Grace Gems

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Three lovely sisters

(Excerpt from a letter of Legh Richmond)

I assure you that "knowing the terrors of the Lord," I would "persuade men" with all truth, earnestness, and sincerity--to flee from the wrath to come, and throw themselves and their sins at the foot of the cross--with true repentance and faith.

Faith is the hand which stretches forth to receive the benefits of Christ's blood! Faith is the soul of the spiritual life, and the grand distinguishing characteristic of the true Christian from the false. Faith is the touchstone of Christianity; and the burning coal which sets fire to the sacrifice on the altar. Faith is the sun which enlightens the wilderness of the world; and the lantern which guides our feet through the valley of the shadow of death.

True faith never can be separated from hope and love. They are three lovely sisters which take up their dwelling in the heart--when it becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. Their parent is God; and their offspring are righteous works. How do these three lovely sisters shine forth in the midst of a vain and wicked world--like a candle set upon a hill in a dark and gloomy night!

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15 Marriage Admonitions

(By Legh Richmond)

(Prior to his daughter's marriage, Mr. Richmond put into her hands a paper of directions for her future conduct, which, for simplicity, affection, and sound practical wisdom--may be considered one of the best dowries that a Christian parent could bestow on his child.)

My much-loved daughter,
When your sister Mary left her paternal roof, I gave her a paper of admonitions, which I requested her to read often. I do the same for you, in the form of a friendly string of maxims, to regulate your conduct in your new and very responsible situation.

1. Aim at keeping a devoted heart for God in the least and most common transactions of every hour--as well as in those events which may seem to call the loudest for manifestations of Christian prudence and principle.

2. Pray regularly and frequently, not seldom and occasionally--for grace to live by.

3. Remember the Christian principles and examples of your father's house, and everywhere endeavor to preserve its character, by consistency in conduct, conversation, and temper. Keep in constant recollection--the wise, prudent, and conscientious example of your dear mother.

4. Form no hasty friendship; and none whatever, but such as may promote seriousness of heart, tongue and life.

5. Beware of cheerfulness degenerating into levity. Let no natural vivacity of temper, no occasionally indulged sallies of humor and jocularity--throw a shadow over the exercise of solid principle. Little foolish things give a color to character, and are more easily imitated, than serious and good sentiments.

6. Guard against hasty judgments of character, and above all against uttering hasty opinions, and making remarks to the disparagement of others. Particularly avoid making the errors, failings, faults, or follies of others--the subject of rash and unguarded remarks. Be known for charity, forbearance, and kindness. Be slow to judge--rather than swift to speak.

7. Wherever you are, in the first place, remember that God's eye is upon you; and then imagine also that your husband and father are present. It may be a fanciful--but it is a profitable supposition.

8. Keep Christ's golden rule, "Do unto to others--as you would have them do unto you" in perpetual remembrance. It is the panacea for most of the social evils of life.

9. Be conscientious towards all; friendly with few; confidential with fewer still; strictly intimate with fewest of all.

10. When you think of your father, bear with his infirmities and pardon his faults--but remember his principles and instructions, so far as they have been agreeable to the Word of God.

11. Do not be content with anything short of deep, sincere, diligent, and decided piety.

12. If you and your husband happen to differ in opinion or feeling on any point--remember whom you have promised to love, honor, and obey--and this will settle all things.

13. Of your husband's warm affections towards you, I entertain no doubt--strive to preserve them by daily elevation of character; and not so much by fondness--as by prudence and dignity. May you both learn to raise a home of marital happiness--by mutual wisdom and love.

14. Observe great simplicity and plainness in dress. You should be a pattern to others in this respect. There is a just complaint made of many females who profess to be pious--that they are far too showy and mirthful in their outward apparel. Remember the apostle Peter's injunction, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

15. Christ has been made known to you fully and freely; let Christ be your all in all, both now and forever.

Receive my parting advice in love, and be assured, my beloved child, that it comes from the affectionate heart of your dear father.

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He has altogether lost his relish for them

(Legh Richmond, "Memoir of Hannah Sinclair" 1839)

(The following is an excerpt from a letter of Hannah Sinclair to her sister)

The chief danger attending a state of prosperity, is that it strongly exposes us to the temptation of becoming "lovers of pleasures, more than lovers of God," 2 Timothy 3:4. This danger is considerably increased, when people have been introduced into mirthful and fashionable circles. People in such circumstances may be said to stand on the brink of a dangerous precipice. They run the greatest risk of being drawn into a vortex of folly and dissipation, in which all sense of piety is likely to be swallowed up.

But ask a godly Christian, who has just been rejoicing in his Savior, whether he would be willing to give up these delightful contemplations--that he might go to a play, or a ball, or to read a novel--and he would be apt to smile at the question. Not only does he look upon these amusements as vain and ensnaring; not only does he know that they are apt to steal away the heart from God, to indispose him for the exercises of devotion, and to draw him back, as it were, to that world from whence he has with so much difficulty escaped; not only does he avoid them on these accounts--but he can with truth say, that he has altogether lost his relish for them--in the same manner as you, now that you are grown up, have lost your relish for the toys and amusements of children.

Your affectionate sister,
Hannah Sinclair

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(Samuel Clark, "The Saint's Bouquet" 1641)

"Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach." Proverbs 22:17

Sin is the spawn of the old Serpent, the source of hell, and the vomit of the Devil.

Sin is more hateful to God than the Devil; for God hates the Devil for sin's sake--and not sin for the Devil's sake.

Sin is like a serpent in our bosoms, which cannot live--but by sucking out our life blood.

The conflict of the godly--is with the defilement of sin. But the conflict of the wicked--is only with the guilt and punishment of sin. The godly hate sin--because it has filth in it to pollute the soul. The ungodly fear sin--because it has fire in it to burn the soul.

The deluge of waters which overflowed all the world, washed away many sinners--but not one sin! The world shall one day be all on fire--yet all that fire, and those flames in hell which follow--shall not purge one sin!

All the evils in the world, serve to give names to sin.
Sin is called poison--and sinners, serpents.
Sin is called vomit--and sinners, dogs.
Sin is called mire--and sinners, sows.
Sin is called darkness, blindness, shame, nakedness, folly, madness, death and whatever is filthy, vile, infective, or painful.

A glutton may fill his belly--but he can never fill his lust. A covetous man may have his house full of money--but he can never have his heart full of money. An ambitious man may have titles enough to overload his memory--but never to fill his pride.

The Devil's last stratagem is, if he cannot beat us down to sin--to blow us up with pride.

Nothing will make God's children so pure, as to wash themselves every morning in their tears of repentance.

Without sound repentance, sin is not accounted as the greatest evil--nor Christ as the greatest good.

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Pilfering of another's time

(Hannah More)

"Redeeming the time." Ephesians 5:16

Christians should especially be on their guard against a spirit of idleness, and a slovenly habitual wasting of time. We must guard against a habitual frivolousness at home; and an abundance of unprofitable small-talk, idle reading, inane drowsiness, and a quiet and dull frittering away of time.

We must seriously consider--what a large portion of life we have unwisely squandered; what days and nights we have wasted, if not sinfully--yet selfishly; if not loaded with evil--yet destitute of good. In the day of judgment, the thin disguise which our treacherous heart now casts over vanity and sloth, will then be torn off.

We are guilty of the strange inconsistency of being most wasteful of what we best love--and of throwing away what we most fear to lose--that TIME of which life is made up. It is not so much a lack of time--as a wasting of our time--which prevents life from answering all the ends for which God has given it to us.

Few things make us so useful of the world, as the prudent use of our precious time. We should not only be careful not to waste our own time--but that others do not rob us of it! The "stealing of our purse" is a serious wrong to us. But the "stealing of our time" should grieve us even more! Pilfering of another's time is a felony for which no restitution can be made--for time is not only invaluable, but irrecoverable!

Every particle of time is valuable. No day can be insignificant--when every day is to be accounted for. Each one possesses weight and importance. What a scene will open upon us, when, from our eternal state--we shall look back on the use we have made of time--when we shall take a clear retrospect of all we have done, and all we ought to have done!

"Almighty God, I adore Your infinite patience, which has not cut me off in the midst of my follies. Let me no longer abuse that precious treasure, time. Let me bid adieu to all those vain amusements, those trifling entertainments and sinful diversions--which have robbed me of many valuable hours. Let me no longer waste my time in ease and pleasure, in unprofitable studies and conversation; but grant, that by moderation and temperance in my enjoyments, I may be able to give a good account of it in the day of judgment, and be accepted in and through the merits of Jesus Christ, my only mediator and advocate. Amen."

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Tied to their minister's apron strings?

(Arthur Pink, "Spiritual Nurses")

It is lamentable when a boy in his teens is still tied to his mother's apron strings. Yet is it not equally deplorable for those who have been Christians many years--to be tied to their minister's apron strings? Yet how often we witness this very thing. There is a certain class who seem to be afraid, or at any rate unwilling, to think for themselves--to search the Scriptures for themselves, and act accordingly--and we suspect that in many cases the preacher is as much to be blamed as they are. It is true that he is their teacher, and as such he should possess a wider and deeper knowledge of spiritual things than they have. Yet it is his duty to instruct them--to familiarize themselves with God's Word, and thus become qualified to "Test all things--and hold fast that which is good." (1 Thess. 5:21). In other words, the preacher is not to be a nurse unto them all their lives!

It has long been our conviction that the preacher who is really of greatest service to his people--is the one who makes them most independent of human help, and casts them back directly upon God Himself. For souls to run to their pastor every time they are in trouble, or look to him to solve all their spiritual problems--is virtually to give him the same place in their lives, as the deluded Papists accord their "priests." This is not only to rob God of His glory--but also retards their spiritual progress. It is with God Himself, that I most need to deal, and any man who comes between me and the Lord is really a hindrance, no matter how good his intentions may be. Moreover, the preacher is human, and therefore liable to err--but God is omniscient and never misdirects. "If any of you lacks wisdom--let him ask of God." (James 1:5).

Sooner or later there comes a time in the lives of most real Christians, when those words, "Stop trusting in man!" (Isaiah 2:22) are applied to their hearts in Divine power. This will not mean that they now refuse to hear God's servants or read their writings--but that they will no longer place the same blind confidence in their teachers as the Papists do in their priests. Instead, they will emulate the Bereans, who did not mechanically accept what they heard, even from the lips of the Apostle Paul--but "examined the Scriptures every day--to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11).

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Stripped of his peacock feathers

(Arthur Pink, "Unworthiness" 1940)

GRACE is favor shown to the undeserving and ill-deserving.

When Divine grace bestows salvation upon the ill-deserving, it makes them conscious of the infinite favor that has been shown them. Fallen man is naturally proud, self-complacent, and self-righteous.

But wherever the miracle of regenerating grace is wrought--all this is reversed. Its subject is stripped of his peacock feathers, made poor in spirit, and humbled into the dust before God. He is made painfully aware of the loathsome plague of his heart, given a sight of his vileness in the light of God's holiness, and brought to realize that he is a spiritual pauper, dependent upon Divine charity. He now readily acknowledges that he is a Hell-deserving sinner.

"I am not worthy of the least of all Your mercies and unfailing love, which You have shown to me, Your servant" (Genesis 32:10). This is the confession made by all who are the recipients of the saving grace of God. Whenever a miracle of saving grace is wrought in the heart--pride is subdued, self is effaced, and a sense of ill-desert takes possession of the heart.

One of the elements of great faith--is deep humility. "For I am the least of the Apostles, that am not worthy to be called an Apostle" (1 Cor. 15:9). "I am less than the least of all saints" (Eph. 3:8 ). What complete self-abasement! The most eminent Christians--are always the most lowly ones; those most honored in Christ's service--are deeply conscious of their unprofitableness.

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Your Goliath lust

(Thomas Watson, "Christ All in All")

"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power
 of His might." Ephesians 6:10

When you are to resist a temptation, or to
mortify a corruption--do not go out in your
own strength, but in the strength of Christ.

Some go out to duty in the strength of their
abilities; and go out against sin in the strength
of their resolutions--and they both come home
foiled. Alas! What are our resolutions, but like
the green cords which bound Samson! A sinful
heart will soon break these!

Do as David when he was to go up against Goliath.
He said, "I come to you in the name of the Lord!"
So say to your Goliath lust, "I come to you in the
name of Christ!" Then we conquer, when the Lion
of the tribe of Judah marches before us!

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Some have two hells

(Thomas Watson, "The Lord's Prayer")

Suffering Christian--remember that this
is all the hell you shall have.

Some have two hells. They suffer now in
their body and conscience, which is one hell;
and they will suffer eternally in another hell
to come, in unquenchable fire!

Judas had two hells--but a child of God has
but one. Lazarus had all his hell here on earth;
he was full of sores--but had a convoy of angels
to carry him to heaven when he died. Say, then,
"Lo! if this is the worst I shall have, if this is all
my hell--I will patiently acquiesce. May Your
will be done!"

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Wounds and bruises and putrefying sores!

(Arthur Pink, "The Good Samaritan" 1942)

"The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is afflicted. From the sole of the foot even unto the head--there is no soundness in it; but only wounds and bruises and putrefying sores!" Isaiah 1:5, 6

Sin and Satan have wounded man's body, which bring it down with disease and pain to the dust from whence it was taken. They have wounded his soul in all its faculties--his understanding with darkness, his will with a wicked choices, his affections with worldly-mindedness, so that he places his love upon the creature instead of the Creator. They have wounded his conscience with guilt, and with fear of death and dread of Hell. They have stopped his ears to the voice of the Spirit, and closed his eyes to the glory of God. How completely and severely man is wounded! Worst of all--sin has inflicted a mortal wound which has deprived man of his spiritual consciousness, for he is insensible, unaware of his desperate state!

Fallen man is in such a wretched condition, that he is beyond doing anything for his deliverance. But such a truth is far too distasteful to proud human nature. Man will not accept the Divine verdict, he will not believe his case is so desperate as the Scriptures depict it. He persuades himself that it lies in his own power to win the favor of God. He thinks that if he tries his best, and employs himself in religious duties--that such endeavors will receive an eternal recompense. All the expedients which human wisdom has devised as remedies for the wounds which sin has inflicted, may be reduced to two: good works--and religious duties.

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Better than Hell-deserving sinners!

(Arthur Pink, "A Legal Spirit" 1942)

Though the Gospel is exactly suited to the dire need of fallen man--yet it is far from being suited to his proud heart! It calls upon him to "Behold the Lamb of God"--but in order to do so--he must look away from himself. That is, he must renounce himself, deny himself, repudiate all "imagined goodness" in himself--and this is something which he is very far from being willing to comply with. The Gospel is a revelation of pure grace, of sovereign mercy, unmerited favor--offering to enrich spiritual paupers, to clothe the spiritually naked, to save Hell-deserving sinners--but that is something the self-righteous and independent heart of fallen man cannot tolerate!

Being completely under the dominion of the Devil--fallen man is puffed up with pride. Instead of humbling himself beneath the mighty hand of God, and confessing his ruined condition--he foolishly imagines that he cannot only do that which will meet with God's approval--but actually make God his Debtor, so that justice requires God to reward him for his excellent performances. He refuses to acknowledge that he is a fallen, depraved, lost sinner, "without strength," and without a spark of spiritual life. He refuses to acknowledge that he is utterly incapable of recovering himself, of bettering himself, of doing anything which can meet with the approval of a holy and sin-hating God.

Thus, the unsaved are so deceived by their own hearts and so deluded by Satan--that it is impossible to disillusion them--until a miracle of grace is wrought within them!

But even Christians themselves, have the 'root of legality' still left within them, and are to a greater or less degree, infected with a self-righteous spirit to the end of their days! Though a Divine work of grace has been wrought in them, enabling them to see, feel and know they are depraved, polluted and vile creatures--causing them to close with Christ as He is presented to them in the Gospel, and cast themselves upon Him as their only Hope, their Deliverer, their all-sufficient Savior--pride still works within them, and as it does, they are ready to give heed to some of Satan's lies--and imagine that they are now in themselves something more, something better than Hell-deserving sinners!

This 'root of legality' is constantly bringing forth its foul and poisonous fruit, though for the most part--we are quite unaware of its so subtle and secret activities. Whenever we are pleased with ourselves and our religious performances --a legal spirit is at work within us. Whenever we are less conscious of our deep need of Christ--pride is to that extent, possessing our hearts. Whenever we feel that God, in His providences, is dealing severely with us--a self-righteous spirit possesses us, and we are guilty of this sin. This is sure proof that we think more highly of ourselves, than we ought to think.

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Deicide!

(Arthur Pink, "Beholding the Crucified Christ")

"They kept shouting--Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Luke 23:21

The Word of Truth declares that "the carnal mind is enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). Men do not believe it--in fact most of them pretend the very opposite. Nevertheless, at Calvary--they gave proof of their hatred of God.

Not only was Christ unwelcome here--but men hated Him--and that "without a cause" (John 15:25). He gave them every reason to admire and adore Him--but they had an inveterate detestation of Him!

Multitudes go through the form of paying homage to God--but it is a "god" of their own imagination. They hate the true and living God, and were it possible--they would rid the universe of His existence! This is clear from their treatment of Christ, for He was none other than "God manifest in flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). They hated and hounded Him to death--and nothing short of His cruel death by crucifixion would appease them!

Here at Calvary the real character of man was revealed, and the desperate wickedness of his heart was laid bare. There it was shown, that man was capable of the blackest of all crimes!

As evil as man had shown himself all through his history--the coming of Immanuel to this earth brought sin to such a head--that all that which had gone before, was relatively but a trifling thing--when compared with the monstrous wickedness which was done against Love incarnate! In the treatment which the Son of God received at the hands of men--we see sin in its true colors, stripped of a disguise, exposed in its hideous reality; revealed in its true nature as contempt of God, and rebellion against Him. Here at Calvary we behold the climax of sin--and the fearful and horrible lengths to which sin is capable of going! That sin which germinated in Eden--culminated in the crucifixion! Here at Calvary, we see sin at it's apex--Deicide--in the slaying of the Lord of Glory!

"They kept shouting--Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Luke 23:21

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It pierces and winds itself
into every corner and chink

(Thomas Brooks, "Apples of Gold" 1660)

"The deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:13

Sin is of a penetrating nature. It pierces and
winds itself into every corner and chink
--into our thoughts, our words, and our works.

Sin will wind itself . . .
  into our understandings to darken them,
  into our judgments to pervert them,
  into our wills to poison them,
  into our affections to disorder them,
  into our consciences to corrupt them,
  and into our lives to debase them.

Sin will wind itself into every duty--and every
mercy; it will wind itself into every one of our
enjoyments--and concernments.

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A life-giving stream for parched pilgrims!

(Arthur Pink, "The Word of Grace")

The Word and the Spirit are so intimately conjoined, that we are scarcely warranted in thinking of the one, without the other. The Word does not operate without the Spirit's agency--and the Spirit does not work apart from the Word.

It was by the Spirit's inspiration, that the Word was first given, for "holy men of God spoke, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).

It is by the Spirit, that we are enlightened (Eph 1:17, 18 ), yet the Word is the means He employs.

It is by the Spirit, that we are sanctified (Rom 15:16), yet not apart from the Truth (John 17:17).

It is by the Spirit, that we are strengthened (Eph 3:16) as He causes the Word to dwell in us richly (Col 3:16).

It is by the Spirit, that we are comforted (Acts 9:31) as He applies the Divine promises to our hearts.

How appropriate, then, that the grand instrument employed by the Spirit of grace, should be termed "the Word of His grace."

The "Word of His grace" proclaims . . .
  rest for the weary,
  pardon to the guilty,
  justification to the ungodly,
  adoption to the outcast,
  eternal heavenly treasures for spiritual paupers!

It is "the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind" who are to be called to the feast which free grace has spread! (Luke 14:13)

"The Word of His grace" not only instructs us where grace is to be found, and how further supplies of it are to be obtained--but it is the principal medium through which grace is actually imparted to the soul. It is a life-giving stream for parched pilgrims--as they journey through this "wilderness of sin."

As its sacred pages are reverently perused--
  the mind is instructed,
  the conscience is enlightened,
  the affections are warmed,
  and the will is moved.

As its exceeding great and precious promises are meditated upon and treasured up in the heart--new strength is imparted to the soul.

As its holy precepts are turned into earnest prayer--help is obtained for the discharge of duty.

As its timely warnings and admonitions are heeded--temptations lose their power and the snares of Satan are avoided.

As its cheering revelation of what God has prepared for those who love Him is received by faith--new hope is kindled in the heart, and the trials of life are borne with greater fortitude. And as the end of the journey is neared--death loses its terrors and the call to leave this "valley of tears" becomes more desirable.

Without "the Word of His grace" we would be mariners upon the sea of life--without chart or compass!

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This poisonous virus!

(Arthur Pink, "The Word of Truth")

By nature, both writer and reader are liars. "The wicked are estranged from the womb, they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies" (Psalm 58:3). No child has to be taught to lie--it comes naturally to him. Nor does he have to be corrupted by contact with others--he is born corrupt at the core of his being! This is the inevitable consequence of the Fall. Our first parents preferred the Devil's lie--to God's Truth, and all of their descendants inherit this poisonous virus.

In consequence "the whole world lies in the wicked one" (1 John 5:19) and he is "a liar--and the father of lies" (John 8:44). Thus by nature, we have no love for the Truth--but instead, we all have a strong antipathy and resistance against it. The unregenerate do not want to know the truth about themselves--no, they wish to be flattered and encouraged to entertain a good opinion of themselves. Hence, the Lord Jesus declared "Because I tell you the Truth--you do not believe" (John 8:45). Had He told them pleasant lies--they would have welcomed Him.

Since the whole world lies in the wicked one, and he is the arch-liar, we should not be surprised at the world being so full of pretense and deceit--and that the Truth of God is so bitterly hated. The fact is, that "Truth has fallen in the street!" (Isaiah 59:14) and is now being ruthlessly trampled on, on every side.