January 15, 2018

The Prayer of Jabez   "Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed!"—1 Chronicles 4:10        We know very little about Jabez, except that he was more honorable than his brethren, and that he was called Jabez because his mother bare him with sorrow. It will sometimes happen that where there is the most sorrow in the antecedents, …

1 Chronicles:4:10

January 15, 2018

A New Order of Priests and Levites   "And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord."—Isaiah 66:21        This chapter is surrounded with critical difficulties, and yet it is full of spiritual instruction. The verse before us is by some referred to Gentiles, and supposed to mean that the Lord …

Isaiah:66:21

January 14, 2018

The Pastor's Parting Blessing   "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."—Romans 16:24        The Christian is a man of generous actions, but his wishes go far beyond his deeds. Where he cannot be beneficent he is benevolent. If he cannot actually accomplish good for all, yet he anxiously desires it. If …

Romans:16:24

January 14, 2018

Self-Humbling and Self-Searching   "Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me, they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept."—Song of Solomon 1:6        Whence do I draw my text but from the very fountain …

Song of Solomon:1:6

January 13, 2018

A Last Look-Out   "The time of my departure is at hand."—2 Timothy 4:6        So near, so very near the change—his removal from this to another world; and so very conscious of it; yet Paul looked back with calm satisfaction; he looked forward with sweet assurance; and he looked round with deepest interest on the mission …

2 Timothy:4:6

January 11, 2018

Victor Emmanuel, Emancipator   "To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."-Isaiah 42:7        On a former occasion* we contemplated the unconverted man as being bound by the cords of his sins. It was a very solemn and sorrowful topic. I …

Isaiah:42:7

January 11, 2018

The Touchstone of Godly Sincerity   "Will he always call upon God?"—Job 27:10        When Job resumes his address in this chapter, he appeals to God in a very solemn matter as to the truth of all that he had spoken. No less vehemently does he assert his innocence of any signal crime, or his consciousness of …

Job:27:10

January 9, 2018

Moab is My Washpot   "Moab is my washpot."—Psalm 60:8        Moab, which had threatened Israel, was to be so completely subdued, and become so utterly contemptible as to be likened to a washpot or basin in which men wash their feet. More than this, however, may have been intended—nay, we feel sure was intended by the …

Psalms:60:8

January 9, 2018

The Church As She Should Be "Thou art beautiful, O my love as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners."—Song of Solomon 6:4 There are various estimates of the Christian church. Some think everything of her; some think nothing of her; and probably neither opinion is worth the breath which utters it. Neither Ritualists, …

Song of Solomon:6:4

December 31, 1871

The Joy of the Lord, the Strength of His People   "The joy of the Lord is your strength."—Nehemiah 8:10. "And the singers sang aloud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy …

Nehemiah:8:10