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.

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…

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…

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,…

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…

Secondly, to show how hard a thing it is for a man to consider himself. It is natural for men to spy specks in other men's eyes, and not to perceive beams in their own (Matthew 7:3); to look outward at others, not inward at themselves. Like Plutarch's Lamiae, or fairies, which c…

But since they chased them away, it was requisite that themselves should be chased and deprived of all help and succor. For just and equal is that sentence of the Lord, who commands that every one receive that measure which himself has measured (Deuteronomy 19:19-21, Matthew 7:2…

What is the reason of this speech? Surely the reprobates are so rejected of him that it seems he forgets their names, in which respect the Scripture says, that he knows them not (Matthew 7:23). Now by this opposition we see more clearly what it is to be called of God: to wit, wh…

For the firm and immovable affection he bears us, far surmounts the vehement love and amity of all fathers and mothers in the world. Let us then call to mind what Christ says, (Matthew 7:11) If you which are evil can give good things to your children, how much more will your hea…

Christ therefore admonishes us to walk while it is day, because the night will come, in which we can walk no more forward (John 12:37). Hence we are to gather a singular consolation, namely, that we are here assured not to lose our time in seeking God: Seek, says Christ, and you…

Matthew 7:1-5 1. Judge not, that you may not be judged.

Matthew 7:12-14 12. All things, therefore, whatsoever you would wish that man should do to you, do so also to them: for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:15-20 15. But beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:21-23 21. Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 7:24-29 24. Every one, therefore, who hears those sayings of mine, and does them, I will compare him to a wise man, who built his house upon a rock.

Matthew 7:7-11 7. Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.

We must always attend to this maxim, that with what measure a man measures, it shall be recompensed to him again, (Matthew 7:2.) 8. And the master commended the unjust steward

This does Saint Peter in this place forbid us to do: and this is the effect and meaning of his speeches, as though he should say thus: Although in all outward and external things you be free, because you are Christians, and ought not to be compelled by the law to obey the magist…

Whatever then in the Old Testament, is not external or outward, is yet in force and efficacy, as are all the sayings of the Prophets, concerning faith and love. Which Christ confirms, Matthew 7, where he says: Whatever you would that men should do to you, even so do you to them:…

And that this is the chief sign of grace in this respect, is very evident from the Word of God. Christ, who knew best how to give us rules to judge of others, has repeated it and inculcated it, that we should know them by their fruits; Matthew 7:16. You shall know them by their…

Joh. 6. 4. 4. And so is it figuratively expressed where all Men being by Nature compared to evil Trees, it is affirmed of them, that they cannot bring forth Good fruit unless their Nature be changed; Mat. 7. 18. Chap. 12. 33.

Likeness unto God gives privilege and preeminence unto persons above others — 'The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour' (Proverbs 12:26); this is established not by civil wisdom, wealth, greatness, or power, but by conformity and likeness to God; hence holy persons ar…

The difficulties are too many and too great for those who do not press violently forward to grapple with; they never get along, but stick by the way, or are turned aside and turned back and ruined. Matthew 7:14: 'Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, a…

When your face is blacker than a coal, he sees the face of your soul, shining like the face of an Angel. A person or a people are then in a woeful condition indeed, when God shall say to them, as he did to those hypocritical professors (Matthew 7:23), Depart from me, I know you…