Grace Gems for APRIL, 2020
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Should a frog croak out a compliment to a toad?
(The following is an excerpt from a letter of John Berridge to a fellow minister who recently had a bad fall.)
Dear Sir,
I received your letter, and dare not say that I am sorry for your fall, nor indeed for any afflictions that God lays on His children; they are tokens of His fatherly love, and needful medicine for us. Rather would I pray that while God keeps you in the furnace-you may be still, and feel your dross and tin being purged away.
The Lord Jesus gives me a dose of this medicine most days; and I am never so well as when I am taking it, though I frequently make a crooked face at it. If your heart is as my heart, it will need many a bitter potion to cleanse and strengthen it! Afflictions have been to me some of my greatest mercies.
No lasting gain do I get, but in a furnace. Comforts of every kind make me either light or lofty, and swell me, though unperceivably, with self-sufficiency. Indeed, so much dross, native and acquired, is found in my heart, that I have constant need of a furnace. Jesus has selected a suitable furnace for me, not a hot and hasty one, which seems likely to harden and consume me-but one with a gentle and lingering heat, which melts my heart gradually, and lets out some of its dross. Though I cannot love the furnace, yet the longer I live, the more I see of its need and its use. A believer seldom walks steadily and brightly, unless he is well-furnaced.
"I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of affliction!" Isaiah 48:10
Why do you write to me with so much reverence? Is this befitting language from one sinner to another sinner? Ought the dust of the earth to elevate his kindred ashes? Should a frog croak out a compliment to a toad?
May the Lord water your soul and your vineyard, and teach you to know nothing, and preach nothing but Jesus Christ!
For His sake, I am your servant,
John Berridge, 1761~ ~ ~ ~
A black hellish brand plucked from the burning!
(Letters of John Berridge, 1716-1793)
I sometimes hope at the closing hour, when I shall exchange worlds, that Jesus will help me to lay hold of every sinful serpent that has long twisted around my soul, and keeps me company all my pilgrimage; and enable me, by the hand of faith, to hold them up, crying out: Behold the heads of traitors, which shall never come to life again! Oh! what a joyful shout shall I give when I shall feel these vermin drop off!
At times I am ready to hope the gloomy territories of the grave are almost ready for me, that I may lay down this body of sin upon the block for everlasting execution. O! when shall these clogs and fetters be knocked off, and the dark and gloomy walks of this valley of tears be turned into bright and peaceful realms!
Alas! what has such a depraved, polluted, and corrupted miscreant as I to reckon upon, why mercy and grace should be exerted in my salvation-but free, rich, sovereign grace! This will be the topic of the eternal songs of redeemed souls. The theme of my song will be Grace! Grace! if ever I reach the heights of Zion.
As I have experienced some special advantage from the study of the old man and all his cursed artillery, with the powers of the infernal kingdom, and this world, with all its bewitching sweets-I would earnestly recommend soul-study, wiles-of-the-devil-study, and the snares-of-the-world study to every Christian friend. Commune with your own heart daily; beware of Satan's devices; and be ever on the watch lest you enter into temptation; for though the spirit may be willing, the flesh is weak.
When I get to Heaven I shall be truly a wonder there; I shall be as an eternal monument set up to the honor of divine grace, and the inscription upon me will be this: A black hellish brand plucked from the burning-now made, through rich mercy, a pillar to stand forever in the temple of God.~ ~ ~ ~
The worst enemy I have!
(Thomas Reade, "Christian Meditations")
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Romans 7:24
Strange to tell, yet, no less strange than true, the worst enemy I have is MYSELF!
I may flee from other enemies, but from this I cannot escape.
Wherever I go, SELF still is there.
The inbred evil travels with me.
I may cross mighty oceans, traverse extensive deserts, plunge into the deepest recesses of the tangled forest or the caverned earth, yet, in the profoundest solitude, SELF is there!
None but the true believer knows the dreadful conflicts between the flesh and the Spirit.
His cry is; "Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I flee away and be at rest!"
But soon he feels the vanity of this wish; for even if could he fly on eagle's wings to the earth's remotest bounds, he would carry with him all the evil he deplores.
He therefore prays for present grace and strength, for present power to conquer sin, and to glorify his Savior in the place divine wisdom has appointed for him.
Lord Jesus, you alone can enable me . . .
to vanquish the powers of darkness,
to overcome the corruptions of my heart,
to crucify the lustings of the flesh.
"Lord, save me from that evil man, myself!" Augustine
~ ~ ~ ~An experimental Christian!
(Octavius Winslow)
The religion of the true believer is experimental-it is the religion of the heart. He has no dealings with an unknown, imaginary God.
He does not know God from the hearing of the ear, or from the reading of books, or from the religious conversation of others merely; but he knows Him from personal acquaintance, from heartfelt experience, from close and constant dealings.
There has been a manifestation of God in Christ to his soul, and with Job he can say, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You!"
And with the converted Samaritans, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." John 4:42
Oh to be a true, an experimental Christian!
The religion of the ear, or of the eye, or of the imagination, or of the intellect-will not, and cannot bring the soul to Heaven! The abodes of endless woe are peopled with souls who went down to its regions of despair with no better religion than this!
Oh, give me . . .
the sincere humility of the publican,
the trembling faith of the diseased woman,
the flowing tears of the penitent Magdalene,
the last petition of the dying thief,
rather than the most intellectual religion or the most gorgeous ceremonial that the mind ever invented, or the eye ever beheld.
~ ~ ~ ~The wedding feast!
(Octavius Winslow)
"Let us be glad and rejoice and honor Him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself." Revelation 19:7
Jesus sustains no relation to His Church more expressive than this. From all eternity He betrothed her to Himself. He asked her at the hands of her Father, and the Father gave her to Him. He entered into a covenant that she should be His. The conditions of that covenant were great, but not too great for His love to undertake. They were that He should . . .
assume her nature,
discharge her legal obligations,
endure her punishment,
repair her ruin, and
bring her to glory!
He undertook all, and He accomplished all-because He loved her!
The love of Jesus to His Church, is the love of the most tender husband. It is . . .
exclusive,
constant,
affectionate,
matchless,
wonderful.
Jesus . . .
sympathizes with her,
nourishes her,
provides for her,
clothes her,
watches over her, and
indulges her with the most intimate and endearing communion.
The Lord Jesus will come in the clouds of Heaven, and this will be the occasion of His public wedding of His Church. Her present union to Him is secret and unknown-invisible to the world. But He will appear, openly and visibly to take her to Himself; and before His Father and the holy angels He will solemnize her eternal union.
Oh what a time of splendor and of rejoicing will that be! Arrayed in His nuptial robes, Jesus will descend to make her His own; and she, "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband," will go forth to meet Him. Then will be heard the song of angels, "Let us be glad and rejoice and honor Him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself."
Yes! "Blessed are they who are called unto the wedding feast of the Lamb."
~ ~ ~ ~One fiery trial!
(Octavius Winslow, "The God of Comfort")
One fiery trial, sanctified by the grace of the Holy Spirit, has done more to break up the crusted ground of the heart, to penetrate beneath the surface, to dissect, and winnow, and separate-than a lifetime of reading and hearing could have done.
Oh, what secret sins have been detected,
what carelessness of walk has been revealed,
what spiritual and unsuspected declension of soul has been discovered
-all leading to deep self-loathing, and to the laying the mouth in the dust before God!
"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You!
Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:5-6~ ~ ~ ~
Fig leaves!
(Horatius Bonar, "The Sin, the Sinner, and the Sentence")
"At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness.
So they strung fig leaves together to cover themselves." Genesis 3:7
They are alone, yet they are ashamed.
They are in Paradise, yet they are ashamed.
It is conscience that is making them blush.
It not only makes cowards of them, but it works shame and confusion of face. They are ashamed of themselves, of their nakedness, of their recent doings. They cannot look one another in the face after their disobedience and recriminations against one another. They cannot look up to God now. The feeling of happy innocence is gone.
They must be covered.
This is their feeling, the dictate of conscience. The eye must not see them, either of God or man. The light must not shine on them; the eye of the sun must not look on them; and the fair flowers and trees of Paradise must not see their shame. They love darkness rather than light. Covering is what they seek; covering from every eye.
Thus, shame and guilt are inseparable.
"I must be covered," is the sinner's first feeling; from the eye of God and man, even from my own. They cannot look on me, nor I on them! Thus far they are right. But now they go wrong.
Man thinks he can cover himself.
He knows not the greatness of the evil; he does not calculate on the penetration of the all-seeing eye. He sets to work and makes himself a covering, and he thinks this will do.
What sin is, or what the sinner needs, or what God requires-he has no idea of.
Each sinner has his own way of covering himself.
He weaves his own web, whatever may be the substance of which it is composed. He wishes to be his own coverer, the maker of his own clothing. He thinks he can do it himself. He has no idea that it is utterly beyond his power. He trusts to the skill of his own hands to provide the dress that shall hide his shame from the eye of God and man. He thinks it an easy thing to deal with shame, and fear, and conviction, and conscience. He will not believe that these can only be dealt with by God. This is the last thing that he will admit.
He will try a thousand plans before accepting this. He will make and try on many kinds or sets of clothing before betaking himself to that which God has made.
The unbelieving man's whole religious life is a series of plans and efforts for stitching a clothing for himself, with which to appear before God and before men; no, with which he hopes to appear before the judgment.
It is with this man-made, this self-made clothing, this earth-made, or priest-made, or church-made religion, that he robes himself; with this he soothes conscience; with this he quiets fear; with this he removes the feeling of guilty shame. He can do all that is needful himself, or at the most with a little help from God.
Man thinks he can cover himself with fig leaves. He supposes that what will hide his shame from his own eye will hide it from God; that even such a frail covering as the foliage of the fig tree will do. He has no thought of anything beyond this. The fig leaf will do, he thinks. What more do I need?
But he is mistaken; the fig leaf will not do, broad and green as it may be. But why will it not do?
It is man's device, not God's. That which covers sin, and renders the sinner fit to draw near, must be of God, not of man. God only has the right, God only can, prescribe to man how he is to draw near.
What then is 'ritualism' but a religion of fig leaves?
It is simply for the body, not the soul. It does not relieve the conscience, or satisfy the guilty spirit, or cover the whole man. It is utterly insufficient. It could not remove one fear, or quiet one pang of remorse, or make the man feel tranquil in the presence of God.
Man's devices for covering sin are useless. They may be easy or difficult; cheap or costly; still they are vain. They profit nothing. The covering is narrower than a man can wrap himself in.Man's devices for covering sin are innumerable. Good deeds, long prayers, fervent feelings, self mortifications and penances; church attendance, rites, ceremonies, religious performances; such are man's ways for approaching God, his coverings for a sinful soul. They are all fig leaves!
Man's devices for covering sin all turn upon something which he himself has to do, not on what God has done. Man misses the main point of importance.
Man's devices for covering sin assume that God is such a one as himself. He can conceal himself from his fellow man; therefore he thinks he can cover himself so that God shall not see him. That which conceals him from a human eye, he supposes will conceal him from a divine eye.Man's devices for covering sin all trifle with sin. They do not fathom its depths of malignity in God's sight. They assume that it will be easily forgiven and forgotten. They overlook its evil, its hatefulness, and its eternal desert of woe.
What are fig leaves as a protection against the wrath of God, or the flames of Hell!
"He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." Proverbs 28:13~ ~ ~ ~
The devil's tennis-ball!
(Thomas Brooks, "The Privy Key of Heaven" 1665)
"Warn those who are idle." 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Take heed of an idle and slothful spirit. An idle life and a holy heart are far asunder. By doing nothing, men learn to do evil things. It is easy slipping out of an idle life, into an evil and wicked life. Yes, an idle life is of itself evil, for man was made to be active, not to be idle. Idleness is a mother-sin, a breeding-sin; it is the devil's cushion-on which he sits; and the devil's anvil-on which he frames very great and very many sins. Look! as toads and serpents breed most in standing waters, so sin thrives most in idle people. Idleness is that which provokes the Lord to forsake men's bodies, and the devil to possess their souls.
No man has less means to preserve his body, and more temptations to infect his soul, than an idle person. Oh shake off sloth! The sluggish Christian will be sleeping, or idling, or trifling; when he should be in his closet a-praying. Sloth is a fatal sickness of the soul; get it cured-or it will be your eternal bane! Of all devils, it is the 'idle' devil which keeps men most out of their closets. There is nothing that gives the devil so much advantage against us, as idleness.
Idleness is the time of temptation. An idle person is the devil's tennis-ball, tossed around by him at his pleasure.
The fowler bends his bow and spreads his net for birds when they are set, not when they are upon the wing. So Satan shoots his most fiery darts at men, when they are most idle and slothful.
Slothful and idle people commonly lie so long a-bed, and spend so much precious time between the comb and the mirror, and in eating, drinking, sporting, and trifling; that they can find no time for private prayer. Certainly such as had rather go sleeping to Hell, than sweating to Heaven, will never care much for prayer. And therefore shun sloth and idleness, as you would shun a lion in your way, or poison in your food, or fiery coals in your bosom!
"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!" Proverbs 6:6~ ~ ~ ~
He might well have smote it!
(John MacDuff, "The Sure Ground of the Believer's Expectations" 1859)
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his chest and said: God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" Luke 18:13
Not merely was it on his heart that the burden of guilt lay with an oppressive weight, but out of it had come all that was sinful in his outward conduct. His heart was . . .
the storehouse from which the evil treasures had been brought forth,
the poisonous fountain from whence the various streams of pollution flow,
the heaving volcano from which the infernal lava in devastating torrents had emanated.
He might well have smote it, being fully assured that the abounding sinfulness of his life could be traced to the inherent corruption and desperate wickedness of his heart.
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:14
It is just so with every true penitent. The infinite perfection of the divine character, in contrast with his own filthiness, covers him with confusion, so that he is compelled to cry with Ezra of old, "O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You!" Ezra 9:6~ ~ ~ ~
This makes us prize the gospel, embrace the Savior, and fly to His cross!
(Letters of John Berridge, 1716-1793)
Dear Sir,
In November I gathered strength enough to preach, and through mercy have continued preaching ever since. For the last month I have shared with my neighbors in a bad cold, which has kept me wheezing and coughing, and pulled me down, but not laid me up.
Oh, how needful is the furnace, both to reveal our dross, and to purge it away! How little do we know of ourselves, of the pride, sensuality, and idolatry of our hearts-until the Lord lays us on a bed of suffering, and searches all our inward parts with His candles. My heart, I knew, was bad enough, but I scarcely thought there was half the baseness in it which I find, and yet I know not half its plague!
How sweet is the mercy of God, and how rich is the grace of Jesus-when we have had an awful peep into our hearts! This makes us prize the gospel, embrace the Savior, and fly to His cross! At times I am so overwhelmed with the filth and mire of my nature, that I can scarcely look through it unto Jesus. And when he has put on a little of his eye-salve, and scoured the scales off my eyes-I stand amazed to think that He can touch such a leper! And yet where the sun shines clear for a season, and my dung-hill is covered with snow, I forget my leprosy, or become a leper only in notion. I think it perhaps, but do not feel it, nor am I humbled by it. What a heap of absurd contradiction is man!
After an affliction, I think I can say with David: It is good for me to have been afflicted. I can see and feel some profit attending it. Indeed, I never grow really wiser or better, unless when I am baptized both with the Holy Spirit and with fire. If the Dove comes without a furnace, my heart is soon lifted up; pride steals in, and Heaven's blessed beams turn everything sour within me! We learn nothing truly of ourselves, or of grace, but in a furnace.
The heaviest afflictions on this side of Hell are less, far less than my iniquities have deserved! Oh, boundless grace! The chastening rod of a reconciled Father, might have been the flaming sword of an avenging Judge! I might now have been weeping and wailing with devils and damned spirits in Hell! I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him. It is of His mercy alone, that I am not consumed!
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Strong medicine has become needful for the nation!
(Letters of John Berridge, 1775)
Dear Sir,
The times are awful; and likely to become more so. Rods have been used without effect, and now the scorpions are coming. May their bite awaken us, but not destroy us!
National pride, infidelity, and profligacy are growing very rampant, and will grow from bad to worse unless restrained by heavy judgments.
The worst evil God can bring upon a nation is to say to it, as once He said to Ephraim, "Let him alone!" But if the Lord intends our good, He will chastise us sorely. This is the Bible-road to reformation.
On this account, however formidable His judgments are, I know not whether I should fear them more, or bid them welcome. Strong medicine has become needful for the nation; and however nauseous to the palate, or painful in the operation, it must be deemed a blessing. May the Lord prepare us for the tempest, and prove to be our hiding-place!~ ~ ~ ~
He will not spoil His child by sparing His rod!
(Letters of John Berridge, 1716-1793)
Dear Madam,
When our expectation is too much raised on account of any creature, the Lord Jesus in wisdom disappoints it-that we may seek our whole happiness in Him. He expects that our whole dependence should be placed on Him. He will have it, and is worthy of it. The human heart would gladly be roosting a little on some earthly thing, but Jesus will unroost it, and bring it fluttering to Himself like the dove to Noah's ark, where alone it can find rest.
If the heart happens to seek delight elsewhere, it is kindness in the Lord to deny us our desires.
During our earthly warfare, troubles will come by sixes and sevens-a gracious company, but not one too many. If we could live well without afflictions-we would not have them; but we cannot, and therefore Jesus in love sends them.
You are an afflicted family to be sure-but mercy, much mercy attends you. If you see no family so afflicted as yours, can you find any family so blessed? All of one heart and one mind seeking after Jesus. Surely the Lord delights in you, and bestows His best blessings on you, a healthy soul-while the world is satisfied with a healthy body.
Yet the best need correction, and will have it. Whom the Lord loves, He rebukes and chastens. Some foolishness is bound up in the hearts of all of His children, and He will not spoil His child by sparing His rod!~ ~ ~ ~
Does He feed His birds, and will He starve His babes?
(Letters of John Berridge, 1716-1793)
Alas! how little do we possess of that love which bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. We grow more like Jesus, only as we grow up into Him in love; and this grace purifies, and sweetens the affections, banishing selfishness, so far as it prevails. It is the temper of Heaven, and the nature of God; for God is love.
And can a God of love allow His children to lack anything needful? Does He feed His birds, and will He starve His babes? Has He given us bodies to be fed and clothed; and will He withhold food and clothing? If you happen to feel anxiety about these matters, remember the sweet, quieting word, which Jesus has dropped to hush your heart, "Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things!"
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:25-26~ ~ ~ ~
I have been crawling many years on the road to Zion
(Letters of John Berridge, 1792)
Dear friend,
I am growing, as I should, more base and loathsome in my own sight, and Christ is growing more precious and lovely!
I am very feeble in body, but as well as I should be, and must allow my heavenly Physician to prescribe for me.
Our years are rolling away fast, and will quickly roll us into eternity! How needful that admonition: Prepare to meet your God!
Without business to mind, my heart will rove in the world-get bemired in it, and stick so fast in a quagmire, that I am forced to cry: Lord, pull my heart out!
Thanks to grace, I have been crawling many years on the road to Zion; the Master has somewhat quickened my pace. Now being almost through the wilderness, very sick of self and of the enticing world, I am drawing near to Mount Pisgah. When I stand on its top, may the Lord give me a clear eye of faith to see all the promised land, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
May His presence be ever with you to animate and protect you, and His love to refresh you. May His own dear self be the growing love and joy of your heart, your strength and confidence, a sweet present portion and your everlasting all.~ ~ ~ ~
What a bubble is human honor, and what a toy is human joy!
(Letters of John Berridge, 1716-1793)
Dear Sir,
Last Friday I received a note from Mr. Venn, which acquaints me with the loss of your wife, who, I find, expired suddenly after a long illness. When your rib is gone, you must lean firmer on your staff. (Psalm 23:4)
What a bubble is human honor, and what a toy is human joy! Happy is he, whose hope is the Lord, and whose heart cries out for the living God. Creature comforts may fail him, but the God of all consolation will be with him. When human cisterns yield no water, he may drink of the river that waters the throne of God.
Youth, without grace, wants every worldly embellishment. But a gracious heart and hoary hairs cries out for communion with God, and says: Nothing on earth can I desire in comparison with Him!
What a mercy that you need not fly to worldly amusements for relief or to find comfort! Not satisfied with this world's husks, the prodigal's food-God has bestowed a pearl on you which creates an appetite for spiritual nutriment, and brings His royal dainties into your bosom.
May this season of mourning be sweetened with a sense of the Lord's presence, bringing many tokens of His fatherly love, and sanctifying the painful visitation by drawing your heart more vigorously unto Him and fixing it on Him!
May the Lord bring eternity nearer to our minds, and Jesus nearer to our hearts.~ ~ ~ ~
The world believes our conduct, and not our words!
(Robert L. Dabney)
"Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." Philippians 1:27
We profess a difference between ourselves and the unsaved, as radical as that between light and darkness, and almost as wide as that between Heaven and Hell.
But in all the visible and practical concerns which interest the unrenewed heart-we nearly resemble them.
Our words say that we believe riches to be vanity and emptiness.
Our acts seem to say that we love and seek them as intensely as those do who make them their all and their god.
We say in words that "here we have no continuing city," but in act we are as eager to adorn our dwellings here as though they were our only home.
What is the result? The world believes our conduct, and not our words!
"What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives." 2 Peter 3:11
"So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe!" Philippians 2:15~ ~ ~ ~
The supplies of His grace and mercy are unexhausted and exhaustless!
(Thomas Guthrie, 1803-1873)
"Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing." Psalm 34:9
Myriads of leaves clothe the forest,
myriads of flowers bespangle the meadow,
myriads of insects dance in the sunbeams,
myriads of birds sing in the woodlands,
myriads of fish swim in stream and ocean,
myriads of stars glitter in the nightly sky-
and every leaf is as perfect in form,
every flower is as beautiful in colors,
every living creature is fashioned with such skill, and
every burning star is guided through space with as much care-
as if it engrossed the entire attention of God, and there was not another but itself within the bounds of His universe!
The number of objects our hearts can hold, or our arms embrace, or our eyes watch-is limited; confined within a narrow range-they are small at the largest, and few at the most.
It is not so with Him who is mighty to save, abundant in goodness and truth. The supplies of His grace and mercy are unexhausted and exhaustless! Their type shines in that SUN which for six thousand years has shed its light . . .
on seas and continents,
on crowded cities and lonely solitudes,
on burning deserts and fields of ice,
on palaces and cottages,
on ragged beggars and sceptered kings,
on all countries and classes of men.
And with fires fed we know not how, the sun shines today as bright as ever-his eye not dim, nor his natural strength abated!
And as this is but an image, and a faint image, of God-then well may his servant assure us, that there shall be no lack to those who fear Him. None-neither for the body nor the soul; neither for time nor eternity!
"My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus!" Philippians 4:19
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." Ephesians 1:7-8
"In the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus!" Ephesians 2:7
Spurgeon on SICKNESS
~ ~ ~ ~
I venture to say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health-with the exception of sickness. Sickness has frequently been of more use to the saints of God than health has.
~ ~ ~ ~
Those who dive in the sea of affliction-bring up rare pearls!
~ ~ ~ ~
Is there anything in the world that is worthy to be compared with the incalculable mercy of forgiven sin?
What if I am poor? Yet I am forgiven!
What if I am sickly? Yet I am forgiven!
What if I shall soon die? Yet I am forgiven!
~ ~ ~ ~
The groans of sick, yet submissive saints-are as musical to God's ear as the hallelujahs of archangels!
~ ~ ~ ~
Why must we have a severe sickness or affliction in order to drive us to God and bring us to our knees? We must go to God in every time of peril and trouble-even in the minor trials and difficulties of life.
~ ~ ~ ~
It is well to praise the Lord for His mercy when you are in health-but make sure that you do it when you are sick, for then your praise is more likely to be genuine.
~ ~ ~ ~
The prayer of faith is not always literally answered. God, sometimes, instead of taking away the sickness or the death-gives us grace that we may profit by the sickness, or that we may triumph in the hour of death.
~ ~ ~ ~
Restoration from sickness should always be ascribed to God. Whatever part the physician may play, and he often plays a very important part-yet to God, who gives the physician wisdom and skill, must the gracious result be ascribed.
~ ~ ~ ~
You believe in God for the salvation of your soul.
Believe in Him about your temporal circumstances.
Believe in God about your sick wife or your dying child.
Believe in God about your losses and bad debts and declining business.
~ ~ ~ ~
Sickness may deprive us of a thousand comforts-but there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God!
~ ~ ~ ~
We are seldom grateful for good health. God knows that we need to be sick, sometimes, to make us know the value of health-and therefore He sends us to the bed of sickness that we may learn a lesson of gratitude.
~ ~ ~ ~
The weaklings and the sickly of the flock are the special objects of the Savior's care.
~ ~ ~ ~He puts a finger upon the scar!
(Thomas Watson)
"Our Father in Heaven." Matthew 6:9
Since God is our Father-He will take notice of the least good He sees in His children.
If there is but a sigh for sin-He hears it.
"My groaning is not hidden from You." Psalm 38:9
If there is but a penitential tear which comes out of the eye-He sees it.
"I have seen your tears." Isaiah 38:5
If there is but a good intention-He takes notice of it.
"Since it was your desire to build a temple for My name, you have done well to have this desire." 1 Kings 8:18
God takes notice of the least spark of grace in His children. "Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord." 1 Peter 3:6. The Holy Spirit does not mention Sara's unbelief, or laughing at the promise. He puts a finger upon the scar-and only takes notice of the good that was in her.
More, that good which the saints scarcely take notice of in themselves, God in a special manner observes. "I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink. Then the righteous will answer Him-Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?" They as it were, overlooked and disclaimed their own works of charity! But Christ takes notice of them, "I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat." Matthew 25
What comfort is this! God spies the least good in His children!
He can see a grain of corn, hidden under much chaff.
He can see a little grace, hidden under much corruption!
Those duties which we ourselves censure-He will crown. When a child of God looks over his best duties, he sees so much sin cleaving to them that he is confounded. "Lord," he says, "there is more sulphur than incense, in my prayers."
But for your comfort, if God is your Father, He will crown those duties which you yourselves censure. He sees there is sincerity in the hearts of His children. Though there may be many defects in the services of His children, He will not cast away their offering.
An earthly father kindly receives a letter from his young child-though there are blots and bad spelling in it. What blottings are there in our holy things! Yet our Father in Heaven accepts them. "It is my child!" God says, "I will look upon him, through Christ-with a merciful eye!"~ ~ ~ ~
Once saved, always saved!
(Arthur Pink)
"They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works.
They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work!" Titus 1:16
I have met many people who profess to be Christians, but whose daily lives differ in nothing from thousands of non-professors all around them.
They are rarely, if ever, found at the prayer-meeting,
they have no family worship,
they seldom read the Scriptures,
they will not talk with you about the things of God,
their walk is thoroughly worldly, yet
they are quite sure that they are bound for Heaven!
Inquire into the ground of their confidence, and they will tell you that so many years ago they accepted Christ as their Savior, and "once saved, always saved" is now their comfort.
There are thousands of such people on earth today, who are nevertheless, on the Broad Road that leads to destruction, treading it with a false peace in their hearts and a vain profession on their lips!
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14~ ~ ~ ~
Consider the hand of the Lord in your affliction
(John Flavel, "A Token for Mourners")
"I was silent, I opened not my mouth; because You are the one who has done this!" Psalm 39:9
If you would bear the loss of your dear relations with moderation, then eye God in the whole process of the affliction more, and secondary causes and circumstances of the matter less.
Consider the hand of the Lord in your affliction, particularly:
1. As a sovereign hand, which has the right to dispose of you and all your comforts, without your permission or consent.
2. As a father's hand, correcting you in love and faithfulness. "Whom the LORD loves He corrects, as a father the son in whom he delights." Oh, if once you could but see affliction as a rod in your heavenly father's hand, proceeding from His love, and intended for your eternal good-how submissive you would then be!
And surely if it draws your heart nearer to your God, and mortifies it more to this vain world-then it is a rod in the hand of His special love. If your trial ends in your love to God, doubt not but it comes from God's love to you.
3. As a just and righteous hand. Yes, the Lord is just in all that has come upon you. Whatever He has done, He has done you no wrong.
4. As a moderate and merciful hand, that has punished you less than your iniquities deserve. He who has cast you into affliction, might have justly cast you into Hell! It is of the Lord's mercy that you are not consumed.
"Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10
Learn from the death of your loved ones: the vanity of the creature, and the emptiness and nothingness of the best things here below!
Affliction is a bitter pill, which, being enrapt in patience and quiet submission, may be easily swallowed. But discontent chews the pill, and so embitters the soul.
O how many have been carried smoothly to Hell in the chariots of earthly pleasures; while others have been whipped to Heaven by the rod of affliction!~ ~ ~ ~
Growing in grace
(Thomas Moor, "Counsels and Thoughts for the Spiritual Life of Believers" 1882)
Remember that among your chief thoughts of the Lord Jesus, one must ever have a prominent place: that He is ever looking down upon you and watching you with tenderest love, and ordering all things for your good.
Sometimes it is spiritual medicine, at other times it is spiritual nourishment-but at all times it is spiritual good, and just what is best for you. He sees and knows just what is best for each day and hour. So, always when you think of Him, think of Him as thus looking down upon you and ever caring for you.
The Holy Spirit is ever leading us to think of Christ and to live for Christ and continually to look to Christ.
The natural mind makes self the center, and self the end.
The spiritual mind makes Christ the center, and Christ the end.
The more we seek Christ, and the less we seek self-the more we please Him.
Christ is the source and end both of grace on earth and glory in Heaven.
Grace in the heart, is glory in its beginnings.
Glory in Heaven, is grace in its full consummation.
Growing in grace is living more upon Christ, and living more for Christ, and growing more like Christ.
To learn of Christ and live upon Christ, is the highest experience of the soul here or hereafter!~ ~ ~ ~
He saw Him falling to the ground, groveling in the dust, sweating blood!
(John Flavel)
"For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life!" John 3:16
Let it be considered, to what the Father gave His only begotten Son:
even to death, and that of the cross;
to be made a curse for us;
to be the scorn and contempt of vile men;
to the most unparalleled sufferings that were ever inflicted or borne by any!
It melts our affections, it breaks our heart, to behold our children striving in the pangs of death. But the Lord beheld His Son struggling under such incomparable agonies. He saw Him falling to the ground, groveling in the dust, sweating blood-and amidst those agonies turning Himself to His Father, and, with a heart-rending cry, beseeching Him, "Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me!" Luke 22:42
To wrath, to the wrath of an infinite God without mixture; to the very torments of Hell was Christ delivered, and that by the hand of His own Father!
What kind of love is this, which made the Father of mercies deliver His only Son to such miseries for us!
In giving Christ to die for poor sinners, God gave the richest jewel in His cabinet!
This is a mercy of the greatest worth and most inestimable value.
Heaven itself is not so valuable and precious as Christ is! Ten thousand thousand worlds, as many worlds as angels can number-would not outweigh Christ's love, excellency and sweetness! O what a lovely One! What an excellent, beautiful, ravishing One-is Christ!
Put the beauty of ten thousand paradises, like the garden of Eden, into one; put all flowers, all pleasing fragrances, all colors, all delicious tastes, all joys, all sweetnesses, all lovelinesses into one-O what a lovely and excellent thing would that be! And yet it would be less compared to that loveliest and dearest well-beloved Christ-than one drop of rain compared to all the seas, rivers, lakes, and fountains of ten thousand earths!
Now, for God to bestow this mercy of mercies, the most precious thing in Heaven or earth, upon poor sinners; and, as great, as lovely, as excellent as His Son was-what astonishing love is this!~ ~ ~ ~
O this is the cutting consideration!
(John Flavel, "The Mystery of Providence" 1678)
How many children there are among us who are drawn headlong to Hell by their cruel and ungodly parents, who teach them to curse and swear as soon as they can speak! There are many families in which little other language is heard but what is the dialect of Hell. These, like dry logs are preparing for the fire of Hell, where they must burn together.
And how many families there are, though not so profane, who yet breed up their children vainly and worldly, and take no care of what becomes of their eternal souls-so long as they can but provide for their bodies! If they can but teach them how to prosper their bodies-it is no concern to them that the devil has their souls. If they can but leave them lands or monies, they think they have very fully discharged their duties.
If you neglect to instruct them in the way of holiness, will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness? No, no! If you will not teach them to pray-then he will teach them to curse, swear and lie.
What shall comfort you at the the time of their death, if they die in a Christless condition through your neglect? O this is the cutting consideration! "My child is in Hell, and I did nothing to prevent it! I actually led him there!"
O, what will the language be, when such parents and children shall greet each other at the judgment-seat, and in Hell forever!~ ~ ~ ~
I desire that this may be the text at my funeral:
"The Aged Christian's Final Farewell to the World and its Vanities" John Whitson, 1558-1629)
I desire that this may be the text at my funeral: Psalm 42:2, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"
Oh! when shall I ascend to the eternal throne of blessedness, where no comforts are lacking?
When shall I be covered with the glorious robe of immortality, and shine in the brightness of my Redeemer's innocence?
When shall I behold the lovely face of my Lord and dwell in the courts of His holy temple, where . . .
all tears shall be wiped away from my eyes,
all sorrows removed from my heart,
and all sins and spots are done away?
Where I shall exchange the dross of this world, for true and durable riches!
Where, instead of these earthly riches which moth and rust corrupt-I shall enjoy the heavenly riches of perfect peace and good conscience, never to be lost!
Instead of these false and flattering honors, I shall enjoy everlasting glory, and be admitted into the fellowship of my Redeemer to reign with Him in His glorious kingdom!
Instead of vain and momentary pleasures, I shall be filled with fullness of joy and be ravished with those delights which neither eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man to conceive!
Instead of this dark and cloudy knowledge, I shall have my heart enlightened with the beams of the true light!
Instead of this feeble strength, I shall be endowed with the might of angels!
Instead of this transitory health, I shall enjoy a powerful and immortal vigor!
Instead of this fading beauty, I shall be adorned with the loveliness of Christ's spouse!
Instead of long life, I shall be crowned with life eternal!
We shall sing, Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God almighty! Heaven and Earth are full of your glory. Glory be to You, O Lord, most High.
And now, as the deer pants for the water-brooks, so longs my soul after You, O God!
O that I had wings like a dove, that I might fly away and be at rest!
For whom have I in Heaven but You-and who is there upon earth that I desire but You?
My heart and my strength fail me, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever!~ ~ ~ ~
My heart feels for you, my dear friend, in your deep, deep trial
"Letters of Mary Winslow" 1774-1854
My heart feels for you, my dear friend, in your deep, deep trial. This present world is a world of sadness; but when we think of that glorious world which is to come, into which sorrow never enters, and how soon we may be there-we may well "rejoice in tribulation." Our "light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!"
In all your sorrows, pour out your heart to the Man of sorrows. He will bow down His ear and listen to all that you say. He will either remove or moderate your trial, or give you strength to bear it. Even this bitter draught He has given you to drink shall result both in your good and His glory.
Remember, not a sparrow falls upon the ground without His guidance, and that the very hairs of your head are all numbered. How much more has this trying event been ordered and arranged by Him who loves you! Infinite wisdom has appointed the whole! Never doubt that He loves you, when He most deeply afflicts.
May He lift up upon you the light of His countenance, drawing you nearer to Himself, that you may see what a tender, loving heart He has for you, and how deeply and tenderly and considerately He cares for you-as if there were not another poor sorrowful one to care for on the face of the whole earth!
"When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown!
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior!" Isaiah 43:2-3~ ~ ~ ~
The grand object of the eye of faith!
(Charles Spurgeon)
"We fix our eyes not on what is seen-but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!"
2 Corinthians 4:18
In our Christian pilgrimage it is well for the most part to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown-and onward is the goal. Whether it is for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love-the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith!
Looking into the future-the Christian sees sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of eternal glory. Looking further yet, the believer's enlightened eye can see death's river passed. He sees himself . . .
enter within the pearly gates,
hailed as more than conqueror,
crowned by the hand of Christ,
embraced in the arms of Jesus,
glorified with Him, and
made to sit together with Him on His throne!
Contemplation of my glorious future may well relieve,
the darkness of the past, and
the gloom of the present!
The joys of Heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth!
Hush, hush, my fears!
Death is but a narrow stream-and you shall soon have forded it!
Death-how brief!
Immortality-how endless!
Time-how short!
Eternity-how long!
The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there!
"In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me-but to all those who have loved His appearing!" 2 Timothy 4:8
"Our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who . . . will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body!" Philippians 3:20-21~ ~ ~ ~
Nothing is left to 'chance'
(James Smith)
"My times are in Your hand!" Psalm 31:15
Every event is under Divine control. Nothing is left to 'chance'.
The hand of God is in all that occurs: directing, overruling, and sanctifying everything to our good and His glory.
He appointed all that concerns us, and appointed all in infinite wisdom and love. Therefore we should not judge rashly-or conclude hastily. We know not what may occur today-but we know that the purpose of God cannot be frustrated, nor can His purpose fail. He works all things after the counsel of His own will.
He says, "My purpose shall stand-and I will do all My pleasure." But this is our comfort, that He takes pleasure in His people, and in the prosperity of His redeemed ones.
Let us consider, then, that everything that happens to us . . .
passes under our Father's eye;
is overruled by our Savior's power;
is directed by the Holy Spirit to do us good.
It shall not be as our enemies wish, or as our hearts fear; but as our God and Father pleases, and has ordained.
Therefore do not be anxious, troubled, or cast down! The Lord God omnipotent reigns-and He is your Father and your God! He shall preserve you from all evil-He shall preserve your soul.
"We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Spurgeon: When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the soft pillow upon which you lay your head. There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles, they believe . . .
that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions,
that Sovereignty overrules them, and
that Sovereignty will sanctify them all.
~ ~ ~ ~
See here the evil of murmuring and complaining at our lot in the world!
(Thomas Boston)
"Affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble spring from the ground!" Job 5:6
"I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity;
I, the LORD, do all these things!" Isaiah 45:7
"The LORD brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up.
The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts." 1 Samuel 2:6-7
Affliction does not rise out of the dust or come to us by chance.
It is the Lord who sends affliction, and we should own and reverence His hand in it.
Let the people of God comfort themselves at all times by this doctrine of divine sovereignty. Amidst whatever befalls them, they should rest quietly and submissively in the bosom of God, considering that whatever comes to pass, proceeds from the decree of their gracious Friend and reconciled Father, who knows what is best for them, and will make all things work together for their good.
O what a sweet and pleasant life would you have under the heaviest pressures of affliction, and what heavenly serenity and tranquility of mind would you enjoy-if you would cheerfully acquiesce in the good will and pleasure of God, and embrace every dispensation, however sharp it may be, because it is determined and appointed for you by the eternal counsel of His will!
See here the evil of murmuring and complaining at our lot in the world. How apt are you to quarrel with God, as if He were in the wrong when His dealings with you are not according to your own desires and wishes?
You demand a reason, and call God to an account:
"Why am I thus?
Why am I so much afflicted and distressed?
Why am I so long afflicted?
Why such a severe affliction rather than a lighter one?
Why am I so poor, and others so rich?"
Thus your hearts rise up against God. But you should remember that this is to defame the counsels of infinite wisdom, as if God had not ordered your affairs wisely enough in His eternal counsel.
Our attitude should be that of Job's, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:21~ ~ ~ ~
All that we see within is foul, ugly, and grim!
(Frank Hall)
"You are complete in Him!" Colossians 2:10
Oh desponding Christian, is not your grief caused by looking within yourself? Is not that miserable feeling of failure and disappointment, caused by your strange fixation upon your hollow heart of iniquity? You look within, hoping to find something good, something pure, something precious, something clean-but what do you see? Nothing but sin! To stare into one's self-is to stare into a bottomless pit of despair and hopelessness! "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked!" Jeremiah 17:9
Will we ever learn this? There is nothing within us to give us hope, rest, or peace. Have we ever found anything within us that gave us joy? Of course not! Then why do we continue to stare into the darkness? All that we see within is foul, ugly, and grim! One glance within ought to sicken us. We would sooner find diamonds in a dunghill or roses growing in a sewer-than find goodness dwelling within!
In ourselves we are sinful, guilty, and vile! But bless God forever!
Our standing before God is not in ourselves; it's in Christ! He is . . .
our Salvation,
our Righteousness,
our Hope,
our Holiness, and
our Acceptance with God!
Change the direction of your gaze-and look up! Stop staring into the empty void of your heart-and fix your eyes upon Jesus your Lord, in whom all fullness dwells. Our hope is not within, but without, seated at the right hand of the Father! Lift up your head that is bowed down with guilt and shame! Behold Christ your Savior! Behold your glorious Redeemer! Bid sorrow goodbye and fear depart! Rejoice, for "You are complete in Him!"
Believers are perfect in Christ. To be complete in Christ is to be perfect in Christ. Perfect is not something that we will be, or strive to be-but something that we are right now, by virtue of our eternal union with God's darling Son.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are, by the free grace of God, complete in Christ our Savior!
We lack nothing!
All that He is-we are in Him!
All that He has-we have in Him!
All that He has done-we've done in Him!
We possess the infinite fullness of eternal life and everlasting salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord!
We are completely righteous in Him!
We are completely holy in Him!
We are completely forgiven in Him!
We are completely accepted in Him!
We are completely, everlastingly, perfectly sinless in Him!
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!" Hebrews 12:2
"For every look at SELF-take ten looks at CHRIST!" Robert Murray M'Cheyne~ ~ ~ ~
My sheep!
(James Smith)
"My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish-ever!
No one will snatch them out of My hand!" John 10:27-28
All of Christ's sheep know Him, love Him and follow Him.
They all somewhat possess His disposition: He was meek and humble in heart.
Are you one of Christ's sheep? Are you following after the Good Shepherd?
If so, He will lead you, feed you, protect you and save you.
Your person, life, comforts, and eternal safety-are committed to His care.
He loved His sheep more than His own life-He laid down His life for them!
He searches and seeks out His sheep wherever they stray.
He feeds His flock. He cares for His sheep more than for all the world beside. He feeds them in the most suitable pasture, and leads them in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
O view Jesus as your Shepherd! Expect Him to lead you, feed you, enfold you and present you to His Father with exceeding joy. Cleave to Him; let nothing tempt you to leave His feet, His flock or His fold. He will never leave you-nor will He ever forsake you.
"He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young!" Isaiah 40:11