The Everlasting Covenant, The Believer's Support Under Distress
"Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow." -- 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. [392]
Before I open these words, I shall read the whole context, from the 1st verse unto the end of the 7th: "Now these be ...read
Sermon
The Evil And Danger Of Offences
"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" -- Matt. xviii. 7. [391]
It is very evident that our Lord Jesus Christ lays very great weight upon this matter of offences, He represents them like a two-edged sword, that cuts both ways: "Woe unto the world because ...read
Sermon
The Furnace Of Divine Wrath
"And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. A ...read
Sermon
The Humiliation And Condescension Of Christ
Preached November 9, 1681.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, hi humbled himself, and became obedi ...read
Sermon
The Life and Power of Divine Truth in Christ
Setting aside what we have discoursed and proved before--concerning the laying of the foundation of all the counsels of God in the person of Christ, and the representation of them in the ineffable constitution thereof--I shall give some few instances of this relation of all spiritual truths unto him--manifesting that we cannot learn them, nor know ...read
Sermon
The Mutual Care Of Believers Over One Another
Preached September 6, 1678.
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself ...read
Sermon
The Nature And Beauty Of Gospel Worship - sermon 1
"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." Eph. ii. 18.
In the foregoing verses the apostle makes mention of a double reconciliation, wrought by the blood of the cross, -- the one, of the Jews and Gentiles unto God; the other, of the same persons one to another. There were two things in the law:-- First, Worship institu ...read
The Nature And Beauty Of Gospel Worship - sermon 2
5. This also adds greatly to the glory and excellency of evangelical worship, that we have in it an access unto God, "in one Spirit," or "by one Spirit."
I shall show in brief, -- (1.) How we have it "by the Spirit;" (2.) How "in one," or "by one Spirit."
(1.) That by the Spirit the Holy Ghost is here intended, is not questioned by any. He is ...read
Sermon
The Obligation To Increase In Godliness
Preached May 29, 1674.
"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more." -- 1 Thess. iv. 1.
Our business that we design this day is, to consider how we may carry on our practice. This text of Scripture speaks o ...read
Sermon
The Sin And Judgment Of Spiritual Barrenness - sermon part 1
"But the miry places thereof, and the marshes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt." -- Ezek. xlvii. 11.
This prophecy contains a vision of the glorious, holy, gospel state of the church, under the representation of a most glorious temple, incomparably excelling that built of old by Solomon; an exposition whereof we have, 2 C ...read
The Sin And Judgment Of Spiritual Barrenness - sermon part 2
We shall now proceed to the uses.
Use 1. Wonder not if you see a diversity of success in preaching of the word. Some receive it with joy; the most despise it as a thing of nought. Whence is this difference? Multitudes are rejected of God, -- cast out of his care, -- barren land; he will till them no more. A cursed state! Marvel not that many ref ...read
Sermon
The Strength Of Faith - sermon 1
"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. -- Rom. iv. 20.
In this chapter the apostle singleth out a signal example, to make good the conclusion which, by sundry convincing demonstrations, he had proved in the foregoing chapter; namely, that the justification of a sinner could by no m ...read
The Strength Of Faith - sermon 2
The use of the point insisted on is, to encourage to the duty so commended and exalted; or, it contains motives unto steadfastness in believing the promises. Amongst the many that are usually insisted on to this purpose, I shall choose out some few that seem to be most effectual thereunto:--
Use 1. We shall begin with the consideration of God hi ...read
Sermon
The Use And Advantage Of Faith In A Time Of Public Calamity
"The just shall live by his faith." -- Hab. ii. 4.[405]
This is the first time these words are mentioned in the Scripture, but they are three times quoted by the apostle Paul: he preached, as it were, thrice upon them, Rom. i. 17; Gal. iii. 11; Heb. x. 38; for it is full of heavenly matter, and is made use of by the apostle to several purposes. ...read
The Use Of Faith Under Reproaches And Persecutions
"The just shall live by his faith." -- Hab. ii. 4. [406]
You may remember, I spake occasionally from that of the psalmist, Ps. xcvii. 2, "Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne;" and from thence took occasion to consider what is our especial duty when clouds and darkness are round abo ...read
The Use Of Faith, If Popery Should Return Upon Us
"The just shall live by his faith." -- Hab. ii. 4. [407]
Our inquiry is, how we may live by faith, with reference unto those difficulties we have, or may have, to conflict with in the days wherein we live. The last head we spake to was, how we may live by faith in reference to all the reproaches and scornful contempt that are cast upon that way ...read
The Use Of Faith, In A Time Of General Declension In Religion
"The just shall live by his faith." -- Hab. ii. 4. [408]
I am now come to the last thing that was proposed to be spoken to, and with which I shall shut up the subject, namely, --
3. How we may live by faith, under an apprehension of great and woeful decays in churches, in church-members, in professors of all sorts, and in the gradual withdraw ...read
Sermon
The Wisdom Of Making The Lord Our Refuge
Preached February 27, 1669.
"Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge." -- Ps. xiv. 6.
There is a peculiar mark put upon this psalm, in that it is twice in the Book of Psalms. The 14th psalm and the 53d psalm are the same, with the alteration of one or two expressions at most. And there is another mark put upon i ...read
John Owen