Jesus said, One thing is needful....Luke x. 42. THE disposition and carriage of the sisters, Martha and Mary, much resemble the different desires and actings of the flesh and spirit, of which every christian is composed. The flesh, like Martha, is careful and troubled about many things: it is ever restless and uneasy; always in want; seldom satisfied; never truly happy. But the spirit hath chose that good part, that one thing needful: it is truly wise in its choice, quite satisfied in its object, and truly happy in its enjoyment. Thus it is while the christian is under the prevailing influence of this ONE THING NEEDFUL. One thing, the enjoyment of God, was our first parent's paradise. A thirst after, and enjoyment of two things (the knowledge of evil as well as good) caused all their woe, and made them miserable: and it is the knowledge of the former which keeps all their posterity under the sad circumstances they are fallen into, till they are brought to know the one thing needful. What is this but the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? This was the great apostle's continual prayer, "That I may know HIM." This was what Mary was happy in the enjoyment of, and what our Lord himself commends her for, and calls that good part, which shall never be taken away. This one thing comprehends all wisdom, holiness, and happiness. To know Jesus, is to believe in him. To believe on him, is to love him; and to love him, is to keep his commandments. In every station, in all seasons, and under every circumstance, this one thing, this knowledge of Jesus, is ever needful, ever seasonable.. Doth the christian enjoy health? This knowledge joins to health of body, peace and joy of soul. Is he in sickness? To know Jesus is the richest cordial, the most reviving draught to his soul. Is he tempted? What consolation is it to know Jesus was in all things tempted, that he might succour the tempted? Doth sin distress? Doth the law condemn? O, the soul who knows Jesus, can boldly challenge, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?" He can confidently declare, "there is no condemnation to them." Does death, the king of terrors, affright him? By the knowledge of Jesus he is disarmed of his strength and sting; which is the law and sin. So that, O soul, thou mayest take up this triumphant challenge against the last enemy, "O death, where is thy sting! O grave, where is thy victory!" I have all things, and abound in this one thing: I have Christ my Saviour found. On earth we want the sight Of our Redeemer's face, And when we taste thy love, Yet, Lord, our inmost thoughts delight Unspeakable, like those above To dwell upon thy grace. And heav'n begins below. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not; for God is conie to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, sin not....Exod. xx. 20. that ye PRIDE and self-confidencé are deeply rooted in the human heart. False hopes are built on self-righteous pleas. By these the heart is blinded to the exceeding sinfulness of sin; hardened against the fear and dread of the Lord; and such live in rebellion against the truth as in Jesus. Like Paul, we are all naturally alive without the law; and, with the Israelites of old, are ready to say, “ All that the Lord hath spoken we will do."....Exod. xix. 8. Alas! poor souls utter such words of ignorance and pride, when, like the disciples on the mount, "they know not what they say." But whom the Lord loves, he proves. The Lord is a jealous God; he will suffer no flesh to glory in his presence; nor shall his dear children live without his fear, and a holy hatred of pride and sin; therefore they must go out of their tents of vain confidence. When the Lord discovers himself in glory and majesty, as a holy, sin-avenging God; when the law, in its holy, just, and righteous. demands is revealed in the conscience, it makes the stoutest heart to tremble: it fills the guilty, self-accused sinner with fear and horror, and then "sin revives, and he dies"....dies to all his former false hopes. Yea, and he would, if left to his own dreadful apprehensions, fly from God, and sink into black despair, and die without hope. But the dear Mediator is ever near, and prevents this: he speaks in love,"Fear not." This dispensation is not to destroy your soul, but to kill your vain hopes....to prove and try you....to shew you what is in you: that you may be dead to the law, be alive to God by a better hope, through the faith of me your Jesus. So fear the Lord with a loving fear, as to die to sin. Thunders of wrath, terrible peals of curses are sometimes necessary to be heard in the conscience; they fulfil God's will. The bleak north wind of the law kills the vermin of nature; while the warm, comforting south wind of the gospel cherishes and enlivens the seeds of grace. Thus the Spirit humbles proud hearts, revives contrite spirits, endears Christ, who hath endured the curses we have deserved, and embitters sin to believing, penitent souls. "Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living."....Job xxxiii. 29, 30. The law discovers guilt and sin, My soul, no more attempt to draw And shews how vile our hearts have Thy life and comfort from the law; Only the gospel can express [been: Fly to the hope the gospel gives ; Forgiving love, and cleansing grace. The man that trusts the promise lives Knowing, that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me....2 Pet. i. 14. NOTHING but the life of Jesus, manifest in our flesh, can reconcile us to death. This, and this only, delivers from the fears of death, disarms it of its sting, and fortifies the mind with the knowledge of complete victory over the king of terrors, "through him who hath loved us." Constant converse with Jesus makes death familiar. So we learn to die daily; so the spiritual, immortal life of the soul triumphs over the sensual, mortal life of the body. The happy spirit, in some highly-favored seasons, is so far from fearing and trembling at the body's dissolution, that it rejoices, and even longs to be set at liberty from its imprisoned state; it pants with desires after its beloved, and says, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly:" It wants To clap its glad wings and tow'r away, And mingle with eternal day, How sweet to live in such a frame! how desirable! how daily and earnestly to be sought for! That when the frail body is attacked with any sickness, the soul may ask, with great serenity, in the words of John Baptist to Jesus, "Art thou he?" Is this disorder to put the finishing stroke to all my trials and griefs? "or must I look for another?" When a little child of mine saw a beggar ragged and deformed, it ran into my arms, and cried, 'O papa, save me from that frightful man! O, thought I, that in the views of death, may I ever thus, with boldness and familiarity, run to the arms of my heavenly Father. The * All men know they must die. They confess this. But the thoughts of it are irksome. Believers in Jesus only, have a peculiar knowledge of death, so as to dwell on the thought, that it will come shortly, with satisfaction, hope, and comfort. Jesus hath shewed them this. From him "the righteous hath hope in his death."....Prov. xiv. 32. Is it in vain then, the Saviour saith, "Forsake all, take up thy cross, follow me!" No: it verily is for the profit and the peace of the soul. For the more stedfastly we are attached to, and eagerly pursue the things of this life, so much the more we are loth to die. We fear the approach, and tremble at the very apprehension of the unwelcome messenger. All this is, because the objects of time and sense cloud our minds, and darken our views of the victorious Jesus, his perfect work and finished salvation for us. Only while Jesus is embraced in the arms of faith, the soul can say, with Simeon, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."....Luke ii, 29, 30. Will death this body soon destroy? O yes! I wait the coming hour: What then? my Lord will raise it up Again, by his almighty pow'r. Then shall I live a joyful life, From sin and sorrow ever free. For ever with my Lord to be! M. That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations....Luke xxiv. 47. : THIS is God's method of saving sinners by Jesus Christ. Those who know the preciousness of Christ, have a regard to the glory of God, and love for immortal souls, make this the rule of their preaching for this doctrine, where it is known and experienced in the heart, makes a true christian. Evangelical repentance flows from a seeing eye, a hearing ear, and an understanding heart; and is an evidence and effect of gospel-faith. To see the evil nature and dreadful effects of sin, its punishment in the sufferings of Jesus, to hear the curses and condemnation of the law against sinners, its dreadful thunders and menaces in the conscience; to understand in the heart that nothing but the blood of Jesus could atone for the guilty, none but he could fulfil the perfect demands of a holy law for the unrighteous; this humbles the soul, cuts off false hopes, lays it low in self-abasement before Jehovah, causes it to cry out, "I am the man, the sinner I, who am cursed by law, exposed to wrath, and deserve hell. I mourn without hope in myself; I hear of Jesus, the Saviour of sinners; I turn to him for hope and salvation. Sin has destroyed me. Jesus save, or I perish." This repentance, Jesus is exalted to give. This makes a proud sinner humble. Remission of sins makes a poor sinner a happy saint. Hath Christ obtained remission of sins by his blood? hath he commanded this should be preached in his name? is he exalted to give it? hath he brought the poor sinner, by his Spirit, to his feet to sue for it? and will he refuse to make the soul happy in the sense of it? Never, never, let such a thought be indulged by any poor sensible sinner. We read no such hard lines in his word. We find no such dejecting views from his life and death. The doctrine he prescribed is a lively transcript of all that was in his loving heart. Be assured, O soul, there shall be a performance of all things that ~ are promised of the Lord, to him that believeth. The same Jesus who gives the soul the humbling view of itself, and by repentance, to turn to him, will give it the rejoicing knowledge of himself, by the remission of sins, through faith in his blood. Repentance and remission of sins are joined together in preaching: they can neverð be separated in the heart. So sure as repentance is given to any soul by the Spirit of Jesus, that soul is forgiven, through the blood of Jesus, by God the Father. Blest is the man to whom the Lord With deep repentance well agree; Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision....Acts xxvi. 19. ONE is sometimes called to bear testimony before unbelievers of the hope that is in one. It is difficult to speak of the manifestation of Christ to the heart, so that the Saviour alone may be exalted and glorified. Somewhat of self naturally creeps into the relation. It is very pleasing to nature, to be esteemed as one highly favored,' and to have made great attainments in christianity. O that single letter, with great sound, I! But it was farthest from the heart of Paul, that eminent champion for free-grace salvation, to give the least encouragement from his conversion to any fellow-sinner to talk of obedience to God's call, or faithfulness to his grace, as conditions of salvation. The soul of that man of God would be fired with a holy zeal for his master's glory, was he now on earth, to hear his language abused, and his meaning perverted, by the pride of men." Men of self-righteous principles oppose the truths of the gospel; deny God's unconditional election, unmerited love, the finished' salvation of Jesus, and its being sure to all his seed, through the sovereign application of the Lord the Spirit. To what end? Truly to make way for their unscriptural notions of terms and conditions of salvation. They dare proudly and arrogantly teach, that obedience to Jesus is the condition of salvation. Will they not also say, that when Jesus called, "Lazarus, come forth," his rising up was a condition of his being restored to life? How hard for pride to forsake the human heart! Paul was favored with an extraordinary vision from the Lord Jesus from heaven, to call him to be his faithful servant. Obedient hearts are caused by effectual calls. But after Paul had laboured more abundantly than all the rest of the apostles, what was his glorying? "Yet not I, but the grace of God, striving (says he)` aecording....to what? my power? my ability? No; to his working, which worketh in me mightily."....Col. i. 29. O here is a blessed pattern, a profitable lesson of humility set before us! Hath Jesus appeared to us in the vision of faith by the word of truth? Hath he effectually called us to believe in his name, and to rejoice in his salvation? What shall we say, but fall upon the bended knees of our hearts, and in warmest gratitude of soul, adore grace, rich, free, sovereign, distinguishing grace! Have we been, and do we still continue obedient to the heavenly vision? What then? shall we sacrifice to our own net, and burn incense to our own drag, and say, Because of my obedience, my faithfulness? God forbid! for this is only grace upon grace. If we have obtained grace to be faithful, the comfort is ours; but all the glory is due to the giver. "Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us." Why? "for thou hast wrought all our works in us."....Isa. xxvi. 12. |