The Puritans ........

[JM]

God would be voted out of the world

(Thomas Boston, "Human Nature in its Fourfold State")

"Haters of God." Romans 1:30

"The carnal mind is enmity against God." Romans 8:7

Men set up for themselves, an idol of their own fancy,
instead of the true God, and then fall down and worship it.

Every natural man is an enemy to God--as He is revealed in
His word. The infinitely holy, just, powerful, and true God--is
not the God whom he loves, but the God whom he loathes!
The Pagans finding that they could not be like God in holiness,
made their gods like themselves in filthiness; and thereby they
show what sort of a god the natural man would have. God is
holy; can an unholy creature love His unspotted holiness?

There is not a man, who is wedded to his lusts--as all the
unregenerate are--but would desire to blot out the God of
justice. Can the malefactor love his condemning judge?
Can an unjustified sinner love a just God? No, he cannot!

Men naturally would rather have a blind idol--than the
all-seeing God. They no more love the all-seeing, every
where present God--than the thief loves to have the judge
witness to his evil deeds. If it could be carried by votes,
God would be voted out of the world; for the language
of the carnal heart is, "The Lord does not see us. The Lord
has abandoned the earth." Ezekiel 8:12

Every unrenewed man an enemy to the true God.

"They say unto God--Leave us alone! We have
no desire to know Your ways!" Job 21:14

 

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Afflicted, tormented, and destroyed!

(Thomas Brooks, "Crown and Glory of Christianity" 1662)

Let me give you a little abridgment of the sufferings of some of the early Christians, "of whom the world was not worthy."

1. In the reign of Hadrian the emperor, there were ten thousand Christians crowned with a crowns of thorns, thrust into the sides with sharp lances, and then crucified.

2. Others were so whipped, that their entrails were seen, and afterwards they were thrown upon sharp shells, and then upon sharp nails and thorns. And after all this cruelty, they were thrown to wild beasts to be devoured.

3. Multitudes were banished.

4. Others were pulled apart with wild horses.

5. Some were beaten and racked with bars of iron.

6. Others were cast into loathsome dungeons.

7. Some were burnt in the fire.

8. Others were knocked down and had their brains beaten out with staves and clubs.

9. Some were pricked in their faces and eyes with sharp reeds.

10. Others were stoned to death with stones, as Stephen was.

11. Some were dashed in pieces against millstones.

12. Others had their teeth dashed out of their jaws, and their joints broken.

13. Some were cast down from very high places.

14. Others were beheaded.

15. Some were tormented with razors.

16. Others were slain with the sword.

17. Some were run through with pikes.

18. Others were driven into the wilderness, where they wandered up and down, suffering hunger and cold, and where they were exposed to the fury both of wild beasts, and also to the rage of the barbarous Arabians.

19. Some fled into caves, which their persecutors crammed up with stones, and there they died.

20. Others were trodden to death by the people.

21. Some were hanged on gibbets with a slow fire under them.

22. Others were cast into the sea and drowned.

23. Some were slain by being thrown in mines.

24. Others were hanged by the feet, and choked with the smoke of a small fire, their legs being first broken.

25. Some were covered with oil, and then roasted with a soft fire.

26. Others were hung by one hand, that they might feel the weight of their whole bodies scorching and broiling over burning coals.

27. Some were shot through with arrows, and afterwards thrown into stinking prisons.

28. Others were stripped stark naked, and thrown out in cold, frosty nights; and burnt the next day.

29. In Syria, a company of Christian virgins were stripped stark naked to be scorned by the multitude, then shaved, and then torn in pieces and devoured by beasts.

30. Lastly, many women had the joints of their bodies pulled from another, and their flesh and sides clawed with talons of wild beasts to the bones, and their breasts seared with torches until they died.

And thus you have an account of thirty different ways by which the precious sons and daughters of God have formerly been afflicted, tormented, and destroyed! What heart of stone can read over this list with dry eyes? And now tell me, sirs, whether your sufferings are worth a naming in that day, wherein the sufferings of the precious servants of God in the primitive times are spoken of? Oh, no! Well then, take heed of making molehills mountains, and of crying out, "Is there any sorrow compared to my sorrow; or any sufferings compared to my sufferings?"

 

[JM]

Ears From Harvested Sheaves by J.C. Philpot

January 11

"Watch and pray."--Mark 13:33

There is no keeping up FAITH except by prayer and watchfulness. As prayer declines in the bosom, so does the strength of faith. You may go on neglecting prayer and supplication until every grain of faith seems lost from your bosom, and may come at last to do you think never knew anything of a work of God upon your heart, and have been deceived in believing there was any grace there.

By watchfulness also is the LOVE of God maintained. Unless you watch against your besetting sins, against the snares spread for your feet, against the temptations that daily and hourly beset your path, against being overcome by the strength or subtlety of your unwearied foe, you are sure to fall; and if you fall you will bring guilt and bondage, darkness and distress into your mind, and cut off for a time all friendly communion with God.

Therefore you must pray and watch; for without watchfulness, prayer is of little efficacy. And if we neglect the Scriptures, or read them carelessly or unbelievingly, they will do us little good. They must be read with believing eyes and heart, received as the revelation of God, and must be mixed with faith, or assuredly they will not profit us (Heb. 4:2).

The life of God is a very deep, secret, and sacred thing in the soul. God, it is true, will maintain it; he will not leave his work unaccomplished; but unless we read and pray, watch and meditate, wage war against besetting sins, and seek the Lord's face continually, we shall find the strength and power of faith very sensibly decline; and if so, there is no comfortable walking with God.

from Grace Gems

 

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The ant's nest

(Thomas Boston, "Human Nature in its Fourfold State")

Never did any sin appear in the life of the vilest wretch
who ever lived; but look into your own corrupt nature,
and there you may see the seed and root that sin--and
every other sin. There is atheism, idolatry, blasphemy,
murder, adultery, and whatever is vile--in your heart!
Possibly none of these are apparent to you; but there
is more in that unfathomable depth of wickedness than
you know.
Your corrupt heart is like an ant's nest, which, while
the stone lies on it, none of them appear. But take off
the stone, and stir them up but with a straw--and you
will see what a swarm is there--and how lively they are!
Just such a sight would your heart afford you--did the
Lord but withdraw the restraint He has upon it--and
allow Satan to stir it up by temptation!

"For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil
thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander,
arrogance and folly." Mark 7:21, 22

Christian! the remembrance of what you are by
nature, should keep you humble.

 

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The wrath of God

(Thomas Boston, "Human Nature in its Fourfold State")

"The wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36​

1. The wrath of God is IRRESISTIBLE, there is no standing before it; "Who can stand in Your sight, when once You are angry?" Psalm 76:7. Can the worm or the moth defend itself against him who designs to crush it? Can the worm, man, stand before an angry God? Foolish men, indeed, bid a defiance against God; but the Lord often, even in this world, opens such sluices of wrath upon them, as all their might cannot stop--they are carried away thereby, as with a flood! How much more will it be so in hell!

2. The wrath of God is INSUPPORTABLE. What a man cannot resist, he will try to endure. But who shall dwell in devouring fire? Who shall dwell with everlasting burnings? God's wrath is a weight which will sink men into the lowest hell. It is a burden which no man can endure.

3. The wrath of God is UNAVOIDABLE to those who continue impenitently, and die in their sinful course. "He who, being often reproved, hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed--and that without remedy!" Proverbs 29:1. We may now flee from it, indeed, by fleeing to Jesus Christ. But those who flee from Christ, will never be able to avoid it. Where can men flee from the avenging God? Where will they find a shelter? The hills will not bear them. The mountains will be deaf to their loudest supplications, when they cry to them to "hide them from the wrath of the Lamb."

4. The wrath of God is POWERFUL and FIERCE. "Who can comprehend the power of Your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear You deserve." Psalm 90:11. We are apt to fear the wrath of man more than we ought; but no man can apprehend the wrath of God to be more dreadful than it really is. The power of God's wrath can never be known to the utmost; for it is infinite, and, properly speaking, has no utmost limit. However fierce it is, either on earth or in hell, God can still carry it farther. Everything in God is most perfect in its kind; and therefore no wrath is so fierce as His. O sinner! how will you be able to endure that wrath, which will tear you in pieces, Psalm 50:22, and grind you to powder! Luke 20:18.

5. The wrath of God is PENETRATING and PIERCING wrath. It is burning wrath, and fiery indignation. There is no pain more intense than that which is caused by fire; and no fire so piercing as the fire of God's indignation, which burns unto the lowest hell, Deut. 32:22. The arrows of men's wrath can pierce flesh, blood, and bones--but cannot reach the soul. But the wrath of God will sink into the soul, and so pierce a man in the most tender part.

6. The wrath of God is CONSTANT wrath, running parallel with the man's continuance in an unregenerate state; constantly attending him from the womb to the grave. There are few days so dark--but the sun sometimes looks out from under the clouds. But the wrath of God is an abiding cloud on the objects of it; John 3:36, "The wrath of God abides on him" who believes not.

7. The wrath of God is ETERNAL. O, miserable soul! if you flee not from this wrath unto Jesus Christ; though your misery had a beginning--yet it will never have an end! Should devouring death wholly swallow you up, and forever hold you fast in the grave--it would be kind. But your body must be reunited to your immortal soul, and live again, and never die; that you may be ever-dying, in the hands of the ever-living God. Death will quench the flame of man's wrath against us, if nothing else does. But God's wrath, when it has come on the sinner for millions of ages, will still be the wrath to come! Matt. 3:7; 1 Thess. 1:10. While God is, He will pursue the quarrel.

8. However dreadful it is, and though it is eternal--yet it is most JUST wrath! It is a clear fire, without the least smoke of injustice. The sea of wrath, raging with greatest fury against the sinner, is clear as crystal. The Judge of all the earth can do no wrong. "Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath? Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world?" Romans 3:5, 6. The Judge being infinitely just--the sentence must be righteous. Therefore, stop your mouth, O proud sinner! Still your clamor against your righteous Judge!
​

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ​

 

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Into the depths of the sea!

(Thomas Boston, "Human Nature in its Fourfold State")

The sinner outside of Christ is bound over to the wrath of
God; he is under an obligation in law to go to the prison of
hell, and there to lie until he has paid the utmost farthing.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who
are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

The believer's sins are pardoned, the guilt of them is removed.
The bond obliging him to pay his debt is canceled. God the
Father takes the pen, dips it in the blood of His Son, crosses
off the sinner's accounts, and blots them out of His debt-book.

Being united to Christ, God says, "Deliver him from going down
to the pit; I have found a ransom!" Job 33:24. The sentence of
condemnation is reversed, the believer is absolved, and set
beyond the reach of the condemning law. His sins, which before
were set before the Lord, Psalm 90:8, so that they could not be
hidden--God now takes and casts them all behind His back, Isaiah
38:17. Yes, "You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our
iniquities into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:19.

What falls into a brook may be retrieved--but what is cast into
the sea cannot be recovered. But there are some shallow places
in the sea; true--but their sins are not cast in there--but into the
depths of the sea. The depths of the sea are devouring depths,
from whence their sins shall never come forth again. But what
if they do not sink? He will hurl them in with force, so that they
shall go to the bottom, and sink as lead in the mighty waters
of the Redeemer's blood!

They are not only forgiven--but forgotten, Jer. 31:34, "I will
forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
And though their after-sins do in themselves deserve eternal
wrath, and do actually make them liable to temporal strokes,
and fatherly chastisements, according to the tenor of the
covenant of grace, Psalm 89:30-33--yet they can never be
actually liable to eternal wrath.

 

[cygnusx1]

Hallelujah!

(Thomas Boston, "Human Nature in its Fourfold State")

"After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast
multitude in heaven, shouting: Hallelujah! Salvation, glory,
and power belong to our God, because His judgments are
true and righteous! And again they shouted: Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever!" Rev. 19:1-3

None were so compassionate as the saints when on earth,
during the time of God's patience. But now that time is at
an end. Their compassion for the ungodly is swallowed in
joy in the Mediator's glory, and His executing just judgment,
by which His enemies are made His footstool.

Though, when on earth, the righteous man wept in secret
places for their pride, and because they would not hear; yet
"The righteous will rejoice when he sees the retribution;
he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked." Ps. 58:10

No pity shall then be shown them from their nearest relations.
The godly wife shall applaud the justice of the Judge, in the
condemnation of her ungodly husband! The godly husband
shall say Amen! to the condemnation of her who lay in his
bosom. The godly parents shall say Hallelujah! at the
passing of the sentence against their ungodly child. And the
godly child shall, from the bottom of his heart, approve the
condemnation of his wicked parents--the father who begat
him, and the mother who bore him.

"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the
roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns!" Revelation 19:6
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A furious beast

(Thomas Boston, "Human Nature in its Fourfold State")

"Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.
The poison of vipers is on their lips.
Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood."
Romans 3:13-15

The body itself also is partaker of corruption and defilement.
Therefore the Scripture calls it sinful flesh, Romans 8:3. The
natural temper, or rather distemper of our bodies have a natural
tendency to sin. The body incites to sin, betrays the soul into
snares, yes, is itself a snare to the soul. The body is a furious
beast, of such a temper, that it will not be beat down, kept
under control, and brought into subjection. It will cast the
soul into much sin and misery.

The body serves the soul in many sins. Its members are weapons
of unrighteousness, whereby men fight against God. The eyes and
ears are open doors, by which impure motions and sinful desires
enter the soul. The tongue is "a world of iniquity," "an uncontrollable
evil, full of deadly poison;" by it the impure heart vents a great deal
of its filthiness. The throat is "an open grave." The feet run the
devil's errands. The belly is made a god, Phil. 3:19, not only by
drunkards and riotous livers--but by every natural man. So the
body naturally is an agent for the devil, and a storehouse of
weapons against the Lord.

To conclude: man by nature is wholly corrupted, "from the sole of
the foot, even unto the head, there is no soundness in him." As in
a dunghill, every part contributes to the corruption of the whole,
so the natural man grows still worse and worse--the soul is made
worse by the body, and the body worse by the soul; and every
faculty of the soul (the mind, will, affections, conscience and
memory) serves to corrupt another more and more.
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No hissing serpent

(Thomas Boston, "Human Nature in its Fourfold State")

Believers shall be made completely happy in the possession
of the kingdom of heaven. They shall be fully freed from
sin, which of all evils, is the worst. They shall be free from
all temptation to sin. Satan can have no access to tempt
them any more, by himself, or by his agents. No hissing
serpent can come into the paradise above! No snare or
trap can be laid there, to catch the feet of the saints. They
may walk there without fear, for they can be in no hazard in
the promised land. They shall be set beyond the possibility
of sinning, for they shall be confirmed in goodness.

The guilt and the reigning power of sin are then taken away.
The corrupt nature will be fully removed; and no vestiges of
it left in their souls. Their nature shall be altogether pure and
sinless. There shall be no darkness in their minds; but the
understanding will be as a globe of pure and unmixed light.
There shall not be the least aversion to good, nor the least
inclination to evil, in their wills. They will be brought to a
perfect conformity to the will of God; blessed with angelic
purity, and fixed therein. Their affections shall not be liable
to the least disorder or irregularity. They will get such a fixed
habit of purity, as they can never lose. They will be so refined
from all earthly dross, as never more to savor of anything
but of heaven. Their graces shall then be fully perfected.
There will be no more ground for complaints of weakness
of grace, or of an evil heart, or a corrupt nature.

And they shall be freed from all the effects of sin:
"God will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be
no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old
world and its evils are gone forever!" Revelation 21:4

In heaven they find the completion and satisfaction of
all their desires; having the full enjoyment of God, and
uninterrupted communion with Him. In the heavenly
Canaan, Immanuel's land--nothing is lacking to complete
the happiness of the inhabitants. This is the happy country;
blessed with a perpetual spring, and which yields all things
for necessity, convenience, and delight.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~​

 

[cygnusx1]

A worm, a gnat, a fly, a hair, a seed
of a raison, a skin of a grape

(Thomas Brooks, "A Cabinet of Choice Jewels" 1669)

"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know
what a day may bring forth." Proverbs 27:1

Who can sum up the many possible deaths which are
still lurking in his own body; or the innumerable hosts of
external dangers which beleaguer him on every side; or
the invisible arrows which fly about his ears continually!
How soon he may have his mortal wound given him by one
or another of them--who can tell? Now, how sad would it be
for a man to have a summons to appear before God in that
eternal world, before his heart and life are savingly changed!

The life of a man is but a shadow, a runner, a span, a vapor,
a flower, etc. Though there is but one way to come into
the world--yet there are many thousand ways to be
sent out of the world!

We carry about in our bodies, the material for a thousand
deaths, and may die a thousand different ways in several
hours. As many senses, as many members, nay, as many
pores as there are in the body--so many windows there are,
for death to enter in at!

Death needs not spend all his arrows upon us. A worm,
a gnat, a fly, a hair, a seed of a raison, a skin of a
grape, the stumbling of a horse, the trip of a foot, the
prick of a pin, the cutting of a fingernail, the cutting out
of a corn; all these have been to others, and any of them
may be to us--the means of our death within the space of
a few days; nay, of a few hours; nay, of a few moments!

I am sure that the worst of deaths, shall
but translate true believers . . .
from earth--to heaven,
from a wilderness--to a paradise,
from misery--to glory, and
from mixed and mutable enjoyments--to
the pure and everlasting enjoyments of God!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

[cygnusx1]

Blessed are the poor in spirit

(Thomas Brooks, "A Cabinet of Choice Jewels" 1669)

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit;" that is--the broken and
humble in heart, who has no high thoughts or conceits of
himself--but is lowly in his own eyes, like a young child.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit;" that is--he who has no lofty
or puffed up spirit. The poor in spirit are those who are lowly,
being truly conscious of their own unworthiness. None are
poor in spirit--but the humble.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit;" that is--blessed are those
whose spirits are brought into such a humble gracious
frame, as willingly, quietly, and contentedly to lie down
in a poor low condition--when it is the pleasure of the
Lord to bring them into such a condition.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit;" that is--blessed are those
who are truly and sincerely sensible of their spiritual
needs, poverty, and misery. They see an utter inability
and insufficiency in themselves, and in all other creatures
--to deliver them out of their sinful and miserable estate.
They see nothing in themselves upon which they dare
venture their everlasting estates--and therefore fly to the
free, rich, sovereign, and glorious grace of God in Christ,
as to their sure and only sanctuary!

They see their need of God's free grace to pardon them.

They see their need of Christ's righteousness to clothe them.

They see their need of the Spirit of Christ to purge, change,
and sanctify them.

They see their need of more heavenly wisdom to counsel them.

They see their need of more . . .
of the power of God--to support them,
of the goodness of God--to supply them,
of the mercy of God--to comfort them,
of the presence of God--to refresh them,
of the patience of God--to bear with them, etc.

They see their need of greater measures of faith
--to conquer their fears.

They see their need of greater measures of wisdom--
to walk holily, harmlessly, blamelessly, and exemplary
in the midst of temptations, snares, and dangers.

They see their need of greater measures of patience
--to bear their burdens without fretting or fainting.

They see their need of greater measures of zeal
and courage--to bear up bravely against all sorts
of opposition, both from within and from without.

They see their need of greater measures of love
--to cleave to the Lamb, and to follow the Lamb
wherever He goes.

They see their need of living in a continual dependence
upon God and Christ--for fresh influences, incomes, and
supplies of grace, of comfort, of strength--by which they
may be enabled . . .
to live for God,
to walk with God,
to glorify God,
to bring forth fruit to God,
to withstand all temptations which
tend to lead the heart away from God.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3​

 

[Irishcat922]

John Buyan On Sin

O, sin, what art thou! What hast thou done!
And what still wilt thou further do, if mercy and blood and grace do not prevent thee!
Sin is the living worm, the lasting fire;
Hell soon would lose its heat, could sin expire.
Better sinless in hell, than to be where
Heaven is, and to be found a sinner there.
One sinless with infernals might do well,
But sin would make of heaven a very hell.
Look to thyself then, keep it out of door,
Lest it get in and never leave thee more.
No match has sin but God in all the world;
Men, angels, has it from their station hurled,
Holds them in chains as captives, in despite
Of all that here below is called might.
Release, help, freedom from it none can give,
But even He by whom we breathe and live.
Watch therefore, keep this giant out of door,
Lest, if once in, thou get him out no more.
Fools make a mock at sin, will not believe
It carries such a dagger in its sleeve.
How can it be, say they, that such a thing,
So full of sweetness, e’er should wear a sting?
They know not that it is the very spell
Of sin, to make men laugh themselves to hell.
Look to thyself, then, deal with sin no more,
Lest He that saves, against thee shut the door.

 

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His tender mercies

(Thomas Brooks, "A Cabinet of Choice Jewels" 1669)

"His tender mercies." Psalm 145:9

"The multitude of His mercies." Psalm 106:45

It is God's free mercy which every day
keeps hell and my soul asunder.

It is God's free mercy which daily pardons my sins.

It is God's free mercy which supplies all my inward
and outward needs.

It is God's free mercy which preserves, and feeds,
and clothes my outward man.

It is God's free mercy which renews, strengthens,
and prospers my inward man.

It is God's free mercy which has kept me many
times from committing such and such sins.

It is God's free mercy which has kept me many a
time from falling before such and such temptations.

It is God's free mercy which has many a time
preserved me from being swallowed up by
such and such inward and outward afflictions.

"Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord." Psalm 119:156

"I will sing of the tender mercies of the Lord forever!"
Psalm 89:1

 

[cygnusx1]

Devils in their homes!

(Thomas Brooks, "A Cabinet of Choice Jewels" 1669)

A true Christian will endeavor to obey God in relative
duties. He will not only hear, and pray, and read, and
meditate, and fast, and mourn--but he will labor to
be godly in domestic relationships.

Remember this forever--everyone is that in reality,
which he is at home. Many make a great profession,
and have great abilities and gifts, and can discourse well
on any pious subject--whose homes are not little heavens,
but little hells. Some are very much like angels in public,
saints in the church, and devils in their homes!

Domestic graces and duties do better demonstrate true
piety and godliness, than public or general duties do. For
pride, vain-glory, self-ends, and a hundred other outward
carnal considerations, may put a man upon the general duties
of religion. But it argues both truth and strength of grace, to
be diligent and conscientious in the discharge of domestic
duties.​

 

[cygnusx1]

O the blessed chemistry of heaven!

(John Flavel, "The Method of Grace")

The Lord makes use even of your sins and
infirmities to do you good. By these, He . . .
humbles you,
beats you off from self-dependence,
makes you admire the riches of grace,
makes you long more ardently for heaven,
causes you to entertain sweeter thoughts of death.

Does not the Lord then, make blessed fruits to spring
up from such a bitter root? O the blessed chemistry
of heaven--to extract such mercies out of such miseries!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

[McWilliams]

Great article here; great site also!

http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/

 

[cygnusx1]

Great article here; great site also!

http://spurgeon.wordpress.com/

thanks sister

I have seen Tony S. Reinke's web site before but it looks a bit different today , it looks better.

Interesting books advertised also.

 

[cygnusx1]

That golden devil

(Thomas Brooks, "A Cabinet of Choice Jewels" 1669)

"Covetousness, which is idolatry." Colossians 3:5

Judas' life was as fair and as free from spots and blots as
the lives of any of the apostles; no scandalous sin was to
be found upon him. But that golden devil 'covetousness'
was his sin--and his everlasting ruin. His apostleship,
preaching, working of miracles, hearing of Christ, and
conversing with Him, etc., was to no purpose, because
of that serpent he kept in his bosom--which at last
stung him to death!

"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and
a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that
plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of
money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager
for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced
themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:9-10​

 

[cygnusx1]

Broke her heart all in pieces

(Thomas Brooks, "A Cabinet of Choice Jewels" 1669)

The more a man apprehends of the love of God, and of the
love of Christ--the more that person will grieve and mourn
that he has offended, provoked, and grieved such a Father,
and such a Son. The more clear and certain evidences a man
has of the love and favor of God to his soul, the more that
man will grieve and mourn for sinning against such a God.

There is nothing which thaws and melts the heart, which
softens and breaks the heart--like the warm beams of divine
love--as you may see in the case of Mary Magdalene. She
loved much, and she wept much--for much was forgiven her.
A sight of the free grace and love of Christ towards her, in an
act of forgiveness, broke her heart all in pieces. A man
cannot stand under the shinings of divine love with a frozen
heart, nor with dry eyes. The more a man sees of the love
of Christ, and the more a man tastes and enjoys of the love
of Christ--the more that man will grieve and mourn for all
the dishonors that he has done to Christ.

"Then she knelt behind Him at his feet, weeping. Her tears
fell on His feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then
she kept kissing His feet and putting perfume on them."
Luke 7:38

 

[cygnusx1]

A cleaner way to hell

(Thomas Brooks, "A Cabinet of Choice Jewels" 1669)

It was the saying of a precious saint--that he was more
afraid of his duties than of his sins; for his duties often
made him proud--but his sins always made him humble.

It was good counsel Luther gave, "We must take heed
not only of our sins--but of our good works."

Duties can never have too much diligence used about
them--nor too little confidence placed in them. They are
good helps--but bad saviors. It is necessary we do them
--but it is dangerous to rely upon them. If the devil cannot
dissuade us from performing pious duties--then his next
work will be to persuade us to rely upon them, to make
saviors of them; because this will as certainly ruin our
souls, as if we had wholly neglected them.

Resting in your own righteousness, will as certainly and
eternally undo you--as the greatest and foulest atrocities!

Open wickedness slays her thousands--but a secret
resting upon duties, slays her ten thousands!

Open profaneness is the broad dirty way which leads
to hell; but trusting in pious duties is as sure a way,
though a cleaner way to hell. Ungodly people and
formal professors shall meet at last in the same hell.

Now, let all these things work you to renounce your own
righteousness--and to take sanctuary alone in the pure,
perfect, and most glorious righteousness of Jesus Christ,
and in the free grace of God.


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