Grace Gems

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Followed by the sublime realities of eternity!

(William Nicholson, "Numbering Our Days!" 1862)

The vanities of our earthly life, are followed by the sublime realities of eternity!

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom!" Psalm 90:12

We have been foolish--it is high time to awake, and put away childish things!

We are very apt to forget the nature of human life. Life is like . . .
  a vapor,
  withering grass,
  a passing shadow,
  a fading flower, etc. etc.

"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes!" James 4:14. Life is frail and short, and yet we talk and act as if we were never to die. The mind is fully absorbed by the world, while "our breath is in our nostrils."

We must realize that we have already spent a great portion of our life in selfishness and folly. We have a great work to do, in a very short time!

We must realize that the remaining remnant of our life will rapidly pass away. What a little time we have yet to live!

We must realize that time of our death is uncertain. "You do not know the day nor the hour!"

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom!"

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It is not sufficient to be sound in the faith!

(William Nicholson, 1862)

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love--I am nothing!" 1 Corinthians 13:2

It is not sufficient to be sound in the faith--we must also abound in love.

A man may have an orthodox creed--while his heart is cold and dead.

Where religion is genuine, love will be active.

"You yourselves have been taught by God to love each other!" 1 Thessalonians 4:9

"Above all, love each other deeply!" 1 Peter 4:8

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Not a single shaft can hit, till the God of love sees fit!

(Samuel Davies, "The Nature and Universality of Spiritual Death")

"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
 He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
 The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side.
 The sun will not strike you by day, or the moon by night.
 The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life.
 The Lord will protect your coming and going, both now and forever!"
    Psalm 121

God is the guardian and deliverer of His people!
From how many dangers has He preserved us!
From how many calamities has He delivered us!

Dangers, distresses and deaths crowd upon us--and surround us in every age and every place! The air, the earth, the sea, and every element--are pregnant with numberless inlets of pain and death ready to seize and destroy us!

Sickness and death swarm around us! Nay, they lie in ambush in our own constitution, and are perpetually undermining our lives--and yet our divine Guardian preserves us for months and years unhurt, untouched. And how many 'salvations' of this kind has He wrought for us! Salvations . . .
  from accidents,
  from sicknesses,
  from pains,
  from sorrows,
  from death!
Salvations from seen and unseen dangers!
Salvations in infancy, in youth, and in maturer years!

These things we cannot deny, without the most stupid ignorance, and an atheistic disbelief of divine Providence.

    Sovereign Ruler of the skies,
    Ever gracious, ever wise,
    All my times are in Your hand,
    All events at Your command!

    His decree, who formed the earth,
    Fixed my first and second birth;
    Parents, native place, and time,
    All appointed were by Him.

    He who formed me in the womb,
    He shall guide me to the tomb.
    All my times shall ever be,
    Ordered by His wise decree!

    Times of sickness, times of health;
    Times of poverty, and of wealth;
    Times of trial and of grief,
    Times of triumph and relief.

    Plagues and death around me fly;
    Till He bids, I cannot die!
    Not a single shaft can hit,
    Till the God of love sees fit!
    (John Ryland)

"Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear . . .
  the terror of night,
  nor the arrow that flies by day,
  nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
  nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you!"
    Psalm 91:3-7

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"Some people want only as much of God's salvation as will keep them out of Hell, and they measure out with unconscious precision how much worldliness and sin they can still hang on to without jeopardizing their chances. This is 'conversion' without repentance. Flee from it!" David Shepherd

"Are you guilty of this insidious practice? Are you unconsciously weighing out each day how much sin and worldliness you can still enjoy, and yet miss Hell's eternal torment and flames? If this is the case with you, then you are a religious pretender and a gross hypocrite who needs to swiftly run to the foot of the Cross and repent of such an atrocity!

"A 'worldly Christian'? Can there be such a thing? Or is this a term that the backslidden Church came up with to try to appease their guilty consciences and to excuse their ungodly ways? The concept of a 'worldly Christian' is a total absurdity! A true Christian is devoted, dedicated, or consecrated to God's service--not worldliness. We are either devoted to Jesus--or to the world. Which is it for you?" C. Giordano

"Nothing worse can happen to a church, than to be conformed to this world! Those who would be transfigured by Jesus, must not be disfigured by conformity to the world." Charles Spurgeon

"If I find anyone who is settled down too snugly into this world, I always doubt whether he's ever truly been born again." A.W. Tozer

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money!" Matthew 6:24 

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What we are in secret devotions

(John Berridge)

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:6

What we are in secret devotions--that we are in the sight of God, and no more.

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The Only Everlasting Flower!

(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)

The flowers which grow in earth's garden, wither in our hands while we smell them. They are as frail as they are fair. They grow out of the dust--and to the dust must they return. As Herbert says,
"Their root is ever in their grave,
 And they must die!"

How speedy is their withering. They are gathered by the hand and laid before us--and they wilt and become sickly, fainting, decaying objects. At the very longest, their lives smile through a day or two, and all is over.

Which of earth's joys is better than her flowers?
Health flies,
wealth takes to itself wings,
honor is a puff of air, and
pleasure is a bubble!

Only from Heaven can we expect "pleasure forever more," and "everlasting joy." The Rose of Sharon blooms through all the ages; and the Lily of the Valley, which is Jesus himself, outlasts all time. Yes, this is the only Everlasting Flower, for He alone has immortality. Why, then, should we seek for the living among the dead--or search for substance in the land of shadows?

Henceforth, my soul . . .
gather your Hearts-ease in the garden of the Lord,
pluck your Forget-me-nots from beds which Christ has planted,
and look for your Crown-Imperial only in the Paradise above.

The flowers of the field are children's adornments. See how the little ones garland themselves, and fashion chaplets with the buttercups and daisies. Earth's loveliest joys are good child's play; but, my soul, you have to act a nobler part--seek the bliss which fades not away. Turn to God, your exceeding joy, and then if your years are multiplied upon earth, you shall have a life-long possession. Or if you are caught away suddenly, you shall carry with you in your bosom, the rosebud of a life which will open to perfection, in the land where fading and withering are things unknown!

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The compass-needle!

(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)

"The compass-needle may be shaken and agitated, but it never rests until it turns toward the pole!"

Thus our heart's affections, when once magnetized by  the love of Christ, find no rest unless we turn to Him. The cares and labors of the day may carry our thoughts to other objects, even as a finger may turn the compass-needle to the east or west. But no sooner is the pressure removed, than our thoughts fly to the Well-beloved, just as the needle moves to its place.

We are unable to rest anywhere but in Jesus. The new birth has disqualified us for contentment with the world--and hence we have no choice but to find our all in Christ. Blessed necessity!
We are driven to Jesus, by an unrest which finds no remedy elsewhere!
We are drawn to Jesus, by an impulse which we have no desire to resist!

We mourn that we are subject to many deflections and disturbances; but you know, O Lord, that our inmost soul seeks after Yourself!

"As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God. I thirst for God, the living God!" Psalm 42:1-2

"O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water!" Psalm 63:1

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Not a loving worm, not a living worm!

"Christ died for the ungodly. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" Romans 5:6, 8

Here then was love without limitation--beyond imitation!

"Unspeakable mercy," says Bernard, "that the King of eternal glory should yield Himself to be crucified for so poor a wretch--yes, for a worm--and that, not a loving worm, not a living worm--for we both hated Him, and were dead in sins and trespasses!"

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The above is an excerpt from a superb sermon by the puritan, Thomas Adams, "The Passion of Christ".

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Do we want to be rulers of the universe?

(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)

"He who will be his own carver, seldom carves out a good portion to himself. Willful spirits who attempt to control their own providence, entrench upon God's prerogative, and take the work out of His hands. Therefore, it is no wonder if He turns their wisdom into folly!

It is God's business to regulate providence--and when we attempt it, we cause only confusion and trouble. Not only does the carver for himself get a poor portion--but he frequently cuts his fingers, and spoils his clothes, by spilling the contents of the dish.

Israel went into Canaan well enough--when the Lord led the way. But when the people presumed to go up on their own--they brought defeat upon themselves.

Just so, it is never well either to run before the cloud, or to stay behind it. In either case we may expect to fall under clouds of another sort, which will darken our way and becloud our peace.

Can we not trust the Lord with His own business?

Can we supplement His infallible wisdom--or improve upon His infinite goodness?

Have we not enough to do, if we earnestly endeavor to obey our Lord?
Are we tired of being His disciples and followers?
Do we want to be rulers of the universe?
Why do we strain after things too high for us, intruding into spheres which belong to God alone?

My soul, be still--God is at the helm, and He is well able to pilot the vessel. Keep your hand off the helm! Down with you, unbelief--what have you to do while God Himself provides for His people?

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A child can crush a serpent's egg!

(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)

"It is easier to crush the egg--than to kill the serpent!"

It is prudent to break up all the eggs we can find, before the reptiles are hatched!

Just so, far greater wisdom will be shown in early dealing with a temptation, than in allowing it time to make headway. It is best to correct ourselves early and unhesitatingly to stamp out the first sparks of evil desire, before passion rises to a flame!

A child can crush a serpent's egg--but who will contend with the venomous creature which may be hatched from it, if it is left unbroken?

So is it with that vice which stings like a viper! The first glass can readily be refused; it is quite another matter to stop when the wine has entered the brain. The first lust we may readily avoid; but when unchaste desires are fully aroused, who shall bridle them?

O Lord, teach me to crush sin early, lest it should gather strength and crush me!

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All the devils in Hell, and all tempters on earth!

(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)

"A garrison is not free from danger, while it has an enemy lodged within!"

You may bolt all your doors, and fasten all your windows--but if the thieves have placed even a little child within doors who can draw the bolts for them--the house is still unprotected.

All the sea outside a ship cannot do it damage--until the water enters within.

Hence, it is clear that our greatest danger is from within. All the devils in Hell, and all tempters on earth could do us no injury--if there were no corruption in our nature. The sparks will fall harmlessly, if there is no tinder.

Alas, our heart is our greatest enemy--this is the little home-born thief!

Lord, save me from that evil man, myself!

"It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you!" Mark 7:20-23

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These short-lived troubles!

(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)

"All the difficulties of the present life are but like one rainy day--compared to an everlasting sunshine!"

How readily, then, should we bear these short-lived troubles! They are but for a moment, just a passing shower--and then the sun will shine out forever!

Time is nothing, when compared with eternity.

To a believer, this sorrowful life is like one drop of grief, lost in a sea of glory--or one speck of rain, in a year of fair weather. These light and momentary afflictions are not worthy to be compared with the eternal bliss which awaits us!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!" 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

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What a volume Mr. Recorder Conscience has written already!

(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)

"If conscience speaks not, it writes. For it is not only a witness, but a register, and a book of record: 'The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and the point of a diamond!' Jeremiah 17:1. We know not what conscience writes, being occupied and taken up with carnal vanities--but we shall know hereafter, when the books are opened, Revelation 20:12. Conscience keeps a diary, and marks down everything! This book, though it is in the sinner's keeping--cannot be erased and blotted out. Well, then, a sleepy conscience will not always sleep; if we do not allow it to awaken here--it will awaken in Hell!"

Let those who forget their sins take note of this! There is a recorder within you taking notes, and he will publish all, where all will hear it. Never say, "Nobody will see me!" for you will see yourself, and your conscience will give infallible evidence against you.

What a volume Mr. Recorder Conscience has written already! How many 'blotted pages' he has in store, to be produced upon my final trial.

O You who alone can erase this dreadful handwriting, look on me in mercy, as I now look on You by faith.

"They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them." Romans 2:15

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We pity the poor wretch who can dance under the gallows!

(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)

"Do you account him a happy man, who is condemned to die--because he has a plentiful allowance until his execution? Do you account him a happy man, who makes a fair show abroad--while at home he is pinched with poverty and misery? Do you account him a happy man, who revels in all kinds of pleasures today--but is to die this night?"

If we view unpardoned sinners aright, we shall heartily pity them! Let their temporal condition be as good as it may at this present time--the wrath of God abides on them, and they are "condemned already!" And as for the future, it is black with certain doom!

Alas for the unhappy man against whom God sets His face! What misery can be greater, than to be reserved for damnation in the great day of the wrath of God? We wonder at the mirth of men who are condemned to Hell--their fantasy is terrible to behold!

Hence we cannot join with them in their carnal mirth. Sinners may dance--but it will not be to our music. They may revel and riot--but we dare not endorse them in their jollity, for we know that their day is coming!

If you are indeed a child of God--let no desire to share their carnal delights lurk in your mind! Do not be envious of the prosperity of the wicked! Who would envy a criminal about to be executed, of his last cup of wine? Do not let their frivolities attract you. We pity the poor wretch who can dance under the gallows which he will shortly hang on! Just so, sinners who are on the road to Hell sporting and jesting, are worse than mad! Their singing will soon turn to sighing!

"But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold! For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits! This is what the wicked are like--always carefree, they increase in wealth." Psalm 73:2-7, 12

"When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me--until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny!" Psalm 73:16-17

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Beware of little sins!

(Thomas Brooks)

"Avoid every kind of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Little sins multiplied, become great. There is nothing less than a grain of sand--yet there is nothing heavier than the sand of the sea when multiplied.

Little sins are very dangerous!
A little leaven, leavens the whole lump.
A little knife, may kill.
A little leak in a ship, may sink it.

Though the scorpion is little--yet will it sting a lion to death! Just so, a little sin may at once bar the door of Heaven, and open the gates of Hell!

The least sin will damn us--if not pardoned by the death of Christ!


(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)

"Not only do great sins ruin the soul, but lesser sins will do the same. Dallying with temptation, leads to sad consequences."

A small dagger thrust into the heart, will give as deadly a wound as a huge two-handed sword. Just so, a little sin unrepented of, will be as fatal as living in gross transgressions.

Death can hide in a drop, and ride in a breath of air. Just so, our greatest dangers lie hidden in little things. The least sin may be a very Pandemonium in your heart. It may conceal a host of evils, and a numerous hive of mischiefs, each one storing great harm.

Believer, beware of little sins. Watch and pray, lest you fall by little by little.

Lord, save me from sins which call themselves little!