(5) Take heed of the least sin against conscience. Sins that are committed against conscience darken the understanding, deaden the affection, and take away life; so that one has not the least strengt...  Read More

How a tender heart may be preserved and maintained. (1) Be under the means whereby God's Spirit will work; for it is he by his Spirit that works upon the heart and does preserve tenderness in us; and...  Read More

Is there anything in man that can cause God to do him good? No. Where God intends to do any good, he first works in the heart a gracious disposition: after which he looks upon his own work as upon a ...  Read More

The apostle Paul was an excellent man, and had excellent privileges to glory in. Oh but, said he, 'I account all dung and dross in comparison of the excellent knowledge of Christ' (Phil. 3:8). Our bl...  Read More

Heaven would not be heaven without the presence of God. The presence of God in a dungeon, in a lion's den, makes it a paradise, a place of pleasure; the presence of God makes all conditions comfortab...  Read More

Christians have a constant desire to dwell in the house of God. (1) The reason is, because the soul in this world is never fully satisfied with the good things of God's house until it be in heaven. T...  Read More

Thoughts and desires are the two primitive issues of the heart.Thoughts in the mind will strike the heart. Thoughts go from the understanding to the will and affections. What we think of, that we des...  Read More

(3) David can only desire this 'one thing' by grace. For the very nature of grace is to unite all things to the main thing. The Spirit of grace sets before the eye of the soul heavenly, spiritual thi...  Read More

Why does David say, 'One thing?' (1) It is because of the nature of God. We must have the whole bent and sway of our souls focused on him. He will have no wavering. The devil is content with half, be...  Read More

We must divide the day and keep a daily watch. In the morning awake with God before the world or the flesh thrust in. Think of all that may happen that day, of all the dangers and troubles; and think...  Read More

The bearing of a Christian in this world is to be a state of watching until Christ returns, because we are in danger of sin, and danger by sin. Particularly the sins of drowsiness, deadness, and heav...  Read More

Christ does not dislike domestic business and hospitality; but by this Christ shows his pity on Martha's troublesome cares and distractions, which might have been passed over with far less burden to ...  Read More

Any good Christian may be a good statesman in one good sense. He who can prevail with God to prevail with the leaders of the earth, surely such a man is a profitable man in the state. We know that Go...  Read More

(3) True desires are not only for the favour of God, but for the graces that will alter our natures. Now when desire is for these graces, it is a holy desire. To desire grace, which is as opposite to...  Read More

One objective of Christianity is for us to desire to be sound Christians with all our hearts. Religion is more in the affections of the soul than in the effects and operations. It is more in the reso...  Read More

Emmanuel, God with us. If God is with us in our nature, then he is with us in his love; 'and if God is with us, who shall be against us?' (Rom. 8:31). For this Emmanuel has taken our nature forever; ...  Read More

Emmanuel is a name both of nature and office. It is a name of his nature, God and man; and of his office, which is to reconcile God and man. The pure nature of God, and the fallen nature of man, whic...  Read More

'Behold.' This is the usual harbinger in matters concerning Christ. The word has a threefold force. First as a thing presented to the eye of faith. Second the word gets our attention, for it announce...  Read More

A Christian who, through Christ, draws near to God is the wisest man. He has God's word, reason, and experience to support his choice. Paul suffered, and was not ashamed. Why? 'I know whom I have bel...  Read More

(8) Labour for sincerity in all our actions. Whatever we do for God or man, do it with a single eye, resolved to please God. Let men say what they will, 'a double-minded man is unstable in all his wa...  Read More

(5) Be in God's ways and ordinances in all the good you do. Whether in our Christian or civil calling, all must be sanctified by prayer and a holy dependence upon God for strength, wisdom, and succes...  Read More

(4) Observe and check the first motions of sin in our hearts. You, O man of God, Ay from the lusts of youth' (2 Tim. 2:22). Rebuke the first motions, before they come to delight or action. God abhor...  Read More

Seek to be nearer to God by submitting to his Spirit. The more we grow in spiritual things, the closer access we have to the secrets of God. In our first state, we are altogether flesh and have no sp...  Read More

A wicked man may be convinced that heaven and grace are good things; but his corrupted affections persuade him that it would be better to live in pleasure and lust now; and when death comes then he m...  Read More