R.C. Chapman’s S.O.S. 2:10

By R.C. Chapman

 

“My Beloved Spoke, and said to me: Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” (Song of Solomon 2:10)

Don’t you hear, my soul, the voice of Jesus, the voice of the Beloved! He is able to speak in thunder, His word can shake heaven and earth; and can you despise His gentleness, His tender tones of love and grace?  Fie upon you, sluggish soul! What hinders you from rising up at His call, upon eagles’ wings of faith and hope? Are you hindered with much serving? Are idols of clay set up within you, Where you should be for your Beloved, and for Him alone?

If your heart is now divided and cold, consider the heart of Jesus toward you! It is full of the love he had for you before the world’s foundation, when he rejoiced in His Church, and His “delights were with the sons of men” (Proverbs 8:31).  He is the same Jesus who took your place and died for you on the tree! What a heart of mercy is His! What yearnings of His heart over you! What pity and countless number of displays of compassion!

Can you defile His temple with idols?  He sees you as all fair! He found you foul and made you clean by His own blood! He presents you to Himself without spot, or wrinkle, or blemish, or any such thing.

Let such love, of thy glorious Immanuel, your God, and your Brother; let such love stir and awaken you; fill you with repentance and self-loathing! Go, humble yourself to your Friend, and make sure the communion of His love.  “My love, my fair one;” so speaks my Lord Jesus to you.  Do not doubt it.  O, my soul! Know, it is your cunning enemy that whispers in your ear suspicions of your Lord.  The liar would cause you to become feeble in faith, that he may poison the spring of your peace, joy, and love.  But I will confound your unbelief! I tell you, Jesus, your “breaker”, has gone up before! He is risen, and in triumph ascended; your head and your Forerunner.  Flee to the blood of sprinkling with all your pollution! Take yourself to Him; and He will surely wash you, bind up your wounds, pour in the oil and wine, and cause you to rest in His love, and by faith to live together with Him in the heart of the Father.

 

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Christian Love 29: Sons of God

By Hugh Binning

Is there any privilege so precious as this, to be “the sons of God?” (1st John 3:2). What are all relations, or states, or conditions, to this one, to be the children of the Highest? It was David’s question, “Should I be the king’s son in law?” Alas! what a petty and poor dignity in regard of this, to be “the sons of God,” partakers of a divine nature? All the difference of birth, all the distinction of degrees and qualities among persons, besides this one, are but such as have no being, no worth but only in the thinking and construction of them. They really are nothing, and can do nothing.  This only is a substantial and fundamental difference.  A divine birth carries along with it a divine nature, a change of principles, from the worst to the best, from darkness to light, from death to life.

Now, imagine then, what excellency is in this grace, which is made the character of a son of God, of one begotten of the Father, and passed from death to life? (1st John 3:10,14)  “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.  Whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither he who doesn’t love his brother.  We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren, he who doesn’t love his brother, lives in death.” (1st John 4:7)  “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and every one who loves is born of God, and knows God.” And truly it is most natural, if it be so, that the children of our Father love each other dearly.  It is monstrous and unnatural to see it otherwise.  But besides, there is in this a great deal of resemblance of their Father, whose eminent and single property it is, to be good to all and kind even to the ungrateful, and whose incomparable glory it is to pardon iniquity, and suffer long patiently.  A Christian cannot resemble his Father more nearly than in this.

Why do we account that baseness in us which is glory to God? Are we ashamed of our birth, or how do we dare not own our Father?  Will we be ashamed to love them as brethren whom he has not been ashamed to adopt as sons, and who Christ is not ashamed to call brethren?

 

 

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Christian Love 14: Love Thinks No Evil,…but Rejoices in the Truth

By Hugh Binning

thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  1st Corinthians 13 NKJV

Christian love “thinks no evil.” This love is apt to take all things in the best sense.  If a thing may be subject to different interpretations, it can put the best construction on it.  It is so benign and good in its own nature that it is not inclined to suspect others.  It desires to condemn no man, but would gladly, as far as reason and conscience will permit, free from guilt every man.  It is so far from the desire of revenge, that it is not provoked or troubled by an injury.  For that were nothing else but to wrong itself because others have wronged it already, and it is so far from wronging others, that it will not willingly so much as think evil of them.

Yet if need require, love can execute justice, and inflict chastisement, not out of desire of another’s misery, but out of love and compassion to mankind.  Charitas non punit quia peccatum est, sed, peccaretur– it looks more to prevention of future sin, than to revenge of a past fault. and can do all things with calmness of spirit, as a physician cuts a vein without anger.  Quis enim cut medetur irascitur? –”who is angry with his own patient?”

Love “Does not rejoice in iniquity.” Love is marred in itself, though it lower itself to all.  Though it can love and wish well of evil men, yet it does not rejoice in iniquity.  It is like the sun’s light that shines on a pile of manure, and is not defiled, receives no impurity from it.  Some base and wicked spirits make a sport to do mischief themselves, and take pleasure in others that do it.  But love does not rejoice in iniquity or injustice, though it were done to its own enemy.  It cannot take pleasure in the unjust sufferings of any who hate it, because it has no enemy except sin and iniquity and hates nothing else with a perfect hatred.  Therefore whatever advantage should come back to itself by other men’s iniquities, it cannot rejoice, that iniquity, its capital enemy, should reign and prevail.

But it “rejoices in the truth.”  The advancement and progress of others in the way of truth and holiness is its pleasure.  Though that should eclipse its own glory, yet it does not look on it with an jealous eye, it is not grieved to find it and know it, but can rejoice at anything that may give evidence of goodness in others.  There is nothing more beautiful in its eyes than to see everyone get their own due, though itself should come behind.

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This common domain work modernized in places by this site

Christian Love 11: Love Does Nothing Inappropriate

By Hugh Binning

1st Corinthians 13  ^5 —doesn’t behave itself inappropriately,..

Then Love does nothing unseemly, “doesn’t behave itself inappropriately,” 1st Cor. 13.5. Vanity and swelling of mind will certainly breakout into some inappropriate carrying of one’s self, such as vain and conceited estimation, and similar things, but love keeps a sweetness and tastefulness in all its ways, so as not to provoke and irritate others, not to expose itself to contempt and mockery.  Or it may be said, it is not disagreeable, It doesn’t account itself disgraced and abused, to associate and be friendly with men in a low state.  It can with its Master bow down to wash the disciple’s feet, and not think it unseemly.  Whatever it submits to in doing or suffering, it is not ashamed of it, as that it were not suitable or becoming.

 

 

 

 

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Christian Love 10: Love Is Not Envious or Proud

By Hugh Binning

 

“Love does not Envy” Envy is the seed of all contention, and self-love brings it forth.  When everyone desires to be esteemed as greatests would have pre-eminence among others, their ways must interfere with one another.  This is what makes discord.  Everyone would take away from another’s value, that they themselves may add to their own.  No one lives content with their own lot or position, and it is the aspiring beyond that, which puts all the wheels out of course.  I beleive this is the root of many contentions among Christians,-the apprehension of slighting, the conceit of disrespect, and the like, kindles the flame of difference, and heightens the least offence to an unpardonable injury.  But love envieth not where it may lie quietly low.  Though it be under the feet of others, and beneath its own due place, yet it does not envy, it can lie contentedly so.  Suppose it is slighted and despised, yet it doesn’t take it badly, because it is lowly in mind.

“Love is not proud, and doesn’t praise itself.” If love has gifts and graces beyond others, it restrains itself, with the bridle of modesty and humility, from praising or boasting about itself, or anything in its carrying of itself that may taste of conceit.  Pride is a self admirer, and despises others, and to please itself, cares little if others others are displeased.  There is nothing so unfitting in human or Christian society, so apt to alienate others’ affections, for the more we take our own affection to ourselves, we will have less from others.  O these golden rules of Christian walking! Rom.12:10,16, “In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another; Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.  Don’t be wise in your own conceits.” O but that were a sightly competition among Christians,  to prefer another in unfeigned love, and in lowliness of mind, each to esteem another better than themself. Philip. 2:3.  “Knowledge puffs up” says the apostle (1sr Cor. 8:1) “but love edifies.” It is only a swelling and inflamation of the mind, but love is solid devotion and real Christianity.

 

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Sweet Drops 6: Weak but His

By Richard Sibbes

Let us assure ourselves that God’s grace, even in this imperfect state, is stronger than man’s free will in the state of original perfection.[Adam] It is founded now in Christ, who, as he is the author, so he will finish, [or complete] our faith (Heb.12:2). We are under a more gracious covenant.

What some say of rooted faith,” fides radicata, that it continues, while weak faith may come to nothing” seems to be contradicted by this Scripture; for, as the strongest faith may be shaken, so the weakest, where truth is, is so far rooted that it will prevail.

Weakness with watchfulness will stand, when strength with too much confidence fails.  Weakness with acknowledgement of it, is the best place and thing for God to perfect his strength in; for consciousness of our weaknesses drive us out of ourselves to him in whom our strength lies.

From this it follows that weakness may be consistent with assurance of salvation.  The disciples, even with all their weaknesses, are bidden to rejoice that there names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).  Failings, with struggle, in growing in holiness should not weaken the peace of our being justification and assurance of salvation.  It doesn’t matter as much what weakness is in us, as what good; but how we think of them; not what our particular failings are so much as what is the thread and tenor of our lives, for Christ’s dislike for the things that are amiss in us turns not to hatred of us, our persons but to the victorious conquering of all our infirmities[weaknesses].

Some have, after struggles, wondered at the goodness of God that so little and such trembling faith should have upheld them in so great combats, when Satan had almost caught them.

And, indeed, it is to be wondered at, how much a little grace will prevail with God for acceptance, and over our enemies for victory, if the heart is upright.

such is the goodness of our sweet Savior that he delights still to show his strength in our weaknesses.

 

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Excerpt from Works of Richard Sibbes, kindle, Loc. 1884, [Language modernized in places by this site [] ours.

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Excepts of Mercy

Sweet Drops: This is 6

1          2          3          4          5          6          7          8          9

Choosing God over Man

By Paul Myers

Recently, I believe, the Lord has been showing me something more clearly.  The Lord, does desire and expect to be our first love.  When you think about it rationally, how could he be anything but our first love.  He gave us life. He provides generously for us. He is our Hero, inflicting pain on Himself, enabling us to have a relationship with Him.   He is the friend who sticks closer than a brother. Our own sin, the world full of sin and under the enemy’s power to a great degree, and the Enemy himself are opposed to this first love for God.

I believe the greatest obstacle to people making God their refuge, strength, and first love is that we have too high a regard for humanity.  I’m not meaning by this we care too much for humanity’s well being.  What I mean is we have too much esteem for humanity, or people who please us.  We have too great an ambition to be seen by others as meeting and exceeding certain standards, or well-pleasing in their eyes.  We are putting too much emphasis or value on the human judgment of others, whether they are this or that thing that pleases or displeases us.   This over emphasis, leads to superiority and inferiority complexes.  This leads to harsh, judgmental, and divisive ways of thinking, communicating and behaving.  This divides, and causes much animosity, hatred, even wars and death.  This is the pride in man, pride of man.  We are the “God” of our world, passing judgments and setting our own standards for right and wrong.

Humanism has greatly infected Christianity as a whole, I believe, Christianity as including all who claim Christ.  This pride of and in man, has greatly harmed and hindered Christian love and unity.  I hope you understand what I am saying.  I want to write in a way that brings humanity down to its proper place, of lowness and humility, before and under God.  I realize this may seem negative and offensive to many, but this is best for all who honestly seek God, to know humanity’s true state and standing.  I suppose this is part of the offence of the cross, that mankind is at such a low place as far as any good standing that it is required that Jesus live and die in our place, living a life of goodness and righteousness we cannot.  Some, I believe rise up in defense of mankind to a degree, becoming defensive and perturbed when what we are apart from Christ is spoken of truthfully. To me it is not a negative thing, but hopeful, and awe-inspiring of the mercy and love of God, to think of how far we fall short, yet His mercy and love has reached and still reaches down to us.  I believe the more we move off our selves being the focal point of everything, and rather Him being so, we will see much more graciousness, kindness and mercy to one another.

Christian Love 4: Self-Love the Enemy of Christian Love

By Hugh Binning

If a man be not lowly, to sit down below offences and weaknesses, his love cannot rise above them. Self-love is the greatest enemy to true Christian love, and pride is the fountain of self-love, because it is impossible that, in this life, there should be an exact agreement between the thoughts and ways of Christians.  Therefore it is not possible to keep this bond of perfection unbroken, except there be a mutual bowing to one another in lowliness.  Self-love would have all conformed to it, and if that not be, there is the price to pay.  But humbleness of mind can conform itself to all things, and this keeps the bond fast.  Then love, by the link of humility, has meekness chained to it, and kindness.  Love is of a sweet complexion, meek and kind.  Pride is the mother of passion, humbleness the mother of meekness.  The inward affection is made by meekness, and the outward actions adorned by gentleness and kindness.  Oh that sweet calmness of spirit! The heart of the wicked is as the troubled sea, no rest, no quiet in it, continual storms raising continual waves of anxiety and stress.  An unmeek spirit is like a boiling pot, it troubles itself and annoys others.  Then, at length, love, by lowliness and meekness, is the most durable, enduring, longsuffering thing in the world,” with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.”  These are the only principles of patience and long enduring of hardships.  Anger and passion is expressed in the scripture under the name of haste, and it is a sudden furious, hasty thing, a rash, inconsiderate, impatient thing, more hasty than speedy.

 

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Excerpt from-The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning, Kindle, Loc 16413. Common Domain. Language slightly modernized in places by this site.

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Christian Love 5: He Makes Peace⇒

Christian Love 3⇐

Excepts of Mercy

Manton’s Merciful Appeals

By Thomas Manton

For the other sort, who are kept from coming to trust Christ by their own fears, they are likely to say things like,

“It is true there is mercy in Christ for sinners, but Christ has not callrd me personally.”

– My brothers, what are you looking for? An audible voice to speak to you, You John, You Thomas, etc.? In the the tenderness of the gospel you are included as well as others, and why will you exclude yourselves? If God says sinners, you should reply, “I am the greatest sinner”.

“I remember it said, in John 10:3, Christ calls hi sheep by name, and leads them forth. How does Christ call them by name?”

-By speaking particularly to their case, as if he tapped them on the shoulder, and said; “Here is comfort for you.” As at a feast, when there is a dish that we set on the table , though all are free to take from it, yet we say, Here is a dish for me.”  So you should apply yourselves and take your own portion;  though it be put forward to everyone, when God directs his messengers to speak particularly to your case, that is all the calling by name you need, since prophesies are ceased, so you should say, This dish was provided for my hungry conscience, intended for me,..But they will reply,

“Sure there is no mercy for me, I am so unworthy.”

-I answer—The invitation does not look for worth, but thirst: Rev.22:17, “Let him that is thirsty come, and whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely.” You are not worthy, but you are thirsty, or else why are you groaning as you are?

-And by the way take notice of the pride that is in legal dejection.[disqualifying yourself through the law]

Men unwilling to come to Christ; would like to be worthy before they come to him; and therefore the apostle says: “For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” Rom 10:3. A proud man would attempt to establish a righteousness in himself, and is reluctant to low themselves to take all from another;…

-The more the need to come to Christ; he came to call sinners. Matt.9:13. It doesn’t’ matter what you have been, but what you could be; Christ does not call us because we are holy but that we may become holy. Is it rational to say, “I am too poor to take charity, I am too dirty to take a shower?

But they have refused so many call already, and scorned God’s counsel.

-Wisdom calls scorners, Prov.1:22. “Turn you scorners; how long will you delight in scorning?” It is a mercy that you have been able to hear one more call; don’t increase your guilt that you complain about.

But I don’t know how to come to Christ.

-The blind and the lame are invited to the wedding, Matt.22, and wisdom calls fools, Prov.9:4, “Whosoever is simple”. The stray lamb is brought home on the shepherd’s shoulders, Luke 15.  Oh, that these words might be spirit and life to you!

 

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