Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc24/v25350

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 10KB | 173 lines

25352
 #13-16 People are never long easy and satisfied; they are fond
 of changes. This is no new thing. Princes see themselves
 slighted by those they have studied to oblige; this is vanity
 and vexation of spirit. But the willing servants of the Lord
 Jesus, our King, rejoice in him alone, and they will love Him
 more and more to all eternity.
25356
 * What renders devotion vain. (1-3) Of vows, and oppression.
 (4-8) The vanity of riches shown. (9-7) The right use of riches.
 (18-20)

 #1-3 Address thyself to the worship of God, and take time to
 compose thyself for it. Keep thy thoughts from roving and
 wandering: keep thy affections from running out toward wrong
 objects. We should avoid vain repetitions; copious prayers are
 not here condemned, but those that are unmeaning. How often our
 wandering thoughts render attendance on Divine ordinances little
 better than the sacrifice of fools! Many words and hasty ones,
 used in prayer, show folly in the heart, low thoughts of God,
 and careless thoughts of our own souls.
25359
 #4-8 When a person made engagements rashly, he suffered his
 mouth to cause his flesh to sin. The case supposes a man coming
 to the priest, and pretending that his vow was made rashly, and
 that it would be wrong to fulfil it. Such mockery of God would
 bring the Divine displeasure, which might blast what was thus
 unduly kept. We are to keep down the fear of man. Set God before
 thee; then, if thou seest the oppression of the poor, thou wilt
 not find fault with Divine Providence; nor think the worse of
 the institution of magistracy, when thou seest the ends of it
 thus perverted; nor of religion, when thou seest it will not
 secure men from suffering wrong. But though oppressors may be
 secure, God will reckon for all.

25364
 #9-17 The goodness of Providence is more equally distributed
 than appears to a careless observer. The king needs the common
 things of life, and the poor share them; they relish their
 morsel better than he does his luxuries. There are bodily
 desires which silver itself will not satisfy, much less will
 worldly abundance satisfy spiritual desires. The more men have,
 the better house they must keep, the more servants they must
 employ, the more guests they must entertain, and the more they
 will have hanging on them. The sleep of the labourer is sweet,
 not only because he is tired, but because he has little care to
 break his sleep. The sleep of the diligent Christian, and his
 long sleep, are sweet; having spent himself and his time in the
 service of God, he can cheerfully repose in God as his Rest. But
 those who have every thing else, often fail to secure a good
 night's sleep; their abundance breaks their rest. Riches do
 hurt, and draw away the heart from God and duty. Men do hurt
 with their riches, not only gratifying their own lusts, but
 oppressing others, and dealing hardly with them. They will see
 that they have laboured for the wind, when, at death, they find
 the profit of their labour is all gone like the wind, they know
 not whither. How ill the covetous worldling bears the calamities
 of human life! He does not sorrow to repentance, but is angry at
 the providence of God, angry at all about him; which doubles his
 affliction.

25373
 #18-20 Life is God's gift. We must not view our calling as a
 drudgery, but take pleasure in the calling where God puts us. A
 cheerful spirit is a great blessing; it makes employments easy,
 and afflictions light. Having made a proper use of riches, a man
 will remember the days of his past life with pleasure. The
 manner in which Solomon refers to God as the Giver, both of life
 and its enjoyments, shows they ought to be received and to be
 used, consistently with his will, and to his glory. Let this
 passage recommend to all the kind words of the merciful
 Redeemer, "Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that
 meat which endureth unto everlasting life." Christ is the Bread
 of life, the only food of the soul. All are invited to partake
 of this heavenly provision.
25376
 * The vanity of riches. Also of long life and flourishing
 families. (1-6) The little advantage any one has in outward
 things. (7-12)

 #1-6 A man often has all he needs for outward enjoyment; yet the
 Lord leaves him so to covetousness or evil dispositions, that he
 makes no good or comfortable use of what he has. By one means or
 other his possessions come to strangers; this is vanity, and an
 evil disease. A numerous family was a matter of fond desire and
 of high honour among the Hebrews; and long life is the desire of
 mankind in general. Even with these additions a man may not be
 able to enjoy his riches, family, and life. Such a man, in his
 passage through life, seems to have been born for no end or use.
 And he who has entered on life only for one moment, to quit it
 the next, has a preferable lot to him who has lived long, but
 only to suffer.

25382
 #7-12 A little will serve to sustain us comfortably, and a great
 deal can do no more. The desires of the soul find nothing in the
 wealth of the world to give satisfaction. The poor man has
 comfort as well as the richest, and is under no real
 disadvantage. We cannot say, Better is the sight of the eyes
 than the resting of the soul in God; for it is better to live by
 faith in things to come, than to live by sense, which dwells
 only upon present things. Our lot is appointed. We have what
 pleases God, and let that please us. The greatest possessions
 and honours cannot set us above the common events of human life.
 Seeing that the things men pursue on earth increase vanities,
 what is man the better for his worldly devices? Our life upon
 earth is to be reckoned by days. It is fleeting and uncertain,
 and with little in it to be fond of, or to be depended on. Let us
 return to God, trust in his mercy through Jesus Christ, and
 submit to his will. Then soon shall we glide through this
 vexatious world, and find ourselves in that happy place, where
 there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore.
25388
 * The benefit of a good name; of death above life; of sorrow
 above vain mirth. (1-6) Concerning oppression, anger, and
 discontent. (7-10) Advantages of wisdom. (11-22) Experience of
 the evil of sin. (23-29)

 #1-6 Reputation for piety and honesty is more desirable than all
 the wealth and pleasure in this world. It will do more good to
 go to a funeral than to a feast. We may lawfully go to both, as
 there is occasion; our Saviour both feasted at the wedding of
 his friend in Cana, and wept at the grave of his friend in
 Bethany. But, considering how apt we are to be vain and indulge
 the flesh, it is best to go to the house of mourning, to learn
 the end of man as to this world. Seriousness is better than
 mirth and jollity. That is best for us which is best for our
 souls, though it be unpleasing to sense. It is better to have
 our corruptions mortified by the rebuke of the wise, than to
 have them gratified by the song of fools. The laughter of a fool
 is soon gone, the end of his mirth is heaviness.

25394
 #7-10 The event of our trials and difficulties is often better
 than at first we thought. Surely it is better to be patient in
 spirit, than to be proud and hasty. Be not soon angry, nor quick
 in resenting an affront. Be not long angry; though anger may
 come into the bosom of a wise man, it passes through it as a
 way-faring man; it dwells only in the bosom of fools. It is
 folly to cry out upon the badness of our times, when we have
 more reason to cry out for the badness of our own hearts; and
 even in these times we enjoy many mercies. It is folly to cry up
 the goodness of former times; as if former ages had not the like
 things to complain of that we have: this arises from discontent,
 and aptness to quarrel with God himself.

25398
 #11-22 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, yea better. It
 shelters from the storms and scorching heat of trouble. Wealth
 will not lengthen out the natural life; but true wisdom will
 give spiritual life, and strengthen men for services under their
 sufferings. Let us look upon the disposal of our condition as
 the work of God, and at last all will appear to have been for
 the best. In acts of righteousness, be not carried into heats or
 passions, no, not by a zeal for God. Be not conceited of thine
 own abilities; nor find fault with every thing, nor busy thyself
 in other men's matters. Many who will not be wrought upon by the
 fear of God, and the dread of hell, will avoid sins which ruin
 their health and estate, and expose to public justice. But those
 that truly fear God, have but one end to serve, therefore act
 steadily. If we say we have not sinned, we deceive ourselves.
 Every true believer is ready to say, God be merciful to me a
 sinner. Forget not at the same time, that personal
 righteousness, walking in newness of life, is the only real
 evidence of an interest by faith in the righteousness of the
 Redeemer. Wisdom teaches us not to be quick in resenting
 affronts. Be not desirous to know what people say; if they speak
 well of thee, it will feed thy pride, if ill, it will stir up
 thy passion. See that thou approve thyself to God and thine own
 conscience, and then heed not what men say of thee; it is easier
 to pass by twenty affronts than to avenge one. When any harm is
 done to us, examine whether we have not done as bad to others.