Solus Christus Reformed Baptist Church

PRESUMING ON CHRIST'S MERCY And the best of us all might offend Christ's merciful disposition if we do not carefully watch that liberty which our fleshly nature is ready to make use of. Thus we reason, "If Christ will not quench the smoking flax, why should we fear that any neglect on our part will bring us into a comfortless condition? If Christ will not do it, what can?" You know the apostle's prohibition, "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thess. 5:19). Such cautions of not quenching are used by the Spirit as a means of not quenching him.

Those who, by putting off repentance and living in their sins, lose their souls, shall, instead of having the least measure of comfort when they come into Hell, have their ill-spent life always very fresh in their remembrance! While they live here — they can sin and forget it; but when they depart — they shall have it before them; they shall have a remembrance, or their memory notably enlightened, and a clearer, and a continual sight of all their wicked practices that they wrought and did while they were in the world. 'Son, remember,' says he; then you will be made to remember:

"The prophet was bemoaning the failure of all his efforts to glorify God, and the obstinate determination of his people to continue in their apostasy. It was thus he spent his time in the cave at Horeb, brooding over his disappointment, and lashing himself, by reflecting upon the conduct of the people. A solitary place, with nothing to do, might be congenial with such a disposition; it might foster it, but would never heal it: and thus Elijah might have succumbed to a settled melancholy or raving madness.

The stricken soul, crushed under a sense of sin, naturally endorses these insinuations. "It is true," says he, "though it is Satan who says it; I am just such a sinner as he describes." Then the poor soul fears whether pardon can be possible for such an offender; and, probably, he thinks of some gross sin that he has committed, — the blasphemer recollects his profanity, the unchaste man remembers his lasciviousness, and Satan whispers in his ear, "If thou hadst not committed that particular sin, there might have been hope for thee, but that transgression has carried thee over the verge of hope.

Interesting updates given to me by Monergism. And the discussion of revivals and guarding against spiritual backsliding.

"Now these pilgrims, as I said, must needs go through this fair. Well, so they did; but, behold, even as they entered into the fair, all the people in the fair were moved, and the town itself, as it were, in a hubbub about them, and that for several reasons: For, 1. "First, The pilgrims were clothed with such kind of raiment as was diverse from the raiment of any that traded in that fair. The people, therefore, of the fair made a great gazing upon them! some said they were fools; some, they were bedlams; and some they were outlandish men.

Every believer may ordinarily find this in himself; for even though this disposition may be variously weakened, opposed, or interrupted by indwelling sin and the power of temptation; though it may be impaired by a neglect of stirring up and exercising the principle of spiritual life, in all requisite and graces, on all occasions — it will still be working in the believer, and will fill the mind with a constant discontent38 with itself when it is not observed, followed, and improved. No believer will ever have peace in his own mind, if he does not have some experience of a universal disposition toward all holiness and godliness in his mind and soul.

When the howling tempest has played out its strength, it soothes itself to sleep. Then comes a season of calm and quiet, so profound in its stillness, that only the monstrous tempest could have been the mother of so mighty a calm. So seems it with us. Deep waves of trial, high mountains of joy. But the reverse is almost as often true; from Pisgah's top we pass to our graves; from the top of Carmel we have to go down to the dens of lions, and to fight with the leopards. Let us be on our watch-tower, lest like Manoah, having seen the angel of God, the next thing should be that we say we shall surely die, for we have seen the Lord.

Wherever faith exists in sincerity,53 it will constantly labor, endeavor, and strive to fill up all duties of divine worship with the living, real, heart-acting of grace; and where it does not do so, where this is not attained, it will never allow the soul to take any rest or satisfaction in such duties, but will cast them away like a defiled garment. The one who can pass through such duties without a sensible54 endeavor for the real exercise of grace in them, and without self-abasement on performing them, will find hardly any other clear evidence of saving faith in himself.

Those who, in their wickedness on earth, were companions together, and had a sort of carnal friendship one for another, will here have no appearance of fellowship; but perfect and continual and undisguised hatred will exist between them. As on earth they promoted each other's sins, so now in hell they will promote each other's punishment. On earth they were the instruments of undoing each other's souls—there they were occupied in blowing up the fires of each other's lusts, and now they will blow forever the fires of each other's torments.

We all naturally desire rest and quietness, and if we would obtain it, let us seek that world of peace and love of which we have now heard, where a sweet and blessed rest remaineth for God's people. If we get an interest in that world, then, when we have done with this, we shall leave all our cares, and troubles, and fatigues, and perplexities, and disturbances forever. We shall rest from these storms that are raging here, and from every toil and labor, in the paradise of God.

At my son's request, I traveled with him to a Baptist Bible Conference. I had no expectations in my mind, I went to it because my son was going to be going alone to represent the seminary here at one of the booths that were set up.

Update on the trials that we are surrounded with and direction in this ministry and narrations.

Faith sees infinite goodness, love, and grace in this way, such as becomes God, such as can reside in none but him; therefore, it rests and rejoices in it, 1Pet 1:8.22 Faith acts itself continually in adherence to, and approval of, this way of salvation, as expressing these perfections of the divine nature. Where unbelief prevails, the mind has no view of the glory that is in this way of salvation, in it being so becoming of God and all his holy properties, as the apostle declares, 2Cor 4:4.

True Church Government and the Ministry - This is that discipline in whose execution the blood of an innumerable company of holy martyrs hath been shed,—that wherein all the vital spirits of the Papacy do act themselves, and whereby it doth subsist; and although it be the image of jealousy, or the image of the first beast, set up by the dragon, yet it cannot be denied, but that it is very wisely accommodated unto the present state of the generality of them that are called Christians amongst them. For being both blind and carnal, and having thereby lost all sense and experience of the spiritual power of the rule of Christ in their consciences, they are become a herd not fit to be governed or ruled any other way.

I. The psalmist expostulates with God concerning the present deplorable condition he was in (Psalm 88: 10-12): "Wilt thou do a miraculous work to the dead, and raise them to life again? Shall those that are dead and buried rise up to praise thee? No they leave it to their children to rise up in their room to praise God none expects that they should do it and wherefore should they rise, wherefore should they live, but to praise God?

If you're looking for the "happily ever after" part of the Bible, Psalm 88 is definitely not the place to find it. It is widely considered the darkest, most sorrowful psalm in the entire collection. While most psalms of lament end with a glimmer of hope or a "but God" moment, Psalm 88 ends with the word "darkness. The Nature of His Suffering Heman doesn't describe a single bad day; he describes a lifetime of misery. His story is defined by three specific layers of pain: 1. Lifelong Affliction 2. Social Isolation. 3. Spiritual Desertion.

The great fundamental difference in religion concerns the way and means by which sinners may be saved. From men's different apprehensions of it arise all other differences about religion. And the first thing that engages men really into any concern in religion, is an inquiry in their minds about how sinners may be saved, or what they themselves will do to be saved: "What shall we do? what shall we do to be saved?" "What is the way of acceptance with God?"

The faith required, the courage demanded, the patience needed, the trials to be borne, the enemies to be overcome, are "too great" for mere flesh and blood. What then? Why, begin the day as Elijah began this one: "Arise and eat." You do not propose to go forth to a day's work without first supplying your body with food and drink, and is the soul more able to do without nourishment? God does not ask you to provide the spiritual food, but has graciously placed it by your side. All He asks is, "Arise and eat:" feed on the heavenly manna that your strength may be renewed;

A little while ago they were painting their faces, feeding their lusts, following their whores, playing their games and sports to pass away the time; but now they are in Hell — and they cry! It may be, that last year they heard some good sermons, were invited to receive Heaven, were told their sins should be pardoned if they closed in with Jesus. But, refusing His offers, and slighting the grace that was once offered — they are now in Hell, and they cry.

Jeremiah Burroughs' work, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, was first published in 1648. Since Jeremiah Burroughs passed away in 1646, the book was published posthumously. It has since become a classic of Puritan literature and has been reissued numerous times, including a well-known edition by the Banner of Truth Trust in 1964.

Is it from his actings as the great prophet of the church that you expect help and relief? Have you effectually learned of him "to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world?" Hath he taught you to be humble, to be meek, to be patient, to "hate the garment spotted with the flesh?" Hath he instructed you unto sincerity in all your ways, dealings, and whole conversation among men?

How strikingly and how blessedly was 1 Corinthians 10:13, illustrated and exemplified in the case of Elijah! It was a sore temptation or trial, when after all his fidelity in the Lord's service his life should be threatened by the wicked Jezebel, and when all his efforts to bring back Israel to the worship of the true God seemed to be entirely in vain. It was more than he could bear: he was weary of such a one-sided and losing fight, and he prayed to be removed from the arena. But God was faithful and with the sore temptation "also made a way to escape" that he might be able to bear it.

Let us hate all suspicious thoughts, as those brought about and prized by that hell-bound spirit who tried to divide the Father and the Son by jealousy, saying, "If you are the Son of God" (Matt. 4:6). Even now, his daily ambition is to divide the Son and us by creating false ideas of Christ in us, as if Christ did not have that tender love for us in him. It was Satan's design from the beginning to discredit God to man by calling God's love into question with our first father Adam. His success then makes him ready to use that weapon still.

Now all the millions of mankind, of whatever country and nation, whether they expect this tremendous day or not, all feel a shock through their whole frames, while they are instantaneously metamorphosed in every limb, and the pulse of immortality begins to beat strong in every part! Now also the slumberers under ground begin to stir, to rouse, and spring to life! Now see graves opening, tombs bursting, charnel-houses rattling, the earth heaving, and all alive, while these subterranean armies are bursting their way through! See clouds of human dust and broken bones darkening the air, and flying from country to country over intervening continents and oceans—to meet their kindred fragments, and repair the shattered frame with pieces collected from a thousand different quarters, where they were blown away by winds, or washed away by seas

Follow the Prophet with your mind's eye. Hour after hour he plods along beneath the burning sun, his feet blistered by the scorching sands, alone in the dreary desert. At last fatigue and anguish overcame his sinewy strength and he "came and sat under a juniper tree: and requested for himself that he might die" (1 Kings 19:4). The first thing we would note in this connection is that disheartened and despondent as he was, Elijah made no attempt to lay violent hands on himself.

Others, though they lie ready to die, yet they are busying themselves about their outward affairs, as though they should certainly live here, even to live and enjoy the same for ever. Again, come to others, speak to them about the state of their souls, though they have no more experience of the new birth than a beast,

Some are haunted with the hideous nature of their imaginations and with wicked and unworthy thoughts of God, Christ, and the Word, which, as busy flies, disquiet and assault their peace. These are cast in a wildfire by Satan, which can be seen in the strangeness, the strength and violence, and the horrible nature of these imaginations, even to those who are corrupt. A virtuous soul is no guiltier of them than Benjamin was when Joseph's cup was put into his sack.

At the day of judgment, many men's conditions and behaviors will be so laid open that it will be evident that they have been very merciless toward the children of God, insomuch that when the providence of God fell out so as to cross their expectations, they have been very much offended thereat, as is very evidently seen in them who set themselves to study how to bring the saints into bondage, and to thrust them into corners, as in these late years (Psalm 31:13). And because God has, in His goodness, ordered things otherwise, they have gnashed their teeth at this.

We must beware of false reasoning, such as: because our fire does not blaze up as others, we therefore have no fire at all. By false conclusions we might break the commandment by bearing false witness against ourselves. The prodigal would not say that he was not a son, but that he was not worthy of being called a son (Luke 15:19). We must neither trust false evidence nor deny true evidence, for by doing so we would dishonor the work of God's Spirit in us.

Meetings are held every evening in the week, crowded, still, and solemn as eternity. Every Monday evening, we meet the anxious ones in a large ball-room. We have had from sixty to about three hundred assembled at these meetings, all solemn, and many in deep distress of soul. The cloud of divine influence, has gone rapidly over our heads, and covered us with awful solemnity. And there is the sound of abundance of rain. The fields have whitened every where, and we are in danger of losing much of the harvest, because we cannot reap every where at once.

When has it been so in times past, when there has been times of great outpourings of God's Spirit, but that many who for a while have inquired with others, what they should do to be saved, have failed, and afterwards grown hard and secure? All of you that are now awakened, have a mind to obtain salvation, and probably hope to get a title to heaven, in the time of this present moving of God's Spirit: but yet, (though it be awful to be spoken, and awful to be thought,) we have no reason to think any other, than that some of you will burn in hell to all eternity.

Oftentimes God allows questions to arise to test our love and exercise our abilities. Nothing is as certain as that which is certain after doubts. Shaking settles and roots. In a contentious age, it is a wise thing to be a Christian and to know what to rest our souls upon. It is an office of love in this life to take away the stones and to smooth the path to heaven. Therefore, we must take heed that, under the pretense of avoiding disputes, we do not allow an adversary to gain ground on the truth, for by such we might easily betray both the truth of God and the souls of men.