Grace Gems

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The load will be too heavy for us!

(Letters of John Newton)

I compare the troubles which we have to undergo in the course of the year--to a great bundle of sticks, far too large for us to lift. But God does not require us to carry the whole bundle at once. He mercifully unties the bundle, and gives us first one stick, which we are to carry today; and then another, which we are to carry tomorrow, and so forth.

We can easily manage our troubles, if we would only carry the trouble appointed for each day. But the load will be too heavy for us--if we carry yesterday's burden over again today, and then add the burden of tomorrow to the weight, before we are required to bear it.

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But my eye and my heart are to Jesus!

(the following is from the diary of John Newton)

January 1, 1773
This is the ninth New Years day I have seen in this church. I have reason to say, 'The Lord crowns every year with His goodness!' The entrance of this year finds me and my dear Mary in health and peace. I am still favored with strength, and with some liberty for my pastoral work, and hope the Lord is still pleased to work by me--for the edification of His people, and the awakening of lost sinners.

As to myself . . .
  my exercise of grace is faint,
  my consolations small,
  my heart is full of evil,
  my chief burdens are, a wild ungoverned imagination, and a strange sinful backwardness to reading the Scriptures, and to secret prayer.

These have been my complaints for many years, and I have no less cause of complaint than formerly. But my eye and my heart are to Jesus! His I am; Him I desire to serve; to Him this day, I would devote and surrender myself anew.

O Lord, accept, support, protect, teach, comfort and bless me. Be . . .
  my Arm,
  my Eye,
  my Joy and
  my Salvation.
Mortify the power of sin--and increase the image of Your holiness in my heart. Anoint me with fresh oil, make me humble, faithful, diligent and obedient. Let me in all things attend . . .
  to Your Word as my rule,
  to Your glory as my end, and
  depend upon Your power and promise for my safety and success.

I am now in the 49th year of my life, and may expect in the course of a few years at most--to go whence I shall no more return; nor have I a certainty of continuing here a single year--or even a month or a day! May Your grace keep me always until my appointed change shall come, and when the summons shall come--may I be enabled to rejoice in You, as the strength of my heart and my portion forever!

"You guide me with Your counsel, and afterwards You will take me up in glory. Whom do I have in heaven but You? And I desire nothing on earth but You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever!" Psalm 73:24-26

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A bird that is tied by a string

(Charles Spurgeon)

"For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." Acts 8:23

"If the Son sets you free--you will be free indeed!" John 8:36

A bird that is tied by a string--seems to have more liberty than a bird in a cage; it flutters up and down--and yet it is held just as fast.

When a man thinks that he has escaped from the bondage of sin in general, and yet evidently remains under the power of some one favored lust--he is woefully mistaken in his judgment as to his spiritual freedom. He may boast that he is out of the cage--but assuredly, the string is on his leg!

He who has his fetters knocked off--all but one chain--is a prisoner still.

"Let not any iniquity have dominion over me," is a good and wise prayer; for one pampered sin will slay the soul--as surely as one dose of poison will kill the body!

There is no need for one to be bitten by a whole nest of deadly vipers--the tooth of one cobra is quite sufficient to insure his destruction.

One sin, like one match--can kindle the fires of hell within the soul!

The practical application of this truth, should be made by the professor who is a slave to any lust, or to covetousness. How can you be free--if any one of these chains still holds you fast?

We have met with professors who are haughty, and despise others; how can these be the Lord's free men--while pride captivates their heart?

In will and intent--we must break every chain of sin! We must perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, or we cannot hope that the Son has made us free indeed.

O Holy Spirit--break every chain of sin, I beseech you!

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Let no swine trample it under his feet!

(Robert Bolton, "Comfortable Walking with God")

You may object,
"Of the pardonableness of my other sins--I could be reasonably well persuaded of God's forgiveness. But, alas! there is one sin above all the rest, which I find to be so full of hellish poison--of such a deep and damnable die--to have struck so desperately in the days of my lewdness at the very face of God Himself--and far deeper into the heart of Jesus Christ than the spear that pierced Him while bleeding upon the cross! This sin now stares in the eye of my newly awakened and wounded conscience with such horror and gristliness--that I fear that divine justice will think it fitter to have this most loathsome inexpiable stain--burned out of my soul with everlasting flames (if it were possible that eternal fire could expiate the sinful stains of any impenitent damned soul), than to be fully washed away with His blood, whom I so cruelly and cursedly pierced with it!"

"Oh! this is what lies now upon my heart like a mountain of lead, and enchains it with inexplicable terror! This alone stings desperately--and keeps me from Christ, and cuts me off from all hope of heaven. I am afraid that my willful wallowing in sin heretofore, has so reprobated my mind, seared my conscience, and hardened my heart--that I shall never be able to repent with any hope of pardon!"


But I answer you,
Is this sin of yours greater than wicked King Manasseh's, who "sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced witchcraft and  divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists"? (2 Kings 21:2-7)

Is this sin of yours greater than Paul's drinking up the blood of saints?

Is this sin of yours greater than any of theirs in that black bill, (1 Corinthians 6:9-11,) who, notwithstanding, were afterward given repentance--and washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus?

Is this sin of yours greater than that horrible sin of killing Christ Jesus? And yet the murderers of that Just and Holy One, upon their true repentance of heart, were saved by that precious blood which they had cruelly spilled, as water upon the ground!

But however heinous your sin may be--a scarlet sin, a crimson sin, a crying sin--and add unto it Satan's malicious aggravations, and all that horror which the dejectedness of your present afflicted spirit, and darkness of your melancholy imagination can add upon it--yet Paul's precious antidote holds triumphantly sovereign as well against the heinousness of any one sin--as the confluence of all sins! "Where sin abounded--grace over-abounded!" (Romans 5:20)

Indeed, your case is a very heavy one, and to be deplored even with tears of blood--that you should ever have so highly dishonored your gracious God with such horrible sinfulness in the days of your vanity; and you ought, rather to choose to be torn in pieces by wild horses--than commit it again!

Yet if your heart, now truly wounded with horror and hate of your sin--will but cleave to the truth and tender-heartedness of Jesus Christ in His promises, and fall into His blessed and bleeding arms, which are stretched out most lovingly to ease and refresh you--as the heinousness of your sin has abounded heretofore--so His grace will now over-abound to the same proportion, and much more!

Nay, I will show you an astonishing truth! God's mercies shall be extraordinarily honored in pardoning such heinous provocation; because His mercies are thereby, as it were, manifested in all their dearness, sweetness, and infiniteness--to the greatest height and excellency! And the blood of Christ is manifested more orient and illustrious; and its honor and preciousness is advanced--by washing away such a heinous, hellish spot!

If we bring broken, believing hearts to His mercy-seat, it is the Lord's 'Name' to forgive all sorts of offences, iniquities, transgressions and sins! It is His 'covenant promise', to sprinkle clean water upon us that we may be clean, and to cleanse us 'from all our filthiness, and all our idols,' --even from idolatry, the highest villainy against the majesty of Heaven! So that even a Papist, upon repentance, may be saved!

It is His promise not only to pardon common sins--but those also which are as deep as scarlet, and blood-red as crimson. It is His free compassion to cast all our sins into the depth of the sea! (Micah 7:19). Now, the sea, by reason of its vastness, can as easily drown mountains, as it can drown mole-hills! Just so--the boundless ocean of God's mercies--can easily swallow up our mightiest sins!

It is His merciful power to blot out our sins as a cloud. Now the strength of the summer's sun is able to scatter the thickest fog, as well as the thinnest mist--more, to drive away the darkest night! Just so, the irresistible heat of God's free love, shining through the Sun of Righteousness upon a penitent soul--can far more easily dissolve into nothing--the vilest works of darkness, and most horrible sins!

But this mystery of mercy, and miracle of God's free love--is a jewel only for truly humbled souls. Let no stranger to the life of godliness meddle with it! Let no swine trample it under his feet!

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If he is a liar, a talebearer, a railer, a flatterer or a jester

(Letters of John Newton)

There is, perhaps, no one test or proof of the reality of a work of grace upon the heart, more simple, clear and infallible--than the general tenor of our speech; for our Lord's aphorism is of certain and universal application, that "out of the abundance of the heart--the mouth speaks."

To the same purpose, the apostle James proposes to all who make a profession of the gospel, a searching criterion of their sincerity, when he says, "If anyone considers himself religious, and yet does not keep a tight bridle on his tongue--he deceives himself and his religion is worthless!" James supposes that the grace of God in a true believer will check the evils of the heart, and prevent them from breaking out by the tongue.

The grace of God will necessarily influence and govern the tongues of those who partake of it, in what they say when they speak of God, of themselves, and of or to their fellow-creatures.

Having seen a glimpse of the holiness and majesty, the glory and the grace, of the great God with whom they have to do--their hearts are impressed with reverence, and therefore there is a seriousness in their language. They cannot speak lightly of God, or of His ways. One would suppose that no person, who even but seems to be pious, can directly and expressly profane His glorious name. But there is a careless and flippant manner of speaking of the great God, which is very disgusting and very suspicious. Likewise, the hearts of believers teach their mouths to speak honorably of God under all their afflictions and crosses, acknowledging the wisdom and the mercy of His painful dispensations. And, if an impatient word escapes them--it grieves and humbles them, as quite unfitting to their situation as His creatures, and especially as sinful creatures, who have always reason to acknowledge, that it is of the Lord's mercy alone--that they are not wholly consumed.

When they speak of themselves, their tongues are bridled, and restrained from boasting. They speak as befits poor, unworthy creatures--because they feel themselves to be such! In what they say, either of their comforts or of their sorrows, sincerity dictates a simplicity which cannot be easily counterfeited.

In what they say of or to others, the tongues of believers are bridled by a heart-felt regard to truth, love and purity.

Where saving grace is in the heart--the tongue will be bridled by the law of TRUTH. It is grievous to see how nearly and readily some professors will venture upon the borders of a lie; either . . .
  to defend their own conduct,
  to avoid some inconvenience,
  to procure a supposed advantage,
  or sometimes merely to embellish a story!
Where instances of this kind are frequent, I hardly know a fouler blot in profession, or which can give a more just warrant to fear that such professors know nothing aright, either of God or themselves! The Lord is a God of truth; and He teaches His servants to hate and abhor lying, and to speak the truth from their hearts. I may add likewise, with regard to promises--that the person, whose simple word may not be safely depended upon--scarcely deserves the name of a Christian!

Where grace is in the heart, the tongue will likewise be bridled by the law of LOVE. If we love our neighbor--can we lightly speak evil of him, magnify his failings, or use provoking or insulting language to him? Love thinks no evil--but bears, hopes and endures. Love acts by the golden rule, to "Do unto others--what you would like them to do unto you." Those who are under the influence of Christian love, will be gentle and compassionate, disposed to make the most favorable allowances, and of course their tongues will be restrained from the language of malevolence, harsh censure, and slander--which are as familiar to us as our mother tongue--until we are made partakers of the grace of God.

The tongue is also bridled by a regard to PURITY, agreeable to the precepts, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths!" "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking!" Ephesians 4:29, 5:4. Grace has taught believers to hate these things! How then can their tongues speak of them?

There are false professors, indeed, who can suit their language to their company. When with the people of God--they call talk very seriously. But at other times, they are well pleased to join in vain, frothy and evil conversation. But this double-mindedness is of itself, sufficient to discredit all their pretenses to a pious character.

Upon the whole, though perfection is not to be expected, though true believers may, on some occasions, speak rashly, and have great cause for humiliation, watchfulness, and prayer, with respect to the government of their tongues; yet Scripture authorizes this conclusion: That, if the tongue is frequently without a bridle; if it may be observed, that a person often speaks . . .
  lightly of God and of divine things,
  proudly of himself, and
  harshly of his fellow-creatures;
if he is a liar, a talebearer, a railer, a flatterer or a jester--then, whatever other good qualities he may seem to possess--his speech betrays him! He deceives himself, and his religion is worthless!

Let us think of these things, and entreat the Lord to cast the salt of His grace into the fountain of our hearts--that the streams of our conversation may be wholesome.

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The poor worm is secretly indulging self-applause!

(Letters of John Newton)

Among the many general causes of decline in grace, we may assign a principal place to  spiritual pride and self-admiration. If our attainments in knowledge and giftedness, and even in grace--seduce us into a good opinion of ourselves, as if we were wise and good--we are already ensnared, in danger of falling every step we take, of mistaking the right path, and proceeding from bad to worse, without a power of correcting or even of discovering our deviations! That is--unless and until the Lord mercifully interposes, by restoring us to a spirit of humility, and dependence upon Himself. For God, who gives more grace to the humble--resists the proud! He beholds them with abhorrence--in proportion to the degree in which they admire themselves! It is the invariable law of His kingdom, that everyone who exalts himself--shall be abased!

True Christians, through the remaining evil of their hearts, and the subtle temptations of their enemy, are liable, not only to the workings of that pride which is common to our fallen nature--but to a certain kind of pride, which, though the most absurd and intolerable in any person--can only be found among those who make profession of the gospel. We have nothing but what we have received, and therefore to be proud of our titles, wealth, knowledge, success, or any temporal advantages by which the providence of God has distinguished us--is downright sinful! For those who confess themselves to be 'sinners', and therefore deserving of nothing but misery and wrath--to be proud of those peculiar blessings which are derived from the gospel of God's grace--is a wickedness of which even the demons are not capable of!

The apostle Paul was so aware of his danger of being exalted above measure, through the abundant revelations and peculiar favors which the Lord had afforded him--that he says, "There was given me a messenger of Satan to buffet me." He speaks of this sharp trial as a great mercy, because he saw that it was necessary, and designed to keep him humble and attentive to his own weakness.

Ministers who are honored with singular abilities and success, have great need of watchfulness and prayer on this account! Simple-hearted hearers are apt to admire their favorite preacher--taking it for granted that he is deeply affected himself with the truths, which, with so much apparent liberty and power--he proposes to them. While, perhaps--the poor worm is secretly indulging self-applause, and pleasing himself with the numbers and attention of those who hang upon his words!

Perhaps such thoughts will occasionally rise in the minds of the best ministers; but, if they are allowed, if they become habitual, and enter strongly into the idea he forms of his own importance; and if, while he professes to preach Jesus Christ--he is preaching himself, and seeking his own glory--he is guilty of high treason against the Majesty of Him in whose name he speaks! And sooner or later, the effects of his pride will be visible and noticed. Doctrinal errors, gross misconduct, an abatement of zeal, of gifts, of influence--are evils, always to be dreaded, when spiritual pride has gained an ascendancy, whether in public or in private life.

"The Lord Almighty has planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth." Isaiah 23:9

"For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have--that you did not receive? And if you did receive it--why do you boast as though you did not?" 1 Corinthians 4:7

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Perhaps, while we are admiring our gourd

(Letters of John Newton)

We are in the Lord's school--the school of the cross. His daily providential dispensations are suited to wean our attachment from everything here on earth--and to convince us that this world cannot be our rest, for it is polluted. Our roses grow on thorns; our honey brings a sting. Frequently our sharpest trials--spring from our choicest comforts. Perhaps, while we are admiring our gourd--a worm is secretly preying upon its root! As every bitter thing is sweetened to a believer--so there is some bitterness mingled with every sweet thing. This is wisely and mercifully ordered by our heavenly Father. It is necessary. With such hearts an we have, and in such a world as we live in--much discipline is needful to keep us from sleeping upon the enchanted ground.

But the time is short. It will not always be thus. We shall soon be out of the reach of sin and temptation. Happy hour, when troubles and sorrows, hitherto our inseparable companions, shall flee away, to return no more! When Jesus, with joy and gladness shall come forth to meet us, and conduct us to our eternal home! Then we shall drink of the rivers of pleasure that are at His right hand--and our happiness shall be unspeakable, uninterrupted, without abatement, and without end!

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Thank Him for His prescription!

(Letters of John Newton)

Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise Physician prescribes, because we need them. He proportions the frequency and weight of them--to what our case requires. Let us trust in His skill--and thank Him for His prescription!

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'Tis a point I long to know

(John Newton)

'Tis a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought;
Do I love the Lord or no?
Am I His--or am I not?

If I love--why am I thus?
Why this dull and lifeless frame?
Hardly, sure, can they be worse,
Who have never heard His name!

Could my heart so hard remain,
Prayer a task and burden prove,
Every trifle give me pain,
If I knew a Savior's love?

When I turn my eyes within,
All is dark, and vain, and wild;
Filled with unbelief and sin,
Can I deem myself a child?

If I pray, or hear, or read,
Sin is mixed with all I do!
You who love the Lord indeed,
Tell me--Is it thus with you?

Yet I mourn my stubborn will,
Find my sin a grief and thrall;
Should I grieve for what I feel,
If I did not love at all?

Could I joy His saints to meet,
Choose the ways I once abhorred,
Find, at times, the promise sweet,
If I did not love the Lord?

Lord, decide the doubtful case!
You who are Your people's sun,
Shine upon Your work of grace,
If it is indeed begun.

Let me love You more and more,
If I love at all, I pray;
If I have not loved before,
Help me to begin today!

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You would pity me indeed!

(Letters of John Newton)

Dear friend,
Wickedness prevails and increases in our city to a dreadful degree! Our streets are filled with the sons of Belial, who neither fear God, nor regard man. I wish my heart was more affected with what my eyes see and my ears hear every day! I am often ready to fear lest the Lord should show His displeasure in some dreadful way!

And surely, if He were strict to mark all that is amiss--I myself would tremble! Oh, were He to plead against me--I could not answer Him one word! Alas! my dear friend, you know not what a poor, unprofitable, unfaithful creature I am! If you knew the evils which I feel within, and the snares and difficulties which beset me from without--you would pity me indeed!

So much forgiven--yet so little love to Jesus.

So many mercies--yet so few returns.

Such great privileges--yet a life so sadly below them.

Indwelling sin presses me downwards; when I would do good, evil is present with me! I can attempt nothing--but it is debased, polluted and spoiled by my depraved nature! My sins of omission are innumerable. In a word, there is . . .
  much darkness in my understanding,
  much perverseness in my will,
  much disorder in my affections,
  much folly and madness in my imagination!

In short, I am a riddle to myself--a heap of inconsistency!

Alas! when shall it be otherwise? I have a desire of walking with God--but I cannot attain unto it. Surely it is far better to depart, and to be with Jesus Christ--than to live here up to the ears in sin and temptation!

But, "We have an Advocate with the Father." Here my hope revives! Though wretched in myself--I am complete in Him! He is my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. On this "Rock" I build--for time and eternity!

[nChrist]

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If I ever reach heaven, I expect to find three wonders there

(Letters of John Newton)

If I ever reach heaven, I expect to find three wonders there:

  first, to meet some I would not have expected to be there;

  second, to miss some I would have expected to be there;

  third, the greatest wonder of all--to find myself there!

"By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10

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There are only two things which I am sure of

(Letters of John Newton)

When I was young, I was sure of many things.
But now that I am old, there are only two
things which I am sure of:
  One is that I am a miserable sinner!
  Secondly, that Christ is an all-sufficient Savior!

He is well taught--who learns these two lessons.

"This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full
 acceptance: 'Christ Jesus came into the world
 to  save sinners'--and I am the worst of them!"
     1 Timothy 1:15

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There is no such a word in the 'dictionary of faith'

(Letters of John Newton)

"Godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6

There is many a thing which the world calls 'disappointment', but there is no such a word in the 'dictionary of faith'. What to others are disappointments, are divine appointments to believers.

If two angels were sent down from heaven--one to conduct an empire, and the other to sweep a street--they would feel no inclination to change employments.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in need." Philippians 4:11-12

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A vulnerable heel

(Letters of John Newton)

"In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are very familiar with his evil schemes." 2 Corinthians 2:11

Satan knows how to suit his temptations to our personal tempers and circumstances. And if, like Achilles, you have a vulnerable heel--the old serpent will be sure to strike there!

"Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil." Ephesians 6:11

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I am glad that it is a mortal disease, from which I will not recover!

(Letters of John Newton)

"For to me, to live is Christ--and to die is gain!" Philippians 1:21

Dear friend,
You kindly inquire about my health. I am, through the grace of God--perfectly well. Yet, as healthy as I am--I labor under a growing disorder, for which there is no cure--I mean old age. I am glad that it is a mortal disease, from which I will not recover! I would not always want to live in such a poor world as this! I have a Scriptural hope of a glorious inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--reserved in heaven for me!

I am now in my seventy-second year, and have lived long enough. I have known something of the evils of life--and have had a large share of the good things of life. I know what the world can do--and what it cannot do. It can neither give nor take away that peace of God which passes all understanding; it cannot soothe a wounded conscience, nor enable us to meet death and eternity with comfort.

I have an abiding and abounding experience, that the Gospel is the "universal remedy" adapted to all our wants and all our woes; and a "suitable help" when every other help fails!

Your affectionate friend,
John Newton