1 Peter 4:10

We come now to an apostolic prayer the contents of which, as a whole, are very sublime. Its contents are remarkably full, and a careful study of, and devout meditation upon, it shall be richly repaid. My present task will be rendered the easier since I am making extensive use of Thomas Goodwin’s exc... Read More

Having considered in the two previous chapters the supplicant, setting, Object, and plea of this prayer, let us now contemplate, fifthly, its petition: "the God of all grace… make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." The proper force of the Greek grammar would make the petition read like ... Read More

No thorough study of the prayers of the apostles, or of the prayers of the Bible as a whole, would be complete without an examination of the benedictions with which the apostles (James excepted), prefaced their Epistles. Those opening salutations were very different from a mere act of politeness, as... Read More

Noah is the connecting link between "the world that then was," which "being overflowed with water, perished," and the earth which now is "reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (2 Pet. 3:6, 7). He lived upon both, was preserved from the awful judgment which swal... Read More

Friends,—All ye that believe in the light [John 12:36], as Christ hath commanded, that are become children of the light, and of the day [1 Th 5:5], and of the promise [Gal 4:28], and do minister therein, do not judge one another in public meetings, you that do minister, as you have received the grac... Read More

Friends, All that are sensible of the power of God, and have received it, which is immortal and everlasting, live in it, and grow up in it; for the power of God is over the power of the devil; which power of God is the gospel [Rom 1:16], and it is called the cross of Christ [1 Cor 1:17f]. And theref... Read More

Friends,—You may read in the old world, how one family after another, till Noah's time, served the Lord God. And then from Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their wives, and after Moses and Aaron had brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, and that they were come to be a great people, Moses ... Read More

All the faithful men and women are to be as Abraham and Sarah; Abraham, the father of the faithful; and Sarah, a mother in Israel [Judg 5:7/2 Sam 20:19], to give suck, and to nourish up the seed, the heir of the promise [Gal 3:29]. Likewise, to be as Adam and Eve, before they fell, meet-helps [Gen 2... Read More

Dear friends and brethren, in the Lord Jesus Christ! and blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world [Eph 1:3f]. And now, that all may wa... Read More

A Body of PRACTICAL Divinity Book 2—Chapter 3 OF THE OFFICERS OF A CHURCH, PARTICULARLY PASTORS Having treated of a church, as "essentially" considered, with respect to its matter and form, I shall now proceed to consider it, 2. "Organically," or as an organized church, a corporate body, having its ... Read More