"Every scribe who is instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings forth from his treasure things new and old."
Matthew 13:52
"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
Acts 17:11
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How to Make a Happy Home"
Read Christian, Puritan, Reformed and Protestant exhortational works, Catholic and Protestant polemical & apologetical works, histories, and martyrologies, online: Hail & Fire Library
QUOTATIONS: WORDS OF WISDOM by Hugh Binning
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Hugh Binning (1627-1653)
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Christian Love or A Treatise on Christian Love
Hail & Fire REPRINT
EXCERPT: "Charity 'is not easily provoked,' 1 Corinthians 13:5. This is the straight and solid firmness of it, that it is not soon moved with external impressions. It is long suffering, it suffers long and much. It will not be shaken by violent and weighty pressures of injuries, where there is much provocation given, yet it is not provoked. Now to complete it, it is not easily provoked at light offences. It is strange how little a spark of injuries puts all in a flame because our spirits are as gunpowder, - so capable of combustion through corruption. How ridiculous, for the most part, are the causes of our wrath! For light things we are heavily moved, and for ridiculous things sadly, even as children who fall out among themselves for toys and trifles, or as beasts that are provoked upon the very show of a color, as red or such like. We would save ourselves much labor, if we could judge before we suffer ourselves to be provoked. But now we follow the first appearance of wrong, and being once moved from without, we continue our commotion within, lest we should seem to be angry without a cause. But charity hath a more solid foundation. It dwells in God, for God is love, and so is truly great, truly high, and looks down with a steadfast countenance upon these lower things. The upper world is continually calm and serene. No clouds, no tempests there, no winds, nothing to disturb the harmonious and uniform motion, but it is this lower world that is troubled and tossed with tempests, and obscured with clouds. So a soul dwelling in God by love, is exalted above the cloudy region. He is calm, quiet, serene, and is not disturbed or interrupted in his motion of love to God or men. Charity 'thinketh no evil,' 1 Corinthians 13:5. Charity is apt to take all things in the best sense. If a thing may be subject to diverse acceptations, it can put the best construction on it. It is so benign and good in its own nature that it is not inclinable to suspect others. It desires to condemn no man, but would gladly, as far as reason and conscience will permit, absolve every man. It is so far from desire of revenge, that it is not provoked or troubled with an injury. For that were nothing else but to wrong itself because others have wronged it already, and it is so far from wronging others, that it will not willingly so much as think evil of them. Yet if need require, charity can execute justice, and inflict chastisement, not out of desire of another's misery, but out of love and compassion to mankind. "Charitas non punit quia peccatum est, sed ne peccaretur," it looks more to prevention of future sin, than to revenge of a bypast fault, and can do all without any discomposure of spirit, as a physician cuts a vein without anger. 'Quis enim cut medetur irascitur?' 'Who is angry at his own patient?'" - Hugh Binning - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "I beseech you consider, that what you give your time, pains, thoughts and affections to, that is your God. You must give God all your heart, and so retain nothing of your own will if God be your God. But do you not know that your care and grief and desire and love vents another way, towards base things? You know that you have a will of your own which goes quite contrary to His holy will in all things, therefore Satan has bewitched you and your hearts deceive you, when they persuade you that you have had no other God but the true God. Christianity raises the soul again, and advances it by degrees to this love of God, from which it had fallen." - Hugh Binning - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Hugh Binning, 1627-1653, was a Scottish Covenanting preacher and was ordained minister of Govan, near Glasgow, in 1650. He was only twenty-six years old when he died in 1653.
On Living to God
Hugh Binning quote on living to God, and not to ourselves:
"We are not our own, therefore we ought not to live to ourselves, but to God, whose we are." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Humility
Hugh Binning quote on Christian humility:
"Self-knowledge is the mother of humility." – Hugh Binning
Quotation from "Christian Love," by Hugh Binning.
On Not Believing God's Threats or Promises
Hugh Binning quote on unbelief of God's threats or promises:
"It is strange how untoward and froward we are. ... We do not believe his threatenings, but fancy we receive his promises; or else, believing his threatenings we question his promises." – Hugh Binning
Quotation from "Heart Humiliation (Sermon III)," by Hugh Binning.
On Temptation Revealing a Sinful Heart
Hugh Binning quote on temptations revealing, not creating, sin hidden in the heart:
"'Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed,' James 1:14. Temptation were no temptation, if our hearts were not wicked hearts. Nay, many of us are ready to tempt temptations, to provoke the devil to temptations; we cast ourselves open to temptations. Temptations find lust within, and lust within is the mother to conceive sin, if temptation be the father. Times do not bring evils along with them, they do but discover what was hid before. All the evils and corruptions you now see among us, where were they in the day of our first love, when we were as a loving and beloved child? Have all these risen up of late? No certainly, all that you have seen and found were before, though they did not appear; before they were in the root, now you see the fruit. All the apostacy and profanity that hath been vented in these days, was all shut up within the corners of men's hearts at the beginning. Time and temptation hath but uncovered the heart, and made the inside out, hath but opened a sluice to let out this sea of corruption. It is not bred since, but seen since." – Hugh Binning
Quotation from Heart Humiliation, by Hugh Binning.
On Loving God
Hugh Binning quote on loving God with all your heart:
"I beseech you consider, that what you give your time, pains, thoughts and affections to, that is your God. You must give God all your heart, and so retain nothing of your own will if God be your God. But do you not know that your care and grief and desire and love vents another way, towards base things? You know that you have a will of your own which goes quite contrary to His holy will in all things, therefore Satan has bewitched you and your hearts deceive you, when they persuade you that you have had no other God but the true God. Christianity raises the soul again, and advances it by degrees to this love of God, from which it had fallen." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Private Study of Scripture
Hugh Binning quote on Private Study of Scripture, You Shall All Be Taught of God. Reference Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 19:7-8 and 119:99, Hebrews 8:10-11, 1 John 2:27 and 16:13, James 1:5.
"I wish that souls would read the Scriptures as profitable Scriptures with the intention to profit. If you do not read with such a purpose, you read not the Scriptures of God, they become as another book unto you. But what are they profitable for? For doctrine, and a divine doctrine, a doctrine of life and happiness. It is the great promise of the new covenant, 'You shall be all taught of God' [Hebrews 8:11]. The Scriptures can make a man learned and wise, learned to salvation, it is foolishness to the world, 'but the world through wisdom knew not God.' Alas! What then do they know? Is there any besides God? And is there any knowledge besides the knowledge of God? ... The doctrine of Jesus Christ written on the heart is a deep profound learning and the poor, simple, rudest people may, by the Spirit's teaching, become wiser than their ancients and than their ministers [Psalm 119:99]. Oh, it is an excellent point of learning, to know how to be saved. ... If you would seek unto God and seek eyes opened to behold the mystery of the word, you would become wiser than your pastors, you would learn from the Spirit to pray better, you would find the way to heaven better than they can teach you or walk in it." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On the Authority of the Bible
Hugh Binning quote on the Bible, the Only and Perfect Rule of Our Faith. Reference Scriptures: Jude 1:3, Deuteronomy 12:32, Psalm 119:105, 2 Peter 1:19, Isaiah 50:11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 John 4:1, Galatians 1:8.
"Let others be wise to their own destruction - let them establish their own imaginations for the Word of God and rule of their faith - but you hold fast what you have received and 'contend earnestly for it'. Add nothing, and diminish nothing; let this lamp shine 'till the day dawn,' 'till the morning of the resurrection,' and walk in the light of it and do not kindle any other sparkles, else you shall lie down in the grave in sorrow and rise in sorrow. Take the Word of God as the only rule, and the perfect rule - a rule for all your actions, civil, natural, and religious, for all must be done to his glory, and his Word teaches how to attain to that end. Let not your imaginations, let not others example, let not the preaching of men, let not the conclusions and acts of Assemblies be your rule, but inasmuch as you find them agreeing with the perfect rule of God's Holy Word. All other rules are 'regulae regulatae,' they are but like publications and intimations of the rule itself. Ordinances of assemblies are but like the herald promulgation of the king's statute and law, if it varies in anything from his intention, it is not valid and binding. I beseech you, take the Scriptures for the rule of your walking or else you will wander; the Scripture is 'regula regulans,' a ruling rule. If you be not acquainted with it, you must follow the opinions or examples of other men, and what if they lead you unto destruction?" – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Overly Exalting and Relying on Pastors
Hugh Binning quote on the over exaltation of pastors and preachers, and relying upon them rather than God—or faith founded on men vs. faith founded on God's word (Sola Scriptura):
"Alas, it may be said of the most part of professed Christians among us, that they are not built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, but upon the sayings of fallible and weak men! What ground have many of you for your faith, but because the minister saith so, you believe so? The most part live in an implicit faith and practice that in themselves which they condemn in the papists. You do not labor to 'search the Scriptures' that upon that foundation you may build your faith in the questioned truths of this age, that so you may be able to answer those that ask a reason of the faith that is in you.
Alas! Simple souls [Proverbs 14:15], you believe everything and yet really believe nothing, because you believe not the Word, as the Word of the living God, but take it from men upon their authority! Therefore when a temptation comes from any gainsaying of the truth, you cannot stand against it because your faith has no foundation but the sayings of men or acts of assemblies. And therefore, as men whom you trust with holding out light unto you, hold out darkness instead of light, you embrace that darkness also.
But, I beseech you, be built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, not upon them, but upon that whereon they were built, the infallible truths of God. You have the Scriptures, search them; since you have reasonable souls, search them. Other men's faith will not save; you cannot see to walk to heaven by other men's light any more than you can see by their eyes. You have eyes of your own, souls of your own, subordinate to none but the God of spirits and the Lord of consciences, Jesus Christ; and therefore, examine all that is spoken to you from the Word, according to the Word, and receive no more upon trust from men but as you find it upon trial to be the truth of God." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On the Authority of Scripture
Hugh Binning quote on the Authority of Scripture and the Saint's Natural Craving for it:
"That Word is the immortal seed they are begotten of and there is a natural instinct to love that and to meditate in it, such an inclination to it, as in newborn babes to the breast, so the children of God do desire the sincere milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby, as they were born of it, 1 Peter 2:2. In those Scriptures, which we read in your audience, you have something of their excellence and our duty. There is a rich jewel in them, a precious pearl in that field, even Jesus Christ and in Him eternal life; and therefore we ought to search the Scriptures for this jewel, to dig in the field for this pearl, the doctrine of the prophets and apostles, as a sure foundation whereupon souls may build their eternal felicity and the hope of it. Jesus Christ is the very chief stone in that foundation, whereupon the weight of all the saints and all their hope hangs. And therefore we ought to lean the weight of our souls only on this truth of God and build our faith only upon it, and square our practice only by it." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On God's Providence
Hugh Binning quote on God's Providence and Sovereign Government of All Things:
"O! that ye would read [the Scriptures] more often, and ponder them better, how there is nothing in this world, which may seem to fall out by chance to you, that you know not how it is to come to pass, and can see no cause nor reason of it; but it falls out by the holy will of our blessed Father. Be it of greater or less moment, or be it a hair of thy head fallen, or thy head cut off. The most casual and contingent thing, though it surprised the whole world of men and angels, that they wonder from whence it did proceed, it is no surprise to Him; for He not only knew it, but appointed it. The most certain and necessary thing, according to the course of nature, it hath no certainty but from his appointment, who hath established such a course in the creatures, and which He can suspend when He pleases. Be it the sin of men and devils which seems most opposite to His holiness, yet even that cannot appear in the world of beings, if it were not, in a holy righteous, and permissive way first conceived in the womb of His eternal counsel, and if it were not determined by Him, for holy and just ends, Acts 4:28." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Predestination, God's Purpose and Glory
Hugh Binning quote on Predestination, God's Purpose and Glory. Reference Scripture: Romans 9:15-23.:
"There is much weakness in our conceiving of divine things. We shape and form them in our minds according to a mold of our own experience or invention, and cannot conceive of them as they are in themselves. If we should speak properly, there are not counsels and purposes in God, but one entire counsel and resolution concerning all things which are in time, by which he hath disposed all in their several times, seasons, conditions, and orders. But because we have many thoughts, about many things, so we cannot well conceive of God but in likeness to ourselves, and therefore, the Scripture, condescending to our weakness, speaks so. 'How many are thy precious thoughts towards me,' saith David, and yet indeed, there is but one thought of him and us and all, which one thought is of so much virtue, that it is equivalent to an infinite number of thoughts concerning infinite objects. The Lord has from everlasting conceived one purpose of manifesting his own glory in such several ways and this is the head spring of all that befalls creatures, men, and angels. But because, in the execution of this purpose there is a certain order and succession, and variety, therefore men do ordinarily fancy such or such a frame and order in the Lord's mind and purpose." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Considering Your Purpose on Earth and Your Eternal Destination
Hugh Binning quote on Considering Your Purpose on Earth and Your Eternal Destination:
"That which is [first] ... to be considered is our end. As in all other arts and every petty business, it has the first place of consideration ... It is the first cause of all human actions and the first principle of all deliberate motions. Except you would walk at random not knowing where you go, or what you do, you must once establish this and fix it in your intention: What is the great end and purpose wherefore I am created, and sent into the world? If this be not either questioned or not rightly constituted, you cannot but spend your time, 'Vel nihil agendo, vel aliud agendo, vel male agendo', you must either do nothing, or nothing to purpose, or, that which is worse, that which will undo you." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Doubting God's Love - God Does Not Change
Hugh Binning quote on Doubting God's Love - God Does Not Change:
"Has He not said, 'I am the Lord, and change not' ... How is it then, that you doubt of His love as often as you change? When you are in a good temper, you think He loves you; when it is not so you cannot believe but He is angry, and hates you. Is not this to speak quite contrary to the Word, that He is a God that changes - that He is not in one mind, but now in one, and then in another, as often as the inconstant wind of a soul's self pleasing humor turns about? Here is your rest and confidence, if you will be established, not within yourselves, - not upon marks and signs within you, which ebb and flow as the sea, and change as the moon, - but, upon his unchangeable nature and faithful promises." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Glorifying and Honoring God by Faith
Hugh Binning quote on Glorifying and Honoring God by Faith:
"Here is a compendious [direct] way to glorify God. Receive salvation of Him freely, righteousness and eternal life, this sets to a seal to God's truth and grace and mercy, and whoso counts the Son worthy to be a Savior to them, and sets to their seal of approbation to him whom God the Father hath sent and sealed, he also honors the Father, and then he that honors the Father, has it not for nothing, "for them that honor Me I will honor," (1 Samuel 2:30), says the Lord, and "He that serves Me, him will my Father honor," (John 12:26). As the believing soul cares for no other, and respects no other but God, so He respects no other but such a soul. "I will dwell in the humble, and look unto the contrite," there are mutual respects and honors. God is the delight of such a soul, and such a soul is God's delight. That soul sets God in a high place, in a throne in his heart, and God sets that soul in a heavenly place with Christ, (Ephesians 2:6), yea He comes down to sit with us and dwells in us, off His throne of majesty, (Isaiah 66:1-2, and 57:15)." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On the Authority of Scripture
Hugh Binning quote on the Instruction of Scripture - our Complete and Perfect Guide:
"Here is the sum of religion. Here you have a compend of the doctrine of the Scriptures. All divine truths may be reduced to these two heads: faith and love; what we ought to believe and what we ought to do. This is all the Scriptures teach and this is all we have to learn. What have we to know but what God has revealed of Himself to us? And what have we to do, but what He commands us? In a word, what have we to learn in this world, but to believe in Christ and love Him, and so, live to Him? This is the duty of man, and this is the dignity of man, and the way to eternal life. Therefore the Scriptures, that are given to be "a lamp to our feet, and a guide to our paths," contain a perfect and exact rule - 'credendorum et faciendorum' - of faith and manners, of doctrine and practice. We have in the Scriptures many truths revealed to us of God and of the works of His hands, many precious truths, but that which most of all concerns us is to know God and ourselves." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On the Touchstone of Scripture
Hugh Binning quote on the Touchstone of Scripture - testing our religion and faith by it. Reference Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 28:8, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Corinthians 13:5.
"The Scriptures are the touchstone—if you would not have a counterfeit religion deceiving you in the end, when you have trusted to it, I pray you to test yours by the Word of God. Oh, that this principle was sunk into your hearts! I would not walk at random. If I please myself and satisfy my own will and it is not also God's will, I will have neither gain nor comfort by it. His will is manifested in his Word—I will search and find out what God has required of me. For, if I am not certain of his will, I may labor all my days and sweat out my life, and yet still lose all my pains and toil." – Hugh Binning
Quotation from "Heart Humiliation, (Sermon X)" by Hugh Binning.
On False vs. True Assurance
Hugh Binning quote on Real Faith, False Assurance vs. True Assurance; Vain Confidence vs. Fear of the Wrath to Come:
"There is a great mistake about faith among us, some taking faith for a strong and blind confidence that admits of no questions or doubts in the soul and so vainly persuading themselves that they have it, and some again conceiving it to be such an assurance of salvation as instantly comforts the soul and looses all objections, and so, foolishly vexing their own souls and disquieting themselves in vain, for the want of that which, if they understood what it is, they would find they have it. I say, many souls conceive that to be the best faith that never doubted and has always lodged in them and kept them in peace since they were born. But, seeing all men were once "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenant of promise, and without God in the world," and so without Christ also, it is certain that those souls who have always blessed themselves in their own hearts and cried, "Peace, peace," and were never afraid of the wrath to come, have embraced only the imagination and dream of their own heart for true faith. It is not big and stout words that will prove it. Men may defy the devil and all his works and speak very confidently, and yet, God knows, they are captives by him at his pleasure, and not far from that misery which they think they have escaped. Satan works in them with such a crafty conveyance that they cannot perceive it. And how should they perceive it? For we are "by nature dead in sins," and so cannot feel or know that we are such. It is a token of life to feel pain, a certain token, for dead things are senseless. You know how jugglers may deceive your very senses and make them believe they see that which is not and feel that which they feel not. Oh! How much more easy is it for Satan, such an ingenious and experienced spirit, assisted with the help of our deceitful hearts, to cast such a mist over the eyes of our hearts and make them believe anything! How easily may he hide our misery from us, and make us believe it is well with us! And thus multitudes of souls perish in the very opinion of salvation. That very thing which they call faith - that strong ungrounded persuasion, is no other thing than the unbelief of the heart, unbelief, I mean, of the holy law, of divine justice, and the wrath to come, for if these once entered into the soul's consideration, they would certainly cast down that stronghold of vain confidence that Satan keeps all the house in peace by. Now this secure and presumptuous despising of all threatenings and all convictions, is varnished over to the poor soul with the color and appearance of faith in the Gospel. They think, to believe in Christ is nothing else but never to be afraid of hell, whereas it is nothing else but a soul fleeing unto Christ for fear of hell and fleeing from the wrath to come to the city of refuge." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On the Free Grace and Full Satisfaction of the Gospel
Hugh Binning quote on the Free Grace and Full Satisfaction of the Gospel:
"You may - if your conscience urges you to despair and to conclude there is no hope, you may, I say, appeal from your conscience, from Satan, and from justice, unto Jesus Christ, who is holding out the scepter to you. The Minister calls you - rise and come, and stand no longer before that bar, for it is a subordinate judicatory and there is a way to redress you by a higher court of grace. You may say to justice, to Satan, to your own conscience - 'It is true, I confess, that I deserve that sentence, I am guilty, and can say nothing against it, while I stand alone. But though I cannot satisfy (justice), and have nothing; yet there is one, Jesus Christ, who gave his life a ransom for many, and whom God has given as a propitiation for sins. He has satisfied and paid the debt in my name.'" – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Will-Worship vs. True Worship of God
Hugh Binning quote on Will-Worship vs. True Worship of God:
"As none can be ignorant that God is and must be worshipped, so it is unknown to the world in what manner he must be worshipped. The most part of men have some form in worshipping God and please themselves in it so well that they think God is well pleased with it; but few there are who know indeed what it is to worship Him in a manner acceptable to His Majesty. Now you know it is all one not to worship Him at all, as not to worship Him in that way He would be worshipped. Therefore, the most part of men are but self-worshippers, because they please none but themselves in it. It is not the worship His soul has chosen, but their own invention; for you must take this as an undeniable ground that God must be worshipped according to His own will and pleasure, and not according to your humor or intention. Therefore, His soul abhors will-worship devised by men out of ignorant zeal or superstition, though there might seem much devotion in it and much affection to God. As in the Israelites sacrificing their children, what more seeming self-denial and yet what more real self-idolatry? God owns not such a service, for it is not service and obedience to His will and pleasure, but to men's own will and humor. Therefore, a man must not look for a reward but from Himself. Now, it is not only will-worship, when the matter and substance of the worship is not commanded of God, but also when a commanded worship is not discharged in the appointed manner. Therefore, oh how few true worshippers will the Father find! True worship must have truth for the substance and spirit for the manner of it; else it is not such a worship as the Father seeks and will be pleased with. Divine worship must have truth in it - that is plain, but what was that truth? It must be conformed to the rule and pattern of worship, which is God's will and pleasure revealed in the Word of truth. True worship is the very practice of the Word of truth." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Christian's Desire to Know God
Hugh Binning quote on the Desire of a Christian's Heart, to Know God:
"A believing soul looks upon God as its only portion - accounts nothing misery but to be separated from Him, and nothing blessedness but to be one with Him. This is the loadstone of their affections and desires, the centre which they move towards, and in which they will rest. It is true, indeed, that oftentimes our heart and our flesh fail us and we become ignorant and brutish. Our affections cleave to the earth, and temptations with their violence turn our souls towards another end than God. As there is nothing more easily moved and turned wrong than the needle that is touched with the adamant, yet it settles not in such a posture, it recovers itself and rests never till it look towards the north, and then it is fixed - even so, temptations and the corruptions and infirmities of our hearts disturb our spirits easily and wind them about from the Lord, towards any other thing, but yet we are continuing with Him, and He keeps us with His right hand, and therefore though we may be moved, yet we shall not be unsettled, we may fall, but we shall rise again. He is 'the strength of our heart,' and therefore He will turn our heart about again and fix it upon its own portion. Our union here consists more in His holding of us by His power, than our taking hold of Him by faith. Power and good will encamp about both faith and the soul. 'We are kept by His power through faith," 1 Peter 1:5. And thus He will guide the soul, and still be drawing it nearer to Him from itself and from sin, and from the world, till He 'receive us into glory,' and until we be one as with the Father and the Son - 'He in us and we in Him, that we may be made perfect in one,' as it is in the words read." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Worshipping God with Divided Affections
Hugh Binning quote on Worshipping God with Divided Affections:
"Be not deceived, you, who draw not near God by prayer often in secret and by faith in His Son Christ, as lost miserable sinners, to be saved and reconciled by Him, you have no fellowship with Him and you shall not enjoy Him afterward! You whose hearts are given to your covetousness, who have many lovers and idols besides Him, you cannot say, Whom have I besides Thee in earth? No; you have many other things besides God. You can have nothing of God, except ye make Him all to you - unless you have Him alone. 'My undefiled is One,' Cant. 6:9. He must be alone, for 'His glory He will not give to another.' If you divide your affections, and pretend to give Him part and your lusts another part, you may be doing so, but He will not divide His glory so, He will give no part of it to any other thing." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Being Christian in Name Only
Hugh Binning quote on Being Christian in Name Only; or Vain Confidence and False Assurance of Eternal Life:
"There was nothing more general among that people, than a vain carnal confidence and presumption of being God's people, and having interest in the promise of life eternal, as it is this day in the visible church. There is a multitude that are Christians only in the letter, and not in the spirit, that would never admit any question concerning this great matter of having eternal life; and so by not questioning it, they come to think they have it and by degrees their conjectures and thoughts about this arise to the stability of some feigned and strong persuasion of it. In the Old Testament the Lord strikes at the root of their persuasions, by discovering unto them how vain a thing it was and how abominable it was before Him to have an external profession of being His people and to glory in external ordinances and privileges, and yet to neglect altogether the purging of their hearts and consciences from lust and idol-sins, and to make no conscience of walking righteously toward men. Their profession was contradicted by their practice, 'Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and yet come and stand in my house?' Jeremiah 7:9-10. Does not that say as much as if I had given you liberty to do all these abominations?
Even so it is this day; the most part have no more of Christianity but a name. They have some outward privileges of baptism and hearing the Word; and, it may be, have a form of knowledge and a form of worship; but in the meantime they are not baptized in heart - they are in all their conversation even conformed to the heathen world; they hate personal reformation and think it too precise and needless. Now, I say, such are many of you, and yet you would not take well to have it questioned whether ye shall be partakers of eternal life. You think you are wronged when that is called in question. Oh that it were beyond all question indeed! But know assuredly that you are but Christians in the letter - in the flesh and not in the spirit. Many of you have not so much as 'a form of knowledge,' have not so much as the letter of religion. You have heard some names in the preaching often repeated, as Christ and God, and faith, and heaven, and hell, and you know no more of these but the name. You consider not and meditate not on them and though you know the truth of the Word, yet the Word abides not nor dwells in you. You have it in your mouth, you have it in your mind or understanding, but it is not received in love, it does not dwell in the heart. 'Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,' Colossians 3:16. You have it imprisoned in your minds, and shut up in a corner where it is useless and can do no more but witness against you and scarce that. As the Gentiles incarcerated and detained the truth of God, written by nature within them, in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18), so do many of you detain the knowledge of His Word in unrighteousness. It has no place in the heart, gets no liberty and freedom to walk through the affections and so to order the conversation of men, and therefore the most part of men do but fancy to themselves an interest and right to eternal life. You think it and do but think it; it is but a strong imagination, that has no strength from the grounds of it, no stability from any evidence or promise, but merely from itself, or it is but a light and vain conjecture that has no strength in it because there is no question or doubts admitted which may try the strength of it.
But then I suppose that a man could attain some answerable walking, that he had not only a form of knowledge, but some reality of practice, some inward heat of affection and zeal for God and godliness, yet there is one thing that he lacks, and if it be lacking will spoil all, and it is this, which Christ reproves in the Jews, 'you will not come to me to have life, the Scriptures testify of me, but you receive not their testimony.' Suppose a man had as much equity and justice towards men, piety towards God, and sobriety towards himself, as can be found amongst the best of men, let him be a diligent reader of the Scriptures, let him love them, and meditate on them day and night, yet if he do not come out of himself and leave all his own righteousness as dung behind him that he may be found in Jesus Christ, he has no life, he cannot have any right to the eternal. You may think this is a strange assertion that if a man had the righteousness and holiness of an angel, yet he could not be saved without denying all that and fleeing to Christ as an ungodly man, and you may think it as strange a supposal, that any person that reads the Scriptures and walks righteously, and has a zeal towards God, yet are such as will not come to Christ and will not hear him whom the Lord has sent." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On No Man is Justified by the Law
Hugh Binning quote on No Man is Justified by the Law. Reference Scriptures: Ecclesiastes 7:20, Matthew 5:18, James 2:10, Galatians 3:22-24, Colossians 2:13-14).
"If you consider the perfect rule of righteousness in the law, you cannot find life there, because you cannot be conformed unto it, the holiest man offends in everything, and that holy law being violated in anything will send thee to hell with a cure. 'Cursed is he that abideth not in all things written in the book of the law,' (Galatians 3:10). If you look upon the promise of life, 'do this and live,' what comfort can you find in it except you could find the doing of it in yourselves? And can any man living find such exact obedience as the law requires? There is a mistake among many. They conceive that the Lord cannot but be well pleased with them if they do what they can. But be not deceived - the law of God requires perfect doing; it will not compound with thee and come down in its terms, not one jot of the rigor of it will be remitted. If you cannot do all that is commanded, all you do will not satisfy that promise, therefore you must be turned over from the promise of life to the curse and there you shalt find your name written." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On the Law as a Tutor Leading to Christ
Hugh Binning quote on the Purpose of the Law - a Tutor Leading Us To Christ:
"All the preaching of a covenant of works, all the curses and threatenings of the Bible, all the rigid exactions of obedience, all come to this one great design, not that we set about such a walking to please God or do something to pacify Him, but that we being concluded under sin and wrath on the one hand and an impossibility to save ourselves on the other hand, Galatians 3:22, Romans 5:20-21, may be pursued unto Jesus Christ for righteousness and life, who is both able to save us and ready to welcome us. Therefore, the Gospel opens the door of salvation in Christ; the law is behind us with fire and sword, and destruction pursuing us and all for this end, that sinners may come to Him and have life." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On True Faith Works by Love
Hugh Binning quote on True Faith, which Works by Love:
"When the truths of God, whether promises or threatenings or commands, are impressed into the heart, you shall find the expressions of them in the conversion. Faith is not an empty assent to the truth, but a receiving of it 'in love' and when the truth is received in love, then it begins to work by love. 'Faith worketh by love,' saith Paul, Galatians 5:6. That now is the proper nature of its operation which expresses its own nature. Obedience proceeding from love to God flows from faith in God and that shows the true and living nature of that faith. If the soul within receive the seal and impression of the truth of God, it will render the image of that same truth in all its actions." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Real Love of Christ
Hugh Binning quote on Real Love of Christ:
"Let a man's love be once gained to Christ and the whole train of the soul's faculties of the outward senses and operations, will follow upon it." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Real Love for God
Hugh Binning quote on real love for God:
"And what is love but the very motion of the soul to God? And so till it has attained that, to be in Him, it can find no place of rest." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On True Faith Bears Fruit
Hugh Binning quote on True Faith and Knowledge of God Bears Fruit:
"Whatever you hear or know of God, know that it is vain and empty unless it descend down into the heart to fashion it to his fear and love, and extend unto the outward man to conform it to obedience, you are but 'vain in your imaginations, and your foolish hearts are darkened' while 'when you know God' you glorify Him not as God. If that be not the fruit and end of knowledge, that knowledge shall be worse to you than ignorance, for it both brings on judicial hardening here and will be your solemn accuser and witness against you hereafter, Romans 1:21-24. The knowledge of Jesus Christ truly so called, is neither barren nor unfruitful for out of its root and sap spring humility, self-abasing confidence in God, patience in tribulations, meekness in provocations, temperance and sobriety in lawful things, etc. 2 Peter 1:5-8." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Hearing Mixed with Faith
Hugh Binning quote on Hearing Mixed with Faith:
"He only can reveal His glory to your spirit. There is a Spirit of Life which cannot be enclosed in letters and syllables or transmitted through your ears into your hearts, but He Himself must create it inwardly and stir up the inward sense and feeling of that name and of those attributes. Faith indeed, 'cometh by hearing,' and our knowledge in this life is 'through a glass darkly, through ordinances and senses,' but there must be an inward teaching and speaking to your souls to make that effectual: 'the anointing teacheth you of all things,' 1 John 2:27. Alas! It is the separation of that from the Word that makes it so unprofitable. If the Spirit of God were inwardly writing what the Word is teaching then should your souls be 'living epistles, that you might read God's name on them.' Oh! Be much in imploring of and depending on Him that teaches to profit, who only can declare unto your souls what He is!" – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On God's Vengeance and Mercy
Hugh Binning quote on God's Vengeance for the Unrepentant and God's Mercy for the Repentant - the Law and Grace:
"Now, there are two manner of ways He vents himself towards the creatures - in a comfortable way or in a terrible way. This glorious perfection and almighty power has an issue with sinners and it runs in a twofold channel: of mercy or of justice; of mercy towards miserable sinners that find themselves lost and flee to Him and take hold of His strength, and justice towards all those that flatter themselves in their own eyes and continue in their sins and put the evil day far off. There is no mercy for such as fear not justice, and there is no justice for such as flee from it unto mercy. The Lord exhibits Himself in a twofold appearance, according to the condition of sinners. He sits on a throne and tribunal of grace and mercy, to make access for the vilest sinner who is afraid of His wrath and would fain be at peace with Him, and He sits on a throne of justice and wrath, to seclude and debar presumptuous sinners from holiness.
There were two mountains under the law: one of curses and another of blessings. These are the mountains God sets His throne upon, and from these He speaks and sentences mankind. From the mountain of curses, He has pronounced a curse and condemnatory sentence upon all flesh, 'for all have sinned.' Therefore He concludes all under sin that all flesh might stop their mouth, and the whole world become guilty before God. Now, the Lord, having thus condemned all mankind because of disobedience, sits again upon the mountain of blessings, and pronounces a sentence of absolution of as many as are convicted by the sentence of condemnation and appealed to His grace and mercy; and those which do not so, the sentence of condemnation stands above their heads unrepealed.
He erects his tribunal of justice in the world for this end: that all flesh might once be convicted before Him, and therefore He cites, as it were, and summons all men to present themselves and appear before His tribunal to be judged. He lays out an accusation in the Word against them. He makes their consciences witness of the truth of all that is charged against them and then pronounces that sentence in their conscience, 'Cursed is he that abideth not in all things,' by which the conscience concludes itself accursed, and subscribes to the equity of the sentence. And thus man is guilty before God, and His mouth is stopped. He has no excuses, no pretences, he can see no way to escape from justice, and God is justified by this means in his speaking and judging, Psalm 51:4. The soul ratifies and confirms the truth and justice of all His threatenings and judgments, Romans 3:4.
Now, for such souls as join with God in judging and condemning themselves, the Lord hath erected a throne of grace and tribunal of mercy in the Word, whereupon He has set His Son Jesus Christ, Psalm 2:6, 139:14, 95:6, Hebrews 1:8. And oh this throne is a comfortable throne. Mercy and truth go before the face of the king to welcome and entertain miserable sinners and to create access for them. And from this throne Jesus Christ holds out the scepter of the Gospel to invite sinners - self-condemned sinners - to come to Him alone, who has had all final judgment committed to Him that He may give eternal life 'to whom He will,' John 5:21-22." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On the Merciful Character of God
Hugh Binning quote on the Merciful Character of God:
"Now whoever you are that apprehends a dreadful and terrible God and yourself a miserable and wretched sinner, you can find no comfort in God's highness and power, but it looks terrible upon you, because you doubt his good-will to save and pardon you. You say with the blind man, If you will, you can do it; you are a strong God, but what comfort can I have in your strength, since I know not your good-will? I say, the Lord answers you in this name, I am 'merciful,' saith the Lord. If you are miserable, I am merciful as well as strong; if you have sin and misery, I have compassion and pity. My mercy may be a copy and pattern to all men to learn it of Me, even towards their own brethren, Luke 6:36. Therefore He is called 'the father of mercies,' 2 Corinthians 1:3. 'Misericors est cui alterius miseria cordi est.' Mercy hath its very name from misery, for it is no other thing than to lay another's misery to heart; not to despise it, not to add to it, but to help it. It is a strong inclination to succor the misery of sinners, therefore you need no other thing to commend you to Him. Are you miserable and know it indeed? Then he is merciful." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On the Free Gift of Grace
Hugh Binning quote on the Free Gift of Grace (Sola Gratia):
"It is not your repentance that will make Him love you, nor your hardness of heart will make Him hate you or obstruct the vent of His grace towards thee. No! If it be grace, it is no more of works, - not works in that way that you imagine. It is not of repentance, not of faith in that sense you conceive; but it is freely, without the hire, without the price of repentance or faith, because all those are but the free gifts of grace. You would have these graces to procure His favor and to make them the ground of your believing in His promises, but grace is without money. It immediately contracts with discovered misery, so that if you do discover in thyself misery and sin, though you find nothing else, yet do not cast away confidence, but so much the more address yourself to mercy and grace, which do not seek repentance in you, but bring repentance and faith with them unto you." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On God's Patience Toward Man
Hugh Binning quote on God's Patience Toward Man. Reference Scripture: Romans 2:4.
"He sits not in heaven as an idol, and idle spectator of what men are doing; but He observes all wrongs and is sensible of them also. And if we were mindful and sensible of them also, He would forget them. He is long-suffering. This is extended and stretched-out patience beyond all expectation, beyond all deserving, yea contrary to it. Therefore, as long as He forbears, if you apprehend your misery and sin, and continuance in it; do not conclude that it is desperate. 'Why should a living man complain?' As long as patience lengthens your life, if you desire to come to Him, believe He will accept you." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On the Height and Depth of God's Mercy
Hugh Binning quote on the Height and Depth of God's Mercy, overcoming self-condemnation:
"But, saith the doubting soul, I am exceeding perverse and wicked, there is nothing in me but wickedness. It so abounds in me that there is none like me. But, saith the Lord, I am 'abundant in goodness.' Your wickedness, though it be great, it is but a created wickedness, but My goodness is the goodness of God. I am as abundant in grace and goodness as you are in sin - nay, infinitely more. Your sin is but the transgression of a finite creature, but My mercy is the compassion of an infinite God - it can swallow it up. Suppose your sin cry up to heaven, yet mercy reaches above heaven and is built up forever. Here is an invitation to all sinners to come and taste - Oh come and taste, and see how good the Lord is! Goodness is communicative; it diffuses itself, like the sun's light. There are riches of His goodness. Romans 2:4. Poor soul, you cannot spend it though you have many wants! ... But the wounded spirit has one or two burdens more. I have abused much mercy; how can mercy pity me? I have turned grace into wantonness so that when I look to mercy and grace to comfort me, they do rather challenge me. The sins of none are like mine, none of such a heinous and presumptuous nature. But let us hear what God the Lord speaks. I keep 'mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin. You have wasted much mercy, but more is behind, all the treasure is not spent. Though there were many thousand worlds besides, I could pardon them all, if they would flee unto My mercy. You shall not be straitened in Me.' Mercy will pardon your abuse of mercy, it will forgive all faults you do against it. You that sin against the Son of man, the Redeemer of the world, and remedy of sin, yet there is pardon for you, whatever the quality, condition, or circumstance of your sin be. Whoever, convinced of it, and burdened with it, desire rest to your soul, you may find it in Christ, whose former kindness you have answered with contempt. Many sins, many great sins, and these presumptuous sins cannot exclude, nay, no sin can exclude a willing soul. Unbelief keeps you unwilling, and so excludes you." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On False Assurance and Self-Flattering Sinners
Hugh Binning quote on False Assurance and Self-Flattering Sinners:
"Now, as some suck poison out of the sweetest flower, so the most part of souls suck nothing but delusion and presumption and hardening out of the Gospel. Many souls reason for more liberty to sin from mercy. But behold, how the Lord backs it with a dreadful word, 'who will by no means clear the guilty.' As many as do not condemn themselves before the tribunal of justice, there is no rescinding of the condemnatory sentence, but it stands above their heads, 'he that believeth not is condemned already.' Justice hath condemned all by a sentence. He that does not, in the sense of this, flee to Jesus Christ from sin and wrath is already condemned. His sentence is standing; there needs no new sentence. Since he flees not to mercy for absolution, the sentence of condemnation stands unrepealed. You guilty souls who clear yourselves, God will not clear you. And, alas! How many of you clear yourselves! Do you not extenuate and mince your sins? How hard is it to extort any confession of guilt out of you - but in general! If we condescend to particulars, many of you will plead innocency almost in everything, though you have, like children, learned to speak these words that you are sinners.
I beseech you consider it; it is no light matter, for God will by no means clear the guilty, by no means, by no entreaties, no flatteries. What! Will he not pardon sin? Yes indeed! His name tells you He will pardon all kind of sins and absolve all manner of guilty persons, but yet such as do condemn themselves, such as are guilty in their own conscience and their mouths stopped before God - you who do not enter into the serious examination of your ways and do not arraign yourselves before God's tribunal daily till you find yourselves loathsome and desperate, and no refuge left for you; you who do flatter yourselves always in the hope of heaven and put the fear of hell always from you, I say, God will by no means, no prayers, no entreaties, clear or pardon you, because you come not to Jesus Christ, in whom is preached forgiveness and remission of sins. You who take liberty to sin, because God is gracious, and delay repentance till the end, because God is long suffering, know that God will not clear you; He is holy and just as He is merciful. If His mercy make you not fear and tremble before Him and do not separate you from your sins, if remission of sins be not the strongest persuasion to your soul of the removing of sin, certainly you do in vain presume upon His mercy." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Ordinances, Ceremony and Worship
Hugh Binning quote on Ordinances, Ceremony and Worship:
"Now, if you will examine it impartially, it is even just so with us. There are some external things in religion which, in comparison with the weightier things of faith and obedience are but ceremonial. In these you place the most part if not all your religion and think yourselves good Christians if you be baptized and hear the Word, and partake of the Lord's table, and such like, though in the meantime you be not given to secret prayer, and reading, and do not inwardly judge and examine yourselves that you may flee unto a Mediator - though your conversation be unjust and scandalous among men. I say unto such souls as the Lord unto the Jews, 'Who hath required this at your hands?' Who commanded you to hear the Word, to be baptized, to wait on public ordinances? Away with all this, it is abomination to His majesty! Though it please you never so well, the more it displeases Him.
If you say, Why commands He us to hear? etc., I say, the Lord never commanded these external ordinances for the sum of true religion; that was not the great thing which was in His heart that He had most pleasure unto but the weightier matters of the law: piety, equity, and sobriety, a holy and godly conversation adorning the Gospel. 'What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?' So then, you do not worship Him in truth, but in a shadow. The truth is holiness and righteousness. That external profession is but a ceremony. While you separate these external ordinances from these weighty duties of piety and justice, they are but a dead body without a soul. If the Lord required truth of old, much more now, when He has abolished the multitude of ceremonies, that the great things of His law may be more seen and loved." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On Outward Religion
Hugh Binning quote on Outward Religion:
"We satisfy ourselves with some outward exercises of religion. Custom undoes us all and it was never more undoing than when indignation and wrath are pursuing it. Oh! That you would ponder what you lose by it in both the sweetness and advantage of godliness, beside the dishonor of God. You take a formal, negligent, and secure way as the easiest way and the most pleasing to your flesh, and I am persuaded you find it the most difficult way, because you want all the pleasant and sweet refreshment and soul delights you might have in God by a serious and diligent minding of religion." – Hugh Binning
Read more: "The Common Principles of the Christian Religion," by Hugh Binning.
On How Real Christians See Their Own Corruption
Hugh Binning quote on How Real Christians See Their Own Corruption as it truly is, knowing that even their goodness is defiled:
"I fear that the majority of you have no real use for Christ—though you have extreme need of Him, you do not know it; for there are many things which you will not number among your sins—such as your prayers, your hearing and reading, your singing, your public and private worship, your giving of alms, etc. How many of you were never convinced of any sin in these! Do you not conceive that God is well pleased with you for them? Your conscience has convinced you, it may be, of gross sins, such as drunkenness, filthiness, swearing, etc, but you are not convinced of your well doings, because you regard them and find no necessity of a Mediator for these things.
I think many of you never confessed any such thing except in a general notion. Alas, how ignorant are men of themselves! ... Are we not unclean and do our hands not touch our own works? Shall our own uncleanness not then defile our good actions more than they can cleanse us (Hagai 2:13)? The ignorance of this makes men go about building up their old ruined righteousness and still seek something in themselves to make up the lack in themselves.
Always, when the light of God has revealed you to yourselves, so that you can turn your eye nowhere but that your own uncleanness fills it, though your conversation be blameless in the world, so that men can challenge nothing, yet you have found within and without nothing but reason to mourn. I say, this is an evidence that the Spirit has shinned and enlightened your darkness." – Hugh Binning
Quotation from "Heart Humiliation, (Sermon XI)" by Hugh Binning.
On God Searches the Heart
Hugh Binning quote on God Searches the Heart:
"We cover ourselves with a wall of external duties and think to hide all the rottenness of our hearts, but it cannot be hidden from Him before whom hell has no covering. All hearts are open and naked before Him. Your secret sins are in the light of His countenance. Men hear you pray, see you present at worship, they know no more, at least they see no more, but the mere formality of your worship, the wanderings of your mind are in His sight." – Hugh Binning
Quotation from "Heart Humiliation, (Sermon XI)" by Hugh Binning.
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