The people of God are liable to falling into temptation, into sin, into errors and mistakes, from an exercise of grace, or from a degree of steadfastness in Gospel truths, and even into a final and total apostacy, were it not for divine power; and they are not able to keep themselves.

Now to forsake such assembling, signifies a great infrequency in attending with the saints, a rambling from place to place, and takes in an entire apostacy.

There, in the safety of his retreat among the rocks, with the bit of level ground where he had fought Goliath ‘just at his feet in the valley, and Gath, from which he had escaped, away down at the mouth of the glen he sings his song of trust and praise; he hears the lions roar among the rocks where Samson had found them in his day; he teaches his ‘children,’ the band of broken men who there began to gather around him, the fear of the Lord; and calls upon them to help him in h

The revealed fact, however, is that the supreme feature of the Christian faith is that supernatural, saving, transforming work of God, which is made possible through the infinite sacrifice of Christ and which, in sovereign grace, is freely bestowed on all who believe.

He who believing grasps the living Lord has a contact with Him as immediate and as real as that of the eyeball with light, and knows Him with a certitude as reliable as that which sight gives. ‘Seeing is believing,’ says sense; ‘Believing is seeing,’ says the spirit which clings to the Lord, ‘whom having not seen’ it loves. A bridge of perishable flesh, which is not myself but my tool, connects me with the outward world.

IN this book are many things difficult to be understood, and capable of being perverted by any one who desires to justify himself in an undue attachment to the world. But a reference to the condition of the author will enable us to explain the whole in a satisfactory and consistent manner.

The apostle tells us (1 Pet. 1:15, 16), the light of holiness should shine in the lives of those that are Christ’s; holiness both exercised and diffused.

God had an important work for Moses to do and for this he must be prepared. That work was to lead His people out of Egypt, and conduct them unto the promised inheritance. And for this work Moses was not yet equipped.

THIS IS A VERY HUMBLING, and at the same time, a very blessed word to the true disciple. It was very humbling to the disciples to be told that they had not chosen Christ. Your wants were so many, your hearts were so hard, that ye have not chosen me. And yet it was exceedingly comforting to the disciples to be told that he had chosen them: ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you’.

Thus, in Hebrews 9:11, 12 we have the actual ministry of Christ declared, in vv. 13, 14 the proofs that it was “more excellent.”

It is beyond all things marvellous that God should love man. We can easily comprehend that he should be kind to man, and deal benevolently and even mercifully with him, seeing that he is the creature of his hand; but that the infinite God should bow his heart to love a finite and sinful being, is a miracle surpassing all miracles.

And let us not be weary in well-doing. The reference here is particularly to the support of the ministers of religion (ver. 6), but the apostle makes the exhortation general. Christians sometimes become weary. There is so much opposition to the best plans for doing good; there is so much to be done; there are so many calls on their time and their charities; and there is often so much ingratitude among those whom they endeavor to benefit, that they become disheartened. Such Pa

The true servant of God cannot but be grieved that he must rebuke Christians for sin, nor can he shun to make those sorry for a season whom he would rather make glad. If the offenders will but let their sorrow work true repentance, God’s minister may rejoice in the nature of their sorrow when it is turned again to joy that is durable.

This principle is of far-reaching application. We are to serve Christ by discharging all the duties of life so as to please Him. This suggests a train of thought which has a special suitableness to young men. Note then the things which are essential to the realization of this lofty ideal of Christian service.

1. A Psalm. A Song. To the Sons of Korah. The generic term psalm (mizmôr) is rendered more specific by the addition of song (shîr), which commonly denotes a song of praise. See above, on Ps. 42:9 (8). It is further described as (belonging) to the Sons of Korah, either as authors or performers. See above, on Ps. 42:1. The psalm before as celebrates Jehovah, and Jerusalem as his residence, ver. 2–4 (1–3), with particular reference to a recent deliverance from certain confederat

The modesty (see 1:21) of wisdom is a paradox, till, as Paul told the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 8:1 f.), we understand what true wisdom means.

This “mourning” is the agonizing realization that it was my sins which nailed to the Cross the Lord of glory.

He goeth on to say what He confesseth, that we might understand His confession to be of praise, not of sin, “I confess to Thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”

THE Bible never speaks despondingly about the future. If it has a becoming sense of the magnitude of the task of life, that is only the reverence of a great artist, nerving himself to accomplish some far-reaching design.

What is the difference between forgiveness and excusing?