Grace Gems

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Gems from Octavius Winslow

   ~  ~  ~  ~

So completely was Jesus bent upon saving sinners by the sacrifice of Himself, that He created the tree upon which He was to die--and nurtured from infancy, the men who were to nail Him to the accursed wood!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Christ took your cup of grief, your cup of the curse, pressed it to his lips, drank it to its dregs--then filled it with His sweet, pardoning, sympathizing love, and gave it back for you to drink, and to drink forever!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

It is because we have such shallow views of God's love--that we have such defective views of God's dealings. We blindly interpret the symbols of His providence--because we so imperfectly read the engravings of His heart!

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Short pithy gems from Martin Luther!

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Prayer is climbing up into the heart of God!

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God does not need your good works--but your neighbor does!

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I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all;
but whatever I have placed in God's hands--that I still possess.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Many have passed for saints on earth--whose souls are now in Hell.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The most damnable and pernicious heresy that has ever plagued the mind of man, was the idea that somehow he could make himself good enough to deserve to live with an all-holy God!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

When Satan tells me I am a sinner--he comforts me immeasurably, since Christ died for sinners.

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Mr. Hill, I am pleased to see you--I am one of your converts!

(Charles Spurgeon)

A man picked himself up from the gutter and brushed up against Rowland Hill one night as he went home, and he said, "Mr. Hill, I am pleased to see you--I am one of your converts!"

Rowland said, "I thought it was very likely that you were. You are certainly not one of God's converts, or else you would not be drunk."

There is a great lesson in that answer. Rowland Hill's converts could get drunk, but not the converts of the Spirit of God--those are really renewed in the spirit of their mind, by a supernatural operation!

Our converts are no good.

If our preaching does not turn men . . .
  from drunkenness--to sobriety,
  from thieving--to honesty,
  from unchastity--to purity,
then our Gospel is not worth a button!

But if it does all this, then this is the evidence that it comes from God--seeing that in the world so sorely diseased by sin, it works the wondrous miracle of curing men of these deadly evils!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation! Old things have passed away--behold, all things have become new!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

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No matter what corner I go around on the winding road of life

(W.B. Hinson)

"I will lead them in paths that they have not known" Isaiah 42:16

I do not know what is around that next turn in this winding trail of life. But I know this--whatever there is around that corner, I shall have my hand in Another's hand when I go and face it. And if I feel a little bit disturbed, I shall move my finger around in the palm of that hand till I find the scar, and then I shall know that Jesus Christ, who on the cross was wounded for my sins--is not going to leave me no matter what corner I go around on the winding road of life.

"Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip!" Psalm 17:5

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I would not make my ear into a common sewer, for all the wealth in the world!

(Charles Spurgeon)

Do you ask, "To whom shall I confess my sins?" Do not come to me with your confession. Oh no, no, no! I could not stand that!

I can never understand how a "Catholic priest" can ask people to confess their sins to him. I would not make my ear into a common sewer, for all the wealth in the world! What foulness must there be on the soul of him who has heard the sins that others have committed, and who knows what sin he has himself committed!

Sin, when we see what it really is, whether in ourselves or in others, horrifies us!

There is an old proverb about a thing being "as filthy as a priest's ear!" I cannot imagine anything dirtier than that, and I have no wish to be a partaker in the filthiness.

Go to God and confess your sin to Him - pour out your heart's sad story in the ear of Him against whom you have offended! Say with David, "Against You, You only, have I sinned - and done this evil in Your sight!"

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It will not do to be a saint abroad - and a devil at home!

(Charles Spurgeon)

There is a great importance in the way in which a man lives in his house. It will not do to be a saint abroad - and a devil at home! There are some of that kind. They are wonderfully sweet at a prayer meeting - but they are dreadfully sour to their wives and children. This will never do!

Every genuine believer should say, and mean it, "I will walk within my house with a perfect heart." It is in the home, that we get the truest proof of godliness.

"What sort of a man is he?" said one to George Whitefield - and Whitefield answered, "I cannot say, for I never lived with him."

That is the way to test a man - to live with him.

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Mohammed may conquer by the sword!

(Charles Spurgeon)

Mohammed may conquer by the sword - but Christ conquers by the sword which comes out of His mouth, that is, the Word of the Lord! His empire is one of love - not of force and oppression. He subdues men, but He does it by His own gentleness and kindness, never by breaking them in pieces and destroying them upon a gory battlefield.

The religion of Jesus is the most peaceful, mild and benevolent religion which was ever promulgated. When we compare it with any set of dogmas invented by men, there is not one of them that can stand the least comparison with it for gentleness, mildness and love.

As for the religion of Mohamed, it is the religion of the vulture - but the religion of Jesus is that of the dove - all is mercy, all is mild. It is, like its Founder - an embodiment of pure benevolence, grace and truth.

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me - for I am gentle and humble in heart." Matthew 11:29

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We would soon hear all the dogs of Hell baying with all their might against us!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:19

There would be much more persecution than there is--if there were more real Christians. But we have become so like the world, that the world does not hate us as it once did. If we would be more holy, more true, more Christ-like, more godly--we would soon hear all the dogs of Hell baying with all their might against us!

Remember, my brethren, whoever you may be, that if there is no distinction between you and the world around you--then you may be certain that you are of the world. For, there must always be some marks in the children of God to distinguish them from the ungodly. There is a something in them which is not to be found in the best worldling--something which is not to be discovered in the most admirable carnal man. A something in their character which can be readily perceived and which marks them as belonging to another and higher race, the twice-born, the elect of God, eternally chosen by Him--and, therefore, made to be choice ones through the effectual working of His grace.

"I have given them Your word and the world has hated them--for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world." John 17:14

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Short pithy gems from Charles Hodge

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To be in Christ--is the source of the Christian's life.
To be like Christ--is the sum of the Christian's excellence.
To be with Christ--is the fullness of the Christian's joy.

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The grace of God exalts a man without inflating him--and humbles a man without debasing him.

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The gospel is so simple, that small children can understand it--and it is so profound, that studies by the wisest theologians will never exhaust its riches!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Christian humility does not consist in denying what there is of good in us--but in an abiding sense of ill-desert, and in the consciousness that what we have of good is due to the grace of God.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

This is true religion:
  to approve what God approves,
  to hate what God hates, and
  to delight in what God delights.

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We dwell within the palm of God's hand!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"My times are in Your hand!" Psalm 31:15

Not only are we, ourselves, in the hand of the Lord--but all that surrounds us is in His hand! Our times make up a kind of atmosphere of existence--and all of this is under His divine arrangement.

We dwell within the palm of God's hand! We are absolutely at His disposal--and all our circumstances are arranged by Him in all their details. We are comforted to have it so!

When one knows that his times are in God's hands--he would not change places with a king! No, nor even with an angel!

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Had he known me better!

(Frederick Marsh)

Humility is the queen of the Christian graces. The excellence of humility is illustrated in the following Scriptures.

1. Humility is the Flower of Grace--Ephesians 4:2. Humility walks consistently, loves generously, serves willingly, acts meekly, forgives heartily, forbears thoughtfully, and responds obediently.

2. Humility is the Soul of Contentment--Philippians 4:12. It feels that it does not deserve anything, therefore takes whatever comes with gratitude. It ever sings, "O to grace how great a debtor!"

3. Humility is the Secret of Service--Acts 20:19. To serve the Lord with all humility of mind, is to have the bloom of consecration, the aroma of grace, the unction of love, the warmth of zeal, the ardor of faith, the walk of obedience, and the beauty of holiness.

4. Humility is the Badge of Obedience. The Lord's command is, "Humble yourselves" (1 Peter 5:6), and it is not without meaning that it is to be "under the mighty hand of God." We only know the mightiness of God's hand--when we lie low beneath it.

5. Humility is the Lesson of Grace. When we are yoked with Christ in God's will, we are in the position to learn of Christ, who is "meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29). To talk about humility, is to show we do not possess it; but to keep step with Christ, is to have it without knowing it.

6. The Mind of Humility. "In humility of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves" (Philippians 2:3). To see the best in others--is to find the worst in ourselves. Self-contemplation leads to self-congratulation, and that always fosters pride.

7. The Example of Christ. The mind of Christ is illustrated in that He "humbled Himself" (Philippians 2:8.). He went down, before He was raised up. We need to pray: "Help us, O Lord, to deeper sink, that we may the higher rise." The downward path is the upward one.

8. Humility is the Attire of Heaven. "Be clothed with humility" (1 Peter 5:5). This is a suit that is always in fashion--it never wears out, and it is always befitting. Humility is recognized by men, admired by angels, and loved by God.

9. Humility is the Securer of Blessing. "He gives more grace to the humble" (James 4:6), or as the margin, "A greater grace." Whether an excelling grace, or "more" of the grace that excels--humility is its own reward, and is rewarded by the Lord's commendation.

10. Humility is the Harbinger of Reward. "He who humbles himself shall be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). The heavier the cargo--the more the vessel is sunk into the water, and the greater its worth. When the fruit of humility causes the branch of the soul to bend in lowliness--the Heavenly Gardener plucks the fruit for the garner of His love!

  ~  ~  ~  ~

"There is nothing more characteristic of a true Christian, than humility. It is the first lesson that he learns in the school of Christ, and is the source of contentment and solid peace of mind.

If he hears that anyone has reviled him--he is ready to say, "Had he known me better, he would have said worse things of me than that!"

The fiercest storms of adversity blow over him. Humility gives a pliancy to his mind, which saves it by yielding to the force it cannot resist; like the weak and bending reed that weathers out the tempest which fells the tall and sturdy oak."

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To attempt to murder this infant, is Deicide!

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

"Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him!" Matthew 2:13

Christ, our Wondrous Lover met with sorry reception in our guilty, ungrateful world!

At first He was denied a dwelling--but soon it was determined to deprive Him of existence! O height of folly! O depth of wickedness! To attempt to murder this infant, is Deicide!

Foolish Herod! Shall divine predictions be falsified by you--and shall your lust frustrate God's eternal purpose to save His people?

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins!" Matthew 1:21

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Holy ground!

(Alexander Smellie, "The Secret Place" 1907)

"Do not come any closer! Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground!" Exodus 3:5

I have no need to go to the loneliness of Sinai to meet with God. I find holy ground much nearer home. But I wonder whether I take my sandals off of my feet.

God reveals Himself to me in His written Word. It is His sanctuary. By its agency, my deepest life is created, quickened, sustained. Listening to it, the saints have heard the very voice of their Lord. But do I reverence God by my frivolous use of the words of Scripture? And, whenever I open the Book, do I remember that God has breathed the Spirit of Life into its chapters and verses? Mine is culpable levity.

He reveals Himself in my history, as truly as ever He did in the history of Israel. In it, the devout heart will trace . . .
  His perfect providence,
  His power,
  His wisdom,
  His stern hatred of sin,
  His overflowing goodness.

Best of all, He reveals Himself in Christ. But if Christ brings Him close to me, He teaches me fresh reasons for standing in awe of Him.

His life shows me what God is--spotless, righteous, faithful, unflinchingly holy.

And His Cross has a more impressive message still. Here are God's infinite gentleness and shoreless mercy. Side by side with these are God's  abhorrence of my iniquity, and His unconquerable justice. He is holy, holy, holy--even in the brightest and sweetest manifestation of His grace. Yet I do not always worship Him "with trembling hope and penitential tears."

Not a day passes, that I am not standing in the courts of His house. Not a place can I visit, where the Spirit of glory and of God may not overshadow me. I pray for tenfold more thoughtfulness and adoration and humility.

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The Star!

(Henry Law, "Numbers" 1858.)

"A star will come out of Jacob." Numbers 24:17

A star, what is it, but a glittering orb set in the canopy of night? It sparkles, as a gem amid surrounding gloom. It darts a cheering ray on the black pall around. It smiles with lovely radiance on a dark ground.

Such is Christ Jesus. Where He beams not--it is unmitigated night. It is the skies without a star. What is such blackness, but a chilly type of ignorance, and wretchedness, and sin? Take the poor soul, in which Christ never shone. All these vile troops there brood. Is God there known? Far otherwise. There may be vague idea of some supreme director. But the realities of God's grace, and love, and truth, and justice--are utterly unseen. There is no basking in a Father's smile. Each step is through the maze and thickness of impenetrable doubts. There is no joy of a felt pardon. There is no knowledge of sins blotted out. Such is each Christless soul.

But let the Star appear--and what loveliness pervades the scene! So when Christ rises in the heart, that brightness comes, before which sin and misery flee.

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O sad spectacle of misery, grief, and woe!

(James Smith, "Christ Exalted, Saints Comforted, and Sinners Directed" 1855)

"Jesus came to take away our sins!" 1 John 3:5

Here notice the purpose and end of His coming: "To take away our sins!"

Our sins were committed against Himself.
They deserved His everlasting displeasure.
They called aloud for His vengeance to awake and punish us.
He foresaw the whole of them--in all their variety, enormity, and aggravation. He knew that they would be sins against His law, His love, and His tenderest mercy--sins against light, out of bitter enmity, and perpetrated over and over again. He knew the whole amount of our vileness--and yet "Jesus came to take away our sins!" Oh, the greatness of His love!
Sin had . . .
  incensed Divine justice against us,
  exposed us to Jehovah's wrath, and
  brought us under the dreadful curse of His violated law.

Therefore Jesus came and took away our sins, and at the same time . . .
  satisfied the claims of divine justice,
  appeased the Father's wrath,
  and bore our curse Himself!

O wondrous love!

O marvelous grace!

O astonishing mercy!

But more wondrous, more marvelous, more astonishing--is Jesus Himself--who did this for us, and did it freely, without solicitation, or anything in us to induce Him to do it!

But how could Jesus take away our sins? "God made Him to be sin for us."
He bore the weight of our sins,
He endured their merited punishment,
and He suffered the shame they procured.

He was . . .
  despised by men,
  tormented by devils,
  smitten with the sword of divine justice,
  forsaken by His Father,
  mocked by His creatures,
  overwhelmed with grief,
  torn with anguish, and
  His heart was broken with reproach and agony
--all for a poor, sinning, sorrowing, Hell-deserving creature like me!

Sin lay upon Him,
the wrath of God was endured by Him,
the most fearful terrors surrounded Him,
Heaven, earth, and Hell, appeared as though leagued against Him!
Men grossly insulted Him,
devils tried all in their power to destroy Him, and
God was pleased to bruise Him, and then leave Him to languish in heart-breaking sorrow.

O sad spectacle of misery, grief, and woe!

Was there ever sorrow, like unto Your sorrow?

Was there ever love, like unto Your love?

You might have sat upon Your throne, enjoying Your own glory, happiness, and felicity forever--and have justly left us to perish in our sins, and suffer for our own transgressions! But no, you would be Jesus--you would save Your people from their sins!

You would come to take away our sins, though in so doing--justice took away Your honor, happiness, and life. You would not leave us to perish--but You would put away our sins by the sacrifice of Yourself. You have . . .
  turned away Jehovah's wrath,
  cast all our sin into the depths of the sea, and
  bore our punishment in Your own body on the cruel tree!

Indeed Your love is astonishing, inconceivable, and almost too great for my weak faith to believe!

Dear Lord Jesus, You are exactly what I need--and You are all that I need. Your love will be . . .
  a sufficient portion in life,
  a divine cordial in death, and
  an ocean of felicity in which to bathe forever!

To see Him, love Him, and extol Him--is the Heaven of every Christian. He is . . .
  sweeter than honey,
  more pleasant than the light, and
  more precious than life itself!

To know Him--is to be truly wise.
To live upon Him--is to be happy.
To walk with Him--is to be holy.
To look to Him, expect from Him, and cast all our cares upon Him--is to honor Him.