There was no veil in Paradise between man and God. There were three places or regions; the outer earth, Eden, and "the Garden of Eden," or Paradise; but there was no veil nor fence between, hindering access from the one to the other. There was nothing to prevent man from going in to speak with God, or God from coming out to speak with man. It was not till after man had disobeyed that the veil was let down which separated God from man, which made a distinction between the dwellings of man and the habitation of God. Before God had spoken or done aught in the way of separation, man betrayed his consciousness of his new standing, and of the necessity for a covering or screen. He fled from God into the thick trees of the garden, that their foliage might hide him from God and God from him. In so doing he showed that he felt two things, -First, that there must be a veil between him and God; Second, that now, in his altered position, distance from God (if such a thing could be) was his safety.
In this series of studies we do not propose to confine ourselves to the petitionary prayers of the apostle, but rather take in a wider range. In Scripture "prayer" includes much more than making known our requests to God, and this is something which His people need reminding of, and some of them instructing in, in these days of superficiality and ignorance. The very verse that presents the privilege of spreading our needs before the Lord emphasizes this very thing: "In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6). Unless gratitude be expressed for mercies already received and thanks be given for granting us the continued favor of petitioning our Father, how can we expect to obtain His ear and receive answers of peace! Yet prayer, in its highest and fullest sense, rises above thanksgiving for gifts vouchsafed: the heart is drawn out in contemplating the Giver Himself so that the soul is prostrated before Him in worship and adoration.
C. H. Spurgeon had a well-stocked library of Puritan books that contained around 12,000 volumes. However, one rare book was not to be found amongst that valuable collection: Thomas Watson's Notes on Malachi 3:16-18. With a note of sadness in his voice he said to his College students: ""This volume] would be a great find if we could come at it, for Watson is one of the clearest and liveliest of Puritan authors. We fear we shall never see this commentary, for we have tried to obtain it, and tried in vain."" In this reset and lightly edited edition you can now read the book that was on Spurgeon's 'wish-list' ""The Great Gain of Godliness"" is Watson's exposition of Mal. 3:16-18. In it he aims ""to encourage solid piety and confute the atheists of the world, who imagine there is no gain in godliness."" This book has all the hallmarks of Thomas Watson's other writings: a combination of rich spirituality, nourishing doctrine, and sane practical wisdom coupled with fascinating illustrations and a very pleasant style
That the life story of this servant of Christ should be chronicled for others was inevitable, for there is so much in that life. Equally certain, though the author was the only one who knew it then, was the fact that it should be written by me. For a period of five or more years I had prayed that, when the time should come for Dr. Ironside's biography to be recorded, I might be the one selected for the task.There is doubtless much that I have overlooked in chronicling the lifework of Harry Ironside. What I have written has been done to the end that Christ in all His power and beauty and faithfulness may be seen in what has been wrought through His servant, and that men and women may be encouraged along life's path and incited to fuller yieldedness to the Lord through the record of a faithful steward. E. S. E.
The way of peace and the way of holiness lie side by side, or rather, they are one. That which bestows the one imparts the other; and he who takes the one takes the other also. The Spirit of peace is the Spirit of holiness.The two are not independent. There is fellowship between them, vital fellowship, each being the helpmeet of the other. The fellowship is not of mere coincidence, as in the case of strangers who happen to meet on the same path, nor of arbitrary appointment, as in the case of two parallel roads, but of mutual help and sympathy--like the fellowship of head and heart, or of two members of one body, the peace being indispensable to the production or causation of the holiness, and the holiness indispensable to the maintaining and deepening of the peace.
Robert Hawker was considered as the "Star of the West", due to his superlative preaching that drew thousands to Charles to hear him speak for over an hour at a time. He was a bold Evangelical, caring father, active in education and compassionate for the poor and needy of the parish, a scholar and author of many books and deeply beloved of his parishioners. Described as "one of Almighties almoners/Entrusted with supernatural wealth" .
The twenty papers contained in this volume are a humble contribution to a cause which is exciting much interest in the present day-I mean the cause of scriptural holiness. It is a cause which everyone who loves Christ, and desires to advance His kingdom in the world, should endeavor to help forward. Everyone can do something and I wish to add my mite. The reader will find little that is directly controversial in these papers. I have carefully abstained from naming modern teachers and modern books. I have been content to give the result of my own study of the Bible, my own private meditations, my own prayers for light, and my own reading of old divines. If in anything I am still in error, I hope I shall be shown it before I leave the world. We all see in part, and have a treasure in earthen vessels. I trust I am willing to learn.
The Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod: with Sovereign Antidotes against the Most Miserable Exigents: A Christian with an Olive Leaf in his mouth, when he is under the greatest afflictions, the sharpest and sorest trials nod troubles, the saddest and darkest Providences and Changes, with Answers to divers Questions and Objections that are of greatest importance: all tending to win and work Souls to be still, quiet, calm and silent under all changes that have, or may pass upon them in this World
Thomas Shepard was one of the premier New England divines, and was quoted by Jonathan Edwards more often than anyone else. This book contains " The Sincere Convert," which shows the small number of true believers there really are, and the great difficulty of saving conversion.
Grace breeds delight in God, and delight breeds meditation. Meditation is a duty wherein consists the essentials of religion, and which nourishes the very life-blood of it. That the Psalmist may show how much the godly man is habituated to this blessed work of meditation, he subjoins, "In his law does he meditate day and night;" not but that there may be sometimes intermission: God allows time for our calling, he grants some relaxation; but when it is said, the godly man meditates day and night, the meaning is, frequently-he is much conversant in the duty.
But we know that to] the ones loving God all things work together for good, to] those being called according to purpose'' - Romans 8:28 This delectable book is an exposition of that verse, not neglecting the last phrase (as so many are apt to do). This is no pop treatment to pat the back of all professing Christians. It is a serious consideration of all things that go into making everything work together for good. This starts with the attributes of God, His promises and mercies, the graces of the Spirit, the intercession of Christ, etc. A key to understanding why and how things work together for good to ''the ones loving God'' lies in recognizing that all things begin with God's eternal decrees. Literally everything that happens was first decreed. For it is written, ''in whom we also have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the] purpose of the One] working all things according to the counsel of His own will.
But leaving the treatise to speak for itself, we beseech the man who is but almost a Christian, in traveling through its pages to avail himself of its aid. We ask him simply, to reason the matter on the principles and findings which it sets before him; but to do this in that spirit of earnest and humble inquisitiveness, which befits so grave a subject: and if such a spirit be far from him, or appearing to evaporate as he proceeds, let him pause and invoke its return, from that God in Jesus Christ, who maketh the heart of the rash to understand doctrine. As be wishes to prosper, let him never forget, that while it is easy to show him the proper means, and possible to bring him into contact with these, yet the disposition to apply the means in such a way, as to gain their end, cometh forth from Him, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working.
The Godly Man's Picture, Drawn with a Scripture Pencil, or, Some Characteristic Marks of a Man who is Going to Heaven. The soul being so precious, and salvation so glorious-it is the highest point of prudence to make preparations for the eternal world. It is beyond all dispute, that there is an inheritance in light; and it is most strenuously asserted in Holy Scripture that there must be a fitness and suitability for it (Col. 1:12). If anyone asks, "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?" the answer is, "He who has clean hands, and a pure heart" (Psalm 24:4). To describe such a person is the work of this ensuing treatise. Here you have the godly man's portrait, and see him portrayed in his full lineaments
John Owen insisted on the importance of the Christian dealing effectively with their sinful tendencies and attitudes. He believed that God, through his Word and Spirit, had provided the guidelines and the power for this to be achieved. In this book, John Owen effectively dismisses various excuses for not engaging in self-scrutiny and yet avoids the current trend of self-absorption. In so doing, he provides principles to help believers live lives of holiness." [From back cover.]
The essence of Christianity is love. God is love, said the Apostle John. Obedience to God's commands is nothing more than a manifestation of our love to God. The Ten Commandments show how we are to love God and one another. Love, then, is of the utmost importance in true biblical Christianity. In this book, first written in the 17th century, and out of print since 1812, Thomas Vincent, known for his lectures on the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Confession of Faith, expounds 1 Peter 1:8, whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. This is one of the most poignant, tender books ever to come from a Puritan pen.
It was not Luther merely who took up the old watchword, ""The just shall live by faith,"" and thus found the answer of a good conscience toward God. To thousands of hearts it came like a voice from heaven, they knew not how. Sunshine from above had fallen upon one grand text; the text which the age needed: men recognized the truth thus supernaturally lighted up. ""The nations came to its light, and kings to the brightness of its rising."" The inquiring men of that age, though not borrowing from each other, betook themselves to this truth and text. From every kingdom of Europe came the same voice; and every Protestant Confession bore witness to the unanimity of awakened Christendom.
The following treatise may be regarded as a series of Discourses on John xvii. 24. The subject is the Glory of Christ, as the representative of God to the church, -- in the mystery of his Person, -- in his office as Mediator, -- in his exaltation on high, -- in his relation to the church during every age of its history, -- and in the final consummation of his work, when all things are to be gathered into a blessed unity, as the result of his mediation
How can the Holy Spirit have more of me?" The conception of the Holy Spirit as a Divine influence or power that we are somehow to get hold of and use, leads to self-exaltation and self-sufficiency. One who so thinks of the Holy Spirit and who at the same time imagines that he has received the Holy Spirit will almost inevitably be full of spiritual pride and strut about as if he belonged to some superior order of Christians. One frequently hears such persons say, "I am a Holy Ghost man," or "I am a Holy Ghost woman." But if we once grasp the thought that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person of infinite majesty, glory and holiness and power, who in marvelous condescension has come into our hearts to make His abode there and take possession of our lives and make use of them, it will put us in the dust and keep us in the dust. I can think of no thought more humbling or more overwhelming than the thought that a person of Divine majesty and glory dwells in my heart and is ready to use even me.
Historically, the book of Exodus treats of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt; but viewed doctrinally, it deals with redemption. Just as the first book of the Bible teaches that God elects unto salvation, so the second instructs us how God saves, namely, by redemption. Redemption, then, is the dominant subject of Exodus. Following this, we are shown what we are redeemed for-worship, and this characterizes Leviticus, where we learn of the holy requirements of God and the gracious provisions He has made to meet these. In Numbers we have the walk and warfare of the wilderness, where we have a typical representation of our experiences as we pass through this scene of sin and trial-our repeated and excuseless failures, and God's long-sufferance and faithfulness.
A Transforming Knowledge of the Living God The timeless appeal of this classic book, written by a preacher with a worldwide ministry during the first half of the twentieth century, demonstrates the deep hunger for a saving knowledge of God present in each generation. Arthur Pink sought to give readers not just a theoretical knowledge of God but pointed them toward a personal relationship of yielding to him and living according to his biblical precepts. Pink's book explores attributes such as God's decrees, foreknowledge, sovereignty, holiness, grace, and mercy, among many others, all packaged in a style especially useful for pastors, teachers, and Bible students. Our God who is above all names cannot be found through human searching alone, Pink teaches, but can be known only as he is revealed by the Holy Spirit through his living Word.
Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward;" therefore we all need to learn the same lesson as Paul. "I have learned," he said "in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," Philippians 4. 11. Believers, especially, wish to attain to a holy equanimity in their tribulations and under the stresses caused by our increasingly secular society. In this volume we have a full exposition, by the Puritan, Thomas Watson, of the above verse of Scripture, originally preached during his ministry as rector of St Stephen's, Wallbrook, London Puritan preachers, having an eye to the practice of their hearers, built their heart-searching application of the truth upon sound biblical doctrine. This characteristic is evident in The Art of Divine Contentment; as is also the fact that Watson was the "master of a terse, vigorous style and of a beauty of expression
W.E Vine's greatest contribution to the Church of God was his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. W. E. Vine has put all English-speaking Bible students in his debt. The English reader with little or no knowledge of Greek has, of course, concordances and lexicons. These provide a skeleton: Vine clothes it with the flesh and sinews of living exposition, and in so doing makes available for the ordinary reader the expert knowledge contained in the more advanced works. In a preface to the dictionary, W. E. Vine wrote: "In any work in which we engage as servants of Christ, His word ever applies, 'When ye shall have done all those things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do
Thomas Shepard was one of the premier New England divines, and was quoted by Jonathan Edwards more often than anyone else. The Sound Believer is a treatise on evangelical conversion demonstrating the work of Christ's Spirit in reconciling a sinner to God
W.E Vine's greatest contribution to the Church of God was his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. W. E. Vine has put all English-speaking Bible students in his debt. The English reader with little or no knowledge of Greek has, of course, concordances and lexicons. These provide a skeleton: Vine clothes it with the flesh and sinews of living exposition, and in so doing makes available for the ordinary reader the expert knowledge contained in the more advanced works. In a preface to the dictionary, W. E. Vine wrote: "In any work in which we engage as servants of Christ, His word ever applies, 'When ye shall have done all those things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do.
Alleine was imprisoned several times in the short time that followed. "His wife tells us how, with true Puritan spirit, his thought turned to the possibility of missionary work in Wales, or even China." "Never, Murray goes on, "did the evangel of Jesus Christ burn more fervently in any English heart " Due to his sufferings for the gospel, and incessant labours he died on the 17th of November 1668 aged thirty-four. This book has been through many editions up to the present day, and was instrumental in the conversion of multitudes, including George Whitefield and Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Indeed Whitefield carried copies of it constantly with him in order to give to awakened sinners who sought his help
The "evangelism" of the day is not only superficial to the last degree, but it is radically defective. It is utterly lacking a foundation on which to base an appeal for sinners to come to Christ. There is not only a lamentable lack of proportion (the mercy of God being made far more prominent than His holiness, His love than His wrath), but there is a fatal omission of that which God has given for the purpose of imparting a knowledge of sin.
Most of us know we OUGHT to pray, but many seem uncertain as to HOW, WHEN, and WHERE to pray. This book is the classic Christian answer to these vital questions. Believing that many prayers are not answered because they are not intelligently offered, Dr. Torrey examines the MOODS, the METHODS and the MEANINGS of prayer. He considers all the problems and questioning of the sincere seeker, and in answer to them offers an outline for effective praying that is as positive as it is beautiful and inspirational. The gentle art of prayer, within these pages, is put within the reach of the least of us. To read it is a mountain-top experience of communion with a loving, ANSWERING God. ""YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT""...
We purpose giving a series of studies on the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, which, in the writer's judgment, is, from the standpoint of prophecy, the most important chapter of all the New Testament. There is much in God's prophetic program which must necessarily remain dark until the parables of this chapter are thoroughly mastered. At present they are much misunderstood and misinterpreted. It will be found that in Matthew 13:10, 11 the Lord Jesus has designated these seven parables ""mysteries of the kingdom of heaven."" This expression ""the kingdom of heaven"" comprehends in a brief form the contents of the whole chapter. This will be seen by a reference to verses 24, 31, 33, etc., where it will be found that each of the last six parables begin with ""the kingdom of heaven is like unto."" What is meant by this expression? There is perhaps no term in Scripture used so extensively, but which is so little understood. Though it is found in Matthew's Gospel only, yet it occurs there no less than thirty-two times.
The death of Christ, the incarnate Son of God, is the most remarkable event in all history. Its uniqueness was demonstrated in various ways. Centuries before it occurred it was foretold with an amazing fullness of detail, by those men whom God raised up in the midst of Israel to direct their thoughts and expectations to a fuller and more glorious revelation of Himself. The prophets of Jehovah described the promised Messiah, not only as a person of high dignity and as one who should perform wondrous and blessed miracles, but also as one who should be "despised and rejected of men," and whose labors and sorrows should be terminated by a death of shame and violence. In addition, they affirmed that He should die not only under human sentence of execution, but that "it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; HE hath put Him to grief" (Isa. 53:10), yea, that Jehovah should cry, "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the man that is My Fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the Shepherd" (Zech. 13:7).
Richard Sibbes was known in London in the early 17th century as "the Heavenly Doctor Sibbes" The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax; is a masterful exposition of Matthew 12:20. In this the author explains what the reed refers to, then he explains what is to be "a bruised reed." There is no better introduction to the Puritans than the writings of Richard Sibbes, who is, in many ways, a typical Puritan. Sibbes never wastes the student's time, ' he scatters pearls and diamonds with both hands. C. H. Spurgeon
The Death of Death in the Death of Christ is John Owen's definitive work on the extent of the atonement. It is a polemical work, designed to show among other things that the doctrine of universal redemption is unscriptural and destructive of the gospel. It was called forth by the progress in England of Arminianism and the half-way house of Amyraldianism adopted by Baxter, Davenant and Usher.
The Christian Soldier is based on Matthew 11:12 The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. The earth is inherited by the meek Matt. v: 5. Heaven is inherited by the violent. Our life is military. Christ is our Captain, the gospel is the banner, the graces are our spiritual artillery, and heaven is only taken in a forcible way. This violence concerns men as Christians. Though heaven be given us freely, yet we must contend for it, Eccles. ix. 10. 'What thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.' Our work is great, our time short, our Master urgent. We have need therefore to summon together all the powers of our souls and strive as in a matter of life and death, that we may arrive at the kingdom above: We must not only put forth diligence, but violence
THE first edition of this work was published in 1848. Each succeeding year has deepened my conviction of the certainty and momentous importance of the truths feebly and imperfectly treated of in it. When the Eastern branch of the Roman Empire shall have been resuscitated, and - when Egypt, Assyria and Jerusalem, shall have become the sphere in which those habits of thought and action now cherished in the West shall have attained the matured form of their development, the end will be very nigh. The very persons, places, and circumstances of which the Prophets and the Revelation speak, will then be actually present before the eyes of men. There is no part of God's Word that we are more prone to repudiate than His prophetic testimony. It reveals the extent of our departure from His ways; it declares His coming judgments; it reveals the manner in which His kingdom when it comes, will subvert the methods and constructions of men.
We often hear about the compromise life and the question comes up What lies at the root of it? What is the reason that so many Christians are wasting their lives in the terrible bondage of the world instead of living in the manifestation and the privilege and the glory of the child of God? And another question perhaps comes to us: What can be the reason that when we see a thing is wrong and strive against it we cannot conquer it? What can be the reason that we have a hundred times prayed and vowed, yet here we are still living a mingled, divided, half-hearted life? To those two questions there is one answer: it is self that is the root of the whole trouble.
In sending forth this little book, much of which has been gathered up from the labors of another, we are reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, his son in the faith: ""And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men"" (2 Tim. 2:2). And again: ""But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them"" (2 Tim. 3:14). We are fully assured that there is very much in the four Gospels which manifest the Divine perfections and distinctive beauties of each one, which has not yet been brought forth by those who have sought to explore their inexhaustible depths; that there is here a wide field for diligent research, and that those who will pursue this study, prayerfully, for themselves, will be richly rewarded for their pains.
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