Grace Gems for April 2007
All the sins of the saints
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
"We know that all things work together for good,
to those who love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
All the afflictions, and
all the temptations, and
all the desertions, and
all the oppressions, and
all the oppositions, and
all the persecutions—
which befall a godly man,
shall work for his good.
Every cross, and
every loss, and
every disease—
which befall the holy man,
shall work for his good.
Every device,
every snare,
every deceit,
every depth,
every stratagem,
and every enterprise of Satan against
the holy man, shall work for his good.
They shall all help to make him . . .
more humble,
more holy,
more heavenly,
more spiritual,
more faithful,
more fruitful,
more watchful.
Every prosperity and every adversity;
every storm and every calm;
every bitter and every sweet;
every cross and every comfort—
shall work for the holy man's good.
When God gives a mercy—
that shall work for his good.
When God takes away a mercy—
that shall work for his good.
Yes, even all the falls and all the sins of
the saints shall work for their good. Oh . . .
the care,
the fear,
the watchfulness,
the tenderness,
the zeal—
which God raises in the souls of His saints by their
very falls! Oh the hatred, the indignation, and the
detestation—which God raises in the hearts of His
children against sin—by their very falling into sin!
Oh what love to Christ,
what thankfulness for Christ,
what admiration of Christ,
what cleaving to Christ,
what exalting of Christ,
what drawings from Christ's grace—
are saints led to, by their very falls!
It is the glory of God's holiness, that . . .
He can turn spiritual diseases—into holy remedies!
He can turn soul poisons—into heavenly cordials!
He can prevent sin by sin, and cure falling by falling!
O Christian! What though friends and relations frown upon you,
what though enemies are plotting and conspiring against you,
what though needs, like armed men, are breaking in upon you,
what though men rage, and devils roar against you,
what though sickness is devastating your family,
what though death stands every day at your elbow—
yet there is no reason for you to fear nor faint, because
all these things shall work for your good! Yes, there is
wonderful cause of joy and rejoicing in all the afflictions
and tribulations which come upon you—considering that
they shall all work for your good.
O Christians! I am afraid, I am afraid—that you do not
run so often as you should—to the breasts of this promise,
nor draw that sweetness and comfort from it, that it would
yield, and that your several cases may require. "We know
that all things work together for good, to those who love
God, to those who are called according to His purpose." I
have been the longer upon this verse, because the condition
of God's people calls for the strongest cordials, and the
choicest and the sweetest comforts.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It was the golden link of love!
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
"May you have power to grasp how wide and long and
high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this
love that surpasses knowledge." Ephesians 3:18-19
Oh, such was Christ's transcendent love—that man's extreme
misery could not abate it. The deploredness of man's condition
did but heighten the holy flame of Christ's love. It is as high
as heaven, who can reach it? It is as low as hell, who can
understand it?
Heaven, with all its glory, could not contain Him. Neither
could all hell's torments make Him refrain! Such was His
perfect matchless love to fallen and miserable man. That
Christ's love should extend to the ungodly, to sinners, to
enemies who were in rebellion against Him; yes, not only
so—but that He should hug them in His arms, lodge them
in His bosom—is the highest degree of love!
It is astonishing . . .
that Christ should come from the eternal bosom
of His Father—to a region of sorrow and death;
that God—should be manifested in the flesh;
that the Creator—should made a creature;
that He who was clothed with glory—should be
wrapped with rags of flesh;
that He who filled heaven—should be cradled
in a feeding trough;
that the God of strength—should be weary;
that the judge of all men—should be condemned;
that the God of life—should be put to death.
That He would do all this for man, for fallen man,
for miserable man, for worthless man—is beyond
all conception!
The sharp sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, from
the cradle to the cross, does above all other things,
speak out the transcendent love of Jesus Christ to
poor sinners.
That wrath, that great wrath, that fierce wrath, that
pure wrath, that infinite wrath, that matchless wrath
of an angry God—which was so terribly impressed
upon the soul of Christ—all this wrath He patiently
underwent, that sinners might be saved, and that
"He might bring many sons unto glory."
Oh wonder at the greatness of His love—which made
our dear Lord Jesus lay down His life—to save us from
hell, and to bring us to heaven! Oh unspeakable love!
It was the golden link of love, which alone fastened
Christ to the cross, and made Him die freely for us!
Christ's love is beyond all measure, for . . .
time did not begin it, and time shall never end it;
place does not bound it;
sin does not exceed it;
tongues cannot express it;
minds cannot conceive it.
Well may we spend all our days in admiring and adoring
of Christ's wonderful love—and be always ravished with
the thoughts of it.
"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so
great you will never fully understand it." Ephes. 3:19
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Painted pleasures,
sugared poisons,
envenomed baits
(John Owen)
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,
set your hearts on things above, where Christ
is seated at the right hand of God. Set your
minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Colossians 3:1-2
Fix your affections upon the things that are above,
and this will enable you to mortify sin. Heavenly
things are blessed and suitable objects—God Himself,
in His beauty and glory; the Lord Jesus Christ, who is
'altogether lovely,' the 'chief of ten thousand'; grace
and glory; and the blessed promises of the gospel.
Were our affections filled, taken up, and possessed
with these things, as it is our duty that they should be
—and it is our happiness when they are—what access
could sin, with its painted pleasures, with its sugared
poisons, with its envenomed baits, have into our souls?
How should we loathe all sin's proposals, and say unto
them, "Away with you, you abominable thing!" For what
are the vain, transitory pleasures of sin—in comparison
to the heavenly glories which are proposed unto us?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
From a burning hell—to a blissful heaven!
(J. C. Philpot, "Daily Portions")
What is to be compared with the salvation of the
soul? What are riches, honors, health, long life? What
are all the pleasures which the world can offer, sin
promise, or the flesh enjoy? What is all that men call
good or great? What is everything which the eye has
seen, or the ear heard, or has entered into the carnal
heart of man—put side by side with being saved in
the Lord Jesus Christ with an everlasting salvation?
For consider what we are saved from,
as well as what we are saved unto.
From a burning hell—to a blissful heaven!
From endless wrath—to eternal glory!
From the dreadful company of devils and damned
spirits, mutually tormenting and tormented—to the
blessed companionship of the glorified saints, all
perfectly conformed in body and soul to the image
of Christ, with thousands and tens of thousands of
holy angels; and, above all, to seeing the glorious
Son of God as He is, in all the perfection of His beauty,
and all the ravishments of His presence and love!
To be done forever with . . .
all the sorrows, troubles, and afflictions of this life;
all the pains and aches of the present clay tabernacle;
all the darkness, bondage, and misery of the body of
sin and death.
To be perfectly holy in body and soul, being in both
without spot, or blemish, or any such thing—and ever
to enjoy uninterrupted communion with God!
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind
has imagined what God has prepared for those
who love Him!" 1 Corinthians 2:9
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The prosperity of the wicked
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
"For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of
the wicked. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the
evil conceits of their minds know no limits. They say, 'How
can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?' This
is what the wicked are like—always carefree, they increase in
wealth. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive
to me—until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood
their final destiny. Surely You place them on slippery ground;
You cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!" Psalm 73
Oh, how little is that man's condition to be envied, who for
these short pleasures of sin—must endure an eternity of
torments!
O sirs! Do wicked men purchase their present pleasures at
so dear a rate—as eternal torments? And do we envy their
enjoyment of them so short a time? Would we envy a man
going to execution, because we saw him go up the ladder
with a gold chain around his neck and a scarlet gown on
his back? Surely not! Oh, no more should we envy the
grandeur of worldly men, for every step they take, is
but a step to an eternal execution!
Oh, how much more worthy of our pity, than envy—is that
man's condition, who has all his happiness confined to the
narrow compass of this present life—but his misery extended
to the uttermost bounds of an everlasting duration!
"The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he
was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away,
with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him—Father
Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the
tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because
I am in agony in this fire!" Luke 16:22-24
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All to save you from wrath to come!
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
Christians, spend your days in admiring the transcendent love
of Christ--in undergoing hellish punishments in your stead! Oh
pray, pray hard that you "may be able to comprehend what is
the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of that love of
Christ, which passes knowledge!" Ephesians 3: 18-19
The love of Christ put Him upon these bodily and spiritual
sufferings--which were so exceeding great, acute, extreme,
and universal--and all to save you from wrath to come!
His miseries, sorrows, and sufferings are unparalleled, and
therefore Christians have the more cause to lose themselves
in the contemplation of His matchless love. Oh, bless Christ!
Oh, kiss Christ! Oh, embrace Christ! Oh, cleave to Christ!
Oh, follow Christ! Oh, walk with Christ! Oh, long for Christ
--who for your sakes has undergone insupportable wrath
and most hellish torments!
Oh, look up to dear Jesus, and say, "O blessed Jesus,
You were accursed--that I might be blessed! You were
condemned--that I might be justified! You underwent
the very torments of hell--that I might forever enjoy
the pleasures of heaven! Therefore I cannot but dearly
love You, and highly esteem You, and greatly honor
You, and earnestly long after You!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
They will not believe it until they feel it!
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
"Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?" Luke 3:7
"Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." 1 Th. 1:10
1. The coming wrath is the greatest wrath. It is the greatest
evil which can befall a soul. "Who knows the power of Your wrath?"
Psalm 19:11. The coming wrath is such wrath as no unsaved man
can either avoid or abide. And yet such is most men's stupidity,
that they will not believe it until they feel it!
As God is a great God—so His wrath is a great wrath. If the
wrath of an earthly king is so terrible—oh how dreadful must
the wrath of the King of kings then be!
The greater the evil is, the more cause we have to flee from
it. Now the coming wrath is the greatest evil, and therefore
the more it concerns us to flee from it!
2. The coming wrath is treasured-up wrath. Sinners are still
"a-treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath," Romans 2:5.
While wicked men are following their own lusts, they think that
they are still adding to their own happiness. But alas, they do
but add wrath to wrath! They do but heap up judgment upon
judgment, and punishment upon punishment! Look! as men
are daily adding to their treasure more and more, so impenitent
sinners are daily increasing the treasury of wrath against their
own souls.
3. The coming wrath is pure wrath. It is "judgment without
mercy." The cup of wrath which God will put into sinners' hands
at last, will be a cup of pure wrath—all wrath—nothing but wrath.
"They must drink the wine of God's wrath. It is poured out
undiluted into God's cup of wrath. And they will be tormented
with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels
and the Lamb." Revelation 14:10.
Look! as there is nothing but the pure glory of God—which can
make a man perfectly and fully happy; just so, there is nothing
but the pure wrath of God—which can make a man fully and
perfectly miserable. Reprobates shall not only sip of the top of
God's cup—but they shall drink the dregs of His cup! They shall
not have one drop of mercy, nor one crumb of comfort! They
have filled up their lifetime with sin—and God will fill up their
eternity with torments!
4. The coming wrath is everlasting wrath. "And the smoke
of their torment ascends up forever and ever!" Rev. 14:11.
"They shall have . . .
punishment without pity,
misery without mercy,
sorrow without support,
crying without comfort,
mischief without measure,
torment without ease—
where the worm dies not, and the fire is never quenched."
The torments of the damned shall continue as many eternities
—as there are stars in the skies, as there are grains of sand on
the sea-shore, and as there are drops of water found in the sea!
When the present worlds are ended, the pains and torments of
hell shall not cease—but begin afresh, and thus this wheel shall
turn round and round, without end.
Oh the folly and vanity, the madness and baseness of poor
wretched sinners—who expose themselves to everlasting
torments—for a few fleshly momentary pleasures!
O sirs! "Who can stand before His fierce anger? Who can survive
His burning fury? His rage blazes forth like fire, and the mountains
crumble to dust in His presence!" Nahum 1:6.
How should these things work poor sinners to flee to Christ,
who alone is able to save them from the coming wrath.
1 Thessalonians 1:10
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The hell of hell
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
And as there are a diversity of torments in hell,
so the torments of hell are everlasting.
"Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal
fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!" Mt. 25:41
The sentence which shall be passed upon them, is eternal.
God Himself, who damns them, is eternal.
The prison and chains which hold them, are eternal.
The worm which gnaws them, is eternal.
The fire which torments them, is eternal.
Grievous is the torment of the damned—for the bitterness
of the punishments. It is more grievous—for the diversity
of the punishments. But it is most grievous—for the eternity
of the punishments!
If, after so many millions of years as there are drops in
the ocean, there might be a deliverance out of hell—this
would yield a little ease, a little comfort to the damned.
Oh, but this word Eternity! Eternity! Eternity! this word
Everlasting! Everlasting! Everlasting! this word Forever!
Forever! Forever! will even break the hearts of the
damned in ten thousand pieces!
Suppose that the whole world were turned into a mountain of
sand, and that a little bird should come once every thousand
years and carry away from that heap, one grain of sand. What
an infinite number of years would be spent before this great
mountain of sand would be fetched away! Just so—if a man
should lie in everlasting burnings so long a time as this, and
then have an end of his woe—it would give some ease, some
hope, and some comfort to him. But when that immortal bird
shall have carried away this great mountain of sand—a thousand
times over and over—alas, alas, sinful man shall be as far from
the end of his anguish and torment as ever he was! He shall be
no nearer coming out of hell, than he was the very first moment
that he entered into hell!
Suppose, say others, that a man were to endure the
torments of hell as many years—as there are . . .
sands on the sea-shore,
drops of water in the sea,
stars in the heavens,
leaves on the trees,
blades of grass on the ground
—yet he would comfort himself with this poor thought,
"Well, there will come a day when my misery and torment
shall certainly have an end."
But woe and alas! this word, "Forever! Forever! Forever!"
will fill the hearts of the damned with the greatest . . .
horror and terror,
anger and rage,
bewilderment and astonishment!
If the fire of hell were terminable, it might be tolerable. But
being endless, it must needs be easeless, and remediless.
The eternity of hell—is the hell of hell.
The damned shall live as long in hell—as
long as God Himself shall live in heaven!
"The reprobate shall have . . .
punishment without pity;
misery without mercy,
sorrow without support,
crying without compassion,
mischief without measure, and
torment without end!"
“And they will go away into eternal punishment,
but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46
All the pains, torments, curse, and wrath which were
due to the elect—fell on Christ, until divine justice was
fully satisfied. "For God did not appoint us to suffer
wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ." 1 Thes. 5:9. Oh, exalt that Christ! Oh, extol
that Savior, who has saved you from that eternal wrath!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
From burning to burning!
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
The Spirit of God, in Scripture, by metaphors of all sorts
of things which are dreadful unto sense—sets forth the
condition of the damned, and the torments which He has
reserved for them in the life to come. Hell's punishments
do infinitely exceed all other punishments, that there is
no pain so extreme—as that of the damned.
Look! As there are no joys which can compare to the joys
of heaven—so there are no pains which can compare to the
pains of hell. All the cruelties in the world cannot possibly
make up any horror comparable to the horrors of hell. The
brick-kilns of Egypt, the fiery furnace of Babylon—are but
as a fleeting spark—compared to this tormenting Tophet
which has been prepared of old to punish the bodies and
souls of sinners with. Hanging, racking, burning, scourging,
stoning, sawing asunder, flaying of the skin, etc., are not
to be compared with the tortures of hell.
If all the pains, sorrows, miseries, and calamities which have
been inflicted upon all men, since Adam fell in Paradise, should
meet together and center in one man—they would not so much
as amount to one of the least of the pains of hell.
Who can sum up the diversity of torments which are in hell!
1. In hell there is darkness; hell is a dark region!
2. In hell there are sorrows!
3. In hell there are bonds and chains!
4. In hell there are pains and pangs!
5. In hell there is the worm which never dies!
6. In hell there is the lake of fire!
7. In hell there is the furnace of fire!
8. In hell there are the devil and his demons!
And oh, how dreadful must it be to be shut
up forever with those roaring lions!
9. In hell there is weeping and gnashing of teeth!
10. In hell there is unquenchable fire—everlasting burnings!
"The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the
godless—Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire?
Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?" Is. 33:14
O sirs, the torments of hell will be exceeding great
and dreadful—such as will make the stoutest sinners
to quake and tremble!
Wicked men, who are now such jolly fellows, shall one
day go from burning to burning! They shall go . . .
from burning in sin—to burning in hell;
from burning in flames of lusts—to burning in flames of torment!
O sirs! in this devouring fire, in these everlasting burnings,
there will be no music or merry company to pass time away,
nor any dice or cards to pass care away; nor any bottles of
wine wherein to drown the sinner's grief! As in heaven there
shall be all bodily perfection, so there shall be also in hell
all bodily miseries. Whatever may make a man perfectly
miserable—shall be in hell. Out of this fiery bed there is
no deliverance!
Oh, how terrible will the torments of hell be to the damned!
The torments of hell will be universal torments. All torments
meet together in that place of torment. Hell is the center . . .
of all punishments,
of all sorrows,
of all pains,
of all wrath,
of all vengeance, etc.
All the pains, torments, curse, and wrath which were
due to the elect—fell on Christ, until divine justice was
fully satisfied. "For God did not appoint us to suffer
wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ." 1 Thes. 5:9. Oh, exalt that Christ! Oh, extol
that Savior, who has saved you from that eternal wrath!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The devil's best customers!
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
"God will surely judge people who are immoral." Heb. 13:4
If men will not judge them, God Himself will, and give
them a portion of misery answerable to their transgression.
Sometimes He judges them in this life—by pouring forth of
His wrath upon their bodies, souls, consciences, names and
estates. But if He does not thus judge them in this life, He
will be sure to judge them in the life to come! Yes, He has
already adjudged them "to the fiery lake of burning sulfur,"
Revelation 21:8
The unchaste are the devil's best customers! Oh, the
thousands of men and women who are sent to hell for
immorality! Other sins are toilsome and troublesome,
but sexual immorality is pleasant, and sends men and
women merrily to hell!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A life of faith
(Gleanings from the Inner Life of Ruth Bryan)
"The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for
me." Galatians 2:20
Jesus is very precious; and a life of faith in
Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is . . .
very blessed,
world-conquering,
Satan-overcoming,
sin-subduing.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He drank it up—every drop!
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
"Who can comprehend the power of Your wrath?"
Psalm 90:11
Jesus Christ comprehends it, for He underwent it!
His whole life was made up of suffering.
From His birth to His death,
from His cradle to the cross,
from the womb to the tomb,
—He was a man of sorrows!
Behold His bodily sufferings—
the crown of thorns on His head,
the smiting of His cheeks,
the spitting on His face,
the scourging of His body,
the cross on His back,
the vinegar in His mouth,
the nails in His hands and feet,
the spear in His side,
His crucifixion and death on the cross
—might well astonish us!
Behold that head, before which angels cast down
themselves and worshiped—crowned with thorns!
Behold those eyes, which were purer than the
sun—put out by the darkness of death!
Behold those ears which heard nothing but halleluiahs
—hearing the blasphemies of the multitude!
Behold that lovely face—spit on by such beastly
wretches!
Behold that mouth and tongue, which "spoke as
never any man spoke"—accused of blasphemy!
Behold those hands, which freely swayed the
scepter of heaven—nailed to the cross!
Behold those feet, "like unto fine brass"
—nailed to the cross for man's sins!
Who can behold Christ thus suffering—
and not be struck with astonishment?
1 Peter 3:18, "Christ has suffered for sins once for
all, the righteous for the unrighteous." This is . . .
the wonderment of angels,
the happiness of fallen man, and
the torment of devils—that Christ has suffered.
The doleful tragedy of His sufferings is unutterable!
The sufferings of Jesus Christ were very great and
heinous. What agony, what torment was our Savior
racked with! "He was despised and rejected—a man
of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief!" Is. 53:3
He was a man of sorrows—as if He were a man made
up of sorrows! He knew more sorrows than any man,
yes, than all men ever did! We never read that Jesus
laughed at all, when He was in the world. His whole
life was filled up with sufferings.
How deep were His wounds!
How weighty His burden!
How full of trembling His cup, when He lay under
the mountains of the guilt of all the elect!
How bitter were His tears!
How painful His bloody sweat!
How dreadful His death!
Lamentations 1:12 is very applicable to Christ—
"Look and see! Is there any pain like Mine, which
was dealt out to Me, which the Lord made Me suffer
on the day of His burning anger?" What sufferings
can you think of, which Christ did not suffer? Christ
suffered in His birth, and He suffered in His life,
and He suffered in His death. He suffered in His
body, for He was diversely tormented. He suffered
in His soul, for His soul was exceedingly sorrowful.
He suffered in His estate, they parted His clothing,
and He had nowhere to rest His head. He suffered
in His reputation, for He was called a Samaritan,
a devilish sorcerer, a drunkard, an enemy to Caesar,
etc. He suffered from heaven, when He cried out,
"My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?" He
suffered from the earth, being hungry. He suffered
from hell, Satan assaulting and encountering Him
with his most black and horrid temptations. He
began His life lowly and basely, and was sharply
persecuted. He continued His life poorly and
distressedly, and was cruelly hated. He ended His
life woefully and miserably, and was most grievously
tormented with whips, thorns, nails; and, above all,
with the terrors of His Father's wrath and horrors of
hellish agonies! Who can compute how many vials of
God's inexpressible, insupportable wrath, which Christ
drank? Yet, He drank it up—every drop, leaving
nothing behind for His redeemed people—but large
draughts of love and salvation!
The death of Christ on the cross was . . .
a bitter death,
a sorrowful death,
a bloody death.
The bitter thoughts of His sufferings put Him into a
most dreadful agony: "Being in an agony, He prayed
more earnestly, and His sweat was as great drops of
blood falling to the ground." Luke 22:44
Nothing could fasten Christ to the cross—but the
golden link of His free love! Oh, what a wonder of
love is this—that Jesus Christ, who is the author of
life, the fountain of life, the Lord of life—that He
should so freely, so readily, so cheerfully lay down
His life for us!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
One puddle, if we wallow in it
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
One sin stripped the fallen angels of all their glory.
One sin stripped our first parents of all their dignity
and excellency.
One fly in the box of precious ointment spoils the
whole box.
One thief may rob a man of all his treasure.
One disease may deprive a man of all his health.
One millstone will sink a man to the bottom of
the sea, as well as a hundred.
One puddle, if we wallow in it—will defile us.
Just so, one sin allowed and lived in—will make
a man miserable forever.
Some will leave all their sins but one. Satan can hold
a man fast enough by one sin which he allows and lives
in—as the fowler can hold the bird fast enough by one
wing or by one claw.
Satan is content that men should yield to God in many
things—provided that they will be but true to Satan in
some one thing. The devil knows very well, that as one
grain of poison may poison a man, and one stab at the
heart may kill a man—just so, one sin unrepented of,
one sin allowed, retained, cherished, and practiced
—will certainly damn a man.
Though all the parts of a man's body are healthy,
except only one part—that one diseased and ulcerous
part may be deadly to you. Just so, one sin allowed,
indulged, and lived in—will prove killing and damning
to you.
It is horrid hypocrisy, damnable folly, and astonishing
impudency—for a man to beg the pardon of those very
sins which he is resolved never to forsake.
These things should be frequently and seriously thought
of, by such poor fools as are entangled by any lust.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Joseph saw God in the room!
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding
the evil and the good." Proverbs 15:9
The harboring of any known sin, either in heart or life,
is a high contempt of the all-seeing eye of God—of
the omnipresence of God.
It is well known what Ahasuerus, that great monarch,
said concerning Haman, when he found him cast upon
the queen's couch on which she sat: "What!" says he,
"Will he even assault the queen right here in the palace,
before my very eyes!" What! will he dare to commit
such a villainy—as I stand and look on?
O sirs! to do wickedly in the sight of God, is a thing which
He looks upon as the greatest affront and indignity that
can possibly be done unto Him. "What!" says He, "Will
you be drunk before Me, and swear and blaspheme before
Me, and be wanton and immoral before Me, and break My
laws before My eyes!"
This, then, is the killing aggravation of all sin—that
is done before the face of God—in the presence of God!
The consideration of God's omnipresence—that He stands
and looks on, should be as a bar, to stop the proceedings
of all wicked intentions; and a great dissuasive from sin.
It was an excellent saying of Ambrose, "If you cannot
hide yourself from the sun, which is God's minister of
light—how impossible will it be to hide yourself from Him
whose eyes are ten thousand times brighter than the sun!"
There is no drawing of a curtain between God and you.
When you are in secret—consider that God is present.
God is all eye. He sees . . .
all things,
in all places,
at all times.
The godly are dissuaded from wickedness, upon the
consideration of God's eye and omniscience. Joseph
saw God in the room—and therefore dared not yield
to lust. But Potiphar's wife saw none but Joseph—and
so was impudently alluring and tempting him to sin.
I have read of two godly men, who took contrary
courses with two harlots—whom they desired to
reclaim from their wicked course of life.
One of the men told one of the women, that he was
desirous to enjoy her company in secret. After she
had brought him into a private room, and locked the
door, he told her, "All your bars and bolts cannot
keep God out!"
The other godly man asked the other harlot to be
unchaste with him openly in the streets—which she
rejected as an insane request. He then told her, "It
was better to do it before the eyes of a crowd—than
before the eyes of the all-seeing God!"
Oh, why shall not the presence of that God who hates
sin, and who is resolved to punish it with hell-flames,
make us ashamed or afraid to sin, and dare Him to
His face! Let your eye be ever on Him—whose
eye is always on you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
First place in your thoughts
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
Friends, these things must have first place in your thoughts:
1. Your sins—to humble you and abase you before God.
2. God's free and rich and sovereign grace—to soften and
melt you down into submission to His holy will.
3. The Lord Jesus Christ—to assist, help, strengthen, and
influence you in all your duties and services.
4. The blessed Scriptures—to guide you and lead you, "and
to be a lamp unto your feet, and a light unto your paths."
5. The afflictions of the godly—to draw out your charity,
mercy, pity, sympathy and compassion to men in misery.
6. The glory and happiness of the eternal world—to arm you
and steel you against all your sins, snares and temptations.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The most powerful charm of Satan
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
Honors, riches, and pleasures are the three deities,
which all people adore, and to whom they continually
sacrifice their best thoughts and energies. These, for
their unparalleled vanity, may well be called "the
vanity of vanities!"
Honors, riches, and pleasures are but . . .
a mere shadow,
a vapor,
a feather in the cap,
a breath,
a froth,
a dream,
a nothing.
They are without true substance. Like in a dream,
you imagine they have substance--you grasp at
them and awake--and they are nothing!
And yet, they are the most powerful charm
of Satan, whereby he lulls men to sleep in the
paradise of fools; to cast them, after they die,
into the bottomless pit of eternal woe!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The best of saints are sinners
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
A child of God may slip into a sin—as a sheep may slip
into the mire. But he does not, and cannot wallow in
sin—as the swine wallows in the mire.
The best of saints are sinners, though the worst
and weakest of saints do not indulge sin or cherish it;
or make daily provision for it; or take daily pleasure
and delight in sin; or habitually yield a willing and
total subjection to the authority and commands of sin.
There is as much difference between sin in a regenerate
person—and sin in an unregenerate person, as there is
between poison in a man—and poison in a serpent.
Poison in a man is most offensive and burdensome, and
he readily uses all remedies and antidotes to expel it
and get rid of it. But poison in a serpent, is in its
natural place, and is most pleasing and delightful.
Just so, sin in a regenerate man is most offensive and
burdensome, and he readily uses all holy means and
antidotes to expel it and to get rid of it. But sin in an
unregenerate man is most pleasing and delightful, it
being in its natural place.
A godly man may have many sins—yet he has not
one beloved sin, one bosom sin, one darling sin.
His sins are his greatest grief and torment.
Every godly man . . .
hates all known sin,
would sincerely have his sins not only pardoned, but destroyed,
groans under the burden of sin,
combats and conflicts with all known sin,
has fixed purposes and designs not to sin,
has a sincere willingness to be rid of all sin.
No sincere Christian indulges himself in any
trade, course, or way of sin. "Oh," says the
gracious soul, "that I could be rid of . . .
this proud heart,
this hard heart,
this unbelieving heart,
this unclean heart,
this earthly heart,
this froward heart of mine!"
O sirs, this is most certain—whoever gives up himself
freely, willingly, cheerfully, habitually—to the service
of any one particular lust or sin—he is in the state of
nature, under wrath, and in the way to eternal ruin!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The best way to be holy
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
"Turn to the Lord with weeping and with mourning."
Joel 2:12
The best way to be holy is to accuse, indict, arraign,
and condemn yourself for your unholiness. Greatly
lament and mourn over your own unholiness, over
your own wickedness. Go to your closet, and fall
down before the most high and holy God, and
mourn bitterly over . . .
the unholiness of your nature,
the unholiness of your heart,
the unholiness of your affections,
the unholiness of your intentions,
the unholiness of your thoughts,
the unholiness of your words,
the unholiness of your life.
Oh, who can look upon sin . . .
as an offence against a holy God,
as the breach of a holy law,
as the wounding and crucifying of a holy Savior,
as the grieving and saddening of a holy Sanctifier,
and not mourn over it?
Oh, who can cast a serious eye . . .
upon the heinous nature of sin,
upon the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
upon the aggravations of sin—
and not have . . .
his heart humbled,
his soul grieved,
his spirit melted,
his mouth full of penitential confessions,
his eyes full of penitential tears, and
his heart full of penitential sorrow?
The Christian mourns that he has sinned against . . .
a God so great,
a God so gracious,
a God so bountiful,
a God so merciful.
Oh, how should a sinner fall a-weeping when he
looks upon the greatness of his wickedness, and
his lack of holiness! As ever you would be holy,
mourn over your own unholiness.
Those who weep not for sin here—shall weep
out their eyes in hell hereafter! It is better to
weep bitterly for your sins on earth, than to
weep eternally for your folly in hell.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they
will be comforted." Matthew 5:4
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
His treasured possession
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.
The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the
peoples on the face of the earth to be His people,
His treasured possession." Deuteronomy 7:6
God makes . . .
many rich, and
many great, and
many honorable, and
many mighty, and
many wise, and
many noble, and
many beautiful, and
many successful—
whom He will never make holy.
But in making you holy—God has made you spiritually
great, rich, honorable, wise, and beautiful, etc. Holiness
is a singular fruit of God's special favor and love.
God has a common favor and love for all men, yes,
for the worst of men; witness that common preservation,
and common protection, and common provision—which
He grants to them. But God has a special love and
favor—and this runs out only to His holy ones.
Holiness is a divine beam, a heavenly drop, a
choice pledge of God's special favor and love.
O sirs! though the world may slight you, and enemies
revile you, and friends disfavor you—yet let this support
you, let this rejoice you—that you are God's treasured
possession!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I am not the man that I was!
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
All true holiness is the immediate fruit of genuine
union with Christ. Christ is made not only wisdom,
righteousness, and redemption—but He is also made
sanctification to us, 1 Cor. 1:30. He who is in Christ
is a new creature. He has . . .
a new head,
a new heart,
a new lip,
a new life,
a new spirit,
new principles,
new ends.
He can truly say, "I am not the man that I was!
I was a lion—yet holiness has made me a lamb!
I was a wolf—yet holiness has made me a sheep!
I was a raven—yet holiness has made me a dove!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pleasure, delight, contentment and satisfaction in God
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
There are no people under heaven, who take any real
pleasure, delight, contentment and satisfaction
in God—but those who are genuinely holy.
"How is your Beloved better than others, most beautiful
of women? How is your Beloved better than others, that
you charge us so?" Song of Songs 5:9
The covetous man takes pleasure and delight in his money-bags.
The ambitious man takes pleasure and delight in his honors.
The voluptuous man takes pleasure and delight in his lusts.
The malicious man takes pleasure and delight in his revenge.
The envious man takes pleasure in the harms which befall others.
The drunkard takes pleasure and delight in his cups.
The adulterer takes pleasure and delight in his harlots.
The gamester takes pleasure and delight in his shifts and tricks.
The worldling takes pleasure in his fopperies and fooleries.
It is only the holy man who takes pleasure and delight in God.
To delight and take pleasure in God, is a work too high, too
hard, too spiritual, and too noble—for any but holy people!
"My Beloved is dark and dazzling, better than ten thousand
others! Yes, He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, and
this is my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:10, 16"I delight greatly in the Lord! My soul rejoices in my God!"
Isaiah 61:10
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Oh stand and wonder!
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1
O sirs! what matter of admiration is this—that the
great and glorious God, who has many millions of
glorious angels attending Him—that He should . . .
look upon all holy people as His sons, and
love them as His sons, and
delight in them as His sons, and
clothe them as His sons, and
feed them as His sons, and
protect them as His sons!
What great love is this—that those who have . . .
so highly provoked God,
walked so cross and contrary to God,
were so exceeding unlike God,
preferred every lust, and every toy and vanity before God,
fought many years under Satan's banner against God,
refused all the kind offers of mercy from God;
that those who have deserved to be . . .
reprobated by God,
damned by God, and
to be thrown to hell by God—
that these should be made the sons of God!
Oh stand and wonder! Oh stand and admire the
freeness of His grace, and the riches of His grace!
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So blind, so deaf, so dumb, so lame, so dead
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
The holy Christian is the greatest miracle.
He can tell you that he was so blind—but now God
has given him eyes to see sin to be the greatest evil;
and Christ to be the choicest good.
He can tell you that once he was so deaf—that though
God called very often and very loudly to him—by His
word and by His works, by His rods at home and by
His judgments abroad, and by his Spirit and conscience,
which were still a-preaching in his bosom—sometimes life,
sometimes death, sometimes heaven, and sometimes hell
—yet he could not hear! But now God has given him a
hearing ear, so that now he can with delight hear the
sweet music of the promises on the one hand; and
with a holy trembling listen to the voice of divine
threatenings on the other hand.
He can tell you that once he was so dumb—that if he
might have had the whole world, he could not have
spoken a good word for God, nor for His ways, nor for
His people, nor for any of His concernments. Oh! but
now his tongue is as the pen of a ready writer—and
he is never better, than when he is a-speaking either
of God, or for God and His concerns. Now he can
contend for the faith, and speak for saints. And though
in some cases he may lack power to act for God—yet he
never lacks a tongue to speak for God. The spouse's lips
drop honeycombs in Canticles 4:11. Yes, his tongue now
becomes a tree of life, whose leaves are medicinal.
He can tell you that once he was so lame—that he was
not able to move one foot heaven-wards, nor Christ-wards,
nor holiness-wards, etc. But now his feet delight, not only
to go—but to run in all the ways of God's commands!
Yes, he can tell you that once he was so dead—as to all
his soul-concerns. But now he is alive, and the life that
he leads in the flesh, is by faith in the Son of God, who
has loved him and given Himself for him, Gal. 2:20.
It was by a miracle that the Red Sea was driven back;
and it is no less a miracle—to see a sinner who was
accustomed to do evil—now habituated to do good.
That the tide of sin, which before did run so strong
—should be so easily turned; that the sinner who, a
little before was sailing hellward, and lacked neither
wind nor tide to carry him there—should now suddenly
alter his course, and tack about for heaven—what a
miracle is this! To see . . .
an earthly man become heavenly,
a carnal man become spiritual,
a loose man become precise,
a proud man become humble,
a covetous man become liberal, and
a harsh man become meek, etc.,
is to behold the greatest of miracles!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Worse than sodomy!
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
"If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words,
shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house
or town. I assure you: It will be more tolerable on the
day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah
than for that town." Matthew 10:14-15
Sodom and Gomorrah shall have an easier and cooler
hell than such shall have—who have despised the offers
of His grace, and the offers of His mercy. Contempt of
Christ and His gospel—is worse than sodomy!
"Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from
the heavens on Sodom and Gomorrah!" Genesis 19:24
The punishments of Sodom and Gomorrah, are but scratches
on the hand, and flea-bitings—compared to those dreadful and
astonishing judgments which God, in the great day of account,
will inflict upon all Christ-refusers and gospel-despisers!
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever
rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on
him." John 3:36
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Holy, holy, holy
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
"Who is like You, glorious in holiness?" Exodus 15:11
God is . . .
infinitely holy,
transcendently holy,
superlatively holy,
constantly holy,
unchangeably holy,
exemplary holy,
gloriously holy.
All the holiness that is in the best and choicest
Christians is but a mixed holiness, a weak and
imperfect holiness. Their unholiness is always
more than their holiness.
Ah, what a great deal . . .
of pride is mixed with a little humility,
of unbelief is mixed with a little faith,
of peevishness is mixed with a little meekness,
of earthliness is mixed with a little heavenliness,
of carnality is mixed with a little spirituality,
of harshness is mixed with a little tenderness!
Oh, but the holiness of God is a pure holiness, it is
a holiness without mixture; there is not the least
drop or the least dreg of unholiness in God! "God
is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5
In God there is . . .
all wisdom without any folly,
all truth without any falsehood,
all light without any darkness, and
all holiness without any sinfulness.
God is universally holy.
He is holy in all His ways,
and holy in all His works.
His precepts are holy precepts,
His promises are holy promises,
His threatenings are holy threatenings,
His love is a holy love,
His anger is a holy anger,
His hatred is a holy hatred, etc.
His nature is holy,
His attributes are holy,
His actions are all holy.
He is holy in sparing;
and holy in punishing.
He is holy in justifying of some;
and holy in condemning of others.
He is holy in bringing some to heaven;
and holy in throwing others to hell.
God is holy . . .
in all His sayings,
in all His doings,
in whatever He puts His hand to,
in whatever He sets His heart to.
His frowns are holy,
His smiles are holy.
When He gives, His givings are holy giving;
when He takes away, His takings are holy takings, etc.
"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty!" Isaiah 6:3
God is eminently holy.
He is transcendently holy.
he is superlatively holy.
He is glorious in holiness.
There is no fathoming,
there is no measuring,
there is no comprehending,
there is no searching, of that
infinite sea of holiness, which is in God.
O sirs! you shall as soon . . .
stop the sun in its course, and
change the day into night, and
raise the dead,
and make a world, and
count the stars of heaven, and
empty the sea with a cockle-shell,
as you shall be able either to conceive or express
that transcendent holiness which is in God!
God's holiness is infinite.
It can neither be . . .
limited, nor
lessened, nor
increased.
God is the spring of all holiness and purity. All that
holiness which is in angels and men flows from God,
as the streams from the fountain,
as the beams from the sun,
as the branches from the root,
as the effect from the cause.
Ministers may pray that their people may be holy,
parents may pray that their children may be holy;
but they cannot give holiness, nor communicate
holiness to their nearest and dearest relations.
God alone is the giver and the author of all holiness.
It is only the Holy One who can cause holiness to flow
into sinners' hearts; it is only He who can form, and
frame, and infuse holiness into the souls of men.
A man shall sooner make make a world—than he shall
make another holy. It is only a holy God, who can . . .
enlighten the mind, and
bow the will, and
melt the heart, and
raise the affections, and
purge the conscience, and
reform the life, and
put the whole man into a holy gracious temper.
God is exemplary holy. He is the rule, example, and
pattern of holiness. "Be holy, as I am holy." 1 Pet. 1:15.
God's holiness is the copy which we must always have in
our eye, and endeavor most exactly to write after.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The best means to mortify sin
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
"Therefore, put to death whatever in you is worldly:
sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and
greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5
While a darling sin lives and keeps the throne in the heart,
grace and holiness will be kept exceeding weak and low. But
when your darling sin is dethroned and slain by the power
and the sword of the Spirit—grace and holiness will quickly
grow stronger and stronger, and rise higher and higher.
When a man has eaten poison, nothing will make him thrive,
until he has vomited up the poison. Beloved sins—they are
the poison of the soul, and until these are vomited up, and
cast out by sound repentance, and the exercise of faith in the
blood of Christ, the soul will never thrive in grace and holiness!
If ever you would attain to higher degrees of holiness,
then fall with all your might, upon subduing and crucifying
your most raging corruptions, and your most daring lusts!
Oh do not think that your golden and your silver idols will
lay down their weapons, and yield the battle, and lie at your
feet, and let you trample them to death—without striking a
blow! Oh remember that besetting-sins will do all they can
to keep their ground, and therefore you must arise with all
your strength against them, and crush them to powder,
and burn them to ashes!
Oh deal with your most enraged lusts, as the Philistines
dealt with Samson—pluck out their eyes, and force them
to grind in the mill of mortification, until their strength is
utterly consumed and wasted.
I have read of five men, who being asked what was
the best means to mortify sin, gave these answers.
Said the first, "The best means to mortify sin,
is to meditate on death."
Said the second, "The best means to mortify sin,
is to meditate on the judgment-day."
Said the third, "The best means to mortify sin,
is to meditate on the joys of heaven."
Said the fourth, "The best means to mortify sin,
is to meditate on the torments of hell."
Said the fifth, "The best means to mortify sin, is to
meditate on the death and sufferings of Christ."
Doubtless the last man hit the nail on the head!
The daily sight of a bleeding, groaning, dying
Savior—is the only thing which will subdue and
mortify darling sins!
O friends! Never leave looking up to a crucified Christ,
until virtue flows from Him to the crucifying of those
special besetting sins which do most obstruct and
hinder the growth and increase of holiness.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Is there no silent lesson here for us?
(Horatius Bonar, "Bethany and Its Feast")
"While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man
known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to Him
with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume,
which she poured on His head as He was reclining
at the table." Matthew 26:6-7
Reverence, homage, love—are all embodied in this act.
She grudges no cost for Him whom she so reverently
loves.
"She has done a beautiful thing to Me!" Matthew 26:10
It is Mary whom Jesus marks and commends. Her fervent
love, pouring itself out in one single act of devotion, gets
the highest notice.
Is there no silent lesson here for us? It is not labor,
nor suffering, which get the highest commendation from
Jesus. It is love—pure, warm, ungrudging, loyal love! It
is this which gets the Master's "Well done." He can do
without the others—but not without this.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Yellow and white guts and garbage
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
"You cannot serve both God and Money." Luke 16:13
Riches are the great god of the world, and are rather a
hindrance, than a help to heaven and happiness. Gold
and silver, which are but the yellow and white guts
and garbage of the earth, is fitly called by the prophet,
"thick clay," which will sooner break a man's back than
satisfy his heart! Oh, what folly and madness is it for a
man to be still a-loading of himself with the clay of this
world!
Though the horse is loaded with rich treasure all the
day long—yet when night comes he is turned into the
dark stinking stable, with an empty belly, and with
his back full of galls, sores, and bruises.
Just so, though vain muckworms are loaded with the
treasures of this world during the day of their life—
yet when the night of death comes, then they shall
be turned into a dark stinking hell, with consciences
full of guilt and galls, and with souls full of sores and
bruises; and then what good will all their treasures
do them?
"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and
a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that
plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love
of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people,
eager for money, have wandered from the faith and
pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Tim. 6:9-10
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A sea of grace—or but a drop of grace
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
"Those He predestined, He also called; and those
He called, He also justified; and those He justified,
He also glorified." Romans 8:30
God's love is equal to all His saints, whether they
are rich or poor, high or low, slave or free; whether they
have a sea of grace—or but a drop of grace. God's
love runs as much out to the weakest Christian, as it
does to the strongest; as much to a babe in grace as
to a giant in grace.
All saints are equally ELECTED. God never chose one
man to be a more vessel of glory than another; the
weakest saint is as much elected as the strongest.
All saints are equally REDEEMED by Jesus Christ.
Christ bled as much for one saint as another, and
He sweat as much for one saint as another, and
He sighed and groaned as much for one saint as
another, and He trod the wine-press of His Father's
wrath as much for one saint as another. Christ paid
as great a price for His lambs—as for His sheep.
Christ paid as great a price for Lazarus in his
rags—as for David in his royal robes.
All saints are equally EFFECTUALLY CALLED.
One saint is as much called out of the kingdom
of darkness as another; and one saint is as much
called to Jesus Christ as another. In effectual
calling, God looks with as favorable an eye
upon one, as He does upon another.
All saints are equally JUSTIFIED. Though one saint
may be more sanctified than another—yet no saint
is more justified than another. The weakest believer
is as much justified and pardoned before the throne
of God as the strongest is. That pure, perfect,
matchless, and spotless righteousness of Christ,
is as much imputed to one saint as it is to another.
All saints are equally ADOPTED. The weakest believer
is as much an adopted son of God, as the strongest
believer in the world is. God is no more a father to
one than He is to another. In human families, the
babe in the mother's arms is as much a son—as he
who is of riper years.
Thus you see that God's love is equal to all His saints.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
We are to submit to His holy will
(Mary Winslow, "Walking with Jesus")
There is nothing that can take place towards a
child of God but what our heavenly Father designs,
in infinite love, for our spiritual advancement, and
His own glory. We are to submit to His holy will,
and believe that there was a 'needs be' for it.
The Lord loves His children too well to lay upon
them the weight of a feather, without an absolute
necessity, and without some wise and loving
purpose. God deals wisely and graciously with
us in all His varying dispensations.
If tears could be shed in heaven, we would
weep that we ever mistrusted His goodness
in His dealings towards us.
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I was that soldier who murdered You!
(Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")
"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed
for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace
was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed."
Isaiah 53:5
Our sins were the cause of Christ's sufferings!
It was our transgressions which gave Christ His deadly
wounds! It was our sins which smote Him, and bruised
Him! Every Christian may look upon Christ and say, "I
was that Judas who betrayed You! I was that soldier
who murdered You! It was my sins which brought all
those sorrows, and sufferings, and evils upon You!
I have sinned—and You have suffered!
I have sinned—and You have died!
I have wounded You—and You have healed me!"
Oh, that we might look upon . . .
a humble Christ—with a humble heart,
a broken Christ—with a broken heart,
a bleeding Christ—with a bleeding heart,
a wounded Christ—with a wounded heart!
"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree;
by His wounds you have been healed." 1 Pet. 2:24
Here you see that the physician's blood became the
sick man's salve! Here is the gospel mystery—that
the wounding of one, should be the cure of another!
Oh, what an odious thing is sin to God—that He will
pardon none without blood, yes, without the precious
blood of His dearest Son! Oh, what a hell of wickedness
must there be in sin—that nothing can expiate it but the
best, the purest, the noblest blood of Christ! Oh, what a
transcendent evil must sin be—that nothing can purge it
away but death—the accursed death of the cross! Oh,
what a leprosy is sin—that it must have blood, yes, the
blood of God, to take it away!