Grace Gems

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The sword of His pure, infinite, and incensed wrath!

(Thomas Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")

"Yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer" Isaiah 53:10

To see God thrust the sword of His pure, infinite, and incensed wrath through the very heart of His dearest Son, notwithstanding all His supplications, prayers, tears, and strong cries - is the highest manifestation of the Lord's hatred and indignation of sin - which ever was, or ever will be!

It is true, God revealed His great hatred against sin . . .
  by casting the angels down to hell, and
  by turning Adam out of paradise, and
  by drowning the old world, and
  by raining hell out of heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah,
and by the various and dreadful judgments which He has been a-pouring forth upon the world in all ages. But all this hatred is but an emblem of hatred - compared to that hatred which God manifested against sin, in causing the whole curse to meet upon our crucified Lord!

It is true that God reveals His hatred of sin by those endless, easeless, and remediless torments, which He inflicts upon devils and damned men. But this is no hatred - compared to that hatred against sin, which God revealed when He opened all the floodgates of His envenomed wrath upon His Son - His own Son, His only Son, His Son who always pleased Him.

Suppose there was a father who had but one son - and he was such a son in whom he always delighted, and by whom he had never been provoked. Now suppose you should you see this father inflicting the most intensified pains and punishments, tortures and torments, calamities and miseries upon this, his dearest son. Would you not wonder at the cause of the father's exercising such amazing, such matchless severity, fury and cruelty upon his only beloved son?

Now cast your eye upon the actings of God the Father towards Jesus Christ - and you will find that He has inflicted more and greater torments upon the Son of His dearest love - than all mortals ever have or could inflict upon others. God made all the penalties and sufferings that were due to us - to fall upon Jesus Christ. God Himself inflicted upon dear Jesus, whatever was requisite to the satisfying of His justice, to the obtaining of pardon, and to the saving of all His elect!

"He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

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Friend or foe?

(J.G. Pike, "Guide for Young Disciples of the Holy Savior")

"Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong - in the day that I shall deal with you?" Ezekiel 22:14

The power and justice of God are armed with ten thousand terrors against every one who is not His child!

The love and goodness of God display ten thousand charms to every one who is!

O how dreadful must it be to have Him for a foe - whose thunders, lightnings, earthquakes, tempests, and pestilences can sweep millions to the grave in a moment! whose command would extinguish the sun, and crush the universe to nothing!

"Consider this, you who forget God - lest I tear you in pieces!" Psalm 50:22

But how inexpressibly desirable is such a friend - a friend . . .
  whose knowledge no enemy can elude,
  whose power none can resist,
  whose wisdom none can baffle, and
  whose love none can comprehend!

O why are you concerned about anything but God!

"As surely as I live, when I sharpen My flashing sword and begin to carry out justice - I will bring vengeance on My enemies and repay those who hate Me!" Deuteronomy 32:41

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As Thomas Watson has said, "God is the best friend - but the worst enemy! If He can look men into their grave, how far can He throw them? What fools are they, who, for a drop of pleasure - drink a sea of wrath!"

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They are preaching up the devil's old, favorite doctrine!

(J.C. Ryle)

There is such a place as Hell. Let no one deceive you with vain words. What people do not like - they try hard not to believe. When the Lord Jesus Christ comes to judge the world, He will punish all who are not His disciples with a fearful punishment!

All who are found unrepentant and unbelieving;
all who have clung to sin;
all who have set their affections on worldly things;
all who are without Christ -
all such shall come to a dreadful end! "Anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life - was thrown into the Lake of Fire!" Revelation 20:15

1) I know that some people do not believe that there is any Hell at all. They think it impossible, that there can be such a place. They call it inconsistent with the mercy of God. They say that it is too awful an idea to be really true. The devil of course, rejoices in the views of such people. They help his kingdom mightily. They are preaching up the devil's old, favorite doctrine, "You shall not surely die!" Genesis 3:4

2) I know furthermore, that some do not believe that Hell is eternal! They tell us it is incredible, that a compassionate God will punish people forever. They imagine that He will surely open the prison doors of Hell at last. This also is a mighty help to the devil's cause.

3) I know also that some believe that there is a Hell - but never allow that anybody is going there! They imagine that . . .
  all people are good,
  all are sincere,
  all mean well, and
  all, they hope, will go to Heaven when they die!
Alas! what a common delusion is this!

If I never spoke of Hell - I would think I had kept back something that was profitable, and would look on myself as an accomplice of the devil.

Reader, I beseech you, in all tender affection - beware of false views of the subject on which I have been dwelling. Beware of new and strange doctrines about Hell and the eternity of punishment. Beware of manufacturing a god of your own:
  a god who is all mercy - but not just;
  a god who is all love - but not holy;
  a god who has a Heaven for everybody - but a Hell for none;
  a god who will make no distinction between godly and the ungodly in eternity.
Such a god is an idol of your own imagination! It is as truly an idol - as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple! The hands of your own imagination and sentimentality have made it! It is not the God of the Bible - and beside the God of the Bible, there is no God at all.

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A few, easy, or gentle strokes!

(John Owen)

Let no man think to kill sin -- with a few, easy, or gentle strokes!

He who has once smitten a serpent, if he does not beat it until it is slain -- may regret that he ever began the quarrel!

Just so it is with the one who undertakes to deal with sin -- and does not constantly pursue it to its death!

"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5

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The characteristics of the modern Christian pulpit!

(J.C. Ryle)

"John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath! Produce fruit in keeping with repentance!" Luke 3:7-8

Well would it be for the Church of Christ, if it possessed more plain-speaking ministers like John the Baptist.
  A morbid dislike to strong language;
  an excessive fear of giving offence;
  a constant flinching from directness and plain speaking--
are, unhappily, too much the characteristics of the modern Christian pulpit!

Uncharitable language is no doubt always to be deprecated. But there is no 'charity' in flattering unconverted people--by abstaining from any mention of their vices, or in applying smooth names to their damnable sins!

There are two texts which are too much forgotten by Christian preachers. In one it is written, "Woe unto you--when all men shall speak well of you!" (Luke 6:26)

In the other it is written, "Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people--I would not be Christ's servant." (Galatians 1:10)

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The glorious effects produced by it

(James Smith, "Paul's Determination" 1861)

Most men have some favorite subject - and Paul had his. Many subjects were embraced in his ministry - but one fixed his eye, filled his heart, and occupied most of his attention. We may be sure, from the wisdom he generally displayed, and the abundance of grace that he possessed - that it was an important and worthy subject. It was "Christ crucified!" Therefore alluding to his first visit to Corinth, he said, "I determined to know nothing while I was with you - except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:2. What a wondrous subject! What a wondrous Savior! Paul had seen glorious effects produced, by preaching it elsewhere. He knew that if this doctrine would not win them, and bring them back to God - nothing could.

We have been preaching and writing about Christ crucified for many years. We have also seen the glorious effects produced by it. We have seen . . .
  the hardened - melted down into penitence and love;
  the miserable - made happy;
  the sorrowful - filled with comfort;
  the guilty - put in possession of pardon;
  the filthy - made pure and holy;
  the troubled - made calm and peaceful;
  and the cruel - made kind and gentle!

What an honor God confers upon you, by sending a message to you at all, especially such a message. It is . . .
a message of mercy - to miserable sinners;
a message of grace - to unworthy sinners;
a message of provision made - for very poor and needy sinners;
a message of comfort - for desponding sinners;
a message to alarm - for careless sinners;
a message to solemnly warn - for obstinate sinners;
an invitation to backsliders to return - that they may once more be happy and holy;
a message of encouragement, direction, and winning love - to those who believe in Jesus.

"I determined to know nothing while I was with you - except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."

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Life quickly glides away!

(James Smith, "The Time is Short!" 1860)

"But this I say, brethren -- the time is short!" 1 Corinthians 7:29

Our time on earth is short -- and it is daily growing shorter!

Life quickly glides away -- and death and eternity rapidly approaches.

In a little while -- we shall close our eyes on all the scenes of earth, and be done with all the concerns of time.

Few things fly swifter than time, or teach us more solemn lessons. Yet we slight them, and forget them, or fail to improve them. O for grace to derive comfort, reproof, and stimulus from the brevity of time.

"The time is short!" Then our troubles must be short, for they are all limited to time. They are the offspring of sin, and will not out-live their parent! Every trouble, leaves one the less to be endured. Soon the last trouble will arrive! Let us therefore . . .
  bear them with patience,
  endure them with fortitude, and
 rejoice in the prospect of bidding them an eternal farewell.
Our sharpest, severest trials--will soon be ended! And then, all that will remain, will be eternal peace and joy!

"The time is short!" Then the pleasures of time will soon terminate!

As sweet as they are -- they are all fleeting!

Prize them as we may -- we must soon part with them. Not one of them will go with us beyond the dying bed. Let us not, then, value them too highly, or set our hearts too much upon them.

Earthly comforts, worldly distinctions and honors -- will soon have passed away. The rich and the poor will soon meet together in the graveyard. The peasant and the prince, the beggar and monarch -- will alike slumber together in the dust. Let us then, if tempted to think too much of the worldly distinctions, or value too highly the comforts of life -- remember that the time is short!

"The time is short!" Then Jesus will soon be here! How will many things appear, which now occupy our time, engross our attention, and steal away our hearts -- when Jesus comes?

Believer, "the time is short," lift up your head with joy. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for. . .
  your tribulation will soon cease,
  your sorrow will soon flee away, and
  the days of your mourning shall be ended.

Time is the limit of your trials, temptations, and troubles.

Time is the limit of your conflicts, doubts, and fears.

Time is the limit of your pains, privations, and griefs.

Beyond time -- all is . . .
  peace and pleasure,
  purity and perfection,
  happiness and rest!

Lift up then your head with joy, for your redemption, your eternal redemption draws near!

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Our sins forged the nails!

(James Smith, "The Grave of Jesus" 1861)

"When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him." Luke 23:33

What brought Him there?
It was our sins--and His own infinite love.
Our sins alone could not--for He was not involved in them.
His love alone could not--for as innocent, He could not die.
But out of His pure, infinite, and eternal love--He became answerable for our sins. He engaged to bear them, atone for them, and remove them forever!

"He died for our sins."
He suffered--because we had sinned,
He died--because we deserved to die, and
He lay in the grave for a time--that we may not lie in hell forever!

Our sins . . .
  forged the nails that fastened Him to the tree,
  planted the thorns that pierced His brow, and
  sharpened the spear that was thrust into His heart!

O what an evil must sin be--to bring the Son of God into such a state of suffering and humiliation!

O what love must the love of Jesus be--that induced Him to take our place, and suffer and die in our stead!

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The Lamb of God being roasted in the fire of God's wrath!

(Thomas Watson, "A Treatise Concerning Meditation")

Meditate much on Hell. Let us go into Hell by contemplation -- that we may not go into Hell by condemnation.

How hopeless is the condition of the damned! There is neither intermission nor mitigation in their pains. The ancients fabled of Endymion, that he got permission from Jupiter always to sleep. What would the damned in Hell give for such a license!

The serious meditation on Hell, would make us fear sin as Hell. Sin is Hell's fuel! Sin like Samson's foxes, carries devouring fire in its tail.

Meditation on Hell should cause rejoicing in a child of God. A believer may fear to think of the place of torment -- but rejoice to think he shall never come into that place. A child of God, when he thinks of Hell -- he rejoices with trembling. A prison is not made for the king's son to be put in. A great naturalist observes that nothing will so soon quench fire -- as salt and blood; but I am sure of this -- the salt brinish tears of repentance, and the blood of Christ will quench the fire of Hell to a believer.

Christ Himself has felt the pains of Hell for you -- the Lamb of God being roasted in the fire of God's wrath! By this burnt-offering, the Lord is now appeased towards His people. Oh how may the godly rejoice! Christ being for a time in the fiery furnace of God's wrath -- that fire can do a believer no hurt. The saints have the garment of Christ's righteousness upon them, and the fire of Hell can never singe this garment!

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

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As many heads as a Hydra - and as many lives as a cat!

(Letters of John Newton, 1775)

My chief and abiding trial lies within; and I hope that the Lord will sanctify it - to make me by degrees 'little' in my own eyes. I long to be able to use Job's words, with the same feeling as I believe Job had when he spoke them, "Behold, I am vile!" (Job 40:4.) The acknowledgment in words is quite easy - but really and in good earnest to "abhor myself" and repent in dust and ashes - is most difficult. I know that I ought to be humbled before Him - but I want to be so indeed.

But hat monster SELF has as many heads as a Hydra - and as many lives as a cat! It is more than 25 years since I hoped it was fast nailed to the cross - but alas, it is still very much alive - and still mixing with, and spoiling everything I do!

(N.B. A 'Hydra' is a mythical multi-headed monster, whose heads re-grew after they were cut off.)

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Our thorn!

(J. R. Miller, "The Blossoming of Our Thorns" 1905)

"To keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud." 2 Corinthians 12:7

We do not know how much of Paul's rich, beautiful life, and his noble work for his Master--he owed to his thorn. Just so, we do not know how much we are indebted to our sufferings and sorrows. Our richest lessons--are the fruit of pain, of weakness, of sorrow.

There is not one of us who has not his own thorn. With one it may be a bodily infirmity or weakness. With another it is some disfigurement which cannot be removed. It may be some difficulty in circumstances, something which makes it hard to live beautifully.

The Master told Paul that his thorn was necessary to him--to save him from becoming proud. We may think of our thorn, too--as something we need. Instead of allowing it to irritate us or to spoil our life--its mission is to make us sweet, patient, loving. Many people beseech the Lord to take away their thorn. Yet it may be, that the prayer is not answered, will not be answered, should not be answered. It may be, that the thorn is necessary to keep them humble at God's feet.

God sends some of our best blessings to us in our thorns, and it will be a sad thing if we thrust them away and miss them.

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What an amazing word!

(Thomas Watson, "A Treatise Concerning Meditation")

Meditate on ETERNITY. What an amazing word is eternity!

Eternity to the godly--is a day which has no sun-setting!
Eternity to the wicked--is a night which has no sun-rising!

Eternity is a gulf which may swallow up all our thoughts. Meditate on that scripture, "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life." Matthew 25:46.

Meditate upon eternal PUNISHMENT. The bitter cup which the damned drink of, shall never pass away from them. The sinner and the furnace shall never be parted. God's vial of wrath will be always dropping upon a wicked man. When you have reckoned up so many myriads and millions of years, nay, ages--as have passed the bounds of all arithmetic, eternity is not yet begun!

This word forever breaks the heart!

If the tree falls hell-ward--there it lies to all eternity! Now is the time of God's long-suffering; after death will be the time of the sinner's long-suffering, when he shall "suffer the vengeance of eternal fire!" Jude 7.

Meditate upon eternal LIFE. The soul that is once landed at the heavenly shore, is past all storms! The glorified soul shall be forever bathing itself in the rivers of pleasure. "You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand!" Psalms 16:11. This is what makes heaven to be heaven--"We shall be forever with the Lord!" This makes up the garland of glory!

Meditation on eternity, would make us very SERIOUS in what we do. The thoughts of an irreversible condition after this present life, would make us live as for eternity.

Meditation on eternity, would make us overlook present WORLDLY things--as flitting and fading. What is this present world, to him that has eternity in his eye? It is but nothing. He who thinks of eternity, will despise "the passing pleasures of sin."

Meditation on eternity would be a means to keep us from envying the wicked's prosperity. Here on earth, the wicked may be "dressed in purple and fine linen, and live in luxury every day." But what is this, compared to eternity? As long as there is such a thing as eternity, God has time enough to reckon with all His enemies!

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These are the words which the Lord Jesus Christ Himself employs!

(J.C. Ryle)

Settle it firmly in your mind, that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has spoken most plainly about the reality and eternity of Hell. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus contains things which should make men tremble! But it does not stand alone. No lips have used so many words to express the awfulness of Hell--as the lips of Him who spoke as never any man spoke:
   Hell,
   Hell-fire,
   the damnation of Hell,
   eternal damnation,
   the resurrection of damnation,
   everlasting fire,
   the place of torment,
   eternal destruction,
   outer darkness,
   the worm that never dies,
   the fire that is never quenched,
   the place of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth,
   everlasting punishment--
these are the words which the Lord Jesus Christ Himself employs!

Away with the miserable nonsense which people talk of in this day, who tell us that the ministers of the gospel should never speak of Hell! They only show their own ignorance, or their own dishonesty--when they babble in such a manner! No person can honestly read the four Gospels, and fail to see that those who would follow the example of Christ, must speak of Hell!

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Wise Counsel for Preachers

The year was 1768. A twenty-eight year old preacher by the name of Augustus Toplady, who wrote many of our best hymns, including "Rock of Ages", spent the afternoon in London with Mr. Brewer -- an older, veteran Gospel preacher, whom he greatly admired and from whom he learned much. This is what Mr. Brewer said to the young Toplady, as Toplady later recorded in his diary:

I cannot conclude without reminding you, my young brother, of some things that may be of use to you in the course of your ministry:

    1. Preach Christ crucified, and dwell chiefly on the blessings resulting from His righteousness, atonement, and intercession.

    2. Avoid all needless controversies in the pulpit; except it be when your subject necessarily requires it; or when the truths of God are likely to suffer by your silence.

    3. When you ascend the pulpit, leave your learning behind you. Endeavor to preach more to the hearts of your people -- than to their heads.

    4. Do not affect too much oratory. Seek rather to profit your hearers -- than to be admired by them.


Christian ministers would do well to print out these four simple principles, tuck them in their Bibles, are refer to them every time they preach!

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The time has come for my departure!

(James Smith, "The Better Land")

"The time has come for my departure! I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day!" 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Aged believer, the time of your departure will soon come! Do not let your mind be troubled as to . . .
  where you shall die,
  when you shall die,
  or how you shall die!
These are all minor matters -- and ought not to affect you.

Simply look at death as Jesus did: "Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world--and go to His Father!" John 13:1

Why should you regret to leave a poor world like this -- where sin, sorrow, pain, grief, disappointment, and anxiety meet you at every turn? Why should you be reluctant to go HOME -- to go to your Father?
Do you not want to see His face?
Do you not want to enjoy His company?
Do you not want to be perfectly happy in His presence?

"I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" Philippians 1:23