Matthew 7

2. In buying and selling, we do all to the glory of God; the wicked live upon unjust gain, either by falsifying the balance (Hosea 12:7): The balances of deceit are in his hand: while men make their weights lighter, they make their sins heavier, or by exacting more than the comm…

Use 2. Imitate God in justice. Let Christ's golden maxim be observed (Matthew 7:12): What you would have men do to you, do you even so to them. You would not have them wrong you, neither do you them; rather suffer wrong than do wrong (1 Corinthians 6:7).

Blazing comets soon evaporate. A building on sand will fall (Matthew 7:26). Seeming grace may be lost; no wonder to see a bough fall from the tree that is only tied on.

And that which may cause the more thankfulness, is because the most go into this house of bondage, the most go to hell: therefore to be of the number of those few that are delivered from it, is matter of infinite thankfulness. I say, most go to this house of bondage when they di…

God bespangles the word with promises: as if a father should bid his son read his last will and testament, wherein he makes over a fair estate to him. God bids us pray: and he tells us, if we ask, it shall be given (Matthew 7:7). Ask power against sin, ask salvation and it shall…

Such as are unclean and profane are the spurious blood of the Old Serpent, and it were blasphemy for them to call God Father. The case of the wicked is deplorable: if they are in misery, they have none to make their moan to; God is not their Father, he disclaims all kindred with…

God will judge the judger. (Matthew 7:1). 6. Lay aside disobedience, (Romans 10:21).

We read that the wicked are to be set at Christ's feet (Psalm 110), not at his table. (Matthew 7:6; Exodus 19:12) Quest. 7. How may we receive the Supper of the Lord worthily, that so it may become effectual to us?

What should such sinners think of pardon? Believers are compared to bruised reeds (Matthew 12:20) and temptations to winds (Matthew 7:25). Now, a reed is easily shaken with the wind.

Q. What is petition? A. A prayer wherein we ask the preventing or removing of things hurtful, and the bestowing of things needful (Matthew 7:7, 8, 9, 10). Q. What is thanksgiving?

Nevertheless, if those same elect be compared with them that are justly damned, we say according to the Scriptures that they are few. Matthew 7:13-14. The gate is narrow and the way strait which leads to life, and few there be which find it. Again, Many are called, but few are c…

Psalm 1:6: the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish. Matthew 7:23: depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you. Furthermore, the prescience and purpose of God are by the holy Ghost put for one and the same thing.

The same injury which David did to Uriah, was done unto him, by his own son, even by his son Absalom, 2 Samuel 10 verse 10, 11 and 16.22. And this, our Savior Christ teaches us, saying; (Matthew 7.1.) Judge not, that ye be not judged. We find this true likewise by experience: th…

To them therefore here is matter of good advice. Let such a man learn but one promise of God out of the holy Scripture, as this; Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all things else shall be given unto you, Matthew 6:33: or this; Cast all your care on him, for he careth for you, 1…

So that, though they wanted not authority, or outward zeal, and wisdom: yet they wanted faith, which should purify their hearts; or else they would never have lived in such notorious sins, as they were discovered to do. And this is the trial which our Saviour Christ directs us u…

If they err in the object of their faith, Jesus the Christ, though they own him to be Jesus their eternal Priest, to make intercession to God for them; yet if they deny him their eternal King and Prophet, in all his outward institutions, in admitting of members into his spiritua…

Therefore there be no gracious conditions, or qualifications wrought in us, before we received union with Jesus Christ. The proposition is clear of itself, that we cannot bring forth good fruit, until we be good trees (Matthew 7:18): a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit.…

If we be active in laying hold on Christ, before he has given us his Spirit: then we apprehend him, before he apprehend us: then we should do a good act, and so bring forth good fruits, before we become good trees; yes, and be good trees before we be in Christ. But these are all…

And we may observe in our way, that The Holy Ghost is present with many as to powerful operations, with whom he is not present as to gracious inhabitation: Or many are made partakers of him in his spiritual gifts, who are never made partakers of him in his saving graces (Matthew…

On this foundation it is that God has graciously designed them to sundry ends of his glory, and accepts them accordingly. For the will of his command is fulfilled thereby; and this tends to the glory of his rule and government (Matthew 7:21). We are to pray that the will of God…

See (Hebrews 10:31; Psalm 119:116). Such are at last led forth with workers of iniquity, as (Psalm 125, last verse), and to them will Christ profess, and say, I never knew you: depart from me, &c. as (Matthew 7:23). A dead faith is a deadly thing: a soul-ruining thing.

It is true; you may have great enlightenings, and yet fall short of Christ: such as hardly fall short of a miracle (Hebrews 6:5, 6). Yes, you may work miracles, and yet perish for ever, as Matthew 7:22. Therefore consider further.

Thirdly, that the working of miracles is no good argument to prove the holiness of them that be the instruments thereof: and therefore when the Lord does such things for the convincing of infidels, he yet gives us warning that we should not be deceived thereby, supposing invisib…

Isaiah 65:34. Before they call I will answer, and while they speak I will hear. Matthew 7:7. Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened. Luke 11:13. If you which are evil can give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your hea…

This done, then comes the second work of the Holy Ghost, which is the inflaming of the will, that a man having considered his fearful estate by reason of sin, and the benefits of Christ's death, might hunger after Christ; and have a desire not so much to have the punishments of…

First, Sometimes greater strictness (Colossians 2:18): Which things have a shew of wisdom, and neglect of the body: rigorous observances and outward mortifications, as the Papists do. 2. Special meekness; ravening wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15), as if they were all fo…

No — you would as soon hurt yourself as him. 'If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more does God?' (Matthew 7:11). The very consideration of his nature — a God of love, pity, and tender mercies — or of his relation to you, as a father,…

In some cases you know God has given us an exemption (Proverbs 9:8): Reprove not a scorner lest he hate you. (Matthew 7:6) Give not that which is holy to dogs, neither cast you your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you. Certai…

No, and many of the children of God fall into this same error, of making the way of Christ broader and easier than ever Christ made it, and taking more liberty than ever he allowed. Therefore mark you well our Savior's words (Matthew 7:13, 14): Enter you in at the strait gate; f…

And there may be a great zeal for the name of Christ, as they showed in John 6:15, 24 — they would come and take him by force to make him a king, and they followed him wherever he went; they took shipping and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus (verse 24). Many others are zealo…

And so does he that has not sound and saving faith, whereby to discern the Lord's body; this being an essential requisite to that heavenly participation. Many for want of this effectual, saving faith may deceive their own souls, and so miss of heaven in the heights of their hope…

Knowledge is good and excellent, yet may be separated from faith and love; and then it is nothing in point of salvation (1 Corinthians 13:1-2). Indeed ministerial gifts themselves may be separated from faith, as in Judas, and others (Matthew 7:22). And if so, they save not.

Heaven is well compared to a stately palace, with a narrow portal: hence so few enter it. The gate is narrow, the way is narrow, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:14). There are but a very few that shall be saved.

Isaiah 65:24. Before they call, I will answer, and while they speak I will hear. Matthew 7:7. Ask, and it shall be given you: seek and you shall find: knock and it shall be opened. Luke 11:13. If you which are evil can give good gifts to your children how much more shall your he…

O! what a strange punishment suppose you will that be, when the Saviour of sinners shall stand by and look on till he see vengeance execute on sinners that despised him? Think on it, for there is such a day coming, when you will all appear before him, and when your reckonings wi…

And how does he complain of the Corinthians and Galatians, and of their being bewitched, and suddenly seduced, and drawn away from the truth and simplicity of the gospel, by some self-seeking [reconstructed: counterfeit ministers], coming with a dazzling show among them. We shal…

3. We are, by nature, as good clay and metal to be vessels of revenging justice, and firewood that could burn, as kindly in hell, as Devils, or any damned whatever. 4. Not only at our first conversion must we be drawn; but the Spouse prays, (Song of Solomon 1) to be drawn; there…

But the Scripture presses faith in the power of mercy (Romans 4:21): Abraham staggered not, but was strong in the faith, giving glory to God, being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Now Abraham is commended for that he savingly and for his j…

And he speaks of all men in an estate of nature without Christ, not one does any good, no not one; all the thoughts and imaginations of such men's hearts are evil, and only evil, and that continually (Genesis 6:1), and Christ says as much of their words (Matthew 12:33-34). And s…

Watch to that with perseverance, verse 19, where you see what course God would have his servants to take, take this course, ever follow God, watch night and day, and never give over till he bless you and yours, until he bless Magistrates, give ministers a door of utterance, that…

Secondly, come to answer an objection, and then to make use. First, when you look at the falls of your brethren, and have occasion to behold them; look not at them with a partial eye, or a hypocritical eye, as they in (Matthew 7:3-5), but reflect we our eye upon ourselves, and c…

Look not so wistfully at the privileges of the ordinances, trust not in the outward letter of them (Philippians 3:6-8). This is that which keeps off many a poor soul from coming on to grace; he lives in no open gross sin, and in the midst of the ordinances of God, Christ is prea…

For the Lord God is a Sun and a shield, the Lord will give grace and glory: No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. And seek it of him by prayer (Matthew 7:11). Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.

Therefore where God's ordinance is in the creature, there may an argument be well borrowed and applied to divine and heavenly things. So our Savior Christ in Matthew 7 argues from earthly things to heavenly things, when he says: If you then which are evil can give to your childr…

Paul teaches the very same thing which Christ taught, that is to say, that works and fruits do sufficiently testify whether the trees be good or evil: whether men follow the guiding of the flesh or of the spirit. As if he should say: Lest some of you might lay for himself, that…

Thus he brings the false apostles into suspicion among the Galatians, showing that by this goodly pretense they go about to deceive them. So our Savior Christ also warns us, saying: Take heed of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). Paul suffered…

After this, the Holy Ghost works a will and desire to believe, and stirs up the heart to make humble and serious invocation for pardon. After prayer instantly made, follows a settling and quieting of the conscience, according to the promise (Matthew 7:7): "Knock, it shall be ope…

An euill tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Mat. 7. It may be obiected, that naturall men may doe the workes of the morall law, as to give almes, and such like.

Hence we learn, that there is a felicity after the time of this life, and that is, to receive and embrace the doctrine of the Gospel. So says Christ elsewhere (Luke 8:21 and 11:18; Matthew 7:26). True happiness stands in our reconciliation with God in Christ.

And if she had not borne him in her heart, as well as she bore him in her womb, she had not been saved. To prophesy or preach, and that in the name of Christ, is a great dignity: and yet many having this prerogative shall be condemned (Matthew 7:22). It may be alleged, that some…