Grace Gems

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The panacea for all the ills of life!

(James Smith, "The Spirit's Work in the Believer" 1861)

"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Spirituality flows from the gracious operations of the Holy Spirit in the soul, who . . .
  kindles spiritual love,
  awakens spiritual desires, and
  produces spiritual devotion.

The Spirit's work in the believer consists:

1. In convincing us of sin, when we go astray from the right ways of the Lord.

2. In working repentance within us, and leading us to confess and mourn over our sins before God.

3. In opening up, and applying the Word of God, so that it . . .
  meets our case,
  feeds our faith,
  fires our love, and
  deepens our humility.

4. In exciting and drawing forth the soul in prayer, praise, and adoration at the throne of God--so that we sometimes . . .
  melt in contrition,
  are crumbled down in humiliation,
  and are almost dissolved in love.

5. In giving us soul-refreshing glimpses . . .
  of the glorious person of Jesus,
  of the everlasting covenant,
  and of eternal glory.

6. In melting us down in sincere gratitude before God, under a sense of His undeserved favor.

7. In removing all legal fears, and causing holy peace to flow through the soul like a river.

8. In melting us in meekness, and producing sweet submission to the sovereign will of God.

9. In sweetly soothing and consoling under trials and bereavements; and enabling us to look heavenward with hope and joy.

10. In giving us sweet intimations of the love of God to us, by holy discoveries of His grace.

11. In witnessing to our adoption, awakening the cry of "Abba, Father!" in our hearts, and enabling us to claim a filial relationship to God.

12. In drawing forth our souls in love to God--under an overcoming sense of His free and unparalleled love to us.

13. In enabling us to mount upward as on the wings of an eagle, and to run with pleasure and delight in God's holy ways.

15. In quickening us to rejoice in the Lord, when all things around are calculated to fill us with despondency and gloom.

16. In producing perseverance in our souls, and enabling us to look away from the things which are seen and temporal--and to look to unseen and eternal realities.

The Spirit works within the Christian, teaching him daily to make use of Christ as the panacea for all the ills of life!

In all these things, and many more--the work of the Spirit in the experience of the believer appears.

Reader, do you know anything of these things in your own experience?
Is the Spirit daily working in your heart, and do you pay attention to . . .
  the lessons He teaches,
  the impressions He makes, and
  the direction in which He points?

O for more of the Spirit's work within us--that we may live to the praise and glory of Him who loved us, and died to redeem us from sin, death and Hell!

Holy Spirit, work in us more and more--teaching us Your truth, and conforming us to Christ! O for more of Your power, love, and holiness!

[nChrist]

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The highest class in the school of Christ

(John Angell James, 1848)

"So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hebrews 6:12

By patience, we mean a quiet waiting, amidst sufferings and sorrows--for the heavenly kingdom. Patience is an uncomplaining willingness to remain any length of time, and amidst any tribulation, for eternal glory.

No circumstances of life--let the sufferer hear and drink in the soul-comforting thought--no circumstances of life seem to ripen the Christian so fast or so perfectly for Heaven--as the experience of sorrow and affliction. Oh! then let our comforts go, then let our eyes weep, then let our hearts bleed--if our Father is thus ripening us for everlasting fruition and inconceivable bliss!

"But patience must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:4

When we are enabled to exercise the grace of patience, we have reached the highest class in the school of Christ, have nothing more to learn upon earth, and are ready and fit to depart, and to be with Jesus--and have then obtained as much grace as can be possessed, short of glory itself!

Patience then, sufferer, patience! The first moment, and the first glance of Heaven will be an infinite recompense for all that you suffer--for all that you lose on earth! If every step on earth is a step of suffering--then let each be a step of patience!

Weep you may--murmur you must not.

Nature may pay the tribute of a groan--but grace must pay it with a smile.

The shower of your tears may fall--but the rays of the Sun of Righteousness must reflect the beauteous rainbow of the promise.

Christian, you make your way to glory along the path of patient resignation, which, if it is like the Valley of Weeping, and has its briars and its thorns--has also its refreshing rain-pools of heavenly consolation!

[nChrist]

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Pithy gems from George Whitefield #2

Oh for a thousand lives to be spent in the service of Christ!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Left to himself--man is half beast and half devil.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

God, give me a deep humility, a well-guided zeal, a burning love and a single eye!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

If one evil thought, if one evil word, if one evil action, deserves eternal damnation--then how many Hells do every one of us deserve, whose whole lives have been one continued rebellion against God!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The reason why congregations have been so dead--is because they have dead men preaching to them. How can dead men beget living children?

   ~  ~  ~  ~

I expect perpetual conflicts and struggles in this life. I expect only a cross, while on this side of eternity.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

There are many who go on in a round of religious duties, who think that they will go to Heaven when they die. But if you examine them, though they have a Christ in their heads--they have no Christ in their hearts.

[nChrist]

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Pithy gems from Thomas Watson #2

What fools are they who, for a drop of pleasure, drink a sea of wrath!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Every time you draw your breath, you suck in mercy!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

We are more sure to arise out of our graves, than out of our beds.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Read the Scripture, not only as a history, but as a love-letter sent to you from God!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

God would have us part with nothing for Him, but that which will damn us if we keep it! The only design He has for us is to make us holy.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Death is the last and best physician. It cures all diseases and sins--the aching head and the unbelieving heart. Sin was the midwife which brought death into the world--and death shall be the grave to bury sin! O the privilege of a believer!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

There is more evil in a drop of sin--than in a sea of affliction!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Knowledge without repentance--will be but a torch to light men to Hell.

[nChrist]

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You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain!

(William S. Plumer, "The Ten Commandments")

A great design of true religion is to bring men to habitual reverence for God's divine majesty. The very moment men cease to treat God as holy--that moment their hearts and lives become polluted.

"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, who takes His name in vain." Exodus 20:7

Anything relating to the true God--His being, His nature, His will, His works, His worship, His service, or His doctrine--pertains to God's name. This commandment extends to the state of men's thoughts and hearts--as well as to their speech.

To take God's name in vain, is to use it in any frivolous, false, inconsiderate, irreverent, or otherwise wicked manner. The scope of this commandment is to secure the holy and reverent use of all that by which God makes Himself known to His people; and so to guard His sacred name against all that is calculated to make it contemptible.

The manner of taking His name is to be grave, solemn, intelligent, thoughtful, sincere, and with godly fear.

"Our Father in Heaven, may Your name be honored as holy." Matthew 6:9

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You are either in the Word--or in the world!

(Howard Hendricks)

You are either in the Word, and the Word is conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ--or you are in the world, and the world is squeezing you into its mold!

The first reason for studying Scripture is that it is a means of spiritual growth. There is no growth apart from the Word. It is God's primary tool to develop Christian character.

The Word of God is able to transform your life, but you must probe for its wisdom. You have to penetrate the surface with more than just a cursory glance.

The Bible was written not to satisfy your curiosity, but to conform you to Christ's image. Not to make you a smarter sinner, but to make you like the Savior. Not to fill your head with a collection of biblical facts, but to transform your life.

The will of God is found in the Word of God. The more a person grows, the more he begins to think instinctively and habitually from a divine perspective.

[nChrist]

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Pithy gems from Spurgeon #4

(Charles Spurgeon)


The most damning thing in the world is self-righteousness!


Many in the church are toiling like ants to gain this world's dross,
but are as idle as a butterfly in regard to divine things.


There is no shelter from an angry God, but in the pierced hand of His dear Son!


My longing is that the churches may be more holy.


I grieve to see so much conformity to the world among Christians.
How many Christians follow the fashions of this wicked world.


Time is flying! Men are dying! Hell is filling!


I suppose if any man among us could see his own heart as it really is, he would be driven mad. The poet was right when he said, "God saves all beings but Himself, from that hideous sight--a human heart!"


If you profess to know Christ, have nothing to do with a sinful world.
Shake off the viper into the fire, for it will poison you and destroy you!


If you want to know what Heaven is, know what Christ is.
The way to spell Heaven is with those five letters that make up the word J E S U S.


He who counts the stars and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting His own redeemed children. He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature He ever made, or the only saint He ever loved!

[nChrist]

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How then distinguish them?

(Thomas Guthrie, 1803-1873)

You may know a sheep from a swine, when both have fallen into the same mire--and are, in fact, so bemired, that neither by coat nor color can the one be distinguished from the other.

How then distinguish them? Nothing more easy!

The  sheep--a type of the godly--strives and struggles to get out of the muck.

But the swine, in circumstances agreeable to its nature, wallows in the filth.

"What the true proverb says has happened to them: The dog returns to its own vomit, and the swine, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire." 2 Peter 2:22

"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire! Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:16-20

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May we see our sins

(Henry Law, "Family Prayers")

O God the Holy Spirit, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. Move, we beseech You, in our disordered hearts. Remove the deformities of unruly desires and hateful lusts. Chase away the mists and darkness of unbelief. Brighten our inner man with the pure light of truth. Sow abundantly the seeds of righteousness. Make our souls fragrant as the garden of the Lord. Enrich them with every godly fruit. Beautify them with heavenly grace. Be our comforter, our guide, our light, our sanctification.

Especially take of the things of Christ, and show them with enlarged power to our longing souls. May we daily learn more of His love, His grace, His tender compassion, His faithfulness, and His beauty. May we delight ourselves in Him with increased delight. Lead us to the cross, and show us in His wounds--the hateful character of sin. May we see our sins, as . . .
  the nails which transfixed Him,
  the cords which bound Him,
  the sword which pierced Him,
  the thorns which tore Him,
  the taunts which stung Him.

Help us to read in His cruel death, the reality and immensity of His love.

Open to us the wondrous volumes of glorious truth in the cry, "It is finished!"
Our atonement is forever achieved,
our debt is fully paid,
all our guilt is washed away,
all our sins most righteously forgiven,
our souls saved,
Hell vanquished,
the devil crushed,
Heaven won, and
eternity of glory our rightful home!

Holy Spirit, deepen in us these saving lessons.
Write them with Your finger on the tablets of our hearts.

May our walk be . . .
  sin-loathing,
  sin-fleeing,
  Christ-loving,
  God-fearing!

[nChrist]

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Pithy gems on Pride & Humility


Pride is the root of every sin and evil.

Pride is the gate and the birth, and the curse, of Hell.

There is nothing so natural to man, nothing so insidious and hidden from our sight, nothing so deceitful and dangerous, as pride!


Humility is the most beautiful of all the Christian graces, as well as the most rare of all the Christian graces.

Humility is the only fitting response of the creature to its God.

Humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is the first duty and the highest virtue of the creature.

Humility is the cardinal virtue and distinguishing feature of the disciple of Jesus.

Meekness and lowliness of heart are the chief marks by which those who follow the meek and lowly Lamb of God are to be known.

Humility is the only root from which the graces can grow.

Humility is the most difficult of all virtues to achieve.
Nothing dies harder, that the desire to think well of oneself.

Humility is the only ladder to honor in God's kingdom.

True humility counts itself nothing, rejoices in becoming and being counted the least, and only seeks, like Jesus, to be the servant, the helper and comforter of others, even the lowest and unworthiest.

[nChrist]

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You are the one who has done this!

("The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod" or, "The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes" by Thomas Brooks, 1659)

"I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!" Psalm 39:9

In the words you may observe three things:

   1. The person speaking, and that is, David. David a king, David a saint, David "a man after God's own heart," David a Christian. And here we are to look upon David, not as a king, but as a Christian, as a man whose heart was right with God.

   2. The action and behavior of David under the hand of God, in these words, "I was silent; I would not open my mouth."

   3. The reason of this humble and sweet behavior of his, in these words, "for You are the one who has done this!"

The proposition is this: That it is the great duty and concern of gracious souls to be mute and silent under . . .
  the greatest afflictions,
  the saddest providences, and
  sharpest trials that they meet with in this world.

David's silence is an acknowledgment of God as the author of all the afflictions that come upon us. There is no sickness so little, but God has a finger in it; though it be but the aching of the little finger.

David looks through all secondary causes to the first cause, and is silent. He sees a hand of God in all, and so sits mute and quiet. The sight of God in an affliction is of an irresistible efficacy to silence the heart, and to stop the mouth of a godly man.

Men who don't see God in an affliction, are easily cast into a feverish fit, they will quickly be in a flame; and when their passions are up, and their hearts on fire, they will begin to be saucy, and make no bones of telling God to His teeth, that they do well to be angry. Such as will not acknowledge God to be the author of all their afflictions, will be ready enough to fall in with that mad principle of the Manichees, who maintained the devil to be the author of all calamities; as if there could be any evil or affliction in the city, and the Lord have no hand in it, Amos 3:6.

If God's hand be not seen in the affliction, the heart will do nothing but fret and rage under affliction.

Such as can see the ordering hand of God in all their afflictions, will, with David, lay their hands upon their mouths, when the rod of God is upon their backs!

They see that it was a Father that put those bitter cups in their hands; and love that laid those heavy crosses upon their shoulders; and grace that put those yokes around their necks--and this caused much quietness and calmness in their spirits.

When God's people are under the chastening rod, He makes by His Spirit and Word, such sweet music in their souls, as allays all tumultuous motions, passions, and perturbations.

"I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!" Psalm 39:9

"It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him." 1 Samuel 3:18

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The delight which God has in His redeemed people!

"I will rejoice over them to do them good." Jeremiah 32:41

"As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you!" Isaiah 62:5

The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you . . . He will rejoice over you with singing!" Zephaniah 3:17

How heart-cheering to the believer, is the delight which God has in His redeemed people!

We cannot see any reason in ourselves why the Lord should take pleasure in us. We cannot take delight in ourselves, for we often have to groan, being burdened; conscious of our sinfulness, and deploring our unfaithfulness.

And we fear that God's people cannot take much delight in us, for they must perceive so much of our imperfections and our follies, that they may rather lament our infirmities, than admire our graces.

But we love to dwell upon this transcendent truth, this glorious mystery--that as the bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so does the Lord rejoice over us!

We do not read anywhere that God delights in the cloud-capped mountains, or the sparkling stars--but we do read that His delights are with the sons of men.

We do not find it written that even angels give His soul delight; nor does He say, concerning cherubim and seraphim, "You shall be called Hephzibah, for the Lord delights in you"; but He does say all that to poor fallen creatures like ourselves, debased and depraved by sin--but redeemed and saved by His grace.

In what strong language He expresses His delight in His people! Who could have conceived of the eternal One as bursting forth into a song? Yet it is written, "He will take great delight in you . . . He will rejoice over you with singing!"

As He looked upon the world He had made, He said, "It is very good". But when He beheld those who are the purchase of Jesus' blood, His own chosen ones, it seemed as if the great heart of the Infinite could restrain itself no longer--but overflowed in divine exclamations of joy.

Should not we utter our grateful response to such a marvelous declaration of His love, and sing, "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!"

[nChrist]

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Pithy gems from J.C. Ryle #5

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The standard of the world, and the standard of the Lord Jesus--are indeed widely different. They are more than different--they are flatly contradictory one to the other. Never be satisfied with the world's standard of Christianity!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Hell is truth known too late!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

That Bible is read best, which is practiced most!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

God's eternal election is the first link in that chain of a sinner's salvation, of which heavenly glory is the end!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

A tree may always be known by its fruit.
Just so, a true Christian may always be discovered by their habits, tastes and affections.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

To be a Christian, it will cost a man his love of ease!

[nChrist]

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Pithy gems from Spurgeon #5

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Look to the cross, and hate your sin--for sin nailed your Well-Beloved to the accursed tree!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The sympathy of Jesus is the next most precious thing to His sin-atoning sacrifice!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

To be almost saved--is to be altogether lost! There are many in Hell who once were almost saved--but who are now altogether damned! Think of that, you who are not far from the Kingdom. It is being in the Kingdom that saves the soul--not being near the Kingdom.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The world does not read the Bible--the world reads Christians!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

A golden coffin will be a poor compensation for a damned soul!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

If you have lived like the wicked--then you will die like the wicked, and be damned like the wicked!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

He who counts the stars and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting His own children! He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature He ever made, or the only saint He ever loved!

[nChrist]

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Pithy gems from John Newton #5

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The babe of Bethlehem, the man who once hung dead and forsaken upon the cross--is now the Lord of glory!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Humility is the strength and ornament of every other grace, and the proper soil wherein they grow.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

To behold the glory and the love of Jesus, is the only effectual way to be conformed to His image.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Resist every temptation to doubt Christ's love--as you would resist a temptation to adultery or murder!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

That monster SELF has as many heads as a Hydra--and as many lives as a cat!
(The Hydra was a serpentine mythological water monster with many heads.
For every head chopped off--the Hydra would re-grow a couple of new heads.)