Grace Gems

[nChrist]

The happiest moment of his life!

(Octavius Winslow, "No Separation from Christ Jesus")

Death cannot separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus--and all the blessings
which that love bestows. Death separate us? No!
Death unites us the more closely to those blessings,
by bringing us into their more full and permanent
possession.

Death imparts a realization and a permanence to all
the glorious and holy longings of the Christian. The
happiest moment of his life is his last! Then it is
that he feels how precious the privilege, and how
great the eminence--of being a believer in Jesus.

And the day which darkens his eye to all earthly scenes
--opens it upon the untold, and unimaginable, and
ever increasing glories of eternity! It is the birth
day of his immortality!

Jesus, the Conqueror of death, will approach and
place His almighty arms beneath you, and lay your
head upon His loving bosom. Thus encircled and
pillowed, you "shall not see death," but passing
through its gloomy portal, shall only realize that
you had actually died, from the consciousness of
the joy and glory into which death had ushered
you!

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[nChrist]

Some means to fruitfulness

(Thomas Watson, "The Trees of Righteousness
Blossoming and Bringing Forth Fruit")

"This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit,
 showing yourselves to be My disciples." John 15:8

I shall here lay down some means to fruitfulness.

If you would be fruitful, remove those things which
will hinder fruitfulness, such as cherishing any secret
lust in the heart. Sin indulged--is like vermin to the
tree, which destroys the fruit. Grace cannot thrive in
a sinful heart. Avoid the love of riches. The cares of
the world choked the seed, in Matthew 13. The love
of sin poisons the fruit; the love of riches chokes it.

Another means to fruitfulness is weeping for sin.
Moisture helps growth in trees; holy tears water
the trees of God and make them more fruitful.
Mary Magdalene, a weeping plant--how fruitful
was she in love to Christ! Moist grounds are most
fertile; the soul that is moistened and steeped in
tears--is most fruitful. Never did David's graces
flourish more, than when he watered his couch
with tears.

Another means to fruitfulness is humility. The low
grounds are most fruitful. "The valleys are covered
with grain." (Psalm 65:13). The humble heart is the
fruitful heart. The largest and sweetest fruits of the
Spirit, grow in a humble Christian. 1 Peter 5:5: "God
gives grace to the humble." Paul called himself the
least of saints—yet he was the chief of the apostles.

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Three daughters which are bred by prosperity

(Thomas Watson, "The Spiritual Watch")

"Keep your heart with all diligence." Proverbs 4:23

Keep your heart in time of prosperity. Oftentimes the more
full a man is of the world—the further his heart is from God.
It is hard to abound in prosperity—and not abound in sin. A
full cup is hard to carry, without spilling. The trees are never
more in danger of the wind, than when they full blossom.

Pride, idleness, and luxury—are the three daughters which
are bred by prosperity. Samson fell asleep in Delilah's lap;
millions have slept their way to hell—in the lap of prosperity.
Agur prayed, "Give me not riches" (Proverbs 30:8 ). He knew
his heart would run wild into sin. The world's golden apple,
bewitches.

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Walking Bibles

(Thomas Watson)

"Give me understanding, and I will keep Your law
 and obey it with all my heart." Psalm 119:34

Determine to PRACTICE whatever you read. Christians
should be walking Bibles, living the truths written. The
Word is not only a guide to knowledge, but a guide to
obedience. A holy reading of God’s Word, results in our
fleeing from sins, and practicing the duties commanded.

"I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I
 might obey Your word." Psalm 119:101

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[nChrist]

A bull may be adorned with ribbons

(Thomas Watson, "A Plea for the Godly")

"He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we
 had done, but according to His mercy." Titus 3:5

A person may be adorned with many moral virtues,
such as prudence, justice, and temperance; and may
keep free from breaking penal statutes; and may not
dash upon the rock of visible scandal. But under the
fair leaves of morality—the worm of unbelief may
be hidden!

A bull may be adorned with ribbons, and wear
a garland on his head—and yet go to the slaughter!
Just so, many a person who had all his life been
decked with morality—is now in hell-fire!

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God bottles them!

(Thomas Watson, "A Plea for the Godly")

Holy tears are the precious ointment which distills
from the trees of righteousness. Mary Magdalene
stood at Christ's feet weeping. Her tears dropped
as diamonds from her eyes!

The tears of the wicked are good for nothing. They
are either carnal—they weep for worldly losses; or
spurious—they are more troubled for hell, than sin!
There is water in their eyes—because there is fire in
their bones.

But the tears of a true penitent are precious. They drop
from the eyes of faith and hope. They are purifying tears.
The holy mourner weeps out sin. They are so precious—
that God bottles them! "You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have
recorded each one in Your book!" Psalm 56:8. In the
Hebrew it is "my tear"—to show that God takes notice
of every tear!

Though holy tears are silent—yet they have a voice. "The
Lord has heard the voice of my weeping!" Psalm 6:8

Though our tears fall to the earth—yet they reach heaven!

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[nChrist]

Christ takes the dross out!

(Thomas Watson, "A Plea for the Godly")

Jesus Christ presents the prayers of His people to His
Father. Prayer, as it comes from the godly—is mixed
with sin. But Christ takes the dross out of their
prayers—and presents nothing but pure gold! He dips
the prayers of His people in His blood—and mingles
them with His sweet incense—and so they are most
fragrant and aromatic to God. A weak prayer being
laid upon Christ as the altar—this altar sanctifies
the prayer!

"Therefore he is able to save completely, those who
 come to God through Him, because He always lives
 to intercede for them!" Hebrews 7:25

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We would hardly recognize it!

(Charles Spurgeon, "The Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life")

It was the early church father Ambrose who used a wonderful illustration concerning believers' prayers. He said we are like little children who run into the garden to gather flowers to please their father — but we are so ignorant and childish that we pluck as many weeds as flowers, and some of them are very noxious. We carry this strange mixture in our hands, thinking that it is acceptable to him. The mother meets the child at the door and says, "Little one, you don't know what you have gathered." She unbinds the mixture and takes from it all the weeds, leaving only the sweet flowers; and then she takes other flowers, sweeter than those the child plucked — and inserts them instead of the weeds. Then she puts the perfect posy in the child's hand, and he runs with it to his father.

Jesus Christ in more than motherly tenderness, thus deals with our supplications. If we could see one of our prayers after Christ Jesus has amended it — we would hardly recognize it! Jesus has such skill that even our good flowers grow fairer in His hand. We clumsily tie them into a bundle — but He arranges them into a lovely bouquet, where each beauty enhances the charm of its neighbor. If I could see my prayer after the Lord has prayed it, I would discover so much missing and so much there that was none of mine — that I am sure its fullest acceptance with God would not cause me a moment's pride. It would rather make me blush with grateful humility before Him, whose boundless sweetness lent to me, and my poor prayer — a sweetness not my own.

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My grace is sufficient for you

(J. C. Philpot, "Strength Made Perfect in Weakness")

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is
made perfect in your weakness."  2 Corinthians 12:9

Not your strength,
not your wisdom,
not your prayers,
not your experience;
but "My grace"—My free, My matchless grace,
independent of all works and efforts, independent of
everything in the creature—flowing wholly and solely,
fully and freely, out of the bosom of Jesus to . . .
  the needy,
  the guilty,
  the destitute,
  the undone.

You who are tried in worldly circumstances,
who have to endure the hard lot of poverty
—"My grace is sufficient for you."

You who are tempted, day by day, to say
or do that which conscience testifies against
—"My grace is sufficient for you."

You who are harassed with family troubles
and afflictions, and are often drawn aside into
peevishness and fretfulness—"My grace is
sufficient for you."

Our weakness, helplessness, and inability
are the very things which draw forth the power,
the strength, and the grace of Jesus!

Believer, your case is never beyond the reach
of the words—"My grace is sufficient for you!"

The free, the matchless, sovereign grace of God,
is sufficient for all His people—in whatever state,
or stage, or trouble, or difficulty they may be in!

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is
made perfect in your weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

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[nChrist]

That spiritual pipe

(Thomas Watson, "Christ All in All")

"Christ is all in all." Colossians 3:11

All good things are transmitted and conveyed
to us, through Christ. As our rich commodities,
such as jewels and spices, come to us by the
sea, so all heavenly blessings sail to us through
the red sea of Christ's blood!

Christ is that spiritual pipe through which the
golden oil of mercy empties itself into the soul!

Christ is all in all. He is a treasury and storehouse
of all spiritual riches! You may go with the bee,
from flower to flower—and suck a little sweetness
here and there—but you will never have enough
until you come to Christ—for He is all in all.
There is enough in Christ . . .
  to scatter all our fears,
  to remove all our burdens,
  to supply all our needs.

"The unsearchable riches of Christ." Ephesians 3:8

There can be no defect, in that which is infinite.

Christ is the most supreme good. Put what you will
in the balance with Christ—He infinitely outweighs it.

Christ is the most sufficient good. He who has Christ
needs no more. He who has the ocean—needs not
the cistern.

Christ is the most suitable good. In Him dwells
all fullness, Colossians 1:19. Christ is whatever
the soul can desire. Christ is . . .
  beauty to adorn,
  gold to enrich,
  balm to heal,
  bread to strengthen,
  wine to comfort,
  salvation to crown!

Christ sweetens all our comforts. He who has
Christ may say, "This mercy is given to me by
the hand of my Savior! This is a love-token
from Him—a pledge of glory!"

Christ sanctifies all our crosses. They shall be
medicinal to the soul; they shall work sin out—
and work grace in. Christ sees to it that His
people lose nothing in the furnace of affliction
—but their drossy impurities.

Christ is the most rare blessing. Christ is a jewel
that few are enriched with. This should both raise
our esteem of Him—and quicken our pursuit after
Him. Many hear of Christ—but few have Him. Many
have Christ sounded in their ears—but few who
have Christ formed in their hearts.

Christ is the most choice good. God shows more
love in giving us Christ—than in giving us crowns
and kingdoms! God may give a man many worldly
things—and hate him. God may give others a little
gold and silver—but if He gives you Christ, He
gives you all that ever He had!

Without Christ, nothing else is good. Without Christ,
health is not good; it is fuel for lust. Without Christ,
riches are not good; they are golden snares. Without
Christ, ordinances are not good; they are as breasts
without milk. Without Christ, they will damn us.
Millions go  to hell, loaded with ordinances.

Make Christ all, in your affections. Desire nothing but
Christ. He is the aggregation of all good things. Why
should the soul desire less? How can it desire more?
Love nothing but Christ. Love is the choicest affection;
it is the richest jewel the creature has to bestow. Oh,
if Christ is all—love Him better than all! He who is all,
let Him have all. Give Him your love—who desires it
most, and deserves it best.

Oh, Christian, have you seen the Lord Jesus? Has this
morning-star shone into your heart with its enlightening,
quickening beams? Then rejoice and be exceeding glad!
Shall others rejoice in the world—and will not you rejoice
in Christ! How much better is He than all other things!
It reflects disparagement upon Christ—when His saints
are sad and drooping. Is not Christ yours? What more
would you have!

Be thankful for Christ. God has done more for you in
giving you Christ—than if He had made you angels,
or had given you the whole world! God cannot give
a greater gift than Christ—who is all in all.

Here is a breast of comfort to every believer—Christ
is all. When a Christian sees a deficiency in himself,
he may see an all-sufficiency in his Savior! He who
has Christ, has no lack—for "Christ is all!"

In the hour of death, a believer may rejoice. When he
leaves all—he is possessed of all. A godly man say, "I
fear not death, because I have Christ to go to! Death
will but carry me to that torrent of divine pleasure,
which runs at His right hand forevermore!" I have the
desire to depart and be with Christ—which is far better!"
Philippians 1:23

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[nChrist]

A gracious taste

(Arthur Pink, "The Attributes of God")

"Do not be foolish, but understand what the
 Lord's will is."  Ephesians 5:17

How may the Lord's guidance be expected?

In general, God directs His people by affording them,
in answer to prayer, the light of His Holy Spirit, which
enables them to understand and love the Scriptures.
The Word of God furnishes us with just principles, right
apprehensions, to govern our judgments and affections,
thereby influencing and regulating our conduct. Those
who study the Scriptures in humble dependence upon
divine teaching, are convinced of their own weakness.
They are taught to make a true estimate of everything
around them and are gradually formed into a spirit of
submission to the will of God. They discover the nature
and duties of their situations and relations in life, and
the snares and temptations to which they are exposed.
The Word of God dwelling in them is . . .
  a preservative from error,
  a light to their feet, and
  a spring of strength and consolation.

By treasuring up in his mind the doctrines, precepts,
promises, exhortations, and warnings of Scripture; and
by diligently comparing himself with the rule by which
he is to walk--the Christian grows into a habitual frame
of spiritual wisdom. He acquires  a gracious taste which
enables him to judge of right and wrong with a degree of
readiness and certainty--as a musical ear judges sounds;
so that he is rarely mistaken, because he is influenced by
the love of Christ which rules in his heart, and a regard
for the glory of God. Moreover, God has promised to show
Himself strong on behalf of the one whose heart is perfect
toward Him. He does this by regulating His providences,
and causing all things to work together for his good.

Our daily walk is to be ordered by God's Word. In
proportion as it is so, we will be kept in His will and
preserved from folly and sin.

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The net by which he drags millions to hell!

(Thomas Watson, "The Good Practitioner")

Unbelief makes sermons to be like showers of rain,
falling upon a rock! They neither mollify nor fructify,
because men don't really believe them.

If men really believed that sin was so bitter, and
that wrath and hell followed it--would they take
this serpent into their bosom?

If men really believed . . .
  that there was a beauty in holiness,
  that godliness was great gain,
  that there was joy in the way and heaven at the end
--would not they turn their feet into Christ's holy way?

Men have some slight transient thoughts of these
things—but their minds are not fully convinced, nor
their conscience fully captivated into believing them.

Unbelief is Satan's masterpiece--the net by which
he drags millions to hell!

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Sacred nourishment

(Thomas Watson, "Comfort for the Church")

What profit is it, to have the Bible in our heads, but
not in our hearts? It is better to practice one truth,
than to know all truths.

The Lord gives us His precepts, as a physician gives
the patient his prescriptions—to take and apply. This
is the end are all God's institutes—that we may, by
practice, apply them for the purging out of sin and
bringing the soul into a more holy temper.

God gives us His Word as the mother gives the child
the breast—not only to look upon, but to draw from.
Many have gone to hell with the breast in their mouths,
because they have not drawn it, and turned the milk of
the Word into sacred nourishment.

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[nChrist]

Old Adam put in a better dress

(Thomas Watson)

"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom
 of God unless he is born again." John 3:3

Natural honesty, moral virtue, prudence, justice, liberality,
temperance--these are not the new birth. These make a
glorious show in the eye of the world—but differ as much
from the new birth, as a stick differs from a star! Morality
indeed is commendable, and it would be well if there were
more of it. Yet morality is but nature at its best; it does not
amount to saving grace. There is nothing of Christ in morality.
That fruit is sour--which does not grow on the root of Christ!

Heat water to the highest degree--and you still cannot
make wine out of it; it is water still. Just so, let morality
be raised to the highest, it is nature still; it is but old
Adam put in a better dress.

Moral virtue may exist with the hatred of godliness.
A moral man hates holiness--as much as he does vice!

"You must be born again." John 3:7

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[nChrist]

Sacred nourishment

(Thomas Watson, "Comfort for the Church")

What profit is it, to have the Bible in our heads, but
not in our hearts? It is better to practice one truth,
than to know all truths.

The Lord gives us His precepts, as a physician gives
the patient his prescriptions—to take and apply. This
is the end are all God's institutes—that we may, by
practice, apply them for the purging out of sin and
bringing the soul into a more holy temper.

God gives us His Word as the mother gives the child
the breast—not only to look upon, but to draw from.
Many have gone to hell with the breast in their mouths,
because they have not drawn it, and turned the milk of
the Word into sacred nourishment.

____________________

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