Grace Gems

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People who long to be rich

(Letters of John Newton)

An inordinate desire and attachment to the things of this present world, is a prevailing cause of a spiritual declension. Unless this evil principle is mortified in its root, by the doctrine of the cross--it will in time prevail over the most splendid profession. That love of the world, which is inconsistent with the true love of God--manifests itself in two different ways, as men by temper and habit are differently inclined:

The first is covetousness or greediness for gain. This was the ruin of Judas, and probably the cause of the defection of Demas. By the honorable mention made of him in some of Paul's epistles, Demas seems to have had much of Paul's confidence and esteem for a season. Yet at length his covetous passion prevailed, and the last account we have of him from the apostle, is, "Demas has deserted me--because he loved this present world." 2 Timothy 4:10

Again, there are people not chargeable with the love of money for its own sake--for they rather squander it--than hoard it. Yet they are equally under the influence of a worldly spirit! They manifest their worldly hearts--by an expensive taste in the articles of dress, furniture and feasting--which are always unsuitable to a Christian profession.

It is not easy to exactly mark out the precise line of Christian conduct in these respects, which befits the different situations in which the providence of God has placed us. Nor is it necessary, to those who are poor in spirit--and upright in heart. A simple desire of pleasing God, and adorning the gospel, will solve most cases of how a believer should spend his money--which occupy little and trifling minds. The inclination of our heart--will always direct and regulate our voluntary expenses. Those who love the Lord, and whose spirits are lively in His service, will avoid both stinginess and selfish extravagance. They will rather lean to the frugal side in how they spend their money on themselves--that they may be better able to promote God's cause, and to relieve the necessities of His people.

Misers, who can be content with the mere form of religion, will hoard all they can save--in order to gratify their avarice! Others will spend all they can spare--to gratify their vanity, or their worldly appetites!

It is not easy to determine which of these evils is the greatest. Perhaps of the two, the miser is least accessible to conviction, and consequently the most difficult to be reclaimed. But a desire for extravagance and indulgence, if persisted in--will gradually lead to such compliances with the spirit and maxims of the world, as will certainly weaken, if not wholly suppress--the exercise of vital godliness. In whatever degree the "love of the world" prevails--the "health of the soul" will proportionately decline.

"People who long to be rich, fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction! For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows!" 1 Timothy 6:9-10

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An epitome of all vanity

(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity; or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness" 1662)

"Truly, every man at his best state is altogether vanity!" Psalm 39:5

By Adam's fall, man has become . . .
  a pile of dust,
  a puff of wind,
  a dream,
  a shadow,
  a puff of smoke,
  a worm,
  a debased soul,
  a curious nothing.

Yes, man having fallen from his primitive glory, has become altogether vanity, says the psalmist in Psalm 39:5, "Truly, every man at his best state is altogether vanity!" Truly, every man--not some man, but every man at his best state, when he is in the height and perfection of all creature comforts and contentments--is altogether, not in some measure--but altogether, vanity--all vanity! Since the fall of Adam, every natural man in his best estate is vanity; nay, every man is every vanity. Imagine whatever vanity you will--fallen man is that! He is a comprehensive vanity--he is an epitome of all vanity.

Man before his fall, was the best of creatures; but since his fall, he has become the worst of creatures. By his fall he has fallen below the very beasts that perish. He who was once the image of God, the glory of paradise, the world's ruler, and the Lord's darling--has now become a burden to God, a burden to himself.

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When Christ finds the wandering sinner

(William Bacon Stevens, "The Parables" 1857)

"And when he finds it, he joyfully lays it on his shoulders and goes home!' Luke 15:5-6

The parable of the Lost Sheep teaches us the tender care and compassion of our Lord towards the recovered wanderers. What could illustrate this more than the shepherd's act of laying the lost sheep, when he found it, "on his shoulders," and so bearing it home?

When Christ finds the wandering sinner--He does not roughly upbraid him, He does not drive him harshly before Him, but . . .
  throws His loving arms around him,
  takes him to His bosom,
  lays him on His shoulder where no harm can reach him,
  protects him by His hands, and
  pledges the mightiness of His own power to return the wanderer to the fold of God.

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The Profligate's Doom!

(Theodore Cuyler)

"He who is often reproved and hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy!" Proverbs 29:1

Not many years ago, an eminent London clergyman observed among his regular hearers, a young man whose appearance excited in him an unusual interest. He took pains to learn the young stranger's history, and found that he was the son of pious parents, and had been trained to respect the gospel of Christ. A devout mother had added to her prayers the fervent precept, "My son, if sinners entice you--do not consent!"

The young man at length was missed from his place in the church. The watchful eye of the minister sought for him in vain. He had met with a company of witty and engaging skeptics, who had persuaded him to abandon the house of prayer, for the more "manly" entertainments of their infidel club, where the ribaldries of atheists were rendered more palatable by the lively jest, and the exhilarating glass. His conscience stung him, but their merry laugh soon drowned the troublesome remonstrance. He proved to be an apt scholar in the ways of sin. His Sunday instructions among the skeptics soon prepared him for the haunts of revelry, and for those chambers which lie nearby the door of Hell. A short career of reckless dissipation did its work of ruin upon his slight and delicate frame.

His former pastor, who had well-near forgotten him, was one day surprised by an invitation to visit the unhappy youth on his dying bed. He found him sinking rapidly, and sinking without hope. As the man of God approached the bedside, the young man hid his face and refused to speak to him. Finding it impossible to draw a word from the wretched victim of remorse, who was just about entering eternity in such a state of sullen despair--the minister offered a fervent prayer and turned away. He reached the door, his hand was upon the latch, when the young man suddenly rose in the bed, and beckoned him to return. He went back and leaned his head over the bed to receive the message. The young man threw his arms about him and drawing his head close to his lips, whispered in convulsive accents, "I am damned!" and then sank back silent on his pillow. No further efforts or entreaties could rouse him. The heart-wrung pastor pleaded with him, but in vain. Having pronounced his own awful doom--his lips refused to speak again; and before the clock struck the hour of midnight, his unhappy soul was in the eternal world!

Young man! as you read the appalling narrative of the poor profligate's doom--you may be reading your own! If your feet have forsaken the house of God--if you have been seen on the seat of the scorner--if you have returned home at the midnight hour from the card table, or the drinking circle--you have good cause to tremble! Persist in your course of self-destruction, and you may meet that young man in the world of eternal despair! Partners in misery, you may, to all eternity, curse yourselves as the authors of your own damnation!

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Both our teacher and our lesson!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures--the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had a most profitable journey. Their companion was the best of teachers--in whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

This unrivaled tutor used as His class-book, the best of books. He showed us that the surest road to wisdom is not speculation, reasoning, or reading human books--but meditation upon the Word of God. The readiest way to be spiritually rich in heavenly knowledge, is to dig in this mine of diamonds, to gather pearls from this heavenly sea! When Jesus Himself sought to enrich others--He wrought in the quarry of Holy Scripture.

The favored pair were led to consider the best of subjects--for Jesus spoke of Jesus, and expounded the things concerning Himself! Here the diamond cut the diamond, and what could be more admirable? The Master of the House unlocked His own doors, conducted the guests to His table, and placed His own dainties upon it! He who hid the treasure in the field--Himself guided the searchers to it. Our Lord would naturally discourse upon the sweetest of topics--and He could find none sweeter than His own person and work.

With an eye to these things--we should always search the Word. O for grace to study the Bible with Jesus as both our teacher and our lesson!

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All Mine are Yours--and Yours are Mine!

(James Smith, "The Pleading Savior" 1861)

"All Mine are Yours--and Yours are Mine!" John 17:10

This claim of Jesus refers especially to the elect. Says Jesus, "All whom the Father has, are Mine!" They are Mine by redemption--and Yours by election!

Election, redemption, sanctification, and glorification--are divine works encompassing the same people.
All whom the Father chose--the Son redeemed;
all whom the Son redeemed--the Spirit sanctifies;
and all who are . . .
  chosen by the Father,
  redeemed by the Son,
  and sanctified by the Spirit--
  are certainly and eternally glorified!

"For those He foreknew--He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
  And those He predestined--He also called;
  and those He called--He also justified;
  and those He justified--He also glorified!"
    Romans 8:29-30

The Father's children--constitute the Son's Church;
the Father's beloved--is the Son's bride;
the Father's property--is the Son's portion.

"All Mine"--that is, all of My disciples, My friends, My sheep--"are Yours."
The Father as Creator, gives them to the Son as Redeemer.
The Son as Redeemer, hands them over to the Spirit as the Sanctifier.
The Spirit works in them all the good pleasure of His goodness, and brings them to the Son, who presents them to the Father as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless!

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Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest

(J. R. Miller, Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ, 1890)

There is a tendency to leave the Bible out of the prayer-closet. We hear a great deal of earnest counsel concerning secret prayer:
  we must both open and close the day at God's feet;
  prayer is the Christian's vital breath;
  if we would live strong, noble, beautiful, radiant, and useful Christian lives--we must get seasons of secret prayer into all our busy days.

But we must take our Bibles with us into the prayer-closet. While we talk to God--we must also let God talk to us. God feeds us through His Word. It is "into all truth" (John 16:13) that the Holy Spirit leads Christ's disciples. Seasons of prayer without meditation on some portion of the Word of God, cannot yield the full blessing that we need.

Life is hard for most of us; at least, it is hard to live nobly, lovingly, purely, Christianly. We can do so only by getting a great deal of help from Christ. We need, therefore, daily to heed His invitation, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31). In communion with Him--we shall receive strength and blessing to enable us to live each day more beautifully, more victoriously, more radiantly, more lovingly. We shall rob ourselves therefore, of divine help--if we do not make room in our busiest days, for quiet retreats from noise and strife--to be alone with Christ, where we may sit at His feet to hear His words; or lie on His bosom to absorb His spirit--for the refreshing and transforming of our lives.

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If I am seeking everything that can delight my senses

(William Law, "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life")

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction--and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life--and only a few find it!" Matthew 7:13-14

If I am seeking everything that can delight my senses, and regale my appetites; spending my time and fortune in pleasures, in diversions, and worldly enjoyments--then how can it be said that I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling?

If there is nothing in my life and conversation that shows me to be different from the heathen; if I use the world, and worldly enjoyments, as the generality of people now do, and in all ages have done--then why should I think that I am among those few who are walking in the narrow way to Heaven?

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There are many roaring devils around us!

(Thomas Watson, "Body of Divinity")

There is nothing that more troubles a child of God, than that he fears he shall never hold out. "These weak legs of mine," he says, "will never carry me to Heaven!" But he is kept by the power of God! Once in Christ--forever in Christ. A believer may fall from some degrees of grace--but not from the state of grace.

How despairing is the Arminian doctrine of falling from grace! Today a saint--tomorrow a reprobate; today a Peter--tomorrow a Judas! This is  like boring a hole in a vessel--to make all the wine of his joy run out. Were the Arminian doctrine true, what comfort would it be--to have one's name written in the book of life--if it might be blotted out again? But be assured, for your comfort, that grace--if it is true--though ever so weak, shall persevere.

"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." 1 Peter 1:5. See whence it is, that believers persevere in holiness. It is to be ascribed solely to the power of God.

It is a wonder that any Christian perseveres, if you consider:

(1.) Corruption within. There is more sin than grace; yet grace is habitually predominant. Grace is like a spark in the sea--it is a wonder that it is not quenched! It is a wonder that sin does not destroy grace.

(2.) Temptations without. Satan envies us happiness, and he raises his militia, and stirs up persecution. He shoots his fiery darts of temptations--which are called darts for their swiftness, fiery for their terribleness. We are every day beset with devils! As it was a wonder that Daniel was kept alive in the midst of the roaring lions, so there are many roaring devils around us--and yet we are not torn in pieces! Now, whence is it, that we stand against these powerful temptations? We are kept by the power of God!

(3.) The world's old snares--riches and pleasure. How many have been shipwrecked upon these golden rocks! "Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world." 2 Timothy 4:10

What a wonder any persevere in holiness--that the earth does not choke the fire of all holy affections! Whence is this, but from the power of God? We are kept by His power.

"My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish--ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand!" John 10:27-29

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The Christian's vital breath!

(David Harsha, "The Savior's Intercession")

"O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive
 to my cry for mercy." Psalm 130:2

Prayer is the motion of our renewed hearts towards God.

Prayer lifts the soul unto Him in sweet and heavenly
communion, 'Unto You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.'

Prayer calls down upon us the choicest blessings of heaven.

Prayer brings our spirits near the throne of
God, and fills them with inexpressible delight.

Prayer elevates our views and affections far above
this world of sensual and perishing enjoyments.

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath!

No true child of God can live without prayer.

If we have the spirit of adoption, we
will be often crying, 'Abba, Father!'

"O God, You are my God; early will I seek You.
 My soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You
 in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water."
     Psalm 63:1

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He loves to see His poor, helpless, suffering patients come!

(James Smith, "The Love of Christ! The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!")

"The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it--but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores!" Isaiah 1:5-6

Sin not only brings us under condemnation--but it assumes the character of a disease! It has infected the whole soul, and spoiled every faculty. We need healing--as well as pardon. Jesus, in the greatness of his love, provides for both. He becomes not only our Redeemer--but our Physician. He employs His Spirit, His Word, and His Providence--to bring us to a healthy state.

He lays open the wound to our view--and then applies His own most precious blood to heal it! He makes us to feel our sickness--and then bestows His grace to restore us to health. All healing is by His skill--and through His Spirit, grace, blood, and Word. He is the maker of the Balm of Gilead--and He is the Physician there.

He undertakes the healing of all who apply to Him! He never yet failed in any case! He heals all gratuitously. His wisdom shines in the management of every case--and also His skill in healing the most desperate and alarming cases. He acts so kindly and tenderly to all His patients, and heals so judiciously--that He wins the heart of every patient--and all are delighted with His skill.

Thousands throng Him--but not one is overlooked or neglected by Him. He is always at His office, and ready to heal. He loves to see His poor, helpless, suffering patients come--and always greets them with a hearty welcome.
The plague of the heart,
the plague of the head,
weakness in the hands,
feebleness in the knees,
blindness,
deafness,
leprosy,
disease in every form--
are easily removed by Him.

Before Him . . .
the lame man leaps like an deer,
the tongue of the dumb sings,
broken hearts rejoice, and
the blind see out of darkness and out of obscurity.

This process of healing is on-going--none are completely healed at present. And when they are healthy enough--they are sent from the hospital below--to paradise above! Every patient who is healed--is provided with a mansion above, and has a title to the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. There the inhabitants shall no more say, "I am sick," and the people who dwell there are forgiven their iniquities!

All His patients feel and manifest the symptoms of returning health--which are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith, etc. But none of them rest satisfied with any symptoms; they all visit His office frequently, asking Him to complete the cure. And such is His love, kindness, and grace--that He assures all those who have a good work begun in them--that He will complete it in the day of His glorious appearing!

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Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?

(J.R. Miller, "A Message for the Day" 1901)

"Far be it from You to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Genesis 18:25

Some people worry about the destiny of the Heathen, and ask if God can be just--and do so and so. A great deal better solution of such perplexities, is Abraham's: "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Surely we can trust Him with all such things, and leave them in His hands.

Others have perplexity concerning the apparent lack of justness in the allotment of earth. Some holy people have little but trouble here--and some wicked people have very much worldly favor. We have the same truth on which to rest all such seeming inequities. God will surely do right. What we call trouble, may have more real blessing in it, than what we call prosperity. Also, the end of life is not here. God has eternity in which to adjust the inequities.

There are other people who think that their own lot is very hard. They complain about their trials and disappointments, and are discontented with what God does for them and gives them. They say that God is good; yet they imply by their petulance, that He is not good. This word of Abraham's should rebuke all such complaints. Sooner might the Heavens fall--than that in any smallest thing, God could do anything but what is absolutely right and just.

"Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in Him--and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5

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It is in life's common experiences

(J. R. Miller, "The Life of Jesus")

"When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him!" Luke 24:30-31

It was a wonderful walk that the two friends took that afternoon. The Man who joined them, seemed only to be a common stranger. He had a kindly manner, and the three were soon talking familiarly. He opened to them, the meaning of great Scripture words, saying many things His companions could never forget. They were so pleased with His company, that when they reached the end of their journey, they urged Him to become their guest, and He consented.

It was at their evening meal together, that the Stranger revealed His identity. Perhaps, as He took the bread and was in the act of breaking it, they saw His hands with the print of the nails in them. We do not know just how it happened; we only know that it was while they were at their plain, simple evening meal--that "then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him!"

It is in life's common experiences, that Christ usually reveals Himself to us. One of His disciples asked Him to show them the Father--he wanted some remarkable revealing, a great glory, like the Sinai splendor. Jesus said, "Have I been with you these three years--and have you never known Me? I have been showing you the Father all the while!" He had been doing this in sweet, gentle living, in patience, in kindness, in thoughtfulness, in purity and simplicity of life. The disciples had seen all these beautiful things in their Master, day after day--but they had not dreamed that these were divine revealings; that in them, He was revealing God!

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To fill Heaven with Hells!

(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
 or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)

"Man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil
 like water!" Job 15:16

A wicked man is a sin-lover; he is a sin-maker,
he lives in sin upon choice.

All profane people . . .
  give up themselves to wickedness,
  wallow in all ungodliness,
  delight themselves in all manner of filthiness,
  commit wickedness with greediness,
  draw iniquity and sin with cords of vanity,
  weary themselves to commit iniquity, and
  are so desperately set upon wickedness,
that neither the rod of God, the lashes and checks of
their own consciences, nor the flashes of Hell upon their
souls--can stop them. They are resolved that they will
gratify their lusts--though they damn their souls; that
they will live wickedly--though they perish eternally!

By custom in sin, they have destroyed all conscience
of sin, and contracted such desperate hardness upon
their own hearts, as neither . . .
  God's smiles--nor frowns,
  God's promises--nor threatenings,
  life--nor death,
  Heaven--nor Hell,
can possibly hinder them!

The hearts and ways of wicked men are full of
Hells; and therefore to fill Heaven with such,
would be to fill Heaven with Hells!

Certainly God will shut the gates of glory upon
such workers of iniquity. These souls are . . .
  sadly abandoned by God, and
  woefully blinded by Satan, and
  fully ripened for ruin.

"All will be damned who have not believed the truth, but
 have delighted in wickedness." 2 Thessalonians 2:12

"Unless you are converted . . . you will never enter
 the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:3

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He will not forget the lambs!

(John Angell James, "The Christian Professor")

"He tends His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the
 lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart.
 He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young."
    Isaiah 40:11

Are you alarmed at the difficulties and dangers of
the wilderness way? Consider that you enjoy the
notice, the love, intercession, and the support of
the Great and Good Shepherd, who carries the
lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart.
He will not forget the lambs--their feeble bleat
attracts His notice, their helplessness draws His
attention; and for them He puts forth all His
pastoral kindness and skill.