A Goodly Heritage

The MEMBERS. These members which before were the instruments of sin—are now become the holy utensils of Christ's living temple. He who before dishonored his body, now possesses his vessel in sanctification and honor, in temperance, chastity, and sobriety, and dedicates it to the Lord. The  EYE , which was once a wandering eye, a wanton eye, a haughty, a covetous eye—is now employed, as Mary's, in weeping over its sins, in beholding God in His works, in reading His Word, or in looking for objects of mercy and opportunities for His service. The  EAR , which was once open to Satan's call, and which did relish nothing so much as filthy, or at least frothy talk, and the laughter of fools—is now bored to the door of Christ's house, and open to His disciples. It says, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.' [1 Sam 3:10] It waits for His words as the rain, and relishes them more than the appointed food (Job 23:12), more than the honey and the honeycomb (Psalm 19:...

THE VOICE OF THE HERALD, BEFORE THE GREAT KING. O ALL you inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, come; see and hear; gather yourselves together unto the proclamation of the Great King. Hear, you that are far off, and you that are near! He that has an ear to hear, let him hear. I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord. Let every valley be exalted, and every mountain be made low, for the glory of the Lord is to be revealed.” Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way: cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones, lift up the standard for the people; for the Lord proclaims salvation to the ends of the earth. Tidings! tidings, O you captives! Hear, all you that look for salvation in Israel; behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people. Blessed news! Prepare your ears and hearts! The Lord has commanded me, saying, 2 “Go unto the people, and sanctify them; let them wash and be ready; for the Lor...

THE VOICE OF THE REDEEMED Amen, hallelujah! Be it to Your servants according to Your Word. But who are we, and what is our Father's house that You have brought us here? And now, O Lord God, what shall Your servants say unto You? For we are silenced with wonder and must sit down in astonishment; for we cannot utter the least note of Your praises. What does the height of this surpassing love mean? And why is this   unto us , that the Lord of heaven and earth should condescend to enter into covenant with His dust, and take into His bosom   the viperous brood , that has so often spit their venom in His face? We are not worthy to be as the handmaids, to wash the feet of the servants of our Lord. How much less worthy are we to be Your   sons and heirs , and to be made partakers of all those blessed liberties and privileges which You have settled upon us? But, for Your goodness' sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things. Even so, Father, b...

The SUBJECT of conversion is the elect sinner—and that in all his parts and powers, members and mind.  Whom God predestinates, them only He calls (Rom 8:30). None are drawn to Christ by their calling, nor come to Him by believing—but His sheep, those whom the Father has given Him (John 6:37,44). Effectual calling runs parallel with eternal election (2 Pet 1:10). You begin at the wrong end if you first dispute about your election. Prove your conversion, and then never doubt your election. If you cannot yet prove it, set upon a present and thorough turning. Whatever God's purposes be, which are secret, I am sure His promises are plain. How desperately do rebels argue! 'If I am elected I shall be saved, do what I will. If not, I shall be damned, do what I can.' Perverse sinner, will you begin where you should end? Is not the word before you? What says it? 'Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.' 'If you mortify the deeds of the body you sha...

I dare not leave you with your eyes half open, like him who saw 'men as trees walking' [Mark 8:24]. The Word is profitable for doctrine as well as reproof. And therefore, having thus far conducted you by the shelves and rocks of so many dangerous mistakes, I would guide you at length into the haven of truth. Conversion then, in short, lies in the thorough change both of the heart and life. I shall briefly describe it in its nature and causes. 1. The AUTHOR of conversion is the Spirit of God , and therefore it is called 'the sanctification of the Spirit' (2 Thess 2:13) and 'the renewing of the Holy Spirit' (Titus 3:5). This does not exclude the other persons in the Trinity, for the apostle teaches us to bless the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who 'has begotten us again unto a living hope' (1 Pet 1:3). And Christ is said to 'give repentance unto Israel' (Acts 5:31); and is called the 'everlasting Father' (Isa 9:6) and we His seed, ...

Before conversion, man seeks to cover himself with his own fig-leaves, and to make himself acceptable with God, by his own duties. He is apt to trust in himself, and set up his own righteousness, and to reckon his pennies for gold, and not to submit to the righteousness of God. But conversion changes his mind; now he counts his own righteousness as filthy rags. He casts it off, as a man would the verminous tatters of a nasty beggar. Now he is brought to poverty of spirit, complains of and condemns himself; and all his inventory is, 'I am poor, and miserable, and wretched, and blind, and naked!' [Rev 3:17]. He sees a world of iniquity in his holy things, and calls his once-idolized righteousness but filth and loss; and would not for a thousand worlds be found in it! Now he begins to set a high price upon Christ's righteousness. He sees the need of Christ in every duty, to justify his person and sanctify his performances; he cannot live without Him; he cannot pray without...

I dare not leave you with your eyes half open, like him who saw 'men as trees walking' [Mark 8:24]. The Word is profitable for doctrine as well as reproof. And therefore, having thus far conducted you by the shelves and rocks of so many dangerous mistakes, I would guide you at length into the haven of truth. Conversion then, in short, lies in the thorough change both of the heart and life. I shall briefly describe it in its nature and causes. 1. The AUTHOR of conversion is the Spirit of God , and therefore it is called 'the sanctification of the Spirit' (2 Thess 2:13) and 'the renewing of the Holy Spirit' (Titus 3:5). This does not exclude the other persons in the Trinity, for the apostle teaches us to bless the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who 'has begotten us again unto a living hope' (1 Pet 1:3). And Christ is said to 'give repentance unto Israel' (Acts 5:31); and is called the 'everlasting Father' (Isa 9:6) and we His seed, ...