The Christian Garland, a Popular Exposition (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881 edition. Excerpt: ... guard ourselves in all desires. These desires are often not evil in themselves, only when they become our masters, and the greatest sources of our pleasure. Let us, then, take as a constant object for our prayers, a constant object for our self-examination and thought about ourselves and our position in the sight of God, this thought--that as children of God, because of our faith in Christ, because of our knowledge of Him, and our heavenly hopes, we will, God helping ns, live a life of habitual self-control and crucifixion of the flesh, with its affections and lusts. IV. Patient Endurance. 'He next flower in this Christian garland is one which is not of a very bright colour, and so not one which will at first sight attract particular attention or praise, and yet has in it that which is absolutely necessary to give strength, stability, and firmness to all the others--I mean the virtue of patience or endurance, producing permanence in the Christian's life, and work, and virtues. We read a great deal about this in Scripture. How solemnly does our Lord Himself warn us of the necessity for this permanence and patient endurance, when in the parable of the sower He points out one class of ground from which the corn sprang up quickly, yet having no root in himself only dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. This is a subject, which in the time of great Christian effort, and much excitement on the subject of Christianity, needs to be much thought over and prayed over, lest many poor souls should think themselves to be Christians, when only temporarily excited, and falling away on the first appearance of trial or loss, or severe temptation, should give up at once their hope...