Put on Charity
The apostle Paul puts a high note of commendation upon charity, when he styles it the bond of perfection. ‘Above all things,’ says he, ‘put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness,’ Col. 3.14. I am sure it hath not such a high place in the minds and practice of Christians now, as it hath in the roll of the parts and members of the new man here set down. Here it is above all. With us it is below all, even below every apprehension of doubtful truths. An agreement in the conception of any poor petty controversial matter of the times, is made the badge of Christianity, and set in an eminent place above all which the apostle mentions, in the 12th verse, ‘bowels of mercies, kindness, gentleness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering:’ Nay, charity itself is but a waiting handmaid to this mistress. [Hugh Binning]
Put on charity
The apostle Paul puts a high note of commendation upon charity, when he styles it the bond of perfection. 'Above all things,' says he, 'put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness,' Col. 3.14. I am sure it hath not such a high place in the minds and practice of Christians now, as it hath in the roll of the parts and members of the new man here set down. Here it is above all. With us it is below all, even below every apprehension of doubtful truths. An agreement in the conception of any poor petty controversial matter of the times, is made the badge of Christianity, and set in an eminent place above all which the apostle mentions, in the 12th verse, 'bowels of mercies, kindness, gentleness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering:' Nay, charity itself is but a waiting handmaid to this mistress. [Hugh Binning]
More on Job
They fail in mstaking Job’s condition, [by] judging of his state firm his infirmities and in the height of his passion, as if grace could not stand with such expressions. And mistaking the disease, they misapply the cure. Therefore (2) looking to the extraordinary stroke which was befallen him, they fall upon the hypothesis going from the thesis itself, stretching the justice of God beyond, and drawing conclusions from the premises which they will not bear; from a temporary judgment, concluding eternal cutting off. (3) They misapply the most clear visions and sound truths to obtain their point, to have Job down and taking with it [agreeing] that he was a hypocrite, that he might be humbled and lay a new foundation. (4) They carry on this with rough and uncharitable expressions towards Job, who should have been more tenderly dealeth with.
Question: “What should be the reason they sat so long silen?
Answer 1. God having in mind to complete Job’s trial, he will let him get comfort from none; yea, they shall rather be matter of stumbling him. 2. they could not conceive his sorrow half so great they came; and the good thoughts they had of Job before, as if a holy man, wearies out upon the beholding of his stroke, and they know not what to say to him. Yea, in as far as they let the temptation work in begetting a prejudice at him, they are wrong and prove hurtful to him. [James Durham]
More on Job
They fail in mstaking Job's condition, [by] judging of his state firm his infirmities and in the height of his passion, as if grace could not stand with such expressions. And mistaking the disease, they misapply the cure. Therefore (2) looking to the extraordinary stroke which was befallen him, they fall upon the hypothesis going from the thesis itself, stretching the justice of God beyond, and drawing conclusions from the premises which they will not bear; from a temporary judgment, concluding eternal cutting off. (3) They misapply the most clear visions and sound truths to obtain their point, to have Job down and taking with it [agreeing] that he was a hypocrite, that he might be humbled and lay a new foundation. (4) They carry on this with rough and uncharitable expressions towards Job, who should have been more tenderly dealeth with.
Question: "What should be the reason they sat so long silen?
Answer 1. God having in mind to complete Job's trial, he will let him get comfort from none; yea, they shall rather be matter of stumbling him. 2. they could not conceive his sorrow half so great they came; and the good thoughts they had of Job before, as if a holy man, wearies out upon the beholding of his stroke, and they know not what to say to him. Yea, in as far as they let the temptation work in begetting a prejudice at him, they are wrong and prove hurtful to him. [James Durham]
Grounds for Confidence
My foot hath held his steps. I know well I will get a clearing, and his sentence in my favour, for I have imitated him in the way wherein he has gone before me, and carved out to me, without declining to the right or left-hand. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips. I made conscience to follow every direction he gave me, I meditate upon the commandments of his lips. He held himself up by God’s steps, that he went not the wrong way, and when he was in the right he sat not up in it. [he continued on it] [James Duraham-Lectures on Job]
Lutherism
The fanatic hates the Word of God and exclaims ‘Bible, Bubel, Babel!’ Christians ought to use the Word, not the hand. The New Testament method of driving out the devil is to convert the heart, and then the devil fails in all his works. [Martin Luther]
Grounds for confidenc
My foot hath held his steps. I know well I will get a clearing, and his sentence in my favour, for I have imitated him in the way wherein he has gone before me, and carved out to me, without declining to the right or left-hand. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips. I made conscience to follow every direction he gave me, I meditate upon the commandments of his lips. He held himself up by God's steps, that he went not the wrong way, and when he was in the right he sat not up in it. [he continued on it] [James Duraham-Lectures on Job]
Lutherism
The fanatic hates the Word of God and exclaims 'Bible, Bubel, Babel!' Christians ought to use the Word, not the hand. The New Testament method of driving out the devil is to convert the heart, and then the devil fails in all his works. [Martin Luther]
Constant Dripping wears away rock
Many a citadel is proof against assault, which yet may be obliged to succumb to the slow and steady progress of a siege. Constant dropping wears away rocks. There are limits beyond which human endurance cannot go. The first onset of pain and suffering is not so nearly formidable as its protracted continuance, which wears out the strength and uses up the capacity of resistance. Pain which can be patiently borne for a short time becomes intolerable after a longer period. Sad indeed is the condition of the worn and weary sufferer, whose strength is exhausted, his spirits sunk, his buoyancy gone, all hope fled; unable to calm his irritated nerves or ease his aching limbs, restless and unquiet, finding no repose, they drag heavily along; no comfortable posture and no cessation of pain, just wearing out the tiresome hours as they drag heavily along through the tedious night and through all the day sighing for the night, though the night brings no repose. It is not so much the amount of pain endured at any one moment as its long and wearisome continuance that is so hard to bear. This weary, exhausting round of suffering with no prospect of relief is the third stage of this Job’s heavy trial. "Day after day, week after week, he is still compelled to drag his heavy burden, and he does so in silence. How long we know not. It was some time after his seizure before his friends arrived to comfort him; doubtless a number of days has passed before they heard of his calamity. A further interval was consumed in concerting an appointment to come. When they arrive, his disease has already so altered his features and form that they lifted up their eyes and knew him not. And after their arrival they sat with him seven days and seven nights before Job uttered a word of lamentation. Through all this protracted period he bore his grief in silence. But at length his sorrows grow beyond his power to suppress them and breaks forth in the piteous moanings of intolerable anguish. He has borne the torture with pious fortitude, until at length nature can hold out no more: he can endure it no longer, and he gives vent t other most distressed sighs and groans; "In the most passionate manner he utters his wailing cry. With the most vehement expressions he heaps execrations on the day in which he was born; he wishes that day blotted from existence, –in other words, that it had never been, — so that it could not have inflicted upon him the misery of an intolerable existence. Oh that he had never been born! Oh that when born he had perished, neglected and uncared for, and thus might never have come to know the wretchedness of living! Oh if he had but found in early infancy the grave, which closes over all alike, and sweeps into its all-devouring maw the rich and great, kings and counsellors, the prisoners and the oppressor, the master and his slave, gathering all into that profound disturbing repose, which now is denied to him! Oh, how he longs for death! He would clutch at its as the miser grasps his gold, as men dig for hidden treasures. Why is this coveted privilege of death denied him? "Thus poor sufferer bemoans his dismal fate. It is the doleful lament of one who has more laid upon him than he can bear. It is not the utterance of considerate reflection. It is not the expression of deliberate views. The sentences are not to be nicely weighed, and their propriety or impropriety passed upon as though they were spoken in a moments calm repose. They must be judged of from the situation of Job. They are the language of one tortured beyond endurance, who cannot support the anguish that he suffers, and whose life has become an intolerable burden. Allowance must be made for these paroxysms of helpless, hopeless sorrow. His strength was not the strength of stones, not his flesh of brass. He was incapable himself of weighing what he uttered. It only represents the bitterness of irrepressible woe."Still bruised, as he is, hopeless of good, with but one wish, and this that he might die, Job not reproach or revile his Maker. The tempter has broken his spirit, and crushed him to the earth; but he has not succeeded yet in wresting from him his integrity or bringing him to forsake God." Joseph Caryl
Joy Unspeakable
Calvinism say the papists, make men melancholy.You who fear you shall be abridged of your joys and delights in the world, consider that the duties of religion will not extirpate and nullify your joys, but only regulate them; not remove but raise your delights. Religion is not a mattock to dig up your joys by the roots but a pruning hook to pare and cut off your branches.”As the Apostle says: “Believing, ye rejoice, with joy unspeakable and full of glory. It is not spoken of the joy which shall be in Heaven but of the joy which believers have in this world. Love to Jesus Christ fills the souls with joy and glory in this life. You may tell the dimensions of an outward joy, but the joy of a believer is joy unspeakable. [Christopher Love From his sermons on the flesh and the Spirit]
Joy Unspeakable
Calvinism say the papists, make men melancholy.You who fear you shall be abridged of your joys and delights in the world, consider that the duties of religion will not extirpate and nullify your joys, but only regulate them; not remove but raise your delights. Religion is not a mattock to dig up your joys by the roots but a pruning hook to pare and cut off your branches."As the Apostle says: "Believing, ye rejoice, with joy unspeakable and full of glory. It is not spoken of the joy which shall be in Heaven but of the joy which believers have in this world. Love to Jesus Christ fills the souls with joy and glory in this life. You may tell the dimensions of an outward joy, but the joy of a believer is joy unspeakable. [Christopher Love From his sermons on the flesh and the Spirit]
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Worldly Cares
“In your own sense and experience you will find, that although, while you are assaulted with wordly cares and fears, your thoughts may somewhat trouble you; yet at other times, when upon seeking God in private or public, as in the evening of a well spent Sabbath, your disposition is more spiritual, and leaving the world behind you, you have found access u nto God through Jesus Christ, the bent of your hearts will be strongest to go through with this work. It is a good testimony that our designs and ways are agreeable to God, if we affect them most when our hearts are farthest from the world, and our temper is most spiritual and heavenly, and least carnal and earthly. As the Word of God, so the prayers of the people of God in all the reformed churches are for us and on our side.” [Alexander Henderson]
Pure, Genuine Religion
Such is pure and genuine religion, namely, confidence in God coupled with serious fear-fear, which both includes in it willing reverence, and brings nalong with it such legitimate worship as is prescribed by the law. And it nought to be more carefully considered that all men promiscuously do homage to God, but very few truly reverence him. On all hands there is abundance of ostentatious ceremonies, but sincerity of heart is rare.” [John Calvin]
Wordly Cares
"In your own sense and experience you will find, that although, while you are assaulted with wordly cares and fears, your thoughts may somewhat trouble you; yet at other times, when upon seeking God in private or public, as in the evening of a well spent Sabbath, your disposition is more spiritual, and leaving the world behind you, you have found access u nto God through Jesus Christ, the bent of your hearts will be strongest to go through with this work. It is a good testimony that our designs and ways are agreeable to God, if we affect them most when our hearts are farthest from the world, and our temper is most spiritual and heavenly, and least carnal and earthly. As the Word of God, so the prayers of the people of God in all the reformed churches are for us and on our side." [Alexander Henderson]
Pure, genuine Religion
Such is pure and genuine religion, namely, confidence in God coupled with serious fear-fear, which both includes in it willing reverence, and brings nalong with it such legitimate worship as is prescribed by the law. And it nought to be more carefully considered that all men promiscuously do homage to God, but very few truly reverence him. On all hands there is abundance of ostentatious ceremonies, but sincerity of heart is rare." [John Calvin]
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The Cup of Bitterness
The cup of bitterness was now represented as just at hand. He had not only a more clear and lively view of it than before; but it was now set directly before him, that he might without delay take it up and drink it; for then, within that same hour, Judas was to come with his band of men, and he was then to deliver up himself into their hands to the end that he might drink this cup the next day; unless indeed he refused to take it, and so made his escape from that place where Judas would come; which he had opportunity enough to do if he had been so minded. Having thus shown what those terrible views and apprehensions were which Christ had in the time of his agony; I shall endeavour to show,\r\n\r\nII. That the conflict which the soul of Christ then endured was occasioned by those views and apprehensions. The sorrow and distress which his soul then suffered, arose from that lively, and full, and immediate view which he had then given him of that cup of wrath; by which God the Father did as it were set the cup down before him, for him to take it and drink it. Some have inquired, what was the occasion of that distress and agony, and many speculations there have been about it, but the account which the Scripture itself gives us is sufficiently full in this matter, and does not leave room for speculation or doubt. The thing that Christ’’s mind was so full of at that time was, without doubt, the same with that which his mouth was so full of: it was the dread which his feeble human nature had of that dreadful cup, which was vastly more terrible than Nebuchadnezzar’’s fiery furnace. He had then a near view of that furnace of wrath, into which he was to be cast; he was brought to the mouth of the furnace that he might look into it, and stand and view its raging flames, and see the glowings of its heat, that he might know where he was going and what he was about to suffer. This was the thing that filled his soul with sorrow and darkness, this terrible sight as it were overwhelmed him. For what was that human nature of Christ to such mighty wrath as this? it was in itself, without the supports of God, but a feeble worm of the dust, a thing that was crushed before the moth, none of God’’s children ever had such a cup set before them, as this first being of every creature had. 2. From what Christ himself says of it, who was not wont to magnify things beyond the truth. He says, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death.” Matt. 26:38. What language can more strongly express the most extreme degree of sorrow? His soul was not only “sorrowful,” but “exceeding sorrowful;” and not only so, but because that did not fully express the degree of his sorrow, he adds, “even unto death;” which seems to intimate that the very pains and sorrows of hell, of eternal death, had got hold upon him. The Hebrews were wont to express the utmost degree of sorrow that any creature could be liable to by the phrase, the shadow of death. Christ had now, as it were, the shadow of death brought over his soul by the near view which he had of that bitter cup that was now set before him. Hence we may learn how dreadful Christ’’s last sufferings were. We learn it from the dreadful effect which the bare foresight of them had upon him in his agony. His last sufferings were so dreadful, that the view which Christ had of them before overwhelmed him and amazed him, as it is said he began to be sore amazed. The very sight of these last sufferings was so very dreadful as to sink his soul down into the dark shadow of death; yea, so dreadful was it, that in the sore conflict which his nature had with it, he was all in a sweat of blood, his body all over was covered with clotted blood, and not only his body, but the very ground under him with the blood that fell from him, which had been forced through his pores through the violence of his agony. And if only the foresight of the cup was so dreadful, how dreadful was the cup itself, how far beyond all that can be uttered or conceived! [Johnathon Edwards]
From a sermon called “Christ’s Agony”
The cup of Bitterness
The cup of bitterness was now represented as just at hand. He had not only a more clear and lively view of it than before; but it was now set directly before him, that he might without delay take it up and drink it; for then, within that same hour, Judas was to come with his band of men, and he was then to deliver up himself into their hands to the end that he might drink this cup the next day; unless indeed he refused to take it, and so made his escape from that place where Judas would come; which he had opportunity enough to do if he had been so minded. Having thus shown what those terrible views and apprehensions were which Christ had in the time of his agony; I shall endeavour to show,\r\n\r\nII. That the conflict which the soul of Christ then endured was occasioned by those views and apprehensions. The sorrow and distress which his soul then suffered, arose from that lively, and full, and immediate view which he had then given him of that cup of wrath; by which God the Father did as it were set the cup down before him, for him to take it and drink it. Some have inquired, what was the occasion of that distress and agony, and many speculations there have been about it, but the account which the Scripture itself gives us is sufficiently full in this matter, and does not leave room for speculation or doubt. The thing that Christ’’s mind was so full of at that time was, without doubt, the same with that which his mouth was so full of: it was the dread which his feeble human nature had of that dreadful cup, which was vastly more terrible than Nebuchadnezzar’’s fiery furnace. He had then a near view of that furnace of wrath, into which he was to be cast; he was brought to the mouth of the furnace that he might look into it, and stand and view its raging flames, and see the glowings of its heat, that he might know where he was going and what he was about to suffer. This was the thing that filled his soul with sorrow and darkness, this terrible sight as it were overwhelmed him. For what was that human nature of Christ to such mighty wrath as this? it was in itself, without the supports of God, but a feeble worm of the dust, a thing that was crushed before the moth, none of God’’s children ever had such a cup set before them, as this first being of every creature had. 2. From what Christ himself says of it, who was not wont to magnify things beyond the truth. He says, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death." Matt. 26:38. What language can more strongly express the most extreme degree of sorrow? His soul was not only "sorrowful," but "exceeding sorrowful;" and not only so, but because that did not fully express the degree of his sorrow, he adds, "even unto death;" which seems to intimate that the very pains and sorrows of hell, of eternal death, had got hold upon him. The Hebrews were wont to express the utmost degree of sorrow that any creature could be liable to by the phrase, the shadow of death. Christ had now, as it were, the shadow of death brought over his soul by the near view which he had of that bitter cup that was now set before him. Hence we may learn how dreadful Christ’’s last sufferings were. We learn it from the dreadful effect which the bare foresight of them had upon him in his agony. His last sufferings were so dreadful, that the view which Christ had of them before overwhelmed him and amazed him, as it is said he began to be sore amazed. The very sight of these last sufferings was so very dreadful as to sink his soul down into the dark shadow of death; yea, so dreadful was it, that in the sore conflict which his nature had with it, he was all in a sweat of blood, his body all over was covered with clotted blood, and not only his body, but the very ground under him with the blood that fell from him, which had been forced through his pores through the violence of his agony. And if only the foresight of the cup was so dreadful, how dreadful was the cup itself, how far beyond all that can be uttered or conceived! [Johnathon Edwards]
Dying Words of Rutherford
Some of the dying words of Samuel Rutherford, shows how much, Heaven was in him, before he was in Heaven.
I shall shine, I shall see Him as He is and all the fair comforting within and shall have my large share. It is no easy thing to be a Christian, but as for me I have got the victory, and Christ is holding forth His arms to embrace me. I’ve had my fears and fainting’s as an utter sinful man to be carried through creditably, but as sure as He ever spake to me in His Word, His Spirit witness to my heart saying Fear Not. Now, I feel, I believe, I enjoy I rejoice, I feed on manna. I have angels food my eyes shall see my redeemer, I, know that He shall stand upon the earth, and I shall be caught up in the clouds to meet Him in the air. I sleep in Christ, and when I awake I shall be satisfied, with His likeness. Oh for, arms to embrace Him, Glory, Glory dwelleth, in Immanuel’s Land. [Samuel Rutherford on his deathbed]
Dying Words of Rutherford
I shall shine, I shall see Him as He is and all the fair comforting within and shall have my large share. It is no easy thing to be a Christian, but as for me I have got the victory, and Christ is holding forth His arms to embrace me. I've had my fears and fainting's as an utter sinful man to be carried through creditably, but as sure as He ever spake to me in His Word, His Spirit witness to my heart saying Fear Not. Now, I feel, I believe, I enjoy I rejoice, I feed on manna. I have angels food my eyes shall see my redeemer, I, know that He shall stand upon the earth, and I shall be caught up in the clouds to meet Him in the air. I sleep in Christ, and when I awake I shall be satisfied, with His likeness. Oh for, arms to embrace Him, Glory, Glory dwelleth, in Immanuel's Land. [Samuel Rutherford on his deathbed
A divine Quote
When I look upon myself, I see nothing but emptiness and weakness. And when I look upon Christ I see nothing but fullness and sufficiency.” When in the illness that was to take him Home, he suffered a long, and grievously painful death and was afflicted with several physical maladies he was heard to say: “Soul be silent It is thy God and thy Father who orders thy condition. Thy are His clay and He may tread and trample on thee as He pleases Thou hast deserved much worse It is enough that thou art out of hell though thy pain be grievous yet it is tolerable. Thy God affords some intermissions. He will turn it, to thy good and at length put an end to all, none of which things can be expected in hell.” “Oh, that I may die like Simeon, with Jesus in my arms, saying, now lettest thou thy servant, depart in peace according to thy word For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” [William Gouge]
A divine Quote
When I look upon myself, I see nothing but emptiness and weakness. And when I look upon Christ I see nothing but fullness and sufficiency." When in the illness that was to take him Home, he suffered a long, and grievously painful death and was afflicted with several physical maladies he was heard to say: "Soul be silent It is thy God and thy Father who orders thy condition. Thy are His clay and He may tread and trample on thee as He pleases Thou hast deserved much worse It is enough that thou art out of hell though thy pain be grievous yet it is tolerable. Thy God affords some intermissions. He will turn it, to thy good and at length put an end to all, none of which things can be expected in hell." "Oh, that I may die like Simeon, with Jesus in my arms, saying, now lettest thou thy servant, depart in peace according to thy word For mine eyes have seen thy salvation." [William Gouge]
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The Simple Truth
When seven or eight years ago I began to give myself wholly up to the Holy Scriptures, philosophy and theology (scholastic) would always keep suggesting quarrels to me. At last I came to this, that I thought ‘Thou must let all that lie, and learn the meaning of God purely out of his own simple Word.’ Then I began to ask God for His light, and the Scriptures began to be much easier to me, although I am but lazy. [Ulric Zwingle]
The Simple Truth
When seven or eight years ago I began to give myself wholly up to the Holy Scriptures, philosophy and theology (scholastic) would always keep suggesting quarrels to me. At last I came to this, that I thought 'Thou must let all that lie, and learn the meaning of God purely out of his own simple Word.' Then I began to ask God for His light, and the Scriptures began to be much easier to me, although I am but lazy. [Ulric Zwingle]
Restored to God’s Image
“Did God create our souls after his image but we lost it? Let us never rest till we are restored to God’s image again. We have now got the Devil’s image in pride, malice, and envy. Let us get God’s image restored, which consists in knowledge and righteousness. Grace is our best beauty, it makes us like God and Angels. As the sun is to the world, so holiness to the soul. Let us go to God to repair his image in us. Lord! Thou hast once made me, make me anew; sin has defaced thy image in me, oh draw it again by the pencil of the Holy Ghost” [Thomas Watson]
Restored to God's Image
Did God create our souls after his image but we lost it? Let us never rest till we are restored to God's image again. We have now got the Devil's image in pride, malice, and envy. Let us get God's image restored, which consists in knowledge and righteousness. Grace is our best beauty, it makes us like God and Angels. As the sun is to the world, so holiness to the soul. Let us go to God to repair his image in us. Lord! Thou hast once made me, make me anew; sin has defaced thy image in me, oh draw it again by the pencil of the Holy Ghost" [Thomas Watson]
About
Nothing much to tell. I’m walking a single solitary pilgrims walk, in England, that is not an easy one. I am a Calvinistic Covenanter Christian, My Autonomic Nervous system is failing slowly, which has led to severe disability, with an ultra rare disease than medics don’t even understand, often misdiagnose.and will no doubt kill me at some point. But, I trust the Lord to get me where I’m going. All glory to HIM.
The symptomology listed on the link, most porphyrics will only have most of those symptoms if in an acute attack. A few of us, with the ongoing, smouldering symptoms, that never go away, have most if not all of the symptom list, even when not in an acute attack, and are persistent and constant. Anyone who has ever been in the psychiactric system, diagnosed as this or that, even if physically well, should consider this illness could be responsible. King George III, the most famous porphyric, his sole symptom was “insanity.” Its so rare in part, because it’s massively under-diagnosed. But in making this illness known, when it struck me physically a few years ago, God vindicated me from every mis-diagnoses and bersmirchment upon me medically that has ever been made, and has made them all null and void.
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