Tag: Experimental Religion

An Exhortation To True Piety

Content not yourself with that formal religion which unregenerate men have framed to themselves, instead of sincere devotion; for in the multitude of opinions, most men have almost lost the practice of true religion. Think not that you are good enough, because you do as the most, and are not so bad as the worst. No man is so wicked that he is addicted to all kind of vices, for there is an antipathy between some vices; but remember that Christ says, “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat. 5:20). Consider with yourself how far you come short of the Pharisees, in fasting, praying, frequenting the church, and giving of alms: think with yourself how many pagans who never knew baptism, yet in moral virtues and honesty of life, do go far beyond you—where is then the life of Christ your master? And how far are you from being a true Christian?… Read More An Exhortation To True Piety

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The Hope of Long Life: A Hindrance to Piety

The hope of long life is an hindrance to piety. For, were it possible that a wicked man thought this year to be his last year, this month his last month, this week his last week—he would change and amend his wicked life. He would use the best means to repent, and to become a new man. But as the rich man in the gospel promised himself many years to live in ease, mirth, and fullness (Luke 12:19-20), when he had not one night to live longer: so many wicked epicures falsely promise themselves the age of many years, when the thread of their life is already almost drawn out to an end. So Jeremiah ascribes the cause of the Jews’ sins and calamities to this, that she remembered not her last end (Lam. 1:9).… Read More The Hope of Long Life: A Hindrance to Piety

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A Meditation To Prepare For The Lord’s Supper

I was entered into covenant with God by baptism, and was then brought under strong engagements to be the Lord’s. But O! I have broken my covenant and backslidden from Christ. If I were under the law or a covenant of works, I would be utterly undone. But, blessed be God, I am under the tenders of a covenant of grace that admits of repentance and a surety for the guilty criminal, and graciously promises pardon to the penitent believer—nay, it promises repentance to the hard-hearted and faith to the unbelieving, and pressingly invites backsliding children to return to God through a Mediator.… Read More A Meditation To Prepare For The Lord’s Supper

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Genuine Repentance Requires Self-Examination

Do with your hearts as men do with their wheat; they will not suffer their corn to lie long in the chaff lest the chaff hurt it, but they commit it to the fan so that the wind may separate them. So, the graces of God in our hearts are but corn, our sins and corruptions are chaff. Look well, and you shall find in yourself much chaff, and but little corn. Let not then the chaff lie too long mingled with the corn, lest it corrupt the corn. Let not your sins lie mingled with the grace of God in you. If you do, they will choke it in the end, and so deprive you of all grace. Therefore, rip up your heart, and look into your life, and when you have sinned, enter into yourself, ask your conscience what you have done, and be not quiet till you have found out your sin and the foulness of it. And never think that you know anything in religion till you know what is in your own heart and what are in your special and priviest corruptions. And look into your own faults, not with a partial eye, but with a censorious and strait judgment. Spare sin in no man, but especially condemn it in yourself.… Read More Genuine Repentance Requires Self-Examination

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A Godly Man Is A Humble Man

Augustine calls humility the mother of the graces. A humble soul is emptied of all swelling thoughts of himself. A humble soul thinks better of others than of himself. A humble soul has a low esteem of his duties. A humble man is always giving bills of indictment against himself. A humble man will justify God in an afflicted condition. A humble soul is a Christ-magnifier (Phil. 1:20). He gives the glory of all his actions to Christ and free grace. A humble soul is willing to take a reproof for sin. A wicked man is too high to stoop to a reproof. A humble man is willing to have his name and gifts eclipsed, so that God’s glory may be increased. A humble saint is content with that condition which God sees is best for him. Test yourself: are you humble?… Read More A Godly Man Is A Humble Man

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A Godly Man is an Evangelical Weeper

A godly man weeps for indwelling sin, the law in his members (Romans 7:23), the outbursts and first risings of sin [cf. WCF 6:5]. He weeps for clinging corruption. A child of God weeps that he is sometimes overcome by the prevalence of corruption. A godly heart grieves that he can be no more holy. A godly man sometimes weeps out of the sense of God’s love. A godly person weeps because the sins he commits are in some sense worse than the sins of other men. How far from being godly are those who scarcely ever shed a tear for sin! Let us strive for this divine characteristic. Be weepers!… Read More A Godly Man is an Evangelical Weeper

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