds one of the poor Hottentot who ate up a Dutch hymn-book because he saw it comforted his neighbours' hearts! Settle it down in your mind as a general principle, that a Bible not understood — is a Bible that does

1 Wherefore is it that thou, O Lord, dost stand from us afar? And wherefore hidest thou thyself, when times so troublous are? 2 The wicked in his loftiness doth persecute the poor: In these devices they have framed let them be taken sure. 17 O Lord, of those that humble are thou the desire didst hear; Thou wilt prepare their heart, and thou to hear wilt bend thine ear; 18 To judge the fatherless, and those that are oppressed sore; That man, that is but sprung of earth, may them oppress no more.

  During the height of his fame as a Highland evangelist,  Lachlan MacKenzie  was asked to visit Aberdeen, and to preach in the Old Parish Church. At the evening service the church was filled to its utmost capacity, and there was eager anticipation on the part of the worshipers. When Mr. MacKenzie ascended the pulpit, a giggle went through the congregation when they beheld a man wearing a rough homespun suit, with long shaggy hair (so unlike the usual clergy of that time). But the moment he gave out his opening Psalm, a solemn stillness seemed to pervade the audience, and his opening prayer solemnized the people. The "reading" was the third chapter of Revelation, and he chose as his text the 20th verse, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with me." Standing erect in the pulpit, Mr. MacKenzie commenced his sermon thus:   ONCE UPON A TIME,  there lived in our Hi

 Remember that the judgment of ungodly men, is corrupted and directed by the devil and to be overruled by their censures, or too much to fear them, is to be overruled by the devil, and to be afraid of his censures of. us. And will you honour him so much? Alas! it is he that puts those thoughts into the minds of the ungodly, and those reproachful words into their mouths. To prefer the judgment of a man before God's, is odious enough, though you did not prefer the devil's judgment.  .  Consider what a slavery you choose, when you thus make yourselves the servants of every man, whose censures you fear, and whose approbation you are ambitious of. I Cor. vii. 23, "Ye are bought with a price. Be not ye the servants of men:" that is, do not needlessly enthral yourselves. What a task have men-pleasers! they have as many masters as beholders! No wonder if it take them off from the service of God; for the "friendship of the world is enmity to God;" and he that wi

"This is the resting place, let the weary rest; and this is the place of repose"— "The Lord needs them."—Matthew 21:3 Greatly would an Israelite, in the "Desert of the Wandering," have been startled and saddened, if, as he sat reclining under the shadow of one of these Elim palms, he had seen an axe suddenly placed at its root; and that which hour after hour had been gladdening him with its screening boughs, laid prostrate with the ground. Similar, often, is it in the case of the bereaved; when loved ones, under whose shadow they have rested, have suddenly succumbed to the stroke of the Great Destroyer! In a moment, the joy and zest of life seems gone. Today, it was the gentle rustling of the green leaf overhead. Tomorrow, the place that once knew it knows it no more. "The shadow from the heat" is exchanged for the pitiless rays of the scorching sun and a dreary outlook of drifting sands. "How is the staff broken, and the beautiful

True religion not only enlightens the understanding, but rectifies the affections of the heart. All genuine feelings of piety are the effects of divine truth. The variety and intensity of these feelings depend on the different kinds of truth, and the various aspects in which the same truth is viewed; and also, on the distinctness and clearness with which it is presented to the mind. In a state of moral perfection, truth would uniformly produce all those emotions and affections which correspond with its nature, without the aid of any superadded influence. That these effects are not experienced by all who have the opportunity of knowing the truth, is a strong evidence of human depravity. In a state of moral depravity, the mind is incapable alike of perceiving and feeling the beauty and excellence of divine truth. The dead neither see nor feel, and man is by nature "dead in trespasses and sins." Hence, the necessity of the agency of the Holy Spirit to illuminate and regenerate

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  Romans 3:23 What is it to "come short of the glory of God?" It is to act without a view to his glory. Now everything that we have ever done, which has not been done with a single eye to God's glory, has the brand of sin stamped on it. But who in an unregenerate state, who, as the fallen son of a fallen parent, ever had an eye to the glory of God? Did such a thing ever enter into man's natural heart as to speak to God's glory, act to his glory, consult his glory, and live to his glory? Before ever such a thought, such a desire can cross our breast, we must have seen Him who is invisible; we must have had a view by faith of the glory of the Three-One God; we must have had a single eye given us by the Holy Spirit to see that glory outshining all creature good. Every movement, then, of the selfish heart, every desire to gratify, please and exalt self, is a coming short of the glory of God. Th

Why might not God have left you--to the same excess of wickedness? Think with yourself, O Christian--why should God be more merciful to  you , than to another? Why should He snatch  you , as brand plucked out of the fire--and not him? How should this make you to adore free grace! What the Pharisee said  boastingly , we may say  thankfully-- "God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers, etc." If we are not as wicked as others --we should adore the riches of free-grace! Every time we see men hastening on in sin--we are to thank God that we are not such! If we see a crazy person--we thank God that it is not so with us. When we see another infected with the  plague--how  thankful  are we, that God has preserved us  from it! Much more when we see others under the power of Satan--how thankful we should be, that this is no longer our condition! "For we too were  once  foolish, disobedient, deceived,  captives of various passions and pleasures,

"It is not the glorious battlements, the painted windows, the crouching gargoyles that support a building, but the stones that lie unseen in or upon the earth. It is often those who are despised and trampled on that bear up the weight of a whole nation." JOHN OWEN

 The innumerable defections and backslidings  of our day are a great burden to the Lord's people, and make their hearts to groan within them. The charge which the Lord advances against the church of Ephesus, may too justly be laid to our door, that we have fallen from our first love. There is but little love to God or his people, little zeal for his way and work, to be found among us; the power of godliness, and life of religion, are dwindled away into an empty form with most. I might here take occasion to tell you of many public defections and backslidings that we stand guilty of before the Lord; particularly, of the breach of our solemn national engagements. It was once the glory of our land to be "married unto the Lord," by solemn covenant, in a national capacity; but, to our eternal infamy and reproach, it has been both broken and burnt by public authority in this very city. Perhaps, indeed, some may ridicule me for making mention of the breach of our solemn enga

"For I have given you an  example  that you also should  do just as I have done for you." (John 13:15) It has long been my conviction, that there is a great deficiency in evangelical churches—of the practical enforcement of Christian duties in detail; especially of what may be emphatically called the Christian virtues —the passive graces of the Christian character, the exercise of brotherly kindness and love. It is not so acceptable to have all the special and difficult duties of the Christian's life, or man's conduct to his fellows, set clearly before the understanding and enforced upon the conscience. Men do not like to be followed through all the labyrinths of the heart's deceitfulness, beaten out of every refuge of lies, and made to feel the obligation to love where they are inclined to hate; and to forgive where they desire to revenge. And we ministers pander too much to this taste. The pulpit has not done its duty. We have preached to the intellect, to the

"Then I said, I am cast out of your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple." –Jonah 2:4 When poor Jonah spoke these words he uttered them in the very bitterness of his heart; he felt that he was cast out of God's gracious presence. But he must have known something experimentally of the sweetness of God's manifested presence; he must have tasted that heaven was in it, and that all his happiness centered there. He must have enjoyed this in order to know if God's presence were not felt in the soul, there was but one barren scene of gloom and death; and that to be "cast out of his sight" was the commencement of hell upon earth. Now here a living soul differs from all others, whether dead in sin, or dead in a profession. The persuasion that in God alone is true happiness; the feeling of misery and dissatisfaction with everything else but the Lord, and everything short of his manifested presence, is that which stamps the reality of the lif

"How miserable it would make me now," says a philosophic writer and thinker once borne along the current of skepticism, "to give up the Bible! How I cling to its assurances of pardon and free acceptance, and undeserved love and favor, as my chief and only hope!" Go, gather all the philosophers of antiquity—Plato, Socrates, Aristotle. Bring together the wise men of Greece, the philosophers of Alexandria, the sages of Rome. Ask if their combined and collected wisdom ever solved the doubts of one awakened soul, as have done these leaves of this hallowed Book! Which of them ever dried the tear of widowhood as these? Which of them ever smoothed the pillow of the fatherless as these? Which of them ever lit the torch of hope and peace at the dying bed as these, and flashed upon the departing soul visions of unearthly joy? O Pagan darkness! where was your song in the night? In the region and shadow of death where did your light arise? But "we have a more sure wo

The richest blessing that prayer can bring--is to bring us into closer communion and agreement with the all-holy and the all-loving God. The very first essential to all right prayer--is unconditional submissiveness to God's will. "Find your  happiness  in God--and He will give you the  askings  of your heart." This is the exact rendering of Psalm 37:4, and it throws a flood of light upon the important question of--what is  right  prayer--and what is  wrong  prayer. A great deal of prayer is born of  selfishness , and takes on the airs of  dictating  to our Heavenly Father. It is not  humble supplication , born of a devout, submissive spirit; but it amounts to a  demand . God's  promises  to His children are not  unconditional ; and we may not presume to  dictate  to the God of wisdom and of love. What is laid down distinctly, as the indispensable quality of  right asking  in the above quoted verse? It is a  right   feeling  towards God. When a soul comes into such a

6:2, 3. "My Beloved has gone down into His garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine--He feeds among the lilies." Faithful lips are not slow to give instruction. It is delight to direct others to the heavenly path. The counsel is ready, that Christ will be found in the company of His devoted followers. It has already been shown that believers are His garden. Here He has planted His precious seeds, and here He seeks His refreshing fruits. Hence enquirers are exhorted to come forth from the barren wilderness, in which thorns and briers only grow; and leave the company of worldlings, whose principles and ways are enmity to God--to break from such entangling chains--to cast away these bewitching goblets--to renounce all polluted fellowships. In this desert Christ dwells not. They who would find Him must hasten to His garden--they must join the happy flock who walk in the narrow way--they must

"A wise man fears the Lord, and departs from evil--but the fool rages, and is confident."--Proverbs 14:16 I believe no true Christian can be satisfied with a notional religion--though a miserable backslider, and driven into the fields to feed swine, he cannot feed on their husks, but sighs after the bread of his Father's house. The eyes being enlightened to see the nature of sin, the justice and holiness of God, and the miserable filthiness of self, the quickened soul can find no rest in anything short of a precious discovery of the Lamb of God; and the more that the soul is exercised with trials, difficulties, temptations, doubts, and besetments of various kinds, the more does it feel its need of that blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. What is a Christian worth without inward trials and afflictions? How dead and lifeless are our prayers; how cold and formal when the soul is not kept alive by inward exercises! Where are the sighs, crie

"Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." –Psalm 81:10 When the Lord favours your soul with sweet access at a throne of grace, make the most of it. What would we think of the master of a vessel coming up the river, if, when the wind was favourable and the tide served, he would not heave her anchor, or hoisted but her fore-sail to the breeze, and would not take full advantage of wind and tide? Now it is so sometimes with our souls; a gale blows, a gale of grace on the soul, and the tide of faith rises. Is it not our wisdom, and is it not our mercy, at such a rare season, to make the most of it? If the Lord condescends to give us an ear, is it not our mercy to tell him all that our souls desire? Do you recollect what the prophet said to the king who only struck his arrows three times on the ground, and then stopped? "But the man of God was angry with him. 'You should have struck the ground five or six times!' he exclaimed. 'Then you would have beaten A

"Behold, I come."  Psalm 40:7 What a longing had old testament saints for the Lord Jesus' coming! And what an earnest wish and prayer it is among new testament believers, for Jesus' coming by the visits of his grace, and the sweet influences of his Holy Spirit, from day to day! My soul, how I desire to realize by faith this day, even this very day, these words of your Redeemer, as if he were now standing at the door of your heart, and asking for admission. And shall I not say, under this sweet impression, "Come in, you blessed of the Lord, why do you stand outside?" Oh blessed Jesus, when I consider the many precious instances of your coming, set up from everlasting in your goings forth for the salvation of your chosen, your anticipation, in your visits before the season of your sojourning in our flesh; your visits to the patriarchs and prophets; your manifestation openly to the people; your secret, sweet, and inexpressibly gracious visits now, and yo