02.06. Heaven on Earth
Choice selections from Thomas Brooks,
"Heaven on Earth" 1667
The emperor Augustus, in his great feasts, gave trifles to some—but gold to his favorites.
Just so—honors, riches and worldly pleasures are
God gives His gold—His special love and grace—only to His people.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory." 2Co 3:18
Saving knowledge is
The naturalists observe that the pearl, by the often beating of the sunbeams upon it, becomes radiant. Just so, the often beating and shining of the Sun of righteousness, with His divine beams, upon the saints, causes them to glisten and shine in . . .holiness, righteousness, heavenly-mindedness, humbleness, etc. Divine light casts a general beauty and glory upon the soul; it transforms a man more and more into the glorious image of Christ!
Look! as the child receives his features from his parents; just so, the beams of divine light and knowledge shining into the soul, stamp the living image of Christ upon the soul.
Mere notional knowledge may make a man excellent at praising the glorious and worthy acts and virtues of Christ; but that transforming knowledge which accompanies salvation, will work a man divinely to imitate the glorious acts and virtues of Christ.
When a beam of divine light shined from heaven upon Paul, ah, how did it change and metamorphose him! How did it alter and transform him! It made his rebellious soul, obedient: "Lord, what will You have me to do?" Acts 9:6. Divine light lays upon a man a happy necessity of obeying God. Divine light makes . . .this lion—into a lamb, this persecutor—into a preacher, this destroyer of the saints—into a strengthener of the saints, this tormenter—into a comforter, this monster—into an angel, this notorious blasphemer—into a very great admirer of God, and the actings of His free grace.
Just so, when a spark of this heavenly fire fell upon the heart of Mary Magdalene, oh what a change, what a transformation does it make in her! Now she loves much, and believes much, and repents much, and weeps much. Oh what a change did divine light make in Zacchaeus, and in the jailor!
Truly, if your light, your Biblical knowledge does not better you, if it does not change and transform you, if, under all your light and knowledge you remain as vile and base as ever; your light, your knowledge, your notions, your speculations, will be like fire! That knowledge which is not a transforming knowledge—will torment a man at last more than all the devils in hell; it will be . . .a sword to cut him, a rod to lash him, a serpent to bite him, a scorpion to sting him, and a vulture, a worm eternally gnawing him!
God at last will own no knowledge, but that which leaves the stamp of Christ, the print of Christ, the image of Christ upon the heart; but that which changes and transforms the soul, which makes a man a new man, another man than what he was before divine light shined upon him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The hypocrite’s hope
"For what hope do the godless have, when God cuts them off and takes away their life?" Job 27:8
"When the wicked die, their hopes all perish." Pro 11:7
That assurance is but presumption, which allows men . . .to play with sin, to be bold with sin, to make light of sin, to walk on in ways of sin.
Such ’assurance’ will never bring a man to heaven; it will never keep him from dropping into hell; yes, it will double his damnation, and make him the most miserable among all damned, wretched, forlorn spirits.
"So are the paths of all who forget God; and
Ah, Lord! from such false hopes deliver my soul; and give me more and more of that divine hope which makes sin to be more hateful than hell.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Oh, that He would kiss me with the
Not with a kiss—but with the
A soul once kissed by Christ, would gladly have . . .her drop turned into an ocean; her spark into a flame; her penny into a pound; her mite into a million.
A soul who truly loves Christ . . .can never see enough, nor ever taste enough, nor ever feel enough, nor ever enjoy enough of the love of Christ. When once they have found His love to be better than wine, then nothing will satisfy them but the kisses of His mouth.
"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it." Eph 3:19 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The sweetest joys are from the sourest tears
Sin is a turning the back upon God—and the face towards hell. Repentance is a turning the back upon sin—and a setting the face towards God!
True repentance is a sorrowing for sin because it is offensive to God. Peter was sorry for his sin; Judas was sorry his for punishment. Peter grieves because Christ was grieved; Judas grieved because he would be damned.
As Noah’s flood drowned his nearest and his dearest friends, so the flood of penitent tears drowns men’s nearest and their dearest lusts! Be they Isaacs or Benjamins, be they right eyes or right hands, true repentance puts all to the sword; it spares neither father nor mother, neither Agag nor Achan.
Repentance is a turning from all sin, without any reservation or exception. One stab at the heart kills, one hole in the ship sinks her, one act of treason makes a traitor. Just so, one sin not forsaken, not turned from, will undo a soul forever.
A true penitent looks upon every sin as poison, as the vomit of a dog, as the mire of the street, as the menstruous cloth, which of all things in the law was most unclean, defiling, and polluting. He looks thus upon every sin, turns his heart against every sin, and makes him not only to refrain from sin—but to forsake it, and to loathe it more than hell.
True repentance breaks the heart with sighs, sobs, and groans—that . . .
a loving Father is offended, a blessed Savior crucified, and the sweet Comforter grieved.
Penitent Mary Magdalene weeps much, as well as loves much. Tears, instead of jewels, were the ornaments of penitent David’s bed. Surely that sweet singer never sang more melodiously, than when his heart was broken most penitentially.
"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." Psa 126:5 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done." Eze 20:43
True repentance includes a loathing and abhorring of sin, and of ourselves for sin.
The sincere penitent loathes his sins, and he loathes himself also because of his sins. He cries out, "Oh these wanton eyes! Oh these wicked hands! Oh this deceitful tongue! Oh this crooked will! Oh this corrupt heart! Oh how do I loathe my sins, how do I loathe myself! My sins are a burden to me, and they make me a burden to myself! My sins are abhorrent to me, and they make me abhor myself in dust and ashes!"
A true penitent has not only low thoughts of himself, but
"They will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their detestable practices." Eze 6:9 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ To sin and not to blush!
Only those things which are sinful, are shameful.
"Then, when I make atonement for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord." Eze 16:63
When the penitent soul sees his sins pardoned, the anger of God pacified, and divine justice satisfied, then he sits down ashamed.
Sin and shame are inseparable companions.
A Christian cannot have the seeming sweet of sin, but he shall have the real shame which accompanies sin. These two God has joined together, and all the world cannot put them asunder.
It was the vile and impenitent Caligula who said of himself, "that he loved nothing better in himself, than that he could not be ashamed."
A soul who has sinned away all shame, is a soul ripe for hell—and given up to Satan! A greater plague cannot befall a man in this life, than to sin and not to blush!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Saving faith is soul-softening, it is
Faith sets . . . a wounded Christ, a bruised Christ, a despised Christ, a pierced Christ, a bleeding Christ—before the soul, and this makes the soul sit down and weep bitterly: "They will look on Me whom they have pierced and mourn for Him (all gospel-mourning flows from believing), as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for Him as for a firstborn son who has died." Zec 12:10.
Oh! the sight of those wounds which their sins have made—will wound their hearts through and through! It will make them lament over Christ with a bitter lamentation. Ah! nothing will kindly, sweetly, and effectually break the hardened heart of a sinner, but faith’s beholding the blood of Christ trickling down His sides!
That Christ should love man when he was most unlovely; that man’s extreme misery should but inflame Christ’s affections of love and mercy—this melts the believing soul.
That Christ should leave the eternal bosom of His Father; that He who was equal with God—should come in the form of a servant; that He who was clothed with glory—should be wrapped in rags; that He whom the heaven of heavens could not contain—should be cradled in a manger; that from His cradle to His cross—His whole life should be a life of sorrows and sufferings; that the Judge of all flesh should be condemned; that the Lord of life should be put to death; that He who was His Father’s joy—should in anguish of spirit cry out, ’My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ that that head which was crowned with honor—should be crowned with thorns; that those eyes which were as a flame of fire, which were clearer than the sun—should be closed up by the darkness of death; that those ears which were used to hear nothing but hallelujahs—should hear nothing but blasphemies; that that face which was white and ruddy—should be spit upon by the beastly Jews; that that tongue which spoke as never any man spoke, yes, as never any angel spoke—should be accused of blasphemy; that those hands which swayed both a golden scepter and an iron rod, and those feet which were as fine brass—should be nailed to the cross—and all this for man’s transgression, for man’s rebellion! Oh! the sight of these things, the believing of these things, makes a gracious soul to break and bleed, to sigh and groan, to mourn and lament!
True faith is a heart-breaking, a heart-melting faith.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ A heaven unto me! That knowledge which accompanies salvation, is a heart-affecting knowledge. It affects the heart with Christ, and all spiritual things. Oh, it does wonderfully endear Christ and the things of Christ to the soul.
"Oh, feed me with Your love—Your ’raisins’ and Your ’apples’—for I am utterly lovesick!" Song of Solomon 2:5 "Oh," says the spouse, "my heart is taken with Christ, it is ravished with His love; my soul is burning, my soul is beating towards Christ. Oh, none but Christ, none but Christ! I cannot live in myself, I cannot live in my duties, I cannot live in external privileges, I cannot live in outward mercies; I can live only in Christ, who is . . .my life, my love, my joy, my crown, my all in all. Oh, the more I come to know Him . . .in His natures, in His names, in His offices, in His discoveries, in His visits, in His beauties, the more I find my heart and affections to prize Christ, to run after Christ, to be affected with Christ, and to be wonderfully endeared to Christ!
Oh, God forbid that my heart should be affected or taken with anything in comparison with Christ. The more I know Him, the more I love Him;
the more I know Him, the more I desire Him; the more I know Him, the more my heart is knit unto Him. His beauty is captivating, His love is ravishing, His goodness is attracting, His manifestations are enticing, His person is enamoring, His lovely looks please me, His pleasant voice delights me, His precious Spirit comforts me, His holy word rules me; All these things make Christ to be
Oh, but all that mere notional knowledge, that speculative knowledge, which leaves a man short of salvation—never affects the heart; it never draws it, it never endears the heart to Christ, or to the precious things of Christ. Hence it is that such men, under all their notions, under all their light and knowledge, have . . .no affection to Christ, no delight in Christ, no workings of heart after Christ.
"If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed." 1Co 16:22 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me." Psa 51:3
Sin most afflicts a gracious soul.
The deer feeling within her the working of the serpent’s poison—runs through the thorns and thickets, and runs over the green and pleasant pastures—that she may drink of the fountain and be cured.
Just so, gracious souls, being sensible of the poison and venom of sin, run from the creatures, which are but as thorns and thickets; and run over their own duties and righteousness, which are but as pleasant pastures—to come to Christ the fountain of life—that they may drink of those waters of consolation, of those wells of salvation which are in Him, and cast up and cast out their spiritual poison, and be cured forever.
Believers know that their sins do most pierce and grieve the Lord. The sins of God’s people, provoke Him most, and sadden Him most—and this makes them sigh and groan it out, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" Rom 7:24
If a snake were to sting your dearly beloved spouse to death—would you preserve it alive, warm it by the fire, and hug it in your bosom? Would you not rather stab it with a thousand wounds?
You are wise, and know how to apply it.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"That no flesh should glory in His presence." 1Co 1:29
God does not look for any goodness or merit in the creature to draw His love—but He will justify, pardon, and save for His name’s sake. All the motives which move God to show mercy are in His own bosom.
Salvation is only from free grace, and not from anything good in us, or done by us.
God is free to bestow His promises upon whomever He pleases. He often steps over the rich, and chooses the poor; He often steps over the learned, and chooses the ignorant; He often steps over the strong, and chooses the weak; He often steps over the sweet nature, and chooses the wicked nature; He often steps over the noble, and chooses the vile; etc., that no flesh may glory, and that all may shout out "
"By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1Co 15:10 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Assurance will sweeten the thoughts of death—and all the aches, pains, weaknesses, sicknesses, and diseases—which are the forerunners of death; yes, it will make a man look and long for death.
Nazianzen said to the king of terrors, "
Assurance makes a man smile upon the king of terrors. The assured soul knows that death shall be the funeral of . . .all his sins, all his sorrows, all his afflictions, all his temptations.
He knows that death shall be the resurrection of his joys. He knows that death is both an outlet and an inlet; an outlet to sin; and an inlet to the soul’s clear, full, and constant enjoyment of God! And this makes the assured soul to sing it sweetly out, "O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? "I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!" "Make haste, my beloved." "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!"
Now death is more desirable than life. Now says the soul, "let him fear death, who is averse to go to Christ."
The Persians had a certain day in the year, in which they used to kill all serpents and venomous creatures. The assured Christian knows that the day of death will be such a day to him—and that makes death lovely and desirable. He knows that sin was the midwife which brought death into the world; and that death shall be the grave to bury sin. And therefore death is not a terror—but a delight unto him. He fears it not as an enemy—but welcomes it as a friend.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What labor and pains worldlings take to obtain the vain things of this life—to obtain the poor things of this world, which are but shadows and dreams, and mere nothings!
Oh! how should this stir and provoke Christians to be up and doing, to labor as for life—to make sure of spiritual and eternal things! Is earth better than heaven? No! Oh then be ashamed, Christians, that worldlings are more studious and industrious to obtain pebbles, than you are to obtain pearls! They labor to obtain those things which at last will be their burden, their bane, their plague, their hell. You are to labor to obtain those things which will be your joy and crown in life, in death, and in the day of judgment.
Ah, Christians! what great reason have you to sit down and weep bitterly—that worldlings take so much pains to make themselves miserable—and that you have taken no more pains to get more of Christ into your hearts!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The mortifying of your darling sins
Most professing Christians have not the right art of mortifying sin. All their attempts are to hide a lust, not to quench it.
A great motive to provoke you to
The pleasure and sweetness which follows victory over sin, is a thousand times beyond that seeming sweetness which is in the gratifying of sin. The joy which attends the subduing of sin—is a noble joy, a pure joy, a special joy, an increasing joy, and a lasting joy. But that joy which attends the committing of sin—is an ignoble joy, a corrupt joy, a decreasing joy, a dying joy.
The truth is—if there were the least real joy in sin, there could be no hell-torments, where men shall most totally sin, and be most totally tormented with their sin.
Ah! Christians, be restless, until, in the spirit and power of Jesus, you have brought under control, that sin which sticks so close unto you!
Remember this, nothing below the conquest of bosom sins can make a jubilee in the heart. It is not a man’s whining and complaining over sin—but his mortifying of sin, which will make his life a paradise of pleasure!
If, notwithstanding all that has been said, you are still resolved to dally with sin, then you must resolve to live as a stranger to God; you must expect sad trials without, and sore troubles within; this shall be your just wages for playing with sin! If you like the wages, then dally with sin still; if otherwise, then sacrifice your Isaac!
Ah! souls, of all unpardoned sins, your bosom sins will be presented by God, conscience, and Satan at last—as the most filthy and ugly, as the most terrible and dreadful. Your bosom sins at last will appear to be those monsters, those fiends of hell—which have most provoked God against you, which have shut up Christ’s affections of love and compassion from you, which have armed conscience against you, which have barred the gates of glory against you, which have prepared the hottest place in hell for you, and which have given Satan the greatest advantage eternally to triumph over you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
There is everything in Christ to encourage the greatest sinners to believe on Him, to rest and lean upon Him for all happiness and blessedness. Christ is . . .the greatest good, the choicest good, the chief good, the most suitable good, the most necessary good; a pure good, a real good, a total good, an eternal good, a soul-satisfying good!
Sinners, are you poor? Christ has gold to enrich you.
Are you naked? Christ has royal robes, and white clothing to clothe you.
Are you blind? Christ has eye-salve to enlighten you.
Are you hungry? Christ will be manna to feed you.
Are you thirsty? He will be a well of living water to refresh you.
Are you wounded? He has a balm under his wings to heal you.
Are you sick? He is a physician to cure you.
Are you prisoners? He has laid down a ransom for you.
"
"The deceitfulness of sin." Heb 3:13
Sin . . .has its original from a deceitful subtle serpent, is the ground of all the deceit in the world, is the great deceiver of souls.
Sin . . .debases the soul of man, defiles and pollutes the soul of man, renders the soul most unlike to God, who is the best and greatest; renders the soul most like to Satan, who is a very sea and sink of sin!
Sin robs the soul of . . .the image of God, the holiness of God, the beauty of God, the glory of God, the righteousness of God.
Sin is
"But they kept shouting—Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Luk 23:21 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"My Beloved is mine, and I am His!" Song of Solomon 2:16
"I know," says the spouse, "that Jesus Christ is mine! I can with the greatest confidence and boldness affirm it. He is . . .my Head, my Husband, my Lord, my Redeemer, my Justifier, my Savior. And I am His! I am sure that I am His. I am His by purchase; I am His by conquest; I am His by election; I am His by covenant; I am His by marriage; I am wholly His; I am specially His; I am universally His; I am eternally His!"
A well-grounded assurance will make a man . . .patient in waiting, courageous in doing, cheerful in suffering. It will make a heaven in a man’s heart—on this side heaven; and make him go singing into paradise, despite all of life’s calamities and miseries—as he realizes that he is . . .everlastingly chosen and beloved of God, that God’s heart is set upon him, that his name is written in the book of life, that there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness, and that nothing shall be able to separate him from Him who is his light, his life, his crown, his all in all.
Ah, Christians! only remember what Christ has done for you, and what He is still a-doing for you in heaven, and what He will do for you to all eternity—and you will not be able to spend your days in
Christians, your mercies are greater than your miseries! One hour’s being in the bosom of Christ, will recompense you for all your trouble and travail on earth! Why, then, do you spend more time in sighing, than in rejoicing?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Most men spend the greatest part of their time on things that are that are of little or no value; as Domitian, the Roman emperor, who spent his time in catching of flies.
Make a speedy and a thorough improvement of all opportunities of grace and mercy. Do not trifle away your golden seasons. You have much work to do in a short time. You have . . .a God to honor, a race to run, a crown to win, a hell to escape, a heaven to obtain, weak graces to strengthen, strong corruptions to weaken, many temptations to withstand, afflictions to bear, many mercies to improve, and many services to perform, etc.
He who neglects a golden opportunity, does but create to himself a great deal of misery.
"Time," says Bernard, "would be
When men trifle away their precious time, and golden opportunities, playing and toying with this vanity and that vanity; we may ask whether these men have—no Christ, no Scripture, no promises, no blessed experiences, no hopes of heavenly glories—to enjoy and take delight in?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A well-grounded assurance is always attended with humility.
David, under assurance, cries out, "I am a worm and no man!" The Hebrew word which is here rendered worm, signifies
That is mere presumption, that is a delusion of the devil, and no sound assurance—which puffs and swells the souls of men with pride; which makes men prize themselves above others, above the value which God has put upon them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Pray without ceasing." 1Th 5:17
A man may always pray habitually; he may have his heart in a praying disposition in all estates and conditions, in prosperity and adversity, in health and sickness, in strength and weakness, in wealth and wants, in life and death. The Christian needs . . .mercy to pardon him, grace to purify him, balm to heal him, divine favor to comfort him, power to support him, wisdom to counsel him, goodness to satisfy him.
Our daily weaknesses, our daily wants, our daily fears, our daily dangers, our daily temptations, etc., call for our daily prayers.
Prayer is
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Saving faith will make a man set his feet, where other men sets their hearts. Faith looks with an eye of scorn and disdain upon the things of this world. "What," says faith, "are earthly treasures, compared to the treasures of heaven? What are stones compared to silver; dross compared to gold; darkness compared to light; hell compared to heaven? No more," says faith, "What are all the treasures, pleasures, and delights of this world—compared to the influences of God’s grace?"
Faith will make a man write ’worthless’ upon the best of worldly things; it will make a man trample upon the pearls of this world, as upon dross and dirt, Heb 11:24-26. Faith deadens a man’s heart to the things of this world: "I am crucified to the world, and the world is crucified to me," says Paul, Php 3:8; Gal 6:14. "This world," says faith, "is not my house, my habitation, my home; I look for a better country, for a better city, for a better home," 2Co 5:1-2. He who is the heir to a crown, a kingdom—looks with an eye of scorn and disdain upon everything below a kingdom, below a crown. Faith tells the soul that it has a crown, a kingdom in reversion; and this makes the soul to scorn the things of this world, 2Ti 4:8.
The view of Lucian is very interesting, who, going to the top of a high mountain, saw all the affairs of men, and looked on their greatest, richest, and most glorious cities, as little
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—and I am the worst of them." 1Ti 1:15
Divine and heavenly knowledge brings a man near to God; it gives a man the clearest and fullest sight of God; and the nearer any man comes to God, and the clearer visions he has of God, the more low and humble will that man lie before God. None so humble as those who have nearest communion with God. The angels that are near unto Him cover their faces with their wings, in token of humility. Divine knowledge makes a man look inwards; it anatomizes a man to himself; it is a mirror which shows a man the spots of his own soul, and this makes him little and low in his own eyes.
That knowledge which swells you with self importance, will undo you. That knowledge which puffs you with pride, will sink you. That knowledge which makes you delightful in your own eyes, will make you despicable in God’s eyes.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What is
Truly, that knowledge which is only notional, speculative, and general; which is gathered out of books, discourses, and other outward advantages, is such a knowledge that will make men sit down in hell, as it did Judas, Demas, the scribes and pharisees, etc.
A man who has that experimental knowledge which accompanies salvation, will from his experience tell you, that sin is the greatest evil in the world—for he has found it so, Rom 7:1-25; that Christ is the one thing necessary—for he has found Him so, Psa 27:4; that the favor of God is better than life—for he has found it so, Psa 63:3; that pardoning mercy alone makes a man happy—for he has found it so, Psa 32:1-2; that a wounded spirit is such a burden that none can bear—for he has found it so, Pro 18:14; that a humble and a broken heart is an acceptable sacrifice to God—for he has found it so, Psa 51:17; that the promises are precious pearls—for he has found them so, 2Pe 1:4; that the smiles of God will make up the lack of any outward mercies—for he has found it so, Psa 4:6-7; that only communion with God can make a heaven in a believer’s heart—for he has found it so, Psa 48:10; that if the Spirit is pleased and obeyed, He will be a comforter to the soul—for he has found it so, John 16:7; but if His motions and laws are slighted and neglected, He will stand far off from the soul, He will vex and gall the soul—for he has found it so, Lam 1:16; Isa 63:10-11.
That knowledge which is not experimental, will only increase your guilt and torment, as it did the Scribes’ and Pharisees’.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
It is nothing to be much in those religious duties and performances wherein the worst of sinners may go beyond the best of saints. The most refined hypocrites labor only to be seen by others in their praying, fasting, talking, hearing, giving, etc. Let them have but man’s eye to see them, and man’s ear to hear them, and man’s tongue to commend them, and man’s hand to reward them—and they will sit down and bless themselves.
They say of the nightingale, that when she is solitary in the woods, she is careless of her melody. But when she perceives that she has any auditors, or is near houses, then she composes herself more harmoniously and elegantly. Truly, this is the frame and temper of the best of hypocrites.
"My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice! With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice." Eze 33:31-32.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Unto you therefore who believe, He is precious." 1Pe 2:7
Christ is only precious to those who believe.
As Christ is the Father’s chief jewel, so He is your choicest jewel, is He not? Yes!
The true Christian prizes Christ . . .above all duties, above all privileges, above all mercies, above all graces, above all contentments, above all his enjoyments.
The true believer loves Christ for Christ; he loves Christ for His personal excellencies.
What Alexander said of his two friends, is applicable to many in our day; says he, "Haehestion loves me as I am Alexander; but Craterus loves me as I am King Alexander." One loved him for his person, the other for the benefits he received from him.
So true Christians love Christ for His person, for His personal excellency, for His personal beauty, for His personal glory. They see those perfections of grace and holiness in Christ, which render Him very lovely and desirable in their eyes; though they should never get a kingdom, nor a crown by it. But most of those who profess to belong to Christ, do it only in respect of the benefits they hope to receive from Him. When one asked Cato’s daughter why she would not marry again, she being young when her husband died, answered, ’Because she could not find a man that loved her more than her goods.’ Few there are, who love Christ more than His benefits.
"I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me, not because you saw miraculous signs but
It was Augustine’s complaint of old, that ’scarcely any love Christ, but for His benefits.’ Few follow Him for love; but many follow Him for loaves. Few follow Him for His inward excellencies, many follow Him for their outward advantages. Few follow him that they may be made godly by him; but many follow him that they may be great by him.
Certainly, you are the bosom friends of Christ, you are in the very heart of Christ—who prize Christ above all. This is a work too high and too hard, too great and too noble, for all who are not true Christians, who are not twice born, ho are not of the blood-royal, who are not partakers of the divine nature.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
They say of the nightingale, that when she is solitary in the woods, she is careless of her melody; but when she perceives that she has any auditors, or is near houses—then she composes herself more harmoniously and elegantly. Truly, this is the frame and temper of the best of hypocrites.
Oh! but a sincere Christian labors in all places, and in all times, to approve himself to God. He labors as much to approve himself to God in a forest, where no eye sees him—as he does when the eyes of thousands are fixed upon him.
The sun would shine bright, though all men were asleep at high noon, and no eyes open to see the glory of his beams. Just so, a sincere heart will shine, he will labor to do good; though all the world should shut their eyes; yet he will eye his work, and eye his God. He knows that God is
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" Psa 42:1-2
The rattle without the breast, will not satisfy the child, the house without the husband, will not satisfy the wife, the cabinet without the jewel, will not satisfy the maiden, nor will the world without Christ, satisfy the soul.
The hungry soul will not be put off with any bread but with the bread of life; the thirsty soul will not be put off with any water but with the wellsprings of life.
As the king of Sodom said once, "
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Assurance will keep the heart from an inordinate running out after the world, and the glory thereof. Moses, having an assurance of the recompense of reward, and of God’s love and favor, could not be drawn by all the honors, pleasures, and treasures of Egypt. He slights all, and tramples upon all the glory of the world, as men trample upon things of no worth, Heb 11:24-27.
So after Paul had been in the third heaven, and had assurance that nothing should separate him from the love of God in Christ, he looks upon the world as a crucified thing: "The world is crucified to me," says he, 2Co 12:1-3, and Rom 8:38; "and I am crucified unto the world," Gal 6:14. The world is dead to me, and I am dead to it:
I have read of Lazarus, that after he was raised from the grave, he was never seen to smile. The assurance that he had of more glorious things, deadened his heart to the things of this world; he saw nothing in them worthy of a smile. Ah! were there more assurance among Christians, there would not be such tugging for the world, and such greedy hunting and pursuing after it, as is in these days, to the dishonor of God, the reproach of Christ, and the shame of the gospel.
So when God gave Galeacius, that Italian marquis, an assurance of everlasting happiness, he withstood many golden temptations, and cried out, ’Cursed be he who prefers all the glory of the world to one day’s communion with Christ!’
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Satan knows that assurance is the Christian’s . . . manna in a wilderness, water out of a rock, a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He knows that assurance is . . .a salve for all sores, a medicine for all diseases, a remedy against every malady. He knows that assurance is the Christian’s . . .anchor at sea, shield upon land; staff to support him, sword to defend him, pavilion to hide him, cordial to cheer him. And therefore it is that he labors, both as a lion and as a serpent, to keep poor souls from a well-grounded assurance.
This son of the morning has fallen from the top of glory to the bottom of misery, and therefore
Ah! Christians, have not you need to seek assurance with all your might, who have to do with so mighty an adversary, who cares not what torments he heaps upon himself, so that he may prove your tormentor, by keeping your souls and assurance asunder? Oh that this very consideration might make you restless, until you have got this "white stone" in your bosoms!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
God is glorious in power, and wonderful in counsel, and infinite in mercy, and admirable in goodness, and rich in grace, and unsearchable in understanding.
"I will never leave you nor forsake you.
When God puts His people upon weighty services, He assures them of His presence, and of His assistance. He assures them that He will stand by them, and strengthen them, and support them, and uphold them. He assures them that . . .His power should be theirs to defend them, His wisdom should be theirs to direct them, His goodness should be theirs to supply them, His grace should be theirs to heal them, His mercy should be theirs to pardon them, His joy should be theirs to strengthen them, His promise should be theirs to cheer them, His Spirit should be theirs to lead them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"My Beloved is white and ruddy,
Christ is the chief good.
All good is in the chief good.
Christ is all things to Christians. He is . . .bread to feed them, a fountain to refresh them, a physician to heal them, a rock to shelter them, a light to guide them, and a crown to crown them!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Faith is an appropriating grace.
Faith looks upon God, and says with David, "This God is my God forever and ever, and He shall be my guide unto the death."
Faith looks upon Christ, and says with the spouse, "I am my beloved’s, and His desire is towards me."
Faith looks upon an immortal crown, and says "Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of glory."
Faith looks upon the righteousness of Christ, and says, "This righteousness is mine to cover me."
Faith looks upon the mercy of Christ, and says, "This mercy is mine to pardon me."
Faith looks upon the power of Christ, and says, "This power is mine to support me."
Faith looks upon the wisdom of Christ, and says, "This wisdom is mine to direct me."
Faith looks upon the blood of Christ, and says, "This blood is mine to save me."
Faith has
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
To be in a state of true grace, is to be miserable no more; it is to be happy forever. A soul in this state is a soul near and dear to God. It is a soul much beloved, and very highly valued by God. It is a soul housed in God. It is a soul safe in God’s everlasting arms. The being in a state of grace makes a man’s condition happy, safe, and sure.
But the seeing, the knowing of himself to be in such a state, is that which renders his life sweet and comfortable. The being in a state of grace will yield a man a heaven hereafter; but the seeing of himself in this state will yield him both
Assurance is the beauty and apex of a Christian’s happiness in this life. It is usually attended with the strongest joy, with the sweetest comforts, and with the greatest peace. It is a pearl that most want—a crown that few wear. His state is safe and happy, whose soul is adorned with grace, though he sees it not, though he knows it not. To have grace, and to be sure that we have grace, is heaven on this side heaven.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A commentary upon Christ’s life
"Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Mat 5:16
Christians are distinguished from all others, by their lives and by their examples.
Be exemplary to those among whom you live.
Precepts may instruct, but examples persuade.
Truly, your examples will have a very great influence upon those who are under you. Therefore you had need be angelic in your walkings and actings. You are lights upon a hill, and therefore every eye will be upon you. Those who can find no ears to hear what you say, will find many eyes to see what you do. Oh therefore, be exemplary both in lip and life, in word and work. Oh see that your lives are
"Leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps." 1Pe 2:21
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Make it more and more your chief work to make plentiful provisions for the eternal welfare of your souls. Your souls are more worth than ten thousand worlds. All is well—if your soul is well. If that is safe, all is safe. If that is lost, all is lost—God, Christ, and glory is lost—if the soul is lost.
Is it madness to
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Communion with God is that which will make you stand fast, and triumph over all enemies, difficulties, dangers, and deaths. Communion with God will make a man as courageous and bold as a lion, yes, as a young lion which is fearless of any creature.
Communion is a reciprocal exchange between Christ and a gracious soul. Communion is Jacob’s ladder, where you have Christ sweetly descending down into the soul—and the soul by divine influences sweetly ascending up to Christ.
Communion with God is . . .a shield upon land, an anchor at sea, a sword to defend you, a staff to support you, balm to heal you, a cordial to strengthen you.
High communion with Christ will yield you
He enjoys nothing, who lacks communion with God. He lacks nothing, who enjoys communion with God. Therefore above all gettings, get communion with Christ; and above all keepings, keep communion with Christ. All other losses are not comparable to the loss of communion with Christ. He who has lost his communion, has lost his comfort, his strength, his all, and it will not be long before the Philistines capture him, and put out his eyes, and bind him with fetters of brass, and make him grind in a prison, as they did Samson, in Jdg 16:20-21.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Take heed of
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Christians! Your happiness on earth is your holiness; and in heaven your highest happiness will be your perfect holiness.
Holiness differs nothing from happiness—but in name. Holiness is happiness in the bud, and happiness is holiness at the full.
Happiness is nothing but the quintessence of holiness.
Holiness is the very marrow and quintessence of all true religion.
Holiness is
Holiness is Christ formed in the heart.
Holiness is our light, our life, our beauty, our glory, our joy, our crown, our heaven, our all. The holy soul is happy in life, and blessed in death, and shall be transcendently glorious in the morning of the resurrection, when Christ shall say, "Lo, here am I, and My holy ones, who are My joy! Lo, here am I, and My holy ones, who are My crown! Upon the heads of these holy ones will I set an immortal crown!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"This is what the Lord says—Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness." 2Ki 20:1
The tears of God’s people have such a kind of omnipotency in them, that God Himself cannot withstand them. "
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy—I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isa 57:15
God makes
1. It includes God’s superintending the humble.
2. It includes God’s assisting and strengthening of the humble.
3. It includes God’s protection; I will dwell with the humble, that is, I will protect him and secure him, Job 22:29.
4. It includes God’s sympathizing with the humble.
5. It includes God’s applying all suitable good to the humble, Isa 57:18, and Isa 63:9.
6. It includes God’s ruling and overruling the heart and the affections of the humble.
7. It includes God’s teaching and instructing of the humble.
8. Lastly, it includes and takes in a clearer, a fuller, and a larger manifestation and communication of God to humble souls.
"Ah!" says God, "I will dwell with the humble; that is, I will more richly, more abundantly, and more gloriously manifest and make known My grace and glory, My goodness and sweetness, My loving-kindness and tenderness—to humble souls!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell you
I will acquaint you with the soul blessings, with the soul favors, which God has crowned me with.
I was darkness—but He has made me light.
I was unrighteousness—but He has made me righteous.
I was deformed—but He has made me complete.
I was full of sores, and spots, and blemishes—but He has washed me, and made me all fair, without spot or wrinkle.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure." 1Jn 3:3
True hope is
Now hope purifies the heart and life thus—by keeping the purest objects, as God, Christ, the word, and the soul together; and by making the soul serious and conscientious in the use of all soul-purifying means; and by being a fire in the soul to burn up all those corruptions and principles of darkness which are contrary to that purity and glory, which hope has in her eye; and by working the soul to lean upon Christ, to live in Christ, and to draw purifying virtue from Christ—who is the spring and fountain of all purity and sanctity. And thus hope purifies those who expect to be like Christ in glory.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I desire to be found in Christ, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." Php 3:9
Paul would not be found in a legal righteousness, for he knew all his legal righteousness was but as "filthy rags." All his legal righteousness, sewed together, would but make up a coat of patches, a beggar’s coat, which is good for nothing but to be cast away; therefore he desired to be found in the righteousness of Christ by faith. He knew that Christ’s righteousness was . . .a pure righteousness, a spotless righteousness, a matchless righteousness, a complete righteousness, a perfect righteousness, an absolute righteousness, a glorious righteousness.
Faith loves to fix her eye upon
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The discerning heart seeks knowledge." Pro 15:14
Saving knowledge is always attended with holy endeavors, and with heavenly desires, thirstings, and pantings after a further knowledge of God, after clearer visions of God. The Hebrew word that is here rendered "seeks" signifies an earnest and diligent seeking; to seek as a hungry man seeks for food; or as a covetous man for gold—the more he has, the more he desires; or as a condemned man seeks for his pardon; or as the diseased man seeks for his cure. The word signifies to seek studiously, laboriously, industriously; to seek by pleading, praying, inquiring, and searching up and down, that we may find what we seek; to seek as men do for hidden treasure. A man who is divinely taught, will set his heart and his ear, his inward and outward man, to know more and more.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"For you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, His very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness (or virtues) of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light." 1Pe 2:9
When God causes His divine light, His marvelous light, to shine in upon the soul, then a Christian will
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Cleanse me from secret faults." Psa 19:12
The Christian’s greatest and hottest conflicts, are against those inward pollutions, and secret sins, which are only obvious to the eye of God and their own souls.
The hypocrite combats with those sins which are obvious to every eye. But it must be a supernatural power and principle, which puts men upon conflicting with the inward motions and secret operations of sin.
"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Rom 7:24. A sincere heart weeps and laments bitterly over those secret and inward corruptions, which others will scarcely acknowledge to be sins.
The Persian kings reign powerfully, and yet are seldom seen in public. Secret sins reign in many men’s souls powerfully and dangerously, when least apparently.
Oh! but a true Christian mourns over the inward motions and first risings of sin in his soul, and so prevents an eternal danger. Upon every stirring of sin in the soul, the believer cries out, "O Lord, help! O Lord, undertake for me!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A hidden enemy is far worse than an open enemy.
The devil has put
Ah! what multitudes are there, that to some bleary eyes appear as angels of light, and yet in their principles and practices are but servants to the prince of darkness, laboring with all their might to make proselytes for hell, Mat 23:15, and to draw men to those wild notions, opinions, and conceits which will leave them short of heaven, yes, bring them down to the hottest, darkest, and lowest place in hell, if God does not prevent it by a miracle of grace.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Persecution brings death in one hand and life in the other; for while it kills the body it crowns the soul.
The most cruel martyrdom is but a detour to escape death, to pass from life to life, from the prison to paradise, from the cross to the crown!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A man may have true grace and yet lack assurance, and this may arise from that smoke and clouds, those fears and doubts which corruption raises in the soul. Just so, that the soul cannot see those excellent graces which otherwise might be discerned. Though there may be many precious gems and jewels in the house, yet the smoke may hinder a man from seeing them sparkle and shine. So though there may be many precious graces in the souls of saints, yet corruption may raise such a dust,
The well of water was near Hagar—but she saw it not until her eyes were opened by the Lord, Gen 21:19-20. So grace is near the soul, yes, in the soul sometimes, and yet the soul does not see it, until God opens the eye and shows it. "The Lord was in this place," says Jacob, "and I knew it not." So many a precious soul may say, grace was in my heart, and I knew it not, I saw it not.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He promises honor—and pays with disgrace!
He promises pleasure—and pays with pain!
He promises profit—and pays with loss!
He promises life—and pays with death!
But God pays as he promises, all His payments are made in pure gold.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let your hearts dwell on truth,
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven!" Mat 5:11-12.
When Paul and Silas were in prison for the gospel’s sake, then God fills them with such unspeakable joy, that they cannot but be singing when others were sleeping, Acts 16:23-24. God turns their prison into a palace, a paradise; and they turn His mercies into praises. Paul and Silas found more pleasure than pain, more joy than sorrow, more sweet than bitter, more day than night—in the prison.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It will suck sweetness out of every flower
Faith is the key which unlocks paradise, and lets in a flood of joy into the soul. Faith is an appropriating grace, it appropriates all to itself; it looks upon God, and says with the psalmist, "This God is my God forever and ever," Psa 63:1, and Psa 48:14. It looks upon Christ and says, "My beloved is mine, and His desires are towards me," Song of Solomon 7:10. It looks upon the precious promises and says, These "precious promises" are mine, 2Pe 1:4. It looks upon heaven and says, "Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness," 2Ti 4:8; and this fills the soul with joy and peace.
Faith has an influence upon other graces, it is like a silver thread that runs through a chain of pearl, it puts strength and vivacity into all other virtues. It made Abraham to rejoice; and it made Noah sit still and quiet in the midst of a deluge.
Faith is the first pin which moves the soul; it is the spring in the watch which sets all the golden wheels of love, joy, comfort, and peace a-going. Faith is a root-grace, from whence springs all the sweet flowers of joy and peace.
Faith is like the bee,
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~