Notes, Explanatory and Practical by Alb. Barnes (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. 1847 Excerpt: ... Humility is the best evidence of piety, ver. 4. The most humble man is the most eminent Christian. He is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The effect of sin is to produce pride. Religion overcomes it by producing a just sense of ourselves, of other men, of angels, and of God. We may, therefore, measure the advance of piety in our own souls by the increase of humility. (5.) We see the danger of despising and doing injury to real Christians, and more especially the guilt of attempting to draw them into sin, ver. 6. God watches over them. He loves them. In the eye of the world they may be of little importance, but not so with God. The most obscure follower of Christ is dear, infinitely dear, to him; and he will take care of him. He that attempts to injure a Christian attempts to injure God; for God has redeemed him, and loves him. (6.) Men will do much to draw others into sin, ver. 7. In all communities there are some who seem to live for this. They have often much wealth, or learning, or accomplishment, or address, or professional influence; and they employ it for the sake of seducing the unwary, and leading them into ruin. Hence offences come, and many of the young and thoughtless are led astray. But He who has all power has pronounced woe upon them, and judgment will not always linger. No class of men have a more fearful account to render to God than they who thus lead others into vice and infidelity. (7.) We must forsake our dearest sins, vers. 8, 9. We must do this, or go to hell-fire. There is no way of avoiding it. We cannot love and cherish those sins, and be saved. (8.) The wicked--they who will not forsake their sins--must certainly go to eternal punishment, vers. 8, 9. So said the compassionate Saviour. The fair and obvious meaning of his words is...