Faithfulness With God in Their Generation

“They ought carefully to consider the times and seasons that are passing over them.  God brings his church under a variety of seasons; and in them all requires especial duties from them, as those in which he will be glorified in each of them.  If they miss it in this, it is that which God greatly blames and complains of.  Faithfulness with God in their generation, that is, in the especial duties of the times and seasons in which they lived, is that which Noah, and Daniel, and other holy men, are commended for.  Thus there are seasons of the great abounding of wickedness in the world; seasons of great apostasy from truth and holiness; seasons of judgment and of mercy, of persecution and tranquility.  In all these, and the like, God requires especial duties of the church; on what his glory in them does much depend. If they fail here, if they are not faithful to their especial duty, God in his word finds fault with them, and lays them under blame.  And as much wisdom is required to this, so I do not judge that any church can discharge its duty in any competent measure without due consideration of it.  For in a due observation of the times and seasons, and an application of ourselves to the duties of them, consists the testimony which we are to give to God and the gospel in our generation.  That church which considers not its especial duty in the days in which we live, is fast asleep; and it may be doubted whether, when it is awaked, it will find oil in its vessel or no.”

Owen, John. An Exposition of Hebrews 8:6-13. Wherein, the nature and differences between the Old and New Covenants is discovered. Palmdale, CA: Reformed Baptist Academic Press, 2005. 224-225. Print.

 

What a Wondrous Day that will be

"How often, Christians, have your hearts been made to burn with love and gratitude, and admiration, and joy, while Christ has opened to you the Scriptures, and caused you to know a little of that love which passeth knowledge! How often has one transient glimpse of the light of God's countenance turned your night into day, banished your sorrows, supported you under heavy afflictions, and caused you to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory!"

 

 

"Oh, then, what must it be to escape forever from error, and ignorance, and darkness, and sin, into the region of bright, unclouded, eternal day; to see your God and Redeemer, face to face; continually to contemplate, with immortal strength, glories so dazzling bright, that one moment's view of them would now, like a stream of lightening, turn your frail bodies into dust; to see the eternal volume of the divine counsels, the mighty map of the divine mind; unfold to your eager, piercing gaze; to explore the heights and depths, the lengths and breadths of the Redeemer's love, and still to see new wonders, glories and beauties pouring upon your minds, in constant, endless succession, calling forth new songs of praise; -songs in which you will unite, not, as now, with mortal companions and mortal voices, but with the innumerable choir of angels, with the countless myriads of the redeemed, all shouting with a voice like the voice of many waters, "Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!"

 

 

Payson, Edward. Legacy of a Legend. Vestavia Hills: Solid Ground Christian Books, 2001. 103-04. Print.

Unto the Praise of His Glory

^“ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” ~ Ephesians 1:3-14

     

“Ephesians 1:3-14 recounts in exalted language the saving work of God in Christ from his electing purpose and the forgiveness of sins to the gift of the Spirit.  God’s salvation, is not, however, his ultimate work.  Three times Paul explains that the redemptive benefits are for the praise of the glories of God’s grace (Ephesians 1:6,12,14). God chooses, redeems, and sanctifies so that he will be honored for his grace.” ~ Thomas Schreiner

Schreiner, Thomas. New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008. 146. Print.

Presumptuous vs. Genuine Faith

"Presumptuous faith does not proceed in the right method; it rashly imagines that the salvation promised in the gospel belongs to itself; but this is either upon no foundation, or upon a false one.”

“ For sometimes these persons, without any trial or self-examination, which they avoid as too troublesome, and inconvenient to their affairs, foolishly flattering themselves, proudly lay claim to the grace of our Lord; and securely slumber in this vain dream, without either enquiring, or being willing to enquire, what foundation they have for this their imagination.  Sometimes again they lay for a foundation of their confidence, either that perverse notion concerning the general mercy of God, and easy way to heaven, of which nothing that I know of is mentioned in the gospel covenant, or an opinion of the sufficiency of their own holiness, because they are not so very vicious as the most profligate, or the external communion of the church in religious worship, or the security of their sleeping conscience, and the pleasing fancies of their own dreams, which they take for the peace of God and the consolation of the Holy Spirit. With these and the like vanities of their own imagination they deceive themselves, as if these were sufficient marks of grace. “

“But true believers, from a deep sense of their misery, panting after the grace of the Lord Jesus, and laying hold of it with a trembling humility, dare not boast of it as already theirs, till, after a diligent scrutiny,  they have found certain and infallible evidences of grace in themselves.  It is with a profound humility, a kind of sacred dread, and a sincere self-denial, that they approach, to lay hold on the grace of Christ.  Nor do they boast of having laid hold of this, till after an exact examination, first of the marks of grace, and then of their own hearts.  But it is otherwise in both these respects with presumptuous persons, who rashly lay hold on what is offered them in that order, (for God does not offer security and joy to sinners, before the soul is affected with sorrow for the guilt of his past sins, and a due solicitude about salvation,) and then presumptuously, boast of their laid hold on grace; but they cannot produce any necessary arguments to make the same appear.”

“A living faith impresses on the soul, in such deep characters, the image of what is right and good, that it accounts nothing more lovely than to endeavour after it to the utmost of its power; it paints in such lively colours, the most shiny holiness of the Lord Christ, that while the soul beholds it with the supreme affection, it is transformed into its image (2 Corinthians 3:18) it so pathetically represents the love of a dying Christ, that the believer accounts nothing dearer than in return, both to love and to die to him (Galatians 2:20) the meditations of the promised happiness is so deeply engraved on his mind, that he is ready, for the sake of it, to try all things, to bear all things ( Corinthians 4:16-18) and thus it purifies the heart itself, (Acts 15:9) in order to the practice of a sinner and constant piety.”

Witsius, Herman. The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man. Vol. 1. Grand Rapdis: Reformation Heritage Books, 2010. 386- 389 vols 2 print.

Dead While Living

“In a man spiritually dead, there is really a natural or animal life, which though not active in that which is good, is doubly active in that which is evil.  The understanding not apprehending the wisdom of God, looks upon it as foolishness (1 Corinthians 2:14), and yet, when it would find wisdom in the things of God, it so transforms them by its mad presumption, and compels them, even against their nature, to a conformity to the notions of its trifling presumptuous self-wisdom, that while it impiously presumes to correct the wisdom of God, it transforms it in a dreadful manner into downright folly."

"The will, not finding any thing in God where with it can take delight, seeks it either in the creatures without God, or which is more abominable, in the very perpetration of wickedness. The affections, shaking off the reins of reason, rush on its full career.  The body, with all its members, is the throne of mad and furious lusts. And, the whole man, being so averse from God, and infatuated with the fond love of himself, sets himself up for an idol, makes his own advantage his supreme end, his own pleasure his most infallible law."

"This is the life of the soul, which is dead while living (Timothy 5:6).”

Witsius, Herman. The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man. Vol. 1. Grand Rapdis: Reformation Heritage Books, 2010. 358-59. 2 vols. Print.

Blessed are the Meek

"Meekness is not and easy grace. Indeed, no grace comes easily. It is the heavenly life into which we are being fashioned, and nothing less than a moral and spiritual revolution will produce in us the heavenly qualities. The old must die that the new may live.  Spiritual graces are not merely amiable traits of nature trained and cultivated into gentleness - they are transformations wrought by the divine Spirit."

"Meekness is a submissive spirit toward God, and a patient, quiet, forgiving spirit toward men. We should be meek toward God. We should accept whatever God sends, without complaint, without a rebellious word or feeling. It is easy to find reasons why we should do this. He is our Father, and loves us with a love which we never can doubt. Nothing but good can ever come from Him to us.  Whatever the form of the providence may be, we know it enfolds a blessing.”

“We are confident, too, of God’s wisdom. He makes no mistakes in any of His dealings with us. When our ways are set aside for His, we know it is because His are better. Dr. Payson was asked, when enduring great bodily affliction, if he could see any particular reason for the dispensation. “No,” he replied, “but I am as well satisfied as if I could see ten thousand reasons; God’s will is the very perfection of all reason.”

“When we think of these great truths concerning God, our heart should be quieted in any experience of pain or sorrow, or in any mystery of darkness, and it should appear reasonable to us to wait and suffer in patience, and with trustful, songful acquiescence. Why should the frail creature doubt the wisdom and the goodness of the strong Creator? Why should the child distrust the love and wisdom of the Father?”

“The captive bird which flies violently against the wires of its cage, trying to escape, only beats and bruises its own breast and wings, and at the end of its frantic struggles is still captive. Alike hurtful to one’s self and unavailing are all resisting of God’s will.”

“Wiser far is the bird which, when it finds itself shut in the cage, unable to escape, begins to sing, filling its prison with sweet music.  It spares itself all hurt.  It shows a spirit of trust and confidence.  Then even in its captivity it scatters benedictions all about it in its notes of cheerful song.”

“This illustrates the meekness with which God’s children should accept even the most painful events of life.  Their faith should never fail. They should look upon the inevitable, not as a decree of stern fate to which they can only submit, but as a revealing of the Father’s will, and therefore, something holy and sacred, something, too, in which a thousand blessings of love are folded up.”

“Resistance to God’s will gets nothing for its striving. A man cannot contend with God and hope to overcome omnipotence. The struggling bird has only hurts and bruises as the result of his struggles. It has broken no wire of its prison. It has loosened no chain. It has opened no door. But the bird which cheerfully accepts its bondage and sings in its prison is no longer a captive. It is as free as if it were soaring in mid-air. All the world belongs to it. Acquiescence in any suffering already has the victory over the suffering. The Christian who rejoices in the midst of pain and trial overcomes all pain and trial.”

Miller, J. R. The Master's Blesseds. Swengel: Reiner Publications, 1977. 34-36. Print.

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

“The deepest happiness is not that which has never suffered, but that which has passed through the experience of sorrow and has been comforted.”

“In the kingdom of heaven those are favored ones who are called to suffer. Instead of being unfortunate, they are the blessed.”

“Sorrow in itself is not a blessing. Sickness, pain, affliction, trial are not favors in themselves. These experiences can be nothing else but hard and bitter.  It is only in their fruits that the blessing comes.”

“We should never know God’s marvelous comfort if we never had sorrow.”

“God may not spare His children the grief, because there is a blessing in it, either for themselves or for others, but if they must drink the cup, He would strengthen them for it.  In one of the Psalms there is a word which is full of rich suggestion.  We are bidden to cast all our burden upon the Lord.  In the margin, however, is the word gift, as another reading, - “Cast thy gift upon the Lord.”  So our burden is God’s gift to us. This is true whatever the burden may be – duty, sorrow, pain, loss, care. Being God’s gift, there must be a blessing in it, something good, something we could not miss without sore loss.”

“This then is the blessing which comes to those who mourn – they receive the strength of God to sustain them in their sorrow.  The burden may not be lightened, but it is really an answer to the heart’s cry for help if new strength is given. Then the sufferer is enabled to sing, - the sorrow is changed to joy.”

Miller, J. R. The Master's Blesseds. Swengel: Reiner Publications, 1977. 25-30. Print.