Grace Gems

[nChrist]

His all-seeing eye

(William Plumer, "Theology for the People" 1875)

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.
 Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the
 eyes of Him to whom we must give account!"
    Hebrews 4:13

God is omniscient. His knowledge is infinite in
kind and extent. It is eternal. He knows all things
past, present, and future; all things that ever
have been, are, or ever shall be.

In heaven, earth, and hell, nothing is hid from
His all-seeing eye. God knows the hearts of
all His creatures.

God also knows all things which ever could have
been, could now be, or could hereafter be on any
conceivable supposition. His knowledge embraces
all plans, all truths, all systems. God can neither
learn nor forget anything.

"His understanding is infinite!" Psalm 147:5

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

Prayer for a time of bereavement

(John MacDuff, "Family Prayers" 1885)

The desire of our eyes has been taken away by a stroke! The shadows of death have unexpectedly fallen around us! Oh forbid that we should rebel under the rod, and refuse to be comforted. Let us glorify You "in the fires!" Let us feel that if we are Your children, there is not a drop of wrath, in that cup of sorrow; but all is love, infinite love! We would see no hand but Yours. You gave us our blessings--and You have a supreme and inalienable right to take them away! "Even so, Father, for it seems good in Your sight."

O Lord God Almighty, though Your way may sometimes seem to be in the sea, and Your path in the deep waters, and Your judgments unsearchable--yet nothing can happen by accident or chance. All is the unerring dictate of Your infinite wisdom and unchanging faithfulness and love. "This also comes from the Lord Almighty," who is ever "excellent in working." Often we cannot discern, through our tears, the rectitude and love of Your afflictive dispensations. Often are we led to say, with trembling hearts, "Truly, You are a God who hides Yourself." But all is well. We could not wish our concerns in better hands, than in Yours.

You cannot send one trial that is unnecessary, or light one spark in the furnace that might be spared. We will be silent, we will not open our mouths, because You are the one who has done this! Man may err, and has often erred. But, O unerring God--the Judge of all the earth must do right! We would seek to lie submissive at Your feet, and say in unmurmuring resignation, "May Your will be done."

Our earnest prayer, blessed God, is, that this severe trial may be sanctified to us all. We have need of such a blow--to remind us that this earth is not our rest. We were leaning on the creature--we were disowning and undeifying the Great Creator. You would not leave us to ourselves, to settle on our lees. You saw the need of Fatherly chastisement, to bring back our alien and truant hearts to Yourself. Oh, may we listen to our Father's voice. May we feel it to be a loud voice, and yet full of gentle tenderness. May it rouse within each of us the question, "What will You have me to do?" May we "arise and call upon our God!" Thus may this very affliction, which, for the present, seems not to be joyous but grievous, nevertheless afterward yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Let us hear Jesus' voice of encouragement and love, sounding amid the stillness of the death-chamber, and from the depths of the sepulcher, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one who died. Look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave!"

O Helper of the helpless, Comforter of all who are cast down, better and dearer than the dearest and best of earthly relatives--give us that grace which You have promised specially in seasons of weakness. May we realize the truth of Your own precious promise, "As your day--so shall your strength be."

May this thought reconcile us to bear all and suffer all--that we shall soon be done with this present evil world--and be with our God, and that forever and ever! Hide us meanwhile, in the clefts of the Smitten Rock, until this and all other of earth's calamities are over and past. May we trust Your heart--where we cannot trace Your hand! We wait patiently for the great day of disclosures, when all shall be revealed; and all be found redounding to the praise and the glory of Your great name!

Hear us, blessed God. All that we ask, is for the sake of Your dear Son--our only Lord and Savior.  Amen.

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

Sitting at the leper's table!

(Horatius Bonar, "Bethany and its Feast")

"Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon,
 a man who had leprosy." Matthew 26:6

To this home Jesus had been invited--and He goes.

It seems to have been his leprosy, which first brought
Simon to Christ--and Christ to him. His disease was his
link of connection with the Lord; and had it not been
for it, he might never have sought Him.

It is still so with us. Our sin, our moral leprosy--draws
us to Jesus. We go to Jesus, not about the good that is
in us--but the evil. Our sense of guilt draws us to Him as
the Pardoner; and our consciousness of sin constrains us
to deal with Him as the Healer and Renewer. And as we
began--so also do we go on. Sin brought us to Him--and
Him to us. Our sin keeps us constantly at His side.

Simon finds that he has much more to do with Jesus
than merely for the cure of his leprosy; therefore he
must have Him at his table. So is it with us. We begin
our relationship with Jesus by going to Him with our sins.
But we soon discover that it cannot be ended here. Our
relationship becomes a constant interchange of thought
and sympathy. We invite Him to our house--and He
comes. We ask Him to dine with us--and He comes.

How great the honor enjoyed by Simon, of entertaining
the Lord of glory; sitting at his own table, with Jesus at
his side as his guest! How marvelous the condescension
of Christ--in thus sitting at the leper's table!

Here, then, is the Savior that suits us--the healer of the
leper, and the guest of the healed one! We say to Jesus,
"Heal me"--and He heals! "Come in"--and He comes!
"Sit down at my table"--and He sits down immediately.

It is but little communion indeed, that we can taste here;
for the best of earthly feasts are but foretastes of the
marriage-supper. But the whole glad fullness we shall yet
enjoy, when we shall meet a long absent Lord, not at our
table--but at His own! That day shall be the day of the
Master's joy, as well as of ours--He feasting with us, and
we with Him! He enjoying our fellowship, and we His--
forevermore!

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

To the dust you will return!

(Horatius Bonar, "The Mortal and the Immortal")

"For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23

"All your life you will sweat to produce food, until your
 dying day. Then you will return to the ground from
 which you came. For you were made from dust, and
 to the dust you will return." Genesis 3:19

Ours is a dying world.

We dwell in a world of death--in a land of graves.

Immortality has no place upon this earth.

That which is deathless is beyond these hills.

Mortality is here; immortality is yonder!

Mortality is below; immortality is above!

Earth is a vast grave-yard.

At every moment, one of the sons of Adam passes
from this life. At each swing of the pendulum is
the death-warrant of some child of time. "Death!
Death!" it says, unceasingly, as it oscillates to and fro.

The gate of death stands ever open--it has neither
locks nor bars.

The river of death flows sullenly past our dwellings.
We continually hear the splash and the cry of one, and
another, and another, as they are flung into the rushing
torrent--and carried down to the sea of eternity!

Earth is full of death-beds. The groan of pain is heard
everywhere--in cottage or castle--in prince's palace or
peasant's hut. The tear of parting is seen falling everywhere.
The rich and poor, good and evil, are called to weep over the
death of beloved kindred, husband or wife, or child, or friend.

Who can bind the strong man that he shall not lay his
hand upon us or our beloved ones?

Who can say to sickness--'You shall not touch my body!'
Or to pain--'You shall not come near me!'
Or to death--'You shall not enter my home!'

Who can light up the dimmed eye,
or re-color the faded cheek,
or re-invigorate the icy hand,
or bid the sealed lip open,
or the stiffened tongue speak once
more, the words of warm affection?

Who can enter the death-chamber, and speak,
"Little girl, I say to you, get up!"

Who can look into the coffin, and say, "Young man, arise!"

Who can go into the tomb, and say, "Lazarus, come forth!"

The voice of death is heard everywhere. Not only from the
coffin, nor the funeral procession, nor the dark vault, nor
the heaving churchyard. Death springs up all around.

Each season speaks of death.
The dropping spring-blossom;
the scorched leaf of summer;
the ripe sheaf of autumn;
the chill winter cold--all tell of death.
The wild storm, with its thick clouds and hurrying shadows;
the sharp lightning, bent on smiting;
the dark torrent, ravaging field and valley;
the cold sea wave;
the crumbling rock;
the up-torn tree--all speak of death and corruption.

Earth numbers its grave-yards by hundreds of thousands; and
the sea covers the dust of uncounted millions, who, coffined
and uncoffined--have gone down into its unknown darkness.

Death reigns over earth and sea; city and village are his.

Into every house this last enemy has entered, in spite
of man's desperate efforts to keep him out. There is . . .
  no family without some empty seat or crib;
  no garden without some faded rose;
  no forest without some sere leaf;
  no tree without some shattered bough;
  no harp without some broken string.

There is no exemption from this necessity.
There is no discharge in this war.

The old man dies; but the young also.

The grey head and the golden head,
are laid in the same cold clay.

The wicked dies; so also does the godly. The common
earth from which they sprang, receives them both.

The fool dies; so also does the wise.

The poor man dies; so also does the rich.

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave;
 I will redeem them from death. Where, O death,
 are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your
 destruction?" Hosea 13:14

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of
 God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
     Romans 6:23

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be
 no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the
 old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4

No failing of eyesight;
no wrinkles on their brow;
no hollowness in their cheeks;
no grey hairs upon their heads;
no weariness of limbs;
no languor of spirit;
no drying up of their rivers of pleasure.

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

Weak and helpless and burdened

(John MacDuff, "Family Prayers" 1885)

We come, weak and helpless and burdened,
to that cross where alone there is shelter and peace
for the guilty. We take refuge anew at the foot of
Your cross, bringing our infinite unworthiness to
Your infinite merit and all-sufficiency. Wash us,
blessed Savior, in the fountain opened for sin and
for uncleanness. Receive us graciously. Love us
freely. Preserve against the world's snares, and
dangers, and temptations. May Your love exercise
a paramount influence over us.

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

He hides the hook!

(Brooks "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices")

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we
 are not ignorant of his devices." 2 Corinthians 2:11

Satan has his several devices to deceive, entangle,
and undo the souls of men. Satan has . . .
  snares for the wise, and snares for the simple;
  snares for hypocrites, and snares for the upright;
  snares for brave, and snares for the timorous;
  snares for the rich, and snares for the poor;
  snares for the aged, and snares for youth.
Happy are those souls which are not captured
and held in the snares that he has laid!

Satan's first device to draw the soul into sin is,
  to present the bait--and hide the hook;
  to present the golden cup--and hide the poison;
  to present the sweet, the pleasure, and the profit
that may flow in upon the soul by yielding to sin--
and to hide from the soul the wrath and misery
that will certainly follow the committing of sin!

By this device he deceived our first parents, "And the
serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die
--for God knows, that in the day you eat thereof, then
your eyes shall be opened; and you shall be as gods."
Your eyes shall he opened, and you shall be as gods!
Here is the bait, the sweet, the pleasure, the profit.
Oh--but he hides the hook--the shame, the wrath,
and the loss that would certainly follow! So Satan
cheats them--giving them an apple in exchange for
a paradise!

Satan with ease pawns falsehoods upon us, by his
golden baits, and then he leads us and leaves us
in a fool's paradise. He promises the soul honor,
pleasure, profit--but pays the soul with the greatest
contempt, shame, and loss that can be!

Alas! Many have fallen forever by this vile strumpet,
the world, who, by showing forth her two fair breasts
of PROFIT and PLEASURE, has wounded their souls,
and cast them down into utter perdition! She has,
by the glistening of her pomp and preferment,
slain millions!

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

Soul-killing plots, devices, stratagems & machinations!

(Thomas Brooks "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices")

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we
 are not ignorant of his devices." 2 Corinthians 2:11

Christ,
the Scripture,
your own hearts,
and Satan's devices,
are the four prime things that should be first and most
studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these,
they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter. It is my
work as a Christian, but much more as I am a Watchman,
to do my best to discover . . .
  the fullness of Christ,
  the emptiness of the creature,
  and the snares of the great deceiver.

Satan being fallen . . .
 from light to darkness,
 from felicity to misery,
 from heaven to hell,
 from an angel to a devil,
is so full of malice and envy that he will leave no means
unattempted, whereby he may make all others eternally
miserable with himself. He being shut out of heaven, and
shut up "under the chains of darkness until the judgment
of the great day," makes use of all his power and skill to
bring all people into the same condition and condemnation
with himself. Satan has cast such sinful seed into our souls,
that now he can no sooner tempt, but we are ready to
assent; he can no sooner have a plot upon us, but he makes
a conquest of us. If he does but show men a little of the
beauty of the world, how ready are they to fall down and
worship him! Whatever sin the heart of man is most
prone to, that the devil will help forward! Satan loves
to sail with the wind, and to suit men's temptations to
their conditions and inclinations.

From the power, malice and skill of Satan--proceeds all the
soul-killing plots, devices, stratagems and machinations,
which are in the world. A man may as well count the stars, and
number the sands of the sea, as reckon up all the devices of Satan!

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we
 are not ignorant of his devices." 2 Corinthians 2:11

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

The pouring forth of all His wrath

(Brooks "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices")

"I will sing of Your love and justice." Psalm 101:1

Mercy is God's Alpha--justice is His Omega.

When God's mercy is despised--then His justice takes
the throne!

God is like a prince, who first hangs out the white flag
of mercy; if this wins men--they are happy forever! But
if they remain rebellious, then God will put forth His red
flag of justice and judgment.

If His mercy is despised--His justice shall be felt!

God is as just--as He is merciful. As the Scriptures
portray Him to be a very merciful God--so they
portray Him to be a very just God.

Witness His casting the angels out of heaven and
His binding them in chains of darkness until the
judgment of the great day.

Witness His turning Adam out of Paradise.

Witness His drowning of the old world.

Witness His raining hell out of heaven upon Sodom.

Witness all the troubles, losses, sicknesses,
and diseases, which are in the world.

Witness His treasuring up of wrath against
the day of wrath.

But above all, witness the pouring forth of all His
wrath upon His bosom Son, when Jesus bore the
sins of His people, and cried out, "My God, My God,
why have You forsaken Me?"

As I know not the man who can reckon up his mercies;
so I know not the man who can sum up the miseries
which are coming upon him for his sins.

God is slow to anger--but He recompenses His slowness
with grievousness of punishment. If we abuse His mercy
to serve our lust--then He will rain hell out of heaven,
rather than not visit for such sins.

Men shall be deeper in hell, because heaven was offered
unto them--and they abused God's mercy. Sins against
God's mercy, will bring upon the soul the greatest misery!

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

A soul given up to sin

(Brooks "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices")

It is the greatest judgment in the world to be left to sin.
O unhappy man--when God leaves you to yourself, and
does not resist you in your sins! Woe, woe to him at
whose sins God winks at. When God lets the way to hell
be a smooth and pleasant way--that is hell on this side
hell, and a dreadful sign of God's indignation against
a man; a token of his rejection, and that God does not
intend good unto him.

That is a sad word, "Ephraim is joined to idols--let him
alone!" (Hosea 4:17) Ephraim will be unteachable and
incorrigible; he has made a match with sin--and he shall
have his bellyful of it!

And that is a terrible saying, "So I gave them up unto
their own hearts' lusts, and they walked in their own
counsels." (Psalm 81:12). A soul given up to sin is
a soul ripe for hell--a soul hastening to destruction!

Ah Lord! this mercy I humbly beg--that whatever You
give me up to, You will not give me up to the ways of
my own heart! If You will give me up to be afflicted,
or tempted, or reproached--I will patiently sit down,
and say, It is the Lord, let Him do with me what seems
good in His own eyes. Do anything with me, lay what
burden You will upon me--but do not give me up to
the ways of my own heart!

Augustine says, "Deliver me, O Lord, from that evil
man--myself!"

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

A sea of blood, wrath, sin, sorrow, misery

(Brooks "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices")

Ah, what a sea of blood, of wrath, of sin, of sorrow
and misery--did the Lord Jesus wade through for your
eternal good! Christ did not plead, "This cross is too
heavy for Me to bear; this wrath is too great for Me to
lie under; this cup of suffering, which has in it all the
ingredients of divine wrath, is too bitter for Me to sip
of--how much more to drink the very dregs of it!" No!
Christ does not plead the difficulty of the service--but
resolutely and bravely wades through all! "I gave My
back to those who beat Me, and My cheeks to those
who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from
scorn and spitting." Isaiah 50:6. Christ bears . . .
  His Father's wrath,
  the punishment of your sins,
  the malice of Satan,
  the rage of the world,
and sweetly and triumphantly passes through all.

Christ has freed you from . . .
  all your enemies,
  the curse of the law,
  the damnatory power of sin,
  the wrath of God,
  the sting of death,
  the torments of hell.

"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us
 purify ourselves from everything that contaminates
 body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence
 for God." 2 Corinthians 7:1

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

Hell's greatest enrichers!

(Brooks "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices")

"The prophets who lead my people astray." Micah 3:5

Satan labors by false teachers, who are his emissaries
to deceive, delude, and forever undo the precious souls
of men! They seduce them, and carry them out of the
right way into by-paths and blind thickets of error and
wickedness--where they are lost forever!

As strumpets paint their faces, and deck and perfume
their beds, the better to allure and deceive simple souls;
so false teachers will put a great deal of paint and garnish
upon their most dangerous principles and blasphemies, that
they may the better deceive and delude poor ignorant souls.
They know sugared-poison goes down sweetly. They wrap
up their pernicious, soul-killing pills in gold! "Peace, peace!
they say, when there is no peace." Jeremiah 6:14

"Beware of false prophets, for they come to you in sheep's
clothing--but inwardly they are ravening wolves!" These
lick and suck the blood of souls! These kiss and kill! They
cry, 'Peace, peace!' until souls fall into everlasting flames!

False teachers handle holy things with wit and trifling, rather
than with fear and reverence. They are soul-murderers! They
are like evil surgeons, who skin over the wound--but never
heal it. False teachers are hell's greatest enrichers! Such
smooth teachers are sweet soul-poisoners! This age is full of
such teachers--such monsters!

They eye your goods more than your good; and mind
more the serving of themselves--than the saving of your
souls. So they may have your substance--they care not
though Satan has your souls! That they may the better
pick your purse--they will hold forth such principles as
are very indulgent to the flesh.

These are Satan's great benefactors, and such as divine
justice will hang up in hell as the greatest malefactors!

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

Names which the Holy Spirit has given them

(Brooks "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices")

Always look upon wicked men, under those names and
notions which the Scripture describes them, such as:
  lions for their fierceness,
  bears for their cruelty,
  dragons for their hideousness,
  dogs for their filthiness,
  wolves for their subtleness,
  scorpions,
  vipers,
  thorns,
  briars,
  thistles,
  brambles,
  stubble,
  dirt,
  chaff,
  dust,
  dross,
  smoke,
  scum.

You may know well enough what is within them, by the
apt names which the Holy Spirit has given them.
By looking upon them under those names and notions
that the Scripture sets them out by, may preserve the
soul from frequenting their company and delighting in
their society. Such monsters are wicked men--which
should render their company to all who have tasted of
the sweetness of divine love, a burden and not a delight.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel
 of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in
 the seat of mockers." Psalm 1:1

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

Sweet poisons!

(Brooks "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices")

"I will give You all these things--if You will fall down and
 worship me." Matthew 4:9

Satan presents the world in such a dress, and in such a garb,
as to ensnare the soul, and to win the affection of the soul.
He represents the world to them in its beauty and finery, which
proves a bewitching sight to carnal men. Satan can no sooner
cast out his golden bait--but we are ready to play with it,
and to nibble at it! He can no sooner throw out his golden
ball--but men are apt to run after it--though they lose God
and their souls in the pursuit!

Ah! the time, the thoughts, the hearts, the souls--which the
inordinate love of this wicked world eats up and destroys!
Where one thousand are destroyed by the world's frowns
--ten thousand are destroyed by the world's smiles!

The world, siren-like, sings to us--then sinks us!

It kisses us--then betrays us, like Judas!

It kisses us--then stabs us under the rib, like Joab.

The honors, splendor, and all the glory of this world, are but
sweet poisons, which will much endanger us, if they do not
eternally destroy us. Ah! the multitude of souls that have
glutted on these sweet baits, and died forever! Such men
will sell Christ, heaven, and their souls for a trifle! "How long
will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie?" Psalm 4:2

Ah, how many thousands are there now on earth, who have
found this true by experience; who have spun a lovely rope
to strangle themselves, both temporally and eternally, by
being bewitched by the beauty and finery of this world!

The main reason why men dote upon the world, and damn
their souls to get the world, is, because they are not acquainted
with a greater glory! Men ate acorns, until they were acquainted
with the use of wheat. Ah, did men but taste more of heaven,
and live more in heaven, and had more glorious hopes of going
to heaven, ah, how easily would they trample the world under
their feet!

"You joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because
 you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions."
     Hebrews 10:34

Let heaven be a man's object, and earth will soon be his abject.
Assurance of more great and glorious things, breed in the soul a
holy scorn and contempt of all these poor, base worldly things
--which the soul before valued above God, Christ and heaven.

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

Sheep or swine?

(Brooks "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices")

It is possible for Christians to fall into the same sins of
which they have formerly repented--by the secret, subtle,
and strong workings of sin in their hearts. And no wonder,
for though their repentance is ever so sincere and sound
--yet their graces are but weak, and their mortification
of sin is imperfect in this life. Though by grace they are
freed from the dominion of sin, and from the damnatory
power of every sin, and from the love of all sin; yet grace
does not free them from the indwelling of any one sin.
Therefore it is possible for a Christian to fall again and
again into the same sin.

God will graciously pardon those sins to His people,
which He will not in this life totally subdue in His people.

I have never seen a promise in Scripture, which says that
when our sorrow and grief has been so great, or so much,
for this or that sin--that God will then preserve us from
ever falling into the same sin. The sight of such a promise
would be as life from the dead to many a precious soul,
who desires nothing more than to keep close to Christ,
and fears nothing more than backsliding from Christ.

Yet, there is a great difference between a sheep which by
weakness falls into the mire--and a swine which delights
to wallow in the mire! There is a great difference between
a woman who is raped, though she fights and cries out--
and an alluring adulteress!

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________

[nChrist]

All must fall

(Letters of J. C. Philpot)

I feel so many evils daily, and sometimes hourly,
working in my heart, and see so many traps and
snares laid for my feet in every direction, that my
wonder is, not that any fall--but that any stand!

No, I am confident that all must fall were it not
for everlasting love and almighty power, "kept by
the power of God through faith unto salvation!"

"Hold me up, and I shall be safe!" Psalm 119:117

____________________

From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
____________________