Tag Archives: God’s Kingdom

The crying evil of both the Church and of the world!

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The crying evil of both the Church and of the world!Ā 

(Thomas Reade, “The Desire of More”)Ā 

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, andĀ covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5Ā 

“You can be sure that no immoral, impure, orĀ covetousĀ person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For aĀ covetousĀ person is really anĀ idolaterĀ who worships the things of this world.” Ephesians 5:5Ā 

The love of money
Ā under every form, insinuates itself into every heart.Ā 

A day is fast approaching when it will be clearly seen whether Christ or Mammon has swayed our affections.Ā 

Covetousness
, in the language of Scripture, is the desire of having more. If we are habitually desirous of riches, for their own sake, we are, in the estimation of God,Ā covetousĀ people, idolaters, the servants of mammon. Our station may be exalted; our profession of religion may be outwardly strict, but still our destruction is sure.Ā 

There are, perhaps, few sins which assume so plausible an appearance; and for which so many excuses are made as for that ofcovetousness. And hence it is that we have need to guard so much the citadel of the heart.Ā 

Covetousness
, eatingĀ like a canker, upon the vitals of our religion–isĀ the crying evil of both the Church and of the world!Ā 

What advantage did Lot’s wife, Achan, Gehazi, Judas, and Ananias and Sapphira, gain by their desire for more? They reaped shame and death; and now stand asĀ beaconsĀ in the Word of God to warn us against their soul-destroying sin!Ā 

For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?”Ā Luke 9:25Ā 

The one indispensable book!

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The one indispensable book!

(Daniel March, 1870)

The Bible is theĀ oldest–and theĀ newestĀ of books.

The Bible surveys the whole field ofĀ time–and it looks farthest into the infinite depths ofĀ eternity.Ā 

The Bible lends the most vivid and absorbing interest to the scenes and events of theĀ past–and it keeps us in the most active sympathy with the time in which we live.Ā 

The Bible gives us the most reliable record of whatĀ hasĀ been–and it affords us our only means of knowing what isĀ yetĀ to be.Ā 

The Bible isĀ holyĀ enough to denounce the very shadow and semblance of sin–and it isĀ mercifulĀ enough to save the chief of sinners.Ā 

The Bible is full ofĀ God–and must therefore be read with a pure heart, or its true glory will not be seen.Ā 
The Bible is full ofĀ man–and must therefore always be interesting and instructive to all who would know themselves.

The Bible is theĀ plainestĀ of books–and yet it hasĀ depths of wisdomĀ which no created mind can fathom.Ā 

The Bible is set up as a beacon to show all wanderers the safe way–and yet its light shines forth from thick clouds of mystery, and from abysses of infinite darkness.Ā 

The Bible describes all conditions of life–and it gives utterance to all desires and emotions of the soul.Ā 

The Bible has a song of triumph for theĀ overcomer–and a wail of defeat for theĀ overcome.Ā 

The Bible . . .
Ā  sparkles with the fervor and gladness ofĀ youth,
Ā  celebrates the strength and glory ofĀ manhood,
Ā  bewails the sorrows and infirmities ofĀ old age.Ā 

The Bible . . .
Ā  exults in the mighty deeds of kings and conquerors,Ā 
Ā  sympathizes with the poor and lowly,Ā 
Ā  lifts up the fallen,Ā 
Ā  delivers the oppressed, andĀ 
Ā  breathes the blessing of peace upon the quiet homes of domestic life.Ā 

The Bible describes with startling clearness . . .
Ā  the seductions ofĀ temptation,
Ā  the conflicts ofĀ doubtĀ and
Ā  the miseries ofĀ skepticism.Ā 

The Bible . . .
Ā  searches the secret chambers of theĀ heart,Ā 
Ā  brings to light its purest love and its darkest hate,Ā 
Ā  reveals its highest joy and its deepest grief.Ā 

The Bible compasses the utmost range ofĀ thoughtĀ andĀ feelingĀ andĀ desire–and it sounds the utmost depth ofĀ motiveĀ andĀ characterandĀ passion.

Thus in the Bible,Ā 
Ā  God and man,
Ā  earth and heaven,
Ā  time and eternity–
speak with one voice and teach the same truth.Ā 

The Bible sets forth the most spiritual and heavenly truths–in the lights and shadows of earthly scenes and human characters.Ā 

Thus the Bible isĀ the one indispensable bookĀ . . .
Ā  for all ages–and all nations,
Ā  for all classes of men–and all states of society,
Ā  for all capacities of intellect–and all necessities of the soul!