In the Very Bosom of the Church

For the love of the church, the body of Christ, prayers and supplications must be our daily prayer for her.  She struggles in a world that is contrary, one that does not delight in the blessings of God.  The unbeliever lives in ignorance of Him but  takes delight and pleasure in His gifts of life itself, creation’s joys, liberty, health, beauty and grace.  They live in the world but do not know and acknowledge the Creator and Sustainer of it and thus shun the knowledge of Him and His Word.  The people live as though there is no God and no one to whom they must give an account.  It is our prayer that their eyes be opened and ears unstopped and open to His Word to know Him in all of His attributes and saving grace whether in or out of the church._TG

“But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away. For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be. 2 Timothy 3:1-3

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“Even in gospel times there would be perilous times; on account of persecution from without, still more on account of corruptions within. Men love to gratify their own lusts, more than to please God and do their duty. When every man is eager for what he can get, and anxious to keep what he has, this makes men dangerous to one another. When men do not fear God, they will not regard man. When children are disobedient to their parents, that makes the times perilous. Men are unholy and without the fear of God, because unthankful for the mercies of God. We abuse God’s gifts, if we make them the food and fuel of our lusts. Times are perilous also, when parents are without natural affection to children. And when men have no rule over their own spirits, but despise that which is good and to be honoured. God is to be loved above all; but a carnal mind, full of enmity against him, prefers any thing before him, especially carnal pleasure. A form of godliness is very different from the power; from such as are found to be hypocrites, real Christians must withdraw. Such persons have been found within the outward church, in every place, and at all times. There ever have been artful men, who, by pretences and flatteries, creep into the favour and confidence of those who are too easy of belief, ignorant, and fanciful. All must be ever learning to know the Lord; but these follow every new notion, yet never seek the truth as it is in Jesus. Like the Egyptian magicians, these were men of corrupt minds, prejudiced against the truth, and found to be quite without faith. Yet though the spirit of error may be let loose for a time, Satan can deceive the nations and the churches no further, and no longer, than God will permit.” _Matthew Henry

“The seventh admonition: we may not hope for a Church in this world without corruption: but there will be rather great abundance of most wicked men even in the very bosom of the Church, who will nonetheless make a show and countenance of great holiness, and charity.” _Geneva

Oh My Soul

God is Sovereign

Oh my friends, though the earth be shaken, wars and rumors of wars are about, fighting is without and within, though one fears the future and things unseen and unknown, be encouraged as you read this beautiful passage extolling  what your Redeemer has done for you.  How great are His promises, His peace, His gifts, His reward…what glory is ours, what joy indeed!

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“O my soul, if thou couldst wear out thy fingers upon the harp, and wear thy tongue to the roots, thou couldst yet never sufficiently praise thy Redeemer.

O mine enemies!  Where is now your confidence and where is your armour wherein you trusted?  I will set Christ alone against all of your multitudes, and all the powers, malice, and policy, wherewith they are armed.  The field is already won, and the Captain of our salvation returned, with the spoils of his enemies, having made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in his cross, Col. ii.15.  And thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Cor. xv.57

Of whom then should I be afraid?  Behold he is near that justifieth me; who shall plead with me?

O ye powers of hell!  You are but chained captives, and we have a sure word, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against us, Matt. xvi.18.  Though the world be in arms against us, and the devil at the head of them as their champion; yet who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?  I Sam. xvii. 45-47.  Behold, I am come out to thee, as the stripling against Goliath; not with sword, and with spear, but in the name of the Lord of hosts, in whose strength I am more than a conqueror.

O grave, where is now thy victory?  Christ is risen, and hath broken up thy prison, and rolled away the stone, so that all the prisoners have made an escape.  Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; though I fall, I shall rise again; though I lie in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me, Mic. vii.8.  Enlarge not they desires, O Tophet, but shut up thy flaming mouth; for there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.  Rom. viii.1

O deceitful world, thou art already overcome. John xvi.33, and the conquered enemy is become my servant, I Cor. iii.22, and I am fed with the honey taken out of the carcass of the slain lion.  I fear not thy threats, nor the enchantments of the syren songs, being kept by the power of God, through a victorious faith, unto salvation.  I Peter i.4, I John v 4.

O my sins; you are already buried, never to have any resurrection, and the remembrance of you shall be no more.  Heb. viii.12  I see my sins nailed to the cross, and their dominion is taken away, though their lives be prolonged yet for a little season. Awake therefore, O my glory; awake psaltery and harp, and meet the deliverer with triumph; for his right hand, and his holy arm, have gotten us the victory, Psa. xcvii. 1.2, and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

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Richard Alleine, Heaven Opened, The Riches of God’s Covenant Grace, The Believer’s Triumph, pp. 290, 292 [July 8, 1665]