What a happy condition when God's glory, the church's comfort and strength, and our own joy, meet. We ought to take notice of the works of God in creation and providence, when we see plants, stars, a...  Read More

If it is so that God accepts the performances and graces, especially the prayers of his children, let it be an argument to encourage us to be much in all holy duties. It would deaden the heart of any...  Read More

God accepts the graces of his children, and delights in them. (1) Because they are the fruit that comes from his children, his spouse, his friend. Love of the person wins acceptance of that which is ...  Read More

(3) That where once God begins, he goes on, and delights to add encouragement to encouragement, and does not only give them a stock of grace at the beginning, but also helps them to trade in grace. ...  Read More

Good things lie in us dead and bound up, unless the Spirit brings them out. There are gracious good things in the church, but they want further spreading, from this we may observe: (1) We need not on...  Read More

If the church is a separated portion, then we should walk as people of a separated condition from the world. To ensure this we must be subject to his pruning and dressing. It is so far from being an ...  Read More

In spiritual things there is a chain of causes and effects: prayer comes from faith (Rom. 10:14); faith from the hearing of the word; hearing from a preacher, by whom God by his Spirit blows upon the...  Read More

(1) We see here that Christ sends forth his Spirit, with command to all means, under the name of 'north and south wind,’ to farther the fruitfulness of his church. What winds are to the garden, that ...  Read More

A great light being near a little one, draws away and obscures the flame of the other. So it is when the affections are taken up higher to their fit object; they die unto all earthly things, while th...  Read More

Consider Paul for an instance. He was as earnest when he was a Christian as before he was a Christian. He was never more eager after shedding of the blood of Christians and breathing out slaughter ag...  Read More

We see then the disposition of true disciples, they are violent in respect of heavenly things. Those that are not earnest in the cause of religion, when the state of things requires it, they have no ...  Read More

There is a blessed violence that will stand under judgment. A man must not be violent and wise in the things of this world; much less after filthy pleasures. Instead, a man 'must become a fool' (1 Co...  Read More

Compare your efforts toward the good things of heaven with your efforts toward the things of the world. If there is a hope of being preferred, the doors of great men are sure to suffer violence from ...  Read More

(7) The excellency of something demands violence. It is appropriate that excellent things should have answerable affections. It is the kingdom of heaven, what affection is answerable but a violent, s...  Read More

(3) There is opposition from the world. On one side there are the snares and delights of the world, to quench the delight in the good things of the Spirit. On the other side are fears, terrors, and s...  Read More

Those that intend to enter the kingdom must strive to enter; and when they are in, they must keep it with violence. This violence is necessary for all who desire to enter the kingdom of heaven, for t...  Read More

Does a Christian perpetually grow? Not at all times, in all parts. Trees we know, in wintertime, grow in the root. Christians do not grow always in all graces, but only in some one radical grace, as ...  Read More

Why are we not healed all at once and completely? What does it mean that we are still subject to these infirmities of ours? Some of Christ's works of healing are perfectly done all at once, but some ...  Read More

By his Spirit he heals and enlightens our understanding, which by nature is dark, and so easily led astray to mistake light for darkness, and darkness for light. This he heals by his word, creating i...  Read More

If Christ is the Sun of Righteousness, we should, when we are spiritually cold and numb, retreat to him, and know that he has exactly what we need. Are we dark? He is light. Are we sick? He can heal ...  Read More

Let me speak a word to the many who yet have their choice to make, who have other lords and other gods to rule over them. Let them consider what a fearful state it is not to be able to say; 'God is m...  Read More

We can know that God has chosen us and called us effectually if we have grace to choose him for our God. When he bids us believe he gives an influence of power to be able to say, ‘I believe; Lord, he...  Read More

Prayer is a product or branch of faith. God gives faith to make use of prayer. God will not give this great privilege without hearts to make use of it. As soon as Paul was a believer, presently after...  Read More

The assurance of salvation is wrought by the sealing of the Spirit and the sanctifying of us. Take heed we grieve not the Spirit of God. God's Spirit moves our hearts oftentimes in hearing the word, ...  Read More