Dr Paul Allen

StJohnsAshfield StainedGlass Simeon (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "The earnest of our inheritance ." Ephesians 1:14 Oh! what enlightenment, what joys, what consolation, what delight of heart is experienced by that man who has learned to feed on Jesus , and on Jesus alone.  Yet the realization which we have of Christ 's preciousness is, in this life, imperfect at the best. As an old writer says, "'Tis but a taste!" We have tasted "that the Lord is gracious," but we do not yet know how good and gracious he is, although what we know of his sweetness makes us long for more.  We have enjoyed the firstfruits of the Spirit, and they have set us hungering and thirsting for the fulness of the heavenly vintage. We groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption.  Here we are like Israel in the wilderness, who had but one cluster from Eshcol , there we shall be in the vineyard.  Here we see the manna falling small, like coriander seed , but

The Presentation of Samuel - medieval stained glass detail, Canterbury Cathedral (Photo credit: chrisjohnbeckett ) “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:19 Here is distinguishing grace and discriminating regard; for some are made the special objects of divine affection. Do not be afraid to dwell upon this high doctrine of election. When your mind is most heavy and depressed, you will find it to be a bottle of richest cordial. Those who doubt the doctrines of grace , or who cast them into the shade, miss the richest clusters of Eshcol ; they lose the wines on the lees well refined, the fat things full of marrow. There is no balm in Gilead comparable to it. If the honey in Jonathan’s wood when but touched enlightened the eyes, this is honey which will enlighten your heart to love and learn the mysteries of the kingdom of God . Eat, and fear not a