When we have the truths of religion revealed to us by the ministry of others or by reading on our own, let us ask our souls, 'Are these things so or not? Do I believe them to be so or not?' If I do b...  Read More

(4) Take heed of passion and prejudice, of carnal affections that stir up passion; for they will make the soul not able to see the mysteries that are plain in themselves. As we are strong in any pass...  Read More

(2) If we would understand these mysteries, let us labour for humble spirits; for the Spirit works that disposition in the first place: 'The humble, God will teach' (Psa. 25:9). Now this kind of humi...  Read More

How can we come to know the mysteries of God? (1) Whenever we take the Bible in our hands, when we come to hear the word, hear of God the Spirit, we must remember what God said, "My house will be cal...  Read More

In Christ all is mystery. Christ possessing two natures, God and man, in one person; mortal and immortal; greatness and baseness; infiniteness and finiteness, in one person. The church itself is a my...  Read More

Is the doctrine of the gospel the only mystery? No. All the graces are mysteries, every grace. Let a man once know it and he will find that there is mystery in faith; that the earthly soul of man sho...  Read More

The whole evangelical truth is a mystery, for these reasons: (1) It was hidden from all men until God brought it our of his own bosom. First to Adam after the fall; and more clearly later to the Jews...  Read More

What makes a true Christian? When he simply believes the grounds of divine truth, the articles of the faith, when he can recite them over--does that make a true Christian? No! it is when these truths...  Read More

Labour to know the world in truth so that you may detest it. In the things of God, the more we know the more we will love. With worldly things, the more we truly know the less affection we will have ...  Read More

How can I know if I love the world? What we love will be seen by observing the bent of our heart if it is swayed toward God and his service or toward things below. When two masters are separated, the...  Read More

The love of Christ and the love of the world cannot lodge together in one heart. For they are two masters who rule by contrary laws. Christ was resolved to suffer, but the world said, 'Spare yourself...  Read More

(5) Strive to grow daily in the denial of yourself. No one can come to heaven who does not first strip himself of himself. He must not trust in his own wisdom, will, or affections. He must deny himse...  Read More

How to persevere in goodness: (1) Labour for true grace. What is sincere, is constant. That is true grace which the Spirit of God works in us, and is not built on false grounds, as to have respect fo...  Read More

God has planted the grace of faith in us, that our souls might be carried to himself, and not rely upon earthly things, which are only as good as we do not trust in them. If we trust in friends, or e...  Read More

Paul sets down the diverse assistance he found from both God and man in the preaching of the gospel. As for men, when Paul was most in need of comfort, he found that they dealt unfaithfully with him. ...  Read More

(4) Whether a man may break out of prison to save himself? I answer: You ought not to do anything that may endanger another man to save your own life. You may not, by breaking out of prison, endanger...  Read More

Questions concerning times of persecution. (1) Whether we ought to lose our lives or deny the truth? To this I answer: We ought rather to lose our lives than deny the truth; for God's truth is better...  Read More

For the works of Christ, Epaphroditus was nigh to death. This work of Christ especially aims at works of mercy to Paul while he was in prison and his long and tedious journey. From these he took a si...  Read More

God's mercy extends to this temporal life. We think his mercy is only for things that belong to the life everlasting. No! The same love and mercy that gives us heaven, is the same that gives us our d...  Read More

(5) Labour for patience. Consider that the sickness is from God, who is powerful. We will get nothing by striving or murmuring; he will have his will fulfilled in us. Then consider it comes from God,...  Read More

Consider how we are to behave ourselves in sickness. (1) Know and consider, 'Sickness comes not. from the dust' (Job 5:6); but consider your ways, especially your antecedent course of life, which of ...  Read More

(4) Make up your accounts daily, that when sickness and weakness come, we have not our greatest and most laborious work to do. It is an atheistic folly to put off all until sickness, whereas they know...  Read More

Seeing then we cannot avoid sickness nor death, let us consider briefly how to fit ourselves for it beforehand. (1) Before sickness labour to make God your friend, who is Lord of life and death. Is th...  Read More

Observe here how one wave follows another. After Epaphroditus had endured a long and dangerous voyage, he meets with a long and dangerous sickness. It is the nature of us. Let us not dream of any imm...  Read More