Page images
PDF
EPUB

Matt.xxviii.20 and, "lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world."

John xiv. 2.

Hence, this law being a general law throughout the visible Creation, it is open to the perception and adoption of hosts of reasonable beings, as it is to ourselves, in the millions of worlds which astronomy unfolds to our view, and in accordance with the word of the Lord. "In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told Psal. xxii. 26. you;" and it will be manifest that " They shall Psal. ciii. 3. praise the Lord that seek Him," "who forgiveth all their iniquities, who healeth all their diseases; who redeemeth their life from destruction; who crowneth them with loving kindness and tender mercies."

Prov. i. 22.

But, "the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge;-they shall eat of the fruit of their own ways."

[ocr errors]

WARNING

SCRIPTURAL ADDRESS.

66

Ezekiel xviii. 30, 31.

REPENT, AND TURN YOURSELVES FROM ALL YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS; SO INIQUITY SHALL NOT BE YOUR CAST AWAY FROM YOU ALL YOUR TRANSGRES

RUIN.

SIONS, WHEREBY YE HAVE TRANSGRESSED, AND MAKE
YOU A NEW HEART AND A NEW SPIRIT; FOR WHY WILL
YE DIE, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL?"

THESE prophetic words were addressed by the Word of the Lord in his servant Ezekiel, and referred to his coming to redeem the House of Israel in the person of Jesus, in fulfilment of the promise made to Abraham and his seed: namely, to redeem them from the spirit of evil and death, by giving them a new heart and a new spirit. And the rejection of Him by a part of the House of Israel had reference to the question, "Why will ye die, O House of Israel?" for "Of this salvation the pro- 1 Peter i. 10. phets enquired and searched diligently, who pro

John iii. 5.

John iv. 13.

phesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."

66

Hence the words of Jesus, that promised Christ,

Except a man be born of water in the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God; for that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit, is spirit-marvel not that I said unto you, ye must be born from above.” Hence his words to the woman of Samaria, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever shall drink of the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing 1 Cor. vi. 17. up into everlasting life" for "He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit" in eternity. "God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth."

John iv. 24.

[ocr errors]

Now the reason why they would perish was by their not fulfilling the law, and yet rejecting Jesus the Messiah, as is manifest by the following quesJohn vii. 19. tion: "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law?" He therefore told John viii. 23. them, "Ye are from beneath, I am from above: ye are of the spirit of this world, I am not of the spirit of this world.-I speak that which I have seen with my Father, and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith

unto them, if ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham; but now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God-this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they unto him, we be not born of fornication, we have one father, even God. Jesus saith unto them, if God were your father ye would love me, for I proceeded forth and came from God, neither came I of myself, but He sent me." And to inform them of the depraved spirit they were of in their natural state, he added, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do: he was a murderer from the beginning (in Cain), and abode not in the spirit of truth, because there is no truth in him; when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar, and the father of it." Hence their being of the nature of Satan the devil, in arrogant pride of self sufficiency, was the cause of their not understanding his words. Why do ye not under- John viii. 43. stand my speech, even because ye cannot hear my words. He that is of God, heareth God's words, ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God's spirit." Further to show that he was the Son of God, "the Word that was in the beginning with Jobni. God," he said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to John viii. 56. see my day, and he saw it and was glad;" and

66

added, " before Abraham was I am." And that all John viii. 58. of his spirit are his brethren, he said, "Who is my Mark iii. 33. mother and my brother? and he looked round

about on them which sat about Him, and said, behold my mother and my brethren! for whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, my sister and mother." And to make manifest to his brethren their ultimate state, he said unto them, Matt. xvi. 28. There be some of them that stand here which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the

kingdom of God come with power. And after six Matt. xvii. 1. days, Jesus taketh with him Peter and James and John, his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, and He was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the Sun, and Matt. xvii. 3. his raiment was white as the light." And behold there appeared unto them, Moses and Elias talking with Him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here if thou wilt. Let us make here three tabernacles-one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold a voice out of the cloud which said: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him."

2 Peter i. 16.

Hence the testimony of his servant Peter, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His Majesty, for he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice

« PreviousContinue »