Grace Gems

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Do not pay too dear for a feast for worms!

(Richard Baxter, "Directions against Gluttony")

"Dust you are, and to dust you will return!" Genesis 3:19

"Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both." Job 21:26

"When You take away their breath, they die and return to the dust!" Psalm 104:29

"All come from dust, and to dust all return!" Ecclesiastes 3:20

Remember what your body is, and what it will shortly be, and how loathsome and vile it will be in the grave. And then think how far such a body should be pampered and pleased--and at what a price. Do not pay too dear for a feast for worms! Look into the grave, and see what the end of all of all your pleasant foods and drinks is; of all your dainty and costly fare. You may see there the skulls cast up, and the ugly hole of that mouth which devoured so many sweet, delicious morsels--but there is none of the pleasure of it now left!

Oh astonishing folly! that men can so easily, so eagerly, so obstinately, waste their estates, and neglect their souls, and displease their God, and in effect even sell their hopes of Heaven--for so small and sordid a delight, as the pleasing of such a piece of flesh, which must shortly have so vile an end!

Was it worth so much care, and toil, and cost, and the casting away of your salvation--to pamper that body a little while, which must shortly be such a loathsome carcass? Methinks one sight of a skull or a grave, would make you look upon gluttony and luxury as madness.

The case will be altered with you when all your wealth and friends cannot keep your pampered carcass from corruption, nor procure your soul a comfort equal to a drop of water to cool your tongue, tormented in the flames of God's displeasure! Then all the comfort you can procure from God and conscience will be but this sad memento, "Remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony!" Luke 16:25

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Gone so soon without a trace!

(Thomas Watson, "The Godly Man's Picture Drawn with a Scripture Pencil")

"We were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow!" Job 8:9

"My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass!" Psalm 102:11

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time." Ephesians 5:16

How you spend your time is a matter of great importance. Many people fool away their time--some in idle visits, others in recreations and pleasures which secretly bewitch the heart, and take it away from holy things. What are our golden hours for--but to attend to our souls?

Time misspent is not time lived--but time lost!

Time is a precious commodity. As salvation is to be worked out in time, and a place in Heaven depends on using it well--time is of infinite concern!

Think of your short stay in the world. "We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a shadow--gone so soon without a trace!" 1 Chronicles 29:15

There is but a span between the cradle and the grave! Solomon says there is "a time to be born and a time to die"--but mentions no time of living, as if that were so short, it was not worth naming!

Time, when it has once gone, can never be recalled. "My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away, filled with tragedy. It disappears like a swift boat, like an eagle that swoops down on its prey." Job 9:25-26

This Scripture compares time to a flying eagle. Yet time differs from the eagle in this: the eagle flies forward and then back again--but time has wings only to fly forward--it never returns! Time flies away irrevocably!

The serious thoughts of our short stay here in this world, would be a great means of promoting godliness. Whoever considers how flitting and winged his life is--will hasten his repentance.

"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes!" James 4:14

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life!" Psalm 39:4

"So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

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One reason why the church has so little influence over the world

(Charles Spurgeon)

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind!" Romans 12:2

I believe that one reason why the church has so little influence over the world--is because the world has so much influence over the church!

It is overwhelming to see the growing worldliness of the visible church. Many professed Christians--the Lord alone knows whether they are true believers or not--give us grave cause for apprehension. We see them tolerating practices which would not have been endured by their fathers; my blood chills when I think of how far some fashionable professors go astray!

When the Church descends to the world's level, her spiritual power is gone. Jesus said, "Preach the gospel to every creature!" But men are getting tired of the divine plan; they are going to be saved by the music, or by the theatricals, or by the amusements! Well, they may try these things as long as ever they like; but nothing can ever come of the whole thing but utter disappointment and confusion:
  God is dishonored,
  the gospel is travestied,
  hypocrites are manufactured by thousands, and
  the church is dragged down to the level of the world!

An unholy church! It is useless to the world--and of no esteem among men. It is . . .
  an abomination,
   Hell's laughter, and
  Heaven's abhorrence!

"The world has absorbed the Church, and the church is content that it should be so!" Horatius Bonar

"Conformity to the world, in all ages, has proved the ruin of the church!" Rowland Hill

"The spirit of the world is eating out the very heart and life of true godliness!" George Everard

"Refined worldliness is the present snare of the Church of God!" Horatius Bonar

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Let me tell you a little secret!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law!" Psalm 119:18

Let me tell you a little secret: whenever you cannot understand a text, open your Bible, bend your knee, and pray over that text; and if it does not split into atoms and open itself, then try again. If prayer does not explain it, then it is one of those things that God does not intend you to know at present, and you may be content to be ignorant of it.

Prayer is the key that opens the cabinets of mystery. Prayer and faith are sacred picklocks that can open secrets, and obtain great treasures! There is no college for holy education like that of the blessed Spirit, for He is an ever-present tutor, to whom we have only to bend the knee, and He is at our side--the great expositor of truth!

You will frequently find fresh streams of thought leaping up from the passage before you, as if the rock had been struck by Moses' rod! New veins of precious ore will be revealed to your astonished gaze as you quarry God's Word and use diligently the hammer of prayer!

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth!" John 16:13

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Go dogs, and eat the garbage!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.
 For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
 Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?
 What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
'Therefore come out from them and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

I believe that one reason why the church at this present moment has so little influence over the world, is because the world has so much influence over the church! Nowadays, we hear mere professors pleading that they may do this, and do that--that they may live like worldlings. My sad answer to them, when they crave this liberty is, "Do it if you dare. It may not cost you much hurt, for you are so bad already. Your worldly cravings show how rotten your hearts are! If you are hungering after such dog's food--go dogs, and eat the garbage!"

Worldly amusements are fit food for pretenders and hypocrites.

If you were God's children, you would loathe the thought of the world's evil joys. Your question would not be, "How far may we be like the world?" but your cry would be, "How can we get away from the world? How can we come out of it?"

"Whatever is true,
 whatever is noble,
 whatever is right,
 whatever is pure,
 whatever is lovely,
 whatever is admirable,
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy
--think about such things!" Philippians 4:8

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How to conquer the world!

(Thomas Brooks, "The Unsearchable Riches of Christ!")

Perhaps the world--the smiling world or the frowning world, the tempting world or the persecuting world--lies as a heavy stone or burden upon your heart, as it does upon the hearts of thousands in these days. Witness their attempting anything to get the favors, honors and riches of this world! Ah! how many have turned their backs upon God, and Christ, and Heaven--to gain the world!

Men may hear many sermons--and yet remain worldly.
They may pray like angels--and yet live as if there were no Heaven nor Hell.
They will talk much of Heaven--and yet those who are spiritual and wise, smell their breath to stink strongly of earth.

All their endeavors can never cure them of this soul-killing disease--until faith breaks forth in its glorious actings. A man may hear sermons and pray many years--and yet remain as carnal, base, and worldly as ever! There is no way under Heaven to remove this burden--but by the exercise of faith!

"For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4-5

Faith presents the world to the soul under all those notions which the Scripture holds forth the world unto us by. The Scripture holds forth the world as . . .
  an impotent thing,
  as a mixed thing,
  as a mutable thing,
  as a momentary thing.
Now faith comes and sets this home with power upon the soul--and this takes the soul off from the world.

Faith causes the soul to converse with those more glorious, soul-satisfying, soul-delighting, and soul-contenting objects! Now when faith is busied and exercised about soul-ennobling, soul-greatening, soul-raising, and soul-cheering objects--a Christian tramples the world under his feet! In Hebrews 11, it was the exercise of faith and hope upon noble and glorious objects, which carried them above the world . . .
  above the smiling world,
  above the frowning world,
  above the tempting world,
  and above the persecuting world!

Faith conquers the world, by assuring the soul of enjoying of better things. Men may talk much of Heaven, and of Christ, and religion, etc.; but give me a man who really and clearly lives under the power of divine faith--and I cannot see how such a one can be carried out in an inordinate love to these poor transitory worldly things.

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Do not judge a minister . . .

(Thomas Brooks, "The Unsearchable Riches of Christ!")

"If you point these things out to the brethren, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed." 1 Timothy 4:6

It is sad to see how many preachers in our days make it their business to enrich men's heads with lofty, empty, airy notions--instead of enriching their souls with holy truths.

Fix yourself under that man's ministry who makes it his business, his work--to enrich the soul, to win the soul, and to build up the soul; not to tickle the ear, or please the fancy. This age is full of such light, vain souls--who dislike everything but what is empty and airy.

Do not judge a minister . . .
  by his voice, nor
  by the multitude who follow him, nor
  by his affected tone, nor
  by his rhetoric and flashes of wit;
but by the holiness, heavenliness, and spiritualness of his teaching!
Many ministers are like empty orators, who have a flood of words--but a drop of matter!

Some preachers affect rhetorical strains; they seek abstrusities and love to hover and soar aloft in dark and cloudy expressions, and so shoot their arrows over their hearers' heads--instead of bettering their hearers' hearts.

Mirthful things in a sermon are only for men to gaze upon and admire.

He is the best preacher, not who tickles the ear--but who breaks the heart!

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power!" 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

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We should be content with His daily allowance!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes--and he dined regularly in the presence of the king of Babylon for the rest of his life. As for his allowance, a regular allowance was given to him by the king--a portion for each day, for the rest of his life." 2 Kings 25:29-30

Jehoiachin was not sent away from the king's palace with a 'supply' to last him for months, but his provision was given to him as a daily pension.

Herein he well pictures the happy position of all the Lord's people. A daily portion is all that a man really needs. We do not need tomorrow's supplies; for that day has not yet dawned, and its needs are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June--does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet. If we have enough for each day as the days arrive--we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day--is all that we can enjoy.

We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day's supply of food and clothing; a surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief. "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them!" Matthew 6:31-32

One staff aids a traveler--but a bundle of staffs is a heavy burden.

Enough is not only as good as a feast--but is all that the greatest glutton can truly enjoy.

Enough is all that we should expect--a craving for more than this is ungrateful.

When our Father does not give us more--we should be content with His daily allowance.

Jehoiachin's case is ours--we have . . .
  a sure portion;
  a portion given to us by the King;
  a gracious portion;
  and a perpetual portion.
Surely here is ground for thankfulness.

Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of grace. Day by day you must seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance--that a daily portion is provided for you. In the Word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God--you shall receive renewed strength. In Jesus, all needful things are laid up for you. Then enjoy your continual allowance!

Never go hungry--while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy!

"Give us each day, our daily bread." Luke 11:3

"As your days--so shall your strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25

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A diligent pupil in the College of Contentment

(Charles Spurgeon)

"I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. Grumbling, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man--as weeds are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and weeds; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth. Just so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education.

"Ill weeds grow quickly." But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener's care.

Now, contentment is one of the flowers of Heaven, and if we would have it--then it must be cultivated, as it will not grow in us by nature. It is the new nature alone which can produce contentment--and even then we must be especially careful and watchful, that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us.

Paul says, "I have learned... to be content;" as much as to say, that he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mastery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, "I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content," he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave--a poor prisoner shut up in Nero's dungeon at Rome.

We might well be willing to endure Paul's infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him--if we too might by any means attain unto his high degree of contentment. Do not indulge the notion that you can learn contentment without discipline. It is not an ability that may be exercised naturally--but a grace to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be--and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Contentment.

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We have actually out-sinned thousands!

(Thomas Brooks)

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly!" Romans 5:6

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

"When we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son!" Romans 5:10

Sit down in astonishment at this matchless love of God!

Oh! what is in us--that should cause the Lord to give such gifts to us as He has given? We were all equal in sin and misery; nay, doubtless, we have actually out-sinned thousands, to whom these precious gifts are denied. Oh! we were once poor wretches sitting upon the ash-heap, yes, wallowing in our blood, and yet behold--the King of kings, the Lord of lords, has so far abounded in His love, as to bestow Himself, His Spirit, His grace, and all the jewels of His royal crown upon us! Oh! what heart can conceive, what tongue can express, this matchless love!

Says Christ:
"I will be yours forever,
 and My Spirit shall be yours forever,
 and My grace shall be yours forever,
 and My glory shall be yours forever,
 and My righteousness shall be yours forever!
All that I am and all that I have--shall be yours forever!"

O what incomparable love is this!

Oh! what a precious Christ is this!

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us--that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1

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The reason why He is contending with you!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"Show me why You contend with me." Job 10:2

Perhaps, O tried soul, the Lord is doing this to develop your graces.

There are some of your graces which would never be discovered, if it were not for your trials.

Do you not know that your faith never looks so grand in summer weather, as it does in winter?

Love is too often like a glow-worm, showing but little light unless it is in the midst of surrounding darkness.

Hope itself is like a star--not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, but only to be discovered in the night of adversity.

Afflictions are often the black foils in which God sets the jewels of His children's graces, to make them shine the better.

Real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials.

God often takes away our comforts and our privileges, in order to make us better Christians.

He trains His soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury--but by forcing them into difficult marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs.

Well, Christian, may not this account for the troubles through which you are passing?
Is not the Lord bringing out your graces, and making them grow?
Is not this the reason why He is contending with you?

"Trials make the promise sweet;
 Trials give new life to prayer;
 Trials bring me to His feet,
 Lay me low, and keep me there!"

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The Midas touch!

(Thomas Brooks)

Faith is the most useful grace--it is the Christian's . . .
  right eye, without which he cannot see for Christ;
  right hand, without which he cannot act for Christ;
  tongue, without which he cannot speak for Christ;
  strength, without which he cannot live for Christ.

It is fabled of King Midas, that whatever he touched would be turned into gold.
I am sure that whatever faith touches, it turns into gold; that is, into our good.

Whatever faith lays its hand upon, it appropriates to itself, and turns it into the soul's good!

If our faith touches the promises, it turns them into our good.

If faith looks upon God, it says, "This God is my God forever and ever--He shall be my guide unto death!"

When it looks upon Christ, it says, "My Lord and Redeemer!"

When it looks upon the crown of righteousness, it says, "This crown is laid up for me!"

Faith is . . .
  bread to nourish us,
  wine to cheer us,
  a cordial to strengthen us,
  a sword to defend us,
  a guide to direct us,
  a staff to support us,
  a remedy to heal us,
  a friend to comfort us, and
  a golden key to open Heaven unto us.

Faith, of all graces, is the most useful grace to the soul of man.
All those services are lost, wherein faith has not a hand.
You may write 'loss' . . .
  upon all the prayers you make, and
  upon all the sermons you hear, and
  upon all the tears you shed, and
  upon all the alms you give,
--if all are not managed by a hand of faith.
"Without faith it is impossible to please God!" Hebrews 11:6

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Optimum maximum!

(Thomas Brooks)

Christians serve a wonderful Master.
They serve Him who is . . .
  all ear to hear them,
  all hand to uphold them,
  all power to protect them,
  all wisdom to direct them,
  all goodness to relieve them,
  all mercy to pardon them.

They serve that God who is optimum maximum--the best and greatest!

God has . . .
  all dignity,
  all glory,
  all riches,
  all treasure,
  all pleasure,
  all delight,
  all joy, and
  all beatitudes.

God is . . .
  all goodness,
  all beauty,
  all power,
  all wisdom,
  all justice,
  all mercy, and
  all love itself!

God is one infinite perfection in Himself!

"He has all--who has the Haver of all!" Αugustine

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A faithful minister

(Thomas Brooks, "The Unsearchable Riches of Christ")

"Let the elders who rule well be accounted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine." 1 Timothy 5:17

The which is here rendered labor, signifies not simply to labor--but to labor with much travail and toil, to labor even to exhaustion, as he does who chops wood, or who fights in a battle.

Oh what an honor is it to a faithful minister, when he has . . .
  found the people dark and blind--but left them enlightened;
  found them dead--but left them alive;
  found them a proud people--but left them humble;
  found them a profane people--but left them holy;
  found them a carnal people--but left them spiritual;
  found them a worldly people--but left them heavenly;
  found them a wavering people--but left them settled and rooted.

Oh, it is an honor to faithful ministers, when their people are like them . . .
  in knowledge,
  in wisdom,
  in love,
  in humility,
  in holiness!

"Watch your life and doctrine closely." 1 Timothy 4:16

A preacher's life should be a commentary of his doctrine.

His practice should be a counterpart of his sermons.

Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life!

"Be an example to all believers . . .
  in what you teach,
  in the way you live,
  in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
 

"We preach to people who must live forever . . .
   in Heaven--or Hell;
   with God--or devils;
   in an eternity of joy--or of torment!" Thomas Doolittle

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The cross has not become obsolete!

(Horatius Bonar, "The Surety's Cross")

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing; but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

The whole world looked with contempt--indignant at the audacity of a few humble Christians, thus . . .
  affronting and defying the "public opinion" of nations and ages;
  assailing the religions of earth with the cross as their only sword;
  striking down their idols with this as their only hammer; and
  with this, as their one lever, proposing to turn the world upside down!
From that day the cross became "a power" in the earth; a power which went forth, like the light--noiselessly yet irresistibly--smiting down all religions alike, all shrines alike, all altars alike--sparing no superstition nor philosophy.

This power remains--in its mystery, its silence, its influence, it remains. The cross has not become obsolete! The preaching of the cross has not ceased to be powerful and effectual!

There are those who would persuade us that, in this modern age--the cross is out of date and out of fashion, time-worn. But this does not shake us. It only leads us to clasp the cross more fervently, and to study it more profoundly, as embodying in itself that gospel which is at once the wisdom and the power of God.

Yet the cross is not without its mysteries:

  It illuminates--yet it darkens.

  It is life--yet it is death.

  It is honor--yet it is shame.

  It is wisdom--but also foolishness.

The cross is . . .
  both pardon, and condemnation;
  both strength, and weakness;
  both joy, and sorrow;
  both love, and hatred;
  both medicine, and poison;
  both hope, and despair.

The cross is Christ's humiliation--yet it is His exaltation!

The cross is Satan's victory--yet it is Satan's defeat!

The cross is the gate of Heaven--and the gate of Hell!

The cross is the key . . .
  to God's character,
  to God's Word,
  to God's ways,
  to God's purposes.

The cross is the summary of all the Bible--the epitome of Scripture Revelation!