A Goodly Heritage

The third season calling for more than ordinary diligence to keep the heart is the time of Zion’s troubles. When the Church, like the ship in which Christ and his disciples were, is oppressed and ready to perish in the waves of persecution, then good souls are ready to be shipwrecked too, upon the billows of their own fears. It is true, most men need the spur rather than the reins in this case; yet some men sit down discouraged under a sense of the Church’s troubles. The loss of the ark cost Eli his life; the sad posture in which Jerusalem lay made good Nehemiah’s countenance change in the midst of all the pleasures and accommodations of the court. But though God allows, yea, commands the most awakened apprehensions of these calamities, and in “such a day calls to mourning, weeping, and girding with sackcloth,” and severely threatens the insensible; yet it will not please him to see you sit like pensive Elijah under the juniper tree. “Ah, Lord God! it is enough, take away my life also...

To point out those special seasons in the life of a Christian which require our utmost diligence in keeping the heart. Though (as was observed before) the duty is always binding, and there is no time or condition of life in which we may be excused from this work; yet there are some signal seasons, critical hours, requiring more than common vigilance over the heart. 1. The first season is the time of prosperity, when Providence smiles upon us. Now, Christian, keep thy heart with all diligence; for it will be very apt to grow secure, proud and earthly. “To see a man humble in prosperity,”(says Bernard,) “is one of the greatest rarties in the world.” Even a good Hezekiah could not hide a vain-glorious temper in his temptation; hence that caution to Israel: “And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he aware to thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities which thou bulkiest not, and houses full of all goo...

Necessity is not only laid upon them to preach, but to keep close to their commission in preaching the gospel, 1 Thess. 2: 3, 4, "Our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile, but as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who trieth our hearts:" the word is not to be corrupted to please men, 2 Cor. 2: 17. their business is not to make them their disciples, but Christ's; not to seek theirs, but them, 2 Cor. 12: 14. to keep close to their instructions, both in the matter, manner, and end of their ministry. So did Christ himself, the treasure of wisdom and knowledge; yet, being sent by God, he saith, John 7: 16. "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." And so he expects and requires that his ambassadors keep close to the commissions he has given them, and be (according to their measure) faithful to their trust, as he was to his. Paul is to deliver to the people, that ...

It is Christ who is altogether lovely. Nothing is lovely in opposition to him , or in separation from him . If he truly is altogether lovely, then whatsoever is opposite to him , or separate from him can have no loveliness in it . Take away Christ , and where is the loveliness of any enjoyment? The best creature comfort apart from Christ is a broken cistern. It cannot hold one drop of true comfort , Psalm 73;26. It is with the creature ---the sweetest and loveliest creature---as with a beautiful image in the mirror ; turn away the face and where is the image?Riches honours , and comfortable relations are sweet when the face of Christ smiles upon us through them ; but without him , what empty trifles are they all?

God has so framed and ordered the new covenant, that none of those that are within the blessed bond of it can possibly be lost . It is settled upon immutable things ; and we know that all things are as their foundations are (HEB 6 :18,19.) Among the many glorious promises contained in the word , this is one "I will make an everlasting covenant with them , that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts , that they shall not depart from me ."(Jer. 32:40.)And as the fear of God in our hearts pleads against sin , so our potent Intercessor in the heavens pleads for us with the father ; and hence we will not finally miscarry. (Rom. 8. 34, 35.) On these grounds we may triumph in the full security which God has given us, and say " Who shall separate us from the love of God?" Understanding it either of God's love to us , or of our love to him , it is true in both senses , and a most comfortable truth it is.

There is no doctrine more excellent in itself , or more necessary to be preached or studied, than the doctrine of Jesus Christ and him crucified. All other knowledge , how much it may be magnified in the world , is and ought to be esteemed as dross , in comparison of the excellency of   the knowledge of  Christ ; " In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ." Eudoxus was so affected with the glory of the sun , that he thought he was born only to behold it  ; much more should a Christian judge himself  born only to behold , and delight in , the glory of the Lord Jesus.