Sermons & Devotionals by Edward Payson

In the preceding verses God commands and invites sinners to repent and embrace his offers of mercy. "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price. Let the wicked forsake his way, an... Read More

"In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, holiness unto the Lord; and the pots in the Lord’s house shall he like the howls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of Hosts; and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and... Read More

"But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God." Matthew 10:14 the passage of which these words are a part, we have a beautiful instance of the fulfillment of an ancient prediction r... Read More

"And when it was day he departed, and went into a desert place; and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them" Luke 4:42 blessed Saviour, while on earth, met with a very different reception in different places. In one place we see all the inhabitan... Read More

Mankind seem to consider God as a sort of outlaw, who has no rights; or, at least, as one whose rights may be disregarded and trampled on at pleasure. They allow that promises made to each other ought to be fulfilled; but they violate, without scruple, those promises which they often make to God, in... Read More

"I am a great King, saith the Lord of Hosts" Malachi 1:14 God would inform his creatures what he is, he must employ language suited to their capacities; language, which they can understand. What he is himself indeed, or what constitutes his essence, no language can describe; and therefore even he ca... Read More

"There is joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:10 eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, yet, for our encouragement and consolation, he has revealed theta to... Read More

"Who can understand his errors?" Psalm 19:12 From the preceding part of this psalm it appears that, when David uttered this exclamation, he had been meditating on the purity and perfection of the divine law. From this subject he passed by a very natural transition, to his own transgressions of that ... Read More

We were created and redeemed for the sole purpose of praising and glorifying our Creator; and if we refuse or neglect to do this, we transgress the great law of creation, frustrate the end of existence, leave unperformed the work for which we were made, and do all in our power to prove that we were ... Read More

In the words, "God is love," we have a perfect portrait of the eternal and incomprehensible Jehovah, drawn by his own unerring hand. The mode of expression here adopted, differs materially from that usually employed by the inspired writers, in speaking of the divine perfections. They say, God is mer... Read More

"Jesus with to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my lambs." John 21:15. have in this chapter a particular account of an interview between our Saviour, and some of his disciples after h... Read More

"Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" 2 Timothy 3:4 words describe a character which is, alas! but too frequently found in this sinful world; a character too, which most men are apt to regard with a partial and favorable eye, especially when it is met with among the young. If nothing worse i... Read More

"Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions" Ecclesiastes 7:29 need not inform those of you who are acquainted with the contents of scripture, that in this book Solomon has recorded the result of numerous trials and experiments which he had m... Read More

"Having yet therefore one Son, his well-beloved, he sent him also, last, unto them, saying, They will reverence my Son" Mark 12:6 words compose part of the following parable, addressed by our Saviour to the Jews: A certain man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a wine-vat, and ... Read More

In the preceding part of this chapter we are informed, that Belshazzar, king of Babylon, made a great feast to a thousand of his lords and drank wine before the thousand. And while he tasted the wine, he commanded his servants to bring forth the golden vessels, which were taken out of the house of G... Read More

Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty, with thy Glory and thy Majesty; And in thy Majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies whereby the people fall u... Read More

"Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God, the things that are God’s." Mark 12:17. the period of our Saviour’s residence on earth, the Jews were greatly divided in opinion, respecting the lawfulness of paying tribute to the Roman emperors, under whose government they were. The Pha... Read More

this "Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?" Job 22:5 question was addressed by Eliphaz to Job. He was led to ask it by a suspicion, that Job was a hypocrite. He had imbibed the erroneous opinion, that great temporal calamities are inflicted on none, except the wicked. Hence he... Read More

"Neither be partaker of other men’s sins." 1 Timothy 5:22. this chapter the apostle gives Timothy particular directions respecting the duties of his pastoral office; and solemnly charges him before God and the elect angels, to observe these directions; not preferring one man above another, and doing... Read More

"I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty." 1 Timothy 2:1, 2. appears from the preceding chapter, that ... Read More