Grace Gems

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

A task far, far beyond the poor resources of fallen human nature!

(Arthur Pink "Saving Faith" 1948.)

O my reader, be not deceived on this vital matter:
  to mortify the lusts of the flesh,
  to be crucified unto the world,
  to overcome the Devil,
  to die daily unto sin,
  to live unto righteousness,
  to be . . .
    meek and lowly in heart,
    trustful and obedient,
    pious and patient,
    faithful and uncompromising,
    loving and gentle;
in a word, to be a Christian, to be Christlike--is a task far, far beyond the poor resources of fallen human nature!

The demands of Christ are . . .
  too humbling to our natural pride,
  too searching for the callous conscience,
  too exacting for our fleshly desires.
A miracle of grace has to be wrought within us before this awful depravity of our nature, this dreadful state of affairs, is changed!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" Philippians 4:13

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

The horticulture of the heart!

(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)

"You are My private garden, My treasure, My bride!" Song of Songs 4:12

"My Beloved has gone down to His garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens and to gather lilies." Song of Songs 6:2

I pray that in my heart and life, God Almighty may find a garden of His own planting, where He can talk with me in the cool of the day.

Let my "winter of adversity" grow submissiveness and patience and prayer.

Let my my "spring of promise" abound in hope.

Let my my "summer of attainment" show the blossoms of thanksgiving and humility.

Let my my "autumn of fruit" be dedicated to God's glory and praise.

I would acquire skill in the horticulture of the heart . . .
  by meditating much in His Book,
  by sincere communing with Himself,
  by keeping company with my Master's friends,
  and by kissing His chastening rod.

I must reverence God's hedges:
  the restraints of His providence,
  the warnings of His Word,
  the bounds imposed by an enlightened conscience,
  the forbiddings of the Holy Spirit.
I must have no wish for the profane wasteland outside.

If the garden of the soul is to maintain beauty and fragrance--must not the waters of my spiritual life be constantly renewed? Must I not return daily to the Well from which the living streams flow ever forth?

There should be no weeds in the garden of a regenerated life. May the Lord the Spirit fill me to overflowing, that my holiness may be spontaneous, enthusiastic, exuberant--not fettered and checked by the weeds of sin.

So I shall walk in peace and pleasantness; and in the garden God will talk with me.

"Oh, I pray that the cold north wind and the soft south wind may blow upon my garden, that its spices may flow out in abundance for You in whom my soul delights. Let my Beloved come into His garden and eat its choicest fruits!" Song of Songs 4:16

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

Christians are like snow covered dung!

(Martin Luther)

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
  though they are red like crimson, they shall be as white as wool!" Isaiah 1:18

Christians are like snow covered dung; it is the purity of the covering which the Father sees!

"On that day a fountain will be opened--to cleanse them from all their sins and defilement!" Zechariah 13:1

"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!" 1 John 1:7

"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God!" 2 Corinthians 5:21

"You are absolutely beautiful, My beloved! There is no spot in you!" Song of Solomon 4:7

"They are without fault before the throne of God!" Revelation 14:5

"Because the sinless Savior died
 My sinful soul is counted free.
 For God the just is satisfied
 To look on Him--and pardon me!"
Charitie L. Bancroft, 1863

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

The little kindnesses and self-denials of Christian living!

(Henrietta Wilson, "Little things" 1852)

"Be kind and compassionate to one another" Ephesians 4:32

Look around you, first in your own family, then among your friends and neighbors, and see whether there is not someone you can show kindness to--someone . . .
  whose little burden you can lighten,
  whose little cares you may lessen,
  whose little pleasures you can promote,
  whose little wants and wishes you can gratify.

Cheerfully giving up our own pleasures to minister to others, is one of the little kindnesses and self-denials of Christian living. Doing little things that nobody likes to do, but which must be done by someone, is another.

It may seem to many, that if they avoid little unkindnesses, they must necessarily be doing all that is required. But it is not enough to abstain from sharp words, sneering tones, petty contradictions, or daily little irritations. We must be active and earnest in kindness--not merely passive and inoffensive.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12, 14

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!

(Thomas Brooks)

"Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away!" 1 Corinthians 7:31

Sorrow attends worldly joy,
danger attends worldly safety,
loss attends worldly labors,
tears attend worldly purposes.
As to these things . . .
  men's hopes are vain,
  their sorrow is certain,
  and their joy is artificial.
The apostle calls this world a sea of glass--a sea for the trouble of it, and glass for the brittleness and bitterness of it.

Saving faith makes a man see . . .
  the prickles that are in every rose,
  the thorns that are in every crown,
  the poison that is in the golden cup,
  the spot that is in the shining pearl.
And thus a Christian counts and calls all these things, as indeed they are, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" Ecclesiastes 1:2

"The world is passing away, along with its desires; but the one who does the will of God lives forever!" 1 John 2:17

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

Fear living!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" Philippians 1:23

Never fear dying, beloved. Dying is the last, but the least matter that a Christian has to be anxious about. Fear living--that is . . .
  a hard battle to fight,
  a stern discipline to endure,
  a rough voyage to undergo.

There is an essential difference between the decease of the godly--and the death of the ungodly.

Death comes to the ungodly as a penal infliction--but to the righteous, as a summons to his Father's palace!

To the lost sinner, it is an eternal execution--to the saint, death is an undressing from all his sins, sorrows and infirmities.

Death to the wicked, is the king of terrors!
Death to the saint, is the end of terrors and the commencement of glory!


"Let them fear death--who do not fear sin!" Thomas Watson

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

This is to follow the Lamb wherever He goes

(William Dyer, "Follow the Lamb")

"These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes!" Revelation 14:4

A believer follows the Lamb TRULY, without hypocrisy. Many follow the Lamb, as beggars follow a rich man--only for his money. They prize the wages of religion--above the works of religion! "I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me . . . because you ate the loaves and had your fill!" John 6:26. Oh, beloved, God abhors a hypocrite more than a Sodomite! Hell is provided on purpose for hypocrites, "He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!" Matthew 24:51

My beloved, following the Lamb fully, is to have the heart fixed and resolved for God, "My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You!" says David in Psalm 63:8. "As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God. I thirst for God, the living God!" Psalm 42:1-2

A believer follows the Lamb CONSTANTLY, without apostasy. A true believer never stops following the Lamb.

He does not follow the Lamb wherever He goes--who follows the Lamb earnestly for a while--but afterwards forsakes Him, when the storm arises! "Since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word--he quickly falls away!" Matthew 13:21

He does not follow the Lamb wherever He goes--who follows the Lamb in some things, and the Beast in other things! "They worshiped the Lord--but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought." 2 Kings 17:33

He does not follow the Lamb wherever He goes--who follows the Lord in a dull heavy manner, and lukewarm temper. "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth!" Revelation 3:15-16. Oh! this is not following the Lamb!

Those who follow the Lamb--abide in the Lamb, and cleave to the Lamb, and continue constantly in the Lamb's ways, unto the end of their days. "Yet the righteous person will hold to his way!" Job 17:9. The righteous man follows the Lamb wherever He goes. "Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him!" Hosea 6:3

This is to follow the Lamb wherever He goes:
1. Speedily
2. Sincerely
3. Whole-heartedly
4. Zealously
5. Humbly
6. Cheerfully
7. Diligently
8. Constantly
9. Faithfully
10. Supremely

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

Deceitful and desperately wicked!

(William S. Plumer, "Sinners Saved by Unmerited Kindness")

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" Jeremiah 17:9

Man is the only creature on earth that practices self-deception. That we should sometimes deceive others is proof of our depravity; but that we should spend our lives in self-deception is truly astonishing! Men of the fewest virtues commonly have the highest thoughts of themselves. How strange and yet how common that he, whose heart has deceived him a thousand times, should yet confide in it as if it had always been honest!

The human heart deceives every being but one--and it would deceive Him, if He were not omniscient. None but God knows all the depths of iniquity and duplicity within us.

Though the language of the Bible is strong, it is just. God declares, and every Christian knows by sad experience--that his heart is deceitful above all things. A perfect knowledge of the treachery of our hearts is possessed by none but God.

The heart is also VILE. It is "desperately wicked."

It loves vanity, and folly, and sin.
It hates holiness, and truth, and divine restraints.

The heart is . . .
  a sink of iniquity,
  a pool of pestilential waters,
  a cage of unclean birds,
  a sepulcher full of dead men's bones.
It is torn by wild, fierce, unhallowed passions.
It rejects good and chooses evil.
It is wholly corrupt.
It is full of evil.
There is no soundness in it.

"For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander! These are the things which defile the man." Matthew 15:19, 20

"He who trusts in his own heart is a fool!" Proverbs 28:26

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

The evidence of genuine piety

(John Angell James, "The Christian Professor")

The evidence of genuine piety is to be found in . . .
  real humility,
  reliance on Christ,
  hungering and thirsting after righteousness,
  sincere sorrow for sin, and
  a continual effort to regulate our thoughts, words, and conduct by the Word of God.

Genuine piety will not thrive and increase without effort--but is of so tender and delicate a nature as to require great, constant, and persevering concern, watchfulness, and care.

"Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13 

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

How shall I govern my children, so as to secure their virtue and happiness?

(John Abbott, "The Mother's Authority")

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Ephesians 6:1

How shall I govern my children, so as to secure their virtue and happiness?

OBEDIENCE is absolutely essential to proper family government. Without this, all other efforts will be in vain. You may pray with, and for your children; you may strive to instruct them in Christian truth; you may be unwearied in your efforts to make them happy, and to gain their affection. But if they are in habits of disobedience, your instructions will be lost, and your toil in vain! And by obedience, I do not mean languid and dilatory yielding to repeated threats--but prompt and cheerful acquiescence to parental commands. Neither is it enough that a child should yield to your arguments and persuasions. It is essential that he should submit to your authority.

The first thing therefore to be aimed at, is to bring your child under total subjection. Teach him that he must obey you.

Never give a command that you do not intend to be obeyed! There is no more effectual way of teaching a child disobedience, than by giving commands that you have no intention of enforcing. A child is thus habituated to disregard its mother; and, in a short time, the habit becomes so strong and the child's contempt for the mother so confirmed, that entreaties and threats are alike unheeded. Accustom him to immediate and cheerful acquiescence to your will. This is obedience. And this is absolutely essential to good family government. Let it be an immutable principle in family government, that your word is law!

"The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother." Proverbs 29:15

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

How divinely glorious!

(Thomas Reade)

"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins!" Colossians 1:13-14

The true believer hates and resists those sins which once he loved--and renounces that world which once so much enamored him.

How divinely glorious is the religion of Jesus!
Old things pass away--and behold, all things become new!
It turns the lion, into the lamb.
it turns the desert heart, into the garden of the Lord.
It converts the impure and savage heart, into a habitation fit for the mild and holy Dove.
It restores the Hell-bent sinner to the divine favor.
It transforms him into the divine image.
It redeems him from the depths of damnation.
It raises him to the highest seats in glory!

What tongue can speak, or what heart conceive, the richness and extent of divine redemption!

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace which He lavished on us!" Ephesians 1:7-8

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

Tokens of God's love!

(Letters of John Newton)

Trials no less than comforts--are the tokens of God's love. All is regulated by His infinite wisdom. You will find cause to praise Him even for the severe afflictions.

Cisterns must be broken--but the fountain of living waters is always full and always flowing!

Gourds must wither--but the tree of life has shade and fruit sufficient for us all, and at all times!

Creatures must die--but the Lord lives!

Creatures are like candles; while they burn--they waste away; and when they are extinguished, those who depend upon them are covered with darkness. But the Lord is a Sun to His people, and His bright beams of consolation can well supply the lack of the candlelight of creature comforts!

"I know, O LORD, that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. May Your unfailing love be my comfort." Psalm 119:75-76

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

What can't be cured--should be endured!

(Henrietta Wilson, "Little Things" 1852)

"All the days of the despondent are miserable--but a cheerful heart has a continual feast!" Proverbs 15:15

There is a class of little annoyances such as we make for ourselves by a complaining, or an overly fastidious temperament. There are some who make such a fuss about trifles, tormenting themselves, and worrying others by a perpetual fault-finding and discontent--as every trifling irritation is magnified to a mountain--that all pleasure is spoiled by their presence!

It is a good rule in little things, as well as great things, that "what can't be cured--should be endured"--and endured cheerfully!

I am not advocating slovenly and careless endurance of little vexations which may be remedied--let them be set right by all means, and the more quietly as well as quickly, the better. But I have observed people who were most ludicrously discomposed by trifles which neither they nor anyone else could remedy, and which should have been overlooked with a smile, if noticed at all.

There are many overly finicky people in the world, who groan over such trifling irritations. It is really ludicrous to hear the gravity with which some people will allude to the fact of the road being dusty, even alleging that as a reason for not going a walk; others are as much afraid of a shower; others of too much sunshine; some are terrified at the idea of being over-heated.

There is no end to these idle fancies and fears! If you laugh at these miserable people--then they think you are unfeeling. If you sympathize with them--then they multiply and increase their petty annoyances!

Let us all beware of making much of little irritations. Let us learn to laugh at them, remembering how very annoying such complaints are to others, as well as bothersome to ourselves.

A cheerful person who refuses to notice trifles or be aggravated by them--soon ceases to feel them! While to those who seem to find a perverse pleasure in dwelling on, and being daunted by them--these little discomforts will actually become real cares, and will eat out half the comfort of their lives!

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

The agonizing lesson!

("Solitude Sweetened" by James Meikle, 1730-1799)

Behold the great confusion of guilt and the eternal gloom of horror, which shall take fast hold on the unrepentant--when the incensed Judge pronounces their sentence in these killing words, "Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!"

Where will they hide their guilty heads--and where conceal their shame?

They will not be able to cover their condemnation with a smiling countenance, as they now cover their sin which causes it. How will the ground shake, and the earth quake beneath the trembling multitude!

    What fearful countenances!

    What remorseful looks!

    What rolling eyes!

    What frightful gestures!

    What lamentable howlings!

    What doleful bewailings!

    What preposterous complaints!

    What despairing expressions!

    What agonizing groans!

    What intolerable horror!

    What gnawing anguish!

    What stabbings of guilt!

    What roarings of awakened conscience!

What horrible blasphemies against the divine Judge Himself--shall they be employed in, in that tremendous day! How will they call to the hills to hide them, and run to be lost in the ruins of the tumbling rocks--but in vain!

But from whence will these specters come--these trembling ones be gathered? From another world? Ah! No! They are these mirthful and proud ones, who now walk the round of life, jesting and unconcerned! But they shall then be overwhelmed, and that forever--with a grief too vast for language to express, and too tremendous for conception to apprehend!

Who knows the power of God's wrath?

Who know it but the damned? And yet they know it not, for an eternity of torment is continually teaching them the agonizing lesson!

The bold, the blind, the headstrong sinner, never puts the question to himself, which concerns him most, and might awaken him: "Who of us can dwell with devouring fire? Who can dwell with everlasting burnings? How shall we escape the wrath to come?"

[nChrist]

__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
FREE E-mail Subscription:
http://www.gracegems.org/
___________________________________________

Keep yourselves out of the filthy puddle of this world!

(William Dyer, "The Strait Way to Heaven")

"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God--rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time." Hebrews 11:24-25

Choose suffering--before sinning.

Oh! beloved, there is more evil in the least sin against Christ--than in the greatest suffering for Christ!

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Corinthians 4:17

1. Our sufferings for Christ are but light.

2. Our sufferings for Christ are short--but for a moment.

3. Christ stands by us in our sufferings.

4. Our sufferings are ordered by the loving Father.

5. Our sufferings shall not hurt our souls.

6. God gives us the best of comforts--in the worst of times.
We have most consolation from God--when we have most tribulation from men!
As our sufferings abound--so our consolations abound.
When the burden is heaviest upon the back--then the peace of conscience is sweetest and greatest within.

Therefore, my dear brethren, keep yourselves out of the filthy puddle of this world, and from the evil of this world! And if you must sin or suffer--choose suffering before sinning!