A Goodly Heritage

The love of Christ to man constrains the believer to live a holy life, because that truth takes away all his dread and hatred of God. When Adam was unfallen, God was everything to his soul; and everything was good and desirable to him, only in so far as it had to do with God. Every vein of his body, so fearfully and wonderfully made, every leaf that rustled in the bowers of Paradise, every new sun that rose, rejoicing like a strong man to run his race, brought him in every day new subjects of godly thought and of admiring praise; and it was only for that reason that he could delight to look on them. The flowers that appeared on the earth, the singing of birds, and the voice of the turtle heard throughout the happy land, the fig tree putting forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes giving a good smell, all these combined to bring in to him at every pore a rich and varied tribute of pleasantness. And why? Just because they brought into the soul rich and varied communic...

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the -wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1: 15-18). The first thing I desire you to notice, brethren,  is the place where Paul was desirous to preach the gospel : 'As much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also' (verse 15). We find Paul mentioning the same thing in the verses before: 'For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established' (verse 11); and then in verse 13: 'Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, th...

THIS IS A VERY HUMBLING, and at the same time, a very blessed word to the true disciple. It was very humbling to the disciples to be told that they had not chosen Christ. Your wants were so many, your hearts were so hard, that ye have not chosen me. And yet it was exceedingly comforting to the disciples to be told that he had chosen them: 'Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you'. This showed them that his love was first with them - that he had a love for them when they were dead. And then he showed them that it was love that would make them holy: 'Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.' Let us take up the truths in this verse as they occur. Men naturally do not choose Christ, "Ye have not chosen me." This was true of the apostles; this is true of all that will ever believe to the end of the world. 'Ye have not chosen me.'The natural ear is...

"What I mean, brothers, is that  the time is short . From now on those who have wives, should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away!" 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 In these words there is: 1. A statement made: "The time is short;" and again: "This world in its present form is passing away!" The time to be spent in this world is very short; it is but an inch of time — a short half-hour. In a very little while, it will be all over. All that is here, is changing — the very hills are crumbling down — the loveliest face is withering away — the finest garments rot and decay! "This world in its present form is passing away!" 2. A lesson drawn from this: Believers should sit loose to everything here on earth. Be...

John 10.17,18.  "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life. that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." T he death of Christ is, my friends, the most wonderful event past, present, or future in the whole universe. It is so in the eye of God ? "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life." There is nothing in the whole world so lovely as his Son. It is not only for his Godhead, but on account of his manhood, through which he laid down his life ? "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I laid down my life." These words of Christ, "I lay down my life," are dearer to God than a thousand worlds. It is the same in the eyes of the redeemed. All the redeemed love Christ, because he laid down his life. John says, "I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne,...