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  LETTER 147.
  by James Bourne
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Summary: James Bourne's sermon highlights the necessity of the Holy
Spirit in achieving true salvation and warns against the dangers of
human-centered religion and the fear of man.

Topics: "True Salvation", "Holy Spirit"
Scripture References: Isaiah 10:24

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DESCRIPTION
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James Bourne addresses the importance of seeking true salvation through
Christ alone, emphasizing the necessity of the Spirit's work in guiding
believers into all truth. He expresses concern over the prevalent
darkness caused by false teachings and the danger of being misled by
those who promote an easy path to salvation. Bourne urges his friend to
seek the regenerating power of God's grace, emphasizing the need for a
genuine relationship with Jesus Christ that transcends mere professions
of faith.

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CONTENT
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[To Mrs. Oakley.] Pulverbach, August 1838.

My dear Friend,

When I saw you on your sick bed, I was pleased to hear you say that your
affliction had driven you to Christ for salvation. When I saw you after
you were in a measure recovered, your language was changed. I think you
said something of this sort, that your minister had been with you, and
you believed he was a good man, but that he did not think all the work
of religion upon the heart was of the Spirit, but that man must do a
part. How can a good man be so totally divested of the first rudiments
of the doctrines and oracles of God? The Lord tells us, "when he, the
Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into ALL truth" [John xvi.
13]; but your minister thinks a part of this heavenly work is to be done
by us. Indeed matters must be at a low ebb if we have not a clearer
knowledge of the truth of this. Surely if spiritual energy had been felt
it would have produced a brighter evidence. I perceive exceeding great
darkness in many hereabouts, and I fear the cause is their believing and
hearing every one that cries, Lo here! Salvation is a rare thing; a
profession is a common thing; and some are easily persuaded that the
strait and narrow way is bigotry.

You and I are not far from the end of our race. It is an awful thing to
be brought to the bar of God in our dying moments, where no lies nor
errors will stand, nor our saying we are good, or this or that man is
good; but we must have the true, vital, regenerating power of God's
grace upon our consciences, so that we may be at a point, and more than
sure, that the Lord Jesus Christ has a favour towards us. May the Lord
cause you to give him no rest until this takes place; then I am sure the
light which this will bring along with it will show you the way you
ought to take. The fear of man is often a great snare, and keeps us from
boldly showing our colours, in consequence of which we spend our days in
confusion of mind, and seldom have any of the sweet supporting presence
of the Lord; but the Bible teaches us that the fear of Man, as well as
every other yoke, shall be destroyed because of the anointing of the
Holy Ghost. [Isaiah x. 24-27.]

Yours &c. J. B.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/james-bourne/letter-147/
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