nChrist

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It will even make the cross of Christ into a pedestal on which to erect its deformed visage!

(Octavius Winslow, "Eminent Holiness Essential to an Efficient Ministry" 1843)

An attribute in the formation of an elevated standard of ministerial holiness--too essential and important to be overlooked--is a growing humbleness of mind.

Where is the spiritual minister of Christ who has not detected the latent existence, and who has not had to struggle against--the secret workings of the sin of pride? It is so insidious and powerful a sin--and is so exhilarating in the sensations it produces--that few are more liable to be enamored by its fair exterior, and ensnared by its specious and seductive form--than the minister of the gospel! And yet, pride is an evil more calculated to feed as a cankerworm at the root of his ministry! A sin more loathed of God, against which His denunciations are more severely recorded, on which His wrath has more signally and fearfully fallen--is not found to exist! Pride originated the first form of evil that ever existed--and it constitutes, at this moment, the great center of rebellion against God on earth!

Thus, the identical sin which we find to form so impregnable a stronghold of Satan in the hearts of the unregenerate, and which has so sadly wounded the peace, retarded the prosperity, and deformed the beauty of Christ's Church--is the sin most rife in our own bosoms!

Its classifications are many. Among them may be specified the pride of office, the pride of denomination, the pride of knowledge, the pride of talent, the pride of scholarship, the pride of influence, the pride of orthodoxy, the pride of eloquence, the pride of pulpit, the pride of platform, the pride of success, and the pride of applause.

Pride is a protean evil--assuming a thousand varied and opposite forms! It will insinuate itself into the most spiritual and solemn of our services. There is no soil so holy--in which its root will not strike. There is no employment so sacred--on which it will not engraft itself. It will even make the cross of Christ into a pedestal on which to erect its deformed visage! Yes, while exalting Jesus--we may be found but exalting ourselves! And while exclaiming, "Behold the Lamb of God!"--we may be but veiling His true glory behind our insignificant persons; virtually exclaiming, "Behold my talents, my eloquence, and my zeal!" We are often guilty of the awful sin of self-exaltation--while setting forth the person, work, glory, and humiliation of the Son of God!

Is there not in us, my brethren, a manifest deficiency of the humble, self-annihilating spirit of the divine Master whom we serve--and whom it should be our aim and glory to resemble? In maintaining our position in the Church--may there not be a lofty deportment, an air of self-sufficiency and importance--utterly at variance with the "mind that was in Christ Jesus"? Is there not an unholy ostentation, and a desire for self-promotion--in much that we do for Christ?

Is there not . . .
an eagerness for preferment to influential and wealthy churches,
a fondness for conspicuousness of place,
a shrinking from fields of labor where no laurels are to be won,
a thirsting for human applause,
a studied aim after popularity,
a trimming policy designed to please the world,
a trumpeting of our own fame, and
a vaunting parade of our own success?
We have plucked the crown from Christ's head--and placed it on our own! In setting forth Christ's infinite glory, and His deep abasement and sufferings--we have turned it into an occasion of pride and self-exaltation!

Instead of inquiring, "Who shall be most lowly--the most like Christ--the least in the kingdom?" is it not, "Who shall be the greatest? Who shall stand upon the highest pinnacle of renown?"

Are we not, in many or in all these points--truly guilty before our God?

And yet how much is there in us, if soberly and frequently pondered--calculated . . .
to abase our pride,
to repress our aspirings of vanity,
to rebuke our self-adulation,
and to lay us low in a low place?

Has not the cherishing of this sin of pride in our bosom--deeply grieved the Spirit? Is not the real secret . . .
of our barren souls,
of our ineffectual ministry,
of our languishing churches,
of our paralyzed efforts--
simply the sad but certain consequences of our accursed pride?

A holy ministry--is a humble ministry!
 
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He gives His beloved sleep!

(Arthur Pink)

"He gives His beloved sleep." Psalm 127:2

How often is it lost sight of, that the Lord cares for the bodies of His saints--as well as for their souls. Sleep is a Divine gift---but the nightly recurrence of it blinds us to the fact. Sleep is as imperative for our physical well-being--as is food and drink. Sleep is as much the gift of our heavenly Father, as is the other.

When it so pleases Him, God withholds sleep--and then we have to say with the Psalmist, "You kept my eyes from closing." Psalm 77:4. But that is the exception rather than the rule--and deeply thankful should we be that it is so. Day by day the Lord feeds us--and night by night, "He gives His beloved sleep."

We should perceive the gracious hand of God ministering in tenderness to all of our daily needs. He is mindful of our frailty--and tempers His dealings with us accordingly. He is aware when our energies are spent, and graciously renews our strength and mercifully refreshes our bodies with sleep.

Alas, how little are we affected by the Lord's goodness and grace unto us. The unfailing recurrence of His temporal and spiritual mercies--incline us to take them for granted. So dull of understanding are we, so cold our hearts Godward--it is to be feared that most of the time we fail to realize whose loving hand it is, which is ministering to us.

Is not this the very reason why we do not begin to really value our health--until it is taken from us? It is not until we spend night after night tossing upon a bed of pain--that we perceive the worth of regular sleep with which we were formerly favored. And such vile creatures are we, that when illness and insomnia come upon us, instead of improving the same by repenting of our former ingratitude--we murmur and complain at the hardness of our present lot, and wonder what we have done to deserve such treatment!

O let those of us who are still blessed with good health and regular sleep--not fail to daily return thanks for such privileges, and earnestly seek grace to use the strength from them to the glory of God!


"Let us thank God for common mercies--for they prove to be uncommonly precious, when they are once taken away!" Charles Spurgeon
 
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nChrist

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Why are those blessed, who hear and obey the Word of God?

(Francis Bourdillon, "Short Sermons for Family Reading" 1881)

"Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it." Luke 11:28

The Word must be obeyed--as well as heard. We must not hear it carelessly. Nor must we be hearers only, forgetting it as soon as heard. We are to guard it and keep it--to treasure it in our hearts as a precious possession. We are to believe it and to follow it--then the full blessing will be ours.

Why are those blessed, who hear and obey the Word of God?

1. Because the Word of God tells us of the Savior, speaks pardon and peace, and opens to us God's wondrous way of saving sinners. This can be said of no other book, and no other thing. The works of God in nature tell us much--but they do not tell us this. Many books of man are written on these subjects--but they are but man's books after all.

2. They are blessed also, because the Word of God is a sure guide. It is a difficult path through the wilderness of this world. Many hindrances and perplexities meet us--and many different rules are offered for our guidance: fashion, custom, prudence, man's opinion, etc. But the Word of God is the only sure guide. A simple, humble, earnest following of this guide--is the wisest, happiest, safest course! The poorest and most unlearned who through grace take this course--have more security for going right than the greatest and wisest who follow any other path. Therefore they are blessed who hear and keep the word of God--because they have a sure guide through life.

3. The word of God also comforts in trouble, and therefore they are blessed who hear it and keep it. This world has its sorrows as well as its difficulties--sorrows many and great; but the word of God has comfort for all of life's sorrows. It is full of comfort. It has promises and declarations of God's love. It contains examples of mourners whom He has comforted--and these in great number and variety. There is no kind of trouble for which some suitable comfort may not be found in the Bible. In time of deep sorrow--a comfort and consolation are found in the Word of God which are sought in vain in other books. It is the best of all books for those in trouble.
 
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What is most needed today!

(Arthur Pink)

It is my deepening conviction that what is most needed today is a wide proclamation of those Scripture truths which are the least acceptable to the flesh.

What is needed today, is a scriptural setting forth of the character of God:
His absolute sovereignty,
His ineffable holiness,
His inflexible justice,
His unchanging veracity.

What is needed today, is a scriptural setting forth of the condition of the natural man:
his total depravity,
his spiritual insensibility,
his inveterate hostility to God,
the fact that he is "condemned already," and
that the wrath of a sin-hating God is even now abiding upon him!

What is needed today, is a scriptural setting forth of the alarming danger which sinners are in--the indescribably awful doom which awaits them; and the fact that if they follow their present course only a little further, they shall most certainly suffer the due penalty of their iniquities!

What is needed today, is a scriptural setting forth of the nature of that dreadful punishment which awaits the lost:
the dreadfulness of it,
the hopelessness of it,
the unendurableness of it,
and the endlessness of it!
 
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What a farce it all is!

(Arthur Pink)

The vast majority of the churches are in a sorry state! Those that are out-and-out worldly are at their wits end to invent new devices for drawing a crowd. Others which still preserve an outward form of godliness often provide nothing substantial for the soul; there is little ministering of Christ to the heart, and little preaching of sound doctrine without which souls cannot be built up and established in the faith.

The great majority of the pastors summon to their aid some professional speaker, who puts on a high-pressure campaign and secures sufficient new 'converts' to take the place of those who have 'lapsed' since he was last with them.

What a farce it all is!
 
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Experimental conformity to the image of Christ

(Arthur Pink)

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word--that you may grow thereby" 1 Peter 2:2

It behooves each one of us to honestly and diligently examine himself, so as to discover whether or not we are growing in grace.

We are not to be content with an increase of mere head-knowledge of Scripture. What we need to be most concerned about is our practical growth--our experimental conformity to the image of Christ.

One point at which we may test ourselves is: "Does my reading and study of God's Word make me less worldly?"

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen." 2 Peter 3:18
 
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nChrist

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Who cares for pebbles--when jewels glitter before him?

(Charles Spurgeon)

"To rule a kingdom, is a nobler matter than to play with marbles."

What, then, is the folly of the worldling's choice, when he prefers to be contending among men for earthly toys--instead of seeking those eternal treasures above!

How great is the degradation of professing Christians, when their minds are taken up with fashionable trivialities--instead of living alone to glorify their God, and acting as those whom Jesus has made to be kings and priests!

Who cares for pebbles--when jewels glitter before him?

Who would choose toys and rattles--when the wealth of the Indies is offered him?

Let us be no longer children or fools--but act as men who have put away childish things.

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ--keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above--not on the things that are on earth!" Colossians 3:1-2
 
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nChrist

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They would pass by these glittering unrealities

(J.R. Miller)

"Will you set your eyes upon that which is not? Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone--for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle!" Proverbs 23:5

People are badly cheated in this world. They often imagine that gold, silver, houses, lands, and stocks are the real treasures. So they toil for these things and gather them into their possession, and pile up what they suppose to be wealth. Thus they live like princes in their fine houses, and call themselves millionaires.

But one day their supposed riches take to themselves wings and fly away like eagles to the skies. Or they may keep their wealth, perhaps, and die at last in the midst of it, and have a great funeral. But then they find that they cannot carry a penny of it with them!

"How much did he leave?" was asked about a rich man who had died.

"He left all of it!" was the answer.

If men only knew that there are other things far more worth setting eyes and heart upon--things which will never fly away--they would pass by these glittering unrealities--to lay hold of the true riches!

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived--what God has prepared for those who love Him!" 1 Corinthians 2:9
 
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nChrist

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He left Heaven for us!

(Thomas Brooks, "The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures")

"If anyone would come after Me--he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

Let the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, work us into a gracious willingness to embrace sufferings for His sake, and cheerfully and resolutely to take up His cross and follow Him.

Did Christ suffer, who knew no sin--and shall we think it strange to suffer, who know nothing but sin?

Shall He lie sweltering under His Father's wrath--and shall we cry out under men's anger?

Was He crowned with thorns--and must we be crowned with rose-buds?

Was His whole life, from the cradle to the cross, made up of nothing but sorrows and sufferings--and must our lives, from the cradle to the grave, be filled up with nothing but pleasures and delights?

Was He despised--and must we be admired?

Was He debased--and must we be exalted?

Was He poor--and must we be rich?

Was He low--and must we be high?

Did He drink of a bitter cup, a bloody cup--and must we have only cups of consolation?

Let us not think anything too much to do for Christ,
nor anything too great to suffer for Christ,
nor anything too dear to part with for such a Christ, such a Savior--who thought nothing too much to do, nor too grievous to suffer--so that He might accomplish the work of our redemption!

He left Heaven for us--and shall not we let go of this world for Him?

He left his Father's bosom for us--and shall not we leave the bosoms of our dearest relations for him?

He underwent all sorts of sufferings for us--let us as readily encounter with all sorts of sufferings for Him.
 
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The object of God's tender, perfect and ceaseless care!

(James Smith, "Divine Care!" 1865)

"Casting all your care upon Him--for He cares for you!" 1 Peter 5:7

Our cares must be cast upon our God, or they will prove a burden too heavy for us--they will depress, bewilder, and make us wretched!

WHO is it that cares for us?

It is the Lord Almighty--the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy!
It is He whom the angels obey, the seraphim adore, and all creation glorifies!
It is the Lord--who is so great, that we have no adequate conception of His greatness!
It is He who is so good--that it is impossible fully to set forth His goodness!
It is He who is so glorious--that no sinner can see His face and live!
It is He who created all things with His Word!
It is He who governs all things by His wisdom!
It is He who upholds all things by His power!
It is He whose resources are infinite!
It is He whose compassion is exquisite!
It is He whose patience is without limit!

But though He is so exalted, so happy, and so unspeakably great--He cares for you!

He cares for you--as base as you are.
He cares for you--as sinful as you are.
He cares for you--as depressed and discouraged as you are.

HE cares for YOU!

May I pass through the present world under the impression, "I am the object of God's tender, perfect and ceaseless care!"
"Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." Psalm 55:22
 
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nChrist

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Reader! have you enjoyed the presence of Jesus today?

(James Smith, "A Help to Devotion" 1859)

"Abide with us--for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." Luke 24:29

The presence of Jesus, is the life and the joy of the saints. When we enjoy it--we dread the thought of losing it; and when we have lost it--we cannot rest until we have regained it. That is a gloomy day--in which the presence of Jesus is not enjoyed; and that is a dreary night--when Jesus is absent from us.

Reader! have you enjoyed the presence of Jesus today? Has He communed with your spirit, thereby . . .
strengthening your faith,
exciting your hope, and
deepening your comfort?

If so, I know that your prayer tonight will be, "Abide with me! Yes, precious Lord Jesus, we do beseech You to visit us, converse with us, open up the Scriptures to us, and abide with us. Let us feast our eyes on Your glory--and our hearts on Your grace. With You, we can feel at home--we can be happy anywhere. Without You, we cannot rest, we cannot feel satisfied, we cannot enjoy repose--let us have whatever we may. You have won our heart's love--You have made yourself the center and source of our comfort. Come, then, and abide with us this evening--and then a blessed evening it will be. Your presence will free us from all our cares, and raise us above all our troubles. Your presence will feast us, refresh us, and make us satisfied with our lot, be it what it may!"
 
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nChrist

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That time has arrived!

(Arthur Pink)

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth, and turn aside to myths." 2 Timothy 4:1-4

That time has arrived! Church-goers today will not endure "sound doctrine." Those . . .
who preach the total depravity of man,
who insist upon the imperative necessity of the new birth,
who set forth the inflexible righteousness and holiness of God, and
who warn against the eternal and conscious torment awaiting every rejecter of Christ,
find it almost impossible to obtain a hearing! Such preachers are regarded as puritanic pessimists, and are not wanted.

In these degenerate times, the masses demand that which will soothe them in their sins--and amuse them while they journey down the Broad Road which leads to eternal destruction! The multitude is affected with "itching ears" which crave novelty and that which will amuse them.

Not only are many of our Seminaries cesspools of spiritual corruption,
not only are hundreds of our pulpits now filled by traitors to the cause they profess to champion,
not only is every cardinal doctrine of the faith attacked and denied by the very ones paid to defend them--
but the evil effects of such teaching from our religious leaders have influenced multitudes of souls committed to their care.

The man in the pew, following the lead of his teachers, has lost faith in the Bible as a Divine revelation, and in consequence, no longer submits to its authority.
 
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nChrist

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Their greatest obstacle in the way of spiritual growth and transformed character

(J.R. Miller, "The Transfigured Life!" 1893)

Nothing helps more to develop the transfigured life in us, than work. Some people chafe because they have so much to do. Their days are filled from morning to night with dreary, monotonous task-work. With men it is the never-ending work of the farm, the office, the store, the shop, the mill. With women it is the thousand duties of the household, the care of the home, the tending of children, the weary chores of domestic life.

There are many people who think their greatest obstacle in the way of spiritual growth and transformed character--is in the drudgeries to which they are indentured by their condition. They imagine that if they could be freed from these and could have leisure for reading, for study, and for fellowship--then they would grow into far more radiant beauty of character.

But this is a mistaken impression. The only one perfect life the world has ever known, was not spent with a book--but with a hammer and a saw! The school of common taskwork, with its perpetual round of dreary duties--is the best place in the world in which to attain noble spiritual culture. There is no other way in which one's life will be so surely, so quickly transfigured--as in the faithful, cheerful doing of every-day tasks.

We need to remember that this world is not so much a place for doing things--as for developing character. Household life is not primarily a sphere for good cooking, tidy keeping of rooms, thorough sweeping and dusting, careful nursing and training of children, hospitable entertainment of friends, and the thousand things that must be done each day; it is a sphere for transforming women's souls into radiant beauty.

The shop, the mill, the factory, the store, the office, the farm--are not primarily places for making machines, selling goods, weaving cloths, building engines, and growing crops; they are, first of all, places for making men, building character, growing souls.

Right in the midst of what some people call drudgery--is the very best place to get the transformed, transfigured life! The doing of common tasks patiently, promptly, faithfully, cheerfully--makes the character beautiful and bright!
 
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We have seen such a tragic repetition of it in our own days

(Arthur Pink)

"With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction!" Hosea 8:4

Sad indeed is the above passage--and the more so, because we have seen such a tragic repetition of it in our own days.

Oh what earthly-mindedness, what indulging of the flesh, what sinful extravagance--are now seen among professing Christians today!

How practical godliness has waned;
how the denying of self has disappeared;
how covetousness, pleasure and worldliness now possess the great majority of those calling themselves the people of God.

Yet as great as the sin of the people is--far greater is that of most of the preachers, who, instead of warning, admonishing, rebuking, and setting before their people an example of sobriety and contentment--criminally remain silent upon the crying sins of their hearers, while they themselves encourage the reckless indulgence of worldly lusts.
 
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J.C. Ryle Gems #1

~ ~ ~ ~

It costs something to be a true Christian. It will cost us our sins, our self-righteousness, our ease and our worldliness!

~ ~ ~ ~

A Christian is a walking sermon. Christians preach far more than a minister does--for they preach all week long!

~ ~ ~ ~

According to the men of the world--few are going to Hell.
According to the Bible--few are going to Heaven.

~ ~ ~ ~

Nothing is so offensive to Christ, as lukewarmness in religion!

~ ~ ~ ~

Beware of manufacturing a God of your own . . .
a God who is all mercy--but not just;
a God who is all love--but not holy;
a God who has a Heaven for everybody--but a Hell for none;
a God who will make no distinction between godly and ungodly in eternity.
Such a God is an idol of your own--as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple! The hands of your own imagination and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible--and beside the God of the Bible, there is no God at all.

~ ~ ~ ~

Pride is the oldest and most common of sins.
Humility is the rarest and most beautiful of graces.
 
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nChrist

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J.C. Ryle Gems #2

~ ~ ~ ~

Look to the cross, think of the cross, meditate on the cross--and then go and set your affections on the world if you can!

~ ~ ~ ~

A crucified Savior will never be content to have a self-pleasing, self-indulging, worldly-minded people!

~ ~ ~ ~

The Gospel was not meant merely to reside in our intellect, memories, and tongues--but to be seen in our lives.

~ ~ ~ ~

Happiness does not depend on outward circumstances--but on the state of the heart.

~ ~ ~ ~

Health is a good thing. But sickness is far better--if it leads us to God.

~ ~ ~ ~

The beginning of the way to Heaven--is to feel that we are on the way to Hell.

~ ~ ~ ~

There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have enough. It is a cheap Christianity which offends nobody, and requires no sacrifice--which costs nothing, and is worth nothing.
 
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nChrist

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The providences of God are often dark and mysterious!

(James Smith, "The Evening Sacrifice; Or, A Help to Devotion" 1859)

"Your way is in the sea--and Your path is in the great waters. Your footsteps may not be known." Psalm 77:19

The providences of God are often dark and mysterious. It is not easy to ascertain why the Lord acts as He does--or to find out the precise object which He has in view. He carries on His work according to His eternal and pre-ordained plan--and He accomplishes His purposes often by the most unlikely means. He works all things after the counsel of His own will--and He works leisurely, having no cause to hurry. We are naturally hasty, and want to know what God means at once. But He says, "Be still. Wait. Watch. Let patience have her perfect work."

We may not be able to account for our trials, troubles, losses, and crosses--but all will be made plain by-and-by. "Jesus said to him: You do not understand now what I am doing--but you will understand later on." John 13:7

We now know in part--but we shall soon know even as also we are known. And until then, we may well be patient--assured that God is acting wisely, lovingly, and is consulting our good in all that He does.

O wonder-working God, Your dealings with us are often dark, and difficult to be understood! Give us faith to believe Your promises--when we cannot understand Your providences. Let us be assured of Your love to us--when we cannot ascertain the design of Your dealings with us. Preserve us from a repining, complaining, and unbelieving spirit--and grant us grace that we may rest satisfied that You are acting rightly. May we learn, in whatever state we are--therewith to be content. With patience may we do and suffer Your will at present--being fully assured that all will be explained and opened up to us at length. O to be enabled . . .
to rest on Your covenant love,
to trust Your faithful promises, and
to commit all of our ways unto You!

"All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth--to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies!" Psalm 25:10
 
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nChrist

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J.C. Ryle Gems #3

~ ~ ~ ~

Christian! Your trials, crosses, and conflicts are all temporary.

~ ~ ~ ~

I am one of those old-fashioned ministers who believe the whole Bible and everything that it contains.

~ ~ ~ ~

There are no lessons so useful--as those learned in the school of affliction.

~ ~ ~ ~

Christ is never fully valued--until sin is clearly seen.

~ ~ ~ ~

Our Lord has . . .
many weak children in his family,
many dull pupils in his school,
many raw soldiers in his army,
many lame sheep in his flock.
Yet He bears with them all, and casts none away.
Happy is that Christian who has learned to do likewise with his brethren.

~ ~ ~ ~

A religion that costs nothing is worth nothing. A cheap Christianity, without a cross--will prove in the end a useless Christianity, without a crown.

~ ~ ~ ~

That preaching is sadly defective, which dwells exclusively on the mercies of God and the joys of Heaven--yet never sets forth the terrors of the Lord and the miseries of Hell.

~ ~ ~ ~

Sin forsaken--is one of the best evidences of sin forgiven.
 
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nChrist

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J.C. Ryle Gems #4

~ ~ ~ ~

To be a Christian--it will cost a man his sins!

~ ~ ~ ~

There is no such thing as 'chance', 'luck', or 'accident' in the Christian journey through this world.
Everything is arranged and appointed by God. All things are working together for the believer's good.

~ ~ ~ ~

The standard of the world, and the standard of the Lord Jesus--are widely different.
They are more than different--they are flatly contradictory one to the other.
Never be satisfied with the world's standard of Christianity!

~ ~ ~ ~

Hell is truth known too late!

~ ~ ~ ~

A tree may always be known by its fruit.
Just so, a true Christian may always be discovered by their habits, tastes and affections.

~ ~ ~ ~

Christ is never fully valued--until sin is clearly seen. We must know the depth
and malignity of our disease--in order to appreciate the great Physician!

~ ~ ~ ~

That Bible is read best--which is practiced most!
 
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nChrist

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J.C. Ryle Gems #5

~ ~ ~ ~

To be Christian, will cost a man his love of ease!

~ ~ ~ ~

The tree falls with a great crash, but the secret decay which accounts for it--is often not discovered until it is down on the ground. Just so, men fall in private--long before they fall in public!

~ ~ ~ ~

Growth in grace is one way to be happy in our religion.
God has wisely linked together our comfort--and our increase in holiness.

~ ~ ~ ~

The children of God all have a cross to bear.
A suffering Savior generally has suffering disciples.

~ ~ ~ ~

We know nothing of humility by nature--for we are all born proud!

~ ~ ~ ~

Naked we came upon earth--and naked we depart.
Of all our possessions--we can carry nothing with us.

~ ~ ~ ~

There is more to be learned at the foot of the Cross--than anywhere else in the world!

~ ~ ~ ~

People will never set their faces decidedly towards Heaven, and live like pilgrims--until they really feel that they are in danger of Hell.

~ ~ ~ ~

Let us be real, honest, and sincere in our Christianity.
We cannot deceive an all-seeing God!

~ ~ ~ ~

The best of men--are men at best!
 
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