Grace Gems

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

Born with a tear in his eye!
by Octavius Winslow
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  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Could you be so selfish--and so cruel?

(G. Whyte, 1888 )

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain!" Revelation 21:3-4

Would you call them back to earth again?

Would you wish them back--back from the presence of the Lamb?

Back from the sweets of glory--to the bitterness of time?

Back from those rivers of pure pleasure which flow at God's right hand--to the muddied streams in this valley of sorrow?

After they have reached the haven of rest--would you recall them to struggle again with the storms of life?

Could you be so selfish--and so cruel?

"They feast on the abundance of Your house; you give them drink from Your river of delights!" Psalm 36:8

"You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand!" Psalm 16:11

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

Two infamous strumpets!
by Thomas Brooks
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  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Such lessons!

(Thomas Brooks, "The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod" or, "The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes" 1659)

"Blessed is the man you chasten, O Lord--the man You teach from your law." Psalm 94:12

All the chastening in the world, without divine teaching--will never make a man blessed. That man who finds correction attended with instruction, and lashing with lessoning--is a happy man.

If God, by the affliction which is upon you, shall teach you:
  how to loathe sin more, and
  how to trample upon the world more, and
  how to walk with God more
--then your afflictions are blessed.

If God shall teach you by afflictions:
  how to die to sin more, and
  how to die to your relations more,
  and how to die to your self more
--then your afflictions are blessed.

If God shall teach you by afflictions:
  how to live to Christ more,
  how to lift up Christ more, and
  how to long for Christ more
--then your afflictions are blessed.

If God shall teach you by afflictions:
  how to mind heaven more,
  how to live in heaven more, and
  how to be fit for heaven more
--then your afflictions are blessed.

If God by afflictions shall teach:
  your proud heart how to lie more low,
  your hard heart how to grow more tender,
  your censorious heart how to grow more kind,
  your carnal heart how to grow more spiritual,
  your froward heart how to grow more quiet
--then your afflictions are blessed.

When God teaches your thoughts as well as your brains, your heart as well as your head, any of these lessons--then your afflictions are blessed.

Where God loves--He afflicts in love. And wherever God afflicts in love, there He will, sooner or later, teach His people such lessons as shall do them good to all eternity!

[nChrist]

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All that we can need for life or death, time or eternity!

(James Smith, "The Wealthy Family!")

"There is no lack to those who fear Him!" Psalm 34:9

They are not truly wealthy--who appear to be so--or who boast of being so.

The lost sinner must be poor. He has . . .
   no God to comfort him;
   no Savior to deliver him;
   no Guide to conduct him;
   no Advocate to plead for him;
   no inward peace to support him;
   no title to Heaven to encourage him.

He is poor. He is in need. He will need . . .
   confidence and comfort in death;
   a wedding garment, in which to appear before God;
   and a comfortable home throughout eternity!

Every lost sinner is indeed poor. His resources will soon be exhausted, and he will find himself "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked!" He may have the appearance of prosperity--but not the reality. True riches belong to another family.

The Lord's people all fear Him; that is, they fear to offend Him, and desire above all things to please Him. And though they may appear poor--they are really rich! God has provided all good things for them--and He gives all good things to them.

They have a solid peace, flowing from a knowledge of acceptance with God, through the blood of Jesus.

They have a joyful hope, which blooms with immortality.

They are assured of strength equal to their day; and of sanctifying grace to make all their troubles work for their good.

They are content with God's wise and holy appointments; and godliness with contentment is a good fortune.

They acquiesce in the will of God; and are often filled with joy which flows from His presence.

They obtain victory over the temptations which would ensnare them.

They live above the world, which would allure and beguile them.

They are sure of support in death.

They look forward to a joyful resurrection.

They rightly anticipate Heaven as their portion forever!

There is no lack to them, for all that they can truly need, is promised--and every promise is confirmed by the blood of Jesus!

Jehovah is theirs--along with all that He is, and has!

His power is their support!

His wisdom is their guide!

His fullness is their fortune!

His mercy is their friend!

His love is their Heaven.

"Happy are the people who are in such a case!" All the Lord's people are really in this case--and therefore they are all happy!

Just think of having Almighty God for your present, constant, eternal Friend!

Think of having the wealth of Deity to supply and satisfy you!

And if you sincerely fear God--then this is the reality of your case! No truth is more clearly revealed in Scripture. No subject is more rich with consolation!

Strength may be exhausted,
health may decline,
courage may fail,
riches may flee,
friends may forsake,
enemies may increase,
all circumstances may change for the worse--but
"those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing!"

Sweet promise of a faithful God!

Here, pilgrim, is your staff--take it and travel home!

Here, saint, is your cordial--drink and forget your misery!

Here, believer, is your fortune--take it and live upon it, while a resident here below.

Here, fearful soul, is your antidote--use it to dispel your fears and cheer your fainting heart!

"The young lions may lack food and go hungry--but there is no lack to those who fear Him!"

Here is wealth! Here is comfort!

Here is all that we can need for life or death, time or eternity!

[nChrist]

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Open wide your mouth--and I will fill it!

(James Smith, "Privilege, Duty, and Promise")

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth--and I will fill it!" Psalm 81:10

Our great privilege is to have God for our God:
  to know Him,
  to love Him,
  to adore Him,
  and to trust in Him.

If God is ours--then all must be well. If God has delivered us from . . .
  the Egypt of this world,
  the power of sin, and
  the tyranny of Satan--
then He is our God indeed.

He says, "I am Jehovah--the compassionate God . . .
  who sympathizes with My people in their sorrows,
  who counts their tears,
  who feels their groans, and
  who records their prayers."

"I am Jehovah--the God of power . . .
  who delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage;
  whose strength is as infinite as My nature,
  for whom nothing is too hard."

"I am Jehovah--the God of love . . .
  whose resources are boundless,
  whose pity is tender, and
  who never fails or forsakes those who trust in Him."

"I am Jehovah--your God . . .
  pledged to you by promise;
  engaged for you by covenant;
  and bound to you by oath!

As I am your God . . .
  look to Me,
  trust in Me,
  expect from Me."

"Open your mouth wide!" That is, "Ask LARGELY--ask for great, numerous, and costly blessings! Do not be afraid of asking for too much!
My heart is large,
My love is great,
My wealth is unbounded!

Ask BOLDLY--do not be afraid--but come boldly to My throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Ask FREQUENTLY--I am always ready to give! I am never weary of listening to your prayers. Come whenever you are in need--I rejoice to do you good. No parent ever delighted to give to a darling child--as I delight to give to you! Therefore ask and receive, that your joy may be full.

"Open your mouth wide--and I will fill it!" That is, "I have the very blessings which you need. They are from Me--they are for you! I have the disposition to give! Do not doubt My benevolence, for this grieves My heart. I give you My word, that I will bestow My favors upon you freely, plentifully, and frequently! My Word is plain--read it; it is faithful--trust it; it is honest--plead it; it is sure--expect the fulfillment of it. I will do exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think!"

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth--and I will fill it!"

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

Could every damned sinner weep a whole ocean!
Thomas Brooks, powerful! Play Audio! Download Audio

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Oh, how dreadful the thought--to go to Hell through the church of God!

(James Smith, "The Alarming Sentence!")

"A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it--but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard: For three years now, I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree--and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil!" Luke 13:6-7

Let us look at Christ's figure a little:
A fig-tree--or a professor of the religion of Christ.
A fruitless fig-tree--or a barren, useless professor.
A fig-tree with leaves of profession--but not the fruit of holiness.

No place is as dangerous for an unconverted person--as the church of God! It is to be feared that many join the church before they are truly converted; and yet very, very few are ever converted after.

Once under a profession--God expects you to live up to that profession.
If you are planted in His vineyard--God expects you to bring forth fruit.

The owner of the vineyard comes and seeks fruit; He comes again, and again; and if He find none, He passes this solemn sentence, "Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil!"

Concerning every fruitless professor God says, "Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil! It drains the ground of its nourishment, for no good purpose. Labor is but lost upon it; expectation is disappointed by it; therefore, Cut it down! My patience and forbearance are worn out; I have come three years seeking fruit--and find none; so, Cut it down!"

It is a fearful sentence! God gives the command to some disease--He says, "Go, cut that barren professor down!" He sends death, like the woodsman with his sharpened axe--at length he strikes the fatal blow; and then the fruitless professor falls!

This command of God is fearful--it is full of terror--it includes utter destruction!

This command is irresistible--we cannot evade it--we cannot brave it out--the boldest heart fails--the strongest body yields to God's "Cut it down!"

This command is final! There is all that is dreadful wrapped up in it--even a certain, fearful expectation of God's judgment, and the raging fire that will consume His enemies!

The fruitless professor is to be cut down and committed to the eternal flames of Hell!
Here is wrath--fearful wrath!
Here is justice--inflexible justice!
Here is vengeance--the vengeance of an infinite God!

O fruitless professor. . .
  Consider!
  Fear!
  Tremble!
  Repent!

God looks for fruit from every professor. He will certainly punish--if there is no fruit.

Fruitless professor--where will you be soon? The axe lies at your root, even now! The executioner is only awaiting the command!

Divine mercy will soon urge her last plea; the year of reprieve will soon expire--and then, "Cut it down!" is all that remains! Oh, how dreadful the thought--to go to Hell through the church of God! To profess that you are traveling to Heaven--when in reality you are going with the lost multitude to eternal perdition!

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

Halifax nuts!
by Thomas Brooks
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  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

A never-dying appetite for sin!

(Thomas Watson)

"They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues--but they refused to repent and glorify Him. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores--but they refused to repent of what they had done!" Revelation 16:9, 11

If men would men live forever--they would sin forever!

Some think it harsh, that for the sins committed in a few years--they should undergo eternal torment. But here lies the justice and equity of it--it is because sinners have an everlasting principle of sin in them. Their stock of corruption is never spent. They have a never-dying appetite for sin--which is justly punished with a never-dying worm! "Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched!" Mark 9:44

Sin is worse than Hell. Torment has its epitome in Hell--yet nothing in Hell is as bad as sin.

Hell is of God's making--but sin is not of God's making. Sin is the devil's creature!

The torments of Hell are a burden only to the sinner--but sin is a burden to God!

In the torments of Hell, there is something which is good, namely, the execution of divine justice. There is justice to be found in Hell--but sin is a piece of the highest injustice. Sin would rob God of His glory, Christ of His purchase, and the soul of its happiness.

Sin is the most hateful thing--for it is worse than the torments of Hell.

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

Murder all his hearers at once!
Thomas Brooks, on unholy preachers
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The worthless sinner's place!

(James Smith, "The Wise Choice!")

"Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her!" Luke 10:42

We often manifest our folly in our choices--but Mary displayed her wisdom. She chose to sit at the feet of Jesus as a humble learner--she . . .
  loved His person,
  admired His preaching,
  desired to learn His doctrine,
  and above all to imbibe His spirit.
Her object was communion with Him--in which we become conformed unto His image. In her choice she revealed . . .
  great spirituality of mind;
  true wisdom and discernment;
  attachment to her Lord and His doctrine;
  deadness to the world and its vain formalities;
  a concern for the present welfare of her own soul;
  and a willingness to renounce all for Jesus.

Happy Mary! Honorable woman! May you be my pattern! Your choice was wise; your part was a worthy portion; and your example is held up for our imitation!

At the feet of Jesus we are safe--no enemy can overcome us there!
At the feet of Jesus we are holy--no sin can gain dominion there!
At the feet of Jesus we are happy--no trouble can be too much for us there!

My soul, choose Mary's place--and Mary's portion.
There is a place at the feet of Jesus for you!
Your sin is no obstacle in the way--for Jesus will pardon that!
Your unworthiness is no barrier--for it is the worthless sinner's place!

Oh, take your place at His feet now!
Listen to His sweet voice,
receive His holy doctrines,
taste His precious love,
rest your soul on His atoning blood--
and Heaven will immediately begin in your soul!

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

No mind has imagined!
Thomas Brooks, superb, on Heaven!
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  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

God's sweetest attribute!

(James Smith, "The Book That Will Suit You!")

Men are deficient in mercy--but God, our God in Jesus, will display the greatest kindness and compassion to His children. This renders Him so amiable, suitable, and glorious in the estimation of His people. Mercy is God's sweetest attribute . . .
  as beautiful as the morning light,
  as measureless as the waters of the ocean,
  as boundless as illimitable space,
  as refreshing as the early dew,
  as glorious as the noon-day sun!

God's mercy is like His nature--pure, lovely, and eternal. His mercy is suited to all the needs of His children--it is free, full, and meets every case! Christian, the Lord assures you that He has mercy for you!

He has pardoning mercy--which will suit your sinfulness; mercy which will blot out your sins, and remove them from you as far as the east is from the west!

He has delivering mercy--which will meet your misery; mercy which will deliver you from . . .
   the power of sin,
   the bondage of Satan,
   the curse of the law,
   the fear of death,
   the terrors of judgment, and
   all the soul-troubles which may fall upon you on earth!

His mercy is tender mercy--which will suit the sickness of your soul. He will sympathize with you, pity you, and manifest the greatest forbearance and love. His mercy is so tender, that it will not break the bruised reed, or quench the smoking flax. It will . . .
  encourage the weak desire,
  fan the feeble spark into a flame,
  and take the will for the deed.

His mercy is supplying mercy--to meet your needs and defects. It will supply all your needs, according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Whether your needs are temporal or spiritual--He will supply you. He will give you both grace and glory; and no good thing will He withhold from you, if you walk uprightly.

It is also sanctifying mercy--to suit your impurity. It will wash you in the laver of the Word, and in the fountain of a Savior's blood. It will teach you to wash your robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. It will sanctify your troubles, and make all things work together for your good.

It is rescuing mercy, which will appear for you, and deliver you from all the dangers which may line your way--and at last present you faultless before the throne of God!

In a word--God's mercy will meet every case, circumstance, and condition in which it is possible for you to be placed!

Reader, let me exhort you to dwell much on this excellent attribute of your God. Meditate on God as all-merciful and all-sufficient for our every state!

[nChrist]

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God's prison!

(James Smith, "The Book You Will Like!" 1859)

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment--but the righteous to eternal life!" Matthew 25:46

The lost sinner takes the greatest of all risks--he risks suffering the torments of Hell forever, rather than yield himself to God.

He is in DANGER--the greatest possible danger; for he has broken God's law, is under its curse, and cannot possibly be saved--unless its demands are met, and its penalty endured.

How can he meet its demands? He is insolvent, and has nothing to pay.

How can he endure its penalty, which is to be punished with everlasting destruction?
The penalty due to sin--is Hell.
Hell is torment, wrath, despair!
  Eternal torment!
  Just and infinite wrath!
  Never-ending despair!

If even the thought of these things is dreadful--then what must it be to actually endure them--and endure them forever, without hope, or mitigation, or end!

O what a fearful thing--to be in danger of Hell-fire! O how terrible the thought of being shut up in black despair, with devils and damned souls--the refuse of God's creation!

Hell is God's prison--where all His enemies are confined!

It is the place of punishment--where everyone suffers the just desert of his crimes!

It is a place horrible beyond description--beyond conception!

O, lost sinner! Hell is a dreadful place! To be damned is a terrible doom! It is forever! Yes, the worm that torments you--will never die; and the fire that punishes you--will never be quenched!

If you, my dear friend, live--neglecting God--walking in your own ways, and gratifying only your own passions and propensities--then you must go to Hell, and suffer God's just wrath--the punishment due to you for your sins!

God asks you, "Why will you die?" Why do you prefer . . .
  death--to life,
  damnation--to salvation,
  Satan--to Jesus,
  Hell--to Heaven?

Why?

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

That immortal bird!
Thomas Brooks, powerful and sobering!
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  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

An unsaved person's perspective of Christians

(James Smith, "The Book You Will Like!" 1859)

I do not believe that you Christians believe your own creed--for if you were persuaded that things really are as your Bibles teach, and that we poor lost people were really going to such a dreadful place as you say Hell is--then you would act more humanely toward us.

If you saw our houses on fire--you would run and help us to put the fire out; or if you saw us in danger of death--you would try to do something to save us. But you pretend to believe that we are going to Hell, and that Hell burns with fire and brimstone forever, and that once there we can never get out--and yet you talk to us about all sorts of things--but never say one word to us about saving our souls from this terrible doom!

So I have reasoned thus: either you Christians don't believe what you say--or else you must be the most hardened and unfeeling wretches in the universe! Now, as I don't believe that you are such cruel, hardened, and unfeeling people as this supposes--then I must conclude that, with all your talk--you Christians don't really believe what your Bibles teach!

For if you really believe what you say about sin, and Hell, and our danger--then you would act differently; and if you have a spark of kindness in your hearts--you would try to save us from such a dreadful doom. And, on the other hand, if you do not believe what you profess--then you Christians cannot be honest; and to say the least, there must be a great deal of hypocrisy among you.

Now, I honestly tell you that these are the things which have stumbled me more than anything, and until I can see you Christians act differently--I will not be persuaded to believe what your sort of folks say.

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

The silver vein of sanctity!
Thomas Brooks, on holy living.
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  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Such I may have been--but for free and sovereign grace!

(James Smith, "The Book That Will Suit You!")

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

Consider what you were--before saved by sovereign grace. Your heart was enmity against God, deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked! You did not have one pure desire, one holy thought, or one feeling of love to God.

Further, what would you have been--but for the grace of God? Look at the vilest, the most debased, the most debauched of our race--and you may truly say, "Such I may have been--but for free and sovereign grace!"

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

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

All the hell that you shall ever have!
Thomas Brooks, uplifting.
Play Audio! Download Audio

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Must we have our bracelets and diamonds?

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

"Then He said to them all: If anyone wants to come with Me,
he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me!"
    Luke 9:23

Must we have our bracelets and diamonds--when
Christ had the nails and spear going to His heart!

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

The dregs of old age!
Thomas Brooks, insightful and encouraging.
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  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

When His influence is put forth within us

(James Smith, "The Spirit of Grace" 1864)

All that the Spirit does for us, and all that He works within us--is of grace. He graciously . . .
  quickens the dead,
  instructs the ignorant,
  liberates the captives,
  restores the wanderers,
  comforts the dejected,
  strengthens the weak,
  and sanctifies the impure.
His work is His delight--and to see us holy and happy is His pleasure!

The Holy Spirit produces all our graces within us. He is the root--and our graces are His fruits; hence we read, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."

When His influence is put forth within us--then we . . .
  believe God's Word,
  hope in His mercy,
  rejoice in His goodness,
  cleave to His cause,
  walk in His ways,
  love His truth, His people, and Himself,
  holiness is then happiness,
  duties are then pleasant, and
  even the cross lays light upon our shoulders.

But if the Spirit hides Himself, withdraws His influences, and leaves us to ourselves--then we . . .
  doubt and fear,
  fret and pine,
  kick and rebel,
  rove from thing to thing, and
  nothing will either please or satisfy us.
We often then . . .
  question the past,
  are wretched at present,
  and dread the future.

But when He puts forth His power in us again . . .
  our graces shoot forth like bulbous roots in the spring,
  our sighs are exchanged for songs,
  our fears are exchanged for fortitude,
  our doubts are exchanged for confidence, and
  our murmurings are exchanged for gratitude and love.
We then . . .
  sink into the dust of self-abasement,
  admire the forbearance and patience of God,
  condemn our own conduct, and
  wonder that we are out of Hell.

Then we take down our harps from the willows, and with a melting heart, a weeping eye, and a tremulous voice we sing, "The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance." Our wilderness is now turned into an Eden--and our desert into the garden of the Lord!

Come, Holy Spirit, come, and produce a spring season in our souls!

Brethren, we need the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of grace--to make us gracious and graceful Christians. Without the Spirit of grace . . .
  we cannot live up to our profession;
  we cannot copy the example of our beloved Master;
  we cannot keep His commandments;
  we cannot love one another as He has loved us;
  we cannot sympathize with lost sinners as we should;
  we cannot keep God's glory in view in all that we do;
  we cannot walk in high and holy fellowship with God;
  we cannot meet death with peace and joy!

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

The Devil's tennis balls!
Thomas Brooks, insightful.
Play Audio! Download Audio

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

The life-boat of free grace!

(James Smith, "The Complaint!" 1864)

"I am cast down!"

And why are you cast down?

"My heart is burdened with a sense of my short-comings!
Every duty I perform is so imperfect.
Every purpose I form is so soon frustrated.
Every hope of seeing better days is so soon beclouded.
My heart is so fearfully depraved.
My life is so unlike the life of Jesus.
My temper is so unholy.
My prayers are so brief and heartless.
My praises are so feeble and fitful.
I do so little good.
I live to so little purpose.
My evidences are so dim.
My prospects are so overcast.
I am harassed sometimes with the fear of death.
I cannot realize the glories of Heaven.
I am dissatisfied with the world--and yet glued to it!
I hate sin--and yet fall into it!
I am a riddle, a mystery, a mass of inconsistency!
Is it, then, any wonder that I am cast down?"

No, if you look at yourself, and pore over the things you have named--then it is no wonder that you are cast down! They are enough to cast anyone down! But if you carry them to the throne of grace, if you there confess them before God, if you look to Jesus to save you from them--then, in spite of them--you will not long be cast down.

I know it is difficult to do this. There is a natural proneness to pore over such things. One feels at times a secret liking to indulge in gloomy thoughts.

But we must look away from self--for if we do not, we shall become anxious, doubting and gloomy! We must run the race, not looking at our imperfections, short-comings, and failures--but looking unto Jesus. He knows what we are. He knew what we would be--before He called us by His grace; yes, before He shed His blood for us!
He loved us, as sinners.
He died for us, as sinners.
He called us, as sinners.
He saves us, as sinners. He will have all the glory of saving us, and He will get great glory by doing so, because we are such great sinners; and do not, cannot, do anything to repay Him for His wondrous love! Salvation is by free grace--from first to last! Believe this, and it will raise up your drooping mind!

The life-boat of free grace has put you on board the vessel of salvation, and that will convey you safely to the port of glory! Do not look at your spiritual destitution, or feebleness, or incapacity, or imperfections--but trust in your Pilot, rely on your Captain, and expect His mercy and merit to land you safe in Heaven at last!

As imperfect as you now are, and as imperfect you will be--your dying prayer will still be, "God be merciful unto me--a sinner!"

Hope in God!
His mercy is great unto the heavens,
His grace is as free as the air,
His love is as changeless as His nature,
His promise is as immutable as His love.

Hope in God, for you shall yet praise Him. He will save you for His own sake, and present you before assembled worlds as a monument of His mercy, and a trophy of His grace!

[nChrist]

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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

He drank it up--every drop!
by Thomas Brooks, precious.
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  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Up and at it!

(James Smith, "Wesley's Motto!" 1864)

"ALL at it--and ALWAYS at it!"

This was what John Wesley endeavored to impress upon all his followers--and this is what we would like to see impressed upon the mind of every Christian. We have much to do--and we have little time to do it in. We had need therefore, to be up and at it!

If ignorance is to be chased away,
if gospel knowledge is to be circulated,
if souls are to be saved,
if children are to be taught,
if churches are to grow,
if villages, towns, and cities are to be evangelized
--then we had need be ALL at it--and ALWAYS at it!

This is just . . .
  what the times call for,
  what the Gospel inculcates,
  what Satan dreads,
  what the carnal world dislikes--
therefore let us be "all at it--and always at it."

Let everyone undertake that part of the work for which he is most adapted--and persevere in that which he commences.

How many there are who profess Christ--who are doing nothing!
How many may easily do twice as much as they currently do.
Is it surprising . . .
  that the church is in such a poor spiritual state,
  that Popery spreads,
  that ignorance prevails,
  that congregations are thin,
  that little is accomplished,
  that ministers are dispirited, and
  that mature Christians are going home to sigh?
No! It is not at all surprising! The wonder is, that things are not worse!

Self-denial is rarely practiced,
the flesh is indulged,
the world is loved,
the earthly is preferred to the spiritual--and the present to the future.

Let us all go at it, and let us be always at it--until we hear the Master's voice calling unto us and saying, "Well done, good and faithful servants, enter into the joy of your Lord!"

But if we . . .
  neglect duty,
  despise warning,
  love ease,
  court pleasure,
  hunt for honor,
  use our Lord's money selfishly,
  and settle down upon our lees--
we shall by and bye see the day, when we will wish we had been ALL at it--and ALWAYS at it!

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain!" 1 Corinthians 15:58