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« Reply #2055 on: February 28, 2012, 03:31:32 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
Is this pleasing to God? James Smith, very insightful Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As we look at this slain Lamb!
(William Bacon Stevens, "The Lamb Slain!")
"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne!" Revelation 5:6
As we look at this slain Lamb--let us mark the direful malignity of sin! It was sin which . . . drew Christ from His throne in glory; humbled Him to the condition of humanity; made Him "a man of sorrows" all His days; hunted His life from infancy, and finally nailed Him to "the accursed tree!"
Had not man sinned--Jesus would never have become incarnate! Hence, every pang and woe which He endured in body and soul, from His miraculous birth to His ignominious death--were inflicted by sin!
Christians! wearers of Christ's name! professors of Christ's religion! Will you love sin? Will you be in league with and cherish that in your heart--which slew the Lamb of God? O, if you love sin; if you are resolved not to forsake it; if you do not hate it as the enemy of Christ, and your own soul--you are hugging that to your heart, which drove the nails into the hands, and thrust the spear into the side, of the Lamb of God!
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Revelation 5:12
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« Reply #2056 on: February 29, 2012, 11:25:44 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
The Gospel! James Smith, superb Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You shall see greater abominations than these!
(James Smith, "Daily Bible Readings for the Lord's Household")
"You shall see greater abominations than these!" Ezekiel 8:15
The prophet had no idea of the extent of Israel's wickedness; nor have we any adequate idea of the depravity of our hearts! We may have discovered much--but there is more concealed, than has yet been revealed. The work of the Holy Spirit is to . . . reveal these abominations to us, to humble us on account of them, to lead us to the blood of Jesus to be cleansed from them, and to set our hearts against them.
To see all the evils that are in our heart at once--would plunge us into black despair! Therefore it is only little by little, that the great depth of depravity is opened up to us. Herein we see God's mercy. Hereby we should be kept humble, watchful, prayerful, and daily exercising faith in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus.
No one knows the depths of our depravity, or the variety of abominations that are in our hearts--but God! If any other person knew the abominations of our heart--he would hate us on account of it! But God knows all--and yet loves us! This is Godlike. This is being full of compassion, abundant in goodness, and plenteous in mercy. May we be humble before God, hoping in His mercy.
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« Reply #2057 on: March 01, 2012, 05:47:41 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
Christ exalted! James Smith, precious Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Embracing Jesus Himself as our personal Redeemer!
(William Bacon Stevens, "The Almost Christian!")
"King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do!" Acts 26:27
Alas! Belief of the truths of Scripture, and practice of its precepts--are too often disjoined!
Alas! An intellectual or theoretical assent to Christianity--is often coupled with the most practical disregard of its duties!
It is indeed strange, that truths so momentous in themselves, and so vital to the interests of the soul, if believed at all--should not be followed by a practice conformable to that belief! Such conduct is contrary to all known principles of human conduct in worldly matters. Let a man be convinced of the truth of anything, or the propriety of any course of conduct which promises him temporal advantage--and how quickly does he carry his mind's beliefs into active practice!
Yet there are multitudes of people who believe the Bible to be God's Word--who do not receive it into their lives as a matter of living faith. Like Agrippa, they believe the prophets--and yet will not do what the prophets require!
If religion were a matter of the intellect only--then such men would be saved. But salvation reaches us, not so much through the faculties of the mind--as through the affections of the heart. For the mind, by its clear power of reason, may be forced to accept as true--that which the heart dislikes, and refuses to acknowledge, or obey.
We are saved, not by believing Christianity as a system--but by embracing Jesus Himself as our personal Redeemer!
This differentiates the Christian religion from all other religions and all other philosophies: they are all based on dogmas and beliefs--but the Christian religion is based on relationship with a Person!
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« Reply #2058 on: March 02, 2012, 01:43:29 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
The bitterness of sin! James Smith, very helpful Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Modern science and the Bible do not agree!
(William Bacon Stevens, 1815-1887)
What if science, as at present understood, and the Bible, do not agree? Shall we be troubled thereat? I think not. I rejoice to know that what is termed modern science and the Bible do not agree. I would be sorry if they did agree! Modern science is changeable--the Bible is unchangeable!
The science of today is not the science of last year, and will not be the science of the next year.
The Bible of today, is the Bible of all the Christian centuries; and will be a thousand years hence--just what it was nearly eighteen hundred years ago, when the canon of Scripture was closed!
Mark the changes which have taken place along the whole line of sciences since the beginning of this nineteenth century. What a catastrophe then would it have been--had it been proved that the Bible and science as known at the beginning of this century, fully agreed; that all the assertions of the Bible could be squared with the facts of science as then understood! The great tidal waves of science which have rolled over the world since, would have left the Bible stranded and ruined!
And just so now--could it be made clear today that every truth in the Bible accords with the received theories of science--what would become of the Bible fifty years hence, when science will have moved on with even more rapid strides, and left behind more wrecks of theories and more stranded speculations?
In the meanwhile, the Bible stands still in the solitary grandeur of its own perfection. It waits, as the ages roll on, for confirmation and acceptance. It was said by one of old, "God is patient, because He is eternal;" and the Bible, as the book of the God of truth, has this attribute of its divine Author. Its strength is to sit still. It does not go out hastily to meet a half-formed science, and embrace it as an ally--lest it should turn into a foe. It calmly tarries in the consciousness of its own truth--as the advances of science come nearer and nearer; and every advance of true science does bring it nearer to the Bible.
The opposition to that Bible, comes only from a class whose utterances, Paul has justly characterized as "the profane and vain babblings and oppositions of science falsely so called."
These differences between science and Scripture cannot be settled--because science is not settled. And science will never be settled, so long as there is an undiscovered fact in nature, or an inquiring mind in man!
"Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in Heaven!" Psalm 119:89
"The grass withers and the flowers fade--but the Word of our God stands forever!" Isaiah 40:8
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« Reply #2059 on: March 03, 2012, 07:52:07 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
The blindness of ministers! J.C. Ryle, very insightful Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Both apostles are right!
(William Bacon Stevens, "Waiting and Watching!")
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" James 2:14
The religion of Jesus Christ is made up of two parts--faith and works. Faith is the root of works. Works are the fruit of faith.
A belief, however true and pure, if it is accepted only by the intellect, and is not carried out into practice--translating the faith held by the mind, into active duties--is a barren faith, which will not be accepted by God, and which will not secure salvation.
On the other hand, works, however good, which do not spring out of faith in the Lord Jesus, but which are done merely from human and worldly motives--are of no avail before God, because "whatever is not of faith, is sin."
Thrice has James told us, "Faith without works is dead!" And just as distinctly has Paul declared, "By the works of the law, shall no flesh be justified in His sight."
Both apostles are right!
Works without faith--have no living root. Faith without works--has no authenticating fruit.
They are the two parts of the one tree, namely, the root and the fruit. They are the two halves of the one whole--together they make up the true Christian.
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by works, is dead!" James 2:17
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« Reply #2060 on: March 05, 2012, 08:50:19 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
Tell them that their poor brother is in flames-- tormenting flames, inextinguishable flames! James Smith, very powerful Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
One thing you lack!
(William Bacon Stevens, "The Almost Christian!")
"Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' He said. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor--and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow Me.' At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth." Mark 10:21-22
He who searched the heart, knew what the one thing lacking was--and hence put His probing finger on the defect, and made the young man see himself in a truer light than he had ever seen himself before.
What was the result? "At this the man's face fell." What did he do? "He went away sad." Why? "Because he had great wealth."
The one thing which he lacked, was a willingness to give up his besetting sin! That besetting sin was covetousness. He preferred to keep his possessions--rather than give them to the poor; he preferred the treasure on earth--to the treasure in Heaven; he preferred ease--to taking up a cross; he preferred the following of his own will--to following Jesus.
This most instructive case shows us how near, how very near, a person may be to the kingdom of Heaven--and yet fall short of it! They may lack but one thing: the giving up of a besetting sin; the willingness to make a personal sacrifice for Christ; the refusal to take up some cross; the drawing back from a full following of Jesus. Some one single sin, some one single difficulty--may thus obstruct the soul's entrance into Heaven, and prevent one from becoming an altogether Christian.
One sin deliberately persisted in--will certainly keep your soul out of Heaven!
One known duty deliberately disregarded--will surely secure your condemnation!
And a refusal to take up a cross and bear it after Jesus--must result in being only an almost Christian, and so fail of eternal life!
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« Reply #2061 on: March 05, 2012, 08:53:25 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio
Devotional:
O the wonders couched in electing love! James Smith, very encouraging Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The difficulties and mysteries of Scripture
(William Bacon Stevens, "Follow Me!")
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 29:28
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts--neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth--so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts!" Isaiah 55:8-9
The difficulties and mysteries of Scripture, necessarily result from the relations between God and man: God the infinite--man the finite; God the holy--man the sinner; God a Spirit--man a creature of flesh and blood; God in Heaven--man on earth; God inhabiting eternity--and man the creature of a day; God the Sovereign of the universe--and man the tiny, puny rebel to His throne. Mark these contrasts--measure their diversity. The very statement of them shows how impossible it is for man to be able to fully comprehend God or His dealings.
The question was asked of old, "Who, by searching, can find out God? Who can find out the Almighty?" And Solomon, the wisest of men, declared, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter." For if man knew as much as God--he must have the mind of God and the wisdom of God!
For eighteen hundred years the mind of man, with its measuring lines--has been endeavoring to fully understand God and His ways, and compute the measurements of His great truths--and yet they are no nearer the solution now, than when first revealed. There they stand in the firmament of theology, the great unresolvable nebulae of revelation; and no magnifying power of man's optics, and no space-penetrating power of man's devising--can unfold those mysteries, which at once challenge and test, the faith of man.
There can be no revelation of God which is free from mysteries--because human language cannot embody celestial thoughts and modes of divine existence. And the human mind could not comprehend terms and phrases which would truly reflect the person, glory, and work of the Almighty.
Divine thoughts, before they can be taken into our minds, have to be diluted into human words. Divine things have to be symbolized to us, by human or earthly types. And divine beings have to be described to us, by terms borrowed from human existences and of purely earthly signification. Hence, in the process of translation, dilution, and illustration--no one attribute of God, no one truth of God--can be fully revealed and understood.
We can only see the earthly side and the earthly terminus--the heavenly side and the heavenly starting-point, are all beyond our reach--far away out of sight! And there we must be content to let it be, ever standing with our eyes upturned to Jesus, holding in one hand the great doctrines of revealed truth, and in the other the precious assurances: "What I am doing, you do not understand now; but you shall know hereafter." John 13:7 "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
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« Reply #2062 on: March 06, 2012, 03:57:32 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
The sanctification of the Spirit James Smith, very insightful Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Indelible impressions!
(William Bacon Stevens, "Parental Responsibility")
We aid and abet the spiritual death of our children, by our irreligious example--both in doing that which is positively wrong, and in neglecting to do what is as positively required. As young as our child is--it has learned to join together precept and practice. And if we are professors of religion, our child has put along side of this profession--our daily walk and conversation, and is perpetually drawing inferences from the one to the other, either for, or against, the truth which we profess.
Uncurbed tempers, ill-governed passions; unbridled tongues, uncharitable words; lack of meekness, and gentleness, and truth; lack of sobriety of mind, and kindliness of heart; the absence of that strict conscientiousness which should mark all our actions; neglect of the Bible and of prayer; disregard of the means of grace; irrepressible worldliness, in ever dwelling upon "What shall we eat, and what shall we drink, and with what shall we be clothed?" --are leaving indelible impressions upon the minds of our offspring! So that, copying our habits of thought, speech, and action--our child's character in its essential characteristics, may be formed for eternity; before its mind is able to receive the precepts which perhaps we occasionally teach.
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« Reply #2063 on: March 11, 2012, 05:49:10 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
The garment which the Savior always wore! James Smith, very challenging Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The worldling's ease--but the godly man's end
(Thomas Sherman, "Divine Breathings; Or, a Pious Soul Thirsting after Christ")
All men desire happiness for their end--but few will have holiness for their way.
All men desire the kingdom of Heaven, and the glory thereof--but few seek the kingdom of Heaven, and the righteousness thereof.
A nobleman being asked whether he would rather be a godly Christian--or worldly pleasure seeker, answered, "I had rather live like the latter--and die like the former!" So most men had rather live like Balaam--but "die the death of the righteous!" They wish to have the worldling's ease--but the godly man's end.
But this is certain, no man shall go to God in death--unless he draws near to God in life. If the kingdom of God is not first in us--we shall never enter into the kingdom of God. None shall enter Heaven hereafter--but those who walk in Heaven here on earth.
None shall enter the gates of felicity--but those who tread the narrow paths of piety!
Lord! make me holy--as well as happy, that I may desire to glorify You, as well as to be glorified by You.
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« Reply #2064 on: March 11, 2012, 05:50:19 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
We soon grow dull, cold, lifeless, and inactive! James Smith, very challenging Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The path of sorrow
(William Bacon Stevens, "The Rainbow in the Cloud" 1856)
"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows." John 16:33
We live in a world of sin, and hence in a world of sorrow--for "man is born to sorrow, as the sparks fly upward." The apostle Paul tells us that "We must go through much tribulation to enter the kingdom of God." Thus it is true that . . . "The path of sorrow, and that path alone-- leads to the land where sorrow is unknown!"
That being so, it befits us to learn . . . how to transmute tribulations into blessings; how to turn God's chastening rod into a supporting staff; how to discern the rainbow in the cloud--while we are still wet with with raindrops of sorrow!
It is the design of this volume to aid in doing this comforting work. It seeks to ameliorate sorrow--not by a kind of moral anesthetic, deadening the sensibility of grief, and making the heart less susceptible to woe--but rather by showing to the afflicted, that chastenings are the sure evidenced of God's fatherly love.
The furnace of affliction is but the purifying agent to purge away our dross--that the great Refiner may see His own image reflected in purified souls.
In furnishing the strongest and most Scriptural consolation which can be offered to the sorrowful and stricken-hearted, we believe . . . that all our springs of comfort are in Jesus Christ, that they are applied to the soul by the Holy Spirit, that they are to be sought for by the prayer of faith, and that they result from the overflowing grace of our Heavenly Father. We are unwilling to lead the reader to any of the "broken cisterns of earth" for consolation, when the well-spring of Divine comfort, which can alone staunch his bleeding heart, is pouring forth its free and life-giving waters!
It is the lot of all, to be visited with sorrow. There is "a time to mourn" marked out in every man's life; and when that time comes, and the fainting spirit turns away from the "miserable comforters" of earth--may all who consult these pages find in God a refuge from every storm, and "a very present help" in every time of trouble. And may they be enabled so to look at their sorrows, with the clear-sighted eye of faith, that they shall discern "a rainbow" in every cloud of affliction; and "covenant mercy'' in every shower of grief!
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« Reply #2065 on: March 11, 2012, 05:51:24 PM » |
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Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
The OFFICES of Christ! James Smith, insightful Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The one startling monosyllable which rings all day long!
(William Bacon Stevens, "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!")
Why do we die?
Paul answers, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin; and in this way death came to all men--because all sinned!" Romans 5:12
Death, then, wherever we meet it, is the result of sin! And its sepulchral voice ever repeats, "Man has sinned!"
Every funeral knell--tolls the word sin.
Every stroke of the hammer that drives a nail into the coffin--strikes the sharp quick word sin.
Every passing hearse--rattles the word sin.
Every stroke of the chisel upon the gravestone--clicks the word sin.
Every burial service--tells of sin.
Sin is the one startling monosyllable which rings all day long, and all night long--like the cricket's monotone from every graveyard!
Sin is the one syllable--which the great sea ever moans forth from its charnel depths!
Sin is the one fearful cry--which dwells on the bloodless lips of the pestilence!
Sin is the one appalling shriek--which rings louder than the cannon's roar on the field of blood!
There is not a day, nor an hour, nor a minute, nor a second of time--when Death as he hurls his dart into some victim's heart, does not shout the word, which tells the whole story of himself and his deeds--and that one word is "SIN!"
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« Reply #2066 on: March 12, 2012, 05:42:44 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
O sad spectacle of misery, grief, and woe! by James Smith Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
My jewels!
(James Smith, "The Love of Christ! The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!")
"They shall be Mine, says the Lord Almighty--in the day when I make up My jewels!" Malachi 3:17
Jewels are costly and are highly valued by their owners.
We, though worthless in ourselves--cost our adorable Savior an immense price! To procure our release, to purchase our freedom--He left His Father's bosom, came into our world, labored, suffered, bled, and died! He gave Himself for us! We are bought at a very high price! We are His purchased possession, intended to deck His mediatorial crown, to reflect His praise, and to shine to His glory for evermore!
He highly values us. "Since you were precious in My sight!" He says. We are valued not according to our intrinsic excellence--but according to His estimation of us.
For our safety--He employs . . . His watchful eye, His powerful arm, His numerous angelic hosts!
For our security and preservation--He arranges, directs, and controls all things; so that all things work together for the best, to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose.
Soon we shall shine as the gemstones of His crown!
How strange, that He should value us so highly! That He should compare us to all that is beautiful, desirable, or costly in nature! But He really does so!
We are not only His subjects--His friends--His children--His brethren--His bride; but His ornaments--His jewels!
Men may despise us--our Savior will not!
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« Reply #2067 on: March 12, 2012, 05:43:44 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus! by James Smith Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hurl God from His throne!
(Henry Law, "Forgiveness of Sins" 1875)
"The carnal mind is enmity against God!" Romans 8:7
If the sinner's power were equal to his will-- he would invade the heaven of heavens, and hurl God from His throne! Man's secret chambers of imagination swarm with thoughts tainted with dislike of . . . God, His name, His nature, His perfections, His cause, His people, His Word, His scepter, His kingdom, His Christ.
Sin has strong inclinations, and they all are arrayed against God's righteous ways.
Sin has an ungodly bias towards the abominable things which God hates!
"The carnal mind is enmity against God!"
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« Reply #2068 on: March 13, 2012, 09:44:59 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
And then the Lord puts us into the furnace! by James Smith, very comforting Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The crowning sin of the ungodly!
(William Bacon Stevens, "The Parables" 1857)
"The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him!" John 3:36
Unbelief is the crowning sin of the ungodly! And until Christ is believed in, by a faith which "purifies the soul"--all other changes will be of no avail. We may correct this evil habit; we may prune away that sin; we may turn from debauchery to purity; we may turn from profanity to reverence; we may turn from covetousness to charity; we may polish our characters until we shall appear beautiful to ourselves and others; we may even have a sentimental regard for Christ, and experience a sort of respect for His ordinances, and join with external devotion in the praises of the sanctuary-- yet, build up these characters as high as we may, adorn them with every worldly ornament, set them off with every earthly virtue--unless Christ is formed in our hearts as the hope of glory--they are nothing "but white-washed sepulchers, which, indeed, appear beautiful outwardly--but within are full of dead bones and all uncleanness!"
On the other hand, no matter how evil may have been our former course, no matter what the turpitude of our character--though our sins are as black as midnight, and as numberless as the stars, and as vile as Hell itself; yet, if we now receive Christ into our hearts in the fullness of a faith that trusts in Him alone--all will be well! "Though your sins are like scarlet--I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson--I will make them as white as wool!" Isaiah 1:18
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« Reply #2069 on: March 14, 2012, 03:09:43 PM » |
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__________________________________________ From Grace Gems: Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures. Everything is FREE and Public Domain. FREE E-mail Subscription: http://www.gracegems.org/ ___________________________________________ Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
God's perfections and glorious attributes! by James Smith, very insightful Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Comfort in the cloudy and dark day!
(James Smith, "Daily Bible Readings for the Lord's Household")
"God, who comforts those who are downcast." 2 Corinthians 7:6
Many things cast us down--but only our God can effectually comfort us. He is the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. He delights to comfort His people--when comfort will do them good. He secures their welfare first--and makes comfort a secondary object. But He never sees His child in sorrow, without sympathy; nor long withholds the necessary cordial.
He comforts the downcast--especially those who are employing their talents in His service, and consecrating their energies to His praise.
Sometimes He brings home a sweet passage of His Word.
Sometimes He sends a Christian friend to speak with us.
Sometimes He cheers us through the preaching of the gospel.
Sometimes a sweet, soothing, comforting light beams upon the soul--and we feel relieved, refreshed, and encouraged; but scarcely know how or by what.
The Lord sends the comfort--whoever brings it. He is the Comforter of the downcast, and to Him alone let us look for comfort in the cloudy and dark day!
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