sons of men. But in order that he might deliver them from these iniquities, cure, heal, change,
the sons of men; “he gave them power to become the sons of God.”2718 What marvel then!
Ye were men, if we were the sons of men; ye were all men, and were liars, for, “All men are
liars.” The grace of God came to you, and “gave you power to become the sons of God.”
Hear the voice of My Father saying, “I have said, Ye are gods; and ye are all the children of
the Most High.”2719 Since then they are men, and the sons of men, if they are not the children
of the Most High, they are liars, for, “all men are liars.” If they are the sons of God, if they
have been redeemed by the Saviour’s grace, if purchased with His precious Blood, if born
again of water and of the Spirit, if predestinated to the inheritance of heaven, then indeed
are they children of God. And so thereby are gods. What then would a lie have to do with
thee? For Adam was a mere man, Christ, man and God; God, the Creator of all creation.
Adam a mere man, the Man Christ, the Mediator with God, the Only Son of the Father, the
God-man. Lo, thou, O man, art far from God, and God is far above man; between them the
God-man placed Himself. Acknowledge Christ, and by Him as Man ascend up to God.
7. Being then now reformed, and, if my words have been so blessed, “meek,” let us “hold
fast our profession without wavering.” Let us love the law of God, that we may escape that
which is written, “Woe unto the world because of offences.” Now I would say a few words
about “offences,” of which the world is full, and how it is that offences thicken, pressing
troubles abound. The world2720 is laid waste, the winepress is trodden. Ah! Christians,
heavenly shoot, ye strangers on the earth, who seek a city in heaven, who long to be associated
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with the holy Angels; understand that ye have come here on this condition only, that ye
should soon depart. Ye are passing on through the world, endeavouring to reach Him who
created it. Let not the lovers of the world, who wish to remain in the world, and yet,
whether they will or no, are compelled to move from it; let them not disturb you, let them
not deceive nor seduce you. These pressing troubles are not offences. Be ye righteous, and
they will be only exercises. Tribulation comes; it will be as ye choose it, either an exercise,
or a condemnation. Such as it shall find you to be, will it be. Tribulation is a fire; does it find
thee gold? it takes away the filth: does it find thee chaff? it turns it into ashes. The pressing
troubles then which abound are not “offences.” But what are “offences”? Those expressions,
those words in which we are thus addressed. “See what Christian times bring about;” lo,
these are the true offences. For this is said to thee, to this end, that if thou love the world,
thou mayest blaspheme Christ. And this he saith to thee who is thy friend, and counsellor;
and so “thine eye.” This he saith to thee who ministereth to thee, and shareth thy labours,
and so “thine hand.” This he saith to thee it may be who supporteth thee, who lifteth thee
2718 John i. 12.
2719 Ps. lxxxii. 6.
2720 By the inundation of the Goths, Serm. lv. (cv. Ben.).
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. xviii. 7, where we are admonished to beware…