Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v04700

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 7KB | 123 lines

04703
 #24-32 It becomes us, on all occasions, to speak the words of
 truth and soberness, and then we need not be troubled at the
 unjust censures of men. Active and laborious followers of the
 gospel often have been despised as dreamers or madmen, for
 believing such doctrines and such wonderful facts; and for
 attesting that the same faith and diligence, and an experience
 like their own, are necessary to all men, whatever their rank,
 in order to their salvation. But apostles and prophets, and the
 Son of God himself, were exposed to this charge; and none need
 be moved thereby, when Divine grace has made them wise unto
 salvation. Agrippa saw a great deal of reason for Christianity.
 His understanding and judgment were for the time convinced, but
 his heart was not changed. And his conduct and temper were
 widely different from the humility and spirituality of the
 gospel. Many are almost persuaded to be religious, who are not
 quite persuaded; they are under strong convictions of their
 duty, and of the excellence of the ways of God, yet do not
 pursue their convictions. Paul urged that it was the concern of
 every one to become a true Christian; that there is grace enough
 in Christ for all. He expressed his full conviction of the truth
 of the gospel, the absolute necessity of faith in Christ in
 order to salvation. Such salvation from such bondage, the gospel
 of Christ offers to the Gentiles; to a lost world. Yet it is
 with much difficulty that any person can be persuaded he needs a
 work of grace on his heart, like that which was needful for the
 conversion of the Gentiles. Let us beware of fatal hesitation in
 our own conduct; and recollect how far the being almost
 persuaded to be a Christian, is from being altogether such a one
 as every true believer is.
04712
 * Paul's voyage towards Rome. (1-11) Paul and his companions
 endangered by a tempest. (12-20) He receives a Divine assurance
 of safety. (21-29) Paul encourages those with him. (30-38) They
 are shipwrecked. (39-44)

 #1-11 It was determined by the counsel of God, before it was
 determined by the counsel of Festus, that Paul should go to
 Rome; for God had work for him to do there. The course they
 steered, and the places they touched at, are here set down. And
 God here encourages those who suffer for him, to trust in him;
 for he can put it into the hearts of those to befriend them,
 from whom they least expect it. Sailors must make the best of
 the wind: and so must we all in our passage over the ocean of
 this world. When the winds are contrary, yet we must be getting
 forward as well as we can. Many who are not driven backward by
 cross providences, do not get forward by favourable providences.
 And many real Christians complain as to the concerns of their
 souls, that they have much ado to keep their ground. Every fair
 haven is not a safe haven. Many show respect to good ministers,
 who will not take their advice. But the event will convince
 sinners of the vanity of their hopes, and the folly of their
 conduct.

04723
 #12-20 Those who launch forth on the ocean of this world, with a
 fair gale, know not what storms they may meet with; and
 therefore must not easily take it for granted that they have
 obtained their purpose. Let us never expect to be quite safe
 till we enter heaven. They saw neither sun nor stars for many
 days. Thus melancholy sometimes is the condition of the people
 of God as to their spiritual matters; they walk in darkness, and
 have no light. See what the wealth of this world is: though
 coveted as a blessing, the time may come when it will be a
 burden; not only too heavy to be carried safely, but heavy
 enough to sink him that has it. The children of this world can
 be prodigal of their goods for the saving their lives, yet are
 sparing of them in works of piety and charity, and in suffering
 for Christ. Any man will rather make shipwreck of his goods than
 of his life; but many rather make shipwreck of faith and a good
 conscience, than of their goods. The means the sailors used did
 not succeed; but when sinners give up all hope of saving
 themselves, they are prepared to understand God's word, and to
 trust in his mercy through Jesus Christ.

04732
 #21-29 They did not hearken to the apostle when he warned them
 of their danger; yet if they acknowledge their folly, and repent
 of it, he will speak comfort and relief to them when in danger.
 Most people bring themselves into trouble, because they do not
 know when they are well off; they come to harm and loss by
 aiming to mend their condition, often against advice. Observe
 the solemn profession Paul made of relation to God. No storms or
 tempests can hinder God's favour to his people, for he is a Help
 always at hand. It is a comfort to the faithful servants of God
 when in difficulties, that as long as the Lord has any work for
 them to do, their lives shall be prolonged. If Paul had thrust
 himself needlessly into bad company, he might justly have been
 cast away with them; but God calling him into it, they are
 preserved with him. They are given thee; there is no greater
 satisfaction to a good man than to know he is a public blessing.
 He comforts them with the same comforts wherewith he himself was
 comforted. God is ever faithful, therefore let all who have an
 interest in his promises be ever cheerful. As, with God, saying
 and doing are not two things, believing and enjoying should not
 be so with us. Hope is an anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast,
 entering into that within the veil. Let those who are in
 spiritual darkness hold fast by that, and think not of putting
 to sea again, but abide by Christ, and wait till the day break,
 and the shadows flee away.

04741
 #30-38 God, who appointed the end, that they should be saved,
 appointed the means, that they should be saved by the help of
 these shipmen. Duty is ours, events are God's; we do not trust
 God, but tempt him, when we say we put ourselves under his
 protection, if we do not use proper means, such as are within
 our power, for our safety. But how selfish are men in general,
 often even ready to seek their own safety by the destruction of
 others! Happy those who have such a one as Paul in their
 company, who not only had intercourse with Heaven, but was of an
 enlivening spirit to those about him. The sorrow of the world
 works death, while joy in God is life and peace in the greatest
 distresses and dangers. The comfort of God's promises can only
 be ours by believing dependence on him, to fulfil his word to
 us; and the salvation he reveals must be waited for in use of
 the means he appoints. If God has chosen us to salvation, he has
 also appointed that we shall obtain it by repentance, faith,
 prayer, and persevering obedience; it is fatal presumption to
 expect it in any other way. It is an encouragement to people to
 commit themselves to Christ as their Saviour, when those who
 invite them, clearly show that they do so themselves.