J. Church

“ To make a collection of the good things the Spirit has shewn to us—every token for good, every sermon he has blest with power, every sweet view of Jesus, every precious promise that has been applied, every ray of comfort, every season of access and nearness to God, every good word and kind hint he has given us, every deliverance he has wrought for us, every clear answer to prayer, whether of things temporal or spiritual. ”

“ While Faith is thus busied, the exercises of Religion, like a wheel, go their happy round to the Cistern of Gospel Ordinances; for a while Faith is thus exercised on Jesus, the mind, the soul is made willing, and rolls its happy round, like a wheel well oiled. Faith is going to the Fountain while the Believer is willingly running the way of God’s Commands. It is worthy our notice, that all the treasures of blessings in Christ, are compared to a Fountain; but in Ordinances, in Ministers, and Means, it is but a Cistern. Hence the folly of those who seek salvation in their round of duties ”

“ I drew them with the Cords of Love, with loving kindness have I drawn thee.—This keeps the whole Body together; and Paul tells us to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Love is the bond; put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. This is the Cord that draws us to heaven: this unites us in heart to Jesus. Love as a principle, and as shed abroad in the heart, unites us to his Truth, his Ways, his Ministers and his People. ”

“ Wherefore should thy servant be yet a burden to my lord the king? Thus the habit and taste for Music is brought low. This appears to be the literal sense of this passage, and some of those unpleasant days which many of our fallen race see with grief; all must lament it as creatures, but yet Believers must rejoice, as new creature, that all their musical days are not at an end—no, but that they are only beginning, as son as they enter upon their Father’s house above, and in the resurrection morn their harps, their powers, will be sweetly tuned to the praise of electing grace and eternal love. ”

“ The knowledge of faith gives present peace; the wisdom of faith is to cleave to God, and the art or device of faith is to endeavour to gain all it can, to be useful to others. This faith leads us to think God’s thoughts, and approve of them; to do what Jesus has commanded—to carry our cases to God; to search diligently into his word, and to open the mouth for God when we have an opportunity.—Faith opens the mouth to God in prayer and praise, and for God’s glory, in a firm, warm, decided attachment to his cause, his people, his ways, his truth ”

“ Your present experience of darkness, guilt, deadness, bondage, contraction of spirit, and great stupor, are the days of evil that Solomon speaks of, which are many, but must at last issue in an exceeding and an eternal weight of glory. But seeing such are the days that must come on the followers of the dear Saviour, how truly important, and how highly interesting that exhortation in the twelfth of Ecclesiastes, Remember now thy Creator, in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, and the years draw nigh, wherein thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them. ”

“ Faith comes from him, is busied about him, affections go to him, hope centers in him, patience waits on him, humility is precious to him; this is the fruit of his own Spirit, and we find by daily experience, that the Spirit goes to God who gave it, while all that is carnal in us will cleave to the dust, to sin, to the world, to all that is opposite to God; like loves its like, that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit, and delights in spiritual objects; that which is born of the Flesh is Flesh, and is desirous of sensual gratification. This is the Believer’s affliction ”

“ Thus, by contracted guilt, the cord of love is loosed, not in God, but in our exercise of this grace. So of those we once viewed saints, many we have proved to be nothing but hypocrites; some only mumping a living under the mask of religion; some lying in wait to deceive; some watching for our halting, to find something amiss in our conduct; and if they can catch any thing, it is marrow and fatness to their bones. Tattling, lying, backbiting, jealousies, and evil speaking. ”

“ Did Jesus die for me?—and after the soul knows this, yet in general, there is a thirsting after greater knowledge, and greater enjoyment of it, nor is a Believer ever at home but when he is here. He rests not in his attainments of this knowledge, but is anxious to go on to know the Lord, in his infinite love; to feel more, to enjoy more, to be delighted with more of it, till he arrives at perfect bliss, and is filled with all the fulness of God, which is love. ”

“ But while we would look forward to the evil days which must come on the body, may we not notice some evil days that our souls may meet with, when the all-healing, comfortable, soul-reviving, soul-cheering, heart-warming beams of Christ, the glorious Sun of Righteousness shall be with-held, and coldness, deadness, sickness, darkness, legality, and distance is felt; and such seasons have befel the brightest saints. ”

“ Thus we see, feel, and admire the conquests of sovereign Grace; this brings us to God, this endears the Saviour, this inspires us with a lively hope, this turns our feet to God’s testimonies, opens the eyes to see the beauty of God’s word; the glories of the Saviour, and imbitters, yea, darkens all terrestial objects. The eyes by nature are full of evil, they are fixed on sinful objects, they are full of sin.—Hence we read of eyes full of adultery. ”

“ I feel dreadful apprehensions of God’s wrath; and while my conscience feels these things, I see, in the light of the word, and by the Spirit, the exact suitableness of the dear Saviour. I am enabled by the same Spirit to believe he lived, obeyed, suffered, died, and is risen again, and receives poor sinners—the lost, the helpless, the guilty, and the vile. This begets a hope in my mind that he will save me. The Promises encourage me—the freeness of grace—the Lord delighting in mercy, through the satisfaction of Jesus—the scriptural account of poor sinners as vile as me being saved. ”

“ This was what the Holy Spirit witnessed to Paul, that in every city where he came bonds and affliction should await him, and he must go through them. No doubt these will have a glorious tendency, for our Covenant God does nothing in vain. You have hitherto been much indulged; I have really envied you, but the change you now experience is only to shew you what need you have of the whole armour of God. You are but just come into the field of action, to combat with sin, Satan, errors, hypocrites, and erroneous men—to combat with many outward and inward foes, who now appear to your view. ”

“ The everlasting righteousness of the dear God Man Mediator—the everlasting salvation with which all the elect shall be saved—the value, the efficacy, and unspeakable worth of the Atonement—the preciousness of the offices, glory, titles, and characters of the adorable Trinity in Unity. These things must be deeply learnt and kept in mind—the knowledge of them will surely do us good in the days of evil. ”

“ Here we see the necessity of abiding continually in Jesus, keeping near him, that we may have peace maintained in the conscience; be kept from sin, and led on in the ways of God, strong in faith, cheerful in hope, fervent in love, and tender in conscience. May that be your felicity and mine, dear Sister in Jesus, is the earnest prayer of ever yours in Jesus. ”

“ Amidst a vast multitude of thoughts which occurred to my mind this morning, one more than all the rest, seemed longest to abide, namely, that as the Lord’s people are called Servants as well as Sons, it appears to me that the services of none are accepted of God, but only the services of those who are Sons by adoption and graces and by the testimony of the Holy Spirit in the heart. ”

“ But here we must admire divine mercy, communicating to us spiritual life that we may feel these things a burden. As this life operates the difference between a child of God and one that is not, is clearly seen; they who are not quickened by the Spirit do not feel these things; but, alas, my dear Friend, have not you been left in such a strange state of mind, that you have neither felt sin, nor grace, neither mourned at the judgments of God, the terrors of hell, the sufferings of Christ, the afflictions of the Church, nor the plague of the heart. ”

“ A new man is formed; for this the Redeemer travailed in spirit; for this ministers labour and toil; and to enjoy God in Christ Jesus, no small portion of spiritual labour falls to the share of the happy possessor. The Saviour enters the soul; this must create a stir there. He comes into, and by the door of the heart; all that come in any other way, as sin and Satan did, are thieves and robbers. Upon his entrance we, by his light, see our lost state—feel our guilt—conscience is quickened, as well as the mind enlightened ”

“ Solomon well instructed in the operations of the Spirit, under the emblems of old age and its infirmities, points out this work in striking, figurative language. In the days when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves. We are not at a loss to conjecture who those keepers are in the worst of senses, Satan having blinded the eyes of man, it is his work, to study how to keep them blind, keep them enemies, keep them in prejudice, keep them proud, and keep them in awful rebellion. ”

“ Sin on the conscience, backsliding, getting into a worldly spirit, the affections being entangled with creature love—these things bring on evil days. O! what a mercy to have the heart right with God. When the soul is thus filled with love, it is always attended with an illuminated mind, a mind receiving the truth. Charity rejoiceth in the truth, believeth all things God hath said, as well as hopeth for what God hath promised. ”

“ Do not these destroy our peace, our joy, our bright evidences, and cause us, sometimes, to fear we have neither part nor lot in the matter, especially when we cannot see that these sins are pardoned by the precious blood of Christ?—These are felt as a burden too heavy to bear, and a burden we fear will sink us to hell, till we believe they are all blotted out, then the inbeing of them becomes a burden to us. ”

“ The Skin, like a curious surtout, exactly fitted, is superadded over the whole, formed of the most delicate net work. The Pores are minute, and nervous fibres are multiplied even to a progeny.—The Veins beautifying the human structure, especially the most conspicuous parts of it; the pliant wrist and the taper arm, are adorned with them, they spread vermillion over the lips, and plant roses on the cheeks; while the eye, tinged with glossy jet, or sparkling with the blue of Heaven, is fixed in an orb of polished chrystal. ”

“ MAY the Father of Mercies and God of all consolation be with you, as your all in all, the foundation of your soul, the shield of your faith, the helmet of your hope, the length of your days, the joy of your mind, the strength of your heart, and your portion for ever. ”

“ How lovely and pleasant, while through the falling dew of God’s favor, your graces budded, and the softly-pleasing southern gales caused your spikenard to send forth a delightful perfume. But evil days must come; not such evil days as must befal those as have no interest in, or love to the Saviour, and which may never come on in this world. ”

“ No doubt many bear up amazingly well under the infirmities of age; but it must be allowed these are evil days: that alone which can sweeten them, is a good hope through grace, the clear witness of the Spirit of God to the conscience, a lively precious faith in an everlasting covenant, in the blood of the Lamb, and in the faithfulness of that God who has graciously said, and even to old age and hoary hairs will I be with you. Justified in the Redeemer’s obedience, and kept firm in the truth. Solomon says, The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness. ”

“ A worldly spirit, levity, evil tempers, giving way to our most easy besetment; hearkening to Satan, conforming to the world, or medling with erroneous sentiments. These things will weaken, and make the strong men tremble. Guilt felt, sin creeping in between conscience and God, and faith not strong enough to make use of the Atonement; this makes us tremble indeed, while the eyes of an illuminated understanding become very dim—this darkness we feel when we can neither see the way behind nor before with pleasure. ”

“ God may cause darkness to come on the mind, the judgment to be bewildered, and errors to creep in—the Golden Bowl may be broken.—Ephraim, says God, is oppressed and broken in judgment, either by evil men, who lay in wait to deceive, or by a curious spirit, which a Believer may be plagued with, till he has imbibed some error, which leads him into darkness, bondage, and misery. ”

“ High in the Head, and conspicuous, as a star in the evening, is placed the Eye. This is one of the greatest works of our blessed Creator, consisting only of simple fluids, inclosed in thin tunicles: it conveys to our apprehension all the graces of blooming nature, and all the glories of the visible heavens. The Eye so particularly tender, that a slight accident, scarce perceivable by any other part of the body, would be very injurious to its delicate frame. ”

“ Very little spiritual love being now felt, the Silver Cord, appears to be loosed, not that the principle is lost, but God is teaching the Believer wisdom, and directing the principle of love to the proper object, even to the Household of Faith—not to every Professor, but only to those who stand manifest in our consciences, that they are taught of God; yet it must be acknowledged that while the heart is shut up from the exercise of love it is an evil, a trying day. ”

“ When they see many apparently brighter characters than themselves go back into the world, or sink into error, they fear it will one day be their case; and when they see how far a person may go in a profession and yet be nothing, they startle, they fear, lest they should. Thus we find fears in the way, and when the mind is low, deprest, and every grace of the spirit, to all human appearance out of exercise, they are afraid of high, great, precious, and important Doctrines, lest they should presume in medling with them, fearing they have no interest in them. ”

“ My dear Sister has, I trust, been long taught the sad state of man by nature, that though he was originally built for God to dwell in, and his image did reside in man a little while, yet an enemy came against this little City, besieged it, and raised awful bulwarks against it, gained the possession of the capital, and keeps it in peace, till the stronger than he, even the eternal Spirit comes on him, spoils him of his armour, makes him quit his territory, and gets full possession of his heart. ”