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O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. - Psa 139:1-4. WHAT a preservation from sin would the continued reflection of this solemn and important fact prove. The eye of a fellow-creature-yea the eye of a child-would be sufficient to restrain some from many a sin, how much more the eye of God. The thief would never steal the goods while he saw the eyes of the owner upon him, but “his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings; there is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.” “Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.” We never committed a secret sin in our lives. “Thou hast set my secret sins in the light of thy countenance.” What a check to insincerity i...

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. - Joh 1:17. GRACE means favour, and especially undeserved favour. Indeed without this it cannot be grace. Grace is the darling word of inspiration, and is unspeakably dear to all those who feel their Spiritual condition. But how did this grace come? By Jesus Christ. First, Because he revealed it. He published it as a doctrine, and he gave clearer and fuller views of it than were ever heard before. Grace came by Jesus Christ; “grace was poured into his lips,” and all men “wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.” Secondly, Because he is the effect of it. This is his own testimony: “God so loved the world as to give his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him might not perish, but have everlasting life;” and Paul, his own inspired servant, said: “To show in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us by Christ Jesus.” The earth on which we dwell is full of goodness, and hi...

And having done all, to stand. -  Eph 6:13 . OH how significant is this! It is an intimation that heavenward is not easy walking. The Apostle says to the Philippians: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” not the procuring of salvation, it is already procured by the precious blood of Christ; not to make atonement for our sins, the atonement is already made;. nor to furnish a justifying righteousness in which to appear before God, “for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” The meaning of the Apostle is, that in the use of means, and in progressing and persevering to the end of life, we are to work out our salvation. The Galatians “did run well,” but were “hindered;” they began in the Spirit, but ended in the flesh: “Ephraim’s goodness was as the morning cloud and the early dew, that soon passeth away.” It is not the first but the last step in the race that brings us to the goal. “Blessed is the man that endureth ...

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? - Psa 24:3. THERE are three ways in which this question can be answered respecting those who shall enter the realms of bliss. First, By ascertaining who have entered it already. This will go some way toward the decision. Who have they been from the first that have entered? Abel entered; and it is said that “he offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.” Enoch entered, and entered body and soul together; but “Enoch walked with God.” Elijah also entered in a similar way, and he had been very “zealous for the Lord of hosts.” The patriarchs have entered, but the Apostle tells us how, “through faith and patience, they inherit the promises.” Secondly, By ascertaining to whom it is promised. And here we read: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” This cannot be a legal but a gospel right; it ca...

In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. - Joh 16:33. THIS is a commendation of Christianity. The Christian’s course is not darkness, but light: it will bear examination. The evidences of our religion are not arguments but facts. Prophecies are not messages like the heathen oracles; they were delivered ages before their accomplishment, and some of them are accomplishing now. The miracles recorded in the Scriptures were not done in secret places and alone, so that they could not be gainsayed or denied; but they were performed in public, before the face even of enemies. The promises by which believers are incited and comforted are as real as they are valuable, and therefore the parties interested in them are “able to give a reason of the hope that is in them.” The world is like Jael standing at the door of the tent in the evening, spreading the mantle, and bringing out the butter in a lordly dish, but hiding the hammer and nail till...