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An epitome of all vanity
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity; or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness" 1662)
"Truly, every man at his best state is altogether vanity!" Psalm 39:5
By Adam's fall, man has become . . .
a pile of dust,
a puff of wind,
a dream,
a shadow,
a puff of smoke,
a worm,
a debased soul,
a curious nothing.
Yes, man having fallen from his primitive glory, has become altogether vanity, says the psalmist in Psalm 39:5, "Truly, every man at his best state is altogether vanity!" Truly, every man--not some man, but every man at his best state, when he is in the height and perfection of all creature comforts and contentments--is altogether, not in some measure--but altogether, vanity--all vanity! Since the fall of Adam, every natural man in his best estate is vanity; nay, every man is every vanity. Imagine whatever vanity you will--fallen man is that! He is a comprehensive vanity--he is an epitome of all vanity.
Man before his fall, was the best of creatures; but since his fall, he has become the worst of creatures. By his fall he has fallen below the very beasts that perish. He who was once the image of God, the glory of paradise, the world's ruler, and the Lord's darling--has now become a burden to God, a burden to himself.
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When Christ finds the wandering sinner
(William Bacon Stevens, "The Parables" 1857)
"And when he finds it, he joyfully lays it on his shoulders and goes home!' Luke 15:5-6
The parable of the Lost Sheep teaches us the tender care and compassion of our Lord towards the recovered wanderers. What could illustrate this more than the shepherd's act of laying the lost sheep, when he found it, "on his shoulders," and so bearing it home?
When Christ finds the wandering sinner--He does not roughly upbraid him, He does not drive him harshly before Him, but . . .
throws His loving arms around him,
takes him to His bosom,
lays him on His shoulder where no harm can reach him,
protects him by His hands, and
pledges the mightiness of His own power to return the wanderer to the fold of God.
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The Profligate's Doom!
(Theodore Cuyler)
"He who is often reproved and hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy!" Proverbs 29:1
Not many years ago, an eminent London clergyman observed among his regular hearers, a young man whose appearance excited in him an unusual interest. He took pains to learn the young stranger's history, and found that he was the son of pious parents, and had been trained to respect the gospel of Christ. A devout mother had added to her prayers the fervent precept, "My son, if sinners entice you--do not consent!"
The young man at length was missed from his place in the church. The watchful eye of the minister sought for him in vain. He had met with a company of witty and engaging skeptics, who had persuaded him to abandon the house of prayer, for the more "manly" entertainments of their infidel club, where the ribaldries of atheists were rendered more palatable by the lively jest, and the exhilarating glass. His conscience stung him, but their merry laugh soon drowned the troublesome remonstrance. He proved to be an apt scholar in the ways of sin. His Sunday instructions among the skeptics soon prepared him for the haunts of revelry, and for those chambers which lie nearby the door of Hell. A short career of reckless dissipation did its work of ruin upon his slight and delicate frame.
His former pastor, who had well-near forgotten him, was one day surprised by an invitation to visit the unhappy youth on his dying bed. He found him sinking rapidly, and sinking without hope. As the man of God approached the bedside, the young man hid his face and refused to speak to him. Finding it impossible to draw a word from the wretched victim of remorse, who was just about entering eternity in such a state of sullen despair--the minister offered a fervent prayer and turned away. He reached the door, his hand was upon the latch, when the young man suddenly rose in the bed, and beckoned him to return. He went back and leaned his head over the bed to receive the message. The young man threw his arms about him and drawing his head close to his lips, whispered in convulsive accents, "I am damned!" and then sank back silent on his pillow. No further efforts or entreaties could rouse him. The heart-wrung pastor pleaded with him, but in vain. Having pronounced his own awful doom--his lips refused to speak again; and before the clock struck the hour of midnight, his unhappy soul was in the eternal world!
Young man! as you read the appalling narrative of the poor profligate's doom--you may be reading your own! If your feet have forsaken the house of God--if you have been seen on the seat of the scorner--if you have returned home at the midnight hour from the card table, or the drinking circle--you have good cause to tremble! Persist in your course of self-destruction, and you may meet that young man in the world of eternal despair! Partners in misery, you may, to all eternity, curse yourselves as the authors of your own damnation!
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Both our teacher and our lesson!
(Charles Spurgeon)
"He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures--the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had a most profitable journey. Their companion was the best of teachers--in whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
This unrivaled tutor used as His class-book, the best of books. He showed us that the surest road to wisdom is not speculation, reasoning, or reading human books--but meditation upon the Word of God. The readiest way to be spiritually rich in heavenly knowledge, is to dig in this mine of diamonds, to gather pearls from this heavenly sea! When Jesus Himself sought to enrich others--He wrought in the quarry of Holy Scripture.
The favored pair were led to consider the best of subjects--for Jesus spoke of Jesus, and expounded the things concerning Himself! Here the diamond cut the diamond, and what could be more admirable? The Master of the House unlocked His own doors, conducted the guests to His table, and placed His own dainties upon it! He who hid the treasure in the field--Himself guided the searchers to it. Our Lord would naturally discourse upon the sweetest of topics--and He could find none sweeter than His own person and work.
With an eye to these things--we should always search the Word. O for grace to study the Bible with Jesus as both our teacher and our lesson!
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All Mine are Yours--and Yours are Mine!
(James Smith, "The Pleading Savior" 1861)
"All Mine are Yours--and Yours are Mine!" John 17:10
This claim of Jesus refers especially to the elect. Says Jesus, "All whom the Father has, are Mine!" They are Mine by redemption--and Yours by election!
Election, redemption, sanctification, and glorification--are divine works encompassing the same people.
All whom the Father chose--the Son redeemed;
all whom the Son redeemed--the Spirit sanctifies;
and all who are . . .
chosen by the Father,
redeemed by the Son,
and sanctified by the Spirit--
are certainly and eternally glorified!
"For those He foreknew--He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
And those He predestined--He also called;
and those He called--He also justified;
and those He justified--He also glorified!"
Romans 8:29-30
The Father's children--constitute the Son's Church;
the Father's beloved--is the Son's bride;
the Father's property--is the Son's portion.
"All Mine"--that is, all of My disciples, My friends, My sheep--"are Yours."
The Father as Creator, gives them to the Son as Redeemer.
The Son as Redeemer, hands them over to the Spirit as the Sanctifier.
The Spirit works in them all the good pleasure of His goodness, and brings them to the Son, who presents them to the Father as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless!
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Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest
(J. R. Miller, Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ, 1890)
There is a tendency to leave the Bible out of the prayer-closet. We hear a great deal of earnest counsel concerning secret prayer:
we must both open and close the day at God's feet;
prayer is the Christian's vital breath;
if we would live strong, noble, beautiful, radiant, and useful Christian lives--we must get seasons of secret prayer into all our busy days.
But we must take our Bibles with us into the prayer-closet. While we talk to God--we must also let God talk to us. God feeds us through His Word. It is "into all truth" (John 16:13) that the Holy Spirit leads Christ's disciples. Seasons of prayer without meditation on some portion of the Word of God, cannot yield the full blessing that we need.
Life is hard for most of us; at least, it is hard to live nobly, lovingly, purely, Christianly. We can do so only by getting a great deal of help from Christ. We need, therefore, daily to heed His invitation, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31). In communion with Him--we shall receive strength and blessing to enable us to live each day more beautifully, more victoriously, more radiantly, more lovingly. We shall rob ourselves therefore, of divine help--if we do not make room in our busiest days, for quiet retreats from noise and strife--to be alone with Christ, where we may sit at His feet to hear His words; or lie on His bosom to absorb His spirit--for the refreshing and transforming of our lives.
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If I am seeking everything that can delight my senses
(William Law, "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life")
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction--and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life--and only a few find it!" Matthew 7:13-14
If I am seeking everything that can delight my senses, and regale my appetites; spending my time and fortune in pleasures, in diversions, and worldly enjoyments--then how can it be said that I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling?
If there is nothing in my life and conversation that shows me to be different from the heathen; if I use the world, and worldly enjoyments, as the generality of people now do, and in all ages have done--then why should I think that I am among those few who are walking in the narrow way to Heaven?
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There are many roaring devils around us!
(Thomas Watson, "Body of Divinity")
There is nothing that more troubles a child of God, than that he fears he shall never hold out. "These weak legs of mine," he says, "will never carry me to Heaven!" But he is kept by the power of God! Once in Christ--forever in Christ. A believer may fall from some degrees of grace--but not from the state of grace.
How despairing is the Arminian doctrine of falling from grace! Today a saint--tomorrow a reprobate; today a Peter--tomorrow a Judas! This is like boring a hole in a vessel--to make all the wine of his joy run out. Were the Arminian doctrine true, what comfort would it be--to have one's name written in the book of life--if it might be blotted out again? But be assured, for your comfort, that grace--if it is true--though ever so weak, shall persevere.
"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." 1 Peter 1:5. See whence it is, that believers persevere in holiness. It is to be ascribed solely to the power of God.
It is a wonder that any Christian perseveres, if you consider:
(1.) Corruption within. There is more sin than grace; yet grace is habitually predominant. Grace is like a spark in the sea--it is a wonder that it is not quenched! It is a wonder that sin does not destroy grace.
(2.) Temptations without. Satan envies us happiness, and he raises his militia, and stirs up persecution. He shoots his fiery darts of temptations--which are called darts for their swiftness, fiery for their terribleness. We are every day beset with devils! As it was a wonder that Daniel was kept alive in the midst of the roaring lions, so there are many roaring devils around us--and yet we are not torn in pieces! Now, whence is it, that we stand against these powerful temptations? We are kept by the power of God!
(3.) The world's old snares--riches and pleasure. How many have been shipwrecked upon these golden rocks! "Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world." 2 Timothy 4:10
What a wonder any persevere in holiness--that the earth does not choke the fire of all holy affections! Whence is this, but from the power of God? We are kept by His power.
"My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish--ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand!" John 10:27-29
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The Christian's vital breath!
(David Harsha, "The Savior's Intercession")
"O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy." Psalm 130:2
Prayer is the motion of our renewed hearts towards God.
Prayer lifts the soul unto Him in sweet and heavenly
communion, 'Unto You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.'
Prayer calls down upon us the choicest blessings of heaven.
Prayer brings our spirits near the throne of
God, and fills them with inexpressible delight.
Prayer elevates our views and affections far above
this world of sensual and perishing enjoyments.
Prayer is the Christian's vital breath!
No true child of God can live without prayer.
If we have the spirit of adoption, we
will be often crying, 'Abba, Father!'
"O God, You are my God; early will I seek You.
My soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You
in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water."
Psalm 63:1
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He loves to see His poor, helpless, suffering patients come!
(James Smith, "The Love of Christ! The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!")
"The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it--but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores!" Isaiah 1:5-6
Sin not only brings us under condemnation--but it assumes the character of a disease! It has infected the whole soul, and spoiled every faculty. We need healing--as well as pardon. Jesus, in the greatness of his love, provides for both. He becomes not only our Redeemer--but our Physician. He employs His Spirit, His Word, and His Providence--to bring us to a healthy state.
He lays open the wound to our view--and then applies His own most precious blood to heal it! He makes us to feel our sickness--and then bestows His grace to restore us to health. All healing is by His skill--and through His Spirit, grace, blood, and Word. He is the maker of the Balm of Gilead--and He is the Physician there.
He undertakes the healing of all who apply to Him! He never yet failed in any case! He heals all gratuitously. His wisdom shines in the management of every case--and also His skill in healing the most desperate and alarming cases. He acts so kindly and tenderly to all His patients, and heals so judiciously--that He wins the heart of every patient--and all are delighted with His skill.
Thousands throng Him--but not one is overlooked or neglected by Him. He is always at His office, and ready to heal. He loves to see His poor, helpless, suffering patients come--and always greets them with a hearty welcome.
The plague of the heart,
the plague of the head,
weakness in the hands,
feebleness in the knees,
blindness,
deafness,
leprosy,
disease in every form--
are easily removed by Him.
Before Him . . .
the lame man leaps like an deer,
the tongue of the dumb sings,
broken hearts rejoice, and
the blind see out of darkness and out of obscurity.
This process of healing is on-going--none are completely healed at present. And when they are healthy enough--they are sent from the hospital below--to paradise above! Every patient who is healed--is provided with a mansion above, and has a title to the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. There the inhabitants shall no more say, "I am sick," and the people who dwell there are forgiven their iniquities!
All His patients feel and manifest the symptoms of returning health--which are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, goodness, faith, etc. But none of them rest satisfied with any symptoms; they all visit His office frequently, asking Him to complete the cure. And such is His love, kindness, and grace--that He assures all those who have a good work begun in them--that He will complete it in the day of His glorious appearing!
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Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?
(J.R. Miller, "A Message for the Day" 1901)
"Far be it from You to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Genesis 18:25
Some people worry about the destiny of the Heathen, and ask if God can be just--and do so and so. A great deal better solution of such perplexities, is Abraham's: "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Surely we can trust Him with all such things, and leave them in His hands.
Others have perplexity concerning the apparent lack of justness in the allotment of earth. Some holy people have little but trouble here--and some wicked people have very much worldly favor. We have the same truth on which to rest all such seeming inequities. God will surely do right. What we call trouble, may have more real blessing in it, than what we call prosperity. Also, the end of life is not here. God has eternity in which to adjust the inequities.
There are other people who think that their own lot is very hard. They complain about their trials and disappointments, and are discontented with what God does for them and gives them. They say that God is good; yet they imply by their petulance, that He is not good. This word of Abraham's should rebuke all such complaints. Sooner might the Heavens fall--than that in any smallest thing, God could do anything but what is absolutely right and just.
"Commit your way unto the Lord; trust also in Him--and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5
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It is in life's common experiences
(J. R. Miller, "The Life of Jesus")
"When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him!" Luke 24:30-31
It was a wonderful walk that the two friends took that afternoon. The Man who joined them, seemed only to be a common stranger. He had a kindly manner, and the three were soon talking familiarly. He opened to them, the meaning of great Scripture words, saying many things His companions could never forget. They were so pleased with His company, that when they reached the end of their journey, they urged Him to become their guest, and He consented.
It was at their evening meal together, that the Stranger revealed His identity. Perhaps, as He took the bread and was in the act of breaking it, they saw His hands with the print of the nails in them. We do not know just how it happened; we only know that it was while they were at their plain, simple evening meal--that "then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him!"
It is in life's common experiences, that Christ usually reveals Himself to us. One of His disciples asked Him to show them the Father--he wanted some remarkable revealing, a great glory, like the Sinai splendor. Jesus said, "Have I been with you these three years--and have you never known Me? I have been showing you the Father all the while!" He had been doing this in sweet, gentle living, in patience, in kindness, in thoughtfulness, in purity and simplicity of life. The disciples had seen all these beautiful things in their Master, day after day--but they had not dreamed that these were divine revealings; that in them, He was revealing God!
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To fill Heaven with Hells!
(Thomas Brooks, "The Crown and Glory of Christianity,
or, HOLINESS, the Only Way to Happiness", 1662)
"Man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil
like water!" Job 15:16
A wicked man is a sin-lover; he is a sin-maker,
he lives in sin upon choice.
All profane people . . .
give up themselves to wickedness,
wallow in all ungodliness,
delight themselves in all manner of filthiness,
commit wickedness with greediness,
draw iniquity and sin with cords of vanity,
weary themselves to commit iniquity, and
are so desperately set upon wickedness,
that neither the rod of God, the lashes and checks of
their own consciences, nor the flashes of Hell upon their
souls--can stop them. They are resolved that they will
gratify their lusts--though they damn their souls; that
they will live wickedly--though they perish eternally!
By custom in sin, they have destroyed all conscience
of sin, and contracted such desperate hardness upon
their own hearts, as neither . . .
God's smiles--nor frowns,
God's promises--nor threatenings,
life--nor death,
Heaven--nor Hell,
can possibly hinder them!
The hearts and ways of wicked men are full of
Hells; and therefore to fill Heaven with such,
would be to fill Heaven with Hells!
Certainly God will shut the gates of glory upon
such workers of iniquity. These souls are . . .
sadly abandoned by God, and
woefully blinded by Satan, and
fully ripened for ruin.
"All will be damned who have not believed the truth, but
have delighted in wickedness." 2 Thessalonians 2:12
"Unless you are converted . . . you will never enter
the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:3
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He will not forget the lambs!
(John Angell James, "The Christian Professor")
"He tends His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the
lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young."
Isaiah 40:11
Are you alarmed at the difficulties and dangers of
the wilderness way? Consider that you enjoy the
notice, the love, intercession, and the support of
the Great and Good Shepherd, who carries the
lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart.
He will not forget the lambs--their feeble bleat
attracts His notice, their helplessness draws His
attention; and for them He puts forth all His
pastoral kindness and skill.
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You shall love him!
(J. R. Miller, "Loving Your Neighbor")
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31
What is it to love our neighbor? It is the loving that is hard. We could do almost anything else, short of loving unpleasant neighbors.
But love is the word--and no revised version changes it. No matter how disagreeable, unlovely, unworthy, our neighbors may be--still the commandment persistently and relentlessly says to us, "You shall love him!"
Our neighbors are around us all the time, needing our love. Indeed, they touch our lives so continually, that we must guard our every look, word, and act--lest we hurt some sensitive spirit.
Some people seem to forget that other people have feelings. They are constantly saying words and doing things which give pain. True love is thoughtful. We ought to train our hearts to the most delicate sense of kindness, that we may never, even jokingly, give pain to any other human being.
Our neighbors have hearts, and we owe to every one of them--the beggar we meet on the street, the degraded wretch we find crawling in the mire of sin's debasement, the enemy who flings his insults in our face--to every one, we owe the love that is thoughtful, gentle, and gives no hurt.
Our love ought also to be patient. Our neighbor will have his faults. But we are taught to bear with one another's infirmities. If we knew the story of men's lives, the hidden burdens they are often carrying, the unhealed wounds in their heart--we would have most gentle patience with them. Life is hard for most people, certainly hard enough without our adding to its burdens--by our criticisms, our jeering and contempt, and our lack of love.
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All glittering glow-worm glories
(Anne Dutton's Letters on Spiritual Subjects)
"O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who
looks after you and cares for you." Hosea 14:8
As to our heart-idolatry, it is a very great iniquity
of which the Lord's own people are deeply guilty.
Let us bring our every idol unto Him to be entirely
slain, so shall our hearts be separated from them,
and our admiration of, and sinful affection to, all
glittering glow-worm glories sink and die before
the rising attracting display of His all-transcendent
and infinite excellencies!
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols!" 1 John 5:21
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When others were at their amusements
(Thomas Watson, "The Lord's Prayer")
The more pains we have taken for Heaven--the
sweeter Heaven will be when we come there.
When a farmer has long been working hard--it
is pleasant to enjoy the fruit his labors. Just so,
when in Heaven, we shall remember our former
zeal and earnestness for the kingdom--which
will sweeten Heaven.
It will add to the joy of heaven, for a Christian to
ponder, "Such a day I spent in examining my heart.
Such a day I was weeping for sin. When others
were at their amusements--I was at prayer.
And now, have I lost anything by my devotion? No!
My tears are wiped away, and the wine of paradise
cheers my heart. I now enjoy Him whom my soul
loves! I am possessed of a glorious kingdom! My
labor is over--but my joy remains forever!"
"Better is one day in Your courts than a
thousand elsewhere!" Psalm 84:10
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My politics
(Letters of John Newton)
The whole system of my politics is summed up in this one verse, "The Lord reigns! Let the nations tremble!" Psalm 99:1
The times look awfully dark indeed; and as the clouds grow thicker--the stupidity of the nation seems proportionally to increase. If the Lord had not a remnant here, I would have very formidable apprehensions. But He loves His children; some are sighing and mourning before Him, and I am sure He hears their sighs, and sees their tears. I trust there is mercy in store for us at the bottom; but I expect a shaking time before things get into a right channel--before we are humbled, and are taught to give Him the glory.
The state of the nation, the state of the churches--both are deplorable! Those who should be praying--are disputing and fighting among themselves! Alas! how many professors are more concerned for the mistakes of government--than for their own sins!
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We are never out of danger--while we are out of Heaven!
(James Smith, "Daily Bible Readings for the Lord's Household")
"The Lord is your keeper" Psalm 121:5
"He shall preserve your soul" Psalm 121:7
What being in creation needs such close and constant keeping--as a Christian. If God was not our keeper--we would never arrive safely in Heaven!
Our foes are so powerful;
our spiritual maladies so numerous;
our dangers so great;
our depravity so deep!
O to keep this fact daily before the mind, that we may evermore cry unto the Lord to keep us! He has promised to do so--but He will have us plead with Him, and daily cry unto Him.
We are never out of danger--while we are out of Heaven!
If we are healthy this morning--we may be diseased before night.
If we are sound in the faith today--we may be led away by some pernicious error tomorrow.
If we are walking at liberty now--we may be entangled with the yoke of bondage before long.
How kind, how gracious then, for our Lord to undertake to keep us, and to promise to preserve our souls.
Let us therefore, this day, feel . . .
that we are in danger,
that we need an omnipotent preserver,
that the Lord preserves through fellowship with Himself,
and let us endeavor to walk closely with God.
"Hold me up, and I shall be safe!" Psalm 119:117
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The influence of home
(Timothy Shay Arthur, "The Home Mission" 1853)
"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it!" Proverbs 22:6
If it were possible to trace back to their beginnings, in each individual, those good or evil impulses which have become ruling affections--in most cases the origin would not be found until we had reached the home of childhood. Here it is that impressions are made, which become as enduring as existence itself. But the influence of home is not beneficial or baneful in early years alone. Wherever a home exists, there will be found the nursery of all that is excellent in social or civil life--or of all that is deformed.
Every man and woman we meet in society, exhibit, in unmistakable characters--the quality of their homes. The wife, the husband, the children--bear with them daily a portion of the spirit pervading the little circle from which they have come forth. If the sun shines there--a light will be on their countenances; but shadows--if clouds are in the sky of home.
If there is disorder, defect of principle, discord among the members, neglect of duty, and absence of kind attentions--then the sphere of those who constitute that home, can hardly be beneficial. They will add little to the common stock of good in the social life around them. We need not say how different will be the influence of those whose home-circle is pervaded by higher, purer, and truer principles.
"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it!" Proverbs 22:6
