October 30, 2017

VANITIES AND VERITIES.   “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”— 2 Corinthians iv. 18.   THE apostle Paul was by no means a stoic. He had not conquered all human feeling, and rendered …

2 Corinthians:4:18

October 29, 2017

Work for Jesus   “Son, go work to-day in my vineyard.”— Matthew xxi. 28.   I AM not going to confine myself to the connection of these words, nor to use them strictly after the manner in which they were first spoken. I may, perhaps, explain the parable very briefly at the close; but I take leave to withdraw …

Matthew:21:28

October 29, 2017

IDOLS ABOLISHED.   “Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols?”— Hosea xiv. 8.   IDOLATRY was the great sin of the ten tribes represented by Ephraim: indeed, it is the sin of the entire human race. When we speak of idolatry we need not think of blocks of wood and stone, and black men …

Hosea:14:8

October 29, 2017

MANOAH’S WIFE AND HER EXCELLENT ARGUMENT.   “And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. But his wife said unto him, If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, …

Judges:13:22-23

October 29, 2017

Retreat Impossible   “I have opened my mouth unto the Lord,and I cannot go hack.” — Judges xi. 35.   IN Jephthah’s case there were good reasons for going back. He had made a rash vow, and such things are much better broken than kept. If a man makes a vow to commit a crime his vow to do …

Judges:11:35

October 29, 2017

DAGON’S UPS AND DOWNS. “When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in …

1 Samuel:5:2-4

October 29, 2017

THE STUDENT’S PRAYER.   “Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.”— Psalm cxix. 27.   WHEN we seek any good thing from God, we ought also to consider how we may use it for his glory. It is meet that desires for good things should flow from good motives. …

Psalms:119:27

October 29, 2017

Nevertheless. Hereafter.   “Jesus saith saith unto him, Thou hast said (or said so), nevertheless, I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Bon of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” — Matthew xxvi. 64.   OUR Lord, before his enemies, was silent in his own defence, but he …

Matthew:26:64

October 29, 2017

The Trees in God's Court   “Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; to show that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”— …

Psalms:92:13-15

October 29, 2017

COMING — ALWAYS COMING.   “To whom coming.” — 1 Peter ii. 4.   THE apostle is speaking of the Lord Jesus, of whom he had previously said, “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious,” and he follows that sentence up with this, “To whom coming as unto a living stone.” Now, I want to …

1 Peter:2:4