Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee. (1 Tim. 4.16).
Issue: Issue 1
A SPIRITUAL MINISTRY This is our first question. Wherein may we look for the aid of the Holy Spirit? When we have spoken on this point, we will, very solemnly, consider a second—How may we lose that assistance? Let us pray that, by God’s blessing, this consideration may help us to retain it. Wherein may …
I would not have believed that there is so much in Jesus as there is. It is little to see Him in a book; but to draw nigh to Christ is another thing.—Rutherford.
See in me Thy work, not mine. If thou seest mine, thou condemnest; if thou seest thine own, thou crownest. Whatever good works I have are of thee.
You are nothing in yourself, sin is yours, merit God’s. Punishment is your due; and when the reward shall come. God shall crown His own gifts, not your merits.
Every good work in us is performed only by grace. Augustine of Hippo [A.D. 353-429]
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me. Write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Revelation 14 13.
Did not God assist us, we should not only not be able to conquer, but not even able to fight.
. . . the will is indeed free, but not freed; free of righteousness, but enslaved to sin.
If the Spirit of grace be absent, the law is present only to convict and slay us.