Written Sermons

Mystical Union between Christ and the Saints

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:35:49 +0000

by Thomas Watson
 "My beloved is mine, and I am his."

Song of Songs 2:16

Part One
 In this Song of Songs we see the love of Christ and his church running towards each other in a full torrent.   The text contains three general parts:  
1. A symbol of affection: "My beloved."  
2. A term of appropriation: "is mine."  
3. A holy resignation: "I am his."
 Doctrine: There is a marital union between Christ and believers. The apostle, having treated at large of marriage, winds up the whole chapter thus: "This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church" (Eph. 5:32). What is closer than union? What sweeter? There is a twofold union with Christ:  
1. A natural union. This all men have, Christ having taken their nature on him and not that of the angels (Heb. 2:16). But if there is no more than this natural union, it will give little comfort. Thousands are damned though Christ is united to their nature.   2. A sacred union. By this we are mystically united to Christ. The union with Christ is not personal. If Christ's essence were transfused into the person of a believer, then it would follow that all that a believer does should be meritorious.   But the union between Christ and a saint is:  
(a) Federal: "My beloved is mine." God the Father gives the bride; God the Son receives the bride; God the Holy Spirit ties the knot in marriage - he knits our wills to Christ and Christ's love to us.   (b) Effectual. Christ unites himself to his spouse by his graces and influences: "of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace" (John 1:16). Christ makes himself one with the spouse by conveying his image and stamping the impress of his own holiness upon her.   This union with Christ may well be called mystical. It is hard to describe the manner of it. It is hard to show how the soul is united to the body, and how Christ is united to the soul. But though this union is spiritual, it is real. Things in nature often work insensibly, yet really (Eccles. 11:5). We do not see the hand move on the dial, yet it moves. The sun exhales and draws up the vapors of the earth insensibly yet really. So the union between Christ and the soul, though it is imperceptible to the eye of reason, is still real (I Cor. 6:17).   Before this union with Christ there must be a separation. The heart must be separated from all other lovers, as in marriage there is a leaving of father and mother: "Forget your own people, and your father's house." (Psalm.45:10). So there must be a leaving of our former sins, a breaking off the old league with hell before we can be united to Christ. "Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols?" (Hos. 14:8), or as it is in the Hebrew, "with sorrows." Those sins which were looked on before as lovers, are now sorrows. There must be a divorce before a union.

Praying in Christ’s name

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:13:34 +0000

by Thomas Boston

1. Negatively. It is not a bare faithless mentioning of his name in our prayers, nor finishing our prayers with them, Matt. 7:21. The saints use the words, "through Jesus Christ our Lord," 1 Cor. 15:57, but often is that scabbard produced, while the sword of the Spirit is not in it. The words are said, but the faith is not exercised.
Praying at His Command
2. Positively. To pray in the name of Christ is to pray,
first, At his command, to go to God by his order, John 16:24, "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive." Christ as God commands all men to pray, to offer that piece of natural duty to God; but that is not the command meant. But Christ as Mediator sends his own to his Father to ask supply of their wants, and allows them to tell that he sent them, as one recommends a poor body to a friend, John 16:24, just cited. So to pray in the name of Christ is to go to God as sent by the poor man's friend. So it implies,
1. The soul's having come to Christ in the first place, John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." He that would pray aright, must do as those who made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend first, and then made their plea to their king, Acts 12:20.
2. The soul's taking its encouragement to pray from Jesus Christ, Heb 4:14, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
The way to the throne in heaven is blocked up by our sins. And sinners have no confidence to seek the Lord. Jesus Christ came down from heaven, died for the criminals, and gathers them to himself by effectual calling. He, as having all interest with his Father, bids them go to his Father in his name, and ask what they need, assuring them of acceptance. And from thence they take their encouragement, viz. from his promises in the word. And he gives them his token with them, which the Father will own, and that is his own Spirit, Rom 8:26,27, "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Praying to God through Christ
Secondly, It is to direct our prayers to God through Jesus Christ, Heb 7:25, "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them," and in chapter 13:15, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."
Praying Christ's name is depending wholly on Christ's merit and intercession for access, acceptance, and a gracious return:
1. Depending on Christ for access to God, Eph 3:12, "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him." There is no access to God but through him, John 14:6 "No one comes to the Father except through Me." They that attempt otherwise to come to God, will get the door thrown in their face. But we must take hold of the Mediator, and come in at his side, who is the Secretary of heaven.
2. Depending on him for acceptance of our prayers, Eph 1:6 "He has made us accepted in the Beloved." Our Lord Christ is the only altar that can sanctify our gift. If one lay the stress of the acceptance of his prayers on his attitude, feelings, tenderness, and so on, the prayer will not be accepted. A crucified Christ only can bear the weight of the acceptance of either our persons or performances.
3. Depending on him for a gracious answer, 1 John 5:14, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." No prayers are heard and answered but for the Mediator's sake; and whatever petitions agreeable to God's will are put up to God, in this dependence, are heard.
Why Must We Pray in the Name of Christ?
The reason of this may be taken up in these two things
1. There is no access for a sinful creature to God without a Mediator, Isa 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear." John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Sin has set us at a distance from God, and has bolted the door of our access to him, that it is beyond our power, or that of any creature, to open it for us. His justice rejects the criminal, his holiness the unclean creature, unless there be an acceptable person to go between him and us. Our God is a consuming fire: and so there is no immediate access for a sinner to him.
And there is none appointed nor fit for that work but Christ, 1 Tim. 2:5. It is he alone who is our great High Priest. None but he has satisfied justice for our sins. And as he is the only Mediator of redemption, so he is the only Mediator of intercession, 1 John 2:1 "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The sweet savour of his merit alone is capable to procure acceptance to our prayers, in themselves unworthy, Rev. 8:3,4.

PLease visit Fire and Ice for more Puritan Treasures.

Must our education be Christian?

Sat, 4 Oct 2008 14:16:00 +0100

Webster says, "the word secular has reference to something pertaining to this present world, not to things spiritual or holy; not to things relating to the soul, but to the body." "New foes arise threatening to bind our souls with secular chains." (Milton). Then things secular relate to this world and are carnal; but things relating to Christianity have reference to the world to come and are spiritual. Then, is it not manifest that Christian and secular schools are antagonistic; and if the first is right, the second is wrong—the one is for, the other against Christ—antichrist. Then is it not manifestly wrong for a nation or state in their public schools, to give a secular and to withhold a Christian education? Has a state a right to command the former and withhold the latter? Or has a nation a right to say that her children shall be heathen and not Christian? infidels and not believers? Can kings thus become nursing fathers and their queens nursing mothers? Or can their officers thus become peace, and their exactors righteousness?

If nations would have their children to be Christians, they must give them a Christian education and not one that is secular only. And if we would give our children a Christian education, we must do so while they are young; "train up a child in the way he should go." "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." A secular education never yet made any one a Christian, and never will, never yet made any one better, but worse. All who either give or receive a secular or heathen education, are committing sin, not performing duty: because "without faith it is impossible to please God." And "whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Whatsoever we do without knowing that we are performing duty—without knowing that we are doing what God has commanded in his word, is sin, not duty. The teacher in teaching and the scholar in learning heathen literature cannot know that they are right, but that they are wrong. And so, the legislature in setting aside Christian, and in establishing secular education in its stead, cannot know that they are right; for this is all done in open violation of the divine law; it is done in unbelief and disobedience, with a hardened and blinded conscience.

It is a virtual legislating against the Scriptures of truth, against Christianity and its author. When God says, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths," he means nations as well as individuals. And in acknowledging him, our faith "must stand not in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect, yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought." None have ever profited by a secular education, until they first become Christians. All are the children of wrath until they become Christians, but when they become Christians they are heirs of all things—they being the children of the free woman. And it is said, "Cast out the bond woman and her son; for the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman."—Gal. 4:30. All kinds of literature are good for the children of the free woman, whether Christian or secular; whether it pertain to this world or to that which is to come, to the soul or to the body: but to the pagan, the heathen, or unbeliever, all things are evil, both Christian and heathen literature; because their carnal nature leads them to profane and abuse all things. Then to seek first for a secular education for our children is to seek first for that which will lead them to dishonor God and destroy themselves. Those who seek first a secular education, are reversing the divine order, which is to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, by way of seeking first a Christian education. Without this how can we call on him in whom we have not believed? and how can we believe in him of whom we have not heard? and how can we hear without a preacher, or teacher? and how can they preach except they be sent? 2. If nations would have a Christian education for their children, they must have Christian teachers to teach them; and Christian teachers only. God’s plan of teaching children is not first to train them by secular unbelieving teachers to be sons of Belial, and then by religious teachers to be sons of God. It is not His plan first to provide secular and then Christian teachers, but to provide Christian teachers only. "But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself." Ps. 4:3. And it is only the godly that the Lord sets apart for himself, "in every station in life, but especially to train his elect to be children of the kingdom."

Then before the nations can have a Christian education for their children, they must choose such teachers as Christ himself has chosen, and such only—Christian and not secular. A secular education never yet qualified any person for teaching or receiving the true Christian faith or practice, and never can; because things secular pertain to this world, not to that which is to come; to things carnal, not to things spiritual or holy. Those who would have the Christian faith and practice must be taught by Christ, by those sent by him for that purpose. Isa. 54:13. Again, it does not belong to nations to educate either the old or young, themselves or others. Christ himself appointed all the teachers both of the present and past dispensations. He said to his apostles, "Go teach all nations." None need to be taught more than the nations: "for all the gods are idols dumb, which blinded nations fear." "That ye walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having their understanding darkened." Eph. 4:17. Again, "The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of word or sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; but it is his duty to maintain piety, justice and peace in the commonwealth, and unity and peace in the church." Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 23.

The civil magistrate being a Christian, sound in the faith and exemplary in practice, as the word of God requires him to be, 2 Sam. 23:3, knows how to maintain piety, justice and peace in the commonwealth and unity and peace in the church. An exemplary Christian magistrate knows that these matters in the church and commonwealth can never be maintained and preserved in any other way than by "keeping the truth of God pure and entire, suppressing all blasphemies and heresies, preventing or reforming all corruption and abuses in worship and discipline, and having all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered and observed." And the Christian magistrate knows that these great attainments never can be made in either church or state without a faithful ministry and faithful church courts. It is thus that the faithful teachers may be trained and set apart for the work of teaching. When Christ gave some pastors and teachers, He gave them authority and power to train, set apart, and ordain other pastors and teachers; and thus these church officers are to be perpetuated in the church, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, etc. Eph. 4:11. But Christ never gave any such power or authority to an ungodly and unbelieving state, or to any of their unbelieving secular teachers; but all the attainments that ever can be made by unbelieving states, and their unbelieving secular teachers is to make attainments in doing evil. "Evil men and seducers wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13.

Faithful pastors and teachers of Christ’s appointment, are "as the path of the just that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and forever." Dan. 12:3. All such are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. But these carnal, worldly minded teachers, that have nothing to recommend them but their so-called morality—no fear of God or regard for man—no faith, repentance, love or new obedience, are not the salt of the earth, nor the light of the world. Such have no advantage over so-called civilized heathens; for, in spite of all their so-called morality, they are still "walking as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." Eph. 4:17.
All such being without spiritual illumination, are the darkness of the world. Eph. 5:8. And the devils are the rulers of the darkness of this world. Eph. 6:12. And all unbelieving secular teachers are the darkness of this world; because "the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not." 2 Cor. 4:4. And all such remain in the power of darkness until "the Father delivers them from the power of darkness, and translates them into the kingdom of His dear Son." Col. 1:13, or until Christ, by His word and Spirit, "calls them out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Pet. 2:9. Then is not the state virtually placing the children of the state under the tuition of the rulers of the darkness of this world, and at the same time placing the whole state under the general superintendency of "the prince of the power of the air—the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience?" or under the power of the god of this world who hath blinded the minds of them that believe not? And this dreadful condition of the state, its secular teachers and children, can never be made better until the parties cease to be secular and unbelieving; and until they are all become spiritual or Christian. So long as the state, teachers and children, are unbelieving and secular—not spiritual or holy, darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people; and all—all states, teachers and children are wicked—we repeat it, they are all wicked; "and the wicked shall be turned into hell, with all nations that forget God." Ungodly, unbelieving teachers—so-called moral teachers, are already lost, because they are unbelieving and ungodly. "He that believeth not is condemned already," John 3:18—whether male or female—whether a state or an individual—a teacher or a scholar; and all such hate the light. How then can such be instrumental in turning others from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God? To all such the gospel is hidden—to all unbelieving, but not to any believing teachers. "If our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not." 2 Cor. 4:3. The god of this world wants all men to be lost like himself: hence he wants the gospel to be hid from all that all may be lost. He is afraid of the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shining unto any, lest they might be saved. The god of this world blinds the minds of all those that believe not; but he cannot blind the minds of those who believe; because "Christ has called them out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Pet. 2:9. The prince of the power of the air cannot blind the minds of them that believe, because Christ has delivered them from the power of darkness; and then they are no longer the children of darkness, but of the light. Satan, unbelieving nations and carnally minded secular teachers all blind the minds that believe not: 1. By not teaching and applying the word, its doctrine, worship, discipline and government. 2. By perverting and misapplying them. 3. By teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Again, all unbelieving states, secular teachers and unbelieving scholars are lost; and have not the least desire of being saved, unless in their sins, and on their own plan, and by their own righteousness. Finally, so far as love of sin and hatred of God, and all righteousness is concerned; all unbelieving children can harmoniously cooperate with Satan, the god of this world, unbelieving states and carnal secular teachers, in opposing Christ and Christianity. "The wicked are estranged from the womb, they go astray as soon as they are born—speaking lies." Ps. 58:3.—
written by John McAuley
March, 20th, 1879.

Messiah the Prince

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:46:20 +0100

A PRINCE AND A SAVIOUR
“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour,
for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 5 Verse 31.

These were exciting days in Jerusalem. The city abounded with rumours that some of the Apostles had been imprisoned and had then mysteriously vanished from the prison, freed, it was said, by an angel. With astonishing boldness they had returned to the Temple and now Peter and his colleagues found themselves before the authorities and warned to stop preaching about Jesus. In verse 31, quoted above, we find Peter’s response. Do you not know, he says, that the one you wish us to be silent about is a Prince and a Saviour. These words provide us with a clear picture of who Jesus is.
1. JESUS IS A PRINCE.
How that must have annoyed the authorities. As far as they were concerned he was the despised and crucified ‘Galilean’. Had they not taken very deliberate steps to destroy his repeated claims to authority and kingship? And yet, despite their best efforts, here, once again, are these claims of authority regarding Jesus.

The title speaks of honour and power. The Bible tells us that Jesus was no ordinary man. He took into union with his Divine nature a holy human nature. He is both God and man. He is a Prince. He is the Prince, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

2. JESUS IS A SAVIOUR.
(1) He is a Saviour who lives
There are two separate aspects to this truth. In the first place he was dead. You will notice, from the previous verse that Peter is very clear about this. It also becomes very clear that Peter wishes it to be understood that the death of Christ was not some unfortunate accident but a deliberate and necessary part of his work as a Saviour. He died as a substitute taking the guilt and damnation of sinners upon himself.

He was dead, but equally crucial, as far as Peter is concerned, was the fact that he was now alive. God, he says, has highly exalted him. Often folk will say that it is not really important whether we believe in a real physical resurrection. As far as the Apostles were concerned it was crucially important. Without the resurrection Christ’s claim to kingship and Divine authority lay in tatters. He had said, repeatedly, that he would rise again. If he had not risen from the dead his whole message was hopelessly discredited. The Bible is very clear on this point, Jesus really died on the cross and Jesus really rose from the dead on the third day.

(2) He is a Saviour who gives
We are told in this verse that he gives repentance. Repentance is a turning from our sinful ways to God. Perhaps this is a problem for you. You have tried to turn from sin but again and again you have found yourself back at square one. You will never do it by your own will power but here we are told that Jesus gives repentance. He demands repentance and he gives that new grief and hatred for sin.

We are told here that he also gives forgiveness. We are all guilty in the sight of God. Condemned as law-breakers we are on the road to hell. The Bible says that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6v23) We must pay the penalty for our sin or a substitute must pay in our place. That is exactly what Jesus does for everyone who comes to trust in him as their Saviour. Because he suffered he is able to extend a full pardon to even the guiltiest sinner in the world.

Are you struggling with your guilty past and your guilty present? Here is good news “Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners.”

He is a Prince and a Saviour.
MAN Macleod

Perseverance 5, JC Ryle

Tue, 2 Sep 2008 21:07:51 +0100

Perseverance 
by J. C. Ryle

 "They shall never perish."

John 10:28 
And now I have brought before my readers, to the best of my ability, the whole subject of perseverance. If I have failed to convince you, I am sorry—but I am satisfied the defect is not in the doctrine I defend—but in my manner of stating it. It only remains to conclude this paper by a few words of PRACTICAL APPLICATION.   (1) For one thing, let me entreat you to thoroughly consider, whether you have any part at all in the salvation of Christ Jesus.   It matters nothing what you believe about perseverance, if after all you have no true faith in Christ. It matters little whether you hold the doctrine or not, so long as you have no saving faith, and your sins are not forgiven, and your heart not renewed by the Holy Spirit. The clearest head-knowledge will save no man. The most correct and orthodox views will not prevent a man perishing by the side of the most ignorant heathen—if he is not born again. Oh, search and see what is the state of your own soul!   You cannot live forever. You must one day die. You cannot avoid the judgment after death. You must stand before the tribunal of Christ. The summons of the Archangel cannot be disobeyed. The last great assembly must be attended. The state of your own soul must one day undergo a thorough investigation. It will be found out one day what you are in God's sight. Your spiritual condition will at length be brought to light before the whole world. Oh, find out what it is now! While you have time, while you have health, find out the state of your soul.   Your danger, if you are not converted, is far greater than I can describe. Just in proportion to the thorough safety of the believer is the deadly peril of the unbeliever. There is but a step between the unbeliever and the worm that never dies, and the fire that is not quenched. He is literally hanging over the brink of the bottomless pit. Sudden death to the saint is sudden glory; but sudden death to the unconverted sinner, is sudden hell. Oh, search and see what is the state of your soul!  Remember that you may find out whether you have an interest in the invitations of the Gospel. It is a thing which may be known. It is nonsense to pretend that no man can tell. I never will believe that an honest man, with a Bible in his hand, will fail to discover his own spiritual condition by diligent self-examination. Oh, be an honest man! Search the Scriptures. Look within. Rest not until you find out the state of your soul. To live on and leave the soul's state uncertain, is not to play the part of a wise man—but of a fool.   (2) In the next place, if you know nothing of the privileges of the Gospel, I entreat you this day to repent and be converted, to hear Christ's voice, and follow Him.   I know no reason, human or divine, why you should not accept this invitation today and be saved, if you are really willing. It is not the quantity of your sins that need prevent you. All manner of sin may be forgiven. The blood of Jesus cleanses away all sin. It is not the hardness of your heart, that need prevent you. A new heart God will give you, and a new spirit will He put in you. It is not the decrees of God that need prevent you. He wills not the death of sinners. He is not willing that any should perish—but that all should come to repentance. It is not any lack of willingness in Christ—He has long cried to the sons of men, "Whoever will, let him take the water of life freely." "Him who comes unto Me I will never cast out." Oh, why should not you be saved? (Rev. 22:17; John 6:37.)   A day must come, if you are ever to be God's child, when you will cease to trifle with your soul's interests. An hour must come when at last you will bend your knee in real earnestness, and pour out your heart before God in real prayer. A time must come when the burden of your sins will at last feel intolerable, and when you will feel you must have rest in Christ or perish. All this must come to pass, if you are ever to become a child of God and be saved. And why not today? Why not this very night? Why not without delay seek Christ and live? Answer me, if you can!   (3) In the next place, let me entreat every reader who holds final perseverance, so to use this precious doctrine as not to abuse it.  There is an awful readiness in all people to abuse God's mercies. Even the children of God are not free from the sad infection. There is a busy devil near the best of saints, who would gladly persuade them to make their privileges a plea for careless living, and to turn their soul's food into poison. I cannot look round the Church of Christ, and see the end to which many high professors come, without feeling that there is need for a caution. "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. 10:12.)  Would we know what it is to abuse the doctrine of perseverance? It is abused when believers make their safety an excuse for inconsistencies in practice. It is abused when they make their security from final ruin an apology for a low standard of sanctification, and a distant walk with God. Against both these abuses I entreat believers to be on their guard.   Would we know what it is to use the doctrine of perseverance aright? Let us watch jealously over the daily workings of our own hearts. Let us mortify and nip in the bud the least inclination to spiritual indolence. Let us settle it down in our minds, as a ruling principle of our lives, that the mercies of God are only turned to a good account when they have a sanctifying effect on our hearts. Let us root it firmly in our inward man, that the love of Christ is never so really valued as when it constrains us to increased spiritual-mindedness. Let us set before our minds, that the more safe we feel—the more holy we ought to be. The more we realize that God has done much for us, the more we ought to do for God. The greater our debt, the greater should be our gratitude. The more we see the riches of grace, the more rich should we be in good works.   Oh, for a heart like that of the Apostle Paul! To realize as he did, our perfect safety in Christ—to labor as he did for God's glory, as if we could never do too much—this is the mark—this is the standard at which we ought to aim. Let us so use the doctrine of perseverance that our good may never be evil spoken of.   Let us so adorn the doctrine by our lives that we may make it beautiful to others, and constrain people to say, "It is a good and holy thing to be persuaded that saints shall never perish."   (4) In the last place, I entreat all believers who have hitherto been afraid of falling away—to lay firm hold on the doctrine of perseverance, and to realize their own safety in Christ.   I want you to know the length and breadth of your portion in Christ. I want you to understand the full amount of the treasure to which faith in Jesus entitles you. You have found out that you are a great sinner. Thank God for that. You have fled to Christ for pardon and peace with God. Thank God for that. You have committed yourself to Jesus for time and eternity—you have no hope but in Christ's blood, Christ's righteousness Christ's mediation, Christ's daily all-persevering intercession. Thank God for that. Your heart's desire and prayer is to be holy in all manner of conversation. Thank God for that. But oh, lay hold upon the glorious truth—that believing on Jesus you shall never perish, you shall never be cast away, you shall never fall away! It is written for you as well as for the apostles, "My sheep shall never perish."   Yes! Jesus has spoken it—and Jesus meant it to be believed. Jesus has spoken it—and He never brakes His promises. Jesus has spoken it—and He cannot lie. Jesus has spoken it—and He has all power in heaven and earth to keep His word. Jesus has spoken it for the least and lowest believers, "My sheep shall never perish."  Would you have perfect peace in life? Then lay hold on this doctrine of perseverance. Your TRIALS may be many and great. Your cross may be very heavy. But the business of your soul is all conducted according to an "everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure." (2 Sam. 23:5.) All things are working together for your good. Your sorrows are only purifying your soul for glory. Your bereavements are only fashioning you as a polished stone for the temple above, made without hands. From whatever quarter the storms blow, they only drive you nearer to heaven. Whatever weather you may go through it is only ripening you for the garner of God. Your best things are quite safe. Come what will, you shall "never perish."   Would you have strong consolation in SICKNESS? Then lay hold on this doctrine of perseverance. Think, as you feel the pins of this earthly tabernacle loosening one by one, "nothing can break my union with Christ." Your body may become useless; your limbs may refuse to perform their office; you may feel like an old useless log—a weariness to others, and a burden to yourself. But your soul is safe! Jesus is never tired of caring for your soul. You shall "never perish."   Would you have full assurance of hope in DEATH? Then lay hold on this doctrine of perseverance. Doctors may have given over their labors; friends may be unable to minister to your needs; sight may depart; hearing may depart; memory may be almost gone—but the loving-kindness of God shall not depart. Once in Christ you shall never be forsaken. Jesus shall stand by you. Satan shall not harm you. Death shall not separate you from the everlasting love of God in Christ. You shall "never perish!"   The deathbed of Bruce, the famous Scotch divine, is a striking illustration of this part of my subject. Fleming describes it in the following words. "He called for his Bible; but finding his sight gone, he said, 'Turn to the eighth chapter of Romans and set my finger on these words—I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, etc., shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' 'Now,' said he, 'is my finger upon them?' When they told him it was, he said, 'Now God be with you, my children—I have breakfasted with you, and shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ this night!' And then he died."