Grace Gems

[nChrist]

A cross of their own choosing

(Thomas Watson, "The Art of Divine Contentment")

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
 I know both how to have a little—and I know how to have
 a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret
 of being content—whether well-fed or hungry, whether in
 abundance or in need." Philippians 4:11-12

Paul knew how to manage in every state—he learned to be
content whatever his circumstances. If he was in prosperity
—he knew how to be thankful. If he was in adversity—he
knew how to be patient. He was neither lifted up with
prosperity—nor cast down with adversity.

A Christian should be content in any and every situation.
Many are contented in some conditions—but not in every
condition. They can be content in a wealthy state. When
they have the streams of milk and honey—now they are
content. But if the wind turns and is against them—now
they are discontented. While they have a silver crutch to
lean upon—they are contented; but if God breaks this
crutch—now they are discontented.

Many would be content with their affliction—if God would
allow them to pick and choose. They could better endure
sickness—than poverty; or bear loss of estate—than loss
of children. If they might have a cross of their own
choosing—they would be content.

But a contented Christian does not desire to choose his
cross—but leaves God to choose for him. He is content
both for the kind of the afflictions, and the duration of
the afflictions, which God gives him. A contented man
says, "Let God apply whatever medicine He pleases—
and let it lie on as long as He desires. I know when it
has done its cure, and eaten the venom of sin out of
my heart—that God will take it away."

A contented Christian, being sweetly captivated under
the authority of the Word, desires to be wholly at God's
disposal, and cheerfully lives in whatever circumstances
that God has placed him in. "I delight in weaknesses, in
insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties."
(2 Corinthians 12:10) He does not only submit to God's
dealings—but rejoices in them!

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[nChrist]

The evil spirit which haunts the rich man

(Thomas Watson, "The Art of Divine Contentment")

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."
    1 Timothy 6:6.

There is more trouble in a prosperous condition.
Many who have abundance of all things to enjoy,
yet have not so much contentment and sweetness
in their lives—as some who go to their hard labor.

Sad, anxious thoughts often attend a prosperous
condition. Worry is the evil spirit which haunts
the rich man—and will not allow him to be quiet
and content. When his chest is full of gold—his heart
is full of worry—either how to manage, or how to
increase, or how to secure what he has gotten! O
the troubles and perplexities which attend prosperity!
The world's high seats are very uneasy. Sunshine is
pleasant—but sometimes it scorches with its heat.

The bee gives honey—but sometimes it stings! Just
so, prosperity has its sweetness—and also its sting!

A large estate is but like a long trailing garment,
which is more troublesome than useful.

"But godliness with contentment is a great gain.
 For we brought nothing into the world, and we
 can take nothing out. But if we have food and
 clothing, we will be content with these."
    1 Timothy 6:6-8

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[nChrist]

God's jewels!

(Thomas Watson, "Religion Our True Interest")

"They will be Mine!" says the Lord Almighty, "in the
 day when I make up My jewels!" Malachi 3:17

God's people are His jewels—His own special treasure!

Jewels are precious things; the Hebrew word for
jewels signifies a treasure. A treasure is made up
of costly things: gold, and diamonds, and rubies.
Such a precious treasure, are the saints to God.

In what sense are the saints, God's jewels?

They are jewels for their sparkling quality. Their
holiness shines and sparkles in God's eyes! (Song
of Solomon 4:9), "You have ravished My heart,
with one glance of your eyes!" That is, with one
of your graces.

The godly are jewels for their scarcity. Diamonds
are not common. Just so, the godly are scarce and
rare. There are but few of these to be found. There
are many false professors (as there are many paste
diamonds) but few true Christians. Among the
millions in Rome, there were but few senators.
Just so, among the swarms of people in the
world—there are but few true believers.

The godly are jewels for their price. Queen Cleopatra
had two jewels which were worth half the price of a
kingdom. Thus the saints are jewels, for their value.
God esteems them at a high rate; He parted with His
best jewel for them—Christ's precious blood was shed
to ransom these jewels!

The saints are jewels for their adorning quality. Jewels
adorn those who wear them. The saints are jewels which
adorn the world. Their piety mixed with prudence honors
the gospel. Hypocrites eclipse true religion and make it
badly spoken of. The saints as jewels, render it illustrious
by their sanctity.

God the Father has chosen these jewels, and set
them apart for Himself!

Christ has bought these jewels with His blood!

The Holy Spirit has sanctified them. When they were
a lump of sin—He made them into His jewels! He will
string these pearls together—and put them into His
celestial cabinet!

Bless God who has wrought such a change in you! From
lumps of dirt and sin—He has made you into His jewels!

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[nChrist]

Poor lost sinner

(Jonathan Edwards, "The Justice of
 God in the Damnation of Sinners")

Poor lost sinner, you never have exercised the
least degree of love to God; and therefore it would
be agreeable to your treatment of Him—if He should
never express any love to you. Why should God be
obliged to express such wonderful love to you—who
has never exercised the least degree of love to Him
in all your life? You never have loved God—who is
infinitely glorious and lovely; and why then, is God
under obligation to love you—who are deformed all
over, and loathsome as a filthy worm, or rather a
hateful viper!

You have also slighted the honor of God, and
valued it no more than the dirt under your feet!
Seeing you thus disregard so great a God—is it
a heinous thing for God to slight you—a little,
wretched, despicable creature; a worm, a mere
nothing, and less than nothing; a vile insect, that
has risen up in contempt against the Majesty of
heaven and earth?

Must God take these bold and vile despisers of
His majesty—and forgive all their sins? And not
only so, but must He adopt them into His family,
and make them His children, and bestow eternal
glory upon them?

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[nChrist]

A sweeter, holier life

(Octavius Winslow, "The Overflowing Cup")

"Cast all your care upon Him; for He cares
 for you." 1 Peter 5:7

A sweeter, holier life we cannot live, than
a life of daily, childlike reliance upon the
providential care of our Heavenly Father.

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[nChrist]

The moment after our friends say we are dead

(J. R. Miller, "Glimpses of the Heavenly Life" 1908 )

No earthly language is adequate to describe the
blessedness, the joy, the happiness of heaven!
Perhaps no human word gathers and holds in itself
so much of the truest meaning of heaven—as the
word "home". Home is a place of love. It is a place
of confidence. We have nothing to hide or conceal
from each other, inside home's doors. We know we
are loved. Our faults may be seen and known—but
we are dear in spite of them. We find there sympathy
with our sufferings, and patience with our infirmities
and shortcomings. Heaven is our home! Into it, all
God's children will be gathered. It is a place of glory,
of beauty, of splendor, a holy place—but, best of all,
it is a place of perfect love.

As we read the wonderful description of the
heavenly life in the book of Revelation, we
find that all heaven's glory comes from Christ!
"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been
 slain, standing in the center of the throne!"
    Revelation 5:6

Whatever else heaven may mean to us, it will,
first of all, mean being with Christ! Here we
see Him only by faith, ofttimes dimly. We long
to see Him as He is. Our hearts hunger for Him.
"We would see Jesus!" is our cry all our days.

But when the veil which hides heaven from our
sight is torn for us—and the glory is suddenly
revealed—we shall see, first of all, before we look
upon any of the splendors of the place—Him we
have loved—our Savior and our Friend, Jesus
Christ! And He will wipe away every tear from
our eyes!

Being with Him—we shall need nothing else to
make our blessedness complete. Seeing Him—we
shall be satisfied. Seeing Him—we shall be like
Him, changed fully into His image! Seeing Him
—we shall then be with Him forever!

This dull bud will open—and a glorious rose will
unfold in all its splendor! From this poor, feeble,
struggling earthly life—will emerge a child of
God, in glorious beauty! If only we could have
a glimpse of ourselves—what we will be the
moment after our friends say we are dead,
could we go on living as if we were made only
for the earth! Let us not grovel any longer! Let
us who have this glorious future—not creep in
the slime and dust! Let us live worthy of our
exalted honor. When we see Christ, we shall
be made like Him! "We know that when He
appears, we will be like Him, because we
will see Him as He is!" 1 John 3:2

This hope of heaven should strengthen us
to overcome all earthly discouragements.
No matter how hard the way is—the end
is glorious! No matter how great . . .
  the fierceness of the battle,
  the weariness of the struggle,
  the bitterness of the sorrow,
  the keenness of the suffering,
glory is the final outcome!

"And so we will be with the Lord forever!
 Therefore comfort and encourage each
 other with these words!" 1 Thess. 4:17-18

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[nChrist]

All life's tangles

(J. R. Miller, "Morning Thoughts" 1906)

"And we know that God causes everything to
 work together for the good of those who love
 God and are called according to His purpose."
     Romans 8:28

Our affairs are forever getting tangled, like threads
in a child's hands—and we cannot straighten out
the tangles ourselves! We cannot see how anything
beautiful or good can come out of our poor living, or
our feeble striving.

Our days are full of disappointments, and our
night's rest is broken by anxieties. Yet it is the
Christian's privilege to commit all life's tangles
into the hands of Jesus Christ. He can take our
broken things—and build them up into beauty.

One of the finest windows in a great cathedral is
said to have been made out of the fragments of
broken glass which the workmen had thrown away
as worthless. A skillful hand gathered them up—
and wrought them into lovely form.

Just so, Jesus Christ can take . . .
  our failures,
  our mistakes,
  our follies,
  our broken fragments of life,
  even our sins, and
make them into beautiful life and character!

"Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in
Him; and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5

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[nChrist]

Sharp chiseling!

(J. R. Miller, "Making the Most of Life" 1891)

"I have refined you in the furnace of affliction."
    Isaiah 48:10

We were stones in the quarry. When Christ saved
us—we were cut from the great mass of rock. But
we were yet rough and unshapely; not fit for heaven.
Before we can be ready for our place in the heavenly
temple—we must be hewn and shaped. The hammer
must do its work—breaking off the roughnesses. The
chisel must be used—carving and polishing our lives
into beauty. This work is done in the many processes
of life. Every sinful thing, every fault in our character
—is a rough place in the stone, which must be chiseled
off. All the crooked lines must be straightened. Our
lives must be cut and hewn—until they conform to
the perfect standard of divine truth.

Quarry-work is not always pleasant. If stones had
hearts and sensibilities—they would cry out in sore
pain as they feel the hammer strokes and the deep
cutting of the chisel. Yet the workman must not
heed their cries, and withdraw his hand, else they
would at last be thrown aside as worthless blocks,
never to be built into the beautiful temple.

We are not stones; we have hearts and sensibilities,
and we do cry out ofttimes, as the hammer smites
away the roughnesses in our character! But we
must yield to the painful work and let it go on, or
we shall never have our place as living stones in
Christ's beautiful temple. We must not wince under
the sharp chiseling of sorrow and affliction.

"I have refined you in the furnace of affliction."
    Isaiah 48:10

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[nChrist]

It would make a man to tremble

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

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen." 2 Corinthians 4:18. The men of the world stand gazing at these temporal things—until their eyes are dazzled with them, and their souls damned for them!

The good things in this world which are seen—such as riches, pleasures, honors—are things of time, and only for time; therefore we Christians are not much concerned whether we win or lose them. And the bad things in this life which are seen—such as poverty, imprisonment, persecution—are at longest but for a short space; and therefore we are not much concerned whether we endure them, or are freed from them.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

That which adds weight to the things in the other world, which draws our eyes toward them, and keeps them fixed thereon—is the eternity of them. It is the observation which believers make—that all seen things are temporal; while unseen things are eternal; and this influences them in what they do. They realize that all worldly things are but temporary toys and trifles!

We seriously consider and weigh in our minds—the vanity, insufficiency, and short continuance of all visible things, both good and bad, whether profit or poverty, honor or disgrace; and the fullness, excellency, and everlasting nature of things unseen; and therefore prefer these eternal realities.

Believers are lowly in heart; but they look high. The men of this world are of a haughty spirit; but they aim at low things.

Take, then, a summary account of all that wicked, worldly men have—all is "but for a while." See what the richest among them have: their grandeur endures "but a short time;" and then is past and gone, and has no more existence. See what the merriest among them have—pleasures, mirth, carnal delights and joy: and this is "but for a season;" their merry bouts will be quickly over—and then follows weeping and wailing forever! Upon all they have, you may write, "All is temporal!" They had riches—but they are gone. They had honors and pleasures—but they are gone. They had many good things in time—but, at the end of time, all have an end! And then, when their endless misery comes, this will be their doleful tune, "All our good is past and gone!"

It would make a man to tremble, to think what a sight these sinners shall have, after death has closed their eyes; when their soul shall see an angry God, a condemning Judge, the gates of heaven shut against it, and itself in everlasting misery!

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[nChrist]

He who holds the pruning-knife

(J. R. Miller, "Making the Most of Life" 1891)

"Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes,
so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:2

Every sorrow has a mission. It comes to us,
as God's messenger--with a message!

Of lessons to be learned in sorrow, the first
always is submission.

A strong, abiding confidence that all the trials,
sorrows, and losses of our lives are parts of our
Father's husbandry--ought to silence every
question, quiet every fear, and give peace and
restful assurance to our hearts in all their pain.
We cannot know the reason for the painful
strokes—but we know that He who holds
the pruning-knife is our Father! That ought
always to be enough for us to know.

"Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes,
so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:2

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[nChrist]

Halifax nuts

(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
 or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)

A man may be visibly holy—who is not inwardly holy.
A man may have an outward dress of holiness upon him
—who has not the spirit and vitality of holiness in him.

They say of Halifax nuts, that they are all shells—with
no kernels. Just so, there are many who make a glorious
show before men—who are abominable in the sight of
God; who are gold in man's eyes—but dirt in God's sight.

"In the same way, on the outside you appear to people
 as righteous; but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy
 and wickedness." Matthew 23:28

They were outwardly religious—but inwardly wicked; they
had the semblance of sanctity—but inwardly very full of
impurity; they were fair professors—but foul sinners; they
were gracious without—but impious within. Look! as those
are the worst of vices which are covered over with the show
of virtue; so they are the worst of sinners, who cover over
their inward filthiness with the disguises of outward holiness.

The Egyptian temples were fair on the outside—but foul and
filthy within. Such were the Scribes and Pharisees in Christ's
days—and such are many professors in our days!

God will at last hate that man to hell, yes, cast him into the
hottest place in hell—who has a form of godliness upon him;
but nothing of the reality and power of holiness in him.

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape
 being condemned to hell!" Matthew 23:33

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[nChrist]

The seeds of every wickedness

(J. C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Mark" 1857)

"But Peter insisted emphatically, 'Even if I
have to die with You, I will never disown You!'
And all the others vowed the same." Mark 14:31

See how much ignorant self confidence may
sometimes be found in the hearts of Christians.
The apostle Peter could not think it possible that
he could ever deny his Lord. And he did not stand
alone in his confidence. The other disciples were
of the same opinion. "And all the others vowed
the same."

Yet what did all this confident boasting come to?

Twelve hours did not pass away before all the
disciples forsook our Lord and fled. Their loud
professions were all forgotten. The present
danger swept all their promises of fidelity clean
away. So little do we know how we shall act in
any particular position—until we are placed in it!

Let us learn to pray for humility. "Pride goes before
destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

There is far more wickedness in all our hearts,
than we know. We never can tell how far we might
fall—if once placed in temptation. There is no degree
of sin into which the greatest saint may not run—if he
is not held up by the grace of God, and if he does not
watch and pray.

The seeds of every wickedness lie hidden in
our hearts! They only need the convenient season
to spring forth into a mischievous vitality. "Let him
that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." "He
who trusts his own heart is a fool.'' Let our daily
prayer be, "Hold me up—and I shall be safe!"

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[nChrist]

Dear wife, farewell!

(An excerpt from a letter by Christopher Love,
 to his wife, on the morning of his execution)

My most gracious beloved,
I am now going from a prison to a palace!
I have finished my work. I am now to receive
my wages. I am going to heaven! Rejoice in my
joy. The joy of the Lord is my strength. O, let it
be yours also! Dear wife, farewell! I will call
you wife no more! I shall see your face no more!
Yet I am not much troubled; for now I am going
to meet the Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ,
to whom I shall be eternally married!

Your dying, yet most affectionate friend until death,
Christopher Love,
August 22, 1651, the day of my glorification!

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[nChrist]

Wrath to come!

(Thomas Vincent, "The Only Deliverer from the Wrath to Come!"
 Or, The Way to Escape the Horrible and Eternal Burnings of Hell)

"Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come!" 1 Thess. 1:10

By "the wrath to come" we are to understand the infinite wrath of the sin-avenging God —  in comparison with which, the wrath of all other creatures in the world is mild, and not in the least to be regarded.

This wrath which is to come, will be most bitter —  beyond any gall or wormwood to the taste. This wrath will be most pure —  without any allay or mixture of any comfortable ingredients. This wrath will be most plentiful —  the treasury of which will be opened in hell, and all the damned will be filled with it abundantly. This wrath will be most weighty —  beyond any mountain of lead, to sink sinners down into the bottomless pit. This wrath will be most fierce —  and so powerful that all the powers of men and devils shall not be able to make the least resistance. This wrath will be intolerable —  and yet must be borne; it will be implacable —  so as never to be appeased; and it will be eternal —  so as never to be ended!

This wrath will include the punishment of loss —  will consist of the loss of the crown, glory, and happiness of heaven, where the righteous shall be admitted to the immediate vision and full fruition of God the chief good, which will fill them with soul-ravishing, inconceivable, and eternal joy. But from this, all the wicked will be eternally shut out, and wholly denied any share in the least of that happiness which, when they come to understand the worth and excellency of it —  will above all things be most vexing to them!

This wrath will include the punishment of sense —  will consist in the horrible pains and tortures which shall in extreme measure be inflicted upon every part of the bodies of all the wicked, by the most dreadful and unquenchable fire into which they shall be thrown; and the horrible anguish which, through the immediate impressions of God's wrath, shall be inflicted upon every faculty of their souls in hell, where they shall have no ease or release forever! Matthew 25:41, "Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!" Revelation 14:10-11, "They shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation, and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever, and they have no rest day or night."

The wicked are vessels fitted by sin for destruction, and prepared for wrath; and therefore they shall be filled with it! God has treasured up wrath for the wicked —  as they have treasured up sin! God will give them that which they have so much deserved, and which He has prepared for them. However sinners may vainly hope to flee or hide themselves from the stroke of God's vengeance, yet God's right hand will find all those who hate Him; and He will make them as a fiery oven in the time of His anger, swallow them up in His wrath, and devour them with the fire of His indignation! (Psalm 21:8-9).

The souls of the wicked, as soon as they are loosened by death from the ruinous habitation of their bodies, presently appear before God, are condemned to hell, and are dragged by the devil, hell's jailer, into that prison where they are bound in chains of darkness, filled with horror and anguish until the day of eternal judgment!

Oh, the dread and confusion which the wicked then shall be filled with —  when they are summoned and dragged to the tribunal seat of Christ —  and there have the books opened before them, where all their sins are written, and which will then be made manifest to the whole world; and when the sentence "Depart, you who are cursed, into everlasting fire!" shall be passed upon them; and when the Lord shall open the treasury of wrath to them, and give them that portion thereof, which is their due; and when they shall see the mouth of hell open beneath them, and a horrible flame issuing forth from there, giving notice of a more horrible fire within which is prepared for them!

Oh, the dread! Oh, the shrieks! Who can dwell with such devouring fire! Who can inhabit such everlasting burnings! How welcome would a great rock or mountain be —  if they could find any that would fall upon them, and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb, and keep off the strokes of God's vengeance, which then will be inflicted upon them!

But, the sentence being pronounced —  the execution will follow —  and none can escape it! From Christ's tribunal seat, the wicked will be thrown into the fiery prison of hell, where they will be shut down and shut in, and that forever! There they will lie; there they will fry, and there they will cry! Though always dying —  they will never die! The fire there will burn most dreadfully and continually, yet will never be extinguished! The wicked will be tormented there, in every part and in extreme measure —  and their torment will never be ended!

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[nChrist]

A mixture of clay, dirt, and corruption

(Thomas Vincent, "Love to the Unseen Christ")


        "Yes! He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, this my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16

        Christ is the most lovely Person, and the most suitable Object for your love. There never was, nor will be found—any person so lovely, so beautiful, and so every way deserving of your love—as the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a matchless, transcendent, and incomparable beauty and excellency in Him!

        How passionately are some foolish men in love with the external beauty which they see in some women! They love the exact symmetry of parts, and lovely proportion of the body, the amiable features and lovely mixtures of colors in the face, the beauty of the eyes and features, their graceful motions, and amorous glances. How does this ravish the hearts of some foolish men, although the most beautiful woman in the world is no better than a mixture of clay, dirt, and corruption enclosed in a lovely skin; which sickness will cause to look pale and ashen—and death will fully mar and spoil! But the amiableness and beauty of Christ is more transcendent and permanent, and therefore, a more fit object for your love. Christ is all fair—without any spot; altogether lovely—without any blemish or deformity!

        Could we suppose all the loveliness that ever was seen or found in the most lovely people that ever lived, were to meet in one person—how lovely would that person be! Yet such, though ever so resplendent beauty—would be but a dark shadow compared with the brightness of our most beautiful Christ!

        Can you love the imperfect beauty which you see in creatures, and will you not love the perfect beauty which there is in Christ! Can you love a fading beauty which soon withers like the flower—and will you not love Christ—whose beauty never decays—but always abides more fresh than beauty in the flower of youth! Can you be soon affected with beautiful objects which are before the eye of your sense—and will you not be affected with this far more beautiful object, the Lord Jesus Christ—who is so clearly discernible by the eye of faith? If the eye of your faith was open and clear, to look upon the transcendent loveliness which is in Christ—you could not but love Him! Could you see the glances of His eye, and the sweet smiles of His lovely face—your hearts would be overcome and ravished with love, and filled with ecstasies of joy and ineffable delight!

        "Yes! He is altogether lovely! This is my Beloved, this my Friend!" Song of Songs 5:16

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