The nearer you take anything to the light, the darker its spots will appear; and the nearer you live to God, the more you will see your own utter vileness.
Ah! believers, you are a tempted people. You are always poor and needy. And God intends it should be so, to give you constant errands to go to Jesus. Some may say, it is not good to be a believer; but ah! see to whom we can go.
Even in the wildest storms the sky is not all dark; and so in the darkest dealings of God with His children, there are always some bright tokens for good.
Oh how I wished that I had a tongue like thunder, that I might make all hear; or that I had a frame like iron, that I might visit every one and say, Escape for thy life! Ah sinner! You little know how I fear that you will lay the blame of your damnation at my door.
This alone can give you peace-I have a high priest in heaven. When you are dying – when friends can do you no good – when sins rise up like spectres around your bed – what can give you peace ? This – “I have a high priest in heaven”
Remember also, the present is your only time to be saved. There is no believing, no repenting, no conversion in the grave—no minister will speak to you there. This is the time of conversion.
I ought to pray before seeing any one. Often when I sleep long, or meet with others early, it is eleven or twelve o’clock before I begin secret prayer.
