Wash me, gracious Lord! (John MacDuff 1856) O my God, I desire to approach the footstool of Your throne of grace. Glory be to Your holy name that I can enjoy freedom of access into Your presence, and with the confidence of Your child, unburden and unbosom to You . . . all my needs and sins, all […]
Weak and helpless and burdened (John MacDuff, “Family Prayers” 1885) We come, weak and helpless and burdened, to that cross where alone there is shelter and peace for the guilty. We take refuge anew at the foot ofYour cross, bringing our infinite unworthiness to Your infinite merit and all-sufficiency. Wash us, blessed Saviour, in the fountain […]
Fear Him! (John MacDuff) “Who would not fear Thee, O King of nations!” Jeremiah 10:7 How reasonable it is that this glorious Being whose greatness is unsearchable, should be regarded with feelings of the profoundest reverence. It is indeed, His due – and as such He claims it from all His creatures. “Concerning the sinfulness […]
(MacDuff, “Encouragements to Patient Waiting“) Take a pilgrimage in thought, to Gethsemaneand Calvary! Gaze upon His sufferings! He knewall the sorrows that await Him–the shame, thesuffering, the anguish–but He takes the bittercup, and, with His heart set on the salvationof His people–with His heart set on you–theblessed Savior drains it to the very dregs! See Him on Calvary . […]
Restraining Grace John MacDuff “Satan hath desired to have you-that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee-that thy faith fail not.” Luke 22:31, 32 What a scene does this unfold!Satan tempting-Jesus praying!Satan sifting-Jesus pleading!“The strong man assailing”-“the stronger than the strong” beating him back! Believer! here is the past history and present secret of your […]
PEACE IN BELIEVING “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth.” (Jn 14:27) “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.” “Perfect peace!”—what a blessed attainment! My soul! is it yours? I am sure it is not, if you are seeking it […]
Muddy streams and broken, leaky cisterns(By John MacDuff) “Come! Let him that is athirst, come—and whoever will, let him take of the water of life freely!” Revelation 22:17 Thirsty? who is not thirsty? It is the cry ofuniversal humanity! Who does not feel that thisworld is presenting us with muddy streams andbroken, leaky cisterns. Who does not feel, intheir moments […]
The cry of weary, care worn humanity (John MacDuff, “Hospice of the Pilgrim” 1891) “Oh, where can rest be found?” This isthe cry of weary, care worn humanity. This is the cry embracing every nation and everyclimate, from the yearnings of heathendom to thelongings and aspirations of the present hour. From the tumultuous sea of the […]
His heart is a fountain of mercy, and its streams are perpetually flowing! (“Heavenly Aspirations!” John MacDuff, 1818-1895) Luke 7:12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city […]
Lose yourself in the impenetrable tracts of His Glory! (John MacDuff, “The Night Watches”) “Before the mountains were brought forth,or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world,even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” Psalm 90:2 O my soul! Seek to fill yourself with thoughts of the Almighty. Lose yourself in the impenetrable tracts of His Glory! […]