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[0:00] As the Lord may be pleased to help, we would direct you prayerfully to Paul's epistle to the Hebrews chapter 13 and reading verse 8.

[0:15] Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 8. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever.

[0:30] What a foundation, friends. There is no change with him. Change and decay in all around I see, but thou who changest not, abide with me.

[0:46] We're all hastening on as we are all aware of, I trust. Not always exercised about it as we would be. Hastening on to a never-ending eternity.

[1:00] And oh, how vital it is that the Lord grant you and me that grace that shall quicken your soul and exercise your soul with that desire that you might know this Jesus.

[1:14] Paul had to say, as we are well acquainted with in the letter, we want to know it in experience. That I may know him.

[1:28] It is feeling to know little of this great mystery of godliness. To be favoured, to realise a sense of your sinnership.

[1:39] We have been singing to be kept very, not very low, but very, very low. And if the Lord makes you and me sensible of our sins, we shall have nothing, will we, to lift up ourselves with pride?

[1:55] But on the contrary, we shall be humbled in the dust. As we see that day hastening on when we are brought to stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

[2:07] What a mercy then, that here is one that will remember his people. He remembers them with the favour he bears unto his people.

[2:20] He visits them. He visits those families that honour him and serve him. They may not feel to have much life in their souls.

[2:32] They may seem to tread a darksome path and a lonely path. They may be brought into great afflictions, sorrows and difficulties. And yet as those trials are so sanctified to them, they will be looking to the Lord Jesus Christ.

[2:51] As the Lord grants them that living faith. And if he is the author of your faith, then he will maintain it and be the finisher of it. Your faith then must not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

[3:07] And all we do need in our dark day for the Lord to increase our faith. But be assured of this, if the Lord increases and strengthens your faith, he'll increase the trial of it.

[3:20] Or permit the devil to try it. But it is still the same. What the Lord has spoken to you of many years ago, it is the same.

[3:31] It remains the same. You cannot feel the life and the power of that word that rested upon your spirit. But you have still that sweet persuasion.

[3:43] I trust in your soul to believe that what the Lord has spoken to you of, he's able to fulfill. Because he doesn't change. Because he is the same.

[3:54] The same towards his people. A morning, noon and night. The same towards his people from the day of their birth, which is appointed of God. And the parents to whom they were born to.

[4:07] As to the day of their death. And he'll be with them through all their changing scenes of life. And afterwards, he will receive them into glory. And what a mercy then.

[4:18] That this blessed Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, ever lives. Now we read in the 20th verse. That God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus.

[4:32] That great shepherd of the sheep. Through the blood of the everlasting covenant. Make you perfect. Make you complete in other words. Make you complete in every good work to do his well.

[4:45] For you are complete in him. And oh, it is feeling the very presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Formed in your hearts. As the hope of glory. That will be an exercise to your soul and mine.

[4:59] The desire and the delight to do his well. Make you perfect in every good work to do his well. And the Lord will perfect that which concerneth you and me.

[5:10] You know, the Lord's ways are much better than my ways or your ways. And so the Lord Jesus Christ is the same.

[5:22] No change. Well, what a changing world we live in. What developments there have been in this century alone. And yet, can we say they are for the better?

[5:36] Alas, alas. For the most part they seem to be the means of drawing men away from his faithful, sacred word. And from acknowledging him.

[5:49] That the child of God will ever be desiring that grace. To look to the Lord Jesus Christ. And to hear his voice. As he bids poor sinners.

[6:00] Come unto me. Or have you not been favoured. Even the past week to have. Some prayer heard and answered. Maybe you've been praying for weeks over a matter.

[6:13] And the Lord in his sovereign mercy. Has granted you an answer of peace. Even in this week. Well, some here I am persuaded. Or I know of. Can return thanks unto the Lord.

[6:25] For delivering. And helping. Mercies. In these things. That have been as it were. A mountain before them. The Lord's been better to them than all their fears.

[6:37] Can we not? Most of us say that. Lord, what a mercy if the Lord has so given you grace to acknowledge you. This same Jesus. His watch will loving care over you.

[6:49] Round about you as a wall of fire. And he the God. The glory in the midst. Would to God we could give him more glory. That. That he is worthy of.

[7:00] We find ourselves so carnal. And so earthbound. And an enmity to God. In our carnal minds. But nevertheless. Jesus Christ.

[7:11] Is faithful. He is faithful to what he has spoken to you of. And he will bring that to pass in due season. You see.

[7:22] The bud. Will have a bitter taste. No religion won't be all joy and happiness. And peace will it in your soul and mine. There'll be those early days when.

[7:34] The. There'll be this budding work of grace in the sinner's heart. And it'll be tried. And sometimes you'll be crushed as it were.

[7:45] As the. As we sing of. Crushed before the mark. Such is the weakness. Of your faith. You feel sometimes. One more thing. And it will absolutely destroy me.

[7:58] If. It is permitted to come to pass. And sometimes the Lord will bring that thing to pass. That you so fear. Thing that I feared. That I feared has come upon me.

[8:10] Says Job. Nor have we not experienced some of these things in our lives. The thing that we have feared has come upon us. The Lord has not.

[8:21] Not let you sink beneath those everlasting arms. Has he? He has supplied your name. You've had as it were. As men may speak.

[8:32] And their backs to the wall. The Lord has been their strength. And their help. When most we need his helping hand. This friend is always near.

[8:44] With heaven and earth at his command. He waits to answer prayer. Jesus Christ to say. Yesterday. And today. And forever.

[8:56] Lord that we might be favored to fear more. Persuaded of this. Persuaded. That the Lord is. Our God and our Savior.

[9:06] That he is our Redeemer. And as he has been raised from the dead. He is that. He is that great shepherd of the sheep. Through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

[9:20] Or the. They said away with him. Crucify him. And will not have this man to reign over them. But still that. That loving. Pityful. Pitying eye.

[9:31] Upon the sheep of Christ. By the Lord Jesus Christ. For having. Loved his own that were in the world. He loved them from all eternity. And he will love them.

[9:43] Into eternity. And he will save them. Not for their sakes. But for his mercy's sake. And he will bless them. With an abundant entrance at last.

[9:54] Into that everlasting kingdom. Jesus Christ then. The same. Yesterday. And today. And forever. And oh does he not say.

[10:06] To those in the wilderness today. If he will hear his voice. Harken not. Harken not your hearts. As in the day. Of provocation. For where sins.

[10:17] I am persuaded. Must provoke God's anger. Many a time. Many a time. But that love will never change. He may see fit to chasten you.

[10:29] As there's a need to be chastened. That we might mourn. So all lighten up. For whom the Lord loveth. He chasteneth. And scourgeth. Every son.

[10:40] Whom he receiveth. But if he endure chastening. God dealeth with you as with sons. What son is he? Whom the father chasteneth not. So this chastening hand.

[10:53] In your defying and denying God. Will bring you ultimately to repentance. And confession of your sins.

[11:04] Before the Lord. And we prove done with this. Jesus Christ the son. Without change. And so there's. He has the sure foundation stand.

[11:16] For you and me. The foolish man built his house upon the sand. He hadn't any true foundation. He knew not the scriptures.

[11:28] We have some of those. That we get concerned about. That have a form of godliness. That deny the power. They have family circle. And it's grievous to us.

[11:39] Can you change them? Can I? Never. Never will dear friends. But if they are the laws. They'll be shown the sure foundation. There'll be a digging deep. There'll be an examination.

[11:50] To see whether we be. In the faith of God's elect. Or do we have this living faith. This faith. Which is the substance of things hoped for.

[12:02] The evidence of those things that are not seen. Jesus Christ then. The same yesterday. And today. And forever. And what will it profit you and me.

[12:15] If we should gain the whole world. And lose our soul. Well. You never will lose your soul. Dear friends. To the. To the fires of hell.

[12:27] If Jesus has chosen you. Before the foundation of the world. You'll live to show forth his praise. You know you won't be able to contain yourself. When the Lord so blesses you.

[12:39] With his grace. And upholds you with his spirit. And draws near to you. And comforts you. And supports you. Oh what a mercy then. He knows your frame.

[12:52] Your frame and mine. He knoweth our frame. He remembereth we are but does. Oh then. What a great favour this is.

[13:02] To have that gift of faith. To prove and to boldly say. In the liberty of the spirit. As we read here. The Lord is my helper. You see.

[13:15] He doesn't change. What he is determined. To perform for you. He'll bring it to pass. Not in your time. Or my time. But in his own time and way.

[13:25] Now. They are minute circumstances. When we consider those that. Doubt the truth of God's word.

[13:35] They have no sure foundation stone. Have they? But what does the word of the Lord say? All scripture. Not just some of it. To suit you and me. All scripture is given by inspiration of God.

[13:49] Is profitable for doctrine. For correction. For instruction in righteousness. The Lord will correct you and me.

[13:59] With his chastening. He causes it to come. For correction. Some affliction. Some trying. And news. That reaches your ears.

[14:12] Some distressing situation. Perhaps. In your broad family circle. Some. This. And some news. That arrives. Of a character.

[14:25] Or person. You know. Nor have it seen. She fathoms. Doesn't it? Because. You know. What it can be. What it could have meant. So these things.

[14:37] If there's no foundation. If the foundation. Be removed. What shall the ungodly. And sinner. Do. What would you and I do.

[14:48] Dear friends. If there were not a sure foundation. Stone. And he's laid a sure foundation. Stone inside. Jesus Christ. Is the foundation.

[14:59] Stone. And there's no other name. Given among men. Under heaven. Whereby you and I must be saved. What a terrible thing.

[15:10] A dreadful thing. To live a life. Of a form of worship. And to have no knowledge. Of pardon. No promise given.

[15:21] No assurance. Of heaven. Or to perish. In the wilderness. And the Lord. Solemnly searches us. In his word. Doesn't he? When those who come unto him.

[15:34] And say they've cast out. Devils in his name. Done this and that. In his name. And he says to them. Depart from me. In my words that I say. As I mention it.

[15:44] May not have any effect upon you. Or upon me personally. You see. Depart from me. I never knew thee. Now how powerful.

[15:55] To be. Digging thee. To have this. To set out. To build our house. Upon a rock. A sure foundation.

[16:07] Now the building. The collapse. When the. When the wind. And the waves. Blow upon that house. Built upon the sand. It'll collapse. There's no foundation. Star. So there's a digging deep.

[16:21] There's an examining. Of yourselves. In the light of scripture. Lord. Do I really possess. These things. Do I really have a desire. To know thee.

[16:32] As the only true God. And Jesus Christ. Them thou sent. It was God's love. To those. In the. In the Gentile. World. That he sent.

[16:43] His dear son. As well as those Jews. That. He had. Revealed himself to. And he so loved. The world. That he gave.

[16:54] His only begotten son. Gave his life. As a ransom. Gave his son. That whosoever. Believeth in him. Should not perish. See the vital necessity.

[17:07] Of living faith. It's trusting in. One. Whom you see not. It's casting. Your cares upon him. At the throne of divine grace.

[17:20] It is praying under him. For his presence. And his health. And it'll often. As we remark. With our. Friend at the desk. Walking along the street.

[17:31] This morning. It is. That groan. The groanings. Those groanings. Dear friends. Uttered. With the aid.

[17:42] Of the spirit. These are the prayers. Heard and answered. Oftentimes. We might have. Our. Formal prayers. As we. In our private.

[17:52] Meditations. We lay. Before the Lord. And rightly so. Those near and dear. To us. In the tithes. Of nature. While there's life. There's hope. In the. Those trying scenes.

[18:04] That arise. And come. And fall upon our ears. It. It. It. It. Enforces us. I believe. At times. That the throne of grace. Being burdened. We cast.

[18:14] The burden. The care. Of this situation. That involves us. Or ours. Or our circumstances. Upon the Lord. Jesus Christ. And his ear.

[18:25] Is not heavy. That he cannot hear. He is the same. Oh bless God. If you have this faith. To believe. That he is the same.

[18:36] There's no change with him. There's no aging with him. And. He will never fail. Nor forsake. His dear people. Because he has so.

[18:49] Loved them with an everlasting love. Now how vital. You and I. Search the scriptures. Search the scriptures. Set apart that time daily.

[19:01] To. Read the scriptures. In your private devotions. And to consider. And to pray unto the Lord. That he might. Fulfill the words.

[19:11] Of scripture. Concerning you and me. And those are special words. At times. That are laid upon your heart. Mr. Philpott. Spoke this morning. About desires.

[19:24] Righteous desires. You've got desires. I know. Each one of you. Will have desires. For something. Before you. That you see. With a natural eye.

[19:35] That you might possess. With your hands. In your hands. But oh. What a mercy dear friends. If you have those. Righteous desires. To plead the blessing.

[19:45] Of the Lord. The spirit. To enlighten you. And to reveal. Jesus Christ. To you. You know. Without a knowledge. Of Christ.

[19:55] We shall perish. In our sins. And oh. Some of us. Feel to possess. Such a little. If any. At times. But we do trust. There is a little. That we can. Plead before the Lord.

[20:07] And seek help. Upon him. And ask our way. That we might not be left. Strain.

[20:17] To bypass. Bypass meadow. Or bring shame. Or reproach. Upon the name of Christ. It's to know him. To be weaned.

[20:27] From the world. That lieth in wickedness. And to look to him. And to ask thy blessing. To ask his blessing. To rest upon your soul.

[20:39] That the blessing. Of the Lord. Will make you rich. Speak Lord. Give me a token. For good. Tell me.

[20:50] That I am born of God. And that my treasure. Is above. Now we all. Naturally. Strive for things. In the earth. We want a better life.

[21:01] We want things. To be more straightforward. And easy. In our lives. We are striving. To get going. And all. Whatsoever thy hand.

[21:14] Findeth the do. Do it. Do it friends. As unto the Lord. If you remember that. That it's doing it. Not unto man. You'll do it.

[21:25] Unto the Lord. And if you think. You're doing it. Unto the Lord. You'll give diligence in it. Because the Lord. He is the God. The just judge. Of the whole earth.

[21:36] And all you know. It is our mercy. That he is the just judge. And. He will judge rightly. He will see to it.

[21:47] That his dear people. That honor him. Will never be failed. They prove this. That the. Even in their lowest state at times.

[21:58] And in their darks and paths. When things seem to be. Going against them. That the barrel of meal. Shall not waste. Neither the crews of oil fail.

[22:08] Till the rains come. What a mercy. This. Is the God. The word of the Lord. And it endureth forever. Whatever word might be.

[22:21] Laid upon your heart. Is that word. As applied to your soul. It endureth forever. Jesus Christ. In it. The very sum and substance.

[22:32] Of your hope and mine. Is to be built upon nothing less. Than Jesus blood and righteousness. We dare not trust. The sweetest frame.

[22:43] But wholly lean. On Jesus name. What a name it is. Oh that we could feel more. Love and warmth. And affection. To this name.

[22:55] Set our affections. Upon things above. Where Christ dwelleth. Now he dwells with him. Who is of a humble. And a contrite spirit. And trembleth at his word.

[23:07] And his grace is sufficient. Oh the love of Christ. To poor unworthy sinners. The hatred of Christ. To those who are the seed of Esau.

[23:20] Now we're not the judge. Are we? It's the judge of the whole earth. Shall he not do right? Oh we are exhorted to judge righteous judgment.

[23:32] And by their fruit she should know them. Oh what a mercy to have. Her righteous desires. One says those feeble desires.

[23:44] Those wishes so weak. Tis Jesus inspires. And bids us still seek. He never changes. What he has implanted in your soul.

[23:55] With desires. Oh go on praying. For the fulfilling of those desires. For he will fulfill. The desire. Of the righteous.

[24:07] You say I can't say. And lay claim. To it that I am righteous. And yet. Can you not say. That you desire. The imputed righteousness of Christ.

[24:20] When you see. What the. End of the wicked shall be. Your desire. The imputed righteousness of Christ. You have righteous desires then. You want your sins pardoned.

[24:33] You have righteous desires. You want to be prepared for heaven. You have righteous desires. You want to be washed in the blood of Christ. You have righteous desires.

[24:44] What a mercy. Seek ye first the kingdom of God. And his righteousness. All these other things shall be added unto you.

[24:56] You know he's a faithful God. He has been to some of us. Over many years. A faithful God. Better to us than all our fears. And certainly than all our just deserves.

[25:09] What a good God he is. And what a blessed saviour. His dear son. Co-equal with him. Co-eternal. Great is that mystery. And yet he tells us.

[25:20] He came to do the will of his father. Mysterious ways. Aren't they? That God moves in. In showing to poor sinners. That he sent his dear son into the world.

[25:32] The mediator of a new covenant. He stands in between. In those garments. Washed. And dyed. In his own shed blood.

[25:45] And we through mercy look to him. To impute to us. That robe of his righteousness. We have that righteous covering. That covers all your sins.

[25:56] That blots them out as a thick cloud. That prepares you and me. For those prepared mansions in the sky. Now it'll take many years won't it? Often takes many years.

[26:08] For. The soul to be weaned from the world. And to be brought to that place. Where. He will say. It is well.

[26:20] To depart from this lie. No. But we've got to be weaned from that. Weaned from this lie. We are very much of the earth. Earthy.

[26:30] And we dwell upon. Earthy things. Earthy things. And the Lord has a purpose of our. Staying in this land. In the. Or in this world. There's an all wise purpose of God.

[26:42] In the length of days. And then. You see. In that length of days. He will make you and me. I believe. Pillars in Zion.

[26:54] He will make us to be living witnesses. Of the wonders. Of his redeeming love. Love. This then. Is Jesus Christ.

[27:05] As being the sum and substance. Of your hope. Your religion centered in Christ. Your religion centered in Christ. And.

[27:16] Your brotherly love. Centered in Christ. And also. To remember them that are in bonds. As being with them. And them which are suffering adversity.

[27:26] As being yourselves. Also in the body. You see. This bearing one another's burdens. This is to fulfill the law of Christ. The teaching of Christ.

[27:38] He bids you and me. To live peaceably. One with another. And this is our desire. Isn't it? That love. Is the golden chain.

[27:49] That binds. Nor we want to feel more of this love. Centered in Christ. Who is the same. Vital to have that love. We bless God.

[27:59] Don't we. By. For love and affection. Shown between one another. Though how much greater. Is this love of Christ. Rich and free.

[28:10] Fixed on his own. Eternally. As he shed abroad. That love in your heart. As he through mercy. Been exalted in your soul. For him hath God.

[28:22] Exalted to be a prince. And a savior. To give repentance to Israel. And remission for sin. This great and this mighty matter.

[28:33] Concerning your soul and mine. To know him. And to feel union and communion with him. And to be blessed. With. That godly conversation.

[28:46] Been able to speak. Hear a little and there a little. We're not daily. Speaking are we of these holy things. We possess so little that we can speak of.

[28:58] That is of a spiritual nature. You know there are those things that you will acknowledge God. In everything give thanks.

[29:10] For this is the will of God the father. In Christ. And. And all how we would give thanks. For his great goodness. And for our every need supply. Know how we would give thanks.

[29:23] If Christ is revealed to you. As one that has loved you. With an everlasting love. Your delight to do his will then. Do not be ashamed.

[29:33] To own him as your lord and savior. And you'll seek grace to walk worthy of him. But often as I've said. It is but desires. Desires that you might know him.

[29:46] That you might have a closer walk with him. That your heart might be established. With grace. Be not carried about. With diverse and strange doctrines.

[30:00] We even heard of a strange doctrine the other day. Very solemn isn't it. To think that men. Try and interpret the scriptures.

[30:11] And ponder. What things must be like after death. You see. As in while the fancy. Strives to paint the moments after death.

[30:22] It's in vain isn't it. It's the fanciful idea of man. That would imagine what heaven is like. Imagine what it's like after death. In hell even. We know this.

[30:36] According to God's word. It will be very solemn. If we are banished to hell at last. It will be just punishment. Eternally.

[30:46] For our sins. Though when we see. Dear friends. What it costs the Lord of life and glory. To open up a new and a living way. For the escape of that wrath of God.

[30:58] Then we shall bless the Lord Jesus Christ. That he never changes. That he is the same. That he is the love. That he is eternally the same.

[31:12] For the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. We are told. Unto those that fear his name. From everlasting to everlasting.

[31:23] And oh what a favour to be amongst this remnant. Called by his free and sovereign grace. They shall know the joyful sound.

[31:35] You'll bless God when he takes a word and seals it upon your soul. When that love is shed abroad in your heart. And it's in love. He may correct you in love. And it may be painful correction.

[31:48] May be a painful chastening. And all how it tries you so. You well nigh despair. You could come weeping within and without. Your heart is broken. God sees it.

[32:01] He knows your sorrows. Touch with the sympathy within. He knows our feeble frame. He knows what sore temptations mean. There'll be sore temptations.

[32:12] We've had some sore temptations friends in our life I believe. But his love never changes.

[32:26] He knows what sore temptations mean. Why he has felt the same. Gone to greater lengths and depths of sorrow and trouble. Than you and I will ever be called to pass.

[32:38] In that he has suffered. Being tempted. He's able to succor them that are tempted. He has strengthened you in the temptation. You may be full of tears within and without. A part broken.

[32:51] You feel so oppressed. So cast down in such a low state. And yet the child of God. Redeemed with the blood of Christ.

[33:03] Will have faith. And believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Who can never change. And you'll have a humble hope.

[33:13] That you'll never find. That you'll never be left out of the covenant. And once he loved. He loved them to the end.

[33:26] Oh blessed be his holy name. If you have a desire in your soul. To know this blessed Jesus. Who never changes. Who is the same yesterday.

[33:37] The same. The same. Dear friends. Mercy in your birth. And the parents you were born to. That feared God. Oh bless God for it.

[33:49] Bless God for it. But oh you want more than that. Don't you? You want to know him. You want to feel him. As your blessed saviour.

[34:00] You want to love him. As you would. That we shall love him. If he's first loved us. And that set time to favour you. Will come.

[34:11] And he'll bless you with grace. To humbly follow him. Jesus Christ the same. Yesterday. And today. And forever.

[34:23] Your present help. Today. A present help. In your trouble. God is our refuge.

[34:38] And our strength. You know we. We read these words. We know that 46th Psalm. By experience. But oh how often.

[34:49] We're brought into some strait. And we know not what to do. Why our wisdom. Flies out of the window. We have. We lack it. We haven't anything. We know not what to do. When these trying scenes arise.

[35:01] And arrive. Upon our doorstep. Or in our. In our hearts. Lose sight. Of what God has promised. Lose sight. Of the fear not.

[35:12] Lose sight. Of him being a present help. In our time of trouble. And you've had some troubles. I'm sure. A lot of you here. And you will yet have trouble.

[35:24] Not to. Be all doom and gloom. From the pulpits. But you know there is an end. Isn't there? In the end. It shall be well. With the righteous.

[35:36] And the Lord knoweth their frame. He remembereth. We are but dust. And he's able to provide for you. What you are in need of. Able to do far more exceeding.

[35:47] Abundantly for us. Above all that we can ask. Or think. No. The Lord. That made everything. Here below. We. We admire.

[35:57] Don't we. The scenery. Of this. Of the earth. The seasons. The times. The wonders. Of nature.

[36:08] The ebbing and flowing. As we witnessed yesterday. Some of us. Of the seas. God's mighty works. God's mighty hand. But all.

[36:19] There's a far mightier work. Isn't there? The work of grace. In our souls. That. That desires. To know him. And desires. To feel that love of Christ.

[36:32] Shed abroad in our hearts. Now. Jesus Christ. Was made under the law. He had a body like. Unto yours and mine.

[36:43] Sin accepted. He was born of a woman. That blessed. Virgin birth. Mysterious. And yet most wonderful. Conception.

[36:54] By God. The Holy Ghost. The third. Person. In the Trinity. Born of a woman. My soul. Mary said. My soul.

[37:05] Doth magnify the Lord. He hath remembered. The lowest state. Of his handmaiden. Now he remembers. Your lowest state.

[37:16] Friends. Remembers. Your lowest state. Because. He hath. Been mindful of you. From all eternity. And he'll ever remain the same.

[37:29] And all sometimes. We can prove this. Him to be a very present held. My presence. My presence. The eye of the Lord upon us.

[37:39] Here this morning. In our midst. All to have faith. To believe it. And all to feel that contact. And union. With Christ. And to truly be blessed abundantly.

[37:52] With that wisdom. And guidance from above. Lord. Don't leave me one moment. To myself. Lead me forth. By the right way. That I might humbly follow.

[38:05] In the footsteps. Of thyself. The footsteps. Of the flock of God. And walk worthily. Of the vocation. Wherewith I have been called.

[38:16] That's the thing. Isn't it? That blessed evidence. That we have been called. Not only called. But chosen. Many are called.

[38:29] But few are chosen. There are many called. To religion today. Many called. To worship. So called. In their forms. And in their habits. And in their traditions.

[38:40] In their lives. Oh. We want more. Than just calling. Don't we. To God's house. We want to know. That we are called. By his grace.

[38:51] That grace. Is working. In your soul. And mine. To bring you. To his cause. And to see Jesus. Those Greeks. Of old said. Sirs. We would see Jesus.

[39:02] We would humbly. Follow him. We would. Walk in his ways. We would talk. Of him. And the wonders. Of his redeeming love.

[39:15] And would plead with him. To grant us. That pardoning. Revelation. Of himself. When he. Speaks to your heart. And shows you.

[39:26] His hands. And feet. And side. And says. All this. We've done. For you. If that's. Done for you. And done for me. Dear friends. It's forever.

[39:38] So. We would look back. Look back. To Calvary. Look to that. Sacred. And that. Solemn scene. Behold. A scene. Of matchless grace.

[39:48] Jesus. In the sinner's place. Heaven's. Brightest. Glory. Sunk in shame. That rebels. Might adore his. No. Now. There may be. Rebellion.

[39:59] Arise. In your heart. And mine. For the. Trying. Scenes. And circumstances. You're. Called to pass. Through. But you know. In the end. It shall speak.

[40:11] This vision. This vision. Is for an appointed time. Or the Lord. Fulfills that vision. In an appointed time.

[40:23] We experienced. In the exercises. Before going into the ministry. The visions. That we had. Of three pulpits. As I've told you before. That we were to preach in.

[40:33] How could it ever be. How can these things be. Says unbelief. You may feel that. In your own soul. Concerning. The steps. You are ordered.

[40:44] To take. The vision. Is yet. From appointed time. Though the vision. Tarry. The fulfilling. Of it. Wait for it. Wait for it. Read here.

[40:56] The husbandman. Hath long patience. Waiting for the fruit. I feel to need that myself. Long patience. We need grace of patience.

[41:08] Don't we? The Lord alone. He can give you grace. Because remember this. Whatever that. Whatever the Lord has promised. It will be fulfilled. In this time. Because.

[41:19] The Lord's time. Is the set time. To favor Zion. Jesus Christ. The same yesterday. And today. Forever.

[41:30] Now we need to be. Established in our heart. With grace. That grace alone. That is sufficient. That grace.

[41:41] That is. Made abundantly. Clear. To the Lord's dear people. In their pathway. Proving. That without him.

[41:53] They can do nothing. There is a hard lesson. That we have to learn. Isn't it? In religion. That all we possess. Of reality.

[42:04] Is the work. Of the Holy Spirit. From first to last. And so we need the Lord. To give us that grace. Of repentance. That we might have.

[42:15] Evidences of the new birth. Love. The quickening influence. Of the Spirit. Who to once. Those that were once dead. In trespasses and sins. There is a great rejoicing.

[42:28] We read in heaven. A joy in heaven. Over one sinner. That repented. Rather than ninety-nine. That have no need. To repent. Repentance. You see. The Lord knows those of his.

[42:41] He gives them true repentance. And godly sorrow for sin. He makes his name precious. He causes them to have. And feel deep wounds.

[42:53] Of sin. Their past offenses. Their sins of their youth. Their sins. In those early years.

[43:03] Of life. And they're made to feel it. Nor how we need more of this. Blessed work. To feel our sinnership.

[43:14] And then we should value. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name of the Lord is a strong tower. We need refuge. We need protection.

[43:27] We need protection. Don't we? To protect us from the wrath of God. Oh you know. There's going to be a solemn day. When God judges.

[43:38] Comes. Jesus comes. To judge the world. In righteousness. The wrath. In those vials. In heaven. That the angels. Are going to pour upon. The inhabitants.

[43:49] That repent not. And believe not. In the Lord Jesus. We would bless God. Then if there's a desire. In your soul. To flee from the wrath of God. And to seek.

[44:01] Help. That is laid upon him. That is mighty to say. No his name is Jesus. His name shall be called Jesus. He shall save his people.

[44:13] From their sins. Simple truth. But also profound. And so real. And so we need the Lord. To communicate these truths.

[44:25] Into our very heart. By his spirit. And to show us. That we have. Through mercy. Through mercy. Receive the vision. An application.

[44:36] Of a promise. And look for the fulfillment. Of it. In his time and way. Now Jesus Christ. The same. Yesterday. And today.

[44:48] And forever. And so what the Lord. Has ordained of old. Will never be erased. This will be your desire. And mine. In thy fair book.

[45:00] Of life and grace. And may I find my name. Recorded in some humble place. Beneath my Lord the Lamb. He'll humble you.

[45:12] He'll humble you. That you might yet be exalted. In due time. And he'll enforce you and me. To cast all your care. Upon him.

[45:23] Why is that? Because he careth for you. And that's the greatest privilege. That we can ever have. And now. That he careth for you.

[45:35] And you'll feel that union. And communion with him. As you cast all your care. Upon him. As you commit your way unto him.

[45:46] As you trust also in him. And he brings it to pass. And as we've said before. He brings these it's to pass. And they are big things to you.

[45:57] Aren't they? He will bring it to pass. It's not an if and a maybe. He will bring it to pass. Because Jesus Christ.

[46:08] Remains the same. Yesterday. And today and forever. And he will establish a sinner's heart. With grace. The mercy. The favor. And the love of God.

[46:20] To those dear people. That he has bought with a price. He'll never fail them. Or forsake them. And he'll make them perfect. In every good work. To do his will.

[46:30] Working in you. That which is well pleasing. In his heart. Oh may the Lord. Then in his sovereign mercy. Fix his name. In our very souls.

[46:41] Indelibly inscribe it there. And may we feel more and more. Of that love to him. As we journey on. Because.

[46:52]  He first loved us. We must leave it now though. Friends. To the Lord. To the Lord. Add his blessing. And forgive all of us. Amen.