The Twenty Ninth of March.BUT ALSO IN POWER --- 1 Thessalonians 1:5."For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, . . ." --- 1 Thessalonians 1:5. By the gospel, the Son of God and Divine truths are revealed to us; and by the Spirit they are revealed to us. External revelation by the word, and internal by the Spirit, are both necessary for salvation. Though Paul was separated from his mother's womb to be called by the grace of God, yet he had not an inward revelation of Jesus Christ in his heart, till he heard the external word of Christ in his ear, saying, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Acts 9:4. Hence, learn to prize both the outward testimony of the word, and the inward testimony of the Spirit. The gospel is a revelation of Jesus Christ, without which we could never have known that our sins are atoned for by the blood, our persons justified by the righteousness, and our souls everlastingly saved by the work of Christ; but is this knowledge all that is necessary to salvation? No; persons may attain a notion of these things in the head, and understand somewhat of them, and yet the heart be without precious faith in Christ, destitute of the love of Christ, and of any saving faith in him. Professor, look well to it; many have said, "Lord, Lord," and have heard Christ preached in the streets, who little expected to meet with this rebuff from him, "I know not whence ye are; depart, ye workers of iniquity!" Many heard the gospel preached in Thessalonica; but they alone were blessed to whom it came "in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." The gospel is like sun and shower, |