The Prayer of Moses # 2
But what ANSWER may we suppose that the Lord will give to many of us?
Perhaps He may say that He will not return as we desire - until we separate from the world as He has bidden us. His word is, "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." But, like Ephraim of old, we have mixed ourselves among the people. Politics, business, carnal associations, and worldly thinking had led us astray; so that there is but very little difference between the professing people of God - and those who make no profession. He requires us to stand out in bold relief from the world - to be distinct and distinguishable - to be like a city set upon a hill, which cannot be hidden. While worldly professors have balls, dances, concerts, etc. - we shall be left to cry, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?"
Again, we may not expect Him to return - until we realize the end of our salvation. We are called with a Heavenly calling. We are called to glory and virtue. Our calling is to publish and preserve God's truth - to represent and set forth the true nature of Christ's holy religion - to endeavor to pluck sinners as brands from the burning, and lead them on to glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life.
We are saved: to live for God - to live like Jesus - to aim at the honor of God in everything we do - to live as saints, or unearthly persons, who are born from above, buried with Christ, risen with Christ, ascended with Christ, and identified with Christ!
We are to act like the temples of the Holy Spirit - the companions of God the Father, and of His Son Jesus Christ, with whom we profess to live in close, constant, and sensible fellowship.
We are to make God's glory the one great end of our existence, so that, whether we think or speak, rest or work, worship or visit, eat or drink, or whatever we do - we do all to the glory of God.
We may not expect the Lord to return - until we stir up ourselves to take hold upon Him. Like Jacob we must go out into the plain, and there wrestle with God. Like Elijah - we must go to the top of Carmel, and there plead until we prevail. Like Hezekiah we must turn our faces to the wall, and pray until God yields to us. Like the disciples at Emmaus we must constrain Him to turn in and abide with us.
Brethren let us remember, that the energetic prayer of the righteous man avails much; that God will attend to his own elect when they cry day and night unto Him - though He may seem to hold out long. Let us, give Him no rest until He bows the Heavens and comes down, and works wonders in our midst!
Do we feel this to be our state? Is God at a distance from us? Are the ordinances comparatively barren? Is the gospel almost without effect? Are our churches and ministers at a loss to know what to do? Do we pant and long for a change? Is this the rooted, reigning, abiding desire of our souls? Can we be satisfied with no less? Are we becoming impatient and passionately crying out, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?" Or can we be still, silent, and comparatively indifferent under such a state of things?
Brethren, the Spirit of God is grieved - and we have grieved Him!
Our heavenly Father's heart is wounded - and we have wounded it!
Our adorable Saviour has been crucified again and again - and we have crucified Him!
These things call for deep thought, for bitter tears, for daily repentance, for fervent prayers, for frank confession, for earnest pleadings, and for immediate reformation!
Do we feel upon this subject - as we ought to feel? Do you? Do we act under the circumstances - as we ought to act? Do you? God refuses to be considered the author or the cause of these things, therefore He demands of us, "Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened? Are these His doings? Do not my words do good unto him that walks uprightly? Can we have walked uprightly, then? Impossible, or God would not withhold His presence from us! Hear His own word, "The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will be withheld from them that walk uprightly!"
~James Smith~
(The End)
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Saturday, March 21, 2020
The Prayer of Moses # 1
The Prayer of Moses # 1
"Return, O Lord! How long will it be?" (Psalm 90:13).
So sighed Moses, the man of God, when Israel was wandering in the desert, when death was sweeping away the rebellious generation which came out of Egypt, from the earth; and when God, to a great extent, kept at a distance from them.
And so may we sigh and pray, under our present depressing, discouraging circumstances, as the visible church of Christ. God has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud: and He has covered Himself with a cloud, so that our prayers will not pass through. We sigh and cry - but He seems to shut out our prayer; we mourn His absence - but He does not favor us with His presence as we desire and wish to enjoy it. The prayer of Moses is ours; yes, beloved, we are crying out, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?"
What is the CAUSE of this exclamation? Why do we thus pray?
Because we are not favored with those sweet, soul-melting joys which we used to enjoy. One branch of God's kingdom was, joy in the Holy Spirit." One characteristic of the believer was, that he "rejoiced in Christ Jesus." The disciples "were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Once, in our experience, His teachings dropped as the rain, and His communications distilled as the dew. We sat under His shadow with delight, and His fruit was sweet unto our taste. But where ae those joys now? When do we enjoy such precious seasons?
Where are the people that are in such a case? Alas, generally speaking, we are cold, hard, lifeless, and unspiritual!; therefore, we may well cry, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?"
Again, the sanctifying influences of the blessed Spirit do not attend the Word as they once did. Time was, when the preacher could say to his people, "We all with open face - beholding as a mirror the glory of the Lord - are being changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." By the gospel ordinances, the Lord sanctified His people: the covetous became liberal; the proud became humble; the idle became industrious; the self-indulgent learned to practice self-denial; the earthly-minded became spiritual; a gradual, progressive - but marked change took place in them! But how, professors remain very much what they were, which makes us exclaim, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?"
Once more, the saving operations of the quickening Spirit are withheld. Once sinners were converted by thousands: great multitudes both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. The hand of the Lord was with His servants, and multitudes were turned unto the Lord. The Lord added to the church daily, such as should be saved. The gospel was accompanied with an invincible power, and the hearers were born again by the word of truth. The gospel came not in word only - but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Now how few are really converted to God; and even in the converted - how slight the work appears. Once the soul was like softened wax, and the image of Christ was deeply impressed upon it; not it is rather like drawing paper, and the likeness of Jesus is only seen drawn in faint outline upon it. Well, therefore, may we cry, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?"
And we do so, because we can find no substitute for the divine presence. We have learning, eloquence, argument, emotional appeals, earnest entreaties, and loving tenderness - but all this will not do! Things remain just as they were! We can be satisfied with nothing less than the presence of God. We value the servants - but we want the Master. We prize the instruments - but we long for the divine Agent. We have the wells - but we want the living, the life-giving water. And all our efforts will decay to nothing - except the Lord returns in power.
In many places, our churches decrease, our congregations dwindle, our pastors are dispirited, and dull discontent pervades all the true people of God. These things make us cry, and cry with painful earnestness, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?"
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
"Return, O Lord! How long will it be?" (Psalm 90:13).
So sighed Moses, the man of God, when Israel was wandering in the desert, when death was sweeping away the rebellious generation which came out of Egypt, from the earth; and when God, to a great extent, kept at a distance from them.
And so may we sigh and pray, under our present depressing, discouraging circumstances, as the visible church of Christ. God has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud: and He has covered Himself with a cloud, so that our prayers will not pass through. We sigh and cry - but He seems to shut out our prayer; we mourn His absence - but He does not favor us with His presence as we desire and wish to enjoy it. The prayer of Moses is ours; yes, beloved, we are crying out, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?"
What is the CAUSE of this exclamation? Why do we thus pray?
Because we are not favored with those sweet, soul-melting joys which we used to enjoy. One branch of God's kingdom was, joy in the Holy Spirit." One characteristic of the believer was, that he "rejoiced in Christ Jesus." The disciples "were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Once, in our experience, His teachings dropped as the rain, and His communications distilled as the dew. We sat under His shadow with delight, and His fruit was sweet unto our taste. But where ae those joys now? When do we enjoy such precious seasons?
Where are the people that are in such a case? Alas, generally speaking, we are cold, hard, lifeless, and unspiritual!; therefore, we may well cry, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?"
Again, the sanctifying influences of the blessed Spirit do not attend the Word as they once did. Time was, when the preacher could say to his people, "We all with open face - beholding as a mirror the glory of the Lord - are being changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." By the gospel ordinances, the Lord sanctified His people: the covetous became liberal; the proud became humble; the idle became industrious; the self-indulgent learned to practice self-denial; the earthly-minded became spiritual; a gradual, progressive - but marked change took place in them! But how, professors remain very much what they were, which makes us exclaim, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?"
Once more, the saving operations of the quickening Spirit are withheld. Once sinners were converted by thousands: great multitudes both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. The hand of the Lord was with His servants, and multitudes were turned unto the Lord. The Lord added to the church daily, such as should be saved. The gospel was accompanied with an invincible power, and the hearers were born again by the word of truth. The gospel came not in word only - but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Now how few are really converted to God; and even in the converted - how slight the work appears. Once the soul was like softened wax, and the image of Christ was deeply impressed upon it; not it is rather like drawing paper, and the likeness of Jesus is only seen drawn in faint outline upon it. Well, therefore, may we cry, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?"
And we do so, because we can find no substitute for the divine presence. We have learning, eloquence, argument, emotional appeals, earnest entreaties, and loving tenderness - but all this will not do! Things remain just as they were! We can be satisfied with nothing less than the presence of God. We value the servants - but we want the Master. We prize the instruments - but we long for the divine Agent. We have the wells - but we want the living, the life-giving water. And all our efforts will decay to nothing - except the Lord returns in power.
In many places, our churches decrease, our congregations dwindle, our pastors are dispirited, and dull discontent pervades all the true people of God. These things make us cry, and cry with painful earnestness, "Return, O Lord! How long will it be?"
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Development of Christian Character # 2
Development of Christian Character # 2
We have fallen on different times. The language addressed to churches is not, you are, but you ought to be, the consistent followers of the Lord Jesus. O when shall we be free from that miserable theology which only chills, and paralyzes, and freezes; that false philosophy which fetters the soul, and binds the energies of the children of God; and that spirit of slumber which compels the ministry, if they would speak the truth to their people, to say, you ought to be the devoted followers of Christ; and which seals our mouth when we would say; you are living monuments of the power and grace of God?'
Let no refuge be attempted here, in the plea that the people whom Paul adressed had been heathen, and that therefore the change would be more manifest, and this sort of appeal would be more proper. True, they have been heathen; and than change was a proof which no infidel has met yet, that the gospel was from God. But the ground of the address to the primitive Christians was not what they had been, so much as what they then were.
Besides, is it reserved for us to meet a remark like this, that a people nursed in heathenism, but yesterday degraded to the level of brute, and sunk in every species of abomination, were to be addressed as actually in advance in in Christian principles of the people of our times, and trained from their earliest years in the great principles of the Christian religion? Are we to expect more living demonstrations of the power of piety from the recovered population of Athens, Corinth, and Rome, than from the people of these present times and in the churches of this land? No, my Christian brethren, the gospel contemplates it as a matter of sober fact, that we can appeal to you and to all Christians and say, you ARE - not you ought to be, the light of the world. We can approach true Christians with the language of certainty, and say, you ARE the salt of the earth; you ARE light of the world!
3. The same thing is clear if we look at the instances which are mentioned in the New Testament. In the case of Christ, it is beyond the possibility of doubt. Nor is it unfair to adduce Him as a case in which the principles of religion were developed.
4. There is no principle in the universe that can be brought to bear on the mind with such weight as the religion of the gospel. Christians, you hold in your hands that gospel which will send peace around the globe - that glorious gospel of the blessed God that may enlighten all nations, alleviate every sorrow, comfort every mourner, and change the aspect of every kingdom and tribe of men.
Now, when we ask what is the proper effect of a life of decided piety, or why the Saviour supposed that letting our light shine would have such an effect on men, the answer is at hand. For,
1. It shows what men are.
2. The life of a Christian is an argument of the truth of Christianity, which he will see and know.
3. The world understands what true religion is.
4. Their is nothing so well fitted to convert men as a Christian life.
5. A fifth reason for this is, that God will in this way be honored.
A mere profession does not honor Him. A life of inactivity does not honor Him. The most stayed and formal religious regularity, where there is no Christian life, does not honor Him any more than the corpse of the dead laid in state is an honor to living men. The Christian honors God; the sun does that by His light, the moon and the stars of heaven by theirs; so does he by his light. One word spoke them all into being. But your piety cost the labors, the long agonies, the groans of God's only Son. One word may turn them all to nothing, but your piety shall show forth His praise forever and ever!
~Albert Barnes~
(The End)
We have fallen on different times. The language addressed to churches is not, you are, but you ought to be, the consistent followers of the Lord Jesus. O when shall we be free from that miserable theology which only chills, and paralyzes, and freezes; that false philosophy which fetters the soul, and binds the energies of the children of God; and that spirit of slumber which compels the ministry, if they would speak the truth to their people, to say, you ought to be the devoted followers of Christ; and which seals our mouth when we would say; you are living monuments of the power and grace of God?'
Let no refuge be attempted here, in the plea that the people whom Paul adressed had been heathen, and that therefore the change would be more manifest, and this sort of appeal would be more proper. True, they have been heathen; and than change was a proof which no infidel has met yet, that the gospel was from God. But the ground of the address to the primitive Christians was not what they had been, so much as what they then were.
Besides, is it reserved for us to meet a remark like this, that a people nursed in heathenism, but yesterday degraded to the level of brute, and sunk in every species of abomination, were to be addressed as actually in advance in in Christian principles of the people of our times, and trained from their earliest years in the great principles of the Christian religion? Are we to expect more living demonstrations of the power of piety from the recovered population of Athens, Corinth, and Rome, than from the people of these present times and in the churches of this land? No, my Christian brethren, the gospel contemplates it as a matter of sober fact, that we can appeal to you and to all Christians and say, you ARE - not you ought to be, the light of the world. We can approach true Christians with the language of certainty, and say, you ARE the salt of the earth; you ARE light of the world!
3. The same thing is clear if we look at the instances which are mentioned in the New Testament. In the case of Christ, it is beyond the possibility of doubt. Nor is it unfair to adduce Him as a case in which the principles of religion were developed.
4. There is no principle in the universe that can be brought to bear on the mind with such weight as the religion of the gospel. Christians, you hold in your hands that gospel which will send peace around the globe - that glorious gospel of the blessed God that may enlighten all nations, alleviate every sorrow, comfort every mourner, and change the aspect of every kingdom and tribe of men.
Now, when we ask what is the proper effect of a life of decided piety, or why the Saviour supposed that letting our light shine would have such an effect on men, the answer is at hand. For,
1. It shows what men are.
2. The life of a Christian is an argument of the truth of Christianity, which he will see and know.
3. The world understands what true religion is.
4. Their is nothing so well fitted to convert men as a Christian life.
5. A fifth reason for this is, that God will in this way be honored.
A mere profession does not honor Him. A life of inactivity does not honor Him. The most stayed and formal religious regularity, where there is no Christian life, does not honor Him any more than the corpse of the dead laid in state is an honor to living men. The Christian honors God; the sun does that by His light, the moon and the stars of heaven by theirs; so does he by his light. One word spoke them all into being. But your piety cost the labors, the long agonies, the groans of God's only Son. One word may turn them all to nothing, but your piety shall show forth His praise forever and ever!
~Albert Barnes~
(The End)
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Development of Christian Character # 1
Development of Christian Character # 1
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).
This passage of Scripture implies that there is a difference between Christians and other men. It is a radical and permanent distinction as regards their principles of action. My object is to show that this difference will manifest itself in the life. This I shall endeavor to do by showing,
1. That this difference will be developed.
2. By inquiring what there is in the circumstances of the Christian, adapted to bring out his principles.
1. The first point is, that the principles of Christian piety will be in fact developed in the life. By this I mean, that he who is truly a Christian in his heart, will be in his life; that his conduct will be not merely that of a professor, or a moral man, or an amiable and estimable member of his family and the community, but that he will be a pious man; that you may know where to find him on any subject pertaining to the kingdom of Christ. Now that this will be the case, it does not require many words to prove. For,
1. The nature of the change is such that it cannot but develop itself. Regeneration effects no direct revolution in the intellect, but it does in the heart; none in the essential stamina of the mind, but it does in the principles of action, and in the volitions, desires, and preferences of the man. Nor is it a slight change. It is so great as to make it proper to apply to it the terms: new creation, new birth, and life from the dead. There is no change in the human mind like it - none so deep, so thorough, so abiding. This is so clear in the Bible as to need no further proof.
Now, the proper place to manifest such a change, is in the life; and such a change, if it exist, will be manifest there. Neither the nature of mind, nor of religion, will, or can, prevent it. Important revolutions in a man's principles on any subject, we expect will be exhibited there. Nor have we any evidence that they have occurred until we witness them in a man's deportment. But the change in a man's views and feelings in regeneration, is one that affects him not in any one department of life, but in all. It is not a revolution whose effects we expect simply in the church, or in the family; in the external conduct, or in the abandonment of vices; but in all the appropriate circumstances of the man's life. If a revolution like that exists, it will be seen. It will constitute him a new man in Christ Jesus.
2. The same thing is clear from the declaration of the text. It is not, you ought to be the light of the world, but you are; not that Christians should be like a city set on a hill, but an affirmation that they are such. Though exhortations are addressed to Christians in the New Testament, urging them to a life of faith, yet they are also addressed as actually putting forth the principles of piety, and as true to their God and Saviour. You who were once in darkness, are light in the Lord. Believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your soul. I thank my God, says Paul to the Romans, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. None of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself.
It is unnecessary to multiply passages. All know that the New Testament abounds in expressions declaring the matter of fact, that the gospel has an ascendency in the minds of its followers. Nor would it be necessary to advert to this circumstance, were it not that so many Christians are in the habit of regarding the Bible rather as filled with exhortations and commands, which they are not expected to comply with, than with sober statements of what the gospel actually does accomplish among men.
The truth is, God contemplated that the gospel should have effect; and such was, in sober verity, the early effect of the gospel, that Paul could address any church as actually manifesting the mighty change wrought by the Spirit of God. You are our epistle, said he to the church at Corinth - the living, standing proof at once of the power of the gospel, and of the effect of his ministry.
~Albert Barnes~
(continued with # 2)
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).
This passage of Scripture implies that there is a difference between Christians and other men. It is a radical and permanent distinction as regards their principles of action. My object is to show that this difference will manifest itself in the life. This I shall endeavor to do by showing,
1. That this difference will be developed.
2. By inquiring what there is in the circumstances of the Christian, adapted to bring out his principles.
1. The first point is, that the principles of Christian piety will be in fact developed in the life. By this I mean, that he who is truly a Christian in his heart, will be in his life; that his conduct will be not merely that of a professor, or a moral man, or an amiable and estimable member of his family and the community, but that he will be a pious man; that you may know where to find him on any subject pertaining to the kingdom of Christ. Now that this will be the case, it does not require many words to prove. For,
1. The nature of the change is such that it cannot but develop itself. Regeneration effects no direct revolution in the intellect, but it does in the heart; none in the essential stamina of the mind, but it does in the principles of action, and in the volitions, desires, and preferences of the man. Nor is it a slight change. It is so great as to make it proper to apply to it the terms: new creation, new birth, and life from the dead. There is no change in the human mind like it - none so deep, so thorough, so abiding. This is so clear in the Bible as to need no further proof.
Now, the proper place to manifest such a change, is in the life; and such a change, if it exist, will be manifest there. Neither the nature of mind, nor of religion, will, or can, prevent it. Important revolutions in a man's principles on any subject, we expect will be exhibited there. Nor have we any evidence that they have occurred until we witness them in a man's deportment. But the change in a man's views and feelings in regeneration, is one that affects him not in any one department of life, but in all. It is not a revolution whose effects we expect simply in the church, or in the family; in the external conduct, or in the abandonment of vices; but in all the appropriate circumstances of the man's life. If a revolution like that exists, it will be seen. It will constitute him a new man in Christ Jesus.
2. The same thing is clear from the declaration of the text. It is not, you ought to be the light of the world, but you are; not that Christians should be like a city set on a hill, but an affirmation that they are such. Though exhortations are addressed to Christians in the New Testament, urging them to a life of faith, yet they are also addressed as actually putting forth the principles of piety, and as true to their God and Saviour. You who were once in darkness, are light in the Lord. Believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your soul. I thank my God, says Paul to the Romans, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. None of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself.
It is unnecessary to multiply passages. All know that the New Testament abounds in expressions declaring the matter of fact, that the gospel has an ascendency in the minds of its followers. Nor would it be necessary to advert to this circumstance, were it not that so many Christians are in the habit of regarding the Bible rather as filled with exhortations and commands, which they are not expected to comply with, than with sober statements of what the gospel actually does accomplish among men.
The truth is, God contemplated that the gospel should have effect; and such was, in sober verity, the early effect of the gospel, that Paul could address any church as actually manifesting the mighty change wrought by the Spirit of God. You are our epistle, said he to the church at Corinth - the living, standing proof at once of the power of the gospel, and of the effect of his ministry.
~Albert Barnes~
(continued with # 2)
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