תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

Chap. i, ver. 18.—The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

Mr. Flavel, at one time on a journey, set himself to improve his time by meditation; when his mind grew intent, till at length he had such ravishing tastes of heavenly joy, and such full assurance of his interest therein, that he utterly lost the sight and sense of this world and all its concerns, so that he knew not where he was. At last, perceiving himself faint through a great loss of blood from his nose, he alighted from his horse, and sat down at a spring, where he washed and refreshed himself, earnestly desiring, if it were the will of God, that he might there leave the world. His spirits reviving, he finished his journey in the same delightful frame. He passed that night without any sleep, the joy of the Lord still overflowing him, so that he seemed an inhabitant of the other world. After this, a heavenly serenity and sweet peace long continued with him; and for many years he called that day "one of the days of heaven!" and professed he understood more of the life of heaven by it, than by all the discourses he had heard or the books he ever read.

Chap. ii, ver. 8, 9.-For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Mr. McLaren, and Mr. Gustart, were both ministers of the Tolbooth Church, Edinburgh. When Mr. McLaren was dying, Mr. G. paid him a visit, and put the question to him, "What are you doing, brother?" His answer was, "I'll tell you what I am doing, brother; I am gathering together all my prayers, all my sermons, all my good deeds, all my ill

$*

deeds; and I am going to throw them all overboard, and swim to glory on the plank of Free Grace."

Chap. ii, ver. 11, 12, 13.-Wherefore remember, that at the time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth. of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world; but now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

The following custom is said to prevail at Munich. Every child found begging in the streets is arrested, and carried to a charitable establishment. The moment he enters the hospital, and before he is cleaned and gets the new clothes intended for him, his portrait is painted in his ragged dress, and precisely as he was found begging. When his education is finished in the hospital, this portrait is given to him; and he promises, by an oath, to keep it all his life, in order that he may be reminded of the abject condition from which he has been rescued, and of the obligations he owes to the institution which saved him from misery, and gave him the means by which he was enabled to avoid it in future. Let the Christian often compare, or contrast rather, his former with bis present state, and be excited to gratitude and praise for the happy change God has wrought upon him.

Chap. iii, ver. S.-Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Dr. Conyers was for some years a preacher, before he had an experimental knowledge of the truths of the Gospel. One day, studying his Greek Testament, as his custom was, he came in the course of his reading to Ephes. iii, 3. "Unto me, who am less

than the least of all, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." "Riches of Christ!" said he to himself! "unsearchable riches! What have I preached of

these?

What do I know of these!" Such was the beginning of new views, new sentiments, new declarations, with this truly conscientious pastor; who had the honesty to inform his people on the very next Sabbath, that he feared he had been a blind leader of the blind, but that he was now determined to begin afresh he trusted the Lord would lead him aright, and, as he should be led, so he would lead them. The broad seal of the Spirit convincing, converting, sanctifying large multitudes through his ministry, put it beyond a doubt who had been the author of this revolution in his opinions and feelings, and that “ the vision was of the Lord."

Chap. iv, ver. 22, 23, 24.-That ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceit ful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The late excellent Mr. Reader of Taunton, calling one day, in the course of his pastoral visits, at the house of a friend affectionately noticed a child in the room,a little girl about six years of age. Among other things he asked her if she knew that she had a bad heart, and opening the Bible, pointed her to the passage where the Lord promises, "I will put a new spirit within you, and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh." He entreated her to plead this promise in prayer, and she would find the Almighty faithful to his engagement. Many years after, a lady at the age of twentythree came to him to propose herself for communion with the church, and how inexpressible was his de

light, when he found that she was the very person with whom, when a child, he had so fully conversed on subjects of religion, and that the conversation was blessed for her conversion to God. Taking her Bible, she had retired, as he advised, pleaded the promise, wept, and prayed, and the Lord was intreated of her. In answer to her fervent petitions, He gave her what she most anxiously desired, a new heart.

Chap. iv, ver. 28.-Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Some time ago, the Rev. Rowland Hill preached a funeral sermon, occasioned by the death of his manservant. In the course of his sermon, he delivered the following affecting relation:-" Many persons present," he said, "were acquainted with the deceased, and have bad it in their power to observe his character and conduct. They can bear witness, that for a considerable number of years he proved himself a perfectly honest, sober, industrious, and religious man; faithfully performing, as far as lay in his power, the duties of his station in life, and serving God with constancy and zeal. Yet this very man was once a robber on the highway. More than thirty years ago, he stopped me on the public road, and demanded my money. Not at all intimidated, I argued with him; I asked him what could induce him to pursue so iniquitous and dangerous a course of life? I have been a coachman,' said he; I am out of place, and I cannot get a character. I am unable to get any employment, and am therefore obliged to resort to this means of gaining a subsistence.' I desired him to call on me. He promised he would, and he kept his word. I talked farther with him, and offered to take him into my own service. He consented, and ever since that period he has served me faithfully, and not me only, but has faithfully served his God. In

stead of finishing his life in a public and ignominious manner, with a depraved and hardened mind, as he probably would have done, he died in peace, and, we trust, prepared for the society of just men made perfect. Till this day, the extraordinary circumstance I have related has been confined to his breast and mine. I have never mentioned it to my dearest friend."

Chap. v, ver. 20.-Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Rev. Daniel Wilson, in a speech delivered before the Church of England Missionary Society, in May, 1814, alluded to the prospect of general peace, and desired that all should view the hand of Providence interposing in our favor, and that all would ask with pious gratitude, What shall I render unto the Lord? He remembered, that some time since, when a vote of thanks to Lord Wellington for some glorious achievement in the Peninsula, was moved in the House of Commons by the late Mr. Perceval-a man, he must say, around whose private and public virtues his mournful death had shed a kind of sanctity; upon some Member observing, that "Ministers might thank their stars;" that excellent man replied, "No, sir; Ministers may thank their GOD!" Such was the feelings he desired might prevail in their present rejoicings.

Chap. vi, ver. 9.—And ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

A celebrated tutor in Paris was in the habit of relating to his pupils, as they stood in a half circle before him, anecdotes of illustrious men, and obtaining their opinions respecting them, rewarding those who

« הקודםהמשך »