INSIGHTS & NOTES FROM
CHAPTER 32
"Ministers that would affect others with the things of God must make it appear that they are themselves affected with the miseries which sinners bring upon themselves by their sins. It becomes us to weep & tremble for those that will not weep & tremble for themselves." "A great deal of disquiet is often given to the world by the restless ambition & implacable resentments of proud princes." "He that has troubled others must expect to be himself troubled; for the Lord is righteous, Joshua 7:25." "Those that admire with complacency the pomp of this world will admire with consternation the ruin of that pomp." "When the sword of God's justice is drawn against some, to cut them off, it is thereby brandished before others, to give them warning." "In renouncing the pomps of this world, we did ourselves a great kindness, for they are things that are soon spoiled & that cheat their admirers." "Those, Christ's enemies, that would not have him to reign over them, shall be brought forth & slain before him, though they be as pompous, though they be as numerous as Pharaoh & all his multitude." CHAPTER 33 "...the watchman ...His business is (1.) To discover the approaches & advances of the enemy; & therefore he must not be blind nor asleep, for then he cannot see the sword coming. (2.) To give notice of them immediately by sound of trumpet, or, as sentinels among us, by the discharge of a gun, as a signal of danger." "...if the watchman do his part, & the people do theirs, all is well; both he that gives warning, & he that takes warning have delivered their souls." "His business as a watchman is to give warning to sinners of their misery & danger by reason of sin." "The blind leader shall fall with the blind follower into the ditch." "It is very common for those that have been hardened with presumption when they were warned against sin to sink into despair when they are called to repent, & to conclude there is no hope of life for them." "He (God) would rather sinners should turn & live than go on & die." "It is certain that God is sincere & in earnest in the calls he gives sinners to repent; Turn you, turn you, from your evil way." "If righteous men turn to iniquity, & return not to their righteousness, they shall certainly perish in their iniquity, & all the righteousness they have formerly done, all their prayers, & all their alms, shall be forgotten." "How can those expect the inheritance of Isaac (as these did) who are of Ishmael's disposition, that had his hand against every man (Genesis 16:12)." "Those cannot expect to possess the land, nor to enjoy any true comfort or happiness here or hereafter, who live in rebellion against the Lord." "...God takes notice of all that is said against his ministers" "Hypocrites mock God & mock his prophets." "Covetousness is the ruining sin of multitudes that make a great profession of (faith); it is the love of the world that secretly eats the love of God out of their hearts." "There are many who take pleasure in hearing the word, but make no conscience of doing it; & so they build upon the sand, & deceive themselves." CHAPTER 34 "...the shepherds ...God's controversy with them; ...1. That all their care was to advance & enrich themselves & to make themselves great." "2. That they took no care for the benefit & welfare of those that were committed to their charge; You feed not the flock." "Those that do not do the work of shepherds are unworthy of the name." "It is ill with the patient when his physician is his worst disease, ill with the flock when the shepherds drive them away & disperse them, by ruining them with force." "Those that will not hear the word of the Lord giving them their direction shall be made to hear the word of the Lord reading them their doom." "Those will have a great deal to answer for in the judgment-day who take upon them the care of souls & yet take no care of them. Ministers must watch & work as those that must give account, Hebrews 13:17." "It is just with God to take out of men's hands that power which they have abused & that trust which have betrayed." "The under-shepherds may prove careless, but the Chief Shepherd neither slumbers nor sleeps. They may be false, but God abides faithful." "If ministers, who should speak peace to those who are of a sorrowful spirit, neglect their duty, yet the Holy Ghost the Comforter will be faithful to his office." "It is a barbarous thing to add affliction to the afflicted." "If we take God to be our God, he will take us to be his people." "Those may lay down & sleep securely, sleep at ease, that have Christ for their prince; for he will be their protector, & make them to dwell in safety." "Those that are the blessed of the Lord must study to make themselves blessings to the world." CHAPTER 35 "Children will be more apt to imitate the vices than the virtues of their parents..." "Parents should therefore be careful not to set their children any bad example..." "Those that do not keep up a rooted hatred of sin, when a temptation to it is very strong, will be in danger of yielding to it." "Those that have a perpetual enmity to God & his people, as carnal mind has, can expect no other than to be made a perpetual desolation." "Those who, instead of weeping with the mourners, make a jest of their grievances, may justly be made to weep like the mourners, & themselves to feel the weight, to feel the smart of those grievances which they set so light by." "Those that are glad at the death & fall of others may expect that others will be glad of their death, of their fall." "The Lord is & will be known by the judgments which he executes." Matthew Henry's Commentary: Isaiah to Malachi, Mac Donald, pgs. 933 - 957.
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AuthorCross Preaching Pentecostal Pastor. Husband to Tonia, Father to 3 beautiful girls, Monica, Zoe & Briana, & Grandfather to Wesley & Elliott Archives
September 2023
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