Milo

March 6

“We trusted.” (Luke 24:21.)

I HAVE always felt so sorry that in that walk to Emmaus the disciples had not said to Jesus, “We still trust”; instead of “We trusted.” That is so sad—something that is all over.
If they had only said, “Everything is against our hope; it looks as if our trust was vain, but we do not give up; we believe we shall see Him again.” But no, they walked by His side declaring their lost faith, and He had to say to them “O fools, and slow of heart to believe!”
Are we not in the same danger of having these words said to us? We can afford to lose anything and everything if we do not lose our faith in the God of truth and love.
Let us never put our faith, as these disciples did, in a past tense—“We trusted.” But let us ever say, “I am trusting.”
—Crumbs.
The soft, sweet summer was warm and glowing,
Bright were the blossoms on every bough:
I trusted Him when the roses were blooming;
I trust Him now ….

Small were my faith should it weakly falter
Now that the roses have ceased to blow;
Frail were the trust that now should alter,
Doubting His love when storm clouds grow.

—The Song of a Bird in a Winter Storm.

10 MARCH (PREACHED 1770)

All of grace

‘And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart.’ Matthew 17:1
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Romans 12:1–8

The persons: Peter, James and John. It does not become us to enquire too curiously why he admitted only three of his disciples to be witnesses of his glory, or why these three rather than any of the rest. Yet since we are told it was his pleasure so to do, it may be proper to draw an observation or two from this circumstance.
I do not lay any stress upon the number three. It is plain that on several occasions these three were distinguished from the others. Some think because they were more eminent for grace—if they were so, I should judge this was the effect rather than the cause of the preference the Lord gave them. They who are most with him, will be most like him. It is true that humble, diligent waiting is the way to enjoy peculiar nearness, but we can render nothing to him, but what we first receive from him. It is sufficient to say he has a right to do what he will with his own. He admitted these three to a nearer intimacy and John was favoured beyond them all (John 13:23). He is called, by way of eminence, the disciple whom Jesus loved, though he loved them all. So he loves all his people, yet makes a difference between some and others in providence, in grace, in comforts. Some have two talents, some five, some of the good ground bears thirtyfold, other sixty, other one hundred—all according to his wise appointment, and yet so as that there is encouragement for everyone in the use of means to open their mouths wide and desire the best things: an abundance of grace and peace, and the fruits of holiness. They who seek shall surely find. However, these apostles were not without their faults. Peter was often wrong, and afterwards denied him. James and John would have called fire from heaven. His favours are all of grace.
FOR MEDITATION: [to precede the New Year’s Day sermon]
Now, gracious LORD, thine arm reveal,
Help us to venture near thy throne,
And make thy glory known;
And plead a Saviour’s name;
Now let us all thy presence feel,
For all that we can call our own,
And soften hearts of stone!
Is vanity and shame.

SERMON SERIES: ON THE TRANSFIGURATION, NO. 1 [3/4]

9 MARCH (PREACHED 1770)

Strengthened for trials

‘And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart.’ Matthew 17:1
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Luke 22:39–53

If the reasons are enquired why our Lord was transfigured upon the mount, though we must not expect by searching to find out his work to perfection, we may humbly suppose some of the reasons to be: to confirm the disciples’ faith and that they might afterwards declare themselves eyewitnesses of his glory (2 Peter 1:16–17); to exhibit a proof to them of the realities of the unseen world, against the cavils of Sadducees and infidels; to give them a pattern of that glory in which his people shall be raised at the last day (Philippians 3:21). We may observe the time:
(i) It was soon after Peter’s noble confession (Matthew 16:16). Thus the Lord rewards his people’s faith with farther discoveries, as he promised to Nathaniel (John 1:50). Surely if we could give him more of the honour due to his name, by steadfast believing, he would show us more of his glory. Let us pray for more faith, that we may have more comfort.
(ii) It was soon after he had so expressly spoken of his sufferings, which Peter could not bear only to hear of, and which, when they came on him, put all his disciples to a stand. This was therefore a seasonable and gracious revelation to prepare and strengthen them for their approaching trial. And thus he is often pleased to confirm and strengthen his people for an hour of trouble. And when he is pleased to favour them with particular nearness and sweetness and to shine remarkably upon their souls, they may ordinarily expect a trial is at hand.
(iii) It was soon after he had been enforcing the necessity of self-denial (Matthew 16:24). This may teach us that the knowledge of Christ in his power, glory and love, is the great means to make self-denial necessary and pleasant.

FOR MEDITATION: ‘And he … kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground’ (Luke 22:41–44).

SERMON SERIES: ON THE TRANSFIGURATION, NO. 1 [2/4]

8 MARCH (PREACHED 1770)

Open my eyes

‘And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart.’ Matthew 17:1
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Nehemiah 8:1–8

Though our Lord Jesus, in his humbled state, was despised and rejected by the unbelieving Jews, who judged only by his outward appearance, yet his true disciples beheld and acknowledged his glory. There was such wisdom in his words, such power in his works, such grace and goodness in his whole conduct, such a virtue went from him, drawing, teaching and comforting their hearts, that they could say, We believe and are sure thou art the Christ [John 11:27]. On some occasions he made a more perceptible and open display of his glory, and in an extraordinary sense manifested himself to them as he did not to the world. This was eminently the case at the solemn and memorable season of his transfiguration, recorded by three Evangelists. It seems a subject well suited to strengthen the faith and promote the edification of his people. And with these views, I would attempt to assist your meditations on it. I may say as the woman of Samaria, the well is deep [John 4:11]. In going through the passage, we shall perhaps be led to speak of some of the most important and difficult points both of doctrine and experience. Here, I think, if anywhere, we have cause to pray with the psalmist, Open thou my eyes, that I may see the great things of thy law [Psalm 119:18]. May this be the desire of all our hearts, and may the Lord afford a gracious answer.
FOR MEDITATION:
The woman who for water came,
Taught from her birth to hate the Jews,
(What great events on small depend)
And filled with party-pride; at first
Then learnt the glory of his name,
Her zeal induced her to refuse
The Well of life, the sinner’s Friend!
Water, to quench the Saviour’s thirst.

         But soon she knew the gift of GOD,
         And JESUS, whom she scorned before,
         Unasked, that drink on her bestowed,
         Which whoso tastes shall thirst no more.

SERMON SERIES: ON THE TRANSFIGURATION, NO. 1 [1/4]64

7 MARCH

Repairing the ruins

‘And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.’ Genesis 3:4–5
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: James 1:13–15

When Satan has drawn us from the belief of the truth, there is nothing so false, absurd and dangerous but he can persuade us to receive. How vain was the thought, that she could be better than she was without the Lord’s leave and in defiance to his will. Learn the deceitfulness and hardening nature of sin, how it prevails by degrees, till at length the soul ventures the loss of all for present gratification—and is equally unmindful of past obligations and future consequences of disobedience.
As pride and self-seeking were the first sins, so the first work of God’s Spirit when he comes to renew the sinner is to lay the axe to these roots of the evil tree, which he does by a conviction of sin upon the conscience and giving affecting views of the humiliation of Jesus—man would be as God, therefore God became man. O admire this grace and look to this Saviour who alone is able to repair the ruin we have brought upon ourselves.
FOR MEDITATION: [for New Year’s Evening 1773]
Ensnared, too long, my heart has been
LORD, I have hated thee too long,
In folly’s hurtful ways;
And dared thee to thy face;
O, may I now, at length, begin
I’ve done my soul exceeding wrong
To hear what Wisdom says!
In slighting all thy grace.

Approach my soul to Wisdom’s gates
Now I would break my league with death,
While it is called today;
And live to thee alone;
No one who watches there and waits
O let thy Spirit’s seal of faith,
Shall e’er be turned away.
Secure me for thine own.

SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 7 [4/4], GENESIS 3:2–5