_The righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God._ IN THE HAND OF GOD This is the sober second thought of a wise man who has been sorely troubled in his mind by dwelling on the mysteries of Providence. But the darkness begins to disappear as soon as he allows his mind to rest o... [ Continue Reading ]
_All things come alike to all _ THE IMPARTIALITY OF PROVIDENCE Of what service is a religious life to man since Providence treats all alike? This statement is-- I. Phenomenally true. To all outward appearance the good and the bad are treated alike. All are subject to the same diseases, bereaveme... [ Continue Reading ]
_The heart of the sons of men is full of evil._ SCRIPTURAL STATEMENT OF THE DOCTRINES OF HUMAN CORRUPTION, AND OF THE RENEWAL OF THE HEART TO HOLINESS I. Man’s natural corruption. 1. One prevailing misconception on the subject of human corruption respects the seat of the disorder. What is the dail... [ Continue Reading ]
_A living dog is better than a dead lion._ SINNERS, LIVING AND DEAD I. Some sinners are more contemptible than others. There is as much difference between some and others as there is between the “dog” and the “lion.” 1. Some sinners are baser in nature than others. There are some who are constitu... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the living know that they shall die._ A FUNERAL SERMON I. Whence it is that the living attain the sure and infallible knowledge of their own death. 1. There be many things from whence we may collect the necessity of dying. (1) We may collect it by those harbingers and forerunners of death,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now aceepteth thy works._ FESTIVAL JOY This is one of those passages, so remarkable in the writings of Solomon, in which the words of sinful men in the world are taken up by the Holy Ghost, to be applied in a Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might._ OF INDUSTRY IN GENERAL By industry we understand a serious and steady application of mind, joined with a vigorous exercise of our active faculties, in prosecution of any reasonable, honest, useful design, in order to the accomplishment or a... [ Continue Reading ]
_I returned, and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong._ THE CLIENT OF THINGS NOT ALWAYS ANSWERABLE TO SECOND CAUSES There are some persons so slothful in their own affairs, so hardly prevailed upon to undertake anything that requires labour, so easily di... [ Continue Reading ]
_Man also knoweth not his time._ BLESSED IGNORANCE “If ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.” This applies to our ignorance in relation to the future. It is mercy that has woven the veil. I. If we knew our future, enjoyment would be impossible. Suppose we knew all the bereavements, suffering... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a little city, and few men within it._ THE LITTLE CITY AND THE POOR WISE MAN The little city, as first introduced to our notice, is in sore straits. The legion of the foe seem innumerable, while the garrison is reduced to a mere handful. They are fast being brought to extremities, and in... [ Continue Reading ]
_The words of wise men are heard in quiet._ THE SUPERIORITY OF MORAL TO MILITARY FORCE “The words of wise men are heard in quiet”: words of thoughtfulness and conviction, silently dropping from the lips or the pen, are more mighty than the boisterous bombastic utterances of those who rule by force... [ Continue Reading ]