This BOOK!
(James Smith, "The Way of Salvation Set Forth")
The fountain of divine truth i
s the LORD JESUS CHRIST,
the repository of divine truth
the repository of divine truth
is the Holy Scriptures,
the proper abode of divine
the proper abode of divine
truth is the sinner's heart,
and the sacred revealer
and the sacred revealer
of truth is the HOLY SPIRIT.
The BIBLE contains all necessary truth--
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.
to sanctify the heart,
and to direct the feet.
When 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 deservings,
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!
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 deservings,
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!
"His delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on HIS law he meditates day
and night!" Psalm 1:2
and on HIS law he meditates day
and night!" Psalm 1:2
~ ~ ~ ~
No comments:
Post a Comment