The anchor of the soul (Quality: Very Good)

[0:00] The 6th of Hebrews, verses 19 and 20, Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.

[0:30] This hope, this good hope through grace, which anchors, it is sure and steadfast.

[0:46] We read that hope that is seen is not hope. Hope being the anchor of the soul, as it is with a ship, the anchor is not seen.

[1:04] It anchors into that, to hold the ship in the storm. How often we may hear, they have cast anchor to ride out the storm.

[1:17] Now in, how much more is soul, blessed with a good hope. That hope is not created by anything of the creature.

[1:31] It's by the sovereign grace of God, the mercy of God, the favor of God. To his dear children, they are raised up to a good hope in his mercy.

[1:44] And that hope, saith Paul, we have as an anchor of the soul. It will never sever, it will never lose its hold, for it is anchored in the eternal rock, the rock Christ Jesus.

[2:04] And though, often, that soul may be brought into much darkness and distress, wherein, he feels at times his hope is lost.

[2:20] But that can never be. The dear saints, when our Lord was crucified, did they not feel that their hope was lost?

[2:32] Did not Mary come to it at the sepulcher? They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. They on the road to Emmaus, we had believed that it was he that should have redeemed Israel.

[2:49] And after all this, today is the third day. My friends, never expect hope to always be so strong and lively.

[2:59] It is lively, it's steadfast, it's sure, but it is tested. And, but, see, it is where it anchors into, which entereth into that within the file.

[3:16] This is the point. That hope, my friends, that good hope through grace, that hope in the finished work of a precious Redeemer, of Jesus' blood and righteousness, now see, that is the anchor of the soul.

[3:34] Now, how safe that soul is. Whatever storms he may have to encounter, that hope can never be severed, though it is often, as for Paul saith in another place, hope that is not seen, hope that is seen is not hope, for why do we hope for that?

[3:56] That we see not, then do we with patience wait for it, see that anchor of the soul, that holds that soul to Jesus. What a blessing, my friends, is this, that we do not hold the anchor, the anchor holds the ship, no more than we hold the foundation, the foundation holds the building.

[4:21] Our safety is not anything in us, but all in Christ. And though so many storms are encountered, so many times, the soul may be tormented, and harassed by the enemy of souls, and he comes with his accusations against him.

[4:48] Yes, and not only from inward conflict, but there is outward conflict. You know, one of our poets says this, from sinner and from saint, he meets with many a blow.

[5:02] His own bad heart creates him smart, which only God can know. Yes, but Paul says, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, nothing uncertain about it.

[5:16] I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able, to keep that which I have committed into his hands, against that day. Another point, my friends, you may say, but then have I got the good hope?

[5:31] Well, what is your hope for eternity? Is there anything in self, is there anything in you, whereby you have hope?

[5:43] You say, no, no, help in self I find, and yet have sought it well. The native treasure of my mind is sin, and death, and hell.

[5:55] But this good hope, see where it anchors. O my friends, why these fears, behold, is Jesus holds the helm, and guides the ship.

[6:06] He that hath given you that good hope, he that has blessed you, with his mercy, and his grace, and brought you, to possess now that good hope, see then, though you feel at times, the steadfastness of it.

[6:29] For instance, let me come to a point here. You may say, well, this is what I fear. Have I a good hope? Have I got that hope, of the Lord's people, that good hope through grace?

[6:47] Let me come to this. The Lord has been very merciful, in all the trials and storms, of the pilgrimage, and the wilderness journey, up to this present moment.

[7:01] Why is it that you have not been let go? Is it not that their hope is anchored within the veil? Is it not that your trust is alone in God?

[7:15] That you have no other refuge? Have I none? Hangs my helpless soul on thee? Ah, then you've got a good hope, you've got a sure foundation, and that good hope is anchored within the veil.

[7:31] Yes. It's anchored into that eternal rock. In the fullness of it, in the 13th of John, we have this word, Jesus, having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them to the end.

[7:50] He is unchangeable, unalterable. Yes. See, there was a time when we had the hope that was in self.

[8:01] But when the Lord began the work of grace in the heart, he brought us to where we had no hope, didn't he? That is, we were lost, and ruined, and undone.

[8:16] But did not the Lord reveal himself, the way, the truth, and the life? And you see, the fullness treasured up in him all your soul need.

[8:28] And then, your hope was built upon his merits, and sacrifice, and atonement. This is your only hope for heaven and glory, is what Christ has done.

[8:44] Now, it's anchored within the veil. Now, Paul says, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul. See, it is utterly impossible for one child of God ever to fall.

[9:04] That is, finally, fall. They fall, as the prophet said, rejoice not against me, O mine enemy, though I fall, yet shall I rise.

[9:16] When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. You know, and this hope, then, that enters within the veil, and see, that will hold you, through all the changing scenes of time, and where I, down to the end, until your soul is landed safe in glory.

[9:41] It's sure, it's steadfast, it's not something, my friends, uncertain, it's not something that wavers about. It's anchored in Christ. The ship has to encounter the storm.

[9:54] The rock, in which the anchor is held, that doesn't move, the ship does. It's tossed with the waves, and with the billows. And, oh, many times, brassers are fearless, the anchor should give way.

[10:11] And if it gave way, then the ship would be driven in the storm. But, my friends, see, this anchor can never give way.

[10:22] Oh, the love of Christ, keeping his dear sight in a good hope, that then, which entered into, that within the veil, whether the forerunner's force entered.

[10:34] This is the point I want to speak from this evening, whether the forerunner is for us entered. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, has accomplished that salvation for his people.

[10:53] He has put away their sins and their iniquities, never to be remembered against them anymore. One thing that God forgets.

[11:05] That is, he forgets the sins of his people. Your sins and your iniquities will I remember no more.

[11:15] They are forgotten. Through the precious sacrifice of his dear Son. Now, the weather the forerunner's force entered, he is now exalted and enthroned, at the right hand of God in glory.

[11:34] And this is where your hope is anchored, in his finished work. Now, see, whatever you may have to encounter here, though our Saviour has gone before, he has been in it.

[11:51] Of often, so, and what a sweet comfort it is, my friends, there is not one trial, not one affliction, not one temptation, for what your Lord knows, and has been there.

[12:05] It's a wonderful thing when you consider, we know we cannot explain it, neither would we desire to ever venture to tempt, to speak, to explain, but we believe it, that is this, that in all points, he was tempted like as we are, yet without sin, so that he is able to succour those that are tempted.

[12:38] He is the same Jesus, now enthroned in glory, as walked upon this earth. I love those lines, that the same dear man, in heaven now reigns, that suffered in our place.

[12:58] This is your only hope of heaven, is what Christ has done, not what you have done, not what you are, a guilty, wretched sinner, but what a mercy he came to save sinners.

[13:13] The self-righteous Pharisees didn't need him, they saw no beauty in him, they despised him, they rejected him, and they scorned him, saying, this man, if he were a prophet, he would know what manner of this woman, that this woman is, that she's a sinner.

[13:36] Simon, I have somewhat to say to you. Thou never gavest me any water to wash my feet, but this woman, this sinner, she hath not ceased to wash my feet, and to wipe them with the ears of her head.

[14:01] She anointed the feet of her blessed Redeemer, but remember that woman, it was that dear one, out of whom he cast seven devils.

[14:16] Whether the forerunner is for us, enter even Jesus. See, my friends, there is a blessed prospect, and, as the scripture says, cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

[14:37] For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. He will never leave his dear children, to suffer shipwreck. No, but all the many trials, and the afflictions, of the child of God, what he passes through, is in this, waste howling wilderness.

[15:01] But see, his blessed Redeemer, has gone before, and now, wither the forerunner, is for us, entered into heaven. Now, see, this is where your hope is.

[15:14] My friends, we don't want to hope, that's only this side of the grave, do we? Have we got a good, you'll say, but oh, how shall I know, that I've got a good hope?

[15:26] Because, good hope, will have gracious effects. And one of the evidences, my friends, will be this. Do you love the Lord?

[15:40] Is he, to you, so precious, to your soul, that you have, no other refuge, to flee to?

[15:54] He is, your refuge, and hiding place. And, say, whereby, you can, at times, when the Lord, favors you, with his sweet presence, when he drops a word, into your soul, you feed upon it.

[16:16] You have food to eat, the world knows nothing of. And, you have, a sweet assurance, that it is well with you. We know, as we, come so far behind, the apostle, particularly, when he said, for we know, nothing uncertain, why wasn't there anything, uncertain with him, when he said, for we know, that if this earthly, house of this tabernacle, be dissolved, we have a building, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

[16:50] Why is he so sure? Because good hope is sure. It's certain. Once in him, in him forever, thus the eternal covenant stands.

[17:03] None shall pluck thee, from the strength of Israel's hand. He's entered into heaven. And where Christ sitteth, at the right hand of the throne, of God in glory now, he's entered, wither the forerunner.

[17:18] Then consider it, it is, for us, entered. For us. My friends, we cannot begin to conceive, these unspeakable blessings.

[17:32] No. But see the sweetness of it. He's entered there for us. He has gained the victory. He has conquered death, hell, and sin, and rose triumphant from the grave.

[17:51] Time, as I've said so many times, see a child of God, he comes in his life to a place, where his hope seems to be lost. You come there, have you?

[18:04] When you verily felt that your hope was lost. When it's been in the grave. We read in the prophet Ezekiel of those dry bones.

[18:23] When the Lord said to his servant, can these dry bones live? But see, he said this, this is the whole house of Israel. They say, our hope is lost, we are cut off for our part.

[18:39] Now, my friends, see, we do not serve a dead Christ. In the revelations, we read this, I was dead, and am alive, and live forever.

[18:51] Yes. He ever liveth to make intercession for his signs. The spirit that maketh intercession for us with groundings which cannot be uttered.

[19:03] This good hope, then, entereth into that within the vow whether the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus. Oh, my friends, see that safety and the security amidst all the down sittings and the darkness through which you will have to pass while in this wilderness.

[19:28] The Lord has declared it, that in me ye shall have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation. And again, the days of darkness are many, and they are.

[19:40] And the trials of the way, you say, well, I would, if the Lord would but confirm me that I am in the right way and that I'm not deceived and that he has loved me with an everlasting love, then I could believe and it would be I would have light, but I have not a ray of light.

[20:04] Where did that dear one come when he said, marks of grace I cannot show? All polluted is my breast. Am I weary? Am I no? And the weary long for rest.

[20:17] See, my friends, it's not the good hope, not that that, because the hope the anchor has given way. Oh, no. No.

[20:28] Blessed be his holy name that it is as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. Nothing uncertain. No. We cannot, my friends, we cannot comfort the dear saints of God when they come into darkness and heavy trouble.

[20:47] None but Jesus himself, none but his resurrecting power can ever raise the soul up. No. But see, this hope, which Peter, he speaks of it, he knew what it was to have his hope laid in the grave.

[21:07] Yes, he knew what it was to be so sorely tried and to fall by, as it were, under the fiery darts of the enemy.

[21:19] The Lord said to him, Satan hath desired to have thee that he may sift his wheat. But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

[21:33] Now, my friends, I've often looked in the first chapter of Peter's epistle, in that first chapter, Peter comes straight to a point and he says this, being begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

[21:53] A lively hope. But see now, he has entered into heaven itself. Yes.

[22:03] whether the forerunner is for us entered. You say, what's sweet and that's my friends here that, see, Jesus has gone before.

[22:16] Yes, he don't go behind, he goes before and he's entered. But he's entered, the forerunner is for us. It's a wonderful word. Have you then?

[22:27] Is this your hope that he's entered into heaven for you? He said to his dear apostles and his morning saints, he says, let not your heart be troubled.

[22:42] Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you, I go and prepare a place for you.

[22:54] He will come at the time appointed, and as he does, come down into his garden and gather his lilies home to glory.

[23:06] See, when that work of grace is done, partner of my throne shall be, say, poor sinner, lovest thou me? Ah, where are you tonight?

[23:17] Tormented, devil hunted, distressed in your soul and spirit, because you seem to have no marks, no evidences.

[23:29] The Lord is silent to you. He doesn't answer your petitions, and everything seems to be against you. Everything seems to be so dark.

[23:41] Your sin and guilt is so heavy. You know not what to do. No. Well, my dear friends, not that the Lord hath forsaken Satan, we'll suggest it.

[23:57] He will come with his accusations. Oh, yes. He is the accuser of the brethren, and he does delight to distress the flock.

[24:10] He loves to harass the sheep, and how acquainted he is, my friends, too, as to where we are in our spiritual life.

[24:24] See, he is aware of it. He is ever watching. He's got one aim and one object, if it were possible to destroy. But no, blessed be, God's holy name, he never will destroy one, but he will harass, and they will be distressed.

[24:45] When the Lord began his ministry here on earth, he began with those, Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

[24:58] Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness, and so on, which hope then we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.

[25:10] I trust, my friends, you can declare this, that you have no other hope but in his precious blood, in his finished work, what he has done, and yet this is the amazing grace, isn't it?

[25:27] How often prays you question and say, and would the holy and the just, the sovereign of the skies, stoop down to wretchedness and dust that guilty worms might rise?

[25:43] Yes, he came to save sinners, he came to redeem them by his precious blood, and now he has ascended, yes, but see, this hope then is within the veil, is entered, and is an anchor there, and never will that anchor give way in that eternal rock, that sure foundation, upon which the church of God is built, whether the forerunner is for us to enter, even Jesus.

[26:23] Yes, we believe he is in heaven now, to carry on his intercession there, he still, my friends, feels for his dear children in their afflictions, in their distresses, and as the hymn writer says, our sorrows in the scaly ways, and measures out our pains, see, nothing, it comes by chance, all things are appointed by God, and every trial, every affliction, every dispensation, let us go on for a moment to the eighth of Romans, then, what do we find there?

[27:05] For we know that all things work together for good, to them which love God, to them which are called according to his purposes. Now, you may be walking out and exercising your soul before God, and you say, well, if this is working together for good, because it seems absolutely diverse from it, my friends, it may well be working more for your good, working in a diverse way, than it would to work in a way that you would have it to be.

[27:41] The things which the Lord doth bring his dear children into, in the exercise of their soul, walking out, that exercise of faith, and whatever you may be passing through now.

[27:58] I find, my friends, this, that it is so often the Lord, he doth work in a mysterious way, and very strange way.

[28:12] See, this hope will hold you. Now, it is a good thing, my friends, here, when you have this hope, the anchor of the soul, you won't move, you'll have to abide.

[28:28] We are living in solemn times, my friends, when there is so much lightness, but say, the word of God says, be ye therefore steadfast and unmovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord.

[28:42] You may come into a fire. I don't know why, friends, what the Lord will lead you into. You may come into a fire, but there's one thing, is to wait, thou my soul, only upon God.

[29:04] This hope is sure and steadfast, it'll hold you. And speaking of the exercise of your soul, see, if the Lord has called you by his grace, he has set you apart for his own honor and for his own glory, and that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you by his grace.

[29:29] As he says, this people have I formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise. Now, see, they have then a hope. This hope is anchored, which will hold them in a sometimes you will come, perhaps, into such a storm.

[29:49] And when I quote those words to you of the apostle, for we know that all things work together for good, those things that seem to be so much against you.

[30:01] It's a one thing, my friends, to perhaps sing that hymn, that God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform, he plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm.

[30:18] But, see, when you're called to walk some fiery trial, some dark dispensation walk out, and everything seems to be so much against you.

[30:34] You see, we often turn to Joseph's case. We read of Joseph, he had a good hope, my friends, his hope was as sure and steadfast, wasn't it?

[30:48] It didn't seem like it, perhaps, in the trial, when he was in the furnace, but, my friends, we see how his hope anchored within that, within the veil, whether the forerunner is for centred.

[31:03] And, see, how everything went against him. And, yet, see, in the fullness of time, see, what does he say? You never sold me, God sent me.

[31:14] Now, this changes everything. You'll say this, he led me forth by the right way. The Christian's life is a complete paradox. The world can never understand a child of God, and never will.

[31:29] And, often, they don't understand themselves, because they're a paradox to themselves. Yeah? How strange is the course that a Christian must steer, how perplexed is the path he must tread, his hope of his happiness rises from fear, and his life he receives from the dead, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, which entereth into that within the veil, whether the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.

[32:03] Oh, that God man, the mediator, that one that stands between, in garments dying in blood, tis he instead of me is seen when I approach to God.

[32:17] Yes? See this blessed mediator, the eternal son of God, who has now entered into heaven itself.

[32:29] He has accomplished all that the father gave him to do for the salvation of his people. He has gained the victory, he has rose triumphant, and we shall be more than conquerors through him that loved us.

[32:50] Let not my heart despondent say, how shall I stand the trying day? My friends, we can't stand in and of ourselves, but we do not stand in ourselves.

[33:05] As Paul says, having obtained help of God, I continue to this day, it's that gracious help, it's that unseen hand, and that secret prop, that he sustains his people.

[33:21] Yes, they may come down to the borders of despair, but they will not come into despair. No, but all the darkness that prevails at times, and at sea, as they are called to walk through this waste, howling wilderness.

[33:39] Pains and sorrows, sins and woes, will the Christian's way oppose. Every day brings something new, Zion's troubles to renew, and it does.

[33:52] But what a mercy, see, the righteous shall hold on his way. My dear father, on his dying bed, just only a very short period before he passed into eternity, I quoted those lines to him, you may on the mine of temptations be tossed, your sorrows may swell as the sea, but none of the ransom shall ever be lost, the righteous shall hold on his way.

[34:27] He said to me this, you may on the mine, but we mustn't be on the mine. Ah, look to Jesus, firm and strong, mercy joined with power, he's all my hope, he's all I need.

[34:43] Oh, my friends, why, you find Job saying, oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his sea.

[34:54] You find Hezekiah saying, oh, Lord, I am oppressed, undertake for me. Oh, my friends, you don't find it as many find it, do you?

[35:07] They go in the sunshine all the time. They meet no crowds to check their pace, they're only rambling still. Yes, they are, the child of God he finds.

[35:20] It's a rough and rugged way, it's a struggle for life, it's a hope in often against hope, yes, it is, and the darkness that he comes into.

[35:32] Sometimes you could not express the feeling of your soul and the darkness of your mind and spirit. See, when the Lord withdraws, what have we?

[35:42] We haven't got anything. No. But see, when he reveals his face, when he enlightens our darkness, when he breaks through the darkness into our souls, and we behold, the glory now prepared for suffering signs will make amends for all.

[36:08] Those two disciples on the road to Emmaus, they had a good, it was a good hope, my friends, they were called by grace, their names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life, but see, when our Lord was crucified and laid in the grave, and they went those three days, it was midnight with their soul, their hope seemed to be lost, but Jesus drew near and went with them, and upbraided them for their unbelief, and said, O fools of us, and slow of heart to believe, ought not Christ to have suffered these things and entered into his glory?

[36:49] and there he expounds unto them in the scriptures the things concerning himself. Now see, what a light broken up into their soul, their hope wasn't lost, no, you may feel it is so, Jacob felt it, and Zion felt it, she felt that her Lord had forsaken her, and her Lord had forgotten her, the prophet said, I cry and shout, and all my prayer he shutteth out.

[37:22] You may say, but why are you on so much trouble, my friends, to show this, your hope is sure and steadfast? You look upon the waves and the billows and the afflictions, my friends, you feel you're sinking, don't you?

[37:38] Well, we're not to look there, no, but to look where that dear one did when he said, my hope is built on nothing less, and Jesus blood and righteousness.

[37:50] I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name, whither the forerunner is for us entered, entered even Jesus.

[38:01] Oh, my friends, he's entered into heaven, he is there to prepare that place for all that he hath redeemed, yes, and he will gather them, he will not be satisfied until he gathers this all-elect home to glory.

[38:21] He knows everyone, those that perhaps are yet to be born, those yet dead in trespasses and sin, whom he will give this good hope to, and that hope he will hold them, yes, and that the trials and tribulations of life's journey.

[38:45] See, one said others more smoothly go, secured from hurt and harm, while I through this waste howling wilderness go, this valley of tears, this valley of trouble, yes, difficulties and afflictions that abound, corruptions of your breast, yes, the evils of your thoughts.

[39:12] Oh, what it brings you to cry at times, oh, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Ah, we've got an old nature that loves sinning, we've got a carnal mind that is enmity against God, we've got that body of sin and death that cannot, that flesh and blood cannot inherit eternal life, that is, can never enter into heaven, this corruptible must put on incorruption, this mortal must put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass those precious words, oh, death, where is thy victory?

[39:57] Death, where is thy sting? Oh, grave, where is thy victory? See that good hope then, as the anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, yeah, poor and afflicted they are, yes, but those lines come to my mind, pensive, doubting, fearful heart, hear what Christ the Saviour says, every word should joy impart, change thy mourning, yeah, that'll change you, when you hear his voice, you say, yes, I to the end shall endure, as sure as the earnest is given, more happy but not more secure are the glorified spirits in heaven, they're more happy, they're not more secure, my friends, that soul that has leaned on Jesus for repose, he'll never know, never desert to his foes, that soul though all hell should endeavour to shape,

[41:03] I'll never, no, never, no, never for sake, just one more point here, that is this, you may be looking back over your life, and you say, but if you knew the life that I have lived, and the ways wherein I have gone, well, what is that?

[41:23] The vilest sinner he came to save, yes he did, they that are brought to fill their need of him, and what a mercy my friends, that he doth not look for in us good works, good tempers or deeds, no, by grace are ye saved through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, it's the free sovereign grace of God, his mercy to sinful dust, why was I made to hear his voice, why me, why me, oh blessed God, why such a wretch as I, who must forever lie in hell, were not salvation free, here is our safety, here is our security, is in Christ Jesus, in the eternal Son of God, who gave his life a ransom, who brought and accomplished that peace for his people, through his own sacrifice and atonement on Calvary, see, it was there, and every blessing, and every mercy, every favor of

[42:39] God, to his dear children, flows down through Calvary, no other channel of mercy, my friends, but, see, through that atoning sacrifice and shed blood, that fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, grace.

[42:57] Here it is, here is the channel of the mercy and love of God, to his dear signs, he never has loved the wicked, no he hasn't, but his own dear signs he has loved from eternity, and with an everlasting love he said to Jeremiah, and Jeremiah declared, saying, the Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, and therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whether the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.

[43:50] Just one word on this, we have not such an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, this great high priest that sympathizes with his dear saints in all their tribulations, and all their afflictions, in all their afflictions, he was afflicted.

[44:16] He was. My friends, he knows how deep your groanings are, and what your secret sighs express.

[44:28] What a mercy to have such an high priest, for consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be weary and faint in your minds.

[44:44] Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, which entereth into that within the veil, whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.

[45:08] The Lord bless these few remarks. His dear name shall have the praise. Amen. Amen.