Sermons 20–50 on the Old Testament

Top Highlights

“So where are you, evil-minded hoper? If you despair you perish, if you hope you perish. Where will you find a safe place to snatch yourself back from the brink of either pitfall and set yourself on the right road, serving God, taking pity on your soul, pleasing God? You were wrongly desperate, and you heard On whatever day he is converted I will forget all his iniquities (Ez 18:21). You were beginning to hope in the wrong way, and you heard Do not be slow to turn back to the Lord, nor put it off from day to day (Sir 5:7). On every side God’s providence mercifully hedges you in.” (Page 5)

“So for the time being treat the scripture of God as the face of God. Melt in front of it. Repent when you hear all this about your sins. And when you repent, when you torment yourself under the heat of the word, when the tears also begin to flow, don’t you find yourself rather like wax beginning to drip and flow down as if in tears? So then, do now what you are afraid of happening later on, and you won’t have anything to be afraid of later on.” (Page 39)

“You have done well to share in my plight (Phil 4:14). For I have learned to manage, in whatever state I am in. I know how to abound and how to suffer want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Yet you, all the same, did well to send something for my needs (Phil 4:11). But he wanted to show them what it was he was really looking for in their having done well by him, and he didn’t want to be one of those who feed themselves and not the sheep; so he doesn’t so much rejoice at his needs being met as congratulate them for being so productive. So what was he looking for in this instance? Not, he says, that I am looking for a gift, but I seek the interest (Phil 4:17).¹⁰ Not, he is saying, that I should be filled up, but that you should not remain empty.” (Pages 303–304)