Grace Gems

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Secret meals make fat bodies

(Thomas Brooks, "The Privy Key of Heaven" 1665)

"But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your
 door, and pray to your Father who is in secret." Mat. 6:6

Secret duties are the most soul-enriching duties. Look! as
secret meals make fat bodies--so secret duties make
fat souls! And as secret trades brings in great earthly riches,
so secret prayers makes many rich in spiritual blessings and
in heavenly riches. Private prayer is that secret key of heaven
which unlocks all the treasures of glory to the soul. The best
riches and the sweetest mercies, God usually gives to His
people--when they are in their closets upon their knees.

All the graces of the saints are enlivened, and nourished, and
strengthened by the sweet secret influences which their souls
fall under, when they are in their closet-communion with God.
Certainly there are none so rich in gracious experiences--as
those who are most exercised in closet duties.

The tender dew which falls in the silent night makes the
grass and herbs and flowers to flourish and grow more
abundantly--than great showers of rain which fall in the day.
Just so, secret prayer will more abundantly cause the sweet
flowers of grace and holiness to grow and flourish in the soul,
than all those more open, public, and visible duties of religion,
which too, too often, are mingled and mixed with the sun and
wind of pride and hypocrisy.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
     Colossians 4:2

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The sparkling diamond in the ring of glory

(Thomas Brooks, "A Cabinet of Choice Jewels" 1669)

"His mouth is most sweet--and He is altogether lovely.
 This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!" Song 5:16

That is, His mouth is all sweetnesses--and He is all
lovelinesses, or He is wholly desirable. Alas! says the
spouse, I lack words to express how sweet, how lovely,
how adorable, how desirable, how eminent, and how
excellent Christ is in my eye--and to my soul! All that
is perfect in heaven or earth--is but a dim shadow of His
excellency and glory. Where Christ is--there is heaven.
Heaven itself, in the spouse's eyes, without Christ,
would be but a poor little thing. The spouse looks upon
Christ, as the sparkling diamond in the ring of glory.

"His mouth is most sweet, and He is altogether lovely.
 This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend!" Song 5:16

[nChrist]

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His little retreat, his shrine and his idol

(James Alexander, "Consolation" 1852)

"In this world you will have trouble." John 16:33

"You are my fortress, my refuge in times of
 trouble!" Psalm 59:16

The heart knows its own bitterness; and sometimes
the sharpest arrow is rankling just where others
cannot perceive it. Many are the afflictions of the
righteous--some of the sorest are not cataloged
in books, or rehearsed in sermons.

Times of trouble have not ceased from our world.
In such times, we need some refuge, stronghold
and solace.

The hiding-places of men are discovered by
affliction. Ungodly men, being afraid of God, and
feeling that they are at enmity with Him, go any
where else for solace in affliction. Some turn to
worldly business, and buy and sell with redoubled
activity; some count up the idols that remain, and
plan new enterprises; some go into vain company,
read vain books, or flutter through the dance of
superfluous amusements; some have been known
to enter the sty of drunkenness.

Troubles drive each one to his refuge. Each has
his little retreat, his shrine and his idol,
which he seeks at such times.

And the child of God has his refuge--and runs into
it in times of trouble! Above the raging of the floods,
when all around is alarm, he hears the voice, as of a
trumpet, saying from the refuge--"Come, My people,
enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you;
hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed
by." And emerging from the waves, he responds, "Be
merciful to me, O God, be merciful, because I come to
You for safety. In the shadow of Your wings I find
protection until the raging storms are over!" "When
my heart is overwhelmed within me, lead me to the
Rock that is higher than I." "God is our refuge and
strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
That is why we are not afraid even when the earth
quakes or the mountains topple into the depths of
the sea! The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of
Jacob is our refuge!" "You are my hiding place!"
Here is a refuge--to which believers actually resort
in times of trouble.

To the believer, God is not merely a retreat--but an
abode; not a refuge just found out when trouble
surprises--but a habitation to which he has learned
continually to resort; not a temporary shelter--but
a stronghold, where he dwells, and where he loves
to dwell.

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The Devil's trap!

(Thomas Brooks, "A String of Pearls" 1657)

"Then they may come to their senses and escape
 the Devil's trap--having been captured by him
 to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:26

It is the common misery of all the unsaved--that the
devil is their god. His drudges they are, and his lusts
they do. However Satan may provide his slaves with
various pleasures--yet it is but to draw them into
endless perdition. O dreadful case!

The serpent comes with the fruit in his mouth, but,
like Eve--you do not see the deadly sting! He who is
now your tempter--will one day be your tormentor!
O that I could but make you see how bad a master
you serve, how merciless a tyrant you gratify; whose
pleasure is to make your perdition and damnation
sure, and to heat the furnace hotter and hotter in
which you must burn for millions and millions of ages!

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Before the Lord saved me

(Legh Richmond, "The Dairyman's Daughter")

Before the Lord saved me--I was a proud, thoughtless girl, fond of dress and finery. I loved the world and the things that are in the world. I went once on a Sunday to church, more to see and be seen--than to pray, or hear the Word of God. I thought I was quite good enough to be saved, and disliked and often laughed at pious people. I was in great darkness; I knew nothing of the way of salvation; I never prayed, nor was sensible of the dreadful danger of a prayerless state. I was tolerably moral and decent in my conduct, from motives of carnal and worldly policy; but I was a stranger to God and Christ. I neglected my soul; and had I died in such a state, hell must, and would justly, have been my portion!

But He who loved me with an everlasting love--drew me by His loving kindness, showed my the way of peace, and taught me that, while without Him I could do nothing--yet I could do all things through His strength!

I was convinced of my own guilt--and Jesus is my 'Righteousness'.

I saw my corruption--and Jesus is my 'Sanctification'.

I felt my slavery to sin and Satan--and Jesus is my 'Redemption'.

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A sermon which Peter never forgot

(J. C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Luke" 1858 )

See the infinite mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"At that moment the Lord turned and
 looked straight at Peter." Luke 22:61

There was a deep meaning in that look.

It was a sermon which Peter never forgot.

The love of Christ toward His people, is a deep
well which has no bottom! Let us never measure
it by comparison with any kind of love of man or
woman. It exceeds all other love--as far as the
sun exceeds the  candle light. There is about it
a mine of compassion, and patience, and readiness
to forgive sin--of whose riches we have but a faint
conception.

Let us not be afraid to trust that love--when we
first feel our sins. No man need despair, however
far he may have fallen, if he will only repent and
turn to Christ. If the heart of Jesus was so gracious
when He was a prisoner in the judgment hall--we
surely need not think it is less gracious, when He
sits in glory at the right hand of the Father!

[nChrist]

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(An excerpt from a letter from  Legh Richmond to one of his daughters)

My dear daughter,
May my dear child be preserved from the defilements of a vain, dangerous, and destroying world. You know not, and I wish you never may know--its snares and corruptions!

I send you the following applications of my sermon on Ephesians 5:15-16, "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

On circumspection of walk, redemption of time, and general sincerity of character:

1. Adhere most scrupulously to Scriptural truth; and labor to preserve the strictest integrity, simplicity, and sincerity.

2. Engage in no pursuit in which you cannot look up unto God, and say, 'Bless me in this, my Father!'

3. Strive to be as kind, forbearing, and forgiving as you can--both to friends and foes. Never speak evil of anyone.

4. Strive to recommend true religion by the courtesy, civility, and humble character of your conduct.

5. Watch against irritation, pride, unkind speaking, and anger--study and promote love.

6. Mortify all lusts, sensuality and sloth.

7. Never speak well of yourself. Keep down pride; let it not be indulged for a moment--but watch against it.

8. Shut out evil imaginations and angry thoughts.

9. Let it be your sole business here to prepare for eternity. Consider every moment of time in that view.

10. Remember that you have to contend with . . .
  a legion of devils;
  a heart full of deceit and iniquity;
  and a world at enmity with God.

11. Pray that you may ever rejoice in the advancement of Christ's kingdom, and the salvation of sinners; and labor in every way to promote these objects.

12. Prayer is the only weapon which can subdue your corruptions, and keep you in close fellowship with God. Cultivate prayer.

The love of Christ is the only safe ground of all motives, and of all conduct. Where this is established, all is well. The life-blood of Christianity then circulates through every vein of the soul; and spiritual health, strength, and purity of mind is the happy result. Fall down upon your knees before God, my dear, praying that He would pour that love into your heart, until it becomes a constraining principle for the government of your thoughts and actions. The love of Christ is the only remedy for all the diseases of the soul.

[nChrist]

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(An excerpt from a letter from  Legh Richmond to his daughters. This one is longer--but it is choice. Must reading for parents and their children.)

My dear daughters,
With a heart full of affection, I sit down to express a few sentiments and intimations of my wishes, as connected with your conduct. Keep them constantly with you, and let them be read over, at least once a week. May God render them useful to you!

AMUSEMENTS. Plays, balls, concerts, cards, dances, etc., etc.
Serious, consistent Christians, must resist these things, because the dangerous spirit of the world and the flesh is in them all. They are the 'pomps and vanities of this wicked world,' so solemnly renounced by God. To be conformed to these seductive and more than frivolous scenes--is to be conformed to this world, and opposed to the character and precepts of Christ. Those who see no harm in these things--are spiritually blind; and those who will not hear admonition against them--are spiritually deaf. Shun, my dear girls, the pleasures of sin--and seek those pleasures which are at God's right hand for evermore. You cannot love both!

BOOKS.
The characters of people, are speedily discerned by their choice of books. I trust that you will never sacrifice time, affection, or attention to novels. Do not be ashamed of having never read the fashionable books and novels of the day. A Christian has no time, and should have no inclination for any reading which has no real tendency to improve the heart. There are too many valuable books on a variety of worthy subjects, which ought to be read--to allow for time to be dedicated to unwholesome and useless ones!

MUSIC.
Shun all the wretched foolishness and corruption--of light, silly, and amorous songs; on the same principle that you would shun books of the same nature. Sacred music is the true refuge of the Christian. I wish your ears, your hearts, and your tongues were often tuned to such melodies. The play-house, the opera, and the concert-hall--have deluged our society with perversions of the heavenly art of music. Music was designed to lead the soul to heaven--but the depravity of man has greatly corrupted God's merciful design for music.

DRESS.
Aim at great neatness and simplicity. Shun finery and show. Do not be in haste to follow new fashions. Remember, that with regard to dress--that Christians ought to be decidedly plainer, and less showy than the people of the world. I wish it to be said of my daughters, "With what evident and befitting simplicity, are the daughters of Mr. Richmond attired."

BEHAVIOR IN COMPANY.
Be cheerful--but not gigglers.
Be serious--but not dull.
Be communicative--but not overbearing.
Be kind--but not servile.
In every company support your Christian principles, by cautious consistency.

Beware of silly or thoughtless speech--although you may forget what you say--others will not.

Remember! God's eye is in every place, and His ear is in every company!

Beware of levity and familiarity with young men; a sincere, yet modest reserve, is the only safe path. Grace is needful here; ask for it--you know where.

PRAYER.
Strive to preserve a praying mind through the day--not only at the usual and stated periods--but everywhere, and at all times, and in all companies. Prayer is your best preservative against error, weakness and sin.

Always remember that you are in the midst of temptations; and never more so than when most pleased with outward objects and people.

Pray and watch; for though the spirit is willing--yet the flesh is deplorably weak.

RELIGION.
Keep ever in mind--that you have a Christian profession to sustain--both in pious and worldly company. Be firm and consistent in them both. Many eyes and ears are open to observe what you both say and do--and will be, wherever you go. Pray to be preserved from errors, follies, and offenses, which, bring an evil name upon the ways of God.

You may sometimes hear ridicule, prejudice, and censure assail the godly--it ever was, and will ever be so! But, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven!" Do not be ashamed of Christ here--and He will not be ashamed of you hereafter.

Initiate and encourage serious conversation, with those who are truly serious and conversable. Never go into pious company, without endeavoring to improve the souls of others. Whenever you can find a congenial friend, talk of heaven and eternity, and your soul and your Savior. This will be as a shield to your head--and your heart!

ESTIMATE OF THE CHARACTER OF OTHERS.
Look first for grace. Do not disesteem godly people on account of their foibles, or deficiencies in matters of little importance. Gold, even when unpolished, is far more valuable than the brightest brass. Never form unfavorable opinions of religious people hastily, "love hopes all things." Prize those families where you find consistent family prayer; and suspect evil and danger, where it is avowedly unknown and unpracticed. Always remember the astonishing difference between the true followers of Jesus, and the unconverted world--and prize them accordingly, whatever be their rank in society.

Good manners and piety form a happy union; but poverty and piety are quite as acceptable in the eyes of God; and so they ought to be in our eyes. Experience proves that the proportionate number of the truly godly among the poor, is much greater than the corresponding proportion of numbers among the rich.

Your affectionate father,

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A pretty, cultured sort of evangelism

(Legh Richmond, "Domestic Portraiture" January 6, 1825)

For the most part, we are a nation of Christians by profession--and a nation of heathens in practice.

There is to be found in the religious world--what may be termed--a pretty, cultured sort of evangelism, which too well combines luxurious ease, and serving of the world, and the flesh--not to say of the devil also. But such kind of religion will not prepare the soul for sickness, death, and eternity. At best, it will leave the soul a prey to the most fearful delusions of false peace. The way that leads to eternal life is much more narrow than many of our modern professors are aware of--the gate is too straight to allow all their trifling, and self-will, and worldliness, and carnal-mindedness, to press through it.

"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

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My malady, my monster, my foe, my viper

(A Puritan Prayer)

Blessed Lord Jesus,
Before Your cross I kneel and see . . .
  the heinousness of my sin,
  my iniquity that caused You to be made a curse,
  the evil that excites the severity of divine wrath.

Show me the enormity of my guilt by . . .
  Your crown of thorns,
  Your pierced hands and feet,
  Your bruised body,
  Your dying cries.

Infinite must be the evil and guilt--
which demands such a price! Sin is . .  .
 my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper,
 born in my birth,
 alive in my life,
 strong in my character,
 dominating my faculties,
 following me as a shadow,
 intermingling with my every thought,
 the chain which holds my soul captive.

Sinner that I am, why should . . .
  the sun give me light,
  the air supply breath,
  the earth bear my tread,
  its fruits nourish me,
  its creatures serve my needs?

Yet Your compassion yearns over me,
Your heart hastens to my rescue,
Your love endured my curse,
Your mercy bore my deserved stripes.

Let me walk humbly . . .
  in the lowest depths of humiliation,
  bathed in Your blood,
  tender of conscience,
  triumphing gloriously, as an heir of salvation.

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We will be like Him!

(Octavius Winslow, "Eternal Glorification")

"We know that when He comes we will be like Him,
 for we will see Him as He really is." 1 John 3:2

Perfect holiness is the eternal glory of the saints!

The very utterance of the thought seems to awaken
music in the soul. Seeing Christ as He is, and knowing
Him as we are known--we also shall be like Him.

Oh, what a conception! What a thought!

No more elements of evil working like leaven in the soul.

No more traces and fetters of corruption.

No more evil heart of unbelief, perpetually departing from God.

No more desperate depravity.

No more sin warring within.

No more temptation assailing from without.

All is perfect holiness now!

The outline of the Divine image is complete,
for the believer has awakened in the finished
likeness of his Lord!

Extirpate all sin--and you have erased all sorrow!

Complete the grace--and you have perfected the glory!

You then have chased all sadness from the
heart, and have dried all tears from the eye.

That glory will be the glory of unsullied purity.

Nothing of sin remains but its recollection; and that
recollection but heightens our conception of the
preciousness of the blood--that shall have effaced
every stain, and of the greatness and sovereignty
of that grace--which shall have brought us there.

[nChrist]

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Theology itself

(An excerpt from a letter of Legh Richmond to his son)

"The teaching that promotes godliness." 1 Timothy 6:3

"The knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness." Titus 1:1

It is much easier to be a 'Bible scholar'--than a sincere Christian. It is much easier to be a 'theologian'--than a true pastor. Theology itself, important as are its themes--sinks into a mere science of literary attainments, unless accompanied by an earnest and devotional application of its principles to the soul.

You should not only study the Scriptures--but always be pondering some searching experimental book, as a bosom companion. A love of such reading--proves a useful test of pious character. There are many books about religious matters, which, after all--do not bring home vital piety to the heart.

[nChrist]

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Letter to a dying teenager

(Excerpt from a letter of Legh Richmond to his dying teenage son, 1824)

My ever dear son,
You are never out of my thoughts--but there is an eye which beholds and watches over you, in a way that I cannot do. To Him I confide and commend you, for sickness and health, for time and eternity.

What a word, what a thought, is ETERNITY! What prospects does it set before us! What inconceivable mysteries are involved in it! How does it make the things of time dwindle into insignificance! What questions of unspeakable importance, are involved in it!

Sin, a corrupt nature, a broken law, an offended God, eternal punishment, conscience, guilt, regeneration, salvation by Christ, faith, hope, love, free grace, undeserved mercy, justification, effectual calling, adoption into God's family, pardon of sin, consolation in Christ, heaven and glory! These, and a thousand accompaniments, are all connected with the idea and the reality of ETERNITY!

What a sad proof of the depravity of our heart--is our indifference towards thinking upon things which belong to our everlasting peace; and which, if neglected, involve our eternal ruin! We need warnings--and the Lord sends them in many ways. Sickness, pain, bereavements, losses, disappointments --all bring their message with them.

The great question between our souls and God is not whether we admit the truths of the Scripture into our understandings--but whether they are so applied to our hearts--so as to have wrought a change, and become vital principles of faith and practice. Nothing short of this can afford evidence of a saved and safe condition.

Be much in prayer and self-examination. The more we see of ourselves--the more we see our sin. And the more we see our sin--the more we flee to the death and righteousness of Christ--for pardon, deliverance, and hope! Let nothing interrupt you in this continual work of self-examination; and let self-examination lead you to earnest and ardent prayer. Let no pursuits of literature, no delights of sense, no passing occurrences, no debility of body, no inferior subjects of recreation, prevent you from keeping your thoughts close to God and to eternity!

You have arrived at an age when many dangerous temptations will assail you, and you will be put to the test--whether your heart is right with God. You are thrown upon the world and its seductions, and you will find indeed, that it lies in wickedness-- multiplied, subtle, and appalling wickedness! May God preserve you, my dear son--and may you never wander from the way in which you have been trained!

Keep a continual watch over your disposition, temper, and thoughts. Pride in every form--must be brought low.

Do not wonder, that I cannot rest contented with superficial religion--but that I look for a deeply experimental life of God in your soul. I place time and eternity before me in holy imagination. I strive, as it were, to penetrate the veil which separates them--and to look earnestly at those things which belong to your everlasting peace!

Lay all these things to heart; make them the subject of unceasing petition at that throne--whence no believing supplicants are ever sent empty away.

I commend you to Him, who has all events in His hands, whose consolations are neither few nor small, who gave his Son to die for your sins, and whose compassions never fail. The precious Redeemer shall protect, guard and comfort you. But seek Him aright--do not trifle with the great concerns of your soul.

Adieu for the present, my child, my friend--and, in Christ, my brother,

[nChrist]

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I must caution you

(Excerpt from a letter of Legh Richmond to one of his children)

Take care of too frequent interaction with the world. I write with a heart full of love--but I must caution you. There is nothing more dangerous to young Christians, than indiscriminate interaction with the ungodly. In such society--it is far more likely that we would receive evil, than impart good. Prudence and prayer are then especially needful; for we may more easily conform to the world--than bring the world to conform to us. Happy are those who have the least to do with it, except in the way of absolute duty and necessity.

May no trifles ever wean your affections from the unspeakably important subjects of eternity. Idols are bewitching, dangerous things--and steal away the heart from God. The most lawful things may become idols--by fixing an unlawful degree of affection upon them. The world, even in its apparently harmless form, is a terrible snare to the young and untaught mind.

My wish and endeavor has been to cultivate intelligent pursuits, in connection with piety, with my children, as recreations; instead of allowing and encouraging the trifling and often corrupting amusements of the world.

[nChrist]

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(A letter from  Jonathan Edwards, to his daughter Mary)

My dear child,
You may well think it is natural for a parent to be concerned for a child at so great a distance away, so far out of view, and so far out of the reach of communication; where, if you should be stricken with any dangerous sickness, which should issue in death--you might probably be in your grave before we would hear of your danger. But yet, my greatest concern is not for your health, or temporal welfare--but for the good of your soul.

Though you are at so great a distance from us--yet God is everywhere. You are much out of the reach of our care--but you are in His hands every moment! We have not the comfort of seeing you--but He sees you! His eye is always upon you. And if you may but live sensibly near to God, and have His gracious presence, it is no great matter if you are far distant from us. I had rather you should remain hundreds of miles distant from us--and have God near to you--than to have you always with us, and live at a distance from God.

And if the next news we would hear of you, would be of your death, though that would be very sad; yet, if at the same time we had the best grounds to hope, that you had died in the Lord--how much more comfortable would this be to us--than if you died without the grace and favor of God!

It is comfortable to have the presence of earthly friends, especially in sickness, and on a death-bed; but the great thing is to have God as our friend, and to be united to Christ, who can never die--and from whom our own death cannot separate us.

My desire and daily prayer is, that you may meet with God where you are, and have much of His divine influences on your heart, wherever you may be; and that, in God's due time, you may be returned to us again, in prosperous circumstances in your soul.

I hope that you will maintain a strict and constant watch over yourself, against all temptations, that you do not forsake or forget God; and particularly, that you do not grow slack in secret piety. Retire often from this vain world, from all its bubbles and empty shadows, and vain amusements; and converse with God alone. Seek for that Divine grace and comfort--the least drop of which is worth more than all the riches, gaiety, pleasures, and entertainments of the whole world!

May you be sensible of your dependence on the care and kindness of God--and of the vanity of all human helps. May you seek His face, to trust in Him, and walk closely with Him. Commending you to the care and special favor of our heavenly Father,

Your very affectionate father,
Jonathan Edwards, July 26, 1749
Northampton, Massachusetts