Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc00/v01850

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 9KB | 162 lines

01850
 #21-24 Our Lord Jesus was not born in sin, and did not need that
 mortification of a corrupt nature, or that renewal unto
 holiness, which were signified by circumcision. This ordinance
 was, in his case, a pledge of his future perfect obedience to
 the whole law, in the midst of sufferings and temptations, even
 unto death for us. At the end of forty days, Mary went up to the
 temple to offer the appointed sacrifices for her purification.
 Joseph also presented the holy child Jesus, because, as a
 first-born son, he was to be presented to the Lord, and redeemed
 according to the law. Let us present our children to the Lord
 who gave them to us, beseeching him to redeem them from sin and
 death, and make them holy to himself.

01854
 #25-35 The same Spirit that provided for the support of Simeon's
 hope, provided for his joy. Those who would see Christ must go
 to his temple. Here is a confession of his faith, that this
 Child in his arms was the Saviour, the salvation itself, the
 salvation of God's appointing. He bids farewell to this world.
 How poor does this world look to one that has Christ in his
 arms, and salvation in his view! See here, how comfortable is
 the death of a good man; he departs in peace with God, peace
 with his own conscience, in peace with death. Those that have
 welcomed Christ, may welcome death. Joseph and Mary marvelled at
 the things which were spoken of this Child. Simeon shows them
 likewise, what reason they had to rejoice with trembling. And
 Jesus, his doctrine, and people, are still spoken against; his
 truth and holiness are still denied and blasphemed; his preached
 word is still the touchstone of men's characters. The secret
 good affections in the minds of some, will be revealed by their
 embracing Christ; the secret corruptions of others will be
 revealed by their enmity to Christ. Men will be judged by the
 thoughts of their hearts concerning Christ. He shall be a
 suffering Jesus; his mother shall suffer with him, because of
 the nearness of her relation and affection.

01865
 #36-40 There was much evil then in the church, yet God left not
 himself without witness. Anna always dwelt in, or at least
 attended at, the temple. She was always in a praying spirit;
 gave herself to prayer, and in all things she served God. Those
 to whom Christ is made known, have great reason to thank the
 Lord. She taught others concerning him. Let the example of the
 venerable saints, Simeon and Anna, give courage to those whose
 hoary heads are, like theirs, a crown of glory, being found in
 the way of righteousness. The lips soon to be silent in the
 grave, should be showing forth the praises of the Redeemer. In
 all things it became Christ to be made like unto his brethren,
 therefore he passed through infancy and childhood as other
 children, yet without sin, and with manifest proofs of the
 Divine nature in him. By the Spirit of God all his faculties
 performed their offices in a manner not seen in any one else.
 Other children have foolishness bound in their hearts, which
 appears in what they say or do, but he was filled with wisdom,
 by the influence of the Holy Ghost; every thing he said and did,
 was wisely said and wisely done, above his years. Other children
 show the corruption of their nature; nothing but the grace of
 God was upon him.

01870
 #41-52 It is for the honour of Christ that children should
 attend on public worship. His parents did not return till they
 had stayed all the seven days of the feast. It is well to stay
 to the end of an ordinance, as becomes those who say, It is good
 to be here. Those that have lost their comforts in Christ, and
 the evidences of their having a part in him, must bethink
 themselves where, and when, and how they lost them, and must
 turn back again. Those that would recover their lost
 acquaintance with Christ, must go to the place in which he has
 put his name; there they may hope to meet him. They found him in
 some part of the temple, where the doctors of the law kept their
 schools; he was sitting there, hearkening to their instructions,
 proposing questions, and answering inquiries, with such wisdom,
 that those who heard were delighted with him. Young persons
 should seek the knowledge of Divine truth, attend the ministry
 of the gospel, and ask such questions of their elders and
 teachers as may tend to increase their knowledge. Those who seek
 Christ in sorrow, shall find him with the greater joy. Know ye
 not that I ought to be in my Father's house; at my Father's
 work; I must be about my Father's business. Herein is an
 example; for it becomes the children of God, in conformity to
 Christ, to attend their heavenly Father's business, and make all
 other concerns give way to it. Though he was the Son of God, yet
 he was subject to his earthly parents; how then will the foolish
 and weak sons of men answer it, who are disobedient to their
 parents? However we may neglect men's sayings, because they are
 obscure, yet we must not think so of God's sayings. That which
 at first is dark, may afterwards become plain and easy. The
 greatest and wisest, those most eminent, may learn of this
 admirable and Divine Child, that it is the truest greatness of
 soul to know our own place and office; to deny ourselves
 amusements and pleasures not consistent with our state and
 calling.
01882
 * John the Baptist's ministry. (1-14) John the Baptist testifies
 concerning Christ. (15-20) The baptism of Christ. (21,22) The
 genealogy of Christ. (23-38)

 #1-14 The scope and design of John's ministry were, to bring the
 people from their sins, and to their Saviour. He came preaching,
 not a sect, or party, but a profession; the sign or ceremony was
 washing with water. By the words here used John preached the
 necessity of repentance, in order to the remission of sins, and
 that the baptism of water was an outward sign of that inward
 cleansing and renewal of heart, which attend, or are the effects
 of true repentance, as well as a profession of it. Here is the
 fulfilling of the Scriptures, #Isa 40:3|, in the ministry of
 John. When way is made for the gospel into the heart, by taking
 down high thoughts, and bringing them into obedience to Christ,
 by levelling the soul, and removing all that hinders us in the
 way of Christ and his grace, then preparation is made to welcome
 the salvation of God. Here are general warnings and exhortations
 which John gave. The guilty, corrupted race of mankind is become
 a generation of vipers; hateful to God, and hating one another.
 There is no way of fleeing from the wrath to come, but by
 repentance; and by the change of our way the change of our mind
 must be shown. If we are not really holy, both in heart and
 life, our profession of religion and relation to God and his
 church, will stand us in no stead at all; the sorer will our
 destruction be, if we do not bring forth fruits meet for
 repentance. John the Baptist gave instructions to several sorts
 of persons. Those that profess and promise repentance, must show
 it by reformation, according to their places and conditions. The
 gospel requires mercy, not sacrifice; and its design is, to
 engage us to do all the good we can, and to be just to all men.
 And the same principle which leads men to forego unjust gain,
 leads to restore that which is gained by wrong. John tells the
 soldiers their duty. Men should be cautioned against the
 temptations of their employments. These answers declared the
 present duty of the inquirers, and at once formed a test of
 their sincerity. As none can or will accept Christ's salvation
 without true repentance, so the evidence and effects of this
 repentance are here marked out.

01896
 #15-20 John the Baptist disowned being himself the Christ, but
 confirmed the people in their expectations of the long-promised
 Messiah. He could only exhort them to repent, and assure them of
 forgiveness upon repentance; but he could not work repentance in
 them, nor confer remission on them. Thus highly does it become
 us to speak of Christ, and thus humbly of ourselves. John can do
 no more than baptize with water, in token that they ought to
 purify and cleanse themselves; but Christ can, and will baptize
 with the Holy Ghost; he can give the Spirit, to cleanse and
 purify the heart, not only as water washes off the dirt on the
 outside, but as fire clears out the dross that is within, and
 melts down the metal, that it may be cast into a new mould. John
 was an affectionate preacher; he was beseeching; he pressed
 things home upon his hearers. He was a practical preacher;
 quickening them to their duty, and directing them in it. He was
 a popular preacher; he addressed the people, according to their
 capacity. He was an evangelical preacher. In all his
 exhortations, he directed people to Christ. When we press duty
 upon people, we must direct them to Christ, both for
 righteousness and strength. He was a copious preacher; he
 shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God. But a full stop
 was put to John's preaching when he was in the midst of his
 usefulness. Herod being reproved by him for many evils, shut up
 John in prison. Those who injure the faithful servants of God,
 add still greater guilt to their other sins.