Grace Gems

[nChrist]

The living guide to Jesus

(Ruth Bryan)

"When the Comforter comes, the One I will
 send to you from the Father--the Spirit of
 truth who proceeds from the Father--He
 will testify about Me." John 15:26

The Holy Spirit is the living guide to Jesus.

It is He who says, with power, "Behold the Lamb
of God, who takes away the sin of the world."

It is He who convinces of sin, who wounds, and
probes the wound, and lays open the evil of our
nature--causing us to know that we are corrupt
within and without.

But He not only thus discovers the malady--He
also applies the remedy. He abases the sinner;
and exalts the Savior. He gives the deep sense
of sin--that the great salvation may be more
appreciated and enjoyed.

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[nChrist]

You would not suspect him to be a Christian

(Archibald Alexander, "The Backslider" 1844)

"You have forsaken your first love." Revelation 2:4

Backsliding occurs when the Christian is gradually led
off from close walking with God, loses the lively sense of
divine things, becomes too much attached to the world
and too much occupied with secular concerns; until at
length the keeping of the heart is neglected, prayer
and the seeking of the Lord in private are omitted or
slightly performed, zeal for the advancement of religion
is quenched, and many things once rejected by a
sensitive conscience are now indulged and defended.

All this may take place and continue long before the
person is aware of his danger, or acknowledges that
there has been any serious departure from God. The
'forms of religion' may still be kept up, and 'open sin'
avoided. But more commonly backsliders fall into some
evil habits--they are evidently too much conformed to
the world, and often go too far in participating in the
pleasures and amusements of the world.

Too often there is an indulgence in known sin into which
they are gradually led, and on account of which they
experience frequent compunction, and make solemn
resolutions to avoid it in future. But when the hour of
temptation comes, they are overcome again and again,
and thus they live a miserable life, enslaved by some sin,
over which, though they sometimes struggle hard, they
cannot get the victory.

There is no more inconsistent thing than a backsliding
Christian. Look at one side of his character and he seems
to have sincere, penitential feelings, and his heart to be
right in its purposes and aims; but look at the other side,
and he seems to be "carnal, sold under sin". O wretched
man! how he writhes often in anguish, and groans for
deliverance--but he is like Samson shorn of his locks--
his strength is departed, and he is not able to rise and
go forth at liberty as in former times.

The sleeping backslider is one who, being surrounded
with earthly comforts and engaged in secular pursuits,
and mingling much with the decent and respectable
people of the world, by degrees loses the deep impression
of divine and eternal things. His spiritual senses become
obtuse, and he has no longer the views and feelings of
one awake to the reality of spiritual things. His case nearly
resembles that of a man gradually sinking into sleep. Still
he sees dimly and hears indistinctly--but he is fast losing
the impression of the objects of the spiritual world, and is
sinking under the impression of the things of time and sense.

There may be no remarkable change in the external conduct
of such a person, except that he has no longer any relish for
pious conversation, and rather is disposed to waive it. The
difference between such a one and the rest of the world
becomes less and less distinguishable. From anything you
see or hear--you would not suspect him to be a
Christian, until you see him taking his seat at church!

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[nChrist]

I have often been shocked with the thought

(Alexander, "Thoughts on Religious Experience")

I have often been shocked with the thought,
that while a man's eulogy is being pronounced upon
earth--his poor soul may be writhing and blaspheming
in the torments of hell!

"The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where
 he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far
 away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him--
 Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to
 dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
 because I am in agony in this fire!" Luke 16:22-24

 

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[nChrist]

A remedy for everything

(Harvey Newcomb, "The Young Man's Guide to the
Harmonious Development of Christian Character, 1847)

It is a mistake often made--to associate piety with a downcast
look, a sad countenance, and an aching heart. But there is
nothing in true piety inconsistent with habitual cheerfulness.

There is a difference between cheerfulness and levity.

Cheerfulness is serene and peaceful. Levity is light and trifling.
Cheerfulness promotes evenness of temper and equanimity of
enjoyment. Levity drowns sorrow and pain for a short time,
only to have it return again with redoubled power.

I do not deny that there are certain kinds of sinful pleasures
which piety spoils; but then it first removes the taste and
desire for them--so their loss is nothing to be lamented.

The Christian hope, and the promises and consolations of
God's Word, furnish the only true ground of cheerfulness.
Who should be cheerful and happy, if not one who is delivered
from the terrors of hell and the fear of death--who is raised to
the dignity of a child of God--who has the hope of eternal life--
the prospect of dwelling forever in the presence of God, and in
the enjoyment of perfect felicity? But no one would associate
these things with that frivolity, levity and mirth, which are the
delight of the pleasure-loving world.

The gospel of Jesus Christ has a remedy for everything in
life that is calculated to make us gloomy and sad. It offers the
pardon of sin to the penitent and believing; the aid of grace to
those who struggle against an evil disposition; and help against
temptation. It promises to relieve the believer from fear, and
affords consolation in affliction.

There is no reason why a true Christian should not be cheerful.
There are, indeed, many things, which he sees, within and without,
that must give him pain. But there is that in his Christian hope, and
in the considerations brought to his mind from the Word of God,
which is able to bear him high above them all.

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[nChrist]

A striking peculiarity!

(Alexander, "Thoughts on Religious Experience" 1844)

It is incongruous for Christians to be enjoying ease
and prosperity in this world, when their Lord was "a
man of sorrows and acquainted with grief". (Isa 53:3)

For the Christian to seek great things for himself here
in this world, does not befit the character of a disciple
of the meek and lowly Jesus.

It is a striking peculiarity in the religion of Christ,
that in the conditions of discipleship--"taking up the
cross" is the first thing (Matt 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke
9:23). He never enticed any to follow Him with the
promise of earthly prosperity, or exemption from
suffering. On the contrary, He assures them that in
the world they shall have tribulation. (John 16:33)

Whoever will not take Christ with His cross shall never
sit with Him on His throne. "No cross--no crown",
holds out an important truth in few words.

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[nChrist]

A man's views of sin

(William S. Plumer, "The Christian", 1878)

Sin digs every grave, and wrings out every sigh and wail
from earth and hell. Sin is the worst of all evils. Nothing
can compare with it. It is worse than the plague. Sin is
unspeakably hateful. God calls it horrible and abominable.
Godly men in every age lament it--lament it much in
others, most in themselves.

A man's views of sin give a complexion to all his
character. If he regards it as a trifle, he will laugh at
it, when he should weep over it. He will make a mock
of it. He will dally with it. He will take his fill of it. He
will have low thoughts of God, and low estimates of
salvation. He will despise Jesus Christ.

If, on the other hand, he considers sin as very dreadful and
very hateful--he will hate every false way. He will long for
holiness. He will hunger and thirst after righteousness.
He will loathe and abhor himself on account of sin. He will
have exalted thoughts of the being, perfections, word, and
government of God. To him Christ will be most precious,
the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely.

Job's sense of sin was vastly increased by the great
discoveries he had of God's majesty and glory: "I have
heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye
sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust
and ashes!" Increased views of God's glory had the same
effect on Isaiah, and made him cry out, "Woe is me! for
I am undone!" (Job 42:5-6; Isaiah 6:5).

God's presence is infinite; His power is infinite; His nature
is infinite; His existence is infinite; and so to sin against Him
must be an infinite insult and wrong. Sin is an infinite evil.
Sin is that abominable thing which He hates. He hates sin
with infinite loathing.

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[nChrist]

Dig into these golden mines!

(Robert Leighton)

Let this commend the Scriptures much to our diligence
and affection--that their great theme is our Redeemer,
and redemption wrought by Him. They contain the doctrine
of His excellencies, and are the lively picture of His matchless
beauty. Were we more in them, we would daily see more of
Him in them--and so of necessity love Him more. But we
must look within them--the letter is but the case--the
spiritual sense is what we should desire to see.
We usually huddle them over, and see no further than
their outside, and therefore find so little sweetness in
them. We read them, but we don't search them as He
requires. Would we dig into these golden mines, we
would find treasures of comfort which cannot be spent,
but which would furnish us in the hardest times!

"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands
 within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your
 heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and
 cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for
 silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you
 will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge
 of God." Proverbs 2:1-5

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[nChrist]

I need just such a friend

(William S. Plumer)

Jesus knows all my wants and weaknesses; all
my sin and misery. He knows the malice of my
enemies, and the foolishness of my heart. He has
power to subdue my whole nature to Himself, and
to defeat the wiles and machinations of my foes.

His grace is all-sufficient.

His love is infinite.

His wisdom cannot be defeated.

His power cannot be resisted.

He has all power and strength--and I am very weak. He
has all the knowledge to understand my whole case, and
all the wisdom necessary to direct everything concerning
me. He makes no mistakes. He is never deceived. He is never
outsmarted. He knows all things. He knows my weaknesses.
He knows my sorrows. He knows my heart. His wisdom never
fails. He is never confounded or perplexed. He has as much
mercy and kindness as I need. His loving-kindness is so
great that we cannot fathom its top or the bottom--the
length or the breadth of it. The ocean of the Divine
love is boundless and inexhaustible! It is infinite!

I have no sorrow to which He is a stranger.

He sympathizes with me in all my sufferings
and temptations.

I need just such a friend.

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with
 confidence, so that we may receive mercy and
 find grace to help us in our time of need."
    Hebrews 4:16

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[nChrist]

The pasture of worms!

(William Bates)

Women, by men's idolizing them--are vainly proud
of their beauty, and more concerned lest their faces
be deformed, than their souls!

What is the body--but a mixture of earth and water?

What is beauty--but a superficial appearance--a
flower blasted by a thousand accidents? How soon
are the colors and charms of the face vanished? The
most beautiful are no less mortal than others--they
must shortly be the prey of death--and the pasture of
worms! Can such a fading toy inspire pride into them?

"Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman
 who fears the Lord will be praised." Proverbs 31:30

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[nChrist]

        God's mercy

        (Nevins)

        There is something very special in the manner in which the doctrine of God's mercy is taught in Scripture.

        Observe that several words, nearly synonymous, are used to teach us the doctrine--such as merciful, gracious, long-suffering, pitiful, slow to anger. And not satisfied with the positive--the inspired writers use the superlative--very pitiful and very gracious!

        Not content with the singular, 'mercy'--they adopt and employ the plural form--'mercies'. They speak of the mercies of God. Nor are they content with a simple plural--but they speak of these mercies as manifold. Yes, they speak of the multitude of His mercies. And to denote that there is nothing uncertain about these mercies, they speak of them as sure mercies. They also speak of them not only as many, but great! Yes--and great above the heavens! And they speak of the greatness of His mercies, in magnitude equal to what they are in multitude--many and great and sure mercies! Think of that!

        They are not mere mercies--but tender mercies, and these mercies they speak of as original with God. They speak of Him as the Father of mercies! They take care to tell us that mercy is not accidental to God--but essential; they speak of it as belonging to him. Daniel goes further still. He says--"To the Lord our God belong mercies"--and 'forgiveness'? No! but 'forgivenesses'! You may say that is not proper grammar--but it is glorious doctrine!

        There is another set of phrases they use--they speak of God as rich in mercy, plenteous in mercy, and full of compassion. They speak of His abundant mercy, of the earth as full of His mercy, to denote its amplitude. And in respect of its continuance, they say that His compassions fail not. In Psalm 136, twenty-six times it is said, "His mercy endures forever!"

        There is still another phraseology used by the sacred writers. They speak of God's kindness, His great kindness, His marvelous kindness, His everlasting kindness. But they are not satisfied to speak of it as simple kindness; they call it merciful kindness, and speak of it as great towards us. They call it loving-kindness, also. And we read of God's marvelous and excellent loving-kindness, with which it is said also that He crowns us! Here, too, they use the plural form, loving-kindnesses; and they speak of the multitude of His loving-kindnesses.

        We also find the sacred writers speaking of the mercy of God compared to certain human traits. For example, to a father's pity--which it is said to be like; and to a brother's friendship--than which it is closer; and to a mother's love--which it is said to exceed!

        What more could they say?

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[nChrist]

He leads me

(William S. Plumer)

"The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads
 me beside quiet waters." Psalm 23:1-2

He leads me. I certainly need someone to lead me.
I am so poor, so blind, so weak, so foolish that, if left
to myself, I would fatally err. Lord, never leave me nor
forsake me, lest I be undone.

My Shepherd leads me gently and wisely. He makes no
mistakes. He knows the way I ought to go. He knows
how much sweet and how much bitter, are best for me.
He understands me fully. Oh, how He mingles mercy
with judgment!

True, He leads me often in a mysterious way. I see
not the end from the beginning. I cannot see afar off.
His footsteps are in the sea; clouds and thick darkness
surround Him. He gives account of none of His matters.
His judgments are a great deep. But He never does
wrong. He leads me in the paths of righteousness.

He leads me always--in prosperity and in adversity;
in joy and in sorrow. If He left me even for an hour I
would be undone. When I sleep, You, Lord, keep vigil
over me. When I awake, I am still with You. On the
land and on the sea, I am kept by Your mighty power.

He leads me--and I will follow Him. I will put my hand
in His--and go wherever His prudence shall direct.

"Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight
 path." Psalm 27:11

"From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my
 heart grows faint; lead me to the Rock that is higher
 than I." Psalm 61:2

 

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[nChrist]

Such a God should be derided!

(William S. Plumer, "A Treatise on Providence" 1865)

The unrenewed heart is atheistic in its inclinations.

"They say--The Lord doesn't see it. The God of Jacob
 doesn't pay attention." Psalm 94:7

"The wicked say to themselves--'God isn't watching!
 He will never notice!' Arise, O Lord! Punish the wicked,
 O God!" Psalm 10:11-12

Nothing more derogatory to the character of God can
possibly be said, than that He does not rule the world.

God reigns is a logical conclusion from God is. To deny
God's providence is as atheistic as to deny His existence!
A God, who neither sees, nor hears, nor knows, nor cares,
nor helps, nor saves--is a vanity, and can never claim
homage from intelligent men. Such a God should be
derided--not worshiped! He might suit the mythology
of Paganism, or meet the demands of an infidel heart
--but could never command the allegiance, or win the
confidence of an enlightened and pious man!

The world may as well be without a God--as have one
who is incompetent to rule it, or, who, wrapping Himself
in a mantle of careless indifference, abandons creation
to the governance of puny mortals, to the rule of devils,
or to the sway of a blind chance! Such conduct may well
comport with the character of false gods--but is wholly
abhorrent to the nature of Jehovah! God's tender mercies
are over all His works. His kingdom rules over all!

"Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases!"
    Psalm 115:3

"For I know that the Lord is great; our Lord is greater than
 all gods. The Lord does whatever He pleases in heaven and
 on earth, in the seas and all the depths!" Psalm 135:5-6

"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!"
    Revelation 19:6

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[nChrist]

When God thwarts, afflicts, and mortifies us

(William S. Plumer, "A Treatise on Providence" 1865)

Men are so ignorant of their own hearts that they are incapable
of determining what is best for them. Even regenerate men are
but partially sanctified and enlightened. But God searches the
heart. He understands our whole case. He knows what is most
for our good. He sees our strong corruptions and sad deficiencies.
When, in mercy to His child, He comes to heal his spiritual maladies,
He does not take counsel with human reasoning or desires. It is right,
it is best that He should act according to the wisdom which is infallible.
He employs the requisite remedies. Often they are distasteful to flesh
and blood. Sometimes they are frightful to contemplate, and terrible
to endure.

Then man, in his ignorance, too often says, "If God loved me--He
would not give me so bitter a cup to drink!" But this is man's folly.
Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Shall human weakness
control divine power? Shall finite knowledge prescribe to omniscience?
It is the height of wickedness for a worm of the dust--to revise the
decisions, or pre-judge the justice of the Almighty. We would expect
that God would deal with us in an incomprehensible way--if we did but
remember how base, sordid, and narrow are our views and plans; and
how holy, glorious, and eternal are His purposes and designs.

We are quite prone to magnify both the good and evil things of time
--to the disparagement of those of eternity. But when God thwarts,
afflicts, and mortifies us--He makes us look at the things which are
unseen and eternal. If He racks this body with pain--it is that we may
think of our house, not made with hands, eternal, and in the heavens.
The shaking of this clay tabernacle forces upon us the recollection that
this present world is not our rest--and that we ought to be seeking a
heavenly country. If the godliest man on earth had his own way without
divine guidance--he would soon be in full march towards destruction!

How kind is God in wisely and mercifully deciding so many things
for us! God very mercifully marks out our course for us. God is
governor. We are servants. To us belong obedience, submission,
acquiescence. It is not ours . . .
  to guide,
  to decide what is best,
  to rule the world,
  to shape the course of events.

"But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say
 to him who formed it--Why did you make me like this?" Romans 9:20

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[nChrist]

Having nothing--possessing everything

(William S. Plumer)

"Known--yet regarded as unknown;
 dying--and yet we live on;
 beaten--and yet not killed;
 sorrowful--yet always rejoicing;
 poor--yet making many rich;
 having nothing--and yet possessing everything."
    2 Corinthians 6:9-10

The Christian is a paradox. Because he has Christ, he
has the unsearchable riches of Christ. Believers . . .
  have full and free forgiveness of all their sins;
  are fully accepted in the Beloved;
  are clothed in Christ's spotless righteousness;
  are adopted into the family of God;
  have a perfect title to heaven through Christ;
  have God for their Father,
  have Christ for their Savior,
  have the Holy Spirit for their Comforter,
  have heaven for their home;
  shall be like Christ and with Christ forever;
  shall inherit all things;
  are sure of ultimate victory over . . .
    sins,
    the world,
    the flesh,
    the devil,
    all sorrow,
    death,
    hell.

   

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[nChrist]

God's chain and God's plan

(William S. Plumer, "A Treatise on Providence")

God's ways are unsearchable.

God's judgments are past finding out.

God's compassions are infinite.

God's power is almighty.

God's wisdom is unerring.

"I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours
can be thwarted." Job 42:2

Providences are long chains with many links in them.
If one link were missing, the event would fail. But it
is God's chain and God's plan. The thing is fixed.
The outcome is not doubtful.

"My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
 What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have
 planned, that will I do." Isaiah 46:10-11

"The plan of Him who works out everything in conformity
 with the purpose of His will." Ephesians 1:11

"This is the plan determined for the whole world."
    Isaiah 14:26

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