The life and
letters of John Angell James
(Choice excerpts)
You who are poor—with this 'pearl of great price' to enrich you, with
a title to a priceless inheritance, reserved in heaven for you, pure and
undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay—to animate and comfort you;
all the privations of your earthly poverty can be borne—not only with
patience, but with cheerfulness.
The grace of God in the heart, the promise of God in the
hand, and the glory of God in the eye—are enough to reconcile us to the
longest life of the most dire poverty.
But poverty, without true piety—is to be poor indeed! To
be both poor and wicked, is to have a double hell—a
hell here, and a worse hell hereafter!
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Consider that the eternal loss of the soul is not a
rare—but a very common occurrence! So far from being a rare thing for a soul
to go to hell—it is a much rarer thing for them to go to heaven! Jesus tells
us that the road to eternal destruction is thronged, while the way to
eternal life is traveled by few. Hell opens its mouth wide—and swallows up
multitudes in eternal perdition! Every day brings you nearer to everlasting
torments—or everlasting bliss. You may die at any moment; and you are as
near to heaven or hell—as you are to death. Some
who read these lines will very likely spend their eternity in
hell.
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If your experience . . .
strengthens your faith in the Lord Jesus,
increases your love to Him,
gives you more exalted views of Jesus,
enflames your love to the brethren,
weans you from the world,
makes you more humble,
then it is genuine Christian experience.
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Who is able to talk of
controversies, or fine theological points—while he sees a
multitude of ignorant, carnal, miserable sinners before him—who must either
be converted—or damned! What little matters men will quarrel about—when they
leave the great things of God's truth!
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Is our concern for Christ, and for souls—or for
ourselves? No 'titles of distinction' are to exist among Christian
ministers. They suggest the idea of superiority—and foster pride and vanity.
What an exorbitant extent of mischief has this love
of distinction done in Christianity! It is the base ambition of
many ministers—to be contented with an admiring crowd. "Everything they do
is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on
their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most
important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the
marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'" Matthew 23:5-7.
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It is the gospel addressed in simple earnestness to the
soul—which will move it.
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Everything related to the worship of God which is not
commanded in Scripture, or implied in a command—is forbidden.
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The thought is very dreadful to me, that any should go
from beneath my ministry—to the worm which never dies, to the fire which is
never quenched. I can scarcely bear to dwell upon the reflection that my
sermons should be forgotten on earth—only to be
remembered in hell.
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Adorn the doctrine of God your Savior in all things.
There is such a thing as disfiguring, deforming this doctrine. Fly
not only from what would be vice in a wicked or worldly man, but what would
be a spot upon the character of a Christian.
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If you are parents,
let your profession lead you to instruct your children in the fear of God,
especially by the impressive admonition of a good example. Be very attentive
to the education of your children—let them neither hear nor see anything in
you that would hinder true religion. Example is more powerful than
precept. It is vain to teach them religion by your words—unless you show
it to them by your actions. Teach them to obey you. Be firm, but mild.
Govern them in love. Subdue them by kindness.
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In the death of our dear friend
Elmore, the church has lost a very valuable member, and I a most
affectionate friend. Cut off in the prime of his life—his death speaks
loudly to us all. What now is the world, or any of its concerns, to him? Let
our hearts be more in heaven! We are too earthly and sensual. We are too
much elated by the comforts of life; and too much depressed by the sorrows
of life—forgetting how close at hand is the event which will render them
both alike indifferent to us—and us to them. Eternity, eternity is before
us—and what earthly trifle should greatly affect those who are speedily
traveling to eternity?
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The love of God, in sending Jesus Christ die upon the
cross for our sins, is the greatest wonder
that we shall ever hear of—on earth or in heaven, in time or through
eternity! How constantly should we think of it; how much should we talk of
it; how great should be our gratitude to God; how strong should be our love
to Jesus!
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What a change has the gospel produced in your
customs, manners, and feelings!
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The sins of the people, are the deepest afflictions of a
true minister's heart.
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There is in the present day, a proneness to depend upon
organized systems of human religious energy—more than upon God's own Spirit
and grace.
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We have no right
to live in opulent houses,
and feast at tables covered with luxuries—while the souls of men are
famishing for lack of the Bread of Life. A showy and lavish profusion in our
habits, is not only injurious to our own spiritual interests, but also to
the interests of others. Frugality is the best financier of Christianity.
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Time is the best
expounder of Prophecy. I could never make up my mind on the
precise meaning of the Apocalypse, except as to its general design. No
expositor I have ever read—and I have read many—has yet satisfied me. As
they all disagree among themselves, I presume that none of them fully
understand the subject.
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All my time and all my strength, I intend to devote to
the great work of stirring up my people's hearts to serve the Lord more
fully.
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Most professing Christians are
sunk deep in the mire of worldly-mindedness. Mammon is the wicked
and shameful idol of the church. Our churches are, in my opinion, far from a
state of sound healthy piety. We have but little of what constitutes the
essence of experimental religion. Everything is superficial. Our repentance,
our faith, our love, our devotional habits—are all superficial! The world
has . . .
engrossed men's minds,
absorbed their feelings,
starved their piety.
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Attention has been drawn off from the heart and the
closet—to public meetings and bustle and activity. I am persuaded that Satan
has taken advantage of them, to divert men's minds from the state of their
own souls. Professing Christians are so entangled with the world in various
ways, that I do not look at present for any great increase of spirituality
in their devotional habits. I am afraid that the tone of personal piety is
not likely to be much raised. The generality of our church members appear to
be in a state of much lukewarmness. I wish I could see more spiritual
feeling apparent in our meetings. They appear too much like religious
amusements.
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Modern practice tends to throw the door of entrance into
our churches too widely open. We are too much in haste to swell the number
of church members. Multitudes find their way into our churches
without the wedding garment. Admission
into our churches is generally considered by the individuals, as a
certificate of saving religion; and should they be still in an unconverted
state, in that state they will, in all probability die. Therefore the admission
of unconverted people into the church is, in effect, to be accessory to
their self-deception, and therefore to their destruction.
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Oh, what a mercy to be kept sound in the faith!
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What a word
is salvation! It is uttered in a
moment—but it will require an eternity to understand it; and if lost—an
eternity to deplore it! Salvation is our great business in this world—and
whatever else we gain, yet if we miss salvation—the end of life is lost,
existence is thrown away, and, to all valuable purposes—we have been made in
vain. Eternity, eternity is before you—and that eternity must either be
spent in heaven—or hell!
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The best ornaments of piety; and loveliest fruits
of saving faith—are humility and love.
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Oh, for more prayer, faith, and deadness to the world!
Christians must return to simpler habits!
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What humbling lessons we learn by being laid aside
by sickness, from labor! How the world goes on without us! And when we are
silent forever—it will be the same.
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Prayer is the very soul of all religion; and privacy is
the very life of prayer. Prayer is the first step
in the divine life; prayer is the second; prayer is the third;
and indeed, it is necessary through the whole Christian course.
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All true piety in the heart
is the work of the
Holy Spirit. Not a single really holy feeling will ever come into the mind,
or be kept there—but by God.
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It is sometimes a matter of surprise to me, to think upon
how small a stock of moral excellence—I am keeping up so respectable an
appearance. Of one thing I am certain—that, if I do any good to my
generation, the work is not only to be ascribed to grace, but will prove in
the eternal world, how much of Divine agency and how little of human
instrumentality there was in anything done by me. I am sure, that if others
thought of me as I think of myself—I would soon be forgotten and unnoticed.
I blush over my own fame—from an entire consciousness how little I deserve
it. I have all along been sensitive and jealous for the honor of God, and
was alarmed and afraid lest the Master should be robbed of His glory—and the
servant invested with sinful spoils.
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Men are now so busy, either with their own secularities,
or with church work—that they have but little time, and therefore little
opportunity, to read a profitable Christian book.
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"God disciplines us for our good,
that we may share in His holiness." Hebrews 12:10. God must
set a high value upon holiness when, in order to produce it, He puts His
children whom He loves, to so much pain. It is a great mercy to grow in
grace, and, when nothing else will promote it—we should be thankful even for
afflictions.
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Don't puzzle yourself about the mystery of
the death of your dear wife. It is God
who has done it! He never does a foolish or unkind action. Submission and
occupation will be the best balm for your wounded spirit. Christ's service
will be your best cordial. May God comfort, sanctify and bless you in this
dark dispensation. God knows what He has done; why He has done it; and how
to comfort you under it.
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We cannot, for the sake of union and peace, sacrifice
truth. There must be no compromise.
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Our principle defects as ministers, lie chiefly in our
character as Christians. We would be better preachers, and better pastors—if
we were holier men.
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I am sure that it is the gospel in all its
fullness—earnestly, feelingly, and powerfully preached—which God will bless
to the conversion of souls.
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My habits of social interaction
have been somewhat restrained. To sit three hours in mere chit-chat, or
hearing young ladies play the piano and sing—was a waste of time which I
could not endure.
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That Christian laymen may be useful in the cause
of the gospel, cannot be questioned; and that many of them do far more good
than some preachers—is quite clear.
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We preach too little from the heart—and to
the heart. We need more pathos, which flows out of intense earnestness. I am
more than ever convinced that this is the kind of preaching that is needed
today—a combination of the intellectual, doctrinal, experimental, and
practical—sermons coming from the head through the heart; or from the heart
through the head.
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There is a richness and fullness of divine truth in the
old writers, which, with all their antiquated style—the modern writers lack.
And oh! Their devotion—their communion with God—their sustained and elevated
piety! This is what we lack—this is our deficiency!
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I intend on preaching a series of very rousing, searching
sermons—"Four Last Things"—Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell.
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It is a great thing to live and labor for God and souls.
This alone, is to work for immortality. But how difficult to keep the waters
pure—to live for Christ alone.
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Men's minds are wholly engrossed by the things which are
seen and temporal. In general, the church partakes of the spirit of the
world. Worldliness, in various forms, is eating out
the core of personal godliness.
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The state of individual piety is undevout and feeble. A
spirit of worldliness characterizes the church; and its separation from the
ungodly is less conspicuous than it ought to be. Men's minds, hearts, and
hands are so full, that it is difficult, even with the themes of eternity,
to gain a serious hearing—and arrest the torrent of
worldliness that is flowing through society.
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I dwell much alone—but He whose company is a substitute
for all others, is with me.
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What a mercy it is—that others do not know us, as we
know ourselves!
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How sweet and sacred a thing, is
Christian friendship. And how blissful a reflection, that it
is to be perfected in heaven—and perpetuated through eternity!
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By God's grace, you are to derive spiritual benefit from
your dire affliction. Have you communed
with your own heart upon your bed? Have you been taking the candle of the
Lord—which is His Word—and gone down into the depths of your soul, searching
for besetting sins and defects? Has the gold shone in the furnace? Has the
dross of earthliness been consumed? God's design in afflicting us, is that
we may be partakers of His holiness. An affliction sanctified—is
better than an affliction removed. Oh, let us long, intensely long,
to be made more holy, spiritual, heavenly.
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We all know far more of the Bible—than we
practice. The head is far in advance of the heart. It is no easy thing
to be a Christian—however easy it is to be called one.
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Be eminently holy, spiritual, and heavenly men. Be
examples in all these things, to the flock. You will need much wisdom,
grace, and a mixture of firmness and kindness.
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It is a great mercy for me to be brought nearly to sixty
years of age—without any serious mistake. I often think and say, that in
looking back, I see many things which, if I could go over life again,
I would correct and do better. But then again, perhaps I would commit still
greater blunders; so that while I am humble—and there is much to make me
so—I am thankful.
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Oh, what a life of unmerited and
unexpected mercy I have enjoyed! Never, no, never was so much
favor shown to one so undeserving of it! My lengthened affliction has caused
me to search my heart—and oh, what strange and humbling disclosures! I
thought I knew myself, but I find now, at age seventy, I have much to learn.
How humbling the discoveries I have made! I need no other argument for
Sovereign Grace, than the knowledge of myself—compared with the
multitudinous and wondrous blessings showered upon me.
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