Abraham's Offering Up His Son Isaac Genesis 22:12 — “And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him, for now I know that...

Sermon 3 Awake, Thou That Sleepest “Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Eph. 5:14. IN discoursing on...

Britain's Mercies, and Britain's Duty Psalm 55:45 — “That they might observe his statutes and keep his laws.” Men, brethren, and fathers, and all ye to whom...

Christ the Best Husband: Or an Earnest Invitation to Young Women to Come and See Christ Psalm 14:10-11 — "Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline...

Sermon 5 Justification By Faith “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans...

Sermon 1 Salvation by Faith “By grace are ye saved through faith.” Eph. 2:8. 1. All the blessings which God hath bestowed upon man are of his mere grace,...

Sermon 4 Scriptural Christianity “Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall...

Babbling fame ever loves to talk of one man or another. Some there be whose glory it trumpets forth, and whose honor it extols above the heavens.

Sermon 2 The Almost Christian “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Acts 26:28. AND many there are who go thus far: ever since the Christian...

Good old Simeon called Jesus the consolation of Israel; and so he was. Before his actual appearance, his name was the Day-Star; cheering the darkness, and...

The Great Duty of Family Religion Joshua 24:15 — “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” These words contain the holy resolution of pious Joshua,...

It has been said by some one that "the proper study of mankind is man." I will not oppose the idea, but I believe it is equally true that the proper study...

You will be surprised to hear me announce that I do not intend this morning to say anything about the Holy Spirit as the Comforter.

David was a man of many privileges bestowed on him in the goodness of his Lord.

IT SEEMS, then, that Christians may forget Christ. The text implies the possibility of forgetfulness concerning him whom gratitude and affection should...

Sermon 6 The Righteousness of Faith “Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But...

The Seed of the Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent Genesis 3:15 — “And I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman, and between thy Seed and her Seed, it...

ONE WISE man may deliver a whole city; one good man may be the means of safety to a thousand others.

Walking with God Genesis 5:24 — “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Various are the pleas and arguments which men of corrupt...

Sermon 105 “On Conscience” “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience.” 2 Cor. 1:12. 1. How few words are there in the world more common...

“The Eternity of Hell-Torments” Matthew 25:46 — “These shall go away into everlasting punishment. To the Inhabitants of Savannah in Georgia. My dear...

Sermon 15 The Great Assize [i.e., The Last Judgment — GL] “We shall all stand before the judgement-seat of Christ.” Rom. 14:10. 1. How many circumstances...

Sermon 86 A Call to Backsliders “Will the Lord absent himself for ever? And will he be no more entreated? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? And is his...

Sermon 38 A Caution against Bigotry “And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name: and he followeth not us: and we...

IT is a singular fact, but nevertheless most certain, that the vices are the counterfeits of virtues.

A Penitent Heart, the Best New Year's Gift Luke 13:3 — “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” When we consider how heinous and aggravating our...

There are some words that have a tragic history. To the hearing ear and to the understanding heart they whisper strange secrets about human progress.

A Preservative Against Unsettled Notions, and Want of Principles, in Regard to Righteousness and Christian Perfection Ecclesiastes 7:16 — “Be not righteous...

The Ministry of Nature At the sweet and hopeful season of Spring, when freshness and beauty surround us, I am sure there are few of us whose thoughts do not...

THE CHRISTIAN IS ALWAYS pleased and delighted when he can see Christ in the Scriptures.

Forgiveness Does Not Necessarily Imply Acceptance It ought to be noted carefully by all who ponder the interior life that acceptance is something different...

Sermon 55 On the Trinity Advertisement “There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: And these three are one.” 1...

In the City, Peter Found One Who Needed Healing When the fierce fires of persecution had died out, Peter set forth on a tour of visitation.

An Exhortation to the People of God Not to Be Discouraged in Their Way, by the Scoffs and Contempt of Wicked Men Hebrews 4:9 — “There remaineth therefore a...

Sermon 90 An Israelite Indeed “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.” John 1:47. 1. Some years ago a very ingenious man, Professor Hutcheson of...

Why Some Were Ashamed of Christ in His Day... I can understand how men were ashamed of Christ as He moved about the villages of Galilee.

The Pathos of a Wasted Life There are two sights in human life which fill the heart with profound sorrow. The first is that of a person who has sunk.

The Angel Kindly Compelled Them to Come and See It was a kindly compulsion of the angel that bade the women come and see that place.

In this verse, so full of riches, we have the spiritual ambition of the psalmist, and the notable thing is how his single purpose resolves itself into two...

Blind Bartimeus Mark 10:52 — “And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus...

Sermon 39 Catholic Spirit “And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him, and he saluted him, and said to...

Sermon 116 Causes of the Inefficacy of Christianity “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of...

GOD'S PEOPLE CAN never by any possibility be punished for their sins. God has punished them already in the person of Christ, Christ, their substitute, has...

We Face Death with Curiosity There are two feelings which the thought of death has always kindled in the human breast, and the first of them is curiosity.

The Mingling of the New and Old There are two ways in which Christ has worked in His long task of the regeneration of mankind.

Seizing upon the Essential These words, you will remember, are taken from the brief description of the well-known scene in the home of Martha and Mary at...

What contempt hath God poured upon the wisdom of this world! How hath he brought it to nought, and made it appear as nothing.

WHAT A BLESSED Master Jesus Christ was! How familiar did he allow his disciples to make themselves with him!

Christ the Believer's Husband Isaiah 54:5 — “For thy Maker is thy Husband.” Although believers by nature, are far from God, and children of wrath, even as...

Christ the Only Preservative Against a Reprobate Spirit The doctrines of the gospel are doctrines of peace, and they bring comfort to all who believe in...

Christ the Only Rest for the Weary and Heavy-Laden Matthew 11:28 — “Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Nothing...

Christ the Support of the Tempted Matthew 6:13 — “Lead us not into temptation.” The great and important duty which is incumbent on Christians, is to guard...

The Need of Christ After the Last Supper When the Last Supper was concluded and Jesus had finished His teaching of His own, He said to them, "Arise, let us...

Christ, the Believer's Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption Of all the verses in the book of God, this which I have now read to you, is, I...

BEHOLD! what a change divine grace will work in a man, and in how short a time. That same Peter, who so lately followed his master afar off, and with oaths...

THIS PRAYER of Christ is an ever precious portion to all true believers, from the fact that each of them has an inalienable interest in it.

The Expression of Compassion Originates with Christ Not very far away from where we sit there are gleaming the lights of our great city hospitals.

What Is Providence? The word providence is often on our lips, though perhaps not always with a clear conception of its meaning.

Jesus, as a Man, Was Tempted in Order to Show That No One Can Escape Temptation If our blessed Savior had to be the very Son of Man, it was, of course,...

Christ's Transfiguration Luke 9:28–36 — “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a...

Sermon 40 Christian Perfection “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.” Phil. 3:12. 1. There is scarce any expression in Holy...

Christians, Temples of the Living God Isaiah, speaking of the glory of gospel days, said, “Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye...

What You Hear Depends on What You Are It is a deep truth, though not the whole truth, that what we hear depends on what we are.

FOR THE MOST part the gracious Shepherd leads his people beside the still waters, and makes them to lie down in green pastures; but at times they wander...

It Was Hard to Return to Nazareth after the Vision of Jerusalem That visit to Jerusalem was one of the great hours in the life of Jesus.

Routine Should Never Be Counted as Drudgery Now, that is big with meaning for us all, and is capable of endless application.

You Are Not Yourself While Unrepentant In a few graphic touches Jesus delineates the kind of life the prodigal had been leading.

The Baptism of Jesus Was Surrender to Vocation The baptism of our Lord was His self-consecration to His lifework.

SEEK ye rest from your distresses ye children of woe and sorrow ? This is the place where ye may lighten your burden, and lose your cares.

The two brief texts which I have chosen suggest the two environments of life, and do so in a very vivid way.

THE TRUE BELIEVER is always pleased to hear of anything which concerns the salvation of his own soul.

Life Is a Building It is notable that in this little parable, and in the one which directly follows it (Luk 14:31), which deal with the great endeavors of...

By taking a bit of liberty with these poetic words, we shall apply them, without any prelude, to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Cross Signified Anything Difficult to Bear When the Romans crucified a criminal, not only did they hang him on a cross.

The Conversion of a Soul as Great a Miracle as Physical Healing It is perhaps wrong to call this the first miracle after Pentecost, though it is generally...

There are some enemies which only come to us at interludes. But you will note that it was different with the psalmist.

THESE be the last words of David; so we read at the commencement of the chapter. Many have been the precious sentences which have fallen front his inspired...

In the Absence of the Master When the feast of Passover was ended, the disciples left Jerusalem for Galilee.

Directions How to Hear Sermons Luke 8:18 — “Take heed, therefore, how ye hear.” The occasion of our Lord's giving this caution, was this: Perceiving that...

Sermon 21 Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse 1 “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: And when he was set, his disciples came...

Sermon 30 Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse 10 “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with...

Sermon 31 Upon our Lord’S Sermon on the Mount Discourse 11 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to...

Sermon 32 Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse 12 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous...

Sermon 33 UPON OUR LORD’S SERMON ON THE MOUNT Discourse 13 “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that...

Sermon 22 Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse 2 “Blessed are the meek: For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and...

Sermon 23 Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse 3 “Blessed are the pure in heart: For they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers: For they...

Sermon 24 Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse 4 “Ye are the salt of the earth. But if the salt hath lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted?...

Sermon 25 Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse 5 “Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to...

Sermon 26 Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse 6 “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: Otherwise ye have no reward of...

Sermon 27 Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse 7 “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. For they disfigure their...

Sermon 28 Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse 8 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where...

Sermon 29 Upon our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Discourse 9 “‘No man can serve two masters; For either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he...

Sermon 10 THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT Discourse I “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Rom. 8:16 1. How many...

Sermon 11 The Witness of the Spirit Discourse II “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Rom. 8:16 I. 1. None...

The Finality of Our Christian Faith I wish to say a few words on the finality of our Christian faith, and there could be no better approach to that than the...

That word conversation, as we all know, has a different meaning on our lips from that which it bears in Holy Scripture.

The psalmist is here reviewing the providence of God that sustained the children of Israel in the desert.

IF there were no other text in the sacred Word except this one, I think we should all be bound to receive and acknowledge the truthfulness of the great and...

After a Miracle, a Sermon, an Arrest and Release from Prison The healing of the lame man at the Gate Beautiful of the Temple had stirred an intense...

Elijah--A Prophet of Wrath; Jeremiah--A Prophet of Tears It is of the deepest interest to discover what was the common impression about Jesus, and in this...

Spirituality Is Conformity to Christ The highest praise that can be given to any man is that others, knowing him, should call him Christlike.

What Is Life? Amid all the mysteries which engird us there is none deeper than the mystery of life.

Jesus Taught Men to Pray This is one of the passages in which our Lord gave encouragement to prayer.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance--Heb 11:35 Faith Leads to Deliverance Among the blessings which we connect with faith, one of the most...

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance--Heb 11:35 Faithfulness Is Better Than Happiness When Happiness Is Brought On by What Is False Or I might...

Let us consider for a little while some of the springs of human fear, and then notice how many of our fears spring from the imagination.

The Only Miracle Recorded in All Four Gospels This is the only miracle recorded in each of the four Gospels, and we must take that as a token of the...

Be filled with the Spirit--Eph 5:18 Pentecost Was a Great Day for the Church That the day of Pentecost was a great day for the Church is one of the plainest...

Men Sought after Christ When our Lord had fed the multitude He constrained His disciples to depart. He wanted a season of solitary prayer.

Others Can Be Our Paregoric The word comfort in our text is a very interesting word.

This is a chapter of autobiography. It is one of the glimpses we get into the great human heart that everywhere throbs in these epistles.

THERE ARE SOME passages of sacred writ which have been more abundantly blessed to the conversion of souls than others.

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins."

Christ Wanted to Be Understood To understand these words aright we must endeavour to recapture the right atmosphere.

Sermon 128 Free Grace To The Reader: Nothing but the strongest conviction, not only that what is here advanced is “the truth as it is in Jesus,” but also...

What the thorn was of which the apostle speaks is a question we never can answer.

This is one of the great guns of the Arminians, mounted upon the top of their walls, and often discharged with terrible noise against the poor Christians...

It is often a deep relief in trouble to have someone with whom the grief may be shared.

Sermon 56 God’s Approbation of His Works “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Gen. 1:31. 1. When God created the...

Sermon 59 God’s Love to Fallen Man “Not as the offence, so also is the free gift.” Rom. 5:15. 1. How exceeding common, and how bitter, is the outcry against...

WHEN travelling through the country, you have often noticed that in different spots the old rocks peep out from under the soil, as if they would let us know...

These words in their primary and historical reference refer to the taking captive of the Ark of God by the Philistines.

The Greatness of Faith Measured by the Obstacles It Overcomes The greatness of faith often can be measured by the obstacles it overcomes.

The Hand--A Symbol of the Active Life The Bible is signally distinguished for this, that with a message from God it reaches the human heart, but not less...

One of the uses of the harvest festival is to awaken us to things we take for granted.

Christ Introduces the Evidential Value of the Ordinary Harvest helps us to recapture the thought of God in the common things of nature.

In a thoughtful book I came across a striking suggestion about Jesus. It is that the question He is always asking is, "Have you tried the way of love?"

The Human Heart Protests Darkness That call of the Philippian jailer is the deepest call of every human heart. It distinguishes man from the dumb beasts.

We are all familiar with the picture by a well-known artist which portrays Christ standing at the door.

The next verse finely declares the power of God. "He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them by their names." Perhaps there is nothing which gives...

This is a land where plain speaking is allowed, and where the people are willing to afford a fair hearing to any one who can tell them that which is worth...

Sermon 47 Heaviness through Manifold Temptations “Now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.” 1 Pet. 1:6. 1. In the...

When John was an old man he had a vision of the ascended Lord.

The Ploughman: A Symbol of the Person Who Holds On Holding to things doggedly was one of the controlling thoughts of Jesus.

A Little Light on a Dark Subject A very fresh and delightful American writer, John Burroughs--a man who often reminds us of our own Richard Jefferies--has...

The psalmist here is not talking to an audience. He is talking to himself. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Hope thou in God."

One hears a great deal from many different quarters of the conflict of science and religion.

The Savage Are Characterized by Contempt of Others The spirit of contempt is very strongly developed among savage races.

The Power of Our Thoughts We are all familiar with the difference that is made by the thoughts that arise within our hearts.

Sermon 121 Human Life a Dream “Even like as a dream when one awaketh; so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.” Ps. 73:20. 1. Anyone that...

From Vice to Virtue It has been said that the greatest of all differences between ancient and modern morality is not the introduction of new virtues, but...

We Are Not Told What Form This is all that St. Mark has got to tell us of our Lord's appearance on the Emmaus road. It is in the Gospel of St.

Men of Old Put Great Faith in Names To the original readers of this letter this text would have a deep significance, and it would have that because to them...

Sermon 81 In What Sense we are to Leave the World “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will...

There are some texts with the words of which we have been familiar since our childhood, and yet we may never have seriously asked ourselves what is their...

Intercession Every Christian's Duty If we inquire, why there is so little love to be found amongst Christians, why the very characteristic, by which every...

The importance of the Within That the rendering of the Revised Version is the right one is suggested by a study of the context.

When a man enjoys the friendship of the great, it is always considered an honorable thing.

The Power of a Single Word These three words, "It is finished," are in the original a single word.

The Only Child Dying The morning that saw the Gadarene demoniac cured dawned sadly over one home in Capernaum.

Jesus Had to Be Tried Twice Our Saviour had to undergo two trials, the one before the high priest, and the other before the Roman governor, and it is with...

Pilate the Last Roman to Manage Jews By the Jewish law no sentence of death could be passed by night, and therefore, when the morning dawned (Mat 27:1), a...

Jesus Felt the Necessity of Being Alone with God It had been a day of trial and stress for Jesus, and when the sun set, the danger was not over.

Forerunners Precede Great Events or Persons It is one of the ways of God in the ordering of history to grant forerunners of great events or persons.

The Large Place Witnessing Has in Scripture The thought of witness-bearing finds ample expression in the Bible.

It must have been a fine sight to see the hoary-headed Jacob sitting up in his bed whilst he bestowed his parting benediction upon his twelve sons.

It is a question we ought to ask ourselves, in our quiet hours of meditation, whether we really know the joy and peace which are the benediction of our text.

Preaching on the Judgment One always notices in time of revival that a great deal is preached about the Last Judgment.

Can God Be Love and Punish? I fancy our other profound difficulty is this. How can God be love?

The Lord Himself as a Good Samaritan Our Lord, true poet that He was, had a great liking for pictorial teaching, and in all the pictures of His gallery none...

What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

On the Island of Malta When at last the shipwrecked company reached shore, they learned that the island on which they were cast was Melita.

One great comfort of assurance in this verse is that such knowledge is always very thorough.

There is no point upon which men make greater mistakes than upon the relation which exists between the law and the gospel.

There are times in life when it is a great help to have someone say to us, "Leave all that to me." Like a gentle wind it blows the clouds away.

Sometimes we fall into the sin of limiting God to the greater hours of our life. I take it that all of us are so tempted.

Who Was Epaphroditus? All we know of Epaphroditus is told us in this letter.

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping and seeth two angels and she turned herself back, and saw Jesus--Joh 20:11, Joh 20:12, Joh 20:14 The...

Mary's Grief In this beautiful and ever memorable incident I wish first to dwell on Mary's grief, trying to make plain to you the greatness of that grief;...

Think of some young man a hundred years ago drafted into the service of the navy.

A Strange Deed Lives Forever The scene was Bethany, and the time was near the end. A few more days and the earthly life of Jesus would be over.

All of us have hours in the interior life when we are conscious of the glowing spirit. Our hearts burn within us as we journey.

Marks of a True Conversion Matthew 18:3 — “Verily, I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the...

Marks of Having Received the Holy Ghost Acts 19:2 — “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” Two different significations have been given of...

The Evil of Not Seeing Things in Their True Proportion It was one great complaint of our Lord against the Pharisees, that they had lost the relative...

Christ's Life Began and Ended in Misunderstanding We are here in the center of the Gospel mystery. It is the closing scene in the earthly life of Jesus.

Sermon 130 National Sins and Miseries “Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: But these sheep, what have they done?” 2 Sam. 24:17. 1. The chapter...

The Faith of the Lepers Was in Believing These words occur in the account of the miracle wrought on the ten lepers.

Sermon 72 Of Evil Angels “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this...

Sermon 102 Of Former Times “Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.”...

Sermon 71 Of Good Angels “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Heb. 1:14. 1. Many of the...

Sermon 73 Of Hell “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:48. 1. Every truth which is revealed in the oracles of God is...

Of Justification by Christ It has been objected by some, who dissent from, nay, I may add, by others also, who actually are friends to the present...

Sermon 74 Of the Church “I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering,...

Sermon 118 On a Single Eye “If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of...

Sermon 104 On Attending the Church Service “The sin of the young men was very great.” 1 Sam. 2:17. 1. The corruption, not only of the heathen world, but...

Sermon 91 On Charity “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And...

Sermon 136 On Corrupting the Word Of God “We are not as many, who corrupt the word of God: But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we...

Sermon 79 On Dissipation “This I speak — that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.” 1 Cor. 7:35. 1. Almost in every part of our nation, more...

Sermon 67 On Divine Providence “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Luke 12:7. 1. The doctrine of divine providence has been received by...

Sermon 88 On Dress “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of — wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; “But let it be the hidden man of...

Sermon 54 On Eternity “From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.” Psalm 90:2 1. I would fain speak of that awful subject, — eternity. But how can we...

Sermon 106 On Faith “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” Heb. 11:6. 1. But what is Faith? It is a divine “evidence and conviction of things not...

Sermon 94 On Family Religion “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Josh. 24:15. 1. In the foregoing verses we read that Joshua, now grown old,...

Sermon 80 On Friendship with the World “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of this world is enmity with God? Whosoever...

Sermon 107 On God’s Vineyard “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth...

Sermon 138 On Grieving the Holy Spirit “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30. There can be no...

Sermon 117 On Knowing Christ after the Flesh “Henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we did know Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth...

Sermon 125 On Living Without God “Without God in the world.” Eph. 2:12. 1. Perhaps these words might be more properly translated, Atheists in the world....

Sermon 139 On Love “Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.” 1...

To Forgive When Hurt Is Hard There are times when it is very hard to make allowances for other people. To forgive them seems a counsel of perfection.

Sermon 135 On Mourning for the Dead “Now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”...

Sermon 96 On Obedience to Parents “Children, obey your parents in all things.” Col. 3:20 1. It has been a subject of controversy for many years, whether...

Sermon 97 On Obedience to Pastors “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: For they watch over your souls, as they that shall give...

Sermon 83 On Patience “Let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4. 1. “My brethren,” says the...

Sermon 76 On Perfection “Let us go on to perfection.” Heb. 6:1. The whole sentence runs thus: “Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,...

Sermon 100 On Pleasing all Men “Let every man please his neighbour for his good to edification.” Rom. 15:2. 1. Undoubtedly the duty here prescribed is...

Sermon 58 On Predestination “Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son: — Whom he did predestinate, them he...

Sermon 140 On Public Diversions “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in the city, and the Lord hath not...

Sermon 93 On Redeeming the Time “Redeeming the time.” Eph. 5:16. 1. “See that ye walk circumspectly,” says the Apostle in the preceding verse, “not as...

On Regeneration The doctrine of our regeneration, or new birth in Christ Jesus, though one of the most fundamental doctrines of our holy religion; though so...

Sermon 108 On Riches “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24. 1....

Sermon 75 On Schism “That there might be no schism in the body.” 1 Cor. 12:25. 1. If there be any word in the English tongue as ambiguous and indeterminate...

Sermon 13 On Sin in Believers “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” 2 Cor. 5:17. I. 1. Is there then sin in him that is in Christ? Does sin...

Sermon 82 On Temptation “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above...

Sermon 126 On the Danger of Increasing Riches “If riches increase, set not thine heart upon them.” Ps. 62:10. 1. From that express declaration of our Lord,...

Sermon 110 On the Discoveries of Faith “Now faith is the evidence of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1. 1. For many ages it has been allowed by sensible men,...

Sermon 95 On the Education of Children “Train up a child in the way wherein he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov. 22:6. 1. We...

Sermon 57 On the Fall of Man “Dust thou are, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Gen. 3:19. 1. Why is there pain in the world; seeing God is “loving to every...

Sermon 141 On the Holy Spirit “Now the Lord is that Spirit.” 2 Cor. 3:17. The Apostle had been showing how the gospel ministry was superior to that of the...

Sermon 111 On the Omnipresence of God “Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.” Jer. 23:24. 1. How strongly and beautifully do these words express...

Sermon 137 On the Resurrection of the Dead “But some man will say, how are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?” 1 Cor. 15:35. The Apostle...

Sermon 120 On the Wedding Garment “How camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? Matt. 22:12. 1. In the verses preceding the text we read, “After...

Sermon 98 On Visiting the Sick “I was sick, and ye visited me.” Matt. 25:36. 1. It is generally supposed, that the means of grace and the ordinances of God...

Sins and Weights When the writer speaks of the sin which doth beset us, he is not referring to one particular sin.

Sermon 85 On Working out our own Salvation “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of...

Sermon 119 On Worldly Folly “But God said unto him, Thou fool!” Luke 12:20. But one of these fools is commonly wiser in his own eyes “than seven men that...

Sermon 92 On Zeal “It is good to be always zealously affected in a good thing.” Gal. 4:18. 1. There are few subjects in the whole compass of religion, that...

Sermon 44 Original Sin “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil...

Every Harvest Is Prophecy Once more in the kindly providence of God we have reached the season of the harvest.

The Elder Brother's Duty toward His Younger Brother The moral failure of the elder brother is very significant in one respect.

He Gave the Impression of a Student What our text implies is this, that our Lord gave the impression of a student.

Virtues of Necessity There are some virtues which are exclusive virtues and are only demanded in peculiar circumstances.

Paul's Two Years in Prison After being five days at Caesarea, Paul was formally indicted by the Jewish party.

GOD has many methods of quenching persecution. He will not suffer his church to be injured by its enemies, or overwhelmed by its foes; and he is not short...

Paul's Mediterranean Voyage All of us love stories of voyages and shipwrecks, and our lesson of today deals with these themes.

What Is Peace? Talking with a young fellow some time ago, I was struck by a remark he made.

Persecution Every Christian's Lot When our Lord was pleased to take upon himself the form of a servant, and to go about preaching the kingdom of God; he...

Christ's Presence Brought Disturbance into the House I propose today to cast some sidelights on this delightful and arresting miracle, and one is that when...

Miracle and Sermon Distasteful to the Rulers An old writer has said that a miracle was like the bell before the sermon, it caught the attention of the...

You Can Tell Who Has Been with Jesus The next thing that we observe is this, there is no mistaking one who has been with Jesus.

Plotting Versus Praying At the time when Christianity was spreading and getting its first welcome in the pagan world, Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the...

God Removed Philip from the Middle of Evangelistic Success Philip was in the full tides of work for Christ when the message came from God that he must leave it.

THE greatest man of Apostolic times was the apostle Paul. He was always great in everything.

Sermon 53 On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield Preached at the Chapel in Tottenham-Court Road and at the Tabernacle, near Moorfields, on Sunday,...

Preached Before the Governor, and Council, and the House of Assembly, in Georgia, on January 28, 1770 Zech. 4:10 — “For who hath despised the Day of small...

Sermon 99 The Reward of the Righteous Preached before the Humane Society “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the...

Sermon 132 On Laying the Foundation of the New Chapel, Near the City-Road, London Preached on Monday, April 21, 1777 “According to this time it shall be...

Sermon 133 Preached on Occasion of the Death of the Rev. Mr. John Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley, Shropshire “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: For...

Necessity of Order The more narrowly one looks on life, the more one sees the necessity of order.

To go back from God is to desert Him. It is to turn away the footsteps of our heart from Him.

An Inexhaustible Parable I have often spoken on this beautiful parable, and I hope often to speak on it again.

The Holy Spirit Quickens the Things of Christ One great office of the Holy Spirit is to quicken and refresh the memory.

ONE OF THE GREATEST obstacles which the Christian religion ever overcame, was the inveterate prejudice which possessed the minds of its earliest followers.

The Jewish Background The imagery of this denunciation would appeal powerfully to a Jewish audience.

John was a prisoner in the isle of Patmos when he had this revelation of Jesus Christ.

Her Name Meant "Rose" and She Was One Indeed In visiting a sickroom where there is so much that speaks of suffering one is often met by a single spot of...

Satan's Devices The occasion of these words was as follows: In the church of Corinth there was an unhappy person, who had committed such incest, as was not...

Sermon 42 Satan’s Devices “We are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Cor. 2:11. 1. The devices whereby the subtle god of this world labours to destroy the...

Saul's Conversion Acts 9:22 — “But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.”...

The secret faults of which the psalmist is speaking in this verse are the faults that are secret from even ourselves.

Utterances of Transcendent Importance That these words are of profound importance we may gather from two considerations.

Not Hypocrisy but Self-Deception You will observe that when our Lord speaks of the man who seems to have, He is not referring to the hypocrite.

Sermon 48 Self-denial “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23...

During worship there are certain demands made of every worshipper.

It is the true desire of every earnest heart that preceding the Communion Service our thoughts should be turned inward in self-examination.

Sermon 52 “Who will rise up with me against the wicked?” Ps. 94:16. 1. In all ages, men who neither feared God nor regarded man have combined together, and...

Of the life of the glorified in heaven Scripture does not tell us very much.

What the trouble of the psalmist was it is impossible for us to say. It was so bitter in its onset that his spirit was overwhelmed within him.

Age and Infancy Meet No more beautiful scene could be imagined than this meeting of age and infancy in the Temple.

God's Performance Greater Than His Promise Next we see that God's performance is greater than His promise.

There is a remarkable foreshadowing of the insight of Christ Jesus in these words.

This thy brother was dead, and is alive again--Luk 15:32 Death as a Fact and What Christ Thought of It I wish to speak for a little while on some of our...

This thy brother was dead, and is alive again--Luk 15:32 Jesus Spoke of Death as Sleep Dismissing that, then, we may advance a little if we remember Jesus'...

Difficult to Estimate Crowds and Distances There are two things which it is very difficult for the uninstructed eye to gauge, the one is the dimensions of a...

This Parable Resulted from a Request How to Pray This parable was spoken to encourage men in the difficult exercise of prayer.

What You Believe Affects the Lives of Others It might seem as if what a man believed were no concern to anybody else.

Christ Taught That Work Is Honorable It is characteristic of the Christian Gospel that its Savior should be a worker.

Jesus Christ Has Somewhat to Say It is one of the notable things about our Lord that always He has somewhat to say. No hour of need ever finds Him silent.

The Name by Which Jesus Most Frequently Called Himself There are two names which our Lord was wont to use when He spoke about His person or His work.

Christ's Agony and God's Assurance The visit of these Greeks to Jesus was a very memorable hour in His experience.

Sermon 78 Spiritual Idolatry “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21. 1. There are two words that occur several times in this Epistle, —...

LIBERTY is the birthright of every man. He may be born a pauper; he may be a foundling; his parentage may be altogether unknown; but liberty is his...

Sermon 77 Spiritual Worship “This is the true God, and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20. 1. In this Epistle St. John speaks not to any particular Church, but to...

A man whose religion is of a shallow kind is content with only an occasional acknowledgment of God.

WE HAVE BEEN talking very freely during this last week of "glorious victories," of "brilliant successes," of "sieges," and of "stormings." We little know...

I suppose there are few who seriously doubt that the maker of summertime is God.

The Thought of Surrender There are, I think, three thoughts that meet and mingle in this beautiful figure of the yoke.

Without What Some Thought as Necessary Provisions From the first verse of this chapter we infer that Christ had been teaching the people from the boat.

Thankfulness for Mercies Received, a Necessary Duty Numberless marks does man bear in his soul, that he is fallen and estranged from God; but nothing gives...

The Almost Christian Acts 26:28 — “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” The chapter, out of which the text is taken, contains an admirable account...

Dangers of Great News of the Past and the Future The church at Thessalonica to which Paul wrote the letter was in an unsettled and distracted state.

A Promise Misunderstood The disciples had been pondering deeply, we may be sure, on the great promise Jesus had lately made to them--"When the Son of man...

Peter, the Prison-breaker There is a vividness of detail about this story which assures us that facts are being recorded.

God Speaks Your language One of the messages of this beautiful story is that God speaks in ways we understand. That is part of His fatherly compassion.

Battle After Illumination This is a very remarkable conclusion to a verse that suggests the blessings of the light: it is one of those suggestive...

Jesus Was Calm on His Way to the Cross We are now approaching the last days of the earthly life of Jesus in our study of Matthew's Gospel, and our lesson...

It will at once occur to you how true this was of the apostles.

Why Forty Resurrection Days?

Atheism and Agnosticism Not very long ago in Glasgow there was a criminal trial which attracted much attention, not only by reason of its peculiar...

The Circumstances of the Hindrance Were Not Clear but the Message Was.

It should be noted that this beatitude of glory immediately follows on another. It immediately follows on the promise that His servants shall serve Him.

The Benefits of an Early Piety The amiableness of religion in itself, and the innumerable advantages that flow from it to society in general, as well as to...

With God, the Best Is at the End Into the story of this memorable marriage I do not propose to go.

This is God's complaint against Ephraim. It is no mean proof of his goodness, that he stoops to rebuke his erring creatures; it is a great argument of his...

His Physical Weakness Speaks of His Humanity I want you, please, to note the words that are employed in Mar 15:20-22.

It Was When His Eyes Were Opened That He Could See Nothing Blinded by the flash of light from heaven, the apostle was flung prostrate on the ground.

Turning Back to Old Tasks There are few scenes in the Gospel more impressive than this scene in the early morning by the sea of Galilee.

Uneventful Years Need Not Be Unprofitable One of the holiest doctors of the mediaeval church, who was placed by Dante among the saints of paradise, said a...

Broken Time Among the broken things of life one would think first of broken time.

A Beautiful Story That Lives in Our Hearts Every detail of this beautiful story lives in the imagination of Christendom.

Christ Singles Out an Individual's Disappointment It was not easy for Jesus Christ to be alone, men were so eager and so curious about Him.

It is generally held by those who are competent to judge that this Psalm dates from the period of the exile.

Jesus' Words Cannot Be Separated from His Person In the revived interest which is felt today in the person and character of Jesus Christ, it is inevitable...

The Care of the Soul Urged as the One Thing Needful Luke 10:42 — “But one thing is needful.” It was the amiable character of our blessed Redeemer, that “he...

This is a very solemn indictment which the Apostle Paul here prefers against the carnal mind.

Sermon 70 The Case of Reason Impartially Considered “Brethren, be not children in understanding: Howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be...

The Casual Encounters of Jesus One notes, in the life of Jesus, how many folk there were who met Him casually.

Impossible to Think of Christ as Genius Among all the recent answers to this question, there is one that has obtained peculiar prominence.

Sermon 129 The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes “O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord; what destruction he hath brought upon the earth!” Ps. 46:8....

Jesus' Love for Children I want to speak on Jesus and the child to show you out of the Bible story how precious childhood was to Jesus Christ.

THE chapter (Ezek. 34) that I read at the commencement of the service is a prophetical one; and, I take it, it has relation, not to the condition of the...

Sermon 17 The Circumcision of the Heart “Circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter.” Romans 2:29. 1. It is the melancholy...

The Eyes of the Witnesses upon us While the word witness in the New Testament generally has the sense of testifier, there can be little question that in...

In the library of our university are certain old and interesting maps. They have all the charms of a geography which knows no limit save imagination.

The Conflict between What Is Right and Wrong There has been very considerable discussion as to the precise import of this incident, but the moral...

The Concentric Circles of Our Lives and the Various Voices That Call Us to Duty But still more powerfully do men feel this pressure in regard to the...

This psalm is the glad utterance of a soul that is looking back to the deliverance from Egypt.

The Conversion of Zaccheus Luke 19:9–10 — “And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house; forasmuch as he also is the Son of Abraham....

The cross, though it be a single fact, is a fact with large diversity of meaning. Its significance is inexhaustible.

I, if I be lifted up...

I, if I be lifted up...

A Touch of Brotherhood Amid all the sufferings which Christ had to endure in the last and terrible days of His humility, none has more deeply moved the...

Whether we shall see God as He is, is a question that has been often agitated in the schools. No man hath seen God at any time.

The Closest Disciples Sleep Most Often The scene was the Garden of Gethsemane, and all three disciples were asleep.

Sermon 49 The Cure of Evil-speaking “If thy brother shall sin against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: If he shall hear thee,...

The Beginning of His Ministry It is to be noted that all the miracles in this Gospel, with the exception of those of the loaves and the walking on the sea,...

Sermon 87 The Danger of Riches “They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful desires, which drown men in...

Christ's Insight into Secret Failures Our Lord had a quick eye for moral tragedies, and in the pictorial setting of these two verses He has delineated one...

When Jesus Was Born there Was Light, When He Died There Was Darkness It is notable that when our Lord was born there was a supernatural light across the sky.

WE DO NOT BELIEVE all that Job's friends said. They spoke very often as uninspired men, for we find them saying many things that are not true; and if we...

Sermon 123 The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart “The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: Who can know it?” Jer. 17:9. 1. The...

In Jesus There Was Never Any Hesitancy There is one element in the character of Jesus which is well worthy of our consideration.

Is Religion Based on Reason or Feeling,' It has been a matter of controversy time and again which is the true wellspring of religion; and to this question,...

The Ministry of Prisons In the verses that precede our text we have the familiar story of Peter's release from prison.

NIGHT APPEARS to be a time peculiarly favorable to devotion. Its solemn stillness helps to free the mind from that perpetual din which the cares of the...

Sermon 113 The Difference Between Walking by Sight, and Walking by Faith “We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7. 1. How short is this description of...

Two Unseen Worlds When we speak of unseen things, we commonly refer to things that are eternal.

This, you say, is nothing original and I grant you at once it is not unusual.

A Freedom Only a Son Would Take This parable, as the Scripture itself tells us, was meant to teach us importunity in prayer.

The Supreme Importance of the Resurrection There is no reader of the New Testament who has not observed the supreme importance given to Christ's resurrection.

These Words Spoken in Pity We get some light on these deep words by remembering the occasion of their utterance.

Sermon 101 The Duty of Constant Communion J.W. “Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19. It is no wonder that men who have no fear of God should never...

Sermon 65 The Duty of Reproving our Neighbour “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin...

The Duty of Searching the Scriptures John 5:39 — “Search the Scriptures.” When the Sadducees came to our blessed Lord, and put to him the question, “whose...

Seeing beneath the Regularities There is not a little that is excellent in the character of the elder brother, and our Lord, with His eye for what is fine,...

Staying outside the Kingdom to the Last By the eleventh-hour man I mean the man who at five o'clock is still outside the Kingdom, and one would notice first...

Sermon 62 The End of Christ’s Coming “For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8. 1. Many...

Bethphage Became Famous in Providing an Ass The village of Bethphage, which is here mentioned, lay in the immediate neighbourhood of Bethany.

NO ONE HERE requires to be told that this is the name of Jesus Christ, which "shall endure for ever." Men have said of many of their works, "they shall...

Unto us a child is born--Isa 9:6 The Joy of Christmas At Christmas, in common with all Christendom, our thoughts gladly journey towards Bethlehem.

Paul's Hard Heart The first thing to impress me as I read these words is the change which had been wrought in the apostle.

It Was Impossible to Conceal Christ Jesus was in retirement at this time. He had sought seclusion in the coasts of Tyre.

The Extent and Reasonableness of Self-Denial Luke 9:23 — “And he said unto them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself.” Whoever reads the...

Faithfulness, a Test of Character One might dwell for a long time upon this parable without exhausting its message or its meaning.

It Wasn't Inhumanity There is a well-known picture by Gustave Dore, which portrays this parable of the rich man and the beggar.

The first words which John ever heard of Jesus were words that described Him as a Lamb.

The Beginning of Changes When a man has risen to great eminence, we are always interested in the story of his childhood.

Sermon 8 THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after...

The Folly and Danger of Being Not Righteous Enough Ecclesiastes 7:16 — “Be not righteous overmuch, neither make thyself over- wise: why shouldst thou...

The Folly and Danger of Parting with Christ for the Pleasures and Profits of Life Matthew 8:23–34 — “And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples...

Slaves and Servants On one occasion our Lord announced "I am among you as one who serveth." That was the summation of His ministry.

The King Was Earnest in His Invitation One thing that strikes us in this parable is the intense earnestness of the king.

The Proximity of the Cross and the Garden To a deep-seeing eye like that of John, this proximity was more than a coincidence.

Sermon 60 The General Deliverance “The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made...

Sermon 63 The General Spread of the Gospel “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters covers the sea.” Isa. 11:9. 1. In what a...

It will be generally agreed that David was one of the great men of the race.

What exactly may be meant by greatness is a question that we need not linger to discuss.

Take, for instance, that opening Scripture of Adam and of his sin and exile.

If we take the words of our text just as they stand, they are charged with deep and beautiful significance.

Moses was the inspired author of three devotional compositions. We first of all find him as Moses the poet, singing the song which is aptly joined with that...

A week or two ago, when we were all looking with interest towards the eclipse of the moon, I took up again a fascinating volume which I doubt that many of...

In the Hebrew language, as scholars know, there are several different words for rain.

PAUL ONCE ADVISED the Romans to strive. Three verses before our text he actually gives them an exhortation to strive, and yet he here utters a prayer that...

The Man Born Blind and the Good Shepherd Chapter nine of John's Gospel tells about the man born blind.

The Good Shepherd: A Farewell Sermon John 10:27–28 — “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life, and...

Sermon 51 The Good Steward “Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.” Luke 16:2. 1. The relation which man bears to God,...

Europe was Reached with the Gospel through the Vision of One Man It was in the second missionary journey of St.

The Gospel Supper Luke 14:22–24 — “And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant,...

Appreciation Alleviates Drudgery Few gifts are more helpful than the gift of appreciation.

A Person Should Not Be Judged by a Single Action It is perilous to judge a person by one action. Life is too complex and intricate for that.

Cast thy burden upon the Lord--Psa 55:22 There are few graces which the world admires so much as the grace of a cheerful heart.

Christ Knew about Death; Socrates Only Speculated It is not by any amplified detail that these words so appeal to human hearts.

The Love of Christ That their blessed Master loved them was one thing which the disciples never doubted. It was the crowning glory of their years.

The Great Duty of Charity Recommended 1 Corinthians 13:8, “Charity never faileth.” Nothing is more valuable and commendable, and yet, not one duty is less...

Sermon 19 The Great Privilege of those that are Born of God “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” 1 John 3:9. 1. It has been frequently supposed,...

The One Cup Jesus Refused to Drink It was a kindly provision of the Jews to give an opiate to the condemned.

The Peril of the Neglected Invitation At the table of the chief Pharisee, where Jesus was reclining when He spoke this parable, the guests were almost...

Don't Let Pride, Anxiety or Family Keep You Away Next note the excuses of the invited guests, and see first the points in which they differ.

Sermon 124 The Heavenly Treasure in Earthen Vessels “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” 2 Cor. 4:7. 1. How long was man a mere riddle to himself!...

The Heinous Sin of Drunkenness Ephesians 5:18 — “Be not drunk with Wine, wherein is Excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” The persons to whom these words...

The Heinous Sin of Profane Cursing and Swearing Matthew 5:34 — “But I say unto you, Swear not at all.” Among the many heinous sins for which this nation is...

It is always easy to believe that God has made the summertime. There is something in a perfect summer day that speaks to us of the divine.

Doubtless when the psalmist penned our text, his first thought was the crossing of the Red Sea.

THIS GENERATION hath gradually, and almost imperceptibly, become to a great extent a godless generation.

The Holy Spirit Convincing the World of Sin, Righteousness, and Judgment John 16:8 — “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of...

A Gift Bestowed at Salvation There is a widespread if undefined belief that the act of coming to the Savior is something different in experience from the...

IT WOULD be difficult to say to which the gospel owes most, to its friends or to its enemies.

Had it been others who had rejected this stone, there would be no reason for surprise.

Sermon 69 The Imperfection of Human Knowledge “We know in part.” 1 Cor. 13:9. 1. The desire of knowledge is an universal principle in man, fixed in his...

Sermon 84 The Important Question “What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Matthew 16:26 1. There is a celebrated...

The Indwelling of the Spirit, the Common Privilege of All Believers John 7:37–39 — “In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried,...

When the apostle speaks about necessities he does not think of necessary things. That is not the sense of the original.

The Strengthening Power of Prayer There are times in life when it is very helpful to know that somebody is praying for us.

Christ Rejects Accusations Made against Him Our Lord had just performed a notable miracle healing a man who was possessed of a devil.

A Time of Conflicting Emotions This was a very memorable Sunday evening, one of the most memorable that history has known.

For all the sorrows that lay upon His heart and the heaviness of the cross He had to bear, there can be little question that Jesus impressed people as a...

The Joy of Christ Was an Intense Reality Our Lord, especially as the days advanced, frequently spoke about His joy, and the notable thing is that when He...

Not Future Judgment but Present When we hear the word judgment on the lips of Christ we are prone to cast our thoughts into the future.

He Was an Ordinary Man If we center our attention on this man we see him as a quite ordinary person.

MUSIC HATH Charms." I am sure sacred music has; for I have felt something of its charms whilst we have been singing that glorious hymn just now.

The Knowledge of Jesus Christ the Best Knowledge The persons to whom these words were written, were the members of the church of Corinth; who, as appears by...

The Divine Plan in the Ordering of Scripture Chapters As we move through chapter nineteen of Matthew's Gospel, we seem to breathe a different atmosphere...

The Ascending Scale of Promise Out of all the riches of these verses, let us take what the Lord says about Himself.

Everything We See Depends on the Condition of the Eyes At first sight this might seem to thoughtful readers a somewhat inappropriate comparison.

Sermon 131 The Late Work of God in North America “The appearance was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.” Ezek. 1:16. 1. Whatever may be the...

Love Never Asks How Little Can I Do One of the characteristics of our Lord was a certain glorious lavishness, an uncalculating generosity that was impatient...

Causes of Drifting: Internal Breakdown It is interesting to remember some of the causes that make vessels drift.

It has been said by some one, I forget by whom, that a Christian has no rights, he has only duties.

One of the glorious things in our religion is the preeminence it gives to hope.

He Made His Bed in Hell What first strikes us here is the utter loneliness of Judas.

Sermon 20 The Lord our Righteousness “This is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.” Jer. 23:6. 1. How dreadful and how...

The Lord Our Righteousness Jeremiah 23:6 — “The Lord our Righteousness.” Whoever is acquainted with the nature of mankind in general, or the propensity of...

Christ's Perfect Composure What first impresses us in the narrative of the Lord's Supper is the perfect composure of the heart of Jesus.

"There Is Something Astonishing in the Christian Religion" In the Catacombs at Rome there is no more familiar painting than that of the Good Shepherd with...

Fidelity Can Be Anybody's Virtue It was very like our Lord to make fidelity the test of life. He was quick to recognise the lowly virtues.

No Challenge to Handling That Which Is Easy Few things are so attractive as those which seem impossible.

The Self-Forgetfulness of Christ The eighth chapter of John closes with the Jews insulting Jesus.

The Brilliant and the Average The kind of man who does no miracle is the kind we are meeting every day. He is the man who never makes us marvel.

Sermon 18 The Marks of the New Birth “So is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8. 1. How is every one that is “born of the Spirit,” — that is,...

Distinct from Luke's Parable The parable of the Great Supper recorded by St.

The Marriage of Cana John 2:11 — “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on...

Jesus Used the Term Church Only Twice Only on two occasions did our Lord use the word Church, here and in the eighteenth chapter, where He says, "Tell it to...

Practicing the Control of Thought We are all familiar with the difference that is made by the thoughts which arise within our hearts.

Sermon 16 The Means of Grace “Ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them.” Mal. 3:7. I. 1. But are there any ordinances now, since life...

Find Out What God Is Doing in Your Neighborhood It was a great thing for these shepherds to be in the same country with the new-born Christ.

Join the Procession Palm Sunday is the Sunday preceding Easter Day, which commemorates Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The Method of Grace Jeremiah 6:14 — “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. As...

Sermon 115 The Ministerial Office “No man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.” Hebrews 5:4. 1. There are exceeding...

Rest Helps Us See Things in Their Right Perspective Most of us, at this season of the year, are looking forward to a time of leisure.

There are certain voices which we never hear except when everything is silent. They reach us as a revelation of the stillness.

Two Periods of Christ at a Feast When a man has set his hand to some stupendous task that can only be achieved through years of suffering, there are two...

There Is a Place for You to Serve Can you picture the distress of a farmer when he sees his fields golden with a harvest, and there are no servants to...

Tampering with Conscience We must try to understand what the apostle means when he speaks of putting away a good conscience.

Sermon 89 The More Excellent Way “Covet earnestly the best gifts; And yet I show to you a more excellent way.” 1 Cor. 12:31. 1. In the preceding verses, St....

Sermon 61 The Mystery of Iniquity “The mystery of iniquity doth already work.” 2 Thess. 2:7. 1. Without inquiring how far these words refer to any...

Sermon 37 The Nature of Enthusiasm “And Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself.” Acts 26:24. 1. And so say all the world, the men who...

The Necessity and Benefits of Religious Society Eccles. 4:9–12 — “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they...

This text is just a little difficult to understand, and the difficulty is of a peculiar kind because it is not quite so easy to see what is the connection...

VERILY IF THE APOSTLE said this, one and all of us had need take up the prayer. If the twelve mightiest in the army of the Lord of hosts had need of such a...

The God of all grace...

The God of all grace... make you perfect--1Pe 5:10 It Is Distressing for It Misses What Is at Hand But not only is it a vital loss.

Sermon 45 The New Birth “Ye must be born again.” John 3:7. 1. If any doctrines within the whole compass of Christianity may be properly termed fundamental,...

Sermon 64 The New Creation Behold, I make all things new. Rev. 21:5. 1. What a strange scene is here opened to our view! How remote from all our natural...

When anybody sings it is an outward token of an inward happiness. Despondent people very seldom sing.

It is notable that in this vision of the ascended Savior, the eyes should have been as it were a flame of fire.

The Disciples' Misunderstanding of Christ These words were spoken by Jesus at the time when news had been brought Him that Lazarus was sick.

The Observation of the Birth of Christ, the Duty of All Christians; Or the True Way of Keeping Christmas Matthew 1:21 — “And she shall bring forth a Son,...

Paul Longed for the Salvation of the Jews One thing which marks the ministry of Paul is how he lovingly yearned over the Jews.

There are some texts of Scripture, and this is one of them, which are very generally misinterpreted.

Sermon 34 The Original, Nature, Property, and Use of the Law “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Rom. 7:12 1. Perhaps...

The Context of the Parable The Gospel tells us what was the occasion of this parable.

The Perfect Service of Our Lord Our Lord came among us as one who suffereth, and so He has taught us how to suffer.

The Pearl in Ancient Times Although the pearl is still held in high esteem, it does not now occupy the place which once belonged to it.

The sleep of the body is the gift of God. So said Homer of old, when he described it as descending from the clouds and resting on the tents of the warriors...

The Power of Pentecost Let us reverently try to understand what happened on that day of Pentecost. It is rightly called the birthday of the Church.

ORIGINALLY, I have no doubt, these words referred to David. He was chosen out of the people.

Paul, an Apostle of Love We are accustomed to think of Paul as a dogmatic writer, never so happy as when immersed in argument, but we must not forget with...

In all literature, the life of man is pictured under the symbol of a day.

These Words Paul Spoke on His Way to Jerusalem Paul was journeying to Jerusalem when he spoke the words of our text.

The Pharisee and Publican Luke 18:14 — “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: For every one that exalteth himself,...

The Grave Is Associated with Gladness One does not usually associate gladness with the grave. That is not the experience of men.

The Potter and the Clay Jeremiah 18:1–6 — “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will...

The Power of Christ's Resurrection Philippians 3:10 — “That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection.” The apostle, in the verses before the text,...

POWER is the special and peculiar prerogative of God, and God alone. "Twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God." God is God; and power...

The Fact Versus the Power Of the fact of the resurrection, Paul had not a shadow of a doubt. It was one of his indubitable certainties.

Sleeping on the Mount of Transfiguration Is Spiritually Unnatural It is very strange to find the disciples heavy with sleep, even on the Mount of...

The problem of pain, I think, is in its full intensity a modern problem. There is today a sensitiveness to pain which in past ages was unknown.

The Tenderness of Jesus' Words A friend of mine was on one occasion visiting one of our seaport hospitals.

There are three qualities, says Emerson in a familiar essay, which attract the wonder and reverence of mankind.

This vision, like all the visions of the Apocalypse, is given for the most practical of purposes. It is not the dreaming of an idle seer.

The faithfulness of God is one of the strong truths of the Old Testament.

I venture to say that with this expression there creeps in a touch of unreality.

Sermon 14 The Repentance of Believers “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:15. 1. It is generally supposed, that repentance and faith are only the...

Frequent Emphasis on the Responsibility of Speaking On the responsibility attached to our speaking our Lord was never weary of insisting.

People Who Provide an Atmosphere of Restfulness There are some people we meet who impress us with a sense of restfulness.

Failure to Believe Christ for the Present Although Jesus had been teaching His disciples with increasing clearness that He would rise from the dead, none of...

The Resurrection of Lazarus John 11:43–44 — “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth,...

Sudden Conversion but Gradual Revelation The first thing to be taught us in these words is how duty is gradually revealed.

The First Command It is deeply significant to notice the reversions of our blessed Lord.

What Jesus Did When He Was Interrupted Jesus was often interrupted in His teaching, and some of the choicest sayings in the Gospel spring from these...

Sermon 112 The Rich Man and Lazarus “If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:31. 1....

The Passion Was the Same Our Lord had been speaking against the sin of covetousness, when the Pharisees, who were themselves lovers of money (Luk.

The Righteousness of Christ, an Everlasting Righteousness Daniel 9:24 — “And to bring everlasting Righteousness.” On reading these words, I cannot help...

The Bible opens the history of man by showing him surrounded by a garden.

The Most Memorable Appearance of the Risen Christ Of all the appearances of the risen Christ, none has a stronger hold upon Christendom than the one along...

Whatever suggested the image of our text, the inward meaning of it is explicit.

Nothing is more notable in Jesus than the union of apparent contradictories.

A Three-Quarter Mile Journey A Sabbath day's journey with the Jews was a quite exact and definite expression.

It is not difficult as one looks out on life to recognize the saving power of hope.

Sermon 43 The Scripture Way of Salvation “Ye are saved through faith.” Ephesians 2:8. 1. Nothing can be more intricate, complex, and hard to be understood,...

We are prone to associate the searching work of God with events of a striking or memorable kind.

Men tell us that there are few more impressive sights than that of a burial at sea.

Misapplications of Scripture It would be an interesting but a melancholy study to consider the texts of Scripture which have been misapplied.

Christ Came to Bring Both Peace and a Sword There seems to be a glaring contradiction between this word and some other words of Jesus.

It is notable that in his enumeration of things which might dim the love of God to us, the apostle should make mention of things present, and by things...

The Fact of Jesus--Mark's Gospel It is generally agreed that the Gospel of St.

The Power That Protects Us The armor of the ancients was of two different kinds, and both kinds were absolutely necessary.

Sermon 66 The Signs of the Times “Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” Matthew 16:3. 1. The entire passage...

A Truth of Utmost Importance It might seem at first as if the sinlessness of Jesus were a matter far away from human need.

It is not difficult to understand the mood of those whom the apostle is addressing.

Sermon 9 The Spirit of Bondage and of Adoption. “Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,...

To Grow Bitter Is to Be Beaten He who is able to endure has learned one secret of the overcoming life.

God's Purpose in Persecution Driven from Antioch by the outbreak of persecution, Paul and Barnabas moved on to Iconium.

Paul's Love for Christ One cannot wonder that the Apostle Paul had a desire to depart and to be with Christ.

Jesus in Heathen Territory The first interest of this story lies in the fact that Jesus is now moving in heathen territory.

Tact--the Grace of Touching Others Gently The word that is here used for judgment is a very interesting word. It occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.

Slaves Were Trusted Servants To understand this parable we must remember that the servants spoken of were really slaves.

He beheld the city, and wept over it--Luk.

He beheld the city, and wept over it--Luk.

The Temptation of Christ Matthew 4:1–11 — “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty...

Christ's Temptation: It Was Real Whatever view we take of the temptation--whether it was an inward struggle or an actual scene--the one thing to remember is...

Christ's Temptations Were Real That our Lord's temptations were intensely real is the accepted faith of Christendom.

The Tradition of a Jewish Wedding The ceremonies at a marriage in the East were very different from those we are accustomed to, and the more clearly we can...

The Unfaltering Faith of Abraham In this great chapter, the roll call of the heroes, Abraham occupies a very honorable place.

Love Is Not Blind I take it that if you want to understand a person, the first essential is that you should love him.

In the Midst of Adversity The people to whom this was addressed were mostly people in very humble circumstances. Many of them would have been slaves.

History Has Come Full Circle It is strange how often in the course of history the wheel has "come full circle."

Peace! There is a benediction in the word! It is one of the fairest words in human speech.

When the psalmist wrote this he was a fugitive in hiding somewhere across Jordan.

The Manifestation of the Divine and Human Jesus This is an exquisite and charming instance of the thoughtfulness of Jesus.

Christ also loved the church--Eph. 5:25 The Son of God, who loved me--Gal.

The Night Wind This is one of the profoundest sayings that ever fell upon a listening ear, and yet it bears to us every mark of being occasional and...

Resistance to the Wind Brings Music, So Is It with Life in the Spirit Again there are two elements in this utterance which it is well that we should bear in...

Thanksgiving in the Hour of Darkness and Seeming Failure Matthew never could forget the time at which these words were uttered.

Every circumstance connected with the life of Christ is deeply interesting to the Christian mind.

We Reveal What We Are by What We Habitually Do It has been said that if we want to judge a person we should never do it by a single action; but if we must...

Demas--Col 4:14 Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world--2Ti 4:10 The Downfall of Demas The disloyalty of Demas has had a strange grip upon...

Scenes on Mountains How often the Bible brings us into mountain scenery.

The Importance of Little Things Every reader of the Gospel knows the stress which our Lord put on little things.

The value of a word and the power that it has over our hearts depends largely upon the man who speaks it and on the circumstances of its utterance.

Sermon 127 The Trouble and Rest of Good Men “There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary be at rest.” Job 3:17. When God at first surveyed...

THESE ARE THE words of Paul, speaking on the behalf of himself and his brethren the Apostles, and they are true concerning all those who by the Spirit are...