Christ All in All: Christ is our Fountain

I'm reading a series of sermons by Philip Henry (Matthew Henry the Bible Commentator's father), and thought I would share some quotes as I go along. Using the book "Christ All in All" as a devotional, I'm reading just one sermon a day, but each one is full of rich doctrine!


In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of  Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.                                                 —ZECHARIAH 13:1

"Is your soul athirst? Athirst for peace, pardon, life, salvation, for grace, strength? Here is a fountain for you."

"This fountain also is cleansing. Sin defiles, leaves a blot, a stain on the soul. It is uncleanness...From that we are washed by the blood of Christ, satisfying God's justice and making atonement, also purging the conscience."

"Here is a holy well indeed, and holy water indeed, that makes them holy, holy, that are washed in it. However unclean before, if washed with the grace of Christ, that uncleanness is done away. We are made partakers of the divine nature, not in perfection at first, but by degrees, renewed more and more till presented without spot to God, faultless. Oh, the rare virtue that is in this fountain. It makes a sinner a saint."

"It has pleased the Father to lay Him open. He is not an enclosed fountain, but a common fountain—as a common propitiation, so a common fountain, as commas as the light or air. Open and common to all persons, Jew and Gentile, high and low, rich and poor, bond and free. Whosoever will may come."

Christ All in All: Christ is our Freedom

I'm reading a series of sermons by Philip Henry (Matthew Henry the Bible Commentator's father), and thought I would share some quotes as I go along. Using the book "Christ All in All" as a devotional, I'm reading just one sermon a day, but each one is full of rich doctrine!

If the Son therefore make you free, ye shall be free indeed.                 

                                                                       —JOHN 8:36

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Whether we will own it or not, it is certain there is a spiritual bondage, which we are all under by nature. And from that bondage it is that Jesus Christ makes free.

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By the guilt of sin we are bound our to divine justice in bond, the penalty whereof is eternal burning. Sinner, you do little think of this, but certainly it is so. Your sins are your debts; and they are bond debts; and the bond will be sued shortly; and there will be an arrest; and you will be cast into prison, if some course be not taken to prevent it. Now from this we are made free by the Son dying for us on the cross, whereby He paid the debt and fully satisfied God's justice. 

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By the corrupt nature, called the sin that dwells in us, the flesh, we are so fettered and chained to diverse lusts and pleasures that we are perfect slaves. ... Now from this we are made free by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, as a sanctifier, renewing us in the whole man, breaking the power of indwelling sin, planting a contrary principle.
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From the fear of death we are set free by the same Spirit as a comforter, abating this slavish fear and working holy boldness and confidence, so that now the man can cheerfully look death in the face, can look God Himself in the face, knowing that He is a reconciled father.
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Christ All in All: Christ is our Propitiation

I'm reading a series of sermons by Philip Henry (Matthew Henry the Bible Commentator's father), and thought I would share some quotes as I go along. Using the book "Christ All in All" as a devotional, I'm reading just one sermon a day, but each one is full of rich doctrine!

And sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.      —1 JOHN 4:10

If we have sinned, God is angry with us. It cannot be otherwise. All sin is a provocation to the pure eyes of His glory. It grieves Him. It vexes Him. His holy nature is against it. So also is His righteous law, which forbids it, which threatens it, let the sinner be who he will. If God be angry, some course must be taken to appease and pacify Him. It will not wear off of itself. 

There must be some propitiation, something to make atonement. Now what should that be? This man bid fair, but it would not do. Nothing of our own, prayers, tears, alms penances, pilgrimages, nothing of anyone's else for us will do. No, no. He is the propitiation—He, and none but He.

Jesus Christ is a propitiation appointed of God. He did not put Himself on it, but was called to it. He that knew best what would please Him did Himself see Him forth.

He is a propitiation accepted of God. How do we know that He was accepted? This was done by two extraordinary ways: the one, by a voice from heaven, expressly affirming it; the other, by raising Him from the dead. No other sacrifice ever was so.

Jesus Christ is a continual propitiation, not continually to be offered, but of continual virtue and efficacy. We read often of the continual burnt offering. The atonement made on the cross reaches us now as fully as if He had died but yesterday. The last sinner that will live to be reconciled and saved by Him will certainly find the truth of this.

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Christ All in All: Christ is our Portion

I'm reading a series of sermons by Philip Henry (Matthew Henry the Bible Commentator's father), and thought I would share some quotes as I go along. Using the book "Christ All in All" as a devotional, I'm reading just one sermon a day, but each one is full of rich doctrine!

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 

                                                                            —Lamentations 3:24

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"Our heavenly Father has made comfortable provision, set by a competent portion for every child of His. And that portion is Christ. He has not divided Christ among them, given a part of Him to one and a part of Him to another. Is Christ divided? No. But He has given Him all, all wholly and entirely to each one of them, so that each one may say, 'All Christ is mine, mine to all intents and purposes.'"

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The body with many people is well provided for, has a large portion, whose soul in the meantime has just nothing...Christ alone can be a soul's portion, because He alone can answer the necessities and needs, the desires and expectations of a soul. Four things we want, which the whole creation has not for us, but He has them all and has them abundantly: wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

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Then it follows that Christ is a rich christ, who has wherewithal to portion such abundance of people, as in all ages and generations have been portioned by Him. The apostle calls it 'the unsearchable riches of Christ'. He is a bottomless mine of merit and spirit, a boundless ocean of righteousness and strength, a full fountain of grace and comfort. In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. That may be said of Him that can be said of no other: He has a store which can never be emptied. Oh, how should this endear Him to us! How should it draw out our thoughts and meditations into holy adorings of Him!

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How high do some women carry it that know they have a great portion. They spend accordingly; so should we—this is worthy. Remember, you are a king's son. And we should carry it in holy joy and cheerfulness of spirit.

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