(Sign 6) Again, decay in our first love is a sign of approaching judgment. God threatened the church of Ephesus to remove his candlestick from among them, for their decay in their first love (Rev. 2:...  Read More

(Sign 4) When sin grows ripe, and abounds in a land or nation, at such time as this a man may know there is some fearful judgment approaching. But when is sin ripe? When it is impudent; when men grow...  Read More

What are the signs that judgment is to fall upon the people of God? (Sign 1) ‘This and that have I done,’ said the Lord, 'and yet you have not returned to me' (Amos 4:6, 7). There are declines before...  Read More

Why does God chiefly afflict his own people more than others? (1) Because they are his own family and are called by his name (Num. 6:27). Now the disorders of the family lead to the disgrace of the l...  Read More

The heart of true Christians is God's private closet. And as in every house or building, there are some open places and some private closets, so is it here. God has his private chamber, and his retir...  Read More

Let us then bring our hearts to holy resolutions, and set ourselves upon that which is good, and against that which is ill, in ourselves or others, according to our callings, with this encouragement,...  Read More

If we look to the present state of the church of Christ, it is as Daniel in the midst of lions, as a lily among thorns, as a ship not only tossed but almost covered with waves. How strong a conspirac...  Read More

It is dangerous to look for that from ourselves which we must have from Christ. We are but subordinate agents, moving as we are moved, and working as we are first wrought upon, free in so far as we a...  Read More

(1) God's children usually, in their troubles, overcome by suffering. Here lambs overcome lions, and doves overcome eagles, by suffering. That they may be conformable to Christ, who conquered most wh...  Read More

Let us think to ourselves: when he is so kind to us, will we be cruel against him in his name, in his truth, and in his children? It cannot but cut the heart of those that have felt this love of Chri...  Read More

Where do discouragements come from? (1) Not from the Father, for he has bound himself by covenant to pity us as a father pities his children (Psa. 103:13) and to accept as a father our weak endeavour...  Read More

(4) Some think, when they become more troubled with the smoke of corruption than they were before, therefore they are worse than they were. It is true that corruptions appear now more than before, bu...  Read More

(1) Some think they have no faith at all because they have no full assurance. The best actions will smell of the smoke; so, all our actions will savour something of the old man. (2) In weakness of bo...  Read More

(6) Fire, where it is present, is in some degree active. The least measure of grace works, as springing from the Spirit of God, who is compared to fire. Even in sins, when there seems nothing active ...  Read More

(4) Where this fire is, it will show a difference between such things as gold and dross. It will sever between flesh and spirit, and show that this is of nature, this of grace. All is not ill in a ba...  Read More

The presence of the heavenly fire: (1) If there be any holy fire in us, it is kindled from heaven by the Father of lights, who 'commanded the light to shine out of darkness' (2Cor. 4:6). The light in...  Read More

We must acknowledge that in the covenant of grace God requires the truth of grace, not any certain measure. A spark of fire is fire, as well as the whole element. Therefore, we must look to grace in ...  Read More

The Holy Spirit is content to dwell in smoky, offensive souls (Isa. 42:1-3). Oh, that that Spirit would breathe into our spirits the same merciful disposition! We endure the bitterness of wormwood, a...  Read More

In our common relationships with other believers: we are debtors to the weak in many things. (1) Let us be watchful in the use of our liberty, and labour to be inoffensive in our behaviour. There is ...  Read More

We need to take heed therefore how we deal with young believers. Let us be careful not to pitch matters too high, making things necessary evidences of grace which do not equal the experience of many ...  Read More

On the other hand, people should not tire and wear out the patience of others; nor should the weaker so far demand moderation from others as to rely upon their indulgence and so to rest in their own ...  Read More

See the opposite dispositions in the holy nature of Christ and the impure nature of man. Man, for a little smoke will quench the light. Christ ever cherishes even the least beginnings. How he bore wi...  Read More

Christ would not have us despise little things. The glorious angels disdain not attendance on little ones. It is Christ that raises the worth of little and wretched places and persons. Bethlehem was ...  Read More

There are several ages in Christians, some babes, some young men. Faith may be as ‘a grain of mustard seed' (Matt. 17:20). Nothing so little as grace at first, and nothing more glorious afterward. Th...  Read More