A Goodly Heritage

We come now to the matter of the apostle's caution, which is in the second verse: 'That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.' In which words take notice: — Of the error disproved: that the day of Christ is at hand. The effect which this error might produce; trouble and unsettledness of mind: that ye be not soon shaken in mind or troubled. A removal of all the supposed foundations of this error, or the means which these impostors used to entice them to embrace it. Three are mentioned—spirit, word, and letter. Nor by spirit; that is, pretence of spiritual revelation; be not soon shaken in mind by it. Nor by word; some word of the apostle, which they pretended to have heard — and that is another sleight of deceivers; some tradition or doctrine delivered by the apostle by word of mouth. Nor by letter as from us. This may be understood — (1.) Either of some pas...

HERE is a double argument against an evil and sinful life, which is drawn from our union and communion with Christ by faith, or our knowledge of him. It is delivered in a copulate axiom, where there is a comparison of contraries. These two contrary parties are set forth in two propositions, the one asserting the property and disposition of the true believer, the other refuting the claim of the pretender. In the one an argument from union with Christ, the other from the knowledge of him. 1st Proposition,’ Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not;' where we have the subject and the predicate. 1. The subject, 'Abideth in him;' that is, he who is united to Christ by a true and lively faith, and perseveres in this union, abideth in him. In effect, whosoever is a true Christian, for they are often expressed by this character: 1 John ii. 6, ‘He that abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.' This is the great duty pressed upon us: 1 John ii. 27, 28, ‘But t...

 SPIRITUAL LANGUISHING; WITH THE CAUSES AND CURE. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God .— Rev. III. 2 . IN scriptures wherein the expression is anything more difficult, wits are most rank and luxuriant, every one taking a liberty to affix his own sense there, where the true and genuine sense is not so obvious and easily found out; and because two or three false interpretations may be asserted with equal probability, the scriptures have suffered as an uncertain rule, or nose of wax (it is the blasphemy of the Papists), which is ductile and pliable to every fancy and purpose. The truth is, we are more happy in discovering falsehood than in clearing truth, and those which come after can more easily discern wherein others have halted and are defective, than reach the truth themselves. I have always looked upon that as a grave observation, 212   Facilius est aliorum convellere sentent...