The Mercy Of God

Excerpts from an exhortation to the blessed saints of Batia, Bulacan on Matthew 22:1-14


 

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The Great Imbalance

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Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Acts 8:4 W e have long observed that when a right knowledge of God travels from the head down to the heart, it moves the feet, and brings forth a courage most peculiar. It is not the boisterous boldness of a loud nature, but a 'fearful apprehension' of the Almighty that simply outweighs the trembling fear of men. We see this same Spirit in the scholars and heralds of old, who found that their deep study was but a fire that must eventually find a vent. Among them was Hugh Binning, the youthful professor, who left the safety of his parchment to speak plainly to thick crowds of common folk, laboring his very soul to death by the age of twenty-six. There was George Wishart, who forsook the academic life to stand atop the stone walls of Dundee, preaching between the living and the dying. He was a Scottish Protestant Reformer and one of the early Protestant martyrs burned at the stake as a heretic. ...
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Trabajo Market, Sampaloc, Manila

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My daughter and I found ourselves with a span of some three-quarters of an hour to fill before it was time to fetch her sister from the schoolhouse. And what better way to redeem this fleeting time than to employ our hands in the Lord's service, distributing the newly printed tracts we had on hand? The school’s dormitory was situated in the very middle of a bustling market area, where a constant stream of souls hurried by. Having parked but one street away, I took my stand at a quiet spot upon the side and began the work of handing them out. I confess that, for the first portion of this whole episode, the multitude did mostly ignore me. And so I was compelled to call out to them, declaring that the gift was free of all charge, costing them no expense, and was simply being given away. For you see, there was a time in this very locality when some "street preachers" did stand upon the street to deliver the Gospel, but they carried with them envelopes, openly asking for m...
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Street Meeting Thirty Sixth

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T he Lord's Day is the most laborious and strenuous day of all the week for me. How differently did I once spend it! When we were yet in religion, our concern after the accustomed duties were ended was where the family should spend the remainder of the day, what cinema we should attend, or at which fine restaurant we should eat. Thus I thought to render somewhat unto God, and reserve the rest unto ourselves. I saw no great contradiction in it then. Having done those things which I accounted Christian, I persuaded myself that I had done God service, and the remaining hours might therefore be disposed of according to our own pleasure. I grievously decided what portion of the day God should receive, and was altogether insensible both to the command and to the duty of the day. Religion had received its portion, and self-indulgence might have what remained. How little did I understand that I was still my own master, even whilst imagining myself to be serving God. This late evening...
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The Silent Christian's Hatred

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Journal Entry. 8th of September, 2023. Morning, 5:34.  The world declares its hatred of God by violence and rebellion. The man of the world saith in his heart, "There is no God . I will live unto myself until I die . Trouble me not, but leave me to my religion in peace." ( Psalms 14:1 |  Luke 12:19a |  Amos 7:12) Thus he casts off the rule of Christ, refuses His yoke, and desires only that he might be left undisturbed to walk in his own way. But may not the nominal Christian speak another language of hatred, though with a quieter tongue? His rebellion makes little noise. He strikes no blow, utters no blasphemy, and perhaps would shrink from being numbered amongst the enemies of Christ. Yet he saith within himself, "I do well to remain silent, even unto death. Trouble me not, but leave me to my religion in peace." The one would have Christ silent that he might continue in his rebellion; the other would himself remain silent that Christ might never disturb anothe...
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Genesis

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Journal Entry. Thirty First of August, Twenty Twenty Sixth. Morning. Second hour. I have at length mustered courage enough to begin writing in my notebook; and now that the first chapter of the book of Genesis is committed unto the page, there is no going back. The undertaking before me is no small one. I suppose it may require the better part of two years to accomplish, should the Lord lend me such time; and even this consideration made me somewhat fearful of beginning. For near two weeks I had been preparing myself for it, trying one manner of handwriting and then another, considering carefully how much space each would require, yet unwilling to purchase economy at the expense of plainness. I desired a hand small enough that much might be contained upon the page, but sufficiently clear that what is now written may still be comfortably read in years to come. But preparation must at length give way to doing. The empty page cannot forever remain empty. How far the Lord shall permit my...
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Scribing & Supplies

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..he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days.. Deuteronomy 17:18-20  I have been much persuaded that this may prove a sweet and profitable exercise for my dear wife and me, namely, to begin scribing the Holy Scriptures with our own hands, copying them word for word. My heart is much drawn unto the undertaking; for whilst the eye reads, the tongue utters, and the hand writes down each sacred word, the mind is constrained to dwell and remain where otherwise it might too quickly pass along.  This is indeed no new practice; yet methinks there is so...
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Street Meeting Thirty Fifth

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T his day hath been spent, very early, in much activity, the labor of it having begun even the night before, while the teachers prepare the materials and the food, the prizes and the place, for the children's review of those lessons which they had formerly received. Most of the little company who first began with us, and continued these three years, have now grown older and gone their several ways, leaving their places to be filled by others. It affected me somewhat to consider how quietly these years had passed. Children whom we once gathered and instructed are children no longer; and now another little company sits where they once sat. Of the nearly twenty children presently coming amongst us, three have also begun joining us in the celebration of the Lord's Day. This giveth me no small encouragement. We know not what the Lord may be pleased to do with these little ones, nor how much of what is now spoken they shall carry with them into years which we ourselves ma...
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