Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Thus was the King and the Lord of glory judged by man's judgment, when manifest in flesh: far be it from any of his ministers to expect better treatment. Too many, through want of prudence, are golden apprentices, silver journeymen, and copper masters. The reason why the Son of God took upon him our nature, was, the fall of our first parents. Although believers by nature, are far from God, and children of wrath, even as others, yet it is amazing to think how nigh they are brought to him again by the blood of Jesus Christ. Among the many reasons assignable for the sad decay of true Christianity, perhaps the neglecting to assemble ourselves together, in religious societies, may not be one of the least. No, the religion of Jesus is a social religion. Nothing is more generally known than our duties which belong to Christianity; and yet, how amazing is it, nothing is less practiced? You see, my brethren, my heart is full; I could almost say it is too big to speak, and yet too big to be silent, without dropping a word to you. If your souls were not immortal, and you in danger of losing them, I would not thus speak unto you; but the love of your souls constrains me to speak: methinks this would constrain me to speak unto you forever. I am never better than when I am on the full stretch for God. It is an undoubted truth that every doctrine that comes from God, leads to God; and that which doth not tend to promote holiness is not of God. I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fieldsI now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches. Mere heathen morality, and not Jesus Christ, is preached in most of our churches. O my brethren, my heart is enlarge towards you. I trust I feel something of that hidden, but powerful presence of Christ, whilst I am preaching to you. Other men may preach the gospel better than I, but no man can preach a better gospel. The Judge is before the door: he that cometh will come, and will not tarry: his reward is with him. Various are the pleas and arguments which men of corrupt minds frequently urge against yielding obedience to the just and holy commands of God. Mere are so many stony ground hearers, who receive the Word with joy that I have determined to suspend my judgment till I know the tree by its fruits. I cannot believe they are converts till I see fruit brought back; it will never do a sincere soul any harm. How sweet is rest after fatigue! How sweet will heaven be when our journey is ended. And now let me address all of you, high and low, rich and poor, one with another, to accept of mercy and grace while it is offered to you; Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation; and will you not accept it, now it is offered unto you? This discourse, and the present frame of my mind, lead me rather to speak to those, who by feeling Satan's fiery darts, know assuredly that there is a devil. God has condescended to become an author, and yet people will not read his writings. There are very few that ever gave this Book of God, the grand charter of salvation, one fair reading through. We are immortal till our work is done. It is very remarkable, that in the book of life, we find some almost of all kinds of occupations, who notwithstanding served God in their respective generations, and shone as so many lights in the world. Let us, therefore, not be weary of well-doing; for we shall reap an eternal harvest of comfort, if we faint not. The riches of His free grace cause me daily to triumph over all the temptations of the wicked one, who is very vigilant, and seeks all occasions to disturb me. God forbid that I should travel with anybody a quarter of an hour without speaking of Christ to them. No doubt [women of faith in the past] were reproached for His name's sake, and accounted mad women; but they had a faith which enabled them at that time to overcome the world, and by which they climbed up to heaven.

Be the first to react on this!

Group of Brands