A Small Basket of Fragments for God's Poor Family (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1839. Excerpt: ... 1. I CANNOT be persuaded but that all the Lord's family are desirous of being fruitful in their day, both in heart and life, in every good word, and every good work. Yet let them remember what accompanies fruitfulness. The dear Redeemer saith, And every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring fourth more fruit. John Xv. 2. So then, the more furnace work, the more fruit, and the more fruit, the more glory redounds to the sovereign Creator of it. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. Verse 8. 2. Holiness of life while in this world, is one grand end of our calling. 1. Theb. iv. 7. The practical part of the Gospel is by many deemed legal and set aside as useless. I have observed that such are in general, zealous contenders for doctrines, yet still methinks they are licentious livers, and if weighed in the ballance would be found wanting. Hath the eternal Jehovah strewed all those cautious, reproofs, examples, exhortations, and instructions up and down in the Bible for no other purpose, save only, to look upon and talk about? Surely not. He hath set them there for our profit and encouragement. The bare letter of Scripture cannot satisfy us, but when the Holy Ghost shines upon that letter, and we enjoy the substance thereof, we prove it to be a suitable directory through this wilderness world to the heavenly Jerusalem above. Ps. cxix. 105. 3. Christ is our fore-runner, and as such, he has left us an example that we should follow his steps. This example faith keeps in view. It tracks his sacred footsteps, watcheth his word of command, and surmounts every difficulty, while love sweetly constrains us to follow on bearing the cross and expecting the same fare Heb. xii. 1. 2. 3. 2. Con. v. 14. 4. Bel...