PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Great Texts of the Bible — Volume 14
James Hastings · 171,740 words · 177 reading sections
Section 1
V \^ ^^^^¥?mc^ ^A o^ >. MA^31 1926 6^. ^OGIGM^I^:^ Division, ^5 4-^ \ THE GREAT TEXTS OF THE BIBLE MAF 3 1 1S2S THE GREAT T OF THE BIBLE ^ EDITED BY THE REV. JAMES 4iASTINGS, D.D. EDITOR OF "THE EXPOSITORY TIMES" "THE DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE' "THE DICTIONARY OF CHRIST AND THE GOSPELS" AND "THE ENCYCL…
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3. It is a mathematical sum. " I reckon," he says. And it must be admitted that no man that ever lived was more capable of working out this sum than this Apostle. On the one hand, he has given us, in the eleventh chapter of his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, a sketch of his own sufferings, such as, perhaps, the exp…
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Are we offended at the cruelties of society ? St. Paul knows them fully. " Filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covet- ousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, whisperers, back-biters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, …
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1 Edwin Hatch. ROMANS VIII. i8 9 But if it conveys the notion that the pain predominates over pleasure, that is utterly false — that is a libel on God's creation, whose " tender mercies are over all his works." The generalization of Herbert Spencer is at once far truer and far more extended, and his conclusion is tha…
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It is our reasonable service, the only tribute that a being with thought and understanding can make to the All-loving and All- merciful Father. Do not let us mistake the meaning of these words. They do not mean merely that we must give up wicked- ness, however much we love it ; we must overcome the temptation to do wro…
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And now my grief I see Was but that ancient shadow part of me. Not yet attuned to good, Still blind and senseless in its warring mood, I turn from it and climb To the heroic spirit of the prime, The light that well foreknew All the dark ways that it must journey through. Yet seeing still a gain, A distant glor…
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i6 ANOTHER GOOD RECKONING that our wills are ours that we may make them God's, and so may ever see our will done both in heaven and on earth, may not we conclude, with the Apostle, " I deliberately reckon, I am fully persuaded, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that …
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Its vision, and its song, And strains of joy are wafted From heaven's immortal throng. He makes my windows agates, That I may dimly see The glories that await me, The joys prepared for me. Oh, were the full effulgence To break upon my sight, My spirit were too eager To take its upward flight ! Through mists of t…
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I'm wearin' awa', John, Like snaw wreaths in thaw, John, I'm wearin' awa' To the land o' the leal. There's nae sorrow there, John, There's neither cauld nor care, John, The day is aye fair In the land o' the leaL Our bonnie bairn's there, John, She was baith gude and fair, John, And, oh ! we grudg'd her sair To t…
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Go from the east to the west, as the sun and the stars direct thee, Go with the girdle of man, go and encompass the earth. Not for the gain of the gold; for the getting, the hoarding, the having, But for the joy of the deed; but for the Duty to do. Go with the spiritual life, the higher volition and action. With the gr…
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4. The expression of these truths is unique, but the truths themselves fall in with the entire scope of Scripture ; and the renovation of the world forms as conspicuous a subject of the prophetic gospel as the renovation of society. It could not be ROMANS VIII. 19 29 otherwise ; for the sympathy of Nature with man is…
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3. We have missed much in Christian thought by separating man as we have done from the great living creation around him. The poet went out to meet the sunrise with his eyes wide open, and he came back with a shining face and wonder streaming out of his eyes, and he sang, and would not be denied, of a speaking heart of …
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I am the voice of the voiceless ; Through me the dumb shall speak; Till the deaf world's ear be made to hear The cry of the wordless weak. From street, from cage, and from kennel. From jungle and stall, the wail Of my tortured kin proclaims the sin Of the mighty against the frail.' ' S. D. Gordon. » A. K. H. Boyd. …
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36 AN EXPECTANT CREATION a care felt in us that we do not lessen that sweetness of life in the animal creation, which the great Creator intends for them under our government.^ 2. Why is creation waiting so earnestly for the revealing of the sons of God ? Because creation is subjected to vanity, that is, to instabilit…
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Shall only the children of Adam behold Such glory unrolled? Shall only the gaze of the earthborn desire The miracle wrought with these wreathings of fire? Not so. In the calm of the white sunrise The Maker looks down with His holy eyes, And the seraphs that stand At His left and right hand Chant the song of the…
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'Tis God gives skill, But not without men's hands : He could not make Antonio Stradivari's violins Without Antonio.* (2) The other road of progress is the spiritual. On that road the pace is slower, the results more unequal, and there are intervals of heart-breaking failure and retrogression. The spiritual pro- gress …
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On face, and form, and air ; God's living glory round thee blazed — A Saint — a Saint was there ! ^ 3. But it is at the advent of Christ that, in the Apostle's thought, the sons of God will be manifested. Then shall come to pass the full realization of their adoption, in their attainment to the full privileges of the…
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^ A. R. Symonds. ROMANS VIII. 19 45 Oh that we could still be sure that there is a promised land ; that others besides us would reach it ; that this desert would end in something. This certainty is taken from us, and yet we advance continually, pushed forward by an indefatigable hope."^ Beyond doubt, if the power of …
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^ There are some who quite sincerely advertise their limita- tions as the majority advertise their skill, who cannot suppose themselves — and dread lest others should suppose them — capable of any achievement away from the commonplace line, and who almost placard themselves with an announcement that they are less than …
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I. Salvation in Hope. If we were to seek to illustrate what seems to be the plain meaning of the text, we might take the case of a sailor, washed overboard and in imminent peril of drowning. He feels hia strength ebbing, and is on the point of giving up, when the flash of a boat's lantern and a hail give him fresh ho…
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1 H. M. Gwatkin. ROMANS VIII. 24, 25 55 ii. The Christian Hope. 1. The Christian hope is not identical with hopefulness. We shall not understand how we are " saved in hope " unless we have a clear idea of the hope of which St. Paul speaks in the text. In so far as it is an act of the mind merely, it does not differ …
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^ I often examine, with peculiar interest, the hymn-book we use at Carr's Lane. It was compiled by Dr. Dale. Nowhere else can I find the broad perspective of his theology and his primary helpmeets in the devotional life as I find them there. And is it altogether unsuggestive that under the heading of " Heaven " is to b…
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(3) Hope is not to be regarded as an unnecessary grace. St. Paul says that there are three things which abide — three things, » J. M'Leod Campbell. a?. W. H. Myers, Saint Paul. 6o THE SAVING GRACE OF HOPE that is, which last under all the changes of fashion and of custom, and of the varying schemes of different gene…
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Lord, many times I am aweary quite Of mine own self, my sin, my vanity — Yet be not Thou, or I am lost outright, Weary of me. 2. But not only has hope this purifying power, not only will it make us believe that we are meant to live with angels and not herd with animals, not only will it lift a man into a different st…
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^ In ancient times when God delivered His people from the bondage of Egypt, what pledge did He give them ? " Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I WILL BE hath sent me unto I ROMANS VIII. 24, 25 65 you." " I WILL BE," that is the name by which God would be known. " 1 will be " what ? It was for hope to …
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life. One is the bearing of its burdens ; another is victory over our sins ; the third is service for the Kingdom of God. Apply these three tests, and bring the Christian hope to bear upon them. Who can bear his burdens, the burdens of this lower life, its weariness, its monotony, its pain, its sorrows — who can bear t…
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in our weakness. n 72 HOW TO PRAY AS WE OUGHT ^ The Spirit " makes intercession," literally goes out to meet the helpless creature for the purposes of intercourse and consulta- tion, then intervenes by taking up his cause and pleading on his behalf — it is the work of a true Paraclete. The Son of God is such an Advo…
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1 Griffith John, Uft, 457. 74 HOW TO PRAY AS WE OUGHT heavenly virtues. He is one with Heaven." This is a lofty ideal ; but the Chinese do not look upon it as existing in fancy or imagination only. They believe that it has been realized in some instances at least ; and I am convinced that no Christian teacher can be …
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* Andrew Murray. ^^ HOW TO PRAY AS WE OUGHT \ Kuyper distinguishes between the intercession of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Christ in this way : — (a) Christ intercedes for us in heaven, and the Holy Spirit on earth. Christ, our Holy Head, being absent from us, inter- cedes outside of us ; the Holy Spirit…
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78 HOW TO PRAY AS WE OUGHT Do Thou, then, breathe those thoughts into my mind By which such virtue may in me be bred That in Thy holy footsteps I may tread; The fetters of my tongue do Thou unbind, That I may have the power to sing of Thee, And sound Thy praises everlastingly .^ II. OuK Prayek. 1. Prayer. — Pr…
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(1) Broadly speaking, we do know what we are to pray for — the perfecting of salvation, but we do not know what we are to pray for " as we ought " — according as the need is at the moment ; we know the end, which is common to all prayers, but not what is necessary at each crisis of need in order to enable us to attain …
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^ Blaise Pascal, ROMANS VIII. 26 83 Him by sin, by unbelief, by selfishness, by unfaithfulness to His voice in conscience. The Holy Spirit Himself is the very power of God to make us obedient. The sin that comes up in us against oar will, the tendency to sloth, or pride, or self-will, or passion that rises in the fle…
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Than ever pray one selfish prayer I'- * Cincinnatus Hiner Miller. Love's Prosperity. Literature. Albertson (C. C), The Gospel According to Christ, 127. Banks (L. A.), Sermons which have won Souls, 144. Bell (C. D.), The Name above every Name, 124. Burrell (D. J.), The Cloister Book, 262. Davies (D.), Talks with…
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^J. Strachan, Hebrew Ideals, pt. ii. 125. 'F. M. White. ROMANS VIII. 28 91 Love understands the mystery, whereof We can but spell a surface history: Love knows, remembers: let us trust in Love: Love understands the mystery. Love weighs the event, the long pre-history, Measures the depth beneath, the height above, …
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Many think that the chief end of life is to secure ease and happiness, and they say that the object of all our social and political endeavours should be to provide the greatest possible amount of happiness for the greatest number. That may be good utilitarianism, but it is not Christianity. It is not the Divine idea. I…
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i. Our love to God. 1. " To them that love God " — but there are many who say, " We do not, we cannot love God. We love wife, child, mother, friend, more, far more, than we love the Infinite Abstraction called God, whom no man hath seen at any time." Now, such people are making a difficulty which does not exist. God h…
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o"- Because Love is the fountain, I discern The stream as love : for what but love should flow From fountain Love ? not bitter from the sweet ! I ignorant, have I laid claim to know ? Oh teach me. Love, such knowledge as is meet For one to know who is fain to love and learn. ^ ^ C. G. Kossetti. ROMANS — 7 98 LO…
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You doubt if there be any God? Doubt is the torpid man's complaint ; Still hibernating 'neath your clod, Your sins and virtues grow too faint. But come where life is all ablow : Be a murderer or a saint. And you will know.^ Who of us, in the face of the broad features of everywhere- abounding suffering, dares to…
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(2) Now extend the same line of argument to the higher knowledge. It is noticeable that, as we approach the great leading principles and rules of life and conduct and the funda- mental thinking that underlies our action, the mind is thrown more upon its own native original powers and capacities ; it perceives, it seize…
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The analogy seems to suggest to us, strange as it may be, and remote from the cold and abstract ideas of the Divine nature which it is thought to be philosophical to cherish, that something corresponding to the pain and loss that shadowed the patriarch's heart passed across the Divine mind when the Father sent the Son …
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Enough, my muse, of earthly things, And inspirations but of wind ; Take up thy lute, and to it bind Loud and everlasting strings. And on them play, and to them sing. The happy mournful stories, The lamentable glories Of the great crucified King! Mountainous heap of wonders ! which dost rise Till earth thou joinest with…
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(2) This one great gift draws all other gifts after it, because the purpose of the greater gift cannot be attained without the bestowment of the lesser. He does not begin to build and then find Himself unable to finish ; He does not miscalculate His resources, or stultify Himself by commencing upon a large scale and th…
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(3) Whatever is necessary for our eternal life and glory is also freely given. Christ has obtained eternal redemption for us. Everything for the life that now is, everything for the life that is to come, is richly ours in our crucified and ascended Lord. The greatest possible act of God's love is the giving up of His S…
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^ When in the days of your youth the infinite passion, for the first time, lit up its glow in you, was there anything that you could do for the maiden of your heart that you would not do ? Was there anything that you esteemed too precious for the creature to whom you had given your heart ? In giving where you had given…
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No Case. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth ; who is he that shall condemn ? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is [even] at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. — Rom. viii. 33, 34. Befoke anything can be don…
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(2) God's elect have also elected Him. His choice of them always issues in their choice of Him. Hence there comes in here a question. You ask whether God has chosen you. I ask whether you have chosen God. You let me put a finger upon your pulse; let me sound the beating of your heart. Is there no Godward throbbing ther…
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^ St, Paul, you see, has no doubt at all about this point. He says boldly, " It is God that justifieth." That is as much as to say, " I know, verily, that God, the Creator of heaven and earth, is on our side ; that He takes our part. And, therefore, I do not care who takes the other side ; there may be a host of enemie…
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ROMANS — 9 130 NO CASE must of necessity die, and so make His soul an offering for sin. If Christ be our passover, He must be sacrificed for us. (3) Thirdly, there was a necessity that Christ should die, in reference to His Regal office. " 0 king, live for ever " is either the loyal or the flattering vote for tempora…
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^ Above the " Yea rather " there is an " Even," and such an " even " ! It is omitted in the Eevised Version ; but there is good manuscript authority for its retention, and it deserves to be retained. " Who is even at the right hand of God." " Even " ! Put the emphasis on " even." Once He was low indeed. Once He was in …
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(1) The intercession of Christ consists in His appearing in the presence of God for us, and presenting the memorials of His sufferings on our behalf. The Jewish high priest went of old on the Day of Atonement into the most holy place, to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice before the mercy-seat. No human being was perm…
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Churchman's Pulpit : Easter Day and Season, vii. 332 (Temple). Expositor^ 1st Ser., iii 119 (Cox). I3l An Inseparable Love. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor prin- cip.alities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be …
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I love ; but ah ! the whole Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee. Lord Thou wert long beforehand with my soul, Always Thou lovedst me. ^ In his Reminiscences of Frederick Denison Maurice the late Mr. Haweis relates this incident : " I remember asking him one day, ' How are we to know when we have got hold of God ? …
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ii. In Christ Jesus. " Which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 1. St. Paul does not find the proof of God's love and the justification of ours in nature, history, or life. The love of God * Anna Bunston, The Porch of Paradise, 8. 144 AN INSEPARABLE LOVE in creation is in eclipse, or at least in partial eclipse ; and i…
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^ Ideas and ideals do not manifest the love of God to men ^-only what God has done shows that.^ 3. If we would know God and love Him, we must find Him in Christ, in that Perfect Man — so strong and yet so gentle, so true, yet so tender — who moves before us in the Gospels. Is it difficult to love Him ? It is not diffi…
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(4) And, lastly, it follows from all this that the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord is a love which clings insepar- ably to its ohject. Whoever gives himself wholly to another with a perfect knowledge and understanding of what he is, can have no conceivable reason for finally renouncing him. Nothing in his…
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The possible enemies may be taken in four groups— (1) ^ Saaday and Headlam, JRomans, 223. ROMANS VIII. 38, 39 151 those of our own Experience, gathered under the two com- prehensive words death and life; (2) those of the world of Spirits, called angels, principalities, powers; (3) those of Time, " things present and …
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> Samuel Cox. ' J. Hunter. ROMANS VIII. 38, 39 153 I thought the road would be hard and bare, But lo ! flowers, Springing flowers, Bright flowers blossoming everywhere! The night, I feared, would be dark and drear, But lo ! stars, Golden stars, Glorious, glowing stars are here ! And my shrinking heart, set free…
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^ In the sunless deeps are animals with eyes of extraordinary size. And the marvellous thing is that these particular creatures have in a high degree the power of manufacturing their own light, and the economizing of the delicate phosphorescence has developed in them eyes of remarkable magnitude and power. With their s…
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* W. L. Watkinson. 15^ AN INSEPARABLE LOVE What if Thou hadst led my soul To the pastures where dull souls feed ; And set my steps in smooth paths, far away From the rocks where men struggle and bleed; Penned me in low, fat plains, Where the air is as still as death, And Thy great winds are sunk to a breath, A…
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Lord, whomsoever Thou shalt send to me, Let that same be Mine Angel predilect; Veiled or unveiled, benignant or austere, Aloof or near ; Thine, therefore mine, elect. So may my soul nurse patience day by day, Watch on and pray Obedient and at peace; Living a lonely life in hope, in faith; Loving till death, When l…
941 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1910); OCR text from Internet Archive. OCR may contain scanning/transcription errors. Verify quotations against page images when precision matters.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.