comfort for christians

7/21/2019 Comfort for Christians

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/comfort-for-christians 1/41

Comfort for Christians By A.W. Pink

Contents

Introduction 09 God's Inheritance

01 No Condemnation 10 God Securing His Inheritance

02 The Christian's Assurance 11 Mourning

03 Sufferings Comensated 12 Hungering

0! The Great Gi"er 13 Heart #urit$

0% The &i"ine emem(erer 1! The )eatitudes and Christ

0* Tried ($ +ire 1% Aff,iction and G,or$

0- &i"ine Chastisement 1* Contentment

0. &i"ine Chastisement 1- #recious &eath

Introduction

The /or unto /hich the ser"ant of Christ is ca,,ed is man$sided Not on,$ is he to reach the Gose, to the unsa"ed to feed God's eo,e /ith no/,edge and understanding

45er 361%7 and to tae u the stum(,ing stone out of their /a$ 4Isa %-61!7 (ut he is a,socharged to 8cr$ a,oud sare not ,ift u th$ "oice ,ie a trumet and sho/ M$ eo,e their

transgression8 4Isa %.61 and cf 1 Tim !627 hi,e another imortant art of his commissionis stated in 8Comfort $e M$ eo,e said $our God8 4Isa !0617 hat an honoura(,e tit,e

8M$ eo,e:8 hat an assuring re,ationshi6 8$our God:8 hat a ,easant tas6 8comfort$e M$ eo,e:8 A threefo,d reason ma$ (e suggested for the du,icating of the charge

+irst (ecause sometimes the sou,s of (e,ie"ers refuse to (e comforted 4#sa --627 and theconso,ation needs to (e reeated Second to ress this dut$ the more emhatica,,$ uon the

reacher's heart that he need not (e saring in administering cheer Third to assure us ho/

hearti,$ desirous God himse,f is that His eo,e shou,d (e of good cheer 4#hi, !6!7 Godhas a 8eo,e8 the o(;ects of His secia, fa"our6 a coman$ /hom He has taen into suchintimate re,ationshi unto Himse,f that He ca,,s them 8M$ eo,e8 <ften the$ are

disconso,ate6 (ecause of their natura, corrution's the temtations of Satan the crue,treatment of the /or,d the ,o/ state of Christ's cause uon earth The 8God of a,, comfort8

42 Cor 1637 is "er$ tender of them and it is His re"ea,ed /i,, that His ser"ants shou,d (indu the (roenhearted and our the (a,m of Gi,ead into their /ounds hat cause ha"e /e

to e=c,aim 8ho is a God ,ie unto Thee:8 4Micah -61.7 /ho has ro"ided for the comfortof those /ho /ere re(e,s against His go"ernment and transgressors of His >a/

The contents of this ,itt,e "o,ume ha"e aeared from time to time in our month,$maga?ine during the ,ast thirt$ $ears The$ /ere re"ious,$ sermons /hich /e reached

,ong ago in the @SA and Austra,ia Here and there is an e=ression 4esecia,,$ /here#rohec$ is touched uon7 that /e /ou,d not use toda$ (ut since the >ord /as ,eased to

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(,ess them in their origina, form to not a fe/ of His distressed eo,e /e ha"e not re"ised

them Ma$ it ,ease Him to sea eace ($ them to aff,icted sou,s toda$ and the g,or$ sha,, (e His a,one

A #in 19%2

CHA#TB 1

No Condemnation

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ

Jesus" 4 <MANS.617

84There is7 therefore no/ no condemnation8 The eighth chater of the eist,e to the

omans conc,udes the first section of that /onderfu, eist,e Its oening /ord 8Therefore8

48There is8 is in ita,ics (ecause su,ied ($ the trans,ators7 ma$ (e "ie/ed in a t/ofo,d/a$ +irst it connects /ith a,, that has (een said from 3621 An inference is no/ deducedfrom the /ho,e of the receding discussion an inference /hich /as in fact the grand

conc,usion to/ard /hich the aost,e had (een aiming throughout the entire argument)ecause Christ has (een set forth 8a roitiation through faith in His (,ood8 4362%7 (ecause

He /as 8de,i"ered for our offences and raised again for our ;ustification8 4!62%7 (ecause ($ the o(edience of the <ne the man$ 4(e,ie"ers of a,, ages7 are 8made righteous8

constituted so ,ega,,$ 4%6197 (ecause (e,ie"ers ha"e 8died 4;udicia,,$7 to sin8 4*627 (ecause the$ ha"e 8died8 to the condemning o/er of the ,a/ 4-6!7 there is 8therefore

no/ N< C<N&BMNATI<N8

)ut not on,$ is the 8therefore8 to (e "ie/ed as a conc,usion dra/n from the /ho,e of the re"ious discussion it is a,so to (e considered as ha"ing a c,ose re,ation to

/hat immediately recedes In the second ha,f of omans - the aost,e had descri(ed the ainfu, and cease,ess conf,ict /hich is /aged (et/een the antagonistic natures in the one

/ho has (een (orn again i,,ustrating this ($ a reference to his o/n ersona, e=eriences asa Christian Ha"ing ortra$ed /ith a master enhimse,f sitting for the icturethe siritua,

strugg,es of the chi,d of God the aost,e no/ roceeds to direct attention to the &i"ineconso,ation for a condition so distressing and humi,iating The transition from the

desondent tone of the se"enth chater to the triumhant ,anguage of the eighth aears

start,ing and a(rut $et is uite ,ogica, and natura, If it is true that to the saints of God (e,ongs the conf,ict of sin and death under /hose effect the$ mourn eua,,$ true is it thattheir de,i"erance from the curse and the corresonding condemnation is a "ictor$ in /hich

the$ re;oice A "er$ striing contrast is thus ointed

In the second ha,f of omans - the aost,e treats the o/er of sin /hich oerates in

(e,ie"ers as ,ong as the$ are in the /or,d in the oening "erses of chater eight he seasof the gui,t of sin from /hich the$ are com,ete,$ de,i"ered the moment the$ are united to

the Sa"iour ($ faith Hence in -62! the aost,e ass 8ho sha,, de,i"er me8 from the o/er of sin (ut in .62 he sa$s 8hath made me free8 ie hath de,i"ered me from the gui,t of sin

84There is7 therefore no/ no condemnation8 It is not here a uestion of our heartcondemning us 4as in 1 5ohn 36217 nor of us finding nothing /ithin /hich is /orth$ of

condemnation instead it is the far more (,essed fact that God condemns not the one /hohas trusted in Christ to the sa"ing of his sou, e need to distinguish shar,$ (et/een



su(;ecti"e and o(;ecti"e truth (et/een that /hich is ;udicia, and that /hich is

e=erimenta, other/ise /e sha,, fai, to dra/ from such Scritures as the one no/ (eforeus the comfort and eace the$ are designed to con"e$ There is no condemnation to them

/ho are in Christ 5esus 8In Christ8 is the (e,ie"er's osition (efore God not his conditionin the f,esh 8In Adam8 I /as condemned 4om %6127 (ut 8in Christ8 is to (e fore"er freed

from a,, condemnation 84There is7 therefore no/ no condemnation8 The ua,if$ing 8no/8

im,ies there /as a time /hen Christians (efore the$ (e,ie"ed /ere under condemnationThis /as (efore the$ died /ith Christ died ;udicia,,$ 4Ga, 26207 to the ena,t$ of God'srighteous ,a/ This 8no/8 then distinguishes (et/een t/o states or conditions )$ nature

/e /ere 8under the 4sentence of7 ,a/8 (ut no/ (e,ie"ers are 8under grace8 4om *61!7 )$nature /e /ere 8chi,dren of /rath8 4Bh 2627 (ut no/ /e are 8acceted in the )e,o"ed8

4Bh 16*7 @nder the first co"enant /e /ere 8in Adam8 41 Cor 1%6227 (ut no/ /e are 8inChrist8 4om .617 As (e,ie"ers in Christ /e ha"e e"er,asting ,ife and (ecause of this /e

8sha,, not come into condemnation8

Condemnation is a /ord of tremendous imort and the (etter /e understand it themore sha,, /e areciate the /ondrous grace that has de,i"ered us from its o/er In the

ha,,s of a human court this is a term /hich fa,,s /ith fearfu, ne,, uon the ear of thecon"icted crimina, and fi,,s the sectators /ith sadness and horror )ut in the court of

&i"ine 5ustice it is "ested /ith a meaning and content infinite,$ more so,emn and a/einsiring To that Court e"er$ mem(er of Adam's fa,,en race is cited 8Concei"ed in sin

shaen in iniuit$8 each one enters this /or,d under arrest an indicted crimina, a re(e,manac,ed Ho/ then is it ossi(,e for such a one to escae the e=ecution of the dread

sentenceD There /as on,$ one /a$ and that /as ($ the remo"a, from us of that /hichca,,ed forth the sentence name,$ sin >et gui,t (e remo"ed and there can (e 8no

condemnation8 Has gui,t (een remo"ed remo"ed /e mean from the sinner /ho (e,ie"esD

>et the Scritures ans/er6 8As far as the east is from the /est so far hath he remo"ed our transgressions from us8 4#sa 1036127 8I e"en I am he that (,otteth out th$ transgressions84Isa !362%7 8Thou hast cast a,, m$ sins (ehind th$ (ac8 4Isa 3.61-7 8Their sins and

iniuities /i,, I remem(er no more8 4He( 1061-7

)ut ho/ cou,d gui,t (e remo"edD <n,$ ($ it (eing transferred &i"ine ho,iness cou,d

not ignore it (ut &i"ine grace cou,d and did transfer it The sins of (e,ie"ers /eretransferred to Christ6 8The >ord hath ,aid on him the iniuit$ of us a,,8 4Isa %36*7 8+or he

hath made him to (e sin for us8 42 Cor %6217 84There is7 therefore no condemnation8 The8no8 is emhatic It signifies there is no condemnation /hatsoe"er No condemnation from

the ,a/ or on account of in/ard corrution or (ecause Satan can su(stantiate a chargeagainst me there is none from an$ source or for an$ cause at a,, 8No condemnation8

means that none at a,, is ossi(,e that none e"er /i,, (e There is no condemnation (ecausethere is no accusation 4see .6337 and there can (e no accusation (ecause there is no

imutation of sin 4see !6.7 84There is7 therefore no condemnation to them /hich are inChrist 5esus8

hen treating of the conf,ict (et/een the t/o natures in the (e,ie"er the aost,e had

in the re"ious chater soen of himse,f in his o/n erson in order to sho/ that thehighest attainments in grace do no e=emt from the interna, /arfare /hich he there

descri(es )ut here in .61 the aost,e changes the num(er He does not sa$ There is no

condemnation to me (ut 8to them /hich are in Christ 5esus8 This /as most gracious of theHo,$ Sirit Had the aost,e soen here in the singu,ar num(er /e shou,d ha"e reasonedthat such a (,essed e=emtion /as /e,, suited to this honored ser"ant of God /ho en;o$ed



such /ondrous ri"i,eges (ut cou,d not a,$ to us. The Sirit of God therefore mo"ed

the aost,e to em,o$ the ,ura, num(er here to sho/ that 8no condemnation8 is trueof all in Christ 5esus 84There is7 therefore no/ no condemnation to them /hich are in

Christ 5esus8 To (e in Christ 5esus is to (e erfect,$ identified /ith Him in the ;udicia,reconing and dea,ings of God6 and it is a,so to (e one /ith Him as "ita,,$ united ($ faith

Immunit$ from condemnation does not deend in an$/ise uon our 8/a,8 (ut so,e,$ on

our (eing 8in Christ8 8The (e,ie"er is in Christ as Noah /as enc,osed /ithin the ar /iththe hea"ens darening a(o"e him and the /aters hea"ing (eneath him $et not a dro of the f,ood enetrating his "esse, not a (,ast of the storm distur(ing the serenit$ of his sirit

The (e,ie"er is in Christ as 5aco( /as in the garment of the e,der (rother /hen Isaac issedand (,essed him He is in Christ as the oor homicide /as /ithin the cit$ of refuge /hen

ursued ($ the a"enger of (,ood (ut /ho cou,d not o"ertae and s,a$ him8 4&r ins,o/1.%-7 And (ecause he is 8in Christ8 there is therefore no condemnation for him

Ha,,e,u;ah:

CHA#TB 2

The Christian's Assurance

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to

them who are the called according to is !ur!ose." 4 <MANS .62.7

Ho/ man$ of God's chi,dren ha"e through the centuries dra/n strength and

comfort from this (,essed "erse In the midst of tria,s er,e=ities and ersecutions this

has (een a roc (eneath their feet Though to out/ard sight things seemed to /or againsttheir good though to carna, reason things aeared to (e /oring for their i,, ne"erthe,essfaith ne/ it /as for other/ise And ho/ great the ,oss to those /ho fai,ed to rest uon this

insired dec,aration6 /hat unnecessar$ fears and dou(tings /ere the conseuence

8A,, things /or together8 The first thought occurring to us is this6 hat a g,orious)eing our God (e /ho is a(,e to mae a,, things so /or: hat a frightfu, amount of e"i,

there is in constant acti"it$ hat an a,most infinite num(er of creatures there are in the/or,d hat an inca,cu,a(,e uantit$ of oosing se,finterests at /or hat a "ast arm$

of re(e,s fighting against God hat hosts of suerhuman creatures o"er oosing the>ord And $et high a(o"e a,, is G<& in undistur(ed ca,m com,ete master of the situation

There from the throne of His e=a,ted ma;est$ He /oreth a,, things after the counse, of His o/n /i,, 4Bh 16117 Stand in a/e then (efore this <ne in /hose sight 8a,, nations

are as nothing and the$ are counted as ,ess than nothing and "anit$ 8 4Isa !061-7 )o/ inadoration (efore this 8high and ,oft$ <ne that inha(iteth eternit$8 4Isa %-61%7 >ift high

$our raise unto Him /ho from the direct e"i, can educe the greatest good 8A,, things/or8 In nature there is no such thing as a "acuum neither is there a creature of God that

fai,s to ser"e its designed urose Nothing is id,e B"er$thing is energi?ed ($ God so as tofu,fi,, its intended mission A,, things are ,a(oring to/ard the grand end of their Creator's

,easure6 a,, are mo"ed at His imerati"e (idding

8A,, things /or together8 The$ not on,$ oerate the$ cooerate the$ a,, act in erfect concert though none (ut the anointed ear can catch the strains of their harmon$ A,,things /or together not sim,$ (ut con;oint,$ as ad;unct causes and mutua, he,s That is

/h$ aff,ictions se,dom come so,itar$ and a,one C,oud rises uon c,oud6 storm uon storm



As /ith 5o( one messenger of /oe /as uic,$ succeeded ($ another (urdened /ith

tidings of $et hea"ier sorro/ Ne"erthe,ess e"en here faith ma$ trace (oth the /isdom and,o"e of God It is the comounding of the ingredients in the recie that constitutes its

(eneficent "a,ue So /ith God6 His disensations not on,$ 8/or8 (ut the$ 8/or together8 So recogni?ed the s/eet singer of Israe, 8He dre/ me out of man$ /aters8

4#sa 1.61*7 8A,, things /or together for good to8 etc These /ords teach (e,ie"ers that

no matter /hat ma$ (e the num(er nor ho/ o"er/he,ming the character of ad"ersecircumstances the$ are a,, contri(uting to conduct them into the ossession of theinheritance ro"ided for them in hea"en

Ho/ /onderfu, is the ro"idence of God in o"erru,ing things most disorder,$ andin turning to our good things /hich in themse,"es are most ernicious: e mar"e, at His

might$ o/er /hich ho,ds the hea"en,$ (odies in their or(its /e /onder at the continua,,$recurring seasons and the rene/a, of the earth (ut this is not near,$ so mar"e,,ous as His

(ringing good out of e"i, in a,, the com,icated occurrences of human ,ife and maing

e"en the o/er and ma,ice of Satan /ith the natura,,$ destructi"e tendenc$ of his /orsto minister good for His chi,dren 8A,, things /or together for good8 This must (e so for

three reasons +irst (ecause a,, things are under the a(so,ute contro, of the Go"ernor of theuni"erse Second (ecause God desires our good and nothing (ut our good Third (ecause

e"en Satan himse,f cannot touch a hair of our heads /ithout God's ermission and thenon,$ for our further good Not a,, things are good in themse,"es nor in their tendencies (ut

God maes a,, things /or for our good Nothing enters our ,ife ($ (,ind chance6 nor arethere an$ accidents B"er$thing is (eing mo"ed ($ God /ith this end in "ie/ our good

B"er$thing (eing su(ser"ient to God's eterna, urose /ors (,essing to those mared outfor conformit$ to the image of the +irst(orn A,, suffering sorro/ ,oss are used ($ our

+ather to minister to the (enefit of the e,ect

8To them that ,o"e God8 This is the grand distinguishing feature of e"er$ trueChristian The re"erse mars a,, the unregenerate )ut the saints are those /ho ,o"e GodTheir creeds ma$ differ in minor detai,s their ecc,esiastica, re,ations ma$ "ar$ in out/ard

form their gifts and graces ma$ (e "er$ uneua, $et in this articu,ar there is an essentia,unit$ The$ a,, (e,ie"e in Christ the$ a,, ,o"e God The$ ,o"e Him for the gift of the

Sa"iour6 the$ ,o"e Him as a +ather in /hom the$ ma$ confide6 the$ ,o"e Him for His ersona, e=ce,,encies His ho,iness /isdom faithfu,ness The$ ,o"e Him for His conduct6

for /hat He /ithho,ds and for /hat He grants6 for /hat He re(ues and for /hat Hearo"es The$ ,o"e Him e"en for the rod that disci,ines no/ing that He doth a,, things

/e,, There is nothing in God and there is nothing from God for /hich the saints do not,o"e Him And of this the$ are a,, assured 8e ,o"e Him (ecause He first ,o"ed us8

8To them that ,o"e God8 )ut a,as ho/ ,itt,e I ,o"e God: I so freuent,$ mourn m$,ac of ,o"e and chide m$se,f for the co,dness of m$ heart Ees there is so much ,o"e of se,f and ,o"e of the /or,d that sometimes I serious,$ uestion if I ha"e an$ rea, ,o"e for

God at a,, )ut is not m$ "er$ desire to ,o"e God a good s$mtomD Is not m$ "er$ grief that I ,o"e Him so ,itt,e a sure e"idence that I do not hate HimD The resence of a hard and

ungratefu, heart has (een mourned o"er ($ the saints of a,, ages 8>o"e to God is ahea"en,$ asiration that is e"er et in chec ($ the drag and restraint of an earth,$ nature

and from /hich /e sha,, not (e un(ound ti,, the sou, has made its escae from the "i,e

(od$ and c,eared its unfettered /a$ to the rea,m of ,ight and ,i(ert$8 4&r Cha,mers7

8ho are ca,,ed8 The /ord 8ca,,ed8 is ne"er in the Ne/ Testament Bist,es a,iedto those /ho are the reciients of a mere e=terna, in"itation of the Gose, The term a,/a$s



signifies an in/ard and effectua, ca,, It /as a ca,, o"er /hich /e had no contro, either in

originating or frustrating it So in om 16*- and man$ other assages6 8Among /hom are$e a,so the ca,,ed of 5esus Christ6 to a,, that (e in ome (e,o"ed of God ca,,ed saints8

Has this ca,, reached you m$ readerD Ministers ha"e ca,,ed $ou6 the Gose, hasca,,ed $ou conscience has ca,,ed $ou6 (ut has the Ho,$ Sirit ca,,ed $ou /ith an in/ard

and irresisti(,e ca,,D Ha"e $ou (een siritua,,$ ca,,ed from darness to ,ight from death to

,ife from the /or,d to Christ from se,f to GodD It is a matter of the greatest moment that$ou shou,d no/ /hether $ou ha"e (een tru,$ ca,,ed of God Has then the thri,,ing ,ifegi"ing music of that ca,, sounded and re"er(erated through a,, the cham(ers of $our sou,D

)ut ho/ ma$ I (e sure that I ha"e recei"ed such a ca,,D There is one thing right here in our te=t /hich shou,d ena(,e $ou to ascertain The$ /ho ha"e (een efficacious,$ ca,,ed ,o"e

God Instead of hating Him the$ no/ esteem Him instead of f,eeing from Him in terrorthe$ no/ see Him instead of caring not /hether their conduct honored Him their deeestdesire no/ is to ,ease and g,orif$ Him

8According to His urose8 The ca,, is not according to the merits of men (ut

according to the &i"ine urose6 8ho hath sa"ed us and ca,,ed us /ith an ho,$ ca,,ingnot according to our /ors (ut according to this o/n urose and grace /hich /as gi"enus in Christ 5esus (efore the /or,d (egan8 42 Tim 1697 The design of the Ho,$ Sirit in

(ringing in this ,ast c,ause is to sho/ that the reason some men ,o"e God and others do notis to (e attri(uted so,e,$ to the mere so"ereignt$ of God6 it is not for an$thing in

themse,"es (ut due a,one to His distinguishing grace There is a,so a ractica, "a,ue in this,ast c,ause The doctrines of grace are intended for a further urose than that of maing u

a creed <ne main design of them is to mo"e the affections and more esecia,,$ torea/aen that affection to /hich the heart oressed /ith fears or /eighed do/n /ith

cares is /ho,,$ insufficient e"en the ,o"e of God That this ,o"e ma$ f,o/ erennia,,$

from our hearts there must (e a constant recurring to that /hich insired it and /hich isca,cu,ated to increase it ;ust as to reind,e $our admiration of a (eautifu, scene or icture$ou /ou,d return again to ga?e uon it It is on this rinci,e that so much stress is ,aid in

Scriture on eeing the truths /hich /e (e,ie"e in memor$6 8)$ /hich a,so $e are sa"edif $e ee in memor$ /hat I reached unto $ou8 41 Cor 1%627 8I stir u $our ure minds

($ /a$ of remem(rance8 said the aost,e 42 #et 3617 8&o this in remem(rance of me8said the Sa"iour It is then ($ going (ac in memor$ to that hour /hen desite our

/retchedness and utter un/orthiness God ca,,ed us that our affection /i,, (e et fresh Itis ($ reca,,ing the /ondrous grace that then reached out to a he,,deser"ing sinner and

snatched $ou as a (rand from the (urning that $our heart /i,, (e dra/n out in adoringgratitude And it is ($ disco"ering this /as due a,one to the so"ereign and eterna, 8urose8

of God that $ou /ere ca,,ed /hen so man$ others are assed ($ that $our ,o"e for Him /i,, (e deeened eturning to the oening /ords of our te=t /e find the aost,e 4as "oicing

the norma, e=erience of the saints7 dec,ares 8e no/ that a,, things /or together for good8

It is something more than a secu,ati"e (e,ief That a,, things /or together for good

is e"en more than a fer"ent desire It is not that /e mere,$ hoe that a,, things /i,, so /or (ut that /e are fu,,$ assured a,, things do so /or The no/,edge here soen of is

siritua, not inte,,ectua, It is a no/,edge rooted in our hearts /hich roduces confidence

in the truth of it It is the no/,edge of faith /hich recei"es e"er$thing from the (ene"o,ent hand of Infinite isdom It is true that /e do not deri"e much comfort from thisno/,edge /hen out of fe,,o/shi /ith God Nor /i,, it sustain us /hen faith is not in



oeration )ut /hen /e are in communion /ith the >ord /hen in our /eaness /e do ,ean

hard uon Him then is this (,essed assurance ours6 8Thou /i,t ee him in erfect eace/hose mind is sta$ed on Thee6 (ecause he trusteth in Thee8 4Isa 2*637 A striing

e=em,ification of our te=t is su,ied ($ the histor$ of 5aco( one /hom in se"era,resects each of us c,ose,$ resem(,es Hea"$ and dar /as the c,oud /hich sett,ed uon

him Se"ere /as the test and fearfu, the trem(,ing of his faith His feet /ere a,most gone

Hear his mournfu, ,aint6 8And 5aco( their father said unto them Me ha"e $e (erea"ed of m$ chi,dren6 5oseh is not and Simeon is not and $e /i,, tae )en;amin a/a$6 a,, thesethings are against me8 4Gen !263*7 And $et those circumstances /hich to the dim e$e of

his faith /ore a hue so som(er /ere at that "er$ moment de"e,oing and erfecting thee"ents /hich /ere to shed around the e"ening of his ,ife the ha,o of a g,orious and

c,oud,ess sunset A,, things /ere /oring together for his good: And so trou(,ed sou, the8much tri(u,ation8 /i,, soon (e o"er and as $ou enter the 8ingdom of God8 $ou sha,, then

see no ,onger 8through a g,ass dar,$8 (ut in the unshado/ed sun,ight of the &i"ine resence that 8a,, things8 did 8/or together8 for $our ersona, and eterna, good

CHA#TB 3

Sufferings Comensated

8 or # reckon that the sufferings of this !resent time are not worthy to $e com!ared

with the glory which shall $e revealed in us8 4 <MANS .61.7

Ah sa$s someone that must ha"e (een /ritten ($ a man /ho /as a stranger tosuffering or ($ one acuainted /ith nothing more tr$ing than the mi,der irritations of ,ife

Not so These /ords /ere enned under the direction of the Ho,$ Sirit and ($ one /ho

dran dee,$ of sorro/'s cu $ea ($ one /ho suffered aff,ictions in their acutest formsHear his o/n testimon$6 8<f the 5e/s fi"e times recei"ed I fort$ stries sa"e one Thrice/as I (eaten /ith rods once /as I stoned thrice I suffered shi/rec a night and a da$ Iha"e (een in the dee in ;ourne$ings often in eri,s of ro((ers in eri,s of mine o/n

countr$men in eri,s ($ the heathen in eri,s in the cit$ in eri,s in the /i,derness in eri,s in the sea in eri,s among fa,se (rethren in /eariness and ainfu,ness in /atchings

often in hunger and thirst in fastings often in co,d and naedness8 42 Cor 1162!2-7 8+or I recon that the sufferings of this resent time are not /orth$ to (e comared /ith the

g,or$ /hich sha,, (e re"ea,ed in us8

This then /as the sett,ed con"iction not of one of 8fortune's fa"ourites8 not of one

/ho found ,ife's ;ourne$ a careted ath/a$ (ordered /ith roses (ut instead of one /ho/as hated ($ his insmen /ho /as ofttimes (eaten (,ac and (,ue /ho ne/ /hat it /as

to (e deri"ed not on,$ of the comforts (ut the (are necessities of ,ife Ho/ then sha,, /eaccount for his cheer$ otimismD hat /as the secret of his e,e"ation o"er his trou(,es and

tria,sD

The first thing /ith /hich the sore,$tried aost,e comforted himse,f /as that the

sufferings of the Christian are (ut of (rief duration the$ are ,imited to 8this resent time8This is in shar and so,emn contrast from the sufferings of the Christre;ector His

sufferings /i,, (e eterna,6 fore"er tormented in the >ae of +ire )ut far different is it for

the (e,ie"er His sufferings are restricted to this ,ife on earth /hich is comared to a f,o/er that cometh forth and is cut do/n to a shado/ that f,eeth and continueth not A fe/ short$ears at most and /e sha,, ass from this "a,e of tears into that (,issfu, countr$ /here



groans and sighs are ne"er heard

Second the aost,e ,ooed for/ard /ith the e$e of faith to 8the g,or$8 To #au, 8theg,or$8 /as something more than a (eautifu, dream It /as a ractica, rea,it$ e=erting a

o/erfu, inf,uence uon him conso,ing him in the /armest and most tr$ing hours of ad"ersit$ This is one of the rea, tests of faith The Christian has a so,id suort in the time

of aff,iction /hen the un(e,ie"er has not The chi,d of God no/s that in his +ather's

resence there is 8fu,,ness of ;o$8 and that at His right hand there are 8,easures fore"er more8 And faith ,a$s ho,d of them aroriates them and ,i"es in the comforting cheer of them e"en no/ 5ust as Israe, in the /i,derness /ere encouraged ($ a sight of /hat a/aited

them in the romised ,and 4Num 136232*7 so the one /ho toda$ /a,s ($ faith and not ($ sight contem,ates that /hich e$e hath not seen nor ear heard (ut /hich God ($ His

Ho,$ Sirit hath re"ea,ed unto us 41 Cor 269107

Third the aost,e re;oiced in 8the g,or$ /hich shou,d (e re"ea,ed in us8 A,, that thismeans /e are not $et caa(,e of understanding )ut more than a hint has (een "ouchsafed

us There /i,, (e6 4a7 The 8g,or$8 of a erfect (od$ In that da$ this corrution sha,, ha"e

ut on incorrution and this morta, immorta,it$ That /hich /as so/n in dishonour sha,, (e raised in g,or$ and that /hich /as so/n in /eaness sha,, (e raised in o/er As /eha"e (orne the image of the earth,$ /e sha,, a,so (ear the image of the hea"en,$ 41 Cor

1%6!97 The content of these e=ressions is summari?ed and am,ified in #hi, 3620216 8+or our conser"ation is in hea"en6 from /hence a,so /e ,oo for the Sa"iour the >ord 5esus

Christ6 ho sha,, change our "i,e (od$ that it ma$ (e fashioned ,ie unto His g,orious (od$ according to the /oring /here($ He is a(,e e"en to su(due a,, things unto Himse,f8

4(7 There /i,, (e the g,or$ of a transformed mind 8+or no/ /e see through a g,ass dar,$ (ut then face to face6 no/ I no/ in art (ut then sha,, I no/ e"en as a,so I am no/n8

41 Cor 136127 <h /hat an or( of inte,,ectua, ,ight /i,, (e each g,orified mind: hat range

of ,ight /i,, it encomass: hat caa(i,it$ of understanding /i,, it en;o$: Then /i,, a,,m$steries (e unra"e,ed a,, ro(,ems so,"ed a,, discreancies reconci,ed Then sha,, eachtruth of God's re"e,ation each e"ent of His ro"idence each decision of His go"ernment

stand $et more transarent,$ c,ear and res,endent than the sun itse,f &o $ou in $our resent uest for siritua, no/,edge mourn the darness of $our mind the /eaness of

$our memor$ the ,imitations of $our inte,,ectua, facu,tiesD Then re;oice in hoe of theg,or$ that is to (e re"ea,ed in $ou /hen a,, $our inte,,ectua, o/ers sha,, (e rene/ed

de"e,oed erfected so that $ou sha,, no/ e"en as $ou are no/n 4c7 )est of a,, there/i,, (e the g,or$ of erfect ho,iness God's /or of grace in us /i,, then (e com,eted He

has romised to 8erfect that /hich concerneth us8 4#sa 13.6.7 Then /i,, (e theconsummation of urit$ e ha"e (een redestinated to (e 8conformed to the image of His

Son8 4om .6297 and /hen /e sha,, see Him 8/e sha,, (e ,ie him8 41 5ohn 3627 Thenour minds /i,, (e no more defi,ed ($ e"i, imaginations our consciences no more su,,ied ($

a sense of gui,t our affections no more ensnared ($ un/orth$ o(;ects hat a mar"e,ous rosect is this: A 8g,or$8 to (e re"ea,ed in me /ho no/ can scarce,$ ref,ect a so,itar$ ra$

of ,ight: In me so /a$/ard so un/orth$ so sinfu, ,i"ing so ,itt,e in communion /ithHim /ho is the +ather of ,ights: Can it (e that in me this g,or$ sha,, (e re"ea,edD So

affirms the infa,,i(,e ord of God If I am a chi,d of ,ightthrough (eing 8in Him8 /ho isthe effu,gence of the +ather's g,or$e"en though no/ d/e,,ing amid the /or,d's dar

shades one da$ I sha,, outshine the (rightness of the firmament And /hen the >ord 5esusreturns to this earth he sha,, 8(e admired in a,, them that (e,ie"e8 4II Thess 16107

+ina,,$ the aost,e here /eighed the 8sufferings8 of this resent time o"er against



the 8g,or$8 /hich sha,, (e re"ea,ed in us and as he did so he dec,ared that the one is 8not

/orth$ to (e comared8 /ith the other The one is transient the other eterna, As thenthere is no roortion (et/een the finite and the infinite so there is no comarison (et/een

the sufferings of earth and the g,or$ of hea"en <ne second of g,or$ /i,, out/eigh a,ifetime of suffering hat /ere the $ears of toi, of sicness of (att,ing /ith o"ert$ of

sorro/ in an$ or e"er$ form /hen comared /ith the g,or$ of Immanue,'s ,and: <ne

draught of the ri"er of ,easure at God's right hand one (reath of #aradise one hour amidthe (,ood/ashed around the throne sha,, more than comensate for a,, the tears andgroans of earth 8+or I recon that the sufferings of this resent time are not /orth$ to (e

comared /ith the g,or$ /hich sha,, (e re"ea,ed in us8 Ma$ the Ho,$ Sirit ena(,e (oth/riter and reader to ,a$ ho,d of this /ith aroriating faith and ,i"e in the resent

ossession and en;o$ment of it to the raise of the g,or$ of &i"ine grace

CHA#TB !

The Great Gi"er

"e that s!ared not is own %on $ut delivered im u! for us all how shall e not

with im also freely give us all things&8 4 <MANS .6327

The a(o"e "erse su,ies us /ith an instance of &i"ine ,ogic It contains a

conc,usion dra/n from a remise the remise is that God de,i"ered u Christ for a,, His eo,e therefore e"er$thing e,se that is needed ($ them is sure to (e gi"en There are man$

e=am,es in Ho,$ rit of such &i"ine ,ogic 8If God so c,othe the grass of the fie,d /hichtoda$ is and tomorro/ is cast into the o"en sha,, he not much more c,othe $ouD8 4Matt

*6307 8If /hen /e /ere enemies /e /ere reconci,ed to God ($ the death of his Son much

more (eing reconci,ed /e sha,, (e sa"ed ($ his ,ife8 4om %6107 8If $e then (eing e"i,no/ ho/ to gi"e good gifts unto $our chi,dren ho/ much more sha,, $our +ather /hich isin hea"en gi"e good things to them that as himD8 4Matt -6117 So here in our te=t thereasoning is irresisti(,e and goes straight to the understanding and heart <ur te=t te,,s of

the gracious character of our ,o"ing God as interreted ($ the gift of His Son And this notmere,$ for the instruction of our minds (ut for the comfort and assurance of our hearts

The gift of His o/n Son is God's guarantee to His eo,e of a,, needed (,essings Thegreater inc,udes the ,ess His unseaa(,e siritua, gift is the ,edge of a,, needed temora,

mercies Note in our te=t four things6

1 The +ather's Cost,$ Sacrifice This (rings (efore us a side of the truth uon /hich

I fear /e rare,$ meditate e de,ight to thin of the /ondrous ,o"e of Christ /hose ,o"e/as stronger than death and /ho deemed no suffering too great for His eo,e )ut /hat

must it ha"e meant to the heart of the +ather /hen His )e,o"ed ,eft His Hea"en,$ Home:God is ,o"e and nothing is so sensiti"e as ,o"e I do not (e,ie"e that &eit$ is emotion,ess

the Stoic as reresented ($ the Schoo,men of the Midd,e Ages I (e,ie"e the sending forthof the Son /as something /hich the heart of the +ather fe,t that it /as a rea, sacrifice on

His art eigh /e,, then the so,emn fact /hich remises the sure romise that fo,,o/s6God 8sared not His o/n Son8: B=ressi"e rofound me,ting /ords: Fno/ing fu,, /e,,

as He on,$ cou,d a,, that redemtion in"o,"edthe >a/ rigid and un(ending insisting uon

erfect o(edience and demanding death for its transgressors 5ustice stern and ine=ora(,ereuiring fu,, satisfaction refusing to 8c,ear the gui,t$8 Eet God /ithhe,d not the on,$Sacrifice /hich cou,d meet the case God 8sared not His o/n Son8 though no/ing fu,,

/e,, the humi,iation and ignomin$ of )eth,ehem's manger the ingratitude of men the not



ha"ing /here to ,a$ His head the hatred and oosition of the ungod,$ the enmit$ and

(ruising of Satan$et He did not hesitate God did not re,a= ought of the ho,$ reuirementsof His throne nor a(ate one /hit of the a/fu, curse No He 8sared not His o/n Son8 The

utmost farthing /as e=acted the ,ast dregs in the cu of /rath must (e drained B"en /henHis )e,o"ed cried from the Garden 8if it (e ossi(,e ,et this cu ass from Me8 God

8sared8 Him not B"en /hen "i,e hands had nai,ed Him to the tree God cried 8A/ae <h

s/ord against M$ Sheherd and against the man that is M$ +e,,o/ saith the >ord of Hosts smite the Sheherd8 4ech 136-7

2 The +ather's Gracious &esign 8)ut de,i"ered him u for us a,,8 Here /e are to,d

/h$ the +ather made such a cost,$ sacrifice He sared not Christ that He might sare us:It /as not /ant of ,o"e to the Sa"iour (ut /ondrous match,ess fathom,ess ,o"e for us: <h

mar"e, at the /ondrous design of the Most High 8God so ,o"ed the /or,d that he ga"e hison,$ (egotten Son8 eri,$ such ,o"e asseth no/,edge Moreo"er He made this cost,$sacrifice not grudging,$ or re,uctant,$ (ut free,$ out of ,o"e <nce God had said to

re(e,,ious Israe, 8Ho/ sha,, I gi"e thee u BhraimD8 4Hosea 116.7 Infinite,$ more causehad He to sa$ this of the Ho,$ <ne His /e,,(e,o"ed the <ne in /hom His sou, dai,$

de,ighted Eet He 8de,i"ered Him u8to shame and sitting to hatred and ersecution tosuffering and death itse,f And He de,i"ered Him u for usdescendants of re(e,,ious Adam

dera"ed and defi,ed corrut and sinfu, "i,e and /orth,ess: +or us /ho had gone into the8far countr$8 of a,ienation from Him and there sent our su(stance in riotous ,i"ing Ees

8for us8 /ho had gone astra$ ,ie shee each one turning to 8his o/n /a$8 +or us 8/ho/ere ($ nature the chi,dren of /rath e"en as others8 in /hom there d/e,t no good thing

+or us /ho had re(e,,ed against our Creator hated His ho,iness desised His ord (roenHis commandments resisted His Sirit +or us /ho rich,$ deser"ed to (e cast into the

e"er,asting (urnings and recei"e those /ages /hich our sins so fu,,$ earned Ees for thee

fe,,o/ Christian /ho art sometimes temted to interret $our aff,ictions as toens of God'shardness /ho regard $our o"ert$ as a mar of His neg,ect and $our seasons of darnessas e"idences of His desertion < confess to Him no/ the /icedness of such dishonouring

dou(tings and ne"er again uestion the ,o"e of Him /ho sared not His o/n Son (utde,i"ered Him u for us a,, +aithfu,ness demands that I shou,d oint out the ua,if$ing

ronoun in our te=t It is not God 8de,i"ered him u for a,,8 (ut 8for us a,,8 'This isdefinite,$ defined in the "erses /hich immediate,$ recede In " 31 the uestion is ased

8If God (e for us /ho can (e against usD8 In " 30 this 8us8 is defined as those /hom Goddid redestinate and has 8ca,,ed8 and 8;ustified8 The 8us8 are the high fa"orites of hea"en

the o(;ects of so"ereign grace God's e,ect And $et in themse,"es the$ are ($ nature and

ractice deser"ing of nothing (ut /rath )ut $et than God it is 8us a,,8 the /orst as /e,,as the (est the fi"ehundredoundsde(tor eua,,$ as much as the fift$encede(tor

3 The Sirit's ),essed Inference #onder /e,, the g,orious 8conc,usion8 /hich the

Sirit of God here dra/s from the /ondrous fact stated in the first art of our te=t 8He thatsared not his o/n Son (ut de,i"ered him u for us a,, ho/ sha,, he not /ith him a,so

free,$ gi"e us a,, things8 Ho/ conc,usi"e and ho/ comforting is the insired reasoning of the aost,e Arguing from the greater to the ,ess He roceeds to assure the (e,ie"er of

God's readiness to a,so free,$ (esto/ a,, needed (,essings The gift of His o/n Son soungrudging,$ and unreser"ed,$ (esto/ed is the ,edge of e"er$ other needed merc$ Here

is the unfai,ing guarant$ and ta,isman of eretua, reassurance to the drooing sirit of thetried (e,ie"er If God has done the greater /i,, He ,ea"e the ,ess undoneD Infinite ,o"e canne"er change The ,o"e that sared not Christ cannot fai, its o(;ects nor (egrudge an$

needed (,essings The sad thing is that our hearts d/e,, uon /hat /e ha"e not instead of



uon /hat /e do ha"e Therefore the Sirit of God /ou,d here sti,, our rest,ess se,f

communings and uiet the reinings of ignorance /ith a sou,satisf$ing no/,edge of thetruth ($ reminding us not on,$ of the rea,it$ of our interest in the ,o"e of God (ut a,so of

the e=tent of that (,essing /hich f,o/s therefrom eigh /e,, /hat is in"o,"ed in the ,ogicof this "erse +irst the great Gift /as gi"en unased /i,, He not (esto/ others for the

asingD None of us su,icated God to send forth His )e,o"ed $et He sent Him: No/ /e

ma$ come to the throne of grace and there resent our reuests in the "irtuous and a,,efficacious name of Christ Second the one great Gift cost Him much /i,, He not then (esto/ the ,esser gifts /hich cost Him nothing sa"e the de,ight of gi"ing: If a friend /ere

to gi"e me a "a,ua(,e icture /ou,d he (egrudge the necessar$ aer and string to /ra itinD <r if a ,o"ed one made me a resent of a recious ;e/e, /ou,d he refuse a ,itt,e1% (o=

to carr$ it inD Ho/ much ,ess /i,, He /ho sared not His o/n Son /ithho,d an$ goodthing from them that /a, uright,$ Third the one Gift /as (esto/ed /hen /e /ere

enemies /i,, not then God (e gracious to us no/ that /e ha"e (een reconci,ed and are HisfriendsD If He had designs of merc$ for us /hi,e /e /ere $et in our sins ho/ much more

/i,, He regard us fa"oura(,$ no/ that /e ha"e (een c,eansed from a,, sin ($ the recious

(,ood of His Son:

! The Comforting #romise <(ser"e the tense that is used here It is not 8ho/ has he

not /ith him a,so free,$ gi"en us a,, things8 though this is a,so true for e"en no/ are /e8heirs of God8 4om .61-7 )ut our te=t goes further than this6 8Ho/ sha,, he not /ith Him

a,so free,$ gi"e us a,, thingsD8 The second ha,f of this /ondrous "erse contains somethingmore than a record of the ast it su,ies reassuring confidence (oth for the resent and for

the future No time,imits are to (e set uon this 8sha,,8 )oth no/ in the resent andfore"er and e"er in the future God sha,, manifest Himse,f as the great Gi"er Nothing for

His g,or$ and for our good /i,, He /ithho,d The same God /ho de,i"ered u Christ for us

a,, is 8/ithout "aria(,eness or shado/ of turning8 Mar the manner in /hich God gi"es68Ho/ sha,, he not /ith him a,so free,$ gi"e us a,, thingsD8 God does not ha"e to (e coa=edthere is no re,uctance in Him for us to o"ercome He is e"er more /i,,ing to gi"e than /e

are to recei"e Again He is under no o(,igations to an$ if He /ere He /ou,d (esto/ of necessit$ instead of gi"ing 8free,$8 B"er remem(er that He has a erfect right to do /ith

His o/n as He ,eases He is free to gi"e to /hom He /i,,s The /ord 8free,$8 not on,$signifies that God is under no constraint (ut a,so means that He maes no charge for His

gifts He ,aces no rice on His (,essings God is no retai,er of mercies or (arterer of goodthings if He /ere ;ustice /ou,d reuire Him to charge e=act,$ /hat each (,essing /as

/orth and then /ho among the chi,dren of Adam cou,d find the /here/itha,D No (,essed

(e His name God's gifts are 8/ithout mone$ and /ithout rice8 unmerited and unearned+ina,,$ re;oice o"er the comrehensi"eness of this romise6 8Ho/ sha,, he not /ith hima,so free,$ gi"e us a,, thingsD8 The Ho,$ Sirit /ou,d here rega,e us /ith the e=tent of

God's /ondrous grant hat is it $ou need fe,,o/ ChristianD Is it ardonD Then has He notsaid 8If /e confess our sins he is faithfu, and ;ust to forgi"e us our sins and to c,eanse us

from a,, unrighteousness8 4I 5ohn 1697D Is it graceD Then has He not said 8God is a(,e tomae a,, grace a(ound to/ard $ou that $e a,/a$s ha"ing a,, sufficienc$ in a,, things ma$

a(ound to e"er$ good /or8 42 Cor 96.7D Is it a 8thorn in the f,esh8D this too /i,, (e gi"en8there /as gi"en to me a thorn in the f,esh8 42 Cor 126-7 Is it restD Then heed the Sa"iour's

in"itation 8Come unto Me and I /i,, gi"e $ou rest 4Matt 1162.7 Is it comfortD Is Henot the God of a,, comfort 42 Cor 1637D 8Ho/ sha,, he not /ith him a,so free,$ gi"e us a,,

thingsD8 Is it temora, mercies that the reader is in need ofD Are $our circumstancesad"erse so that $ou are fi,,ed /ith disma, fore(odingsD &oes $our cruse of oi, and (arre, of



mea, ,oo as though the$ /i,, soon (e uite emt$D Then sread $our need (efore God and

do it in sim,e chi,d,ie faith Thin $ou that He /i,, (esto/ the greater (,essings of graceand den$ the ,esser ones of #ro"idenceD No 8M$ God sha,, su,$ a,, $our need8 4#hi,

!6197 True He has not romised to gi"e a,, $ou as for /e often as 8amiss8 Mar theua,if$ing c,ause6 8Ho/ sha,, he not /ith him a,so free,$ gi"e us a,, thingsD8 e often

desire things /hich /ou,d come in (et/een us and Christ if the$ /ere granted therefore

does God in His faithfu,ness /ithho,d themHere then are four things /hich shou,d (ring comfort to e"er$ rene/ed heart The

+ather's cost,$ sacrifice <ur God is a gi"ing God and no good thing does He /ithho,d

from them that /a, uright,$ The +ather's gracious design It /as for us that Christ /asde,i"ered u it /as our highest and eterna, interests that He had at heart The Sirit's

infa,,i(,e inference The greater inc,udes the ,ess the unseaa(,e Gift guarantees the (esto/ment of a,, other needed fa"ours The comforting romise Its sure foundation its resent and future scoe its (,essed e=tent are for the assuring of our hearts and the eace

of our minds Ma$ the >ord add His (,essing to this ,itt,e meditation

CHA#TB %

The &i"ine emem(erer

"Who remem$ered us in our low estate' for is mercy endureth

forever" 4#sa 13*6237

8ho remem(ered us8 This is in striing and (,essed contrast from our forgettings

of Him >ie e"er$ other facu,t$ of our (eings the memor$ has (een affected ($ the +a,,and (ears on it the mars of dera"it$ This is seen from its o/er to retain /hat is

/orth,ess and the difficu,t$ encountered to ho,d fast that /hich is good A foo,ish nurser$rh$me or song heard in $outh is carried /ith us to the gra"e a he,fu, sermon is forgotten

/ithin t/ent$four hours: )ut most tragic and so,emn of a,, is the ease /ith /hich /eforget God and His count,ess mercies )ut (,essed (e His name God ne"er forgets us He

is the faithfu, emem(erer e /ere "er$ much imressed /hen on consu,ting theconcordance /e found that the first fi"e times the /ord 8remem(er8 is used in Scriture in

each case it is connected /ith God

8And God remem(ered Noah and e"er$ ,i"ing thing and a,, the catt,e that /as /ith

him in the ar8 4Gen .617 8And the (o/ sha,, (e in the c,oud and I /i,, ,oo uon it that I

ma$ remem(er the e"er,asting co"enant (et/een God and e"er$ ,i"ing creature of a,, f,eshthat is uon the earth8 4Gen 961*7 8And it came to ass /hen God destro$ed the cities of the ,ain that God remem(ered A(raham and sent >ot out of the midst of the o"erthro/

/hen He o"erthre/ the cities in the /hich >ot d/e,t8 4Gen 196297 etc The first time it isused of man /e read 8Eet did not the chief (ut,er remem(er 5oseh (ut forgat him8 4Gen

!06237: The historica, reference here is to the chi,dren of Israe, /hen the$ /ere toi,ingamid the (rici,ns of Bg$t Tru,$ the$ /ere in a 8,o/ estate86 a nation of s,a"es

groaning (eneath the ,ash of merci,ess tasmasters oressed ($ a god,ess and heart,essing )ut /hen there /as none other e$e to it$ 5eho"ah ,ooed uon them and heard their

cries of distress He 8remem(ered8 them in their ,o/ estate And /h$D B=odus 262!2% te,,s

us6 8And God heard their groaning and God remem(ered His co"enant /ith A(raham /ithIsaac and /ith 5aco( And God ,ooed uon the chi,dren of Israe, and God had resectunto it8 And histor$ is to reeat itse,f Israe,'s ,o/est estate has not $et (een reached



+earfu, as ha"e (een their e=eriences during the ,ast nineteen centuries the (,acest hour

of their dar night is $et (efore them After the resent &isensation of Grace is ended $eteighteen sorer ;udgments /i,, descend on the 5e/s than those /hich their fathers suffered

in the house of (ondage The 8great tri(u,ation8 /i,, (e the time /hen their acutestsufferings /i,, (e e=erienced )ut e"en then God /i,, 8remem(er8 them As it is /ritten

8A,as: for that da$ is great so that none is ,ie it6 it is e"en the time of 5aco('s trou(,e (ut

he sha,, (e sa"ed out of it8 45er 306-7 He /i,, 8remem(er8 His co"enant /ith their ancestors 4>e" 2!6!2 !! etc7

)ut our te=t is not to (e ,imited to the ,itera, seed of A(raham6 it has reference to the

/ho,e 8Israe, of God8 4Ga, *61*7 The saints of this resent &a$ of sa,"ation a,so unite insa$ing 8ho remem(ered us in our ,o/ estate8 Ho/ 8,o/8 /as our 8estate8 ($ nature: As

fa,,en creatures /e ,a$ in our miser$ and /retchedness una(,e to de,i"er or he, ourse,"es)ut in /ondrous grace God too it$ on us His strong arm reached do/n and rescued usHe came to /here /e ,a$ sa/ us and had comassion on us 4>ue 106337 Therefore can

each Christian sa$ 8He (rought me u a,so out of an horri(,e it out of the mir$ c,a$ andset m$ feet uon a roc and esta(,ished m$ goings8 4#sa !0627 And /h$ did He

8remem(er8 usD The "er$ /ord 8remem(er8 te,,s of re"ious thoughts of ,o"e and merc$to/ards us As it /as /ith the chi,dren of Israe, in Bg$t so it /as /ith us in our ruined

condition ($ nature He 8remem(ered8 His co"enant that co"enant into /hich He hadentered /ith our Suret$ from e"er,asting As /e read in Titus 162 of eterna, ,ife 8/hich

God that cannot ,ie romised (efore the /or,d /as #romised to Christ that He /ou,dgi"e that eterna, ,ife to those for /hom our co"enant Head shou,d transact Ees God

8remem(ered8 that He had 8chosen us in Him (efore the foundation of the /or,d8 4Bh16!7 therefore did He in due time (ring us from death unto ,ife Eet this (,essed /ord goes

(e$ond our initia, e=erience of God's sa"ing grace

Historica,,$ our te=t refers not on,$ to God remem(ering His eo,e /hi,e the$ /erein Bg$t (ut a,so as the conte=t sho/s /hi,e the$ /ere in the i,derness on their /a$ tothe #romised >and Israe,'s e=eriences in the desert (ut foreshado/ the saints' /a,

through this hosti,e /or,d And 5eho"ah's 8remem(rance8 of them manifested in the dai,$su,$ of their e"er$ need adum(rated the rich ro"isions of His grace for us /hi,e /e

;ourne$ to our Home on High <ur resent estate here on earth is (ut a ,o/,$ one for /edo not no/ reign as ings Eet is our God e"er mindfu, of us and hour,$ does He minister

to us 8ho remem(ered us in our ,o/ estate8 Not a,/a$s are /e ermitted to d/e,, uonthe mount As in the natura, /or,d so in our e=eriences )right and sunn$ da$s gi"e ,ace

to dar and c,oud$ ones6 summer is fo,,o/ed ($ /inter &isaointments ,ossesaff,ictions (erea"ements came our /a$ and /e /ere (rought ,o/ And ofttimes ;ust /hen

/e seemed to most need the comfort of friends the$ fai,ed us Those /e counted on tohe, forgot us )ut e"en then there /as <ne 8/ho remem(ered us8 and sho/ed Himse,f

to (e 8the same $esterda$ and toda$ and fore"er8 and then did /e ro"e afresh that 8Hismerc$ endureth fore"er8 8ho remem(ered us in our ,o/ estate8 There are some /ho

ma$ read these ,ines that /i,, thin of another a,ication of these /ords6 name,$ the time/hen $ou ,eft $our first ,o"e /hen $our heart gre/ co,d and $our ,ife (ecame /or,d,$

hen $ou /ere in a sad,$ (acs,idden state Then indeed /as $our estate a ,o/ one $ete"en then did our faithfu, God 8remem(er8 thee Ees each of us has cause to sa$ /ith the

#sa,mist 8He restoreth m$ sou, He ,eadeth me in the aths of righteousness for His name'ssae8 423637 8ho remem(ered us in our ,o/ estate8

Sti,, another a,ication of these /ords ma$ (e made name,$ to the ,ast great crisis



of the saint as he asses out of this /or,d As the "ita, sar of the (od$ gro/s dim and

nature fai,s then too is our 8estate8 ,o/ )ut then a,so the >ord remem(ereth us for 8Hismerc$ endureth for e"er Man's e=tremit$ is (ut God's oortunit$ His strength is made

erfect in our /eaness It is then that he 8remem(ers8 us ($ maing good His comforting romises 8+ear thou not for I am /ith thee (e not disma$ed for I am th$ God I /i,,

strengthen thee $ea I /i,, he, thee $ea I /i,, uho,d thee /ith the right hand of M$

righteousness8 4Isa !16107 8ho remem(ered us in our ,o/ estate8 Sure,$ this te=t /i,,furnish us /ith suita(,e /ords to e=ress our thansgi"ing /hen /e are at Home resent/ith the >ord Ho/ /e sha,, then raise Him for His co"enant faithfu,ness His match,ess

grace and His ,o"ing indness for ha"ing 8remem(ered us in our ,o/ estate: Then sha,,/e no/ e"en as /e are no/n <ur "er$ memories /i,, (e rene/ed erfected and /e

sha,, remem(er a,, the /a$ the >ord our God hath ,ed us8 4&eut .627 reca,,ing /ithgratitude and ;o$ His faithfu, remem(rances acno/,edging /ith adoration that 8His

merc$ endureth for e"er8 20

CHA#TB *Tried ($ +ire

8 But he knoweth the way that # take( when he hath tried me # shall come forth as

gold" 45<) 236107

5o( here corrects himse,f In the (eginning of the chater /e find him sa$ing6 8B"en

toda$ is m$ com,aint (itter6 m$ stroe is hea"ier than m$ groaning8 4"" 1 27 #oor 5o(fe,t that his ,ot /as un(eara(,e )ut he reco"ers himse,f He checs his hast$ out(urst and

re"ises his imetuous decision Ho/ often /e a,, ha"e to correct ourse,"es: <n,$ <ne has

e"er /a,ed this earth /ho ne"er had occasion to do so5o( here comforts himself. He cou,d not fathom the m$steries of #ro"idence (ut God

ne/ the /a$ he too 5o( had di,igent,$ sought the ca,ming resence of God (ut for atime in "ain )eho,d I go for/ard (ut he is not there and (ac/ard (ut I cannot ercei"e

him <n the ,eft hand /here he doth /or (ut I cannot (eho,d him8 4"" . 97 )ut heconso,ed himse,f /ith this (,essed factthough I cannot see God /hat is a thousand times

(etter He can see me8He no/eth8 <ne a(o"e is neither unmindfu, nor indifferent to our ,ot If He notices the fa,, of a sarro/ if He counts the hairs of our heads of course 8He

no/s8 the /a$ that I tae 5o( here enunciates a no$le view of life Ho/ s,endid,$otimistic he /as: He did not a,,o/ his aff,ictions to turn him into a setic He did not

ermit the sore tria,s and trou(,es through /hich he /as assing to o"er/he,m him He,ooed at the (right side of the dar c,oudGod's side hidden from sense and reason He

too a ,ong "ie/ of ,ife He ,ooed (e$ond the immediate 'fier$ tria,s8 and said that theoutcome /ou,d (e go,d refined 8)ut he no/eth the /a$ that I tae6 /hen he hath tried

me I sha,, come forth as go,d8 Three great truths are e=ressed here6 ,et us (rief,$ consider each searate,$

1The &i"ine Fno/,edge of M$ >ife "e knoweth the way that # take." Theomniscience of God is one of the /ondrous attri(utes of &eit$ 8+or his e$es are uon the

/a$s of man and he seeth a,, his goings8 45o( 3!6217 8The e$es of the >ord are in e"er$

,ace (eho,ding the e"i, and the good 4#ro" 1%637 Surgeon said 8<ne of the greatesttests of e=erimenta, re,igion is hat is m$ re,ationshi to God's omniscienceD8 hat is$our re,ationshi to it dear readerD Ho/ does it affect $ouD &oes it distress or comfort



$ouD &o $ou shrin from the thought of God no/ing a,, a(out $our /a$D erhas a ,$ing

se,fish h$ocritica, /a$: To the sinner this is a terri(,e thought He denies it or if not hesees to forget it )ut to the Christian here is rea, comfort Ho/ cheering to remem(er that

m$ +ather no/s a,, a(out m$ tria,s m$ difficu,ties m$ sorro/s m$ efforts to g,orif$Him #recious truth for those in Christ harro/ing thought for a,, out of Christ that the /a$

I am taing is fu,,$ no/n to and o(ser"ed ($ God 8He no/eth the /a$ that I tae8 Men

did not no/ the /a$ that 5o( too He /as grie"ous,$ misunderstood and for one /ith asensiti"e temerament to (e misunderstood is a sore tria, His "er$ friends thought he /asa h$ocrite The$ (e,ie"ed he /as a great sinner and (eing unished ($ God 5o( ne/ that

he /as an un/orth$ saint (ut not a h$ocrite He aea,ed against their censorious "erdict8He no/eth the /a$ that I tae6 /hen he hath tried me I sha,, come forth as go,d8

Here is instruction for us /hen ,ie circumstanced +e,,o/(e,ie"er $our fe,,o/men $es and $our fe,,o/Christians ma$ misunderstand $ou and misinterret God'sdea,ings /ith $ou6 (ut conso,e $ourse,f /ith the (,essed fact that the omniscient <ne

no/eth 8He no/eth the /a$ that I tae8 In the fu,,est sense of the /ord 5o( himse,f didnot no/ the /a$ that he too nor do an$ of us >ife is rofound,$ m$sterious and the

assing of the $ears offer no so,ution Nor does hi,osohi?ing he, us Human "o,ition is astrange enigma Consciousness (ears /itness that /e are more than automatons The o/er

of choice is e=ercised ($ us in e"er$ mo"e /e mae And $et it is ,ain that our freedom isnot a(so,ute There are forces (rought to (ear uon us (oth good and e"i, /hich are

(e$ond our o/er to resist )oth heredit$ and en"ironment e=ercise o/erfu, inf,uencesuon us <ur surroundings and circumstances are factors /hich cannot (e ignored And

/hat of ro"idence /hich 8shaes our destinies8D Ah ho/ ,itt,e do /e no/ the /a$/hich /e 8tae8 Said the rohet 8< >ord I no/ that the /a$ of man is not in himse,f6 it

is not in man that /a,eth to direct his stes 45er 106237 Here /e enter the rea,m of

m$ster$ and it is id,e to den$ it )etter far to acno/,edge /ith the /ise man 8Man'sgoings are of the >ord ho/ can a man then understand his o/n /a$D8 4#ro" 2062!7 In thenarro/er sense of the term 5o( did no/ the /a$ /hich he too hat that 8/a$8 /as he

te,,s us in the ne=t t/o "erses 8M$ foot hath he,d his stes his /a$ ha"e I et and notdec,ined Neither ha"e I gone (ac from the commandment of his ,is I ha"e esteemed the

/ords of his mouth more than m$ necessar$ food8 45o( 23611 127

The /a$ 5o( chose /as the (est /a$ the scritura, /a$ God's /a$8His /a$8 hat

do $ou thin of that /a$ dear readerD as it not a grand se,ectionD Ah not on,$ 8atient8 (ut /ise 5o(: Ha"e $ou made a simi,ar choiceD Can $ou sa$ M$ foot hath he,d his stes

his /a$ ha"e I et and not dec,inedD8 4" 117 If $ou can raise Him for His ena(,inggrace If $ou cannot confess /ith shame $our fai,ure to aroriate His a,,sufficient grace

Get do/n on $our nees at once and un(osom $ourse,f to God Hide and ee (ac nothing emem(er it is /ritten 8If /e confess our sins he is faithfu, and ;ust to forgi"e us

our sins and to c,eanse us from a,, unrighteousness8 4I 5ohn 1697 &oes not " 12 e=,ain$our fai,ure m$ fai,ure dear readerD Is it not (ecause /e ha"e not trem(,ed (efore God's

commandments and (ecause /e ha"e so ,ight,$ esteemed His ord that /e ha"e8dec,ined8 from His /a$: Then ,et us e"en no/ and dai,$ see grace from on high to heed

His commandments and hide His ord in our hearts 8He no/eth the /a$ that I tae8hich /a$ are $ou taingD the Narro/ a$ /hich ,eadeth unto ,ife or 'the )road oad

that ,eadeth to destructionD Mae certain on this oint dear friend Scriture dec,ares 8Soe"er$ one of us sha,, gi"e account of himse,f to God8 4om 1!6127 )ut $ou need not (edecei"ed or uncertain The >ord dec,ared 8I am The a$8 45ohn 1!6*7



2 &i"ine Testing "When he hath tried me." 8The fining ot is for si,"er and the

furnace for go,d6 (ut the >ord trieth the hearts8 4#ro" 1-637 This /as God's /a$ /ithIsrae, of o,d and it is His /a$ /ith Christians no/ 5ust (efore Israe, entered Canaan as

Moses re"ie/ed their histor$ since ,ea"ing Bg$t he said 8And thou sha,t remem(er a,,the /a$ /hich the >ord th$ God ,ed thee these fort$ $ears in the /i,derness to hum(,e

thee and to ro"e thee and to no/ /hat as in thine heart /hether thou /ou,dst ee his

commandments or no8 4&eut .627 In the same /a$ God tries tests ro"es hum(,es us8hen he hath tried me8 If /e rea,i?ed this more /e shou,d (ear u (etter in the hour of aff,iction and (e more atient under suffering The dai,$ irritations of ,ife the things /hich

anno$ so much/hat is their meaningD /h$ are the$ ermittedD Here is the ans/er6 God is8tr$ing8 $ou: That is the e=,anation 4in art at ,east7 of that disaointment that crushing

of $our earth,$ hoes that great ,ossGod /as is testing $ou God is tr$ing $our temer$our courage $our faith $our atience $our ,o"e $our fide,it$ 8hen he hath tried me8

Ho/ freuent,$ God's saints see on,$ Satan as the cause of their trou(,es The$ regard thegreat enem$ as resonsi(,e for much of their sufferings )ut there is no comfort for the

heart in this e do not den$ that the &e"i, does (ring a(out much that harasses us )ut

a(o"e Satan is the >ord A,might$: The &e"i, cannot touch a hair of our heads /ithoutGod's ermission and /hen he is a,,o/ed to distur( and distract us e"en then it is on,$God using him to 8tr$8 us >et us ,earn then to ,oo (e$ond a,, secondar$ causes and

instruments to that <ne /ho /oreth a,, things after the counse, of His o/n /i,, 4Bh16117 This is /hat 5o( did In the oening chater of the (oo /hich (ears his name /efind Satan o(taining ermission to aff,ict God's ser"ant He used the Sa(eans to destro$ 5o(

's herds 4" 1%76 he sent the Cha,deans to s,a$ his ser"ants 4" 1-76 he caused a great /ind toi,, his chi,dren 4" 197 And /hat /as 5o('s resonseD This6 he e=c,aimed 8The >ord ga"e

and the >ord hath taen a/a$ (,essed (e the name of the >ord8 416217

5o( ,ooed (e$ond the human agents (e$ond Satan /ho em,o$ed them to the >ord/ho contro,,eth a,, He rea,i?ed that it /as the >ord tr$ing him e get the same thing inthe Ne/ Testament To the suffering saints at Sm$rna 5ohn /rote 8+ear none of those

things /hich thou sha,t suffer (eho,d the de"i, sha,, cast some of $ou into rison that $ema$ (e tried8 4e" 26107 Their (eing cast into rison /as sim,$ God tr$ing them Ho/

much /e ,ose ($ forgetting this: hat a sta$ for the trou(,etossed heart to no/ that nomatter /hat form the testing ma$ tae no matter /hat the agent /hich anno$s it is God

/ho is 8tr$ing8 His chi,dren hat a erfect e=am,e the Sa"iour sets us hen He /asaroached in the garden and #eter dre/ his s/ord and cut off the ear of Ma,chus the

Sa"iour said 8The cu /hich M$ +ather hath gi"en Me sha,, I not drin itD8 45ohn 1.6117

Men /ere a(out to "ent their a/fu, rage uon Him the Serent /ou,d (ruise His hee, (utHe ,oos a(o"e and (e$ond them &ear reader no matter ho/ (itter its contents 4infinite,$,ess than that /hich the Sa"iour drained7 ,et us accet the cu as from the +ather's hand

In some moods /e are at to uestion the /isdom and right of God to tr$ us Sooften /e murmur at His disensations h$ shou,d God ,a$ such an into,era(,e (urden

uon meD h$ shou,d others (e sared their ,o"ed ones and mine taenD h$ shou,dhea,th and strength erhas the gift of sight (e denied meD The first ans/er to a,, such

uestions is 8< man /ho art thou that re,iest against GodD8: It is /iced insu(ordinationfor an$ creature to ca,, into uestion the dea,ings of the great Creator 8Sha,, the thing

formed sa$ to him that formed it h$ hast Thou made me thusD8 4om 96207 Ho/earnest,$ each of us need to cr$ unto God that His grace ma$ si,ence our re(e,,ious ,isand sti,, the temest /ithin our deserate,$ /iced hearts: )ut to the hum(,e sou, /hich

(o/s in su(mission (efore the so"ereign disensations of the a,,/ise God Scriture



affords some ,ight on the ro(,em This ,ight ma$ not satisf$ reason (ut it /i,, (ring

comfort and strength /hen recei"ed in chi,d,ie faith and sim,icit$ In I #et 16* /e read8herein 4God's sa,"ation7 $e great,$ re;oice though no/ for a season if need (e $e are

in hea"iness through manifo,d temtations 4or tria,s76 That the tria, of $our faith (eingmuch more recious than of go,d that erisheth though it (e tried /ith fire might (e found

unto raise and honour and g,or$ at the aearing of 5esus Christ8

Note three things here +irst there is a needs(e for the tria, of faith Since God sa$sit ,et us accet it Second this tr$ing of faith is recious far more so than of go,d It is

recious to God 4cf #sa 11*61%7 and /i,, $et (e so to us Third the resent tria, has in

"ie/ the future here the tria, has (een mee,$ endured and (ra"e,$ (orne there /i,, (e agrand re/ard at the aearing of our edeemer Again in I #et !612 13 /e are to,d6

8)e,o"ed thin it not strange concerning the fier$ tria, /hich is to tr$ $ou as though somestrange thing haened unto $ou6 )ut re;oice inasmuch as $e are artaers of Christ'ssufferings6 that /hen his g,or$ sha,, (e re"ea,ed $e ma$ (e g,ad a,so /ith e=ceeding ;o$8

The same thoughts are e=ressed here as in the re"ious assage There is a needs(e for our 8tria,s8 and therefore /e are to thin them not strange/e shou,d e=ect them And

too there is again the (,essed out,oo of (eing rich,$ recomensed at Christ's return Thenthere is the added /ord that not on,$ shou,d /e meet these tria,s /ith faith's fortitude (ut

/e shou,d re;oice in them inasmuch as /e are ermitted to ha"e fe,,o/shi in 8thesufferings of Christ8 He too suffered6 sufficient then for the disci,e to (e as his Master

8hen he hath tried me8 &ear Christian reader there are no e=cetions God had on,$ oneSon /ithout sin (ut ne"er one /ithout sorro/ Sooner or ,ater in one form or another

tria,sore and hea"$/i,, (e our ,ot 8And sent Timotheus our (rother to esta(,ish $ouand comfort $ou concerning $our faith6 That no man shou,d (e mo"ed ($ these aff,ictions

for $ourse,"es no/ that /e are aointed thereunto8 4I Thess 362 37 And again it is

/ritten 8e must through much tri(u,ation enter into the ingdom of God8 4Acts 1!6227 Ithas (een so in e"er$ age A(ram /as 8tried8 tried se"ere,$ So too /ere 5oseh 5aco(Moses &a"id &anie, the Aost,es etc

3 The @,timate Issue 8 # shall come forth as gold 8 <(ser"e the tense here 5o( didnot imagine that he /as ure go,d a,read$ 8I sha,, come forth as go,d8 he dec,ared He

ne/ fu,, /e,, that there /as $et much dross in him He did not (oast that he /as a,read$ erfect +ar from it In the fina, chater of his (oo /e find him sa$ing 8I a(hor m$se,f8

4!26*7 And /e,, he might6 and /e,, ma$ /e As /e disco"er that in our f,esh thered/e,,eth 8no good thing8 as /e e=amine ourse,"es and our /a$s in the ,ight of God's ord

and (eho,d our innumera(,e fai,ures as /e thin of our count,ess sins (oth of omissionand commission good reason ha"e /e for a(horring ourse,"es Ah Christian reader there

is much dross a(out us )ut it /i,, not e"er (e thus 8I sha,, come forth as go,d8 5o( did notsa$ 8hen he hath tried me I ma$ come forth as go,d8 or 8I hoe to come forth as go,d8

(ut /ith fu,, confidence and ositi"e assurance he dec,ared 8I sha,, come forth as go,d8)ut ho/ did he no/ thisD Ho/ can /e (e sure of the ha$ issueD )ecause the &i"ine

urose cannot fai, He /hich hath (egun a good /or in us 8/i,, finish it8 4#hi, 16*7Ho/ can /e (e sure of the ha$ issueD )ecause the &i"ine romise is sure6 8The >ord

/i,, erfect that /hich concerneth me8 4#sa 13.6.7 Then (e of good cheer tried andtrou(,ed one The rocess ma$ (e un,easant and ainfu, (ut the issue is charming and

sure 8I sha,, come forth as go,d8 This /as said ($ one /ho ne/ aff,iction and sorro/ asfe/ among the sons of men ha"e no/n them Eet desite his fier$ tria,s he /as otimistic>et then this triumhant ,anguage (e ours 8I sha,, come forth as go,d8 is not the ,anguage

of carna, (oasting (ut the confidence of one /hose mind /as sta$ed uon God There /i,,



(e no credit to our accountthe g,or$ /i,, a,, (e,ong to the &i"ine efiner 5ames 1612

+or the resent there remain t/o things6 first >o"e is the &i"ine thermometer /hi,e/e are in the cruci(,e of testing8And he sha,, sit 4the atience of &i"ine grace7 as a

efiner and #urifier of si,"er8 etc 4Ma, 3637 Second the >ord Himse,f is /ith us in thefier$ furnace as He /as /ith the three $oung He(re/s 4&an 362%7 +or the future this is

sure6 the most /onderfu, thing in hea"en /i,, not (e the go,den street or the go,den hars

(ut go,den sou,s on /hich is stamed the image of God8redestinated to (e conformed tothe image of his Son:8 #raise God for such a g,orious rosect such a "ictorious issuesuch a mar"e,ous goa,

CHA#TB -

&i"ine Chastisement

8 )es!ise not thou the chastening of the *ord nor faint when thou are re$uked

of him84HB)BS 126%7

It is of first imortance that /e ,earn to dra/ a shar distinction (et/een &i"ine unishment and &i"ine chastisement imortant for maintaining the honour and g,or$ of

God and for the eace of mind of the Christian The distinction is "er$ sim,e $et is itoften ,ost sight of God's eo,e can ne"er ($ an$ ossi(i,it$ (e !unished for their sins for God has a,read$ unished them at the Cross The >ord 5esus our ),essed Su(stitute

suffered the fu,, ena,t$ of a,, our gui,t hence it is /ritten 8The (,ood of 5esus Christ hisSon c,eanseth us from a,, sin8 Neither the ;ustice nor the ,o"e of God /i,, ermit Him to

again e=act a$ment of /hat Christ discharged to the fu,, The difference (et/een !unishment and chastisement ,ies not in the nature of the sufferings of the

aff,icted6 it is most imortant to (ear this in mind There is a threefo,d distinction (et/eenthe t/o

+irst the character in /hich God acts In the former God acts as 5udge in the ,atter as +ather Sentence of unishment is the act of a ;udge a ena, sentence assed on those

charged /ith gui,t #unishment can ne"er fa,, uon the chi,d of God in this ;udicia, sense (ecause his gui,t /as a,, transferred to Christ6 8ho his o/n se,f (ear our sins in his o/n

(od$ on the tree8 )ut /hi,e the (e,ie"er's sins cannot (e unished /hi,e the Christiancannot (e condemned 4om .637 $et he ma$ (e chastised. The Christian occuies an

entire,$ different osition from the nonChristian6 he is a mem(er of the +ami,$ of God

The re,ationshi /hich no/ e=ists (et/een him and God is that of arent and chi,d and asa son he must (e disci,ined for /rongdoing +o,,$ is (ound u in the hearts of a,, God'schi,dren and the rod is necessar$ to re(ue to su(due to hum(,e

The second distinction (et/een &i"ine unishment and &i"ine chastisement ,ies inthe reci!ients of each The o(;ects of the former are His enemies The su(;ects of the ,atter

are His chi,dren As the 5udge of a,, the earth God /i,, $et tae "engeance on a,, His foesAs the +ather of His fami,$ God maintains disci,ine o"er a,, His chi,dren The one is

;udicia, the other arenta,

A third distinction is seen in The design of each6 the one is retri(uti"e the other

remedia, The one f,o/s from His anger the other from His ,o"e &i"ine unishment isne"er sent for the good of sinners (ut for the honouring of God's ,a/ and the "indicating of His go"ernment )ut &i"ine chastisement is sent for the /e,,(eing of His chi,dren6 8e

ha"e had fathers of our f,esh /hich corrected us and /e ga"e them re"erence6 sha,, /e not



much rather (e in su(;ection unto the +ather of sirits and ,i"eD +or the$ "eri,$ for a fe/

da$s chastened us after their o/n ,easure (ut he for our rofit that /e might (e artaersof his ho,iness8 4He( 1269107

The a(o"e distinction shou,d at once re(ue the thoughts /hich are so genera,,$entertained among Christians hen the (e,ie"er is smarting under the rod ,et him not sa$

God is no/ unishing me for m$ sins That can ne"er (e That is most dishonouring to the

(,ood of Christ God is correcting thee in ,o"e not smiting in /rath Nor shou,d theChristian regard the chastening of the >ord as a sort of necessar$ e"i, to /hich he must

(o/ as su(missi"e,$ as ossi(,e No it roceeds from God's goodness and faithfu,ness and

is one of the greatest (,essings for /hich /e ha"e to than Him Chastisement e"idencesour &i"ine sonshi6 the father of a fami,$ does not concern himse,f /ith those on the

outside6 (ut those /ithin he guides and disci,ines to mae them conform to his /i,,Chastisement is designed for our good to romote our highest interests >oo (e$ond therod to the A,,/ise hand that /ie,ds it:

The He(re/ Christians to /hom this Bist,e /as first addressed /ere assing

through a great fight of aff,ictions and misera(,$ /ere the$ conducting themse,"es The$/ere the ,itt,e remnant out of the 5e/ish nation /ho had (e,ie"ed on their Messiah duringthe da$s of His u(,ic ministr$ ,us those 5e/s /ho had (een con"erted under the

reaching of the aost,es It is high,$ ro(a(,e that the$ had e=ected the MessianicFingdom /ou,d at once (e set u on earth and that the$ /ou,d (e a,,otted the chief ,aces

of honour in it )ut the Mi,,ennium had not (egun and their o/n ,ot (ecame increasing,$ (itter The$ /ere not on,$ hated ($ the Genti,es (ut ostraci?ed ($ their un(e,ie"ing

(rethren and it (ecame a hard matter for them to mae e"en a (are ,i"ing #ro"idence he,da fro/ning face Man$ /ho had made a rofession of Christianit$ had gone (ac to

5udaism and /ere rosering temora,,$ As the aff,ictions of the (e,ie"ing 5e/s increased

the$ too /ere sore,$ temted to turn their (ac uon the ne/ +aith Had the$ (een /rongin em(racing Christianit$D as high Hea"en dis,eased (ecause the$ had identifiedthemse,"es /ith 5esus of Na?arethD &id not their suffering go to sho/ that God no ,onger

regarded them /ith fa"ourD

No/ it is most instructi"e and (,essed to see ho/ the Aost,e met the un(e,ie"ing

reasoning of their hearts He aea,ed to their o/n Scritures: He reminded them of ane=hortation found in #ro"er(s 361112 and a,ied it to their case Notice first the /ords

/e ,ace in ita,ics6 8Ee ha"e forgotten the e=hortation /hich seaeth unto you." Thissho/s that the e=hortations of the <,d Testament /ere not restricted to those /ho ,i"ed

under the o,d co"enant6 the$ a,$ /ith eua, force and directness to those of us ,i"ingunder the ne/ co"enant >et us not forget that 8a,, Scriture is gi"en ($ insiration of God

and is rofita(,e8 42 Tim 361*7 The <,d Testament eua,,$ as much as the Ne/ Testament/as /ritten for our ,earning and admonition Second mar the tense of the "er( in our oening te=t6 8Ee ha"e forgotten the e=hortation /hich seaeth8 The Aost,e uoted a

sentence of the ord /ritten one thousand $ears re"ious,$ $et he does not sa$ 8/hichhath soen8 (ut 8/hich seaeth8 The same rinci,e is i,,ustrated in that se"enfo,d 8He

that hath an ear ,et him hear /hat the Sirit saith 4not 8said87 unto the churches8 of e" 2and 3 The Ho,$ Scritures are a ,i"ing ord in /hich God is seaing toda$: Consider

no/ the /ords 8Ee ha"e forgotten8 It /as not that these He(re/ Christians /ere

unacuainted /ith #ro" 3611 and 12 (ut the$ had ,et them s,i The$ had forgotten the+atherhood of God and their re,ation of Him as His dear chi,dren In conseuence the$misinterreted (oth the manner and design of God's resent dea,ings /ith them the$



"ie/ed His disensation not in the ,ight of His >o"e (ut regarded them as signs of His

dis,easure or as roofs of His forgetfu,ness Conseuent,$ instead of cheerfu, su(missionthere /as desondenc$ and desair

Here is a most imortant ,esson for us6 /e must interret the m$sterious ro"idencesof God not ($ reason or o(ser"ation (ut ($ the ord Ho/ often /e 8forget8 the

e=hortation /hich seaeth unto us as unto chi,dren 8M$ son desise not thou the

chastening of the >ord nor faint /hen thou art re(ued of him8 @nhai,$ there is no/ord in the Bng,ish ,anguage /hich is caa(,e of doing ;ustice to the Gree term here8#aideia8 /hich is rendered 8chastening8 is on,$ another form of 8aidion8 /hich signifies

8$oung chi,dren8 (eing the tender /ord that /as em,o$ed ($ the Sa"iour in 5ohn 216%and He(re/s 2613 <ne can see at a g,ance the direct connection /hich e=ists (et/een the

/ords 8disci,e8 and 8disci,ine86 eua,,$ c,ose in the Gree is the re,ation (et/een8chi,dren8 and 8chastening8 Sontraining /ou,d (e (etter It has reference to God'seducation nurture and disci,ine of His chi,dren It is the +ather's /ise and ,o"ing

correction /hich is in "ie/ It is true that much chastisement is the rod in the hand of the+ather correcting His erring chi,d )ut it is a serious mistae to confine our thoughts to this

one asect of the su(;ect Chastisement is ($ no means a,/a$s the scourging of Hisrefracti"e sons Some of the saint,iest of God's eo,e some of the most o(edient of His

chi,dren ha"e (een and are the greatest sufferers <ftentimes God's chastenings instead of (eing retri(uti"e are correcti"e The$ are sent to emt$ us of se,fsufficienc$ and se,f

righteousness6 the$ are gi"en to disco"er to us hidden transgressions and to teach us the ,ague of our o/n hearts <r again chastisements are sent to strengthen our faith to raise

us to higher ,e"e,s of e=erience to (ring us into a condition of usefu,ness Sti,, again&i"ine chastisement is sent as a re"entati"e to ee under ride to sa"e us from (eing

undu,$ e,ated o"er success in God's ser"ice >et us consider (rief,$ four entire,$ different

e=am,es&AI& In his case the rod /as ,aid uon him for grie"ous sins for oen

/icedness His fa,, /as occasioned ($ se,fconfidence and se,frighteousness If the

reader /i,, di,igent,$ comare the t/o Songs of &a"id recorded in 2 Samue, 22 and 23 theone /ritten near the (eginning of his ,ife the other near the end he /i,, (e struc ($ the

great difference of sirit manifested ($ the /riter in each ead 2 Samue, 226222% and $ou/i,, not (e surrised that God suffered him to ha"e such a fa,, Then turn to chater 23 and

mar the (,essed change At the (eginning of " % there is a heart(roen confession of fai,ure In "" 1012 there is a Godg,orif$ing confession attri(uting "ictor$ unto the >ord

The se"ere scourging of &a"id /as not in "ain5<) #ro(a(,$ he tasted of e"er$ ind of suffering /hich fa,,s to man's ,ot6 fami,$

(erea"ements ,oss of roert$ grie"ous (odi,$ aff,ictions came fast one on to of another)ut God's end in it a,, /as that 5o( shou,d (enefit therefrom and (e a greater artaer of His ho,iness There /as not a ,itt,e of se,fsatisfaction and se,frighteousness in 5o( at the

(eginning )ut at the end /hen He /as (rought face to face /ith the thrice Ho,$ <ne he8a(horred himse,f8 4!26*7 In &a"id's case the chastisement /as retri(uti"e in 5o('s

correcti"e

A)AHAM In him /e see an i,,ustration of an entire,$ different asect of

chastening Most of the tria,s to /hich he /as su(;ected /ere neither (ecause of oen sinsnor for the correction of in/ard fau,ts ather /ere the$ sent for the de"e,oment of

siritua, graces A(raham /as sore,$ tried in "arious /a$s (ut it /as in order that faithmight (e strengthened and that atience might ha"e its erfect /or in him A(raham /as



/eaned from the things of this /or,d that he might en;o$ c,oser fe,,o/shi /ith 5eho"ah

and (ecome the 8friend8 of God

#A@> 8And ,est I shou,d (e e=a,ted a(o"e measure through the a(undance of the

re"e,ations there /as gi"en to me a thorn in the f,esh the messenger of Satan to (uffet me,est I shou,d (e e=a,ted a(o"e measure 42 Cor 126-7 This 8thorn8 /as sent not (ecause of

fai,ure and sin (ut as a re"entati"e against ride Note the 8,est8 (oth at the (eginning and

end of the "erse The resu,t of this 8thorn8 /as that the (e,o"ed aost,e /as made moreconscious of his /eaness Thus chastisement has for one of its main o(;ects the (reaingdo/n of se,fsufficienc$ the (ringing us to the end of our se,"es No/ in "ie/ of these

/ide,$ different asects chastenings /hich are retri(uti"e correcti"e educati"e and re"entati"e ho/ incometent are /e to diagnose and ho/ great is the fo,,$ of

ronouncing a ;udgment concerning others: >et us not conc,ude /hen /e see a fe,,o/Christian under the rod of God that he is necessari,$ (eing taen to tas for his sins In our ne=t meditation /e sha,, & consider the sirit in /hich &i"ine chastisements are to (e

recei"ed

CHA#TB .

&i"ine Chastisement

8 +y %on des!ise not thou the chastening of the *ord nor faint when thou art

re$uked of im8 4HB)BS 126%7

Not a,, chastisement is sanctified to the reciients of it Some are hardened there($

others are crushed (eneath it Much deends on the sirit in /hich aff,ictions are recei"edThere is no "irtue in tria,s and trou(,es in themse,"es6 it is on,$ as the$ are (,est ($ God

that the Christian is rofited there($ As He( 12611 informs us it is those /ho are8e=ercised8 under God's rod that (ring forth 8the eacea(,e fruit of righteousness8 A

sensiti"e conscience and a tender heart are the needed ad;uncts In our te=t the Christian is/arned against t/o entire,$ different dangers6 desise not desair not These are t/o

e=tremes against /hich it is e"er necessar$ to ee a shar ,ooout 5ust as e"er$ truth of Scriture has its (a,ancing counterart so has e"er$ e"i, its oosite <n the one hand there

is a haught$ sirit /hich ,aughs at the rod a stu((orn /i,, /hich refuses to (e hum(,edthere($ <n the other hand there is a fainting /hich utter,$ sins (eneath it and gi"es /a$

to desair Surgeon said 8The /a$ of righteousness is a difficu,t ass (et/een t/omountains of error and the great secret of the Christian's ,ife is to /ind his /a$ a,ong the

narro/ "a,,e$8

I&esising the od There are a num(er of /a$s in /hich Christians ma$ 8desise8

God's chastenings e mention four of them6

,.By callousness. To (e stoica, is the o,ic$ of carna, /isdom mae the (est of a

(ad ;o( The man of the /or,d no/s no (etter ,an than to grit his teeth and (ra"e thingsout Ha"ing no &i"ine Comforter Counse,,or or #h$sician he has to fa,, (ac on his o/n

oor resources It is ine=ressi(,$ sad /hen /e see a chi,d of God conducting himse,f asdoes a chi,d of the &e"i, +or a Christian to def$ ad"ersities is to 8desise8 chastisement

Instead of hardening himse,f to endure stoica,,$ there shou,d (e a me,ting of the heart-. By com!laining. This is /hat the He(re/s did in the /i,derness and there are sti,,

man$ mumurers in Israe,'s cam A ,itt,e sicness and /e (ecome so cross that our friends

are afraid to come near us A fe/ da$s in (ed and /e fret and fume ,ie a (u,,oc



chi,d I shou,d not (e in this o"ert$ miser$ ain8 >isten to "erse .6 8)ut if $e (e /ithout

chastisement /hereof a,, are artaers then are $e (astards and not sons8 >earn then to,oo uon tria,s as roofs of God's ,o"e urging runing urif$ing thee The father of a

fami,$ does not concern himse,f much a(out those on the outside of his househo,d6 it isthe$ /ho are /ithin /hom he guards and guides nurtures and conforms to his /i,, So it is

/ith God

3When he des!airs Some indu,ge the fanc$ that the$ /i,, ne"er get out of their trou(,e <ne sa$s I ha"e ra$ed and ra$ed (ut the c,ouds ha"e not ,ifted Then comfort$ourse,f /ith this ref,ection6 It is a,/a$s the darest hour that recedes the da/n

Therefore 8faint not8 /hen thou art re(ued of Him )ut sa$s another I ha"e ,eaded His romise and things are no (etter I thought He de,i"ered those /ho ca,,ed uon Him I

ha"e ca,,ed and He has not ans/ered and I fear He ne"er /i,, hat chi,d of God sea of th$ +ather thus: Eou sa$ He /i,, ne"er ,ea"e off smiting (ecause He has smitten so ,ongather sa$ He has no/ smitten so ,ong I must soon (e de,i"ered &esise not6 faint not

Ma$ &i"ine grace reser"e (oth /riter and reader from either sinfu, e=treme

CHA#TB 9

God's Inheritance

8 or the *ord1s !ortion is his !eo!le( Jaco$ is the lot of his

inheritance" 4&B@TB<N<ME32697

This "erse (rings (efore us a most (,essed and /onderfu, ,ine of truth so /onderfu,

that no human mind cou,d ossi(,$ ha"e in"ented it It seas of the might$ God ha"ing an8inheritance8 and it te,,s us that this inheritance is in His o/n eo,e: God refused to tae

this /or,d for His inheritanceit /i,, $et (e (urnt u Nor did hea"en eo,ed /ith ange,ssatisf$ His heart In eternit$ ast 5eho"ah said ($ /a$ of anticiation 8M$ de,ights /ere

/ith the sons of men8 4#ro" .6317

This is ($ no means the on,$ scriture /hich teaches that God's inheritance is in His

saints In #sa,m ,3%6! /e read 8+or the >ord hath chosen 5aco( unto Himse,f and Israe,for His ecu,iar treasure8 In Ma, 361- the >ord seas of His eo,e as His 8secia,

treasure8 4see margin7so 8secia,8 that the highest manifestations of His ,o"e are made tothem the richest gifts of His hand are (esto/ed on them the mansions on High are

reared and reser"ed for them: The same /ondrous truth is taught in the Ne/ Testament

In Bhesians 1 /e (eho,d the aost,e #au, ra$ing that God /ou,d gi"e unto His eo,e thesirit of /isdom and re"e,ation in the no/,edge of Him6 the e$es of their understanding

(eing en,ightened that the$ might no/ 8/hat is the hoe of His ca,,ing and /hat the

riches of the g,or$ of His inheritance in the saints8 4" 1.7 This is a tru,$ ama?inge=ression not on,$ do the saints o(tain an inheritance in God (ut He a,so secures an

inheritance in them: Ho/ o"er/he,ming the thought that the great God shou,d deemHimse,f the richer (ecause of our faith our ,o"e and /orshi: Sure,$ this is one of the most

mar"e,,ous truths re"ea,ed in Ho,$ ritthat God shou,d ic u oor sinners and maethem His 8inheritance8: Eet so it is

)ut /hat need has God of usD Ho/ can /e ossi(,$ enrich HimD &oes He not ha"ee"er$thing/isdom o/er grace and g,or$D A,, true $et there is something that He needs$es needs name,$ "esse,s 5ust as the sun needs the earth to shine uon so God needs

"esse,s to fi,, "esse,s through /hich His g,or$ ma$ (e ref,ected "esse,s on /hich the



riches of His grace ma$ (e ,a"ished Mar that God's eo,e are not on,$ ca,,ed His

8ortion8 His 8secia, treasure (ut a,so His 8inheritance ' This suggests three things +irstan 8inheritance is o(tained through death6 so God's inheritance is secured to Him through

the death of His (e,o"ed Son Second an 8inheritance8 denotes eretuit$8to a man andhis heirs fore"er8 are the terms often used Third an 8inheritance8 is for ossession it is

something /hich is entered into ,i"ed uon en;o$ed >et us no/ consider fi"e things a(out

God's inheritance6,.God !ur!osed to have such an inheritance' 8),essed is the nation /hose God is

the >ord and the eo,e /hom he hath chosen for his o/n inheritance8 4#sa 336127 The

8nation8 here is identica, /ith the ho,$ nation8 the 8chosen generation ro$a, riesthood ecu,iar eo,e8 of I #eter 269 This fa"oured eo,e /as chosen ($ God to (e His

inheritance6 it /as not an afterthought /ith Him (ut decreed ($ Him in eternit$ ast Brethe foundation of the /or,d God fi=ed His heart uon ha"ing them for Himse,f

2God has !urchased is !eo!le for an inheritance. In Bhesians 161! /e are to,d

that the Ho,$ Sirit is the earnest of our inheritance unti, the redemtion of the urchased

ossession unto the raise of His g,or$8 So again in Acts 2062. /e read of 8the Church of God /hich He hath urchased /ith His o/n (,ood8 God has not on,$ redeemed His eo,efrom (ondage and death (ut for Himse,f

3God comes and dwells in the midst of is inheritance' 8+or the >ord /i,, not castoff his eo,e neither /i,, he forsae his inheritance8 4#sa 9!61!7 a c,ear roof that these

scritures are not referring to the nation of Israe, after the f,esh 5ust as 5eho"ah ta(ernac,edin the midst of the redeemed He(re/s so He no/ ind/e,,s His church (oth co,,ecti"e,$

and indi"idua,,$ 8Fno/ $e not that $e 4,ura,7 are the tem,e of God and that the Sirit of God d/e,,eth in $ouD8 4I Cor 361*7 8Fno/ $e not that $our (od$ 4singu,ar7 is the tem,e

of the Ho,$ SiritD8 4I Cor *6197

2.God $eautifies is inheritance' 5ust as a man /ho has inherited a house or an

estate taes ossession of it and then maes imro"ements so God is no/ fitting His eo,e for Himse,f He /ho has (egun a good /or /ithin His o/n is no/ erforming it

unti, the da$ of 5esus Christ 4#hi, 16*7 He is no/ conforming us to the image of His Son6each Christian can sa$ /ith the #sa,mist 8the >ord /i,, erfect that /hich concerneth me84#sa 13.6.7 Nor /i,, God (e satisfied unti, /e ha"e (een g,orified The >ord 5esus Christ

8sha,, change our "i,e (od$ that it ma$ (e fashioned ,ie unto His g,orious (od$ accordingto the /oring /here($ he is a(,e e"en to su(due a,, things unto himse,f8 4#hi, 36217

8hen he sha,, aear /e sha,, (e ,ie him8 4I 5ohn 3627

% And what of the futureD God will yet !ossess3 live u!on3 en4oy is inheritance. In

the unending ages $et to (e God /i,, mae no/n the 8riches of his g,or$8 on the "esse,sof His merc$ 4om 96237 The g,or$ /hich God sha,, e"er ,i"e uonas uon an

inheritancesha,, rise out of His eo,e hat a mar"e,,ous statement is that /hich is foundat the c,ose of Bhesians 2 /here the saints are ,iened unto a (ui,ding 8fit,$ framed

together 4/hich7 3* gro/eth unto an ho,$ tem,e in the >ord8 of /hom it is said 8in/hom $e a,so are (ui,ded together for an ha(itation of God through the Sirit8 onderfu,

and g,orious is the icture resented (efore us in e" 216 8And I sa/ a ne/ hea"en and ane/ earth6 for the first hea"en and the first earth /ere assed a/a$ and there /as no more

sea And I 5ohn sa/ the ho,$ cit$ the ne/ 5erusa,em coming do/n from God out of hea"en reared as a (ride adorned for her hus(and And I heard a great "oice out of

hea"en sa$ing )eho,d the ta(ernac,e of God is /ith men and he /i,, rest in his ,o"e he/i,, ;o$ o"er thee /ith singing and God himse,f sha,, (e /ith them and (e their God8 4""



137

hat a mar"e,,ous statement is that in ehaniah 361-6 8The >ord th$ God in themidst of thee is might$ he /i,, sa"e he /i,, re;oice o"er thee /ith ;o$ he /i,, rest in his

,o"e he /i,, ;o$ o"er thee /ith singing8 The great God /i,, $et sa$ 8I am satisfied6 here/i,, I rest This is Mine inheritance that I /i,, ,i"e uon fore"er e"en the g,or$ /hich I

ha"e (esto/ed on redeemed sinners8 Sure,$ /e ha"e to sa$ /ith the #sa,mist 8Such

no/,edge is too /onderfu, for me it is high I cannot attain unto it8 41396*7 Ma$ &i"inegrace ena(,e us to /a, /orth$ of the "ocation /here/ith /e are ca,,ed

CHA#TB 10

God Securing His Inheritance

8 e found him in a desert land and in the waste howling wilderness( he led

him a$out. e instructed him he ke!t him as the a!!le of his eye8

4&B@TB<N<MEJ+<NTSIBK2326107

In the re"ious "erse /e ha"e the ama?ing statement that the >ord's 8ortion8 is His eo,e and that there ma$ (e no misunderstanding the same truth is e=ressed in another

form6 85aco( is the ,ot of his inheritance8 Here in our te=t /e ,earn something of the ains/hich God taes to secure His heritage There are four things to (e noted and feasted uon

,.Jehovah inding is !eo!le. 8He found him in a desert ,and8 It needs hard,$ to (esaid that the /ord 8found8 necessari,$ im,ies a 8search8 Here then /e ha"e resented toour "ie/ the ama?ing sectac,e of a seeing God: Sin came in (et/een the creature and the

Creator causing a,ienation and searation Not on,$ so (ut as the resu,t of the +a,, e"er$human (eing enters this /or,d /ith a mind that is 8enmit$ against God8 Conseuent,$

there is none that seeeth after God Therefore God in His mar"e,,ous condescension andgrace (ecomes the Seeer The /ord 8found8 not on,$ im,ies a search (ut /hen /e

consider the sinfu, character and un/orthiness of the o(;ects of His search it a,so te,,s of the ,o"e of the Seeer The great God (ecomes the Seeer (ecause He set His heart uon

those /hom He mared out to (e the reciients of His so"ereign fa"ours God had set Hisheart uon A(raham and therefore did He see and find him amid the heathen ido,ators in

@r of Cha,dea God set His heart uon 5aco( and therefore did He see out and find him asa fugiti"e from his (rother's "engeance /hen he ,a$ as,ee on the (are earth So too it /as

(ecause He had ,o"ed Moses /ith an e"er,asting ,o"e that the >ord sought out and found

him in Midian at 8the (acside of the desert8 Bua,,$ true is this /ith e"er$ rea, Christian,i"ing in the /or,d toda$6 8I /as found of them that sought me not I /as manifest untothem that ased not after me 4om 106207 Has God 8found8 $ouD To he, $ou ans/er this

uestion onder the remainder of the first c,ause of our te=t6 8He found him in a desert,and and in the /aste ho/,ing /i,derness8 Is that ho/ this /or,d aears unto $ouD &o

$ou find e"er$thing under the sun on,$ 8"anit$ and "e=ation of sirit8D Are $ou made togroan dai,$ at /hat $ou /itness on e"er$ handD &o $ou find that the /or,d furnishes

nothing to satisf$ the heart $ea nothing to e"en minister to itD #s the /or,d rea,,$ a 8/asteho/,ing /i,derness8 to you& >et a second test (e a,ied6 /hen God tru,$ 8finds8 one of

His o/n He re"ea,s Himse,f He imarts to the sou, a rea,i?ation of His so"ereign ma;est$

His a/esome o/er His ineffa(,e ho,iness His /ondrous merc$ Has He thus madeHimse,f no/n unto $ouD Has He gi"en $ou in an$ measure a "ision of His &i"ine g,or$His so"ereign grace His /ondrous ,o"eD as HeD 8This is ,ife eterna, that the$ might

no/ Thee the <ne true God and 5esus Christ /hom Thou hast sent8 45ohn 1-637 Here is



a third test6 If God has re"ea,ed Himse,f He has gi"en $ou a sight of $ourse,f for in His

,ight /e 8see ,ight8 A most hum(,ing ainfu, and ne"erto(eforgotten e=erience this ishen God /as re"ea,ed to A(raham he said 8I am (ut dust and ashes8 4Gen 1.62-7

hen He /as re"ea,ed to Isaiah the rohet said 8oe is me for I am undone (ecause Iam a man of unc,ean ,is8 4Isa *6%7 hen God re"ea,ed Himse,f to 5o( he said 8I a(hor

m$se,f and reent in dust and ashes8 45o( !26*7note not mere,$ I a(hor m$ /iced /a$s

(ut m$ "i,e se,f Is this $our e=erience m$ readerD Ha"e $ou disco"ered $our dera"it$and ,ost conditionD Ha"e $ou found there is not a sing,e good thing in $ouD Ha"e $ou seen$ourse,f to (e fit for and deser"ing on,$ of he,,D Ha"e $ou tru,$D Then that is good

e"idence $ea it is roof ositi"e that the >ord God has 8found8 $ou

2 5eho"ah *eading is Peo!le. 8He ,ed him a(out8 The 8finding8 is not the end (ut

on,$ the (eginning of God's dea,ings /ith His o/n Ha"ing found him He remains ne"er more to ,ea"e him No/ that He has found His /andering chi,d He teaches him to /a, inthe Narro/ a$ There is a (eautifu, /ord on God 8,eading8 in Hosea 11636 8I taught

Bhraim a,so to go taing them ($ their arms 5ust as a fond mother taes her ,itt,e one/hose feet are $et too /ea and untrained to /a, a,one so the >ord taes His eo,e ($

their arms and ,eads them in the aths of righteousness for His name's sae Such is His romise6 8He /i,, ee the feet of His saints8 41 Sam 2697 There is a threefo,d 8,eading8 of

the >ord6 5vangelical.6The >ord 5esus dec,ared 8I am the /a$ the truth and the ,ife6 noman cometh unto the +ather (ut ($ Me8 45ohn 1!6*7 )ut again He said 'No man can come

to Me e=cet the +ather /hich hath sent Me dra/ him8 5ohn *6!!7 Here then is ho/ God,eads6 He ,eads the oor sinner to Christ Ha"e $ou m$ reader (een (rought to the

Sa"iourD Is Christ $our on,$ hoeD Are $ou trusting in the sufficienc$ of His recious (,oodD If so /hat cause ha"e $ou to raise God for ha"ing ,ed $ou to His (,essed

Son: )octrinal.6The >ord 5esus dec,ared 8hen He the Sirit of truth is come He /i,,

guide $ou into a,, the truth8 5ohn 1*6137 e are not caa(,e of disco"ering or entering intothe Truth of ourse,"es therefore do /e ha"e to (e guided into it 8As man$ as are ,ed ($ theSirit of God the$ are the sons of God8 4om .61!7 It is He /ho maes us to ,ie do/n in

the 8green astures of Scriture and /ho ,eads us (eside the 8sti,, /aters8 of His romisesHo/ thanfu, /e ought to (e for e"er$ ra$ of ,ight /hich has (een granted us from the

,am of God's ord Providential.68Thou in th$ manifo,d mercies forsooest them not inthe /i,derness6 the i,,ar of the c,oud dearted not from them ($ da$ to ,ead them in the

/a$ neither the i,,ar of fire ($ night to sho/ them ,ight and the /a$ /herein the$ shou,dgo8 4Neh 96197 5ust as 5eho"ah ,ed Israe, of o,d so toda$ He ,eads us ste ($ ste through

this /i,derness/or,d hat a merc$ this is 8The stes of a good man are ordered ($ the

>ord and he de,ighteth in his /a$8 4#sa 3-6237 Ees e"er$ detai, of our ,i"es is regu,ated ($ the Most High

A,, m$ times are in Th$ hand A,, e"ents at Th$ command A,, must come and ,ast

and end As doth ,ease our Hea"en,$ +riend

3 God #nstructing is Peo!le. 8He instructed him8 So He does us It /as to instructus that God in His great merc$ ga"e us the Scritures He has not ,eft us to groe our /a$

in darness (ut has ro"ided us /ith a ,am unto our feet and a ,ight unto our ath Nor are/e ,eft to our o/n unaided o/ers in the stud$ of the ord e are su,ied /ith an

infa,,i(,e Instructor The Ho,$ Sirit is our teacher 8Ee ha"e an unction from the Ho,$ <ne

and $e no/ a,, things the anointing $e ha"e recei"ed of Him a(ideth in $ou and $eneed not that an$ man teach $ou8 4I 5ohn 2620 2-7 ight "ie/s of God's truth are not aninte,,ectua, attainment (ut a (,essing (esto/ed uon us ($ God It is /ritten 8a man can



recei"e nothing e=cet it (e gi"en him from hea"en8 45ohn 362-7 No matter ho/ ,egi(,$ a

,etter ma$ (e /ritten if the reciient (e (,ind he cannot read it So /e are to,d 8the natura,man recei"eth not the things of the Sirit of God6 for the$ are foo,ishness unto him6 neither

can he no/ them (ecause the$ are siritua,,$ discerned8 4I Cor 261!7 And siritua,discernment is imarted on,$ ($ the Ho,$ Sirit 8He instructed him8 Ho/ atient,$ God

(ears /ith our du,,ness: Ho/ gracious,$ He reeats 8,ine uon ,ine and recet uon

recet8: Eet s,o/ as /e are He erse"eres /ith us for He has romised to erfect that/hich concerns us 4#sa 13.6.7 Has He 8instructed8 $ou m$ readerD Has He taught $outhe tota, dera"it$ of man and the utter ina(i,it$ of the sinner to de,i"er himse,fD Has He

taught $ou the hum(,ing truth 8Ee must (e (orn again8 and that regeneration isthe sole /or of Godman ha"ing no art or hand in it 45ohn 16137 Has He re"ea,ed to $ou

the infinite "a,ue and sufficienc$ of the atoning sacrifice of Christ that His (,ood c,eanses8from a,, sin8D Then /hat cause $ou ha"e to (e thanfu, for such &i"ine instruction

2. God Preserving is Peo!le. 8He et him as the a,e of his e$e8 A re,igion of

conditions contingencies and uncertainties is not Christianit$its technica, name isArminianism and Arminianism is a daughter of ome It is that God dishonouring

Scriturereudiating sou,destro$ing s$stem of #oer$/hose father is the &e"i,/hich rates a(out human merit creaturea(i,it$ /ors of suererogation and a ,ot more

(,ashemous ru((ish and ,ea"es its (,inded dues in the fogs and (ogs of uncertaint$Christianit$ dea,s /ith certainties /hich originated in the urose and ,o"e of an

unchanging God /ho /hen He (egins a good /or a,/a$s com,etes it 8+or the >ord,o"eth ;udgment and forsaeth not his saints the$ are reser"ed fore"er 4#sa 3-62.7 Ho/

(,essed is this: &id 5eho"ah 8forsae8 Noah /hen he got drunD No indeed &id He8forsae8 A(raham /hen he ,ied to A(ime,echD No indeed &id He 8forsae8 Moses for

smiting the roc in angerD No indeed as His aearance on the Mount of Transfiguration

a(undant,$ ro"es &id He 8forsae8 &a"id /hen he committed those sins /hich e"er sinceha"e gi"en occasion for the enemies of the >ord to (,ashemeD No indeed He ,ed him toreentance caused him to confess his a/fu, /icedness and then sent one of His ser"ants

to sa$ 8The >ord hath ut a/a$ th$ sin8 8The >ord is th$ Feeer6 the >ord is th$ shadeuon th$ right hand The sun sha,, not smite thee ($ da$ nor the moon ($ night The >ord

sha,, reser"e thee from a,, e"i,6 he sha,, reser"e th$ sou, The >ord sha,, reser"e th$going out and th$ coming in from 'this time forth and e"en for e"ermore8 4#sa 1216%.7

Here are the co"enant "erities of our faithfu, God6 here are the infa,,i(,e 8sha,,'s8 of thetriune 5eho"ah6 here are the sure romises of Him /ho cannot ,ie Note there /ere no 8if's8

or read"enture's (ut the unconditiona, and unua,ified dec,arations of the Most High No

circumstances can e"er ,ace the (e,ie"er (e$ond the reach of &i"ine reser"ation Nochange can a,ter or affect this &i"ine certaint$ ea,th ma$ ensnare o"ert$ ma$ striSatan ma$ temt in/ard corrutions ma$ anno$ (ut nothing can e"er destro$ or ,ead to

the destruction of a sing,e shee of Christ na$ a,, these things on,$ ser"e to dis,a$ moremanifest,$ and more g,orious,$ the reser"ing hand of our God e 8are et ($ the o/er

of God through faith unto sa,"ation read$ to (e re"ea,ed in the ,ast time8 41 #eter 16%7 Therage of heathen monarchs /ith their den of ,ions and fier$ furnace ma$ (e em,o$ed to tr$

the faith of God's e,ect (ut destro$ them harm them the$ cannot <h (rethren in Christ/hat cause /e ha"e to raise the finding instructing and reser"ing Triune 5eho"ah:

CHA#TB 11

Mourning



8 Blessed are they that mourn8 4MATTHB %6!7

Mourning is hatefu, and irsome to oor human nature +rom suffering and sadness

our sirits instincti"e,$ shrin )$ nature /e see the societ$ of the cheerfu, and ;o$ous<ur te=t resents an anoma,$ to the unregenerate $et is it s/eet music to the ears of God's

e,ect If 8(,essed8 /h$ do the$ 8mourn8D If the$ 8mourn8 ho/ can the$ (e 8(,essed8D <n,$

the chi,d of God has the e$ to this arado= The more /e onder our te=t the more /e areconstrained to e=c,aim ne"er man sae ,ie this Man:8 8),essed 4ha$7 are the$ that

mourn8 is at com,ete "ariance /ith the /or,d's ,ogic Men ha"e in a,, ,aces and in a,,ages deemed the roserous and the ga$ the ha$ ones (ut Christ ronounces ha$

those /ho are oor in sirit and /ho mourn No/ it is o("ious that it is not e"er$ seciesof mourning that is here referred to There is a 8sorro/ of the /or,d /hich /oreth death8

The mourning to /hich Christ romises comfort must (e restricted to that /hich issiritua, The mourning /hich is (,essed is the resu,t of a rea,i?ation of God's ho,iness and

goodness /hich issues in a sense of our o/n /icednessthe dera"it$ of our natures theenormit$ and gui,t of our conduct and the sorro/ing o"er our sins /ith a god,$ sorro/ e

intimated in our ,ast that the eight )eatitudes are arranged in four airs roof of this /i,, (e furnished as /e roceed The first of the series is the (,essing /hich Christ ronounced

uon those /ho are oor in sirit /hich /e too to mean the$ /ho ha"e (een a/aenedto a sense of their o/n nothingness and emtiness No/ the transition from such o"ert$ to

mourning is eas$ to fo,,o/ in fact it fo,,o/s so c,ose,$ that it is rather its comanion

The mourning /hich is here referred to is manifest,$ more than that of (erea"ement

aff,iction or ,oss It is mourning for sin 'It is mourning o"er the fe,t destitution of our siritua, state and o"er the iniuities that ha"e searated (et/een us and God mourning

o"er the "er$ mora,it$ in /hich /e ha"e (oasted and the se,frighteousness in /hich /e

ha"e trusted sorro/ for re(e,,ion against God and hosti,it$ to His /i,, and such mourninga,/a$s goes side ($ side /ith conscious o"ert$ of sirit8 4&r #erson7

A striing i,,ustration and e=em,ification of the sirit uon /hich the Sa"iour here

ronounced His (enediction is to (e found in >ue 1. There a "i"id contrast is resentedto our "ie/ +irst /e are sho/n a se,frighteous #harisee ,ooing u to/ard God and

sa$ing 8God I than Thee that I am not as other men are e=tortioners un;ust adu,terersor e"en as this u(,ican I fast t/ice in the /ee I gi"e tithes of a,, that I ossess8 Thisma$ ha"e (een a,, true as he ,ooed at it $et this man /ent do/n to his house in a state of

condemnation His fine garments /ere rags his /hite ro(es /ere fi,th$ though he ne/ it

not Then /e are sho/n the u(,ican standing afar off /ho in the ,anguage of the#sa,mist /as so trou(,ed ($ his iniuities that he /as not a(,e to ,oo u 4#sa !06127 Hedared not so much as ,ift u his e$es to Hea"en (ut smote uon his (reast conscious of the

fountain of corrution /ithin and cried 8God (e mercifu, to me a sinner8 and that man/ent do/n to his house ;ustified (ecause he /as oor in sirit and mourned for sin

Here then are the first (irthmars of the chi,dren of God and he /ho has ne"er come to (e oor in sirit and has ne"er no/n /hat it is to rea,,$ mourn for sin though he

(e,ong to a church and (e an office(earer in it has neither entered nor seen the ingdom of God Ho/ thanfu, the Christian reader ought to (e that the great God condescends to

d/e,, in the hum(,e and contrite heart: here can /e find an$thing in a,, the <,dTestament more recious than thatDthat He in /hose sight the hea"ens are not c,ean /ho

cannot find in an$ tem,e that man e"er (ui,ded for Him ho/e"er magnificent a roer d/e,,ing ,ace has said Isa **62 and Isa %-61%: 8),essed are the$ that mourn Though the



rimar$ reference (e to that initia, mourning usua,,$ termed 'con"iction of sin'' it is ($ no

means to (e ,imited to this

Mourning is e"er a characteristic of the norma, Christian state There is much that

the (e,ie"er has to mourn o"erthe ,ague of his o/n heart maes him cr$ <h /retchedman that I am8 the un(e,ief /hich 8doth so easi,$ (eset us8 and the sins /hich /e commit

that are more in num(er than the hairs of our head are a continua, grief the (arrenness and

unrofita(,eness of our ,i"es mae us sigh and cr$ our roensit$ to /ander from Christour ,ac of communion /ith Him the sha,,o/ness of our ,o"e for Him cause us to hangour hars uon the /i,,o/s

)ut this is not a,, The h$ocritica, re,igion re"ai,ing on e"er$ hand ha"ing a formof god,iness (ut den$ing the o/er thereof the a/fu, dishonour done to the truth of God

($ the fa,se doctrines taught in count,ess u,its the di"isions among the >ord's eo,e thestrife (et/een (rethren occasion continua, sorro/ of heart The a/fu, /icedness in the

/or,d men desising Christ the unto,d sufferings around mae us groan /ithin ourse,"es

The c,oser the Christian ,i"es to God the more /i,, he mourn o"er a,, that dishonours Himith the #sa,mist he /i,, sa$6 1196%3 /ith 5eremiah 1361- 1!61- /ith B?eie, 96!

8The$ sha,, (e comforted8 This refers first of a,, to the remo"a, of the conscious

gui,t /hich (urdens the conscience It finds its fu,fi,,ment in the Sirit's a,ication of theGose, of God's grace to the one /hom He has con"icted of his dire need of a Sa"iour It

issues in a sense of free and fu,, forgi"eness through the merits of the atoning (,ood of Christ This &i"ine comfort is the eace of God /hich asseth a,, understanding fi,,ing the

heart of the one /ho is no/ assured that he is 8acceted in the )e,o"ed8 God /ounds (efore hea,ing a(ases (efore He e=a,ts +irst there is a re"e,ation of His ;ustice and

ho,iness then the maing no/n of His merc$ and grace8The$ sha,, (e comforted8 a,so recei"es a constant fu,fi,,ment in the e=erience of

the Christian Though he mourns his e=cuse,ess fai,ures and confesses them to God $et he

is comforted ($ the assurance that the (,ood of 5esus Christ His Son c,eanses him from a,,sin Though he groans o"er the dishonour done to God on e"er$ side $et is he comforted

($ the no/,edge that the da$ is raid,$ aroaching /hen Satan sha,, (e remo"ed fromthese scenes and /hen the >ord 5esus sha,, sit uon the throne of His g,or$ and ru,e in

righteousness and eace Though the chastening hand of the >ord is often ,aid uon himand though 8no chastening for the resent seemeth to (e ;o$ous (ut grie"ous8

ne"erthe,ess he is conso,ed ($ the rea,i?ation that this is a,, /oring out for him 8a far more e=ceeding and eterna, /eight of g,or$8 >ie the Aost,e the (e,ie"er /ho is in

communion /ith his >ord can sa$ 8As sorro/fu, $et a,/a$s re;oicing8 He ma$ often (eca,,ed uon to drin of the (itter /aters of Marah (ut God has ,anted near($ a tree to

s/eeten them Ees 8mourning8 Christians are comforted e"en no/ ($ the &i"ineComforter ($ the ministrations of His ser"ants ($ encouraging /ords from fe,,o/

Christians and /hen these are not to hand ($ the recious romises of the ord (eing (rought home in o/er to his memor$ and heart

8The$ sha,, (e comforted8 The (est /ine is reser"ed for the ,ast Sorro/ ma$ endurefor a night (ut ;o$ cometh in the morning &uring the ,ong night of His a(sence the saints

of God ha"e (een ca,,ed to fe,,o/shi /ith Him /ho /as the Man of Sorro/s )ut (,essed (e God it is /ritten 8If /e suffer /ith Him /e sha,, a,so (e g,orified together8 hat

comfort and ;o$ /i,, (e ours /hen sha,, da/n the morning /ithout c,ouds: Then sha,,



the sins of God's eo,e /ere a,, transferred to Christ so His righteousness is ,aced uon

them see 2 Cor %621 Such is a (rief summar$ of the teaching of Scriture on this "ita, and (,essed su(;ect of 8ighteousness8 8),essed are the$ /hich do hunger and thirst after

righteousness8 Hungering and thirsting e=ress "ehement desire of /hich the sou, isacute,$ conscious +irst the Ho,$ Sirit (rings (efore the heart the ho,$ reuirements of

God He re"ea,s to us His erfect standard /hich He can ne"er ,o/er He reminds us that

8B=cet $our righteousness e=ceed the righteousness of the scri(es and #harisees $e sha,,in no case enter the ingdom of hea"en8 Second the trem(,ing sou, conscious of its o/na(;ect o"ert$ rea,i?ing his utter ina(i,it$ to measure u to God's reuirements sees no

he, in se,f This is a ainfu, disco"er$ /hich causes him to mourn and groanHa"e you done soD Third the Ho,$ Sirit no/ creates in the heart a dee 8hunger and

thirst8 /hich causes the con"icted sinner to ,oo for re,ief and see a su,$ outside of himse,f The e$e is no/ directed to Christ 8The >ord our ighteousness8 45er 236*7 >ie

the re"ious ones this attitude (egins in the uncon"erted (ut is eretuated in the sa"edsinner There is a reeated e=ercise of this grace fe,t at "ar$ing inter"a,s The one /ho

,onged to (e sa"ed ($ Christ no/ $earns to (e made ,ie Him >ooed at in its /idest

asect this hungering and thirsting refers to that anting of the rene/ed heart after God4#sa !2617 that $earning for a c,oser /a, /ith Him that ,onging for more erfectconformit$ to the image of His Son It te,,s of those Insirations of the ne/ nature for

&i"ine (,essing /hich a,one can strengthen sustain and satisf$ <ur te=t resents such a arado= that it is e"ident no carna, mind e"er in"ented it Can one /ho has (een (roughtinto "ita, union /ith Him /ho is the )read of >ife and in /hom a,, fu,,ness d/e,,s (e

found sti,, hungering and thirstingD Ees such is the e=erience of the rene/ed heart Mar carefu,,$ the tense of the "er(6 it is not 8),essed are the$ /hich have3" (ut 8),essed are

the$ /hich do hunger and thirst8 &o you3 dear readerD <r are $ou content /ith $our attainments and satisfied /ith $our conditionD Hungering and thirsting after righteousness

has e"er (een the e=erience of God's saints6 see #sa,m .26! #hi, 36. 1! etc 8The$ sha,, (e fi,,ed8 >ie the first art of our te=t this a,so has a dou(,e fu,fi,,mentan initia, and a

continuous hen God creates a hunger and a thirst in the sou, it is that He ma$ satisf$them hen the oor sinner is made to fee, his need of Christ it is that he ma$ (e dra/n to

and ,ed to em(race Him >ie the rodiga, /ho came to the +ather as a enitent the (e,ie"ing sinner no/ feeds on the <ne figured ($ the 8fatted ca,f8 He is made to e=c,aim

8sure,$ in the >ord ha"e I righteousness8 8The$ sha,, (e fi,,ed8 Not /ith /ine /herein ise=cess (ut 8fi,,ed /ith the Sirit8 8+i,,ed8 /ith 8the eace of God that asseth a,,

understanding8 8+i,,ed8 /ith &i"ine (,essing to /hich no sorro/ is added 8+i,,ed8 /ith

raise and thansgi"ing unto Him /ho has /rought a,, our /ors in us 8+i,,ed8 /ith that/hich this oor /or,d can neither gi"e nor tae a/a$ 8+i,,ed8 ($ the goodness and merc$of God ti,, their cu runneth o"er And $et a,, that is en;o$ed no/ is (ut a ,itt,e foretaste of

/hat God has reared for them that ,o"e Him In the &a$ to come /e sha,, (e 8fi,,ed8/ith &i"ine ho,iness for /e sha,, (e 8,ie him8 4I 5ohn 3627 Then sha,, /e (e done /ith

sin fore"er then sha,, /e 8hunger no more neither thirst an$more8 4e" -61*7

CHA#TB 13

Heart #urit$

8 Blessed are the !ure in heart( for they shall see

God" 4J+<NTSIBK1MATTHB %6.7



This is another of the )eatitudes /hich has (een gross,$ er"erted ($ the enemies of

the >ord enemies /ho ha"e ,ie their redecessors the #harisees osed as the chamionsof the truth and (oasted of a suerior sanctit$ to that confessed ($ the true eo,e of God

A,, through this Christian era there ha"e (een oor de,uded sou,s /ho ha"e c,aimed anentire urification of the o,d man or /ho ha"e insisted that God has so com,ete,$

rene/ed them that the carna, nature has (een eradicated and in conseuence that the$ not

on,$ commit no sins (ut ha"e no sinfu, desires or thoughts )ut God te,,s us6 8If /e sa$ /eha"e no sin /e decei"e ourse,"es and the truth is not in us8 4I 5ohn 1 1.7 <f course such eo,e aea, to the Scritures in suort of their "ain de,usion a,$ing to e=erience

"erses /hich descri(e the ,ega, (enefits of the Atonement 8The (,ood of 5esus Christ HisSon c,eanseth us from a,, sin8 does not mean that our hearts ha"e (een /ashed from the

corruting defi,ements of e"i, (ut that the sacrifice of Christ has a"ai,ed for the ;udicia, (,otting out of sins 8<,d things are assed a/a$ (eho,d a,, things are (ecome ne/8 42

Cor %61-7 refers not to our state in this /or,d (ut to the Christian's standing (efore GodThat urit$ of heart does not mean sin,essness of ,ife is c,ear from the insired record of the

histor$ of a,, of God's saints Noah got drun A(raham eui"ocated Moses diso(e$ed

God 5o( cursed the da$ of his (irth B,i;ah f,ed in terror from 5e?e(e, #eter denied ChristEes erhas someone /i,, e=c,aim )ut a,, these /ere (efore Christianit$ /as esta(,ishedTrue (ut it has a,so (een the same since then here sha,, /e go to find a Christian of

suerior attainment to those of the aost,e #au,D And /hat /as his e=erienceD eadomans - and see hen he /ou,d do good e"i, /as resent /ith him 4" 217 there /as a,a/ in his mem(ers /arring against the ,a/ of his mind and (ringing him into cati"it$ to

the ,a/ of sin 4" 237 He did /ith the mind ser"e the ,a/ of God ne"erthe,ess /ith thef,esh he ser"ed the ,a/ of sin 4" 2%7 Ah Christian reader the truth is that one of the most

conc,usi"e e"idences that /e do ossess a ure heart is the disco"er$ and consciousness of the imurit$ of the o,d heart d/e,,ing side ($ side /ithin )ut ,et us come c,oser to our

te=t 8),essed are the ure in heart8 In seeing an interretation to an$ art of this Sermonon the Mount the first thing to (ear in mind is that those /hom our >ord /as addressing

had (een reared in 5udaism As said one /ho /as dee,$ taught of the Sirit6 8I cannot he,thining that our >ord in using the terms (efore us had a tacit reference to that character

of e=terna, sanctit$ or urit$ /hich (e,onged to the 5e/ish eo,e and to that ri"i,ege of intercourse /ith God /hich /as connected /ith that character The$ /ere a eo,e

searated from the nations o,,uted /ith ido,atr$ set aart as ho,$ to 5eho"ah and as aho,$ eo,e the$ /ere ermitted to dra/ near to their God the on,$ ,i"ing and true God in

the ordinances of His /orshi8 <n the ossession of this character and on the en;o$ment

of this ri"i,ege the 5e/ish eo,e ,umed themse,"es 8A higher character ho/e"er and ahigher ri"i,ege (e,onged to those /ho shou,d (e the su(;ects of the Messiah's reign The$shou,d not on,$ (e e=terna,,$ ho,$ (ut 'ure in heart' and the$ shou,d not mere,$ (e

a,,o/ed to aroach to/ards the ho,$ ,ace /here God's honour d/e,t (ut the$ shou,d'see God' (e introduced into the most intimate intercourse /ith Him Thus "ie/ed as a

descrition of the siritua, character and ri"i,eges of the su(;ects of the Messiah incontrast /ith the e=terna, character and ri"i,eges of the 5e/ish eo,e the assage (efore

us is fu,, of the most imortant and interesting truth8 4&r 5ohn )ro/n7 8),essed are the ure in heart8 <inion is di"ided as to /hether these /ords of Christ are to (e understood

,itera,,$ or figurati"e,$ /hether the reference (e to the ne/ heart itse,f recei"ed at

regeneration or to the mora, transformation of character /hich resu,ts from a &i"ine /or of grace (eing /rought in the sou, #ro(a(,$ (oth asects of the truth are com(ined here In"ie/ of the ,ate ,ace /hich this )eatitude occuies in the series it /ou,d aear that the



urit$ of heart uon /hich our Sa"iour ronounced His (,essing is that interna, c,eansing

/hich accomanies and fo,,o/s the ne/ (irth Eet inasmuch as no heart urit$ e=ists in thenatura, man /hat is here affirmed ($ Christ must (e traced (ac to regeneration itse,f The

#sa,mist said 8)eho,d Thou desirest truth in the in/ard arts and in the hidden art Thousha,t mae me to no/ /isdom8 4#sa %16*7 Ho/ far this goes (eneath the out/ard

reno"ation and reformation /hich comrises such a ,arge art of the efforts no/ (eing ut

forth in Christendom: Much that /e see around us is a hand re,igionseeing sa,"ation ($/orsor a head re,igion /hich rests satisfied /ith an orthodo= creed )ut God ,ooeth onthe heartan e=ression /hich aears to inc,ude the understanding the affections and the

/i,, It is (ecause God ,ooeth /ithin that He gi"es a 8ne/ heart8 4B?e 3*62*7 to His o/n eo,e and 8(,essed8 indeed are the$ /ho ha"e recei"ed such for it is a 8ure heart8 As

intimated a(o"e /e (e,ie"e this si=th )eatitude contem,ates (oth the ne/ heart recei"edat regeneration and the transformation of character /hich fo,,o/s God's /or of grace in

the sou, +irst there is a 8/ashing of regeneration8 4Titus 36%7 ($ /hich /e understand ac,eansing of the affections /hich are no/ set uon things a(o"e instead of things (e,o/

this is ara,,e, /ith 8urif$ing their hearts ($ faith8 4Acts 1%697 Accoman$ing this is the

c,eansing of the conscious8ha"ing our hearts srin,ed from an e"i, conscience8 4He(106227 /hich refers to the remo"a, of the (urden of conscious gui,t the in/ard rea,i?ationthat (eing ;ustified ($ faith /e 8ha"e eace /ith God8 )ut the urit$ of heart commended

here ($ Christ goes further than this hat is urit$D +reedom from defi,ement undi"idedaffections sincerit$ and genuineness As a ua,it$ of Christian character /e /ou,d defineit as god,$ sim,icit$ It is the oosite of su(t,et$ and du,icit$ Genuine Christianit$ ,a$s

aside not on,$ ma,ice (ut gui,e and h$ocris$ It is not enough to (e ure in /ords and inout/ard deortment urit$ of desires moti"es intents are /hat shou,d and do in the

main characteri?e the chi,d of God Here then is a most imortant test for e"er$ rofessingChristian to a,$ to himse,f6 Are m$ affections set uon things a(o"eD Are m$ moti"es

ureD h$ do I assem(,e /ith the >ord's eo,eDto (e seen of men or to meet /ith the>ord and en;o$ s/eet communion /ith HimD 8+or the$ sha,, see God8 <nce more /e

/ou,d oint out ho/ that the romises attached to these )eatitudes ha"e (oth a resent anda future fu,fi,,ment The ure in heart ossess siritua, discernment and /ith the e$es of

their understanding the$ o(tain c,ear "ie/s of the &i"ine character and ercei"e thee=ce,,enc$ of His attri(utes hen the e$e is sing,e the /ho,e (od$ is fu,, of ,ight In the

truth the faith of /hich urifies the heart the$ 'see God' for /hat is that truth (ut amanifestation of the g,or$ of God in the face of 5esus Christan i,,ustrious dis,a$ of the

com(ined radiance of &i"ine ho,iness and &i"ine (enignit$: And he not on,$ o(tains c,ear

and satisfactor$ "ie/s of the &i"ine character (ut he en;o$s intimate and de,ightfu,communion /ith God He is (rought "er$ near God God's mind (ecomes his mind God's/i,, (ecomes his /i,, and his fe,,o/shi is tru,$ /ith the +ather and /ith His Son 5esus

Christ 8The$ /ho are ure in heart 'see God' in this /a$ e"en in the resent /or,d and inthe future state their no/,edge of God /i,, (ecome far more e=tensi"e and their

fe,,o/shi /ith Him far more intimate for though /hen comared /ith the ri"i,eges of aformer disensation e"en no/ 'as /ith oen face /e (eho,d the g,or$ of the >ord' $et in

reference to the ri"i,eges of a higher econom$ /e $et see (ut 'through a g,ass dar,$'/e'no/ (ut in art'/e understand (ut in art /e en;o$ (ut in art )ut 'that /hich is in the

art sha,, (e done a/a$' and 'that /hich is erfect sha,, come' e sha,, $et see face to face

and no/ e"en as /e are no/n 4I Cor 1369127 or to (orro/ the /ords of the #sa,mist/e 'sha,, (eho,d his face in righteousness and sha,, (e satisfied /hen /e a/ae in his,ieness' 4#sa 1-61%7 Then and not ti,, then /i,, the fu,, meaning of these /ords (e



understood 'the ure in heart sha,, see God'8 4&r 5ohn )ro/n7

CHA#TB 1!

The )eatitudes and Christ

<ur meditations uon the )eatitudes /ou,d not (e com,ete un,ess the$ turned our

thoughts to the erson of our (,essed >ord As /e ha"e endea"ored to sho/ the$ descri(ethe character and conduct of a Christian and as Christian character is nothing more or ,ess

than (eing e=erimenta,,$ conformed to the image of God's Son /e must turn to Him for the erfect attern In the >ord 5esus Christ /e find the (rightest manifestations of the

highest e=em,ifications of the different siritua, graces /hich are found dim,$ ref,ectedin His fo,,o/ers Not one or t/o (ut a,, of these erfections /ere dis,a$ed ($ Him for Me

is not on,$ 8,o"e,$8 (ut 8a,together ,o"e,$8 Ma$ the Ho,$ Sirit /ho is here to g,orif$ Himtae no/ of the things of Christ and sho/ them unto us +irst 8),essed are the oor in

sirit8 Most (,essed is it to see ho/ the Scritures sea of Him /ho /as rich (ecoming oor for our saes that /e through His o"ert$ might (e rich Great indeed /as the

o"ert$ into /hich He entered )orn of arents /ho /ere oor in this /or,d's goods Hecommenced His earth,$ ,ife in a manger &uring His $outh and ear,$ manhood He toi,ed at

the carenter's (ench After His u(,ic ministr$ had (egun He dec,ared that though thefo=es had their ho,es and the (irds of the air their nests the Son of Man had not /here to

,a$ His head If /e trace out the Messianic utterances recorded in the #sa,ms ($ the Siritof rohec$ /e sha,, find that again and again He confessed to God His o"ert$ of sirit6

8I am oor and sorro/fu,8 4#sa *96297 and 8)o/ do/n thine ear <h 5eho"ah for I am oor and need$8 4#sa .*617 and again 8+or I am oor and need$ and M$ heart is

/ounded /ithin me8 4#sa 1096227 8),essed are the$ that mourn Christ /as indeed the

chief Mourner <,d Testament rohec$ contem,ated Him as 8the Man of Sorro/s andacuainted /ith grief8 See Him 8grie"ed for the hardness of their hearts8 4Mar 36%7)eho,d Him 8sighing8 ere He hea,ed the deaf and dum( man 4Mar -63!7 Mar Him

/eeing ($ the gra"eside of >a?arus Hear His ,amentation o"er the (e,o"ed cit$ 8<5erusa,em 5erusa,em ho/ often /ou,d I ha"e gathered th$ chi,dren together8 4Matt

2363-7 &ra/ near and re"erent,$ (eho,d Him in the g,oom of Gethsemane ouring out His etitions to the +ather 8/ith strong cr$ing and tears8 4He( %6-7 )o/ in /orshifu,

/onderment as $ou hear Him cr$ing from the cross 'M$ God M$ God /h$ hast Thouforsaen MeD8 Hearen to His ,ainti"e ,ea 8Is it nothing to $ou a,, $e that ass ($D)eho,d and see if there (e an$ sorro/ ,ie unto M$ sorro/8 4>am 16127 Third 8),essed

are the mee8 A score of e=am,es might (e dra/n from the Gose,s i,,ustrating the ,o"e,$,o/,iness of the incarnate >ord of g,or$ Mar it in the men se,ected ($ Him to (e His

am(assadors6 He chose not the /ise the ,earned the great the no(,e (ut oor fishermenfor the most art itness it in the coman$ /hich He et6 He sought not the rich and

reno/ned (ut /as 8the +riend of u(,icans and sinners8 See it in the mirac,es /hich He/rought6 again and again He en;oined the hea,ed to go and te,, no man /hat had (een done

for them )eho,d it in the uno(trusi"eness of His ser"ice6 un,ie the h$ocrites /hosounded a trumet (efore them He sought not the ,ime,ight shunned ad"ertising and

disdained ou,arit$ hen the cro/ds /ou,d mae Him their Ido, He a"oided them

4Mar 16!% -61-7 hen the$ /ou,d come and 8Tae Him ($ force to mae Him a ing hedearted again into a mountain himse,f a,one8 45ohn *61%7 hen His (rethren urged8Sho/ Th$se,f to the /or,d8 He dec,ined and /ent u to the feast in secret 45ohn -7

hen He in fu,fi,,ment of rohec$ resented Himse,f to Israe, as their Fing He entered



5erusa,em 8,o/,$ and riding uon an ass8 4ech 9697 +ourth 8),essed are the$ /hich do

hunger and thirst after righteousness'' hat a summar$ is this of the inner ,ife of the ManChrist 5esus: )efore the Incarnation the Ho,$ Sirit announced 8ighteousness sha,, (e

the gird,e of His ,oins8 4Isa !6%7 hen He entered this /or,d He said 8>o I come to doTh$ /i,, <h God8 4He( 1061-7 As a )o$ of t/e,"e He ased 8ist $e not that I must (e

a(out M$ +ather's (usinessD8 4>ue 26!17 At the (eginning of His u(,ic ministr$ He

dec,ared 8Thin not that I am come to destro$ the ,a/ or the rohets6 I am not come todestro$ (ut to fu,fi,,8 4Matt %61-7 To His disci,es He dec,ared 8M$ meat is to do the /i,,of him that sent me 45ohn !63!7 <f Him the Ho,$ Sirit has said 8Thou ,o"est

righteousness and hatest /icedness6 therefore God Th$ God hath anointed Thee /ith theoi, of g,adness a(o"e Th$ fe,,o/s8 4#sa !%6-7 e,, ma$ He (e ca,,ed 8The >ord our

righteousness8 +ifth 8),essed are the mercifu,8 In Christ /e see merc$ ersonified It /asmerc$ to oor ,ost sinners /hich caused the Son of God to e=change the g,or$ of Hea"en

for the shame of earth It /as merc$ /ondrous and match,ess /hich too Him to theCross there to (e made a curse for His eo,e So it is 8not ($ /ors of righteousness

/hich /e ha"e done (ut according to his merc$ he sa"ed us8 4Titus 36%7 He sti,, e=ercises

merc$ to us as our 8mercifu, and faithfu, High #riest8 4He( 261-7 So a,so /e are to (e8,ooing for the merc$ of our >ord 5esus Christ unto eterna, ,ife8 45ude 217 (ecause He/i,, sho/ us merc$ in 8that &a$8 42 Tim 161.7 Si=th 8),essed are the ure in heart8 This

too /as erfect,$ e=em,ified in Christ He /as the >am( 8/ithout sot and /ithout (,emish In (ecoming Man He /as uncontaminated contracting none of the defi,ement'sof sin His humanit$ /as 8ho,$8 4>ue 163%7 He /as 8ho,$ harm,ess undefi,ed searate

from sinners8 4He( -62*7 8In him /as no sin8 4I 5ohn 36%7 therefore He 8did no sin8 4I#eter 26227 and 8ne/ no sin8 42 Cor %6217 8He is ure8 4I 5ohn 3637 )ecause He /as

a(so,ute,$ ure in nature His moti"es and actions /ere a,/a$s ure 8I see not Mine o/ng,or$8 45ohn .6%07 sums u the /ho,e of His earth,$ career Se"enth 8),essed are the

eacemaers8 Sureme,$ true is this of our (,essed Sa"iour He is the <ne /ho 8made eace through the (,ood of his cross8 4Co, 16207 He /as aointed to (e 8a roitiation8

4om 362%7 that is the <ne /ho shou,d acif$ God's /rath satisf$ e"er$ demand of His (roen ,a/ g,orif$ His ;ustice and ho,iness So too has He made eace (et/een the

a,ienated 5e/ and Genti,e6 see Bh 261!1% In a coming da$ He /i,, $et mae eace onthis sincursed and /arstricen earth hen He sha,, sit uon the throne of His father

&a"id then sha,, (e fu,fi,,ed that /ord 8<f the increase of his go"ernment and eace theresha,, (e no end8 4Isa 96-7 e,, ma$ He (e ca,,ed 8The #rince of #eace8 Bighth 8),essed

are the$ /hich are ersecuted for righteousness' sae8 None /as e"er ersecuted as /as

the ighteous <ne hat a /ord is that in e" 126!: )$ the sirit of rohec$ He dec,ared8I am aff,icted and read$ to die from m$ $outh u8 4#sa ..61%7 <n His first u(,icaearance /e are to,d the$ 8rose u and thrust him out of the cit$ and ,ed him unto the

(ro/ of the hi,, /hereon their cit$ /as (ui,t that the$ might cast him do/n head,ong84>ue !6297 In the tem,e recincts the$ 8too u stones to cast at him8 45ohn 96%97 A,,

through His ministr$ His stes /ere dogged ($ enemies The re,igious ,eaders charged Him/ith ha"ing a demon 45ohn .63.7 Those /ho sat in the gate sae against Him and He /as

the song of the drunards 4#sa *96127 At His tria, the$ ,uced off His hair 4Isa %06*7 sat in His face (uffeted Him and smote Him /ith the a,ms of their hands 4Matt 2*6*-7

After He /as scourged ($ the so,diers and cro/ned /ith thorns carr$ing His o/n cross

He /as ,ed to Ca,"ar$ /here the$ crucified Him B"en in His d$ing hours He /as not ,eftin eace (ut /as ersecuted ($ re"i,ings and scoffings Ho/ unuttera(,$ mi,d incomarison is the ersecution /e are ca,,ed on to endure for His sae: In ,ie manner each



of the romises attached to the )eatitudes find their accom,ishment in Christ #oor in

sirit He /as (ut His sureme,$ is the ingdom Mourn He did $et /i,, He (e comfortedas He sees of the tra"ai, of His sou, Meeness ersonified $et sha,, He Sit on a throne of

g,or$ He hungered and thirsted after righteousness $et no/ is He fi,,ed /ith satisfaction asHe (eho,ds the righteousness He /rought imuted to His eo,e #ure in heart He sees

God as none other does 4Matt 1162-7 As the #eacemaer He is o/ned the Son of God ($

a,, the (,ood(ought chi,dren As the ersecuted <ne great is His re/ard ha"ing (eengi"en the Name a(o"e a,, others Ma$ the Sirit of God occu$ us more and more /ithHim /ho is fairer than the chi,dren of men

CHA#TB 1%

Aff,iction and G,or$

8 or our light affliction which is $ut for a moment worketh for us a far more

e/ceeding and eternal weight of glory" 42 C<INTHIANS !61-7

These /ords su,$ us /ith a reason /h$ /e shou,d not faint under tria,s nor (eo"er/he,med ($ misfortunes The$ teach us to ,oo at the tria,s of time in the ,ight of

eternit$ The$ affirm that the resent (uffetings of the Christian e=ercise a (eneficent effecton the inner man If these truths /ere firm,$ grased ($ faith the$ /ou,d mitigate much of

the (itterness of our sorro/s 8+or our ,ight aff,iction /hich is (ut for a moment /orethfor us a far more e=ceeding and eterna, /eight of g,or$8 This "erse sets forth a striing and

g,orious antithesis as it contrasts our future state /ith our resent Here there is8aff,iction8 there 8g,or$8 Here there is a 8,ight aff,iction8 there a 8might of g,or$8 In our

aff,iction there is (oth ,e"it$ and (re"it$ it is a ,ight aff,iction and it is (ut for a moment

in our future g,or$ there is so,idit$ and eternit$: To disco"er the reciousness of thiscontrast ,et us consider searate,$ each mem(er (ut in the in"erse order of mention 1 8Afar more e=ceeding and eterna, /eight of g,or$8 It is a significant thing that the He(re//ord for 8g,or$8a(oda,so means 8/eight8 hen /eight is added to the "a,ue of go,d or

recious stones this increases their /orth Hea"en's hainess cannot (e to,d out in the/ords of earth figurati"e e=ressions are (est ca,cu,ated to con"e$ some imerfect "ie/s

to us Here in our te=t one term is i,ed u on to of another That /hich a/aits the (e,ie"er is 8g,or$8 and /hen /e sa$ that a thing is g,orious /e ha"e reached the ,imits of human

,anguage to e=ress that /hich is e=ce,,ent and erfect )ut the 8g,or$8 a/aiting us is/eighted $ea it is 8far more e=ceeding8 /eight$ than an$thing terrestria, and temora, its

"a,ue defies comutation its transcendent e=ce,,enc$ is (e$ond "er(a, descritionMoreo"er this /ondrous g,or$ a/aiting us is not e"anescent and temora, (ut &i"ine and

eterna, for 8eterna,8 it cou,d not (e un,ess it /ere &i"ine The great and (,essed God isgoing to gi"e us that /hich is /orth$ of Himse,f $ea that /hich is ,ie Himse,finfinite

and e"er,asting 2 8<ur ,ight aff,iction /hich is (ut for a moment8 417 8Aff,iction8 is thecommon ,ot of human e=istence 8Man is (orn unto trou(,e as the sars f,$ u/ard8 45o(

%6-7 This is art of the entai, of sin It is not meet that a fa,,en creature shou,d (e erfect,$ha$ in his sins Nor are the chi,dren of God e=emted 8Through much tri(u,ation /e

must enter into the ingdom of God8 4Acts 1!6227 )$ a hard and rugged road does God

,ead us to g,or$ and immorta,it$ 427 <ur aff,iction is 8,ight8 Aff,ictions are not ,ight inthemse,"es for ofttimes the$ are hea"$ and grie"ous (ut the$ are ,ight comarati"e,$:The$ are ,ight /hen comared /ith /hat /e rea,,$ deser"e The$ are ,ight /hen comared

/ith the sufferings of the >ord 5esus )ut erhas their rea, ,ightness is (est seen ($



comaring them /ith the /eight of g,or$ /hich is a/aiting us As said the same aost,e in

another ,ace 8+or I recon that the sufferings of this resent time are not /orth$ to (ecomared /ith the g,or$ /hich sha,, (e re"ea,ed in us8 4om .61.7 437 8hich is (ut for a

moment Shou,d our aff,ictions continue throughout a /ho,e ,ifetime and that ,ife (e eua,in duration to Methuse,ah's $et is it momentar$ if comared /ith the eternit$ /hich is

(efore us At most our aff,iction is (ut for this resent ,ife /hich is as a "aor that aears

for a ,itt,e /hi,e and then "anishes a/a$ <h that God /ou,d ena(,e us to e=amine our tria,sin their true ersecti"e 3 Note no/ the connection (et/een the t/o <ur ,ight aff,iction/hich is (ut for a moment 8/oreth for us a far more e=ceeding and eterna, /eight of

g,or$8 The resent is inf,uencing the future It is not for us to reason and hi,osohi?ea(out this (ut to tae God at His ord and (e,ie"e it B=erience fee,ings o(ser"ation of

others ma$ seem to den$ this fact <fttimes aff,ictions aear on,$ to sour us and mae usmore re(e,,ious and discontented )ut ,et it (e remem(ered that aff,ictions are not sent ($

God for the urose of urif$ing the f,esh6 the$ are designed for the (enefit of the 8ne/man8 Moreo"er aff,ictions he, to reare us for the g,or$ hereafter Aff,iction dra/s

a/a$ our heart from the ,o"e of the /or,d it maes us ,ong more for the time /hen /e

sha,, (e trans,ated from this scene of sin and sorro/ it /i,, ena(,e us to areciate 4($ /a$of contrast7 the things /hich God had reared for them that ,o"e Him Here then is /hatfaith is in"ited to do6 to ,ace in one sca,e the resent aff,iction in the other the eterna,

g,or$ Are the$ /orth$ to (e comaredD No indeed <ne second of g,or$ /i,, more thancounter(a,ance a /ho,e ,ifetime of suffering hat are $ears of toi, of sicness of (att,ingagainst o"ert$ of ersecution $ea of a mart$r's death /hen /eighed o"er against the

,easures at God's right hand /hich are for e"ermore: <ne (reath of #aradise /i,,e=tinguish a,, the ad"erse /inds of earth <ne da$ in the +ather's House /i,, more than

counter(a,ance the $ears /e ha"e sent in this drear$ /i,derness Ma$ God grant unto usthat faith /hich /i,, ena(,e us to anticiati"e,$ ,a$ ho,d of the future and ,i"e in the resent

en;o$ment of it

CHA#TB 1*

Contentment

8 # have learned in whatsoever state # am therewith to $e

content" 4#HI>I##IANSJ+<NTSIBK2!6117

&iscontent: as there e"er a time /hen there /as so much rest,essness in the /or,d

as there is toda$D e "er$ much dou(t it &esite our (oasted rogress the "ast increase of /ea,th the time and mone$ e=ended dai,$ in ,easure discontent is e"er$/here No c,ass

is e=emt B"er$thing is in a state of f,u= and a,most e"er$(od$ is dissatisfied Man$ e"enamong God's o/n eo,e are affected /ith the e"i, sirit of this age Contentment: Is such

a thing rea,i?a(,e or is it nothing more than a (eautifu, idea, a mere dream of the oetD Isit attaina(,e on earth or is it restricted to the inha(itants of hea"enD If ractica(,e here and

no/ ma$ it (e retained or are a fe/ (rief moments or hours of contentment the most that/e ma$ e=ect in this ,ifeD Such uestions as these find ans/er an ans/er at ,east in the

/ords of the aost,e #au,6 8Not that I sea in resect of /ant6 for I ha"e ,earned in

/hatsoe"er state I am there/ith to (e content8 4#hi, !6117 The force of the aost,e'sstatement /i,, (e (etter areciated if his condition and circumstances at the time he madeit (e et in mind hen the aost,e /rote 4or most ro(a(,$ dictated7 the /ords he /as

not ,u=uriating in a secia, suite in the Bmeror's a,ace nor /as he (eing entertained in



some e=cetiona, Christian househo,d the mem(ers of /hich /ere mared ($ unusua,

iet$ Instead he /as 8in (onds8 4cf #hi, 1613 1!7 8a risoner8 4Bh !617 as he sa$s inanother Bist,e And $et not/ithstanding he dec,ared he /as content: No/ there is a "ast

difference (et/een recet and ractice (et/een the idea, and the rea,i?ation )ut in thecase of the aost,e #au, contentment /as an actua, e=erience and one that must ha"e (een

continuous for he sa$s 8in /hatsoe"er state I am8 Ho/ then did #au, enter into this

e=erience and of /hat did the e=erience consistD The re,$ to the first uestion is to (efound in the /ord 8I ha"e ,earned to (e content8 The aost,e did not sa$ 8I ha"erecei"ed the (atism of the Sirit and therefore contentment is mine8 Nor did he attri(ute

this (,essing to his erfect 8consecration8 Bua,,$ ,ain is it that it /as not the outcome of natura, disosition or temerament It is something he had ,earned in the schoo, of

Christian e=erience It shou,d (e noted too that this statement is found in an Bist,e/hich the aost,e /rote near the c,ose of his earth,$ career: +rom /hat has (een ointed

out it shou,d (e aarent that the contentment /hich #au, en;o$ed /as not the resu,t of congenia, and comforta(,e surroundings And this at once dissiates a "u,gar concetion

Most eo,e suose that contentment is imossi(,e un,ess one can ha"e gratified the

desires of the carna, heart A rison is the ,ast ,ace to /hich the$ /ou,d go if the$ /ereseeing a contented man This much then is c,ear6 contentment comes from /ithin not/ithout it must (e sought from God not in creature comforts )ut ,et us endea"or to go a

,itt,e deeer hat is 8contentment8D It is the (eing satisfied /ith the so"ereigndisensations of God's ro"idence It is the oosite of murmuring /hich is the sirit of re(e,,ionthe c,a$ sa$ing to the #otter 8h$ hast Thou made me thusD8 Instead of

com,aining at his ,ot a contented man is thanfu, that his condition and circumstances areno /orse than the$ are Instead of greedi,$ desiring something more than the su,$ of his

resent need he re;oices that God sti,, cares for him Such an one is 8content8 /ith such ashe has 4He( 136%7 <ne of the fata, hindrances to contentment is co"etousness /hich is a

caner eating into and destro$ing resent satisfaction It /as not therefore /ithout goodreason that our >ord ga"e the so,emn commandment to His fo,,o/ersTae heed and

(e/are of co"etousness8 4>ue 1261%7 +e/ things are more insidious <ften it oses under the fair name of thrift or the /ise safeguarding of the futureresent econom$ so as to ,a$

u for a 8rain$ da$8 The Scriture sa$s co"etousness /hich is ido,atr$8 4Co, 36%7theaffection of the heart (eing set uon materia, things rather than uon God The ,anguage of

a co"etous heart is that of the horse,each's daughter Gi"e: Gi"e: The co"etous man isa,/a$s desirous of more /hether he has ,itt,e or much Ho/ "ast,$ different the /ords of

the aost,e8And ha"ing food and raiment ,et us (e there/ith content8 4I Tim *6.7 A much

needed /ord is that of >ue 361!6 8)e content /ith $our /ages8: 8God,iness /ithcontentment is great gain8 4I Tim *6*7 Negati"e,$ it de,i"ers from /orr$ and fretfu,nessfrom a"arice and se,fishness #ositi"e,$ it ,ea"es us free to en;o$ /hat God has gi"en us

hat a contrast is found in the /ord /hich fo,,o/s8)ut the$ that /i,, (e 4desire to (e7rich fa,, into temtation and a snare and into man$ foo,ish and hurtfu, ,usts /hich dro/n

men in destruction and erdition +or the ,o"e of mone$ is the root of a,, e"i,6 /hich /hi,esome co"eted after the$ ha"e erred from the faith and ierced themse,"es through /ith

man$ sorro/s8 4I Tim *69107 Ma$ the >ord in His grace de,i"er us from the sirit of this/or,d and mae us to (e 8content /ith such things as /e ha"e8 Contentment then is the

roduct of a heart resting in God It is the sou,'s en;o$ment of that eace /hich asseth a,,

understanding It is the outcome of m$ /i,, (eing (rought into su(;ection to the &i"ine/i,, It is the (,essed assurance that God doeth a,, things /e,, and is e"en no/ maing a,,things /or together for m$ u,timate good This e=erience has to (e 8,earned8 ($ 8ro"ing



/hat is that good and acceta(,e and erfect /i,, of God8 4om 12627 Contentment is

ossi(,e on,$ as /e cu,ti"ate and maintain that attitude of acceting e"er$thing /hichenters our ,i"es as coming from the Hand of Him /ho is too /ise to err and too ,o"ing to

cause one of His chi,dren a need,ess tear >et our fina, /ord (e this6 rea, contentment ison,$ ossi(,e ($ (eing much in the resence of the >ord 5esus This comes out c,ear,$ in

the "erses /hich fo,,o/ our oening te=t 8I no/ (oth ho/ to (e a(ased and I no/ ho/

to a(ound6 e"er$/here and in a,, things I am instructed (oth to (e fu,, and to (e hungr$ (oth to a(ound and suffer need I can do a,, things through Christ /hich strengthens me84#hi, !612 137 It is on,$ ($ cu,ti"ating intimac$ /ith that <ne /ho /as ne"er discontent

that /e sha,, (e de,i"ered from the sin of com,aining It is on,$ ($ dai,$ fe,,o/shi /ithHim ho e"er de,ighted in the +ather's /i,, that /e sha,, ,earn the secret of contentment

Ma$ (oth /riter and reader so (eho,d in the mirror of the ord the g,or$ of the >ord that/e sha,, (e 8changed into the same image from g,or$ to g,or$ e"en as ($ the Sirit of the

>ord8 42 Cor 361.7

CHA#TB 1-#recious &eath

8 Precious in the sight of the *ord is the death of his saints" 4#SA>M 11*61%7

This is one of the man$ comforting and (,essed statements in Ho,$ Scriture

concerning that great e"ent from /hich the f,esh so much shrins If the >ord's eo,e/ou,d more freuent,$ mae a ra$erfu, and (e,ie"ing stud$ of /hat the ord sa$s uon

their dearture out of this /or,d death /ou,d ,ose much if not a,, of its terrors for them)ut a,as instead of doing so the$ ,et their imagination run riot the$ gi"e /a$ to carna,

fears the$ /a, ($ sight instead of ($ faith >ooing to the Ho,$ Sirit for guidance ,et usendea"or to dise, ($ the ,ight of &i"ine re"e,ation some of the g,oom /hich un(e,ief

casts around e"en the death of a Christian 8#recious in the sight of the >ord is the death of his saints8 These /ords intimate that a d$ing saint is an o(;ect of secia, notice unto the

>ord for mar the /ords 8in the sight of8 It is true that the e$es of the >ord are e"er uonus for He ne"er s,um(ers nor s,ees It is true that /e ma$ sa$ at a,, times 8Thou God seest

me8 )ut it aears from Scriture that there are occasions /hen He notices and cares for us in a secia, manner 8God is our refuge and strength a "er$ resent he, in trou(,e8

4#sa,m !*617 8hen thou asseth through the /aters I /i,, (e /ith thee8 4Isaiah !36278#recious in the sight of the >ord is the death of his saints8 This (rings (efore us an asect

of death /hich is rare,$ considered ($ (e,ie"ers It gi"es us /hat ma$ (e termed theGod/ard side of the su(;ect <n,$ too often /e contem,ate death ,ie most other things

from our side The te=t te,,s us that from the "ie/oint of Hea"en the death of a saint isneither hideous nor horri(,e tragic or terri(,e (ut 8recious8 This raises the uestion h$

is the death of His eo,e recious in the sight of the >ordD hat is there in the ,ast greatcrisis /hich is so dear unto HimD ithout attemting an e=hausti"e re,$ ,et us suggest

one or t/o ossi(,e ans/ers6

1 Their !ersons are !recious to the *ord. The$ e"er /ere and a,/a$s /i,, (e dear to

Him His saints: The$ /ere the ones on /hom His ,o"e /as set (efore the earth /as

formed or the hea"ens made These are the$ for /hose saes He ,eft His Home on high and/hom He (ought /ith His recious (,ood cheerfu,,$ ,a$ing do/n His ,ife for them Theseare the$ /hose names are (orne on our great High #riest's (reast and engra"en on the

a,ms of His hands The$ are His +ather's ,o"egift to Him His chi,dren mem(ers of His



(od$ therefore e"er$thing that concerns them is recious in His sight The >ord ,o"es His

eo,e so intense,$ that the "er$ hairs of their heads are num(ered6 the ange,s are sent forthto minister unto them and (ecause their ersons are recious unto the >ord so a,so are their

deaths

2 Because death terminates the saint1s sorrows and sufferings. There is a needs(e

for our sufferings for through much tri(u,ation /e must enter into the ingdom of God

4Acts 1!6227 Ne"erthe,ess the >ord does not 8aff,ict /i,,ing,$8 4>amentations 36337 Godis neither unmindfu, of nor indifferent to our tria,s and trou(,es Concerning His eo,e of o,d it is /ritten 8In a,, their aff,iction he /as aff,icted8 4Isaiah *3697 8>ie as a father

itieth his chi,dren so the >ord itieth them that fear him8 4#sa,m 1036137 So a,so are /eto,d that our great High #riest is 8touched /ith the fee,ing of our infirmities8 4He( !61%7

Here then ma$ (e another reason /h$ the death of a saint is recious in the sight of the>ord(ecause it mars the termination of his sorro/s and sufferings

3 Because death affords the *ord an o!!ortunity to dis!lay is sufficiency. >o"e is

ne"er so ha$ as /hen ministering to the needs of its cherished o(;ect and ne"er is the

Christian so need$ and so he,,ess as in the hour of death )ut man's e=tremit$ is God'soortunit$ It is then that the +ather sa$s to His trem(,ing chi,d 8+ear thou not for I am/ith thee6 (e not disma$ed for I am th$ God6 I /i,, strengthen thee $ea I /i,, he, thee

$ea I /i,, uho,d thee /ith the right hand of m$ righteousness8 4Isaiah !16107 It is (ecause of this that the (e,ie"er ma$ confident,$ re,$ 8Eea though I /a, through the

"a,,e$ of the shado/ of death I /i,, fear no e"i,6 for Thou art /ith me Th$ rod and Th$staff the$ comfort me8 <ur "er$ /eaness aea,s to His strength our emergenc$ to His

sufficienc$ Most (,essed,$ is this rinci,e i,,ustrated in the /e,,no/n /ords 8He sha,,gather the ,am(s 4the he,,ess ones7 /ith his arm and carr$ them in his (osom8 4Isaiah

!06117 Ees His strength is made erfect in our /eaness Therefore is the death of the

saints 8recious8 in His sight (ecause it affords the >ord a (,essed occasion for His ,o"egrace and o/er to minister unto and undertae for His he,,ess eo,e

! Because at death the saint goes direct to the *ord. The >ord de,ights in ha"ing His

eo,e /ith Himse,f ),essed,$ /as this e"idenced a,, through His earth,$ ministr$here"er He /ent the >ord too His disci,es a,ong /ith Him hether it /as to the

marriage at Cana to the ho,$ feasts in 5erusa,em to the house of 5airus /hen his daughter ,a$ dead or to the Mount of Transfiguration the$ e"er accomanied Him Ho/ (,essed is

that /ord in Mar 361! 8He ordained t/e,"e that the$ shou,d (e /ith him8 And He is 8thesame $esterda$ and toda$ and for e"er8 Therefore has He assured us 8If I go and reare a

,ace for $ou I /i,, come again and recei"e $ou unto M$se,f that /here I am there $ema$ (e a,so8 45ohn 1!637 #recious then is the death of the saints in His sight (ecause

a(sent from the (od$ /e are 8resent /ith the >ord8 4II Cor %6.7 hi,e /e are sorro/ingo"er the remo"a, of a saint Christ is re;oicing His ra$er /as 8+ather I /i,, that the$ a,so/hom Thou hast gi"en me (e /ith me /here I am that the$ ma$ (eho,d m$ g,or$8 45ohn

1-62!7 and in the entrance into Hea"en of each one of His o/n eo,e He sees an ans/er to that ra$er and is g,ad He (eho,ds in each one that is freed from 8this (od$ of death8

another ortion of the re/ard for His tra"ai, of sou, and He is satisfied /ith it Thereforethe death of His saints is recious to the >ord for it occasions Him ground for re;oicing It

is most interesting and instructi"e to trace out the fu,,ness of the He(re/ /ord here

trans,ated 8recious8 it is a,so rendered 8e=ce,,ent8 8Ho/ e=ce,,ent is Th$ ,o"ingindness <h God:8 4#sa 3*6-7 8A man of understanding is of an e=ce,,ent sirit8 4#ro"1-62-7 Ho/e"er /orthi,$ or un/orthi,$ he ma$ ,i"e the death of a saint is e=ce,,ent in the



sight of the >ord The same He(re/ /ord is a,so rendered 8honoura(,e8 8Fings' daughters

/ere among th$ honoura(,e /omen8 4#sa !%697 So Ahasuerus ased of Haman 8hatsha,, (e done unto the man /hom the ing de,ighteth to honourD8 4Bsther *6*7 Ees the

e=change of hea"en for earth is tru,$ honoura(,e and 8This honour ha"e a,, his saints#raise $e the >ord8 This He(re/ /ord is a,so rendered 8(rightness8 8If I (ehe,d the sun

/hen it shined or the moon /a,ing in (rightness8 45o( 3162*7 &ar and g,oom$ though

death ma$ (e unto those /hom the Christian ,ea"es (ehind it is (rightness 8in the sight of the >ord86 8at e"ening time it sha,, (e ,ight8 4ech 1!6-7 #recious e=ce,,ent honoura(,e (rightness in the sight of the >ord is the death of His saints Ma$ the >ord mae this ,itt,e

meditation recious unto His saints

comfort for christians

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