Edward Hoare

“ Your measure of grace, to your own thinking, may be somewhat scant—but your working and example up to the extent of that grace, are necessary for the well-being of the whole body. To you, as well as to others, is this word spoken “Ye are my witnesses,” and by you, as well as by others, may comfort be afforded to some soul not yet gathered, some sheep yet straying upon the dark mountains. None are too small in God’s sight to be useful. None are so low down but they may help to lift up others. Every atom has a shadow. Every Christian has an influence. ”

“ But there is more than that taught here, for redemption goes far beyond atonement, and includes the actual deliverance which is the result of that atonement, when applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. It is not merely the payment of the ransom, but the liberation of the ransomed slave. Thus the sealed servants are said to have been “redeemed from among men.” Not merely was an atonement made for them, but, through the power of that atonement, they were delivered from the bondage of corruption unto the glorious liberty of the children of God. An atonement was made on their behalf ”

“ His gifts are for our gain, as well as for the glory of His own grace.
Now, this is specially true of that great, but often little-regarded, gift—a Christian indeed. It is a mistake to suppose that such an one is here merely to work out his own salvation, and heap up treasure for himself in the world to come.
He is not here for himself. As an unconverted man an end is to be served by his being. As a converted man a far higher end is to be served by his being in Christ. He is God’s workmanship, God’s appointment for others;—a privilege for those amongst whom he is placed ”

“ You have to learn better how to refer all things to a spiritual standard—how to commit everything to the guidance of a faithful and present God—how to endure as seeing Him who is invisible. For all this faith must be increased. It is the only secret of power. ”

“ But my object to-day is not so much to dwell on the meeting, as to study the character of the sealed servants of our God. We all desire, I trust, to be amongst them on the meeting day, and I see not, for my own part, how any wise man can rest till he has a well grounded hope given him by God, that he is one of the number now. It is most important then that we study well their character, and may God grant that the seal may be on our foreheads during our struggle upon earth, and the Father’s name clearly seen there when the Lord comes to take the kingdom! ”

“ God forbid that I should lead any one to suppose that peace either in living or dying is from any source but the free gift of God’s grace; but as one that has witnessed hundreds of Christian death-beds, I bear my testimony that, as a general rule, inconsistent Christians very frequently have anxious death-beds: while, on the other hand, those who have walked nearest to the Lord in their life are the people who have found Him nearest to them in their death ”

“ You can never sit down like the conqueror in old day who wept because there were no more worlds to conquer. There remaineth yet much land to be possessed. There are many enemies to be overcome. There is much grace to be attained to. There is a closer intimacy and fellowship with the Lord Jesus to be won. For all this faith must be in action. ”

“ When He called this world of ours into being, and gave it its proper place in the universe as the habitation for man,—when He gathered up the light into the light-bearers, and commanded them to be for signs, and for seasons, for days, and years,—when He put the topstone to creation, and set man upon the earth to be His representative,—in all this there was nothing without design. ”

“ There is no explanation of such language except by atonement through the blood of the Lord Jesus, or the substitution, or vicarious sacrifice of the love of God. If any meaning is to be attached to words, it is impossible to believe that our Lord’s death was nothing more than a noble example of devoted self sacrifice. It must have been the satisfaction of the law of God by the actual infliction on the Lord Jesus Christ of the whole penalty due to sin. ”

“ In so doing he comes to set before them those who were their guides in the faith. He urges them to follow their example whilst living, to treasure their memory when dead. They would find this a mighty help towards standing fast.
Brethren, we are called to a like duty this day. We are met together, the poorer, most of us, by a friend; the richer, all of us, by a memory and an example. We have had—we still have—a gift of God, in the person of His sainted servant. We have had a real Christian to look upon and live by. ”

“ Whatever their position—whatever their measure of grace or gifts, they are called of God to lead on others in the faith, in some measure. One star may differ from another star in glory, or degree of brightness. One member of the body may differ from another in size and shape. But the least star has its place and power, and the least member its work and fitness for that work (1 Cor. xii. 21, 22) . And so of each Christian. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards p. 6of the manifold grace of God.” ”

“ He knows each one by name, by disposition, by circumstance; knows who we are, where we are, what we are; knows all our wants, our cares, our joys, our sorrows, our temptations; and if we be His, we follow Him, seeking to know His will, watching for His beckoning hand, listening for His directing voice, and tracing His sacred footsteps. ”

“ What a reproach would be rolled from the faith if we could but hold up our heads a little more! We do not want any alteration of doctrine to make Christian truth more attractive, but we do want more attractive cheerfulness in those who believe and know that truth. ”

“ He realised in an uncommon degree the love shown in the coming and death of the Lord Jesus. The thought of it would often melt his soul and overpower him for the time.
Now, such love, so realised, will always produce the reality of love. No doubt there was much of tender feeling and deep affection in the natural character. But these were increased a thousand fold by Grace. ”

“ There was a wonderful consistency about his whole character, and he uniformly acted on the Apostolic maxim, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.” He delighted in his fellowship with God, and he could have no alliance with anything contrary to God’s will.
II. But, whatever we may think of the first description, there can be no doubt about the second. “These are they that follow the Lamb, whithersoever he goeth.” There is no symbolical language here, but a plain, clear, unmistakeable, description of Christian character. ”

“ They are no longer in the midst of a world swept by a succession of desolating woes; no longer a bidden people struggling with difficulties on earth; they are now taken up to Mount Zion, and this Mount Zion must be the Heavenly Jerusalem, for, in verse 2 their voice is said to come from Heaven, and in verse 3 they are described as before the throne of God. The Saviour whom, though unseen, they have loved and followed, is now standing conspicuous in the midst of them. ”

“ Thus they became first-fruits to God and the Lamb. The first-fruits p. 26are a small portion set apart unto God, the remainder being left in the possession of the original owner. So, God’s people are separated and dedicated at the first-fruits onto Him, while the mass of men remain under the power of the god of this world. They are mixed up with other men in all the relationships of life; but in the midst of all they are distinct, for God has redeemed them, and put His seal on them, thereby to mark them as his own. ”

“ Live so as to be missed. Seek to have behind you that good name which is better than precious ointment. Hold forth the word of life. Try to lay aside every hindrance of selfishness, indolence, love of ease, half-heartedness.
Let it be said of you, as it may fitly be said of him:—He was what God made him. He worked where God placed him. He went where God called him. He is where God in Christ is with him—a sinner, saved by grace, through faith, in the Lord, with an everlasting salvation.
p. 19SERMON,
BY THE REV. EDWARD HOARE.
“These are they which were not defiled with women ”

“ I would rather recall his personal efforts to make known the Gospel which was his own life.
Many of you, brethren, can bear me witness that by the space of many years he did not shun to declare by lip and life, by word and walk, the whole counsel of God.
p. 15He was emphatically one of that class who, to use the words of a poor man in London, “carry their religion to other people’s houses.” ”

“ Wherever the Lord leads the way, there the sealed servants p. 23are prepared to follow. They do not want to pick and choose for themselves, or merely to follow in pleasant paths; still less do they wish to be led by the leaders of the world, or guided by the motives of the world. ”

“ If you aim at this, suffer me to remind you of that in our departed friend which tended to make his faith what it was.
No plant of righteousness can grow without being nourished in secret. No Christian soul can thrive unless p. ”