[The third section of "A Body of Divinity" discourses on the fall.]
The Covenant of Works
Adam had the power to keep this law: he had a copy of God's law written on his heart...It was Adam's fault that he did not keep the law. God gave him a stock of grace to trade with, but by his own neglect he failed. (p. 129)
When Adam lost his righteousness, he lost his anchor of hope and his crown; there was no way for relief, unless God would find out such a way as neither man nor angel could devise...Learn from Adam's fall, how unable we are to stand in our own strength. If Adam, in the state of integrity, did not stand, how unable are we now, when the lock of our original righteousness is cut. (p. 130-131)
Sin
Sin is not only a defection, but a pollution. It is to the soul as rust is to gold, as a stain to beauty...Sin has blotted God's image, and stained the orient brightness of the soul. It makes God loathe a sinner...and when a sinner sees his sin, he loathes himself...it infects our prayers. (p. 133)
Sin is...a defiling thing...grieving God's Spirit...an act of contumacy against God...an act of disingenuity and unkindness...a disease...an irrational thing...a painful thing...the only thing God has an antipathy against. (p. 132-135)
Adam's Sin
Free-will was a sufficient shield to repel temptation. The devil could not have forced him unless he had given his consent...Adam gave away his own power, and suffered himself to be decoyed into sin. (p. 137)
There were many sins in this one sin of Adam ...incredulity ...unthankfulness (the epitome of all sin) ...discontent ...pride ...disobedience ...curiosity ...wantonness ...sacrilege ...murder ...presumption. (p. 140-142)
Original Sin
A man by nature cannot but sin; though there were no devil to tempt, no bad examples to imitate, yet there is such an innate principle in him that he cannot forbear sinning. (p. 143)
...thy heart, like muddy ground, defiles the purest water that runs through it. Nay, though thou art regenerate, there is much of the old man in the new man. Oh how should original sin humble us! (p 147)
God leaves original sin to pull down the plumes of pride. Under our silver wings of grace are black feet. Let the sense of this make us daily look up to heaven for help...Though the sin of our nature seems quiet, and lies as fire hid under the embers, yet if it be a little stirred and blown up by a temptation, how quickly may it flame forth into scandalous evils! (p. 148)
Man's Misery by the Fall
What a sad plague it is for a sinner to be at the will of the devil!...Sin binds men, but the gospel looses them...The gospel star leads you to Christ; and if you get Christ, then you are made free, though not from the being of sin, yet from Satan's tyranny. (p. 150)
Hell is the very accent and emphasis of misery; there is judgment without mercy. (p. 153)
[The fourth division of the book introduces the covenant of grace and its mediator. Thank goodness after that last section!!]
The Covenant of Grace
God knows we have slippery hearts, therefore, he will have a covenant to bind us...It would be sad if, as oft as we break covenant with God he should break covenant with us; but God will not take advantage of every failing, but in 'anger remember mercy'. (p. 155)
It never came into God's thoughts to make a new covenant upon terms of worthiness. If God should show mercy to none but such as are worthy, then must he show mercy to none. But it is God's design in the new covenant to advance the riches of grace, to love us freely; and when we have no worthiness of our own, to accept us through Christ's worthiness. Therefore let not unworthiness discourage you; it is not unworthiness that excludes any from the covenant, but unwillingness. (p. 158)
Christ the Mediator of the Covenant
God and we were at variance by sin, now Christ mediates and becomes umpire between us; he reconciles us to God through his blood...There is no way of communion and intercourse between God and man but in and through a Mediator. (p. 162)
What was said of Ignatius, that the name of Jesus was found written in his heart, should be verified of every saint; he should have Jesus Christ written in his heart. (p. 166)
Christ's Prophetic Office
He teaches us to see into our own hearts...when Christ teaches he removes the veil of ignorance, and lights a man into his own heart...[and a man] prays, as Augustine, that God would deliver him from himself. (p. 167)
When Christ teaches, he makes us obey...he not only informs the judgment, but inclines the will. He does not only come with the light of his word, but the rod of his strength, and makes the stubborn sinner yield to him. His grace is irresistible. (p. 168)
...the spiritual darkness is not accompanied with horror, men tremble not at their condition; nay, they like their condition well enough. 'Men loved darkness.' John iii 19. This is their sad condition, till Jesus Christ comes as a prophet to teach them, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan of God. (p. 169)
Till Christ teach, we never learn any lesson; till Christ is made to us wisdom, we shall never be wise to salvation. (p. 170)
Christ's Priestly Office
...it was necessary that Christ should lay down his life as a sacrifice. (1) To fulfil the predictions of Scripture...(2) To bring us into favour with God...(3) Christ died, that he might make good his last will and testament with his blood...(4) He died that he might purchase for us glorious mansions. (p. 174)
We should look upon sin with indignation, and pursue it with a holy malice, and show the blood of those sins which shed Christ's blood. (p. 174)
As fire is to the chemist, so is faith to the Christian; the chemist can do nothing without fire, so there is nothing done without faith...Without faith Christ himself will not avail us. (p. 176)
Christ intercedes for the weakest believers, and for all the sins of believers. (p. 178)
It is a great comfort to a believer, when his prayer is weak, and he can hardly pray for himself, that Christ's prayer in heaven is mighty and powerful. (p. 181)
Our best services, as they come from us, are mixed with corruption, as wine that tastes of the cask...but Christ purifies and sweetens these services, mixing the sweet odours of his intercession with them; and then God accepts and crowns them. (p. 182)
Let us come boldly to the throne of grace. We have a friend at court that speaks a good word for us, and is following our cause to heaven; let this animate and encourage us in prayer. (p. 182)
Christ's Kingly Office
Many would admit Christ to be their advocate to please for them, but not their king to rule over them. (p. 188)
When the hearts of his people are most humble, when their prayers are most fervent, when their faith is strongest, when their forces are weakest, when their enemies are highest; then is the usual time that Christ puts forth his kingly power for their deliverances. (p. 189)
Christ's Humiliation in His Incarnation
It was not fit for any to satisfy God's justice but man; none could do it but God; therefore, Christ being both God and man, is the fittest to undertake this work of redemption. (p. 192)
Christ took our flesh upon him, that he might take our sins upon him. He was, says Luther, maximus peccator, the greatest sinner, having the weight of the sins of the whole world lying upon him. (p. 194)
...so when God the Father was angry with us, Christ married himself to our nature, and now mediates for us with his Father, and brings us to be friends again, and now God looks upon us with a favourable aspect. (p. 195)
Christ's taking of our flesh was one of the lowest steps of his humiliation. He humbled himself more in lying in the virgin's womb than in hanging upon the cross. (p. 196)
If Christ be born in thy heart, thou hast been deeply afflicted for sin. Christ is never born in the heart without pangs. Many thank God they never had any trouble of spirit, they were always quiet; a sign Christ is not yet formed in them. (p. 199)
After Christ is born in the heart, there is a violent motion: there is a striving to enter in at the strait gate, and offering violence to the kingdom of heaven...Christ being incarnate was made like us, let us labour to be made like him...Let us be like him in sweetness of disposition; be not of a morose spirit...Let us be like Christ in mildness and sweetness. Let us pray for our enemies, and conquer them by love...We are never so comely in God's eyes as when we are black in our own...True religion is to imitate Christ. (p. 200-201)
A Christian should be both a loadstone and a diamond; a loadstone, in drawing others to Christ; a diamond, in casting a sparkling lustre of holiness in his life. Oh let us be so just in our dealings, so true in our promises, so devout in our worship, so unblameable in our lives, that we may be the walking pictures of Christ. Thus as Christ was made in our likeness, let us labour to be made in his. (p. 202)
Christ's Exaltation
The world looks upon humility as that which will make contemptible, but it is the ready way to honour; the way to rise is to fall; the way to ascend is to descend. (p. 206)
Let us exalt Christ in our heart; believe, adore and love him. We cannot life him up higher in heaven, but we may in our hearts. (p. 208)
Christ the Redeemer
The doctrine of redemption by Jesus Christ is a glorious doctrine; it is the marrow and quintessence of the the gospel, in which all a Christian's comfort lies. (p. 209)
There is nothing that can hurt the soul but sin; it is not affliction that hurts it, it often makes it better, as the furnace makes gold the purer; but it is sin that damnifies. (p. 210)
...the heavenly inheritance, it does not lose its orient colour, but keeps its freshness and greenness to eternity; the beauty o it fadeth not away. (p. 211)
...the redeemed of the Lord use the world, and take the lawful comforts of it, but their hearts are presently off these things, and they ascend to heaven. They live here, and trade above. (p. 213)
When the hearts of his people are most humble, when their prayers are most fervent, when their faith is strongest, when their forces are weakest, when their enemies are highest; then is the usual time that Christ puts forth his kingly power for their deliverances. (p. 189)
Christ's Humiliation in His Incarnation
It was not fit for any to satisfy God's justice but man; none could do it but God; therefore, Christ being both God and man, is the fittest to undertake this work of redemption. (p. 192)
Christ took our flesh upon him, that he might take our sins upon him. He was, says Luther, maximus peccator, the greatest sinner, having the weight of the sins of the whole world lying upon him. (p. 194)
...so when God the Father was angry with us, Christ married himself to our nature, and now mediates for us with his Father, and brings us to be friends again, and now God looks upon us with a favourable aspect. (p. 195)
Christ's taking of our flesh was one of the lowest steps of his humiliation. He humbled himself more in lying in the virgin's womb than in hanging upon the cross. (p. 196)
If Christ be born in thy heart, thou hast been deeply afflicted for sin. Christ is never born in the heart without pangs. Many thank God they never had any trouble of spirit, they were always quiet; a sign Christ is not yet formed in them. (p. 199)
After Christ is born in the heart, there is a violent motion: there is a striving to enter in at the strait gate, and offering violence to the kingdom of heaven...Christ being incarnate was made like us, let us labour to be made like him...Let us be like him in sweetness of disposition; be not of a morose spirit...Let us be like Christ in mildness and sweetness. Let us pray for our enemies, and conquer them by love...We are never so comely in God's eyes as when we are black in our own...True religion is to imitate Christ. (p. 200-201)
A Christian should be both a loadstone and a diamond; a loadstone, in drawing others to Christ; a diamond, in casting a sparkling lustre of holiness in his life. Oh let us be so just in our dealings, so true in our promises, so devout in our worship, so unblameable in our lives, that we may be the walking pictures of Christ. Thus as Christ was made in our likeness, let us labour to be made in his. (p. 202)
Christ's Exaltation
The world looks upon humility as that which will make contemptible, but it is the ready way to honour; the way to rise is to fall; the way to ascend is to descend. (p. 206)
Let us exalt Christ in our heart; believe, adore and love him. We cannot life him up higher in heaven, but we may in our hearts. (p. 208)
Christ the Redeemer
The doctrine of redemption by Jesus Christ is a glorious doctrine; it is the marrow and quintessence of the the gospel, in which all a Christian's comfort lies. (p. 209)
There is nothing that can hurt the soul but sin; it is not affliction that hurts it, it often makes it better, as the furnace makes gold the purer; but it is sin that damnifies. (p. 210)
...the heavenly inheritance, it does not lose its orient colour, but keeps its freshness and greenness to eternity; the beauty o it fadeth not away. (p. 211)
...the redeemed of the Lord use the world, and take the lawful comforts of it, but their hearts are presently off these things, and they ascend to heaven. They live here, and trade above. (p. 213)
[The fifth section of the book is about the application of our redemption. This was definitely my favourite part of the the book.]
Faith
Love is the crowning grace in heaven, but faith is the conquering grace upon earth. (p. 217)
The true obedience of faith is a cheerful obedience. God's command do not seem grievous. (p. 219)
Growth of faith is seen by doing duties in a more spiritual manner, with more fervency; we put coal to the incense, from a principle of love to God. When an apple has done growing in bigness, it grows in sweetness; so thou performest duties in love and art sweeter, and come off with a better relish. (p. 220)
Effectual Calling
[Is] an outward call, which...shows men what they ought to do in order to salvation, and renders them inexcusable in case of obedience...an inward call, when...the heart is renewed, and the will is effectually drawn to embrace Christ. (p. 221)
That God should call thee when thou wast in the hot pursuit of sin, admire his love, exalt his praise. (p. 225)
Justification
God, in justifying a person, pronounces him to be righteous, and looks upon him as if he had not sinned...God does not justify us because we are worthy, but by justifying us makes us worthy. (p. 227)
God the Father justifies, as he pronounces us righteous; God the Son justifies, as he imputes righteousness to us; and God the Holy Ghost justifies, as he clears up our justification, and seals us up to the day of redemption. (p. 228)
Justified persons may fall from degrees of grace, they may leave their first love, they may lose God's favour for a time, but not lose their justification. If they are justified they are elected; and they can no more fall from their justification than from their election. If they are justified they have union with Christ; and can a member of Christ be broken off? If one justified person may fall away from Christ, all may; so Christ would be a head without a body. (p. 229)
...though believers should be humbled under their defects, they should not despond. (p. 231)
Adoption
...whom God adopts he sanctifies; he not only gives a new name but a new nature. (p. 233)
He adopted us from slavery: it is mercy to redeem a slave, but it is more to adopt him. (p. 233)
Now, since God had a Son of his own, and such a Son, how wonderful God's love in adopting us! We needed a Father, but he did not need sons. (p. 235)
Our adoption was purchased at a dear rate; for when God was about to make us sons and heirs, he could not seal the deed but by the blood of his own Son. Here is the wonder of God's love in adopting us, that he should be at all this expense to accomplish it. (p. 235)
The first sign of adoption is obedience...It must be done by a right rule...Child-like obedience is that which is consonant to our Father's revealed will...It must be done from a right principle...It must be done to a right end...the end of obedience is glorifying God...True obedience looks at God in all things...True child-like obedience must be uniform...All God's commands have the same stamp of divine authority upon them; and if I obey one precept because my heavenly Father commands me, by the same rule must I obey all. (p. 236-237)
Sanctification
Sanctification is...a supernatural thing...an intrinsic thing; it lies chiefly in the heart...an extensive thing: it spreads to the whole man...an intense and ardent thing...a beautiful thing...an abiding thing...a progressive thing. (p. 241-242)
Sanctification is progressive; if it does not grow, it is because it does not live. (p. 242)
The signs of sanctification [are]...such as are sanctified can remember a time when they were unsanctified...the indwelling of the Spirit...antipathy against sin...a sanctified person can say he not only leaves sin, but loathe it...the spiritual performance of duties with the heart, and from a principle of love...a well-ordered life...steadfast resolution. (p. 245-246)
[This is an absolutely rich and inspiring section of the book. I'm not doing it justice here so please, when you read it, drink this portion of his writing in!!]
Assurance
If a Christian had no doubts there would be no unbelief in him; had he no doubts there would be no difference between grace militant and grace triumphant. (p. 251)
The heart must be ploughed up by humiliation and repentance, before God sows the seeds of assurance. (p. 252)
Assurance will make us love God, and praise him. Love is the soul of religion...Can a Christian, staggering with fears about his spiritual condition, praise God that he is elected and justified? No! (p. 253)
To get assurance...keep a pure conscience...be much in the exercise of grace...cherish the Holy Spirit of God...lie at the pool of the ordinances, and frequent the word and sacrament. (p. 257-258)
[I'm so sorry but again I must plead with you to read this section of the book because I could go on and on here with all the things I highlighted and made notes about in the margin]
Peace
How shall we know that ours is a true peace?...True peace flows from union with Christ...True peace flows from subjection to Christ...True peace is after trouble. (p. 263)
If Satan cannot make us ungodly, he will make us unquiet. Violent winds made the sea rough and stormy; so the winds of temptation blowing, disturb peace of spirit, and put the soul into a commotion. (p. 264)
Peace is the result of pardon. He who has pardon sealed, cannot choose but love his prince. (p. 265)
To attain this blessed peace...let us ask it of God...make war with sin...Go to Christ's blood...Walk closely with God. Peace flows from purity. (p. 265-266)
...make up your spiritual accounts daily; see how matters stand between God and your souls. (p. 266)
Joy
Joy is setting the soul upon the top of a pinnacle - it is the cream of the sincere milk of the word. Spiritual joy is a sweet and delightful passion, arising from the apprehension and feeling of some good, whereby the soul if supported under present troubles, and fenced against future fear. (p. 267)
Walk consistently and spiritually. God gives joy after long and close walking with him. (p. 271)
Growth in Grace
The right manner of growth is uniform, growing in one grace as well as another...The right manner of growth is, when a Christian has grace suitable to his several employments and occasions; when corruptions are strong, and he has grace abel to give check to them; burdens are heavy, and he has patience able to bear them; temptations fierce, and he has faith able to resist them. (p. 274)
There is no standing in religion, either we got forward or backward. If faith does not grow, unbelief will; if heavenly-mindedness does not grow, covetousness will. (p. 276)
Christians should seek after the grace they want, but they must not overlook the grace they have. (p. 278)
Perseverance
Although true believers do not fall away actually, and lose all their grace, yet their grace may fail in degree, and they may make a great breach upon their sanctification. (p. 279)
Thus lively and vigorous may corruption be in the regenerate; they may fall into enormous sins. But though all this be granted, yet they do not, penitus exeidere, fall away finally from grace...Though their grace may be drawn low, yet it is not drawn dry; though grace may be abated, it is not abolished...Grace, when at the lowest, shall revive and flourish. (p. 280)
As it is not possible to sever the leaven and the dough when they are once mingled and kneaded together, so it is impossible for Christ and believers, when once united, ever to be separated. (p. 282)
Though a Christian has but little grace to trade with, yet he need not fear breaking, because God not only gives him a stock of grace, but will keep his stock for him...'Grace may be shaken with fears and doubts, but it cannot be plucked up by the root' (Augustine). (p. 285)
He who loves God will rather die than desert him...Keep your faith, and your faith will keep you. (p. 289)
[The sixth and final section of the book is entitled 'Death and the last day']
The Death of the Righteous
To a believer death is great gain...Believers at death shall gain a writ of ease from all sins and troubles; they shall be in a state of impeccability: sin expires with their life...Believers at death shall gain the glorious sight of God...The saints at death shall not only have a sight of God, but shall enjoy his love...Believers at death shall gain a celestial place, a house not made with hands...Believers at death shall gain the sweet society of glorified saints and angels...Believers at death shall gain perfection of holiness...At death, the saints will gain a royal magnificent feast...Believers at death shall gain honour and dignity; they shall reign as kings. (p. 291-293)
Though we should be desirous of doing service here, yet we should be ambitious of being with Christ. Phil i 23. We should be content to live, but willing to die. (p. 294)
A Believer's Privilege at Death
At death a believer is freed from...torturing fears; he is as far from fear as the damned are from hope. (p. 297)
Death will free a child of God from temptation, so that he shall never be vexed more with the old serpent. (p. 298)
...the very essence of happiness is the enjoyment and fruition of God. God is an infinite inexhaustible fountain of joy; and to have him, is to have all. (p. 300)
...be patient till death, and you shall have a supply of all your wants; you shall have a kingdom, and be as rich as heaven can make you. (p. 305)
The Resurrection
If the dead rise not, then Christ is not risen, and then our faith is in vain. (p. 307)
Defile not your bodies, which you hope shall rise one day to glory...If your bodies glorify God, God will glorify your bodies. (p. 309)
When once the sentence is passed, it is irreversible; there is no appealing to a higher court. The trial also has a light side. It will increase the joy and happiness of the righteous. The day of judgment will be a day of jubilee to them. (p. 313)
They that sin against conscience, will be shy of their judge...Christian, thy pack will be opened at the last day, I mean, thy conscience (and Christ is the searcher), to see what sins, what prohibited goods thou hast taken in; and the he proceeds to judgment. Oh! be sure to keep a good conscience; which is the best way to stand with boldness at the day of judgment. (p. 316)
Wow, I cannot believe that I actually went through this entire book in this manner. I hope and pray that the smallest of small sampling that I have given you here will stir your heart to take this book and really dive into it with pen or pencil or highlighter in hand. The treasures you find may be quite different than mine but I have no doubt at all that they are there for you to uncover. Thanks for sticking along with me on this two-parter. It was a long haul!!
Faith
Love is the crowning grace in heaven, but faith is the conquering grace upon earth. (p. 217)
The true obedience of faith is a cheerful obedience. God's command do not seem grievous. (p. 219)
Growth of faith is seen by doing duties in a more spiritual manner, with more fervency; we put coal to the incense, from a principle of love to God. When an apple has done growing in bigness, it grows in sweetness; so thou performest duties in love and art sweeter, and come off with a better relish. (p. 220)
Effectual Calling
[Is] an outward call, which...shows men what they ought to do in order to salvation, and renders them inexcusable in case of obedience...an inward call, when...the heart is renewed, and the will is effectually drawn to embrace Christ. (p. 221)
That God should call thee when thou wast in the hot pursuit of sin, admire his love, exalt his praise. (p. 225)
Justification
God, in justifying a person, pronounces him to be righteous, and looks upon him as if he had not sinned...God does not justify us because we are worthy, but by justifying us makes us worthy. (p. 227)
God the Father justifies, as he pronounces us righteous; God the Son justifies, as he imputes righteousness to us; and God the Holy Ghost justifies, as he clears up our justification, and seals us up to the day of redemption. (p. 228)
Justified persons may fall from degrees of grace, they may leave their first love, they may lose God's favour for a time, but not lose their justification. If they are justified they are elected; and they can no more fall from their justification than from their election. If they are justified they have union with Christ; and can a member of Christ be broken off? If one justified person may fall away from Christ, all may; so Christ would be a head without a body. (p. 229)
...though believers should be humbled under their defects, they should not despond. (p. 231)
Adoption
...whom God adopts he sanctifies; he not only gives a new name but a new nature. (p. 233)
He adopted us from slavery: it is mercy to redeem a slave, but it is more to adopt him. (p. 233)
Now, since God had a Son of his own, and such a Son, how wonderful God's love in adopting us! We needed a Father, but he did not need sons. (p. 235)
Our adoption was purchased at a dear rate; for when God was about to make us sons and heirs, he could not seal the deed but by the blood of his own Son. Here is the wonder of God's love in adopting us, that he should be at all this expense to accomplish it. (p. 235)
The first sign of adoption is obedience...It must be done by a right rule...Child-like obedience is that which is consonant to our Father's revealed will...It must be done from a right principle...It must be done to a right end...the end of obedience is glorifying God...True obedience looks at God in all things...True child-like obedience must be uniform...All God's commands have the same stamp of divine authority upon them; and if I obey one precept because my heavenly Father commands me, by the same rule must I obey all. (p. 236-237)
Sanctification
Sanctification is...a supernatural thing...an intrinsic thing; it lies chiefly in the heart...an extensive thing: it spreads to the whole man...an intense and ardent thing...a beautiful thing...an abiding thing...a progressive thing. (p. 241-242)
Sanctification is progressive; if it does not grow, it is because it does not live. (p. 242)
The signs of sanctification [are]...such as are sanctified can remember a time when they were unsanctified...the indwelling of the Spirit...antipathy against sin...a sanctified person can say he not only leaves sin, but loathe it...the spiritual performance of duties with the heart, and from a principle of love...a well-ordered life...steadfast resolution. (p. 245-246)
[This is an absolutely rich and inspiring section of the book. I'm not doing it justice here so please, when you read it, drink this portion of his writing in!!]
Assurance
If a Christian had no doubts there would be no unbelief in him; had he no doubts there would be no difference between grace militant and grace triumphant. (p. 251)
The heart must be ploughed up by humiliation and repentance, before God sows the seeds of assurance. (p. 252)
Assurance will make us love God, and praise him. Love is the soul of religion...Can a Christian, staggering with fears about his spiritual condition, praise God that he is elected and justified? No! (p. 253)
To get assurance...keep a pure conscience...be much in the exercise of grace...cherish the Holy Spirit of God...lie at the pool of the ordinances, and frequent the word and sacrament. (p. 257-258)
[I'm so sorry but again I must plead with you to read this section of the book because I could go on and on here with all the things I highlighted and made notes about in the margin]
Peace
How shall we know that ours is a true peace?...True peace flows from union with Christ...True peace flows from subjection to Christ...True peace is after trouble. (p. 263)
If Satan cannot make us ungodly, he will make us unquiet. Violent winds made the sea rough and stormy; so the winds of temptation blowing, disturb peace of spirit, and put the soul into a commotion. (p. 264)
Peace is the result of pardon. He who has pardon sealed, cannot choose but love his prince. (p. 265)
To attain this blessed peace...let us ask it of God...make war with sin...Go to Christ's blood...Walk closely with God. Peace flows from purity. (p. 265-266)
...make up your spiritual accounts daily; see how matters stand between God and your souls. (p. 266)
Joy
Joy is setting the soul upon the top of a pinnacle - it is the cream of the sincere milk of the word. Spiritual joy is a sweet and delightful passion, arising from the apprehension and feeling of some good, whereby the soul if supported under present troubles, and fenced against future fear. (p. 267)
Walk consistently and spiritually. God gives joy after long and close walking with him. (p. 271)
Growth in Grace
The right manner of growth is uniform, growing in one grace as well as another...The right manner of growth is, when a Christian has grace suitable to his several employments and occasions; when corruptions are strong, and he has grace abel to give check to them; burdens are heavy, and he has patience able to bear them; temptations fierce, and he has faith able to resist them. (p. 274)
There is no standing in religion, either we got forward or backward. If faith does not grow, unbelief will; if heavenly-mindedness does not grow, covetousness will. (p. 276)
Christians should seek after the grace they want, but they must not overlook the grace they have. (p. 278)
Perseverance
Although true believers do not fall away actually, and lose all their grace, yet their grace may fail in degree, and they may make a great breach upon their sanctification. (p. 279)
Thus lively and vigorous may corruption be in the regenerate; they may fall into enormous sins. But though all this be granted, yet they do not, penitus exeidere, fall away finally from grace...Though their grace may be drawn low, yet it is not drawn dry; though grace may be abated, it is not abolished...Grace, when at the lowest, shall revive and flourish. (p. 280)
As it is not possible to sever the leaven and the dough when they are once mingled and kneaded together, so it is impossible for Christ and believers, when once united, ever to be separated. (p. 282)
Though a Christian has but little grace to trade with, yet he need not fear breaking, because God not only gives him a stock of grace, but will keep his stock for him...'Grace may be shaken with fears and doubts, but it cannot be plucked up by the root' (Augustine). (p. 285)
He who loves God will rather die than desert him...Keep your faith, and your faith will keep you. (p. 289)
[The sixth and final section of the book is entitled 'Death and the last day']
The Death of the Righteous
To a believer death is great gain...Believers at death shall gain a writ of ease from all sins and troubles; they shall be in a state of impeccability: sin expires with their life...Believers at death shall gain the glorious sight of God...The saints at death shall not only have a sight of God, but shall enjoy his love...Believers at death shall gain a celestial place, a house not made with hands...Believers at death shall gain the sweet society of glorified saints and angels...Believers at death shall gain perfection of holiness...At death, the saints will gain a royal magnificent feast...Believers at death shall gain honour and dignity; they shall reign as kings. (p. 291-293)
Though we should be desirous of doing service here, yet we should be ambitious of being with Christ. Phil i 23. We should be content to live, but willing to die. (p. 294)
A Believer's Privilege at Death
At death a believer is freed from...torturing fears; he is as far from fear as the damned are from hope. (p. 297)
Death will free a child of God from temptation, so that he shall never be vexed more with the old serpent. (p. 298)
...the very essence of happiness is the enjoyment and fruition of God. God is an infinite inexhaustible fountain of joy; and to have him, is to have all. (p. 300)
...be patient till death, and you shall have a supply of all your wants; you shall have a kingdom, and be as rich as heaven can make you. (p. 305)
The Resurrection
If the dead rise not, then Christ is not risen, and then our faith is in vain. (p. 307)
Defile not your bodies, which you hope shall rise one day to glory...If your bodies glorify God, God will glorify your bodies. (p. 309)
When once the sentence is passed, it is irreversible; there is no appealing to a higher court. The trial also has a light side. It will increase the joy and happiness of the righteous. The day of judgment will be a day of jubilee to them. (p. 313)
They that sin against conscience, will be shy of their judge...Christian, thy pack will be opened at the last day, I mean, thy conscience (and Christ is the searcher), to see what sins, what prohibited goods thou hast taken in; and the he proceeds to judgment. Oh! be sure to keep a good conscience; which is the best way to stand with boldness at the day of judgment. (p. 316)
Wow, I cannot believe that I actually went through this entire book in this manner. I hope and pray that the smallest of small sampling that I have given you here will stir your heart to take this book and really dive into it with pen or pencil or highlighter in hand. The treasures you find may be quite different than mine but I have no doubt at all that they are there for you to uncover. Thanks for sticking along with me on this two-parter. It was a long haul!!
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness - 1 John 3:4
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned - Romans 5:12
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf - Hebrews 9:24
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil - John 3:19
I do not ask for these things only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also my be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me - John 17:20-21
And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy - the Son of God... - Luke 1:35
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" - Matthew 28:18
You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me - Galatians 2:20
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith - 1 John 5:4
...Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier to the one who has faith in Jesus - Romans 3:25-26
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him - 1 John 2:4-5
Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble - 1 Peter 5:5
I wil make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they will not turn from me - Jeremiah 32:30
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain - Philippians 1:21
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment - John 5:28-29
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