Jan 11
16
More scarce and precious than a bar of gold! from Octavius Winslow’s, “The Redeemer, the Revelation of the Father’s Glory” October, 1844
“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos 8:11 Already has this famine of the true word of God commenced! How few, forming their ministry upon the apostolic model, can affirm with Paul, “My speech and my preaching are not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power!” How few, disdaining artificial embellishment, and scorning the applause of men won by a vain show of intellect and eloquence, preach that simple truth of which Jesus is the Author, the Substance, the Glory, the Power, and the End; purely, boldly, faithfully, affectionately, uncompromisingly! How few who honestly and heartily desire to lift up their Lord and Master; themselves lost behind the glory of His person and the splendors of His cross! How sadly, how painfully, is the Lord Jesus Christ kept in the background! How is His glory obscured, His beauty veiled, His honour withheld! “The time will come, when a faithful minister of the Gospel will be more scarce and precious than a bar of gold!”
John Owen
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Old Adam put in a better dress (Thomas Watson, “A New Creature”) “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” John 3:3 Natural honesty, moral virtue, prudence, justice, liberality, temperance–these are not the new birth. These make a glorious show in the eye of the world—but differ as much from the new birth, as a stick differs from a star! Morality indeed is commendable, and it would be well if there were more of it. Yet morality is but nature at its best; it does not amount to saving grace. There is nothing of Christ in morality. That fruit is sour–which does not grow on the root of Christ! Heat water to the highest degree–and you still cannot make wine out of it; it is water still. Just so, let morality be raised to the highest, it is nature still; it is but old Adam put in a better dress. Moral virtue may exist with the hatred of godliness. A moral man hates holiness–as much as he does vice! “You must be born again.” John 3:7
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Supernatural light (Joseph Philpot, “The Heir of Heaven Walking in Darkness, and the Heir of Hell Walking in Light”) “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:6 Until, then, this supernatural light of God enters into the soul, a man has no saving knowledge of Jehovah. He may . . . say his prayers, read his Bible, attend preaching, observe ordinances, bestow all his goods to feed the poor, or give his body to be burned; but he is as ignorant of God as the cattle that graze in the fields! He may call himself a Christian, and be thought such by others, talk much about Jesus Christ, hold a sound creed, maintain a consistent profession, pray at a prayer meeting with fluency and apparent feeling, stand up in a pulpit and contend earnestly for the doctrines of grace, excel hundreds of God’s children in zeal, knowledge and conversation. And yet, if this ray of supernatural light has never shone into his soul, he is only twofold more the child of hell than those who make no profession!
“Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of His servant, that walks in darkness, and has no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all you that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks–walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that you have kindled. This shall you have of my hand; you shall lie down in sorrow.” Isaiah 50:10-11.
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William Cowper’s View Of Popery
William Cowper
(As it appeared in his ” Expostulation” 1782)
Hast thou admitted with a blind fond trust,
The lie that burned thy fathers’ bones to dust;
That first adjudged them heretics, then sent
Their souls to heaven, and cursed them as they went:
The lie that Scripture strips of its disguise,
And execrates above all other lies;
The lie that claps a lock on mercy’s plan,
And gives the key to yon infirm old man,
Who, once ensconced in Apostolic chair,
Is deified, and sits omniscient there;
The lie that knows no kindred, owns no friend,
But him that makes its progress his chief end;
That having spilt much blood, makes that a boast,
And canonizes him that sheds the most ?
Away with charity that soothes a lie,
And thrusts the truth with scorn and anger by !
Shame on the candour, and the gracious smile,
Bestowed on them that light the martyr’s pile;
While insolent disdain, in frowns expressed,
Attends the tenets that endured that test!
Grant them the rights of men, and, while they cease
To vex the peace of others, grant them peace;
But trusting bigots, whose false zeal has made
Treachery their duty, thou art self-betrayed.
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No oil? (Bonar, “Religion Without the Holy Spirit”)
“The five who were foolish took no oil for their lamps.” Matthew 25.3
This parable has many sides and aspects. It is prophetical; it is also practical. It suits all ages, but especially the last days. It suits the world, but especially the church of God. It is searching and sifting. It is also quickening and comforting. It suits us well in these days of . . . profession, fashionable religion and religiousness. It is a parable for the church. It comes in to the inner circle of Christian profession, and sifts it, divides it.
There are points of likeness between the two classes. They get the same name, virgins; they wear the same dress; they are on the same errand; they both have lamps; they both slumber and sleep. They have thus many features in common.
The peril of mere externalism is that which our Lord points out here. This externalism may not always be hypocrisy, but it is imitation. It is not the flower in its natural color and growth, but painted, artificial. Let us watch against an artificial life, and an artificial religion. What does it profit now? What will it profit in the day of wrath? The name, the dress, the lamp, the outward show, will all go for nothing in that day of universal discovery and detection. Though in most respects they were all alike, yet there was a difference. It was within; it was imperceptible from without; it could only be discovered when the bridegroom came. Up until then all were completely similar. Only then the deficiency came out in the foolish.
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