(James Smith, "The Way of Salvation Set Forth")
The fountain of divine truth
is the LORD JESUS CHRIST,
the repository of divine truth
is the Holy Scriptures,
the proper abode of divine
truth is the sinner's heart,
and the sacred revealer
of truth is the HOLY SPIRIT.
The Bible contains all necessary truth--
and nothing but truth. It was written
expressly for sinners, it is freely
given to them by GOD, that they
may learn the things which make for
their everlasting peace and salvation.
It was never designed to gratify
the critic's pride, or please
the carnal imagination;
but it was intended . . .
to inform the mind,
to sanctify the heart,
and to direct the feet.
22When we take it up, we should
remember that it is a precious
gift of GOD to poor sinners,
designed to benefit them,
and glorify HIS Holy Name.
This book sets before us our true
state before GOD, as sinners:
cursed,
loathsome,
vile,
unworthy,
base,
Heaven-daring,
wrath-provoking,
mercy-despising,
Hell-deserving sinners.
It shows us that . . .
we have come short of the glory
of GOD; our hearts are depraved
beyond description, and vile
beyond expression; the nature of
satan is not actually worse than ours;
instead of having anything to boast
of, or pride ourselves in--
all that we have and are,
is calculated to fill us with shame,
confusion, and self-abhorrence.
This book shows us plainly
that salvation must be of grace--
or not at all. It informs us that by
faith in JESUS, we can rise from
our dreadful state, and escape our
fearful doom. It sets before us . . .
the provision of divine mercy,
the contrivance of infinite wisdom,
and the promises of eternal love.
It exhibits a perfect SAVIOR,
suited to our miseries and woes.
It presents to us a salvation . . .
all of grace,
to be enjoyed by faith, and
manifested by good works.
A salvation that . . .
reaches to our present state,
delivers us from all that we have
reason to fear, introduces us to all
that we can consistently desire, and
gives us a right to all that GOD has
promised, and that Jesus has procured.
In a word, this blessed Bible
tells the poor sinner . . .
what he is by nature,
what he must be by grace, and
then what he will be in glory.
It shows him . . .
nature's desert,
mercy's way of escape, and
how GOD is glorified in his
present salvation and future glory.
This book exhibits GOD'S . . .
gracious purposes,
merciful promises,
and wise precepts.
It sets forth . . .
the thoughts of GOD,
the secrets of eternity,
the designs of everlasting love,
the method of salvation,
the saint's privileges and glory,
the impenitent sinner's state,
condition and awful doom!
This book . . .
contains the mind of GOD;
reveals the way of salvation
by JESUS CHRIST;
teaches the genuine
evidences of real Christianity;
is a complete rule of life;
is the charter of the Christian's privileges;
is the casket that contains the jewels
of GOD'S promises;
is the light that illumines
our path in this dark world; and
marks out as with a sunbeam,
the blessed end of the righteous--
and the miserable doom
of the impenitent sinner.
All who live and die without
the salvation it makes known--
will be cast into outer darkness,
where there is eternal weeping,
and wailing, and gnashing of teeth!
There is a majesty in the Word
of GOD which the believer sees,
and an excellency, and glory which
the Heaven-taught sinner discovers.
He can no longer trifle with it, despise it,
or pour contempt upon it.
He views it as of . . .
infinite importance,
inconceivable value, and
exact adapted to himself.
He feels a deep interest in its
contents, and is concerned . . .
to become acquainted with
the blessings it reveals,
to enjoy the privileges it sets
forth, and escape the threatenings
it holds out.
The true Christian . . .
learns the doctrines with satisfaction,
believes the promises with joy,
accepts the invitations with gratitude,
receives the cautions with fear,
listens to the exhortations with pleasure,
walks by the precepts with delight,
reads it with reverence,
searches it with diligence, and
implores the promised teaching
and guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT
to understand it.
Beware of slighting, despising,
or neglecting the Bible.
Read it daily, pray over it
incessantly, and meditate
on what it reveals continually!
The fountain of divine truth
is the LORD JESUS CHRIST,
the repository of divine truth
is the Holy Scriptures,
the proper abode of divine
truth is the sinner's heart,
and the sacred revealer
of truth is the HOLY SPIRIT.
The Bible contains all necessary truth--
and nothing but truth. It was written
expressly for sinners, it is freely
given to them by GOD, that they
may learn the things which make for
their everlasting peace and salvation.
It was never designed to gratify
the critic's pride, or please
the carnal imagination;
but it was intended . . .
to inform the mind,
to sanctify the heart,
and to direct the feet.
22When we take it up, we should
remember that it is a precious
gift of GOD to poor sinners,
designed to benefit them,
and glorify HIS Holy Name.
This book sets before us our true
state before GOD, as sinners:
cursed,
loathsome,
vile,
unworthy,
base,
Heaven-daring,
wrath-provoking,
mercy-despising,
Hell-deserving sinners.
It shows us that . . .
we have come short of the glory
of GOD; our hearts are depraved
beyond description, and vile
beyond expression; the nature of
satan is not actually worse than ours;
instead of having anything to boast
of, or pride ourselves in--
all that we have and are,
is calculated to fill us with shame,
confusion, and self-abhorrence.
This book shows us plainly
that salvation must be of grace--
or not at all. It informs us that by
faith in JESUS, we can rise from
our dreadful state, and escape our
fearful doom. It sets before us . . .
the provision of divine mercy,
the contrivance of infinite wisdom,
and the promises of eternal love.
It exhibits a perfect SAVIOR,
suited to our miseries and woes.
It presents to us a salvation . . .
all of grace,
to be enjoyed by faith, and
manifested by good works.
A salvation that . . .
reaches to our present state,
delivers us from all that we have
reason to fear, introduces us to all
that we can consistently desire, and
gives us a right to all that GOD has
promised, and that Jesus has procured.
In a word, this blessed Bible
tells the poor sinner . . .
what he is by nature,
what he must be by grace, and
then what he will be in glory.
It shows him . . .
nature's desert,
mercy's way of escape, and
how GOD is glorified in his
present salvation and future glory.
This book exhibits GOD'S . . .
gracious purposes,
merciful promises,
and wise precepts.
It sets forth . . .
the thoughts of GOD,
the secrets of eternity,
the designs of everlasting love,
the method of salvation,
the saint's privileges and glory,
the impenitent sinner's state,
condition and awful doom!
This book . . .
contains the mind of GOD;
reveals the way of salvation
by JESUS CHRIST;
teaches the genuine
evidences of real Christianity;
is a complete rule of life;
is the charter of the Christian's privileges;
is the casket that contains the jewels
of GOD'S promises;
is the light that illumines
our path in this dark world; and
marks out as with a sunbeam,
the blessed end of the righteous--
and the miserable doom
of the impenitent sinner.
All who live and die without
the salvation it makes known--
will be cast into outer darkness,
where there is eternal weeping,
and wailing, and gnashing of teeth!
There is a majesty in the Word
of GOD which the believer sees,
and an excellency, and glory which
the Heaven-taught sinner discovers.
He can no longer trifle with it, despise it,
or pour contempt upon it.
He views it as of . . .
infinite importance,
inconceivable value, and
exact adapted to himself.
He feels a deep interest in its
contents, and is concerned . . .
to become acquainted with
the blessings it reveals,
to enjoy the privileges it sets
forth, and escape the threatenings
it holds out.
The true Christian . . .
learns the doctrines with satisfaction,
believes the promises with joy,
accepts the invitations with gratitude,
receives the cautions with fear,
listens to the exhortations with pleasure,
walks by the precepts with delight,
reads it with reverence,
searches it with diligence, and
implores the promised teaching
and guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT
to understand it.
Beware of slighting, despising,
or neglecting the Bible.
Read it daily, pray over it
incessantly, and meditate
on what it reveals continually!
and on HIS law he meditates day and
night!" Psalm 1:2
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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