Jeremiah 23:28-29 The prophet that has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that has my word, let him speak my word faithfully… I. WHAT ARE WORLDLY MAXIMS, COMPARED WITH THE WORD OF GOD, BUT AS THE CHAFF TO THE WHEAT? Regard the conduct of men who call themselves men of the world; by what principles are they governed t what maxims do they follow? to what authority do they defer? To the authority of Him who made them, who sent His own adorable Son to buy lost, guilty offenders with the shedding of His precious blood; or to the authority of him who deceived our first parents, and hath ever since been spreading snares for their posterity? Doth it not encourage the worldling to spend the precious and unreturning season of mercy in laying up treasure to himself, instead of being rich toward God? Doth it not industriously stigmatise all true religion, as the dreams of enthusiasm, or the inventions of hypocrisy? But "what is the chaff to the wheat?" What is the authority of the world, compared with the authority of Him who reigneth supreme, King of kings and Lord of lords, King over His enemies? What is the ridicule which deters many a feeble-minded professor from seeking Christ, compared with the indignation of Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell? What is the present judgment of man respecting us, compared with God's decisions? II. WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THAT LEGAL RIGHTEOUSNESS IN WHICH CARNAL MAN DELIGHTS, COMPARED WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST JESUS, AS A GROUND OF JUSTIFICATION BEFORE GOD? A self-complacent Pharisee may regard himself to be, "touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." An amiable moralist may gather, and deservedly gather, around him the esteem and love of men, and may ask, in the spirit of presumption, "What lack I yet?" Let the Spirit shine into his heart, take him as by the hand, and flash the lightnings of an injured law in his eyes; let him see God condemning sin in the flesh, by sending Christ to die for it in the flesh; let him see his own miserable shortcoming of that obedience, which a pure and heart-searching Judge requires, and then "what is the chaff to the wheat?" III. WHAT IS THE HAPPINESS OF THE WORLDLING, COMPARED WITH THE HAPPINESS OF A CHILD OF GOD? What is the chaff of his perishing joys, compared to the happiness of a believer t He hears the joyful sound of Gospel love, receives it through infinite grace into his heart, and walks in the light of his Father's countenance. IV. WHAT ARE THE PRESENT PLEASURES OF SIN, WHICH ARE FOR A SEASON, COMPARED WITH THE GLORY OF HEAVEN, WHICH WILL BE FORFEITED BY THEIR INDULGENCE? (R. P. Buddicom, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. |
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