The Praises of Children

“In all our plans of usefulness let children hold their proper place. Nothing ever awakened the hatred of Christ’s enemies more than the praises of children, because they knew the power of such an example. Scott: ‘The new-born infant is such a display of God’s power, skill, and goodness, as unanswerably confutes the cavils of atheism. Even little children have been taught so to love and serve him that their praises and confessions have baffled and silenced the rage and malice of persecutors.’ We should therefore labor to promote early piety.” –William S. Plumer “Psalms” p. 129

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In All Acts of Worship

“In all acts of worship let us summon our whole nature to the work; let our intellects know God, our wills choose him, our hearts go out after him, our confidence lean on him, our love delight in him, our tongues praise him, and our hands clap for joy in him. Let us worship him neither ignorantly, nor superstitiously, nor hypocritically, nor irreverently.” –William S. Plumer “Psalms” p. 917

Beware of Deluding Yourself

“Let all beware of deluding themselves with a reliance on the future of this life as likely to afford more enjoyment than their experience of the past…Bickersteth: ‘The young expect to find it when grown up and their own masters. Parents, when their children are settled and provided for. The merchant, when wealth is acquired, and independence secured. The laborer, when his day’s or week’s toil is ended. The ambitious, in gaining power and reputation. The covetous, in gaining money to supply all his wants. The lover of pleasure in earthly enjoyments.  The sick, in health. The student, in gaining knowledge.’ ” –William S. Plumer “Psalms” p. 75

Harmony In The Christian Character

“There is a consanguinity between all the graces of the Christian. His faith agrees with humility, and so is not presumptuous. His zeal is kind, gentle and benevolent, so it denegrates not into bigotry and rage. His penitence has hope in it and so is free from despair. His fear has joy in it and so it does not bring distress. His joy has fear in it and so it does not pass into levity.  Bates: ‘This fear of God qualifies our joy. If you abstract fear from joy, joy will become light and wanton; and if you abstract joy from fear, fear then will become slavish.’ There is symmetry, and there is harmony in the Christian character. It is not a jumble, it is not a contradiction, it is one.” –William S. Plumer “Psalms” p. 51

Supported Every Day, Hour, Minute, Second

” ‘Jesus replied, What is impossible with men is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)…when he now tells them, ‘What is impossible with men,’ he means exactly that. At every point, beginning, middle, end, man is completely dependent on God for salvation. Of himself man can do nothing. If he is to be saved at all he must be born again or ‘from above’ (John 3:3,5). In order to reach out to God by faith–God-given faith! (Ephesians 2:8)–man must be enabled and supported every day, hour, minute, and second by God’s omnipotent grace. …whatever detracts from the sovereignty of God in the salvation of men stands condemned.”  –William Hendriksen “Luke” p. 836

From the Foundation of the World

“…Jesus uses the significant title his elect to describe believers.  Certainly God will not let his chosen ones down.  From before the foundation of the world he has, of his sovereign will, elected them unto service and salvation, for his glory. He has loved them with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3). Therefore he will surely see to it that they are fully vindicated.”  –William Hendriksen “New Testament Commentary – Luke” p. 817 (Luke 18:7)

Be Merciful to Me, the Sinner

“‘O God, be merciful to me, the sinner’ Luke 18:13

Old Testament, New Testament; David, the tax-collector, Paul; all unite here, in ascribing salvation, from start to finish, to the mercy (God’s love revealed to those in misery) and grace (God’s love shown to the undeserving) of God.  See Ps. 51:1, Luke 18:13, Eph. 2:8, Titus 3:5.” –William Hendriksen “New Testament Commentary – Luke” p. 822