Grace Gems

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A torch to light people to Hell!

(Thomas Watson)

"You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror!" James 2:19

Bible knowledge without repentance, will be but a torch to light people to Hell!

You who have knowledge of God's will, but do not obey it--wherein do you excel the demons, who believe and tremble?

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Call Him 'Father' in the furnace

(Thomas Sherman, "Aids to the Divine Life--A Series of Practical Christian Contemplations" 1680)

"Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good--that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:10-11

The afflictions of the wicked are punishments from God--as an angry Judge!
But the afflictions of the godly are chastisements from God--as a gracious Father!

The afflictions of the wicked, moreover, are preludes to their future misery!
But the corrections of the godly, are preparations for their future glory!

"See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." Isaiah 48:10. Under all afflictive dispensations, therefore, hold fast upon God; call Him 'Father' in the furnace!

Keep up honorable thoughts of God as to His dealings;
and low thoughts of yourself as to your deservings.

"All the paths of the Lord (in reference to His people) are mercy and truth," Psalm 25:10. In our affliction, God in mercy is fulfilling some of His faithful promises for our good. He will not allow His children to go on in the way of sin, without seasonable rebukes to bring them again to Himself. If you would, therefore, discern the goodness of God in your affliction, consider wherein you stand in need of it.

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The work of our great high priest at present

(James Smith, "Gleams of Grace" 1860)

"Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because He always lives to intercede for them! Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens!" Hebrews 7:25-26

As believers, we should look upon our great high priest, as having . . .
  put away our sins from before God,
  reconciled our persons to God,
  justified us fully and freely at the tribunal of God,
  procured for us all spiritual and eternal blessings.

The work of our great high priest at present, is to render our persons, prayers, and services acceptable to God. Every prayer which ascends from us to God, passes through His hands--who cleanses, arranges, and perfumes it, and then presents it to his Father. Thus He renders our poor imperfect prayers, praises, and services--acceptable and pleasant to our God and Father.

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The song of the glorified has three notes in it!

(Alexander Smellie, "The Hour of Silence" 1899)

"And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation! You have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth!" Revelation 5:9-10

The song of the glorified has three notes in it:

1. There is the note of Redemption. You purchased me with Your blood. Jesus ransomed me--the slave of sin, of frailty and futility, of dark despair! And not by a mere act of sovereignty and might. No--but by breaking the alabaster vase of His unblemished body for me, and by pouring forth the costly ointment of His blood. It will be the theme of my praise through the unending years of eternity!

2. There is the note of Royalty. "You have made us kings!" O wondrous thought to quicken the torpid pulses of my soul! I will sit down with Him on His own throne, and He will share His great empire with me!

3. There is the note of Consecration. "You have made us priests!" I am, through Jesus Christ my Lord, a white-robed, white-souled worshiper, thanking and adoring God, offering to Him the incense of prayer, presenting to Him continually the sacrifice of my praise, lifting up holy hands in ceaseless intercession!

Jesus has done it all! "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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The choicest, sweetest, wisest, and strongest Christian!

(Thomas Brooks)

Remember that it is not hasty reading--but serious meditation on holy and heavenly truths, which makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul.

It is not the mere touching of the flower by the bee which gathers honey--but her abiding for a time on the flower which draws out the sweet.

It is not he who reads most, but he who meditates most--who will prove to be the choicest, sweetest, wisest, and strongest Christian!

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Our Condition--God's Mercy!

(James Smith, "Gleams of Grace" 1860)

Many of the Psalms are poetic records of God's mercy towards His ancient people, calling upon them to bless and praise His most glorious name. Israel's history forms a mirror in which we see our own spiritual history. Oh for grace, so to read it, meditate upon it, and exercise faith in it--as to permanently profit by it. My eye is now fixed upon one important verse, a record of God's goodness to them, and equally so of His kindness to us, "Give thanks to the One who remembered us in our low estate; for His mercy endures forever!" Psalm 136:23

OUR CONDITION. LOW. We were not created so--but were brought into it by Adam's sin, who . . .
  represented us,
  ruined us, and
  laid us low!
Our own conduct sunk us lower still!
We are now, by nature, so low, that we cannot be lower!
We are now so vile, so weak, that we could not be worse!

Look at man in reference to God--he is God's determined foe!

Look at man as under the Law--he is condemned, condemned to everlasting burnings!

Look at man in the world--he is its dupe--victimized by its fashions, customs and spirit.

Look at man in connection with Satan--he is Satan's vassal, Satan's abject slave--inhabited and influenced by Satan. Not only so, but he is led captive by Satan to do his will!

Look at man--in association with his fellow men--see his craft, cruelty, and covetousness!

Look at man ruling the brute creation--what lack of feeling, care and kindness! Often, man seems to be sunk even lower than they!

GOD'S MERCY. This was . . .
  freely fixed upon us,
  is very great towards us,
  and will always distinguish us.
He remembered us--and sent His Son to redeem us!
He remembered us--and sent His Spirit to quicken us!
He remembered us--and sent His Word to instruct us!
He remembered us--and sent His ordinances to comfort us!
He remembered us--and sent His grace to sanctify us!
He remembered us--and sent His rod to correct us!

He remembered . . .
  our guilt--and provided an atonement,
  our weakness--and provided strength,
  our danger--and provided a refuge,
  our destitute state--and provided for us a home in Heaven.

"The One who remembered us." It was not the exercise of God's memory merely--but the exercise of His memory influenced by immortal love. It was . . .
  a father, remembering his child,
  a bridegroom, remembering his bride,
  a God, remembering His poor fallen creatures, who were the objects of His love, and whom He had determined to save! Blessed, forever blessed be the Lord, for remembering us in our low estate, for His mercy endures forever!

Mercy is man's best friend. It is that in God which . . .
  looks upon us with pity,
  feels for us with sympathy, and
  exerts itself for our relief and deliverance.

Divine mercy was personified in Jesus, and wept over us, stretched out its hand to help us, and shed its blood to save us. Mercy never thinks that it can stoop too low to reach us, or do too much to help us, or that anything is too good or too great to confer upon us.

Mercy is God's darling attribute. He delights in mercy--but it is never said that He delights in wrath, in judgment, or even in power--but He delights in mercy. He delights to display it to His chosen people.

God is said to be . . .
  of great mercy,
  plenteous in mercy,
  abundant in mercy.

His mercy is said to be . . .
  great unto the heavens,
  multitudinous and tender, and
  from everlasting to everlasting!

God's mercy should be our heart's theme. We should think of it, speak of it, and sing of it.

We should set God's mercy against . . .
  our sin,
  our misery,
  our deservings.

We should rejoice in its freeness, fullness, and immutability. Let us think more of God's mercy than of . . .
  our trials,
  our troubles,
  or our foes.

God's mercy will . . .
  follow us,
  comfort us,
  and crown us!

God's mercy . . .
  began with us of its own accord,
  came to us unsought and unsolicited,
  raised us from our low estate,
  has heaped favors upon us,
  will not leave us now--but will follow us all the days of our life,
  will comfort us . . .
    in all our tribulations,
    against all our sorrows, and
    make us a match for all our troubles!

God's mercy will crown us at last!
Mercy will accompany us to the dark valley, and through it.
Mercy will conduct us to the Jordan, and over it.
Mercy will lead us up into the holy city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Mercy will place a crown of pure gold, or of sparkling glory, upon our heads, that we may wear it to its honor forever and ever!

O beloved, how will God's mercy look, when we contemplate it in the light of glory--when from the holy city we look back upon the past, and lift up our voices and sing, "To the One who remembered us in our low estate; for His mercy endures forever!"

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Living stones!

(James Smith, "Gleams of Grace" 1860)

Peter having spoken of Christ as a living, precious stone, adds, "You also as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5

WHAT ARE BELIEVERS? "Stones," for every Christian has that in him which is solid, durable, and ornamental.

The grace of God gives a man solidity--he cannot be as light, trifling, and vain as he used to be. He has solid and settled thoughts upon high and holy subjects; he has solid hopes and joys. He is not carried about with every wind of doctrine--but becomes established and settled in the faith.

He is durable too. Others fall away--but he endures to the end. Once fixed on the foundation, once really united to Christ, he remains built on Christ forever.

He is ornamental too. Some stones are capable of taking a very high polish, and so is the Christian. The polished stones in God's temple will catch the rays of His glory and reflect them; and in every stone, the great Builder will see His own lovely likeness reflected.

They are living stones. They are living, each one being quickened by divine grace, and made new creatures. They are lively, made so by divine communications, and kept so by fellowship with Jesus, the life-giving stone.

These living stones are not thrown together in confusion--but each one is fitted for his place before he is put into it. Every separate stone is laid on the foundation, which bears the entire weighs of the whole building. All the stones are united to the foundation, by a cement so strong, that nothing can ever separate them. The Holy Spirit acts as the cement in this spiritual building. He . . .
  brings us to Christ,
  lays us on Christ,
  unites us to Christ, and
  keeps us in eternal union with Christ!

These living stones are a holy priesthood.
Being stripped of their natural and carnal coverings,
being washed in the laver of regeneration,
being clothed with the garments of salvation,
and covered with the robe of righteousness,
and being consecrated by the application of the blood of atonement, and the holy anointing oil, the unction from the Holy One--they are prepared and qualified to officiate in this living temple.

These living stones are to offer up spiritual sacrifices. This they are to do continually, the sacrifices of prayer and praise, which like holy incense, ascends as a precious perfume to God.

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John Wesley's rule for Christian living:
   Do all the good you can,
   by all the means you can,
   in all the ways you can,
   in all the places you can,
   at all the times you can,
   to all the people you can,
   as long as ever you can!

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The hand of Jesus!

(James Smith, "Gleams of Grace" 1860)

The miracles of Jesus are as marvelous displays of mercy, as they are of power. They show His sympathy with man in his sufferings, and His readiness to help him.

On one occasion a ruler came to Him for help, knelt before Jesus and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live." Matthew 9:18

THE CONDITION. The child was DEAD. Disease did its work, death seized its prey before Jesus reached the house. In the same way, how many we have in our homes, congregations, and neighborhoods who are spiritually dead. There are no signs of life at all. They can live without prayer, which is the breath of the soul; and surely where there is no breath, there is no life. They have no faith, and faith is the spiritual energy of the soul. They have no activity in God's ways, they put forth no energy in God's cause, nor do they manifest any concern for God's glory. Surely such are dead, and in such cases there is no hope, except Jesus will come and lay His hand upon them.

THE APPLICATION. "My daughter has just died. But come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live." The hand of Jesus was a wonder-working hand! It was the instrument and emblem of almighty power and divine mercy. Many things are ascribed to the hand of Jesus in the Word.

It is a life-quickening hand, "He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose." His touch imparted life, strength, and activity to the dead girl.

It is a healing hand, "He laid His hands on the sick, and healed them." His hand expels spiritual diseases, and introduces spiritual health.

It is a saving hand, when Peter was sinking in the sea, Jesus put forth His hand and caught him, and placed him safely in the vessel. He saved Israel of old with His right hand--and His hand saves millions now!

It is a devil-dispossessing hand. When a father brought his demon-possessed boy to Jesus, the devil threw him down and tore him, "but Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up, and he arose." The hand of Jesus expelled the demon, restored him to health, and he went away with his father.

It is a leading hand. He took the blind man by the hand, led him out of the town, and restored his sight.

It is a far-reaching hand, hence He says, "Is My hand so short that it cannot ransom? Or have I no power to deliver?" "Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save!"

It is a purifying hand, therefore He says, "I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities." "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor."

If therefore we need . . .
  quickening or healing,
  saving or leading,
  deliverance from Satan, or
  to be purged and purified--
however distant we may seem from Him, or however difficult the work we require to be done--let us go to Jesus, and ask Him to lay His hand upon us, and restore us.  In the same way, if any of our families and friends are spiritually dead, let our cry to Jesus be, "Come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live!"

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What amusements are lawful to people who wish to live a holy life?

(R.W. Dale, "AMUSEMENTS" 1895)

What amusements are lawful to people who wish to live a holy life--is one of the questions by which many godly people are sorely perplexed. Many yield to the current customs of the times--but yield with hesitation, discomfort, and apprehension.

At first sight, some of the distinctions which have been drawn between amusements which are permitted, and amusements which are forbidden, appear to be altogether arbitrary. They seem to originate in no moral or spiritual principle. Why should card-playing stamp a man as "worldly" and chess be perfectly consistent with devoutness? Why should people take their children to a circus--who would be horrified at their going to a theater? The things allowed are so like the things forbidden, that the distinction which has been drawn between them will probably be pronounced by many people to be altogether irrational.

Many of the broad moral distinctions which evangelical Christians make between amusements which are very much alike, receive an easy explanation when we consider the very different accessories with which, either in our own days or in former days, they have been associated. There can be no more harm in playing with pieces of colored cardboard, than with pieces of carved ivory; but cards have been always associated with gambling, and chess has not.

The traditions of what is allowable, and what is forbidden, which have come down to us are explicable; and if we are people of sense, we shall ask whether the same circumstances which made certain amusements objectionable a hundred years ago, or fifty years ago--make them objectionable now.

Profanity, impurity, and cruelty are always evil--whether connected with our amusements or with the common business and habits of life. Whatever tends to these things is evil too. If any recreation, however pleasant, involves a clear breach of moral laws--then it must be bad for all men and under all circumstances. Or if, though harmless in itself, immorality has become inseparably connected with it, every good man will avoid and condemn that particular amusement.

Prize-fighting, cock-fighting, and bull-baiting are plainly barbaric sports. It is utterly disgusting that men should be able to find any pleasure in them; and the right feeling of English society has made them all utterly disreputable.

But there are amusements which cannot be called immoral either in themselves or their accessories, about which a good man will have serious doubts.

The object of all recreation is to increase our capacity for work, to keep the bodily health strong, and the brain bright, and the temper kindly and sweet. If any recreation exhausts our strength instead of restoring it, or so absorbs our time as to interfere with the graver duties of life--then it must be condemned. Amusements are objectionable which interfere with regular and orderly habits of life, and which, instead of increasing health and vigor, produce weariness and exhaustion.

The common reason alleged for condemning certain amusements in which no moral evil can be shown to exist, is that they are "worldly." But there is no word in our language which is more abused than this. The sin of worldliness is a very grave one; but thousands and tens of thousands of people are guilty of it, who are most vigorous in maintaining the narrowest moral standards. One would imagine, from the habits of speech common in some sections of religious society, that worldliness has to do only with our pleasures, while in truth it has to do with the whole spirit and temper of our life.

To be "worldly" is to permit our transcendent relation to Jesus our Lord--to be overborne by inferior interests. There is a worldliness of the counting-house as fatal to the true health and energy of the soul--as the worldliness of the ball-room; and there are more people whose loyalty to Christ is ruined by covetousness--than by love of pleasure.

There is a worldliness in the conduct of ecclesiastical affairs, quite as likely to extinguish the divine fire which should burn in the church--as the worldliness which reveals itself in the frivolity of those unhappy people whose existence is spent in one ceaseless round of gaiety.

Let no man think that he ceases to be worldly--ceases, that is, to belong to that darker and inferior region of life from which Christ came to deliver us--merely by abstaining from half a dozen of his old recreations. Not thus easily, is the great victory won which is possible only to a vigorous and invincible faith. Not thus artificial, are the boundaries between the heavenly commonwealth of which the Christian man is a citizen--and the kingdom of evil from which he has escaped.

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There is no 'chance' in God's world

(James Smith, "Gleams of Grace" 1860)

"God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak--and then not act? Does He promise--and not fulfill?" Numbers 23:19

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away!" Matthew 24:35

Believer, are you tried, perplexed, and troubled? God is faithful to His Word, for He has said, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows."

Have you to pass out of one trouble into another, and is one trial but introductory to another? God is faithful, for He has said, "We must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God."

Are your trials of a fiery, consuming, and parching character? It but confirms His word, for He has said, "I will bring them through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold."

Every trial you meet with,
every trouble you pass through, and
all the temptations you experience--
but serve to confirm the truth of God's Word; and if rightly viewed, and properly improved, would strengthen your faith.

There is no 'chance' in God's world.
There is no mistake in God's dealings.
There is nothing really severe in God's dispensations.
All has been arranged by infinite wisdom,
all is brought to pass by a special providence, and
all is, at the darkest moment, working together for your eternal good!

Let us then mind His "Fear nots."
Let us confide in His unalterable promises.
Let us rely on His immutable faithfulness.

He set His love upon His people freely at the beginning, and having loved them, He will love them to the end. To every one of His chosen and redeemed people, He gives everlasting life, and assures them that they shall never perish. The love that made them His, will keep them His, and keep them His forever.

Cheer up then, poor tempted tried believer, God is faithful to His Word, and He will not fail you, nor forsake you--but will make all things work together for your good, and glorify Himself in you.

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Wounding Jesus!

(James Smith, "Gleams of Grace" 1860)

"I was wounded in the house of My friends!" Zechariah 13:6

Whoever loved like Jesus--and whoever was wounded like Him? Literally in the days of His flesh--and figuratively or spiritually since He has gone to glory. Hence the language of the prophet is most appropriate to Him, whether originally intended for Him or not.

THE PARTIES COMPLAINED OF. "My friends." All who call themselves Christians, and profess to be the friends of Jesus.

THE PARTY COMPLAINING. This is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the only party who never ought to have reason to complain, and who never would complain without a reason. Yet no one has such cause--for hourly He is wounded in the house of His friends.

Yet, He is the personification of love. Love in all its fullness, tenderness, and glory, dwells in Him. He is emphatically love, and He never had one feeling in His heart towards His friends, nor dropped one word from His lips to us, nor did anything in His dealings with us--but what flowed from love. Love . . .
  reigns in His heart,
  looks through His eyes,
  speaks with His tongue,
  and works with His hands.

Let us listen to HIS COMPLAINT. "I was wounded in the house of my friends!" Precious Lord Jesus--is it true that You are wounded still? Can it be that Your people, Your professed friends, wound you? Alas! it is too true.

WHO wounds Him? Every inconsistent believer. O Christian, will you, can you, wound that Savior, on whom alone your dependence is placed, for . . .
  help in life,
  hope in death, and
  glory beyond the grave! Yet . . .
by the irregularity of your walk,
by your lukewarmness,
by your half-heartedness,
by your mixing up with the world, and
by your lack of thoroughness in His cause
--you wound Him!

WHAT wounds Him? Our pride, selfishness and worldliness.
We think so much of ourselves--and so little of Him.
We pay so much attention to ourselves--and so little to Him.
We give so much of our time, our talents, our energies to the world--and so little to Him.

How could we insult Him more, than by preferring ourselves, our ease, our pleasure, our wealth, our reputation to Him; except it is by preferring the world, which is His enemy, to Him?

O beloved, how deeply have our pride of heart, and worldliness of spirit, wounded Jesus!

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The sufferings of this present life

(James Smith, "Gleams of Grace" 1860)

Cheer up Christian, every day you are so much nearer to your eternal home! Never was the end of the journey so near as now; never were there so many troubles behind you, and so few before you, as now. It is all up hill until you reach the celestial city--you will therefore find it more or less difficult unto the end. But,
  when you arrive at home,
  when you enter into the holy city,
  when you see your precious Lord Jesus,
  when you enjoy the presence of God
--then all will be well, and well forever!

You will be in your Father's house--your holy, happy home! You shall know no lack, nor will your desires remain ungratified. There will be . . .
  no toil there,
  no crosses or burdens to carry there,
  no foes within nor without to face there,
  no tears or pains there,
  no conflicts to endure there.

Five minutes with Jesus--and then what shall you think of all your earthly temptations, toils, trials, and troubles? One hour in Heaven, with the certainty of being forever holy, and forever happy--what will all your earthly afflictions be then?

Then, then, shall you understand the apostle when he says, "I consider that the sufferings of this present life are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be conferred on us!" Romans 8:18

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Our own health, wealth, and gratification

(James Smith, "Gleams of Grace" 1860)

By nature, every man is nothing but a mass of selfishness, seeking self-gratification in a variety of ways!

The less we indulge SELF, the better. Selfishness is . . .
  the bane of our happiness,
  a bar to our usefulness, and
  renders us unlovely to both God and others.

One of the most beautiful traits in the character of our Lord and Savior, was His unselfishness. He never seemed to please Himself, or consult His own ease. He was everyone's servant, and everyone's friend. Through His whole life, His own testimony was illustrated, "The Son of Man did not come to be served--but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

We are naturally selfish, and seek our own health, wealth, and gratification, as our grand end. Selfishness clings to us, and appears more or less in our whole conduct.

But the gospel calls for self-denial, and bids us take up our cross, and follow our self-denying Master. The gospel requires dedication to God, that we may live to Him and for Him; and it directs us to seek the good of others--of all that are around us. What the gospel requires--true grace produces; and it will struggle and fight with all our selfish principles until it prevails.

We have lived long enough for ourselves! Would not we be more happy, and profitable to others--if we were less selfish, and more thoroughly imbued with the self-denying spirit of Christ?

Do we not live too much to ourselves? Do we not think too much of our own comfort, and pleasure, and ease?

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:3-5

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A life of simple, active, and absolute dependence on Jesus!

(James Smith, "Gleams of Grace" 1860)

"Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need!" Hebrews 4:16

Let us have sincere daily dealings with Christ, bringing . . .
  our sins to Him--that He may pardon them;
  our duties to Him--that He may purify, perfume, and present them to His Father;
  our hearts to Him--that He may cleanse them, soften them, and sanctify them;
  our troubles, trials, and temptations to Him--that He may give us strength to bear them, and grace to sanctify them, and that He may make them all work for our eternal good.

We must come to Christ . . .
  for all that we need,
  with all that troubles us, and
  through all that opposes our progress.
We must make Jesus our strength--as well as our righteousness; and look to Him as a fountain to supply us--as well as a foundation to support us.

Absolute dependence on Jesus--to be utterly helpless, is a blessed state! Then we are safe, for we dare not . . .
  look to self,
  depend on self, or
  rest in any religious observances.
We must . . .
  look to Jesus,
  cleave to Jesus,
  live on Jesus.
Then all boasting is prevented, and all confidence in the flesh is destroyed.

Our strength arises from a sense of our weakness,
our safety arises from a sense of our danger, and
our wealth arises from a sense of our poverty.

Weak in self--we are strong in Christ.
Exposed to danger in self--we are safe in Christ.
Poor in self--we are wealthy in Christ!

The life we live must be a life of simple, active, and absolute dependence on Jesus!