_He went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees_ THE GOSPEL FOR THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY I. WE HERE BEHOLD OUR SAVIOUR IN THE SOCIAL CIRCLE. Jesus was not a recluse. He had a kind and social heart. He came to instruct, benefit, and redeem men, and He took pleasure in mingling wit... [ Continue Reading ]
_He put forth a parable to those which were bidden_ CHRIST’S GREAT TEXT BOOK “When He marked how they … ” The book of daily life was Christ’s great text-book. What every man did, gave Him a subject; every word He heard started a novel theme. We poor preachers of the nineteenth century often cannot... [ Continue Reading ]
_Call the poor_ THE CHURCH’S DUTY TO THE POOR A recent advertisement on our city walls struck me as singularly suggestive; it contained the words, “God and the poor. ” Such a conjunction of words is most remarkable: the highest and the lowest, He who owns all things, and they who own nothing: it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God._ UNREAL WINDS There are a great many ways of turning a conversation when it happens to be suggestive of disagreeable truth, or to convey advice which we should prefer not to take, or to reveal to us points in our character which we should... [ Continue Reading ]
_A certain man made a great supper_ PARABLE OF THE GREAT SUPPER I. THE ELABORATE PREPARATION. Indicating the treasures of Divine wisdom, forethought, power, love, expended upon the work of redemption. II. MEN’S PREFERENCE OF OTHER THINGS--not things sinful in themselves, but worldly pursuits, occ... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any man come to Me, and hate not, etc_ THE STATUTE-LAW OF DISCIPLESHIP I. THE NATURE OF THIS NECESSARY QUALIFICATION OF A TRUE DISCIPLE OF CHRIST. 1. An esteem of Christ above all. 2. The heart renounces its property in all things of the world, in the day of its closing with Jesus Christ. 3... [ Continue Reading ]
_And whosoever doth not bear his cross, etc_ ON TAKING UP THE CROSS _Christiani sunt cruciani, _says Luther, Christians are cross-bearers. It is in their hearts to bear the cross, whatever it be, whensoever Christ shall require it; and they do actually bear it whenever they are called to it. They... [ Continue Reading ]
_For which of you, intending to build a tower_ THE CHRISTIAN BUILDER Our Lord on purpose mentioned a tower rather than any other building, perhaps to signify that the top of our spiritual building must reach to heaven, or otherwise it will be vain to build. A Christian, then, is a man that builds... [ Continue Reading ]
_Or what king, going to make war_ CONSIDER BEFORE YOU FIGHT I. First, then, THERE ARE SOME HERE WHO ARE NOT THE FRIENDS OF GOD, and in this case he that is not with Him is against Him. If you could have what you wish there would be no God. If it were in your power you would never trouble yourself a... [ Continue Reading ]
_He cannot be My disciple_ CHRIST REQUIRES SUPREME REGARD I. THE POSSESSIONS WHICH JESUS CHRIST REQUIRES US TO FORSAKE IN ORDER TO OUR BECOMING HIS DISCIPLES. In our text Jesus Christ authoritatively asserts the absolute right and the first claim to all that we have and to all that we are. Ourselv... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salt is good_ SALT THAT IS GENUINE, AND SALT THAT IS SALTLESS Among the substances that enter into the composition of this globe of earth, salt is a very important one, being of essential use in the economy of the world, and eminently conducive to the preservation of human life. It may be regarde... [ Continue Reading ]