Grace Gems

[nChrist]

But when Jehoiada died

(Thomas Watson, "A New Creature")

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

Religious education is not the new birth. Education
may greatly cultivate and refine nature. King Joash
was good as long as his uncle Jehoiada lived—but
when Jehoiada died, all Joash's religion was buried
in his uncle's grave! "Joash did what was right in the
eyes of the Lord, all the years Jehoiada the priest
instructed him." 2 Kings 12:2

Have we not seen many who have been trained up
religiously under their parents, and were very hopeful.
Yet these fair blossoms of hope have been blown off,
and they have lived to be a shame to their parents!

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

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[nChrist]

The lot of free grace!

(Thomas Watson, "A New Creature")

"Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature;
 old things are passed away, behold all things are become
 new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

The new creature is a work of free grace. There is nothing
in us, to cause God to make us anew. By nature we are full
of pollution and enmity—yet now God forms the new creature.
Behold the banner of love displayed! The new creature may
say, "By the grace of God I am what I am!" In the creation,
we may see the strength of God's arm; in the new creature,
we may see the working of God's heart! That God should
consecrate any heart, and anoint it with grace—is an act of
pure love! That He should pluck one out of the state of
nature, and not another—must be resolved into sovereign
grace! This will increase the saint's triumphs in heaven,
that the lot of free grace should fall upon them—and
not on others.

The new creature is a work of rare excellency. A natural
man is a lump of dirt and sin mixed together. God loathes
him! But upon the new creature is a spiritual glory—as if a
piece of clay, was turned into a sparkling diamond!

Those are not new creatures, who continue in their sins and
are resolved so to do. These are in the gall of bitterness, and
are the most miserable creatures that ever God made—except
for the devils. These stand in the place where all God's arrows
fly! These are the center where all God's curses meet!

An unregenerate person is like one in debt—who is in fear
of being arrested by death, and carried prisoner to hell!
Can that traitor be happy—who is fed by his prince in
prison—only to be kept alive for his execution? God feeds
the wicked like prisoners. They are reserved for the day
of wrath!

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[nChrist]

A new eye

(Thomas Watson, "A New Creature")

"Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature;
 old things are passed away, behold all things are become
 new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

The new creature is new all over. Grace, though it is
but in part—yet it is in every part. Not a new ear or
a new tongue—but a new man; there are . . .
  new dispositions,
  new principles,
  new aims,
  "all things are become new!"

In the new creature, there is a new UNDERSTANDING.
The first thing an artist draws in a portrait, is the eye.
When God newly draws us and makes us new creatures,
the first thing He draws in our souls is a new eye. The
new creature is enlightened to see that which he
never saw before!

He knows Christ after another manner. An unconverted
man, by the light of common grace, may believe Christ
to be the Son of God. But the new creature knows Christ
after another manner—so as . . .
  to esteem Him above all,
  to adore Him,
  to touch Him by faith,
  to fetch a healing virtue from Him!

The new creature knows himself better than he did.
When the sun shines into a room—it reveals all the dust
and cobwebs in it. Just so, when the light of the Spirit
shines into the heart—this reveals that corruption which
before lay hidden; it shows a man his own vileness and
nothingness! "Behold, I am vile!" Job 40:4

A wicked man, blinded with self-love, admires himself.
He is like Narcissus who, seeing his own reflection in
the water—fell in love with it.

Saving knowledge works self-abasement. Has this
day-star of knowledge shined on your mind?

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[nChrist]

(Thomas Watson, "The Heavenly Race")

"Run in such a way as to get the prize!"
    1 Corinthians 9:24

If you would have the prize—run the race!

The Christian race is difficult. It is a race from
earth to heaven! Is it easy for a man to deny
himself, to crucify the flesh, to behead his
beloved sin?

If we would have a sight of God in glory—we
must run this race. We cannot have the world
without labor—and would we have heaven
without labor?

In the heavenly race, ALL must run. Those who
are unfit to run in other races, like the lame and
blind—must run this race. None are excused from
this race. All have run from God by sin—and all
must run to Him by repentance! Either run—or
be damned! Either flee to heaven—or fall to hell!

"Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that
 so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance
 the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes
 on Jesus." Hebrews 12:1-2

If we do not throw off this weight of sin by sincere
repentance—it will sink us into hell. A man cannot
run a race with a heavy burden upon his back.
An immoral person cannot run the race of holiness;
a proud man cannot run the race of humility;
a self-willed man cannot run the race of obedience.

The world is a golden weight which has hindered
many and made them lose their race. "Demas has
deserted me—because he loved this present world!"
2 Timothy 4:10. So far as the world is a weight—
throw it off! I do not say lay aside the use of the
world—but the love of the world, 1 John 2:15. When
the golden dust of the world is blown in men's eyes
—it so blinds them, that they cannot see their race!

Oh, Christian, unburden your soul of sin! Throw off
this weight—if you intend to lay hold on the crown!

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[nChrist]

If we fall as Peter fell

(J. C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Luke" 1858 )

"And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly."
    Luke 22:62

See how bitter sin is to believers, when they
have fallen into it and discovered their fall.

Peter found out by experience the truth of
Jeremiah's words, "It is an evil and a bitter
thing that you have forsaken the Lord."

He felt keenly the truth of Solomon's saying,
"The backslider in heart shall be filled with
his own ways."

No doubt he could have said with Job, "I
abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

Sorrow like this, let us always remember, is
an inseparable companion of true repentance.

The falls of a 'graceless professor' are falls from
which there is no rising again. But the fall of a
'true believer' always ends in . . .
  deep contrition,
  self-abasement,
  and amendment of life.

Let us take heed, before we leave this passage,
that we always make a right use of Peter's fall.
Let us never make it an excuse for sin. Let us
learn from his sad experience—to watch and
pray, lest we fall into temptation. If we do fall,
let us believe that there is hope for us as there
was for him.

But above all, let us remember, that if we fall
as Peter fell, we must repent as Peter repented;
or else we shall never be saved.

"And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly."

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[nChrist]

Behold, all was vanity!

(Watson, "The Substantial Excellency of Spiritual Things")

"Why do you spend money on what is not food, and your
 wages on what does not satisfy?" Isaiah 55:2

See the difference between the things of God—and the
things of the world. The things of God are substance;
the things of the world are but a shadow. They are like
fruit-trees drawn in a landscape, which more delight
the eye, than the taste.

All earthly comforts are only imaginary; they are not
substance. Riches look like riches—but they are not
true riches; our Savior calls them deceitful riches. They
promise to ease us of our cares—when they only multiply
them. They promise to fulfill our desires—when they
only increase them.

Beauty looks like beauty—but it rather deludes than
delights. Proverbs 31:30, "Beauty is vain." The finest
features of the body, and the most lovely face—are
nothing other than well-colored dirt!

There is nothing in the world which has reality, but
sorrows and troubles. Solomon had made the most
critical inspection into the world, of any man; for
variety of delights, he exceeded all the kings who
went before him. Yet, in all this, he could find no
substance, "Behold, all was vanity!" Eccles. 2:11

Earthly things are golden dreams, which leave the
soul empty when it awakens and comes to itself.
All the sweet waters of pleasure cannot quench the
soul's insatiable thirst; nor can the most ravishing
music fill the clamors of conscience. Satan casts a
mist before men's eyes and deceives them—making
them set real affections upon false delights. The
Scripture deciphers the world, to be a non-entity,
"Will you set your eye on that which is not?"
Proverbs 23:5

But he who has spiritual things, inherits substance.
Christ, and grace, and heaven, are substance.

True wisdom—is to know God.

True honor—is to be born of God.

True beauty—is to have the image of God.

True riches—is to be rich in faith.

True victory—is to overcome the world.

True delight—is to have joy in the Holy Spirit.

True happiness—is to see God.

Here is real substance—which will fill the
soul eternally with wonder and delight!

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[nChrist]

The road to Heaven

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

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone would
 come after Me, he must deny himself and take up
 his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"Follow Me," Jesus says; and we cannot but yield to
His almighty voice. He draws us out of the world—and
we follow Him. He leads us in at the strait gate—and
we follow Him. He guides us along the narrow way—
and we follow Him—our cross upon our shoulder and
the crown before our eye!

Smoothness, and brightness, and greenness—are not
the features of the narrow way; but rather thorns and
briars, darkness and dust, and ruggedness, all along;
fightings without, and fears within.

The road to Heaven is not so pleasant, and comfortable,
and easy, and flowery—as many dream. It is not a bright,
sunny, flowery path. It is not paved with triumph—though
it is to end in victory. The termination is glory, honor, and
immortality; but on the way—there is the thorn in the flesh,
the sackcloth, and the cross. Recompense yonder—but labor
here! Rest yonder—but weariness here! Joy and security
yonder—but here endurance and watchfulness, the race,
the battle, the burden, and ofttimes the heavy heart.

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[nChrist]

God's pruning knife

(Thomas Watson, "The Spiritual Vine")

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
 Every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes so
 that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:1-2

God's love to the elect branches, appears in His
pruning them. He prunes them by affliction. We
are apt to think that when God afflicts us, that He
does not love us. Affliction is God's pruning knife.
He prunes us to make us bring forth the peaceable
fruit of righteousness, Hebrews 12:11. God would
rather have the branches bleed—than be barren.
All this is done in love. It is God's love, that He will
rather lop and prune the branches—than let them
grow wild.

God's love to the elect branches, also appears in His
transplanting them to heaven. The branches of Christ
will thrive best when they are transplanted; because
then they will grow in a better soil.

Christ desires to have all His elect branches, which are
scattered up and down in the world—to be with Him.
"Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with
Me where I am." John 17:24. The elect will never be
happy—until they are transplanted to the heavenly
garden. In heaven, there will be no bramble to tear
the vine branches; none of the red dragon's brood.
Then all the branches will be sweetly united in love.
Then they shall grow in the sunshine of God's
countenance. In this life, the elect branches partake of
God's grace; hereafter, they shall partake of His glory!

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[nChrist]

Sovereign, supreme disposal

(J. C. Philpot, "Daily Portions")

"And God placed all things under His feet and
 appointed Him to be head over everything,"
    Ephesians 1:22

How vast, how numerous, how complicated are
the various events and circumstances which attend
the Christian here below, as he travels onward to
his heavenly home!

But if all things are put under Jesus' feet, there
cannot be a single circumstance over which He
has not supreme control. Everything in providence
and everything in grace are alike subject to His
disposal. There is not . . .
  a trial,
  a temptation,
  an affliction of body or soul,
  a loss,
  a cross,
  a painful bereavement,
  a vexation,
  a grief,
  a disappointment,
  a case, state or condition,
which is not put under Jesus' feet.

He has sovereign, supreme disposal over
all events and circumstances. As possessed of
infinite knowledge He sees them; as possessed
of infinite wisdom He can manage them; and
as possessed of infinite power He can dispose
and direct them for our good and His own glory.

How much trouble and anxiety would we save
ourselves, could we firmly believe, realize, and
act on this!

If we could see by the eye of faith that . . .
  every foe and every fear,
  every difficulty and perplexity,
  every trying or painful circumstance,
  every looked for or unlooked for event,
  every source of care, whether at present or
in prospect—are all at His sovereign disposal,
what a load of anxiety and care would be
often taken off our shoulders!

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[nChrist]

The glory of heaven!

(Thomas Watson, "The Christian Soldier" 1669)

If the mountains were gold; if every sand in the sea
were a diamond; if the whole globe were a shining
gem—it would all still be infinitely beneath the glory
of heaven!

1. In heaven, there shall be freedom from sin. Here
on earth, sin keeps house with us; it is as natural for us
to sin—as to breathe. The soul that is most purified, and
cleansed by grace, is not without some dregs of corruption.
But a sinful thought shall not creep into heaven! There is
beauty—which is not stained with lust; and honor—which
is not swelled with pride. "Nothing impure will ever enter
it!" Revelation 21:27

2. In heaven, there shall be freedom from the assaults
of the red dragon. It is sad to have Satan daily soliciting
us by his temptations—and laboring to trick us into sin. But
the old serpent is forever cast out of the heavenly Paradise!

3. In heaven, there shall be freedom from all afflictions.
Our lives now are intertwined with troubles. "My life is consumed
by anguish, and my years by groaning; my strength fails because
of my affliction, and my bones grow weak." Psalm 31:10. There
are many things to occasion trouble—sometimes poverty afflicts;
sometimes sickness tortures; sometimes the unkindness of friends
breaks the heart. Our lives, like the seas, are full of tempests.
But in the kingdom of Heaven, there is nothing to give grief.
There, all is serene and calm; there is nothing within to trouble
us—or without to molest us.

4. The delights of the heavenly kingdom are unmixed. The
comforts here below, are checkered. Honor may be stained
with disgrace; joy interwoven with sorrow. Our suns are mixed
with clouds. But the delicacies of heaven are pure as well as
pleasant. There is honey—which has not one drop of gall. The
crystal spring of joy, has no settlings of sorrow at the bottom.
The rose in that paradise—is without prickles; the sun in that
horizon—is without eclipse.

This glorious kingdom, will make amends for all our labor and pains!

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[nChrist]

The Lamb's wife!

(J. C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Matthew" 1856)

Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the
Bridegroom mourn while He is with them?"
  Matthew 9:15

Let us mark in this passage, the gracious name
by which the Lord Jesus speaks of Himself. He
calls Himself "the Bridegroom".

What the bridegroom is to the bride—the
Lord Jesus is to all who believe in Him.

He loves them with a deep and everlasting love.

He takes them into union with Himself.

He pays all their debts to God.

He supplies all their daily needs.

He sympathizes with them in all their troubles.

He bears with all their infirmities, and does
not reject them for a few weaknesses.

He regards them as part of Himself.

The glory which He has received from His
Father—they will one day share with Him.
Where He is—there shall they be.

Such are the privileges of all true Christians!

They are the Lamb's wife!

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His
bride has made herself ready!" Revelation 19:7

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[nChrist]

Nothing escapes His notice!

(Arthur Pink, "The Attributes of God")

What a wondrous Being is the God of Scripture!

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.
 Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the
 eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
    Hebrews 4:13

God is omniscient.
He knows everything:
  everything possible,
  everything actual,
  all events,
  all creatures,
  of the past, the present, and the future.

He is perfectly acquainted with every detail in the
life of every being in heaven, in earth, and in hell.
Nothing escapes His notice, nothing can be
hidden from Him, nothing is forgotten by Him.
His knowledge is perfect.

He never errs.
He never changes.
He never overlooks anything.

God not only knows whatever has happened in the past
in every part of His vast domains; and He is not only
thoroughly acquainted with everything that is now
transpiring throughout the entire universe—but He is
also perfectly cognizant of every event, from the least
to the greatest, that ever will happen in the ages to
come! God's knowledge of the future is as complete
as is His knowledge of the past and the present; and
that, because the future depends entirely upon Himself.
God has Himself designed whatever shall yet be, and
what He has designed, must be effectuated. God's
knowledge does not arise from things because they
are or will be—but because He has ordained them to
be! Yes, such is the God with whom we have to do!

"You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my
 thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my
 lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a
 word is on my tongue—You know it completely, O Lord!"
     Psalm 139:2-4

How solemn is this fact: nothing can be concealed from
God! "For I know the things that come into your mind,
every one of them" (Ezekiel 11:5). Though He is invisible
to us—we are not so to Him. Neither the darkness of night,
the closest curtains, nor the deepest dungeon—can hide
any sinner from the eyes of Omniscience! Men would strip
Deity of His omniscience if they could. They wish there
might be . . .
  no Witness of their sins,
  no Searcher of their hearts,
  no Judge of their deeds!

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[nChrist]

If you been a dog, a toad, or a serpent

(Thomas Doolittle, "How we should eye eternity, that
it may have its due influence upon us in all we do.")

If you lose your health—you might recover it again;
if you lose your estate—you might get it again;
but if you lose your time—it is gone forever!

You are as near to heaven or hell—to an eternity
of joy or of misery—as to your grave!

Suppose you were to live a thousand years of
pleasure upon earth—and after that pass into
an eternity of pain and torment. Would you not,
when there, cry out against your own folly—that
you should purchase a thousand years of pleasure
at so dear a rate—as to endure everlasting
burnings for them?

Better for you, if you been a dog, a toad, or
a serpent; than you should lie in an eternity of
pains in hell—and be forever miserable!

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment,
 but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:46

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[nChrist]

A gospel honeycomb

(Thomas Watson, "The Crown of Righteousness")

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
 righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
 Judge, shall give me at that day!" 2 Timothy 4:8

Here is a gospel honeycomb, dropping comfort
into the hearts of the godly. How may this alleviate
all the afflictions of this life—and make these bitter
waters of Marah, become sweet and pleasant to
drink of! There is a crown laid up for me!

A Christian in this life, has something to grieve him
—and yet something to comfort him. A true saint is
an heir of the cross. If he wears any robes—they are
bloody. If he wears any crown—it is one of thorns.
But here is that which may sweeten his sufferings;
here is sweet wine mingled with his wormwood—
he shall be crowned in paradise! This, my brethren,
may change our mourning—into melody; and our
tears—into triumph! Though we bear the cross—
we shall wear the crown!

Our sufferings cannot continue long. If our life is
short—our sufferings cannot be long. Oh, how may
this sweeten all the bitter cups we drink of! Cleopatra
put a jewel in her cup which contained the price of a
kingdom. When we are drinking in our wormwood
cup—let this jewel be put into our cup to make it go
down more pleasantly—we will shortly have an eternal
reward of glory! Though bitterness is in the cup—sugar
lies at the bottom!

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
 righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
 Judge, shall give me at that day!" 2 Timothy 4:8

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[nChrist]

Darkness, fire, and chains! - Page 1 of 3

(Thomas Watson, "The Righteous Man's Weal — and the Wicked Man's Woe")

"Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done!" Isaiah 3:10-11

When things seem to be well with the wicked — though they have more than their heart can wish — yet it shall be woe with them at last! "Because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them." Ecclesiastes 8:13

The ungodly man lives under the curse of God! Floods of God's fury and wrath hang over the head of a wicked man! He is heir to all the plagues written in the Book of God! All of God's curses are the sinner's portion, and, if he dies in his sin — he is sure to have his portion paid to him!

Woe unto the wicked! Every bit of food he has — he has it with a curse! It is like poisoned food given to a dog! Every drop of wine he drinks — he swallows a curse with it! Woe unto the wicked! There is a curse in his cup, and upon his table!

Death puts an end to all his COMFORTS — no more indulging and pampering the flesh; no more cups of wine; no more music. "All the fancy things you loved so much are gone! The luxuries and splendor that you prized so much will never be yours again. They are gone forever!" Revelation 18:14. No more joy and gladness, no more mirth and music. All a sinner's choice foods, his fancy garments, his sparkling jewels — all depart from him at death!

Death is the beginning of all his MISERIES! Every sin at the hour of death, stands with its drawn sword in its hand. Those sins which delighted him in life — now frighten and terrify him! All his joy and mirth — is turn into sadness! All the sugared joys of a wicked man at the hour of death — turn into the water of tears and sorrow.

After death, follows the sentence: "Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!" Go from the presence of Christ — in whose presence is fullness of joy! Go from Christ — with a curse! Remember this, you who go on in your sins — once this sentence is passed — it can never be reversed!

Hell is the very epitome of misery, "I am in agony in this fire!" Luke 16:24. The Scripture tells us that in hell, there are these three things: darkness, fire, and chains!

Hell is called a place of DARKNESS. "For whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever!" Jude 13. Hell is a black region, nothing but the blackness of darkness forever. It must be a dark place — where they shall be separated from the light of God's presence. Indeed, Augustine thinks there shall be some little sulphurous light there; but even if it is so, that light will only serve that the damned may see the tragedy of their own misery, and see themselves tormented!

In hell, there is FIRE. It is called a burning lake "Anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life, was thrown into the lake of fire!" Revelation 20:15. You know that fire is the most torturing element, and makes the most dreadful impression on the flesh. Hell is a place of fire.

It is disputed among the learned, what kind of fire it is — I wish we may never know! It is material fire — but far hotter than any earthly fires — which are but painted fires in comparison with hell-fire! Who knows the power of God's anger! Who can dwell with these everlasting burnings! It is intolerable to endure them — and impossible to escape them!
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