A bad tree
(Octavius Winslow, "From Grace to Glory" 1864)
"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people gather
grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise
every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears
bad fruit. A good tree ... read more
A base heathenish invention!
The following is from Spurgeon's sermon,
"The Voice of the Cholera" No. 705. Amos 3:3-6.
The word "chance" should be forever
banished from the Christian's conversation.
Luck or chance is a base heathenish invention!
God rules and overru ... read more
A glory, a beauty, and a sweetness
(J. C. Philpot, "The Secret of the Lord" 1844)
How sweet it is to trace the Lord's hand in providence . . .
to look back on the chequered path that He has led us by;
to see how His hand has been with us for good;
what difficulties He has brought ... read more
A hundred doctrines floating in the head
(J. C. Philpot)
By five minutes real communion with the Lord . . .
we learn more,
we know more,
we receive more,
we feel more, and
we experience more
than by a thousand years of merely studying
the Scriptures, or using external forms, ... read more
A little secret...
Spurgeon, "The Holy Ghost, the Great Teacher"
Let me tell you a little secret- whenever you cannot
understand a text, open your Bible, bend your knee,
and pray over that text; and if it does not split into
atoms and open itself, try again.
If p ... read more
A lump of vanity
In reality . . .
riches are but dust,
honors are but shadows,
pleasures are but bubbles, and
man is but a lump of vanity,
composed of sin and misery.
... read more
A peculiar, indescribable, invincible power
(Philpot, "The Word of Men and the Word of God")
"Our gospel did not come to you in word only,
but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and
with deep conviction." 1 Thes. 1:5
The gospel comes to some in word only. They
hear the word of ... read more
A shelf in my head?
Spurgeon, "Christ- The Power and Wisdom of God"
Before I knew the gospel I gathered up a heterogeneous
mass of all kinds of knowledge from here, there, and
everywhere-- a bit of chemistry, a bit of botany, a bit of
astronomy, and a bit of this, th ... read more
A sweet power
(Cudworth, 1647)
"Speaking the truth in love." Ephes. 4:15
When we would convince men of any error by
the strength of truth, let us additionally pour
the sweet balm of love upon their heads. Truth
and love are two of the most powerful things ... read more
Accidents, Not Punishments
by C. H. Spurgeon, September 8, 1861
There were some present at that very time who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And He answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all ... read more
All doctrine, all experience, all precept
(J. C. Philpot, "The Precepts of the Word of God")
All doctrine, all experience, all precept center, as one
grand harmonious whole, in the glorious Person of the
Son of God. From Him they all come; to Him they all flow.
Severed from Him . . . ... read more
All dropping from the outstretched, munificent hand!
All dropping from the outstretched,
munificent hand of a loving, gracious,
and bountiful Father!
(from Octavius Winslow's "My Times in God's Hand")
Beloved, remember that all our past and all
our coming prosperity, if indeed He shall so ... read more
All in all to all eternity!
From Spurgeon's sermon, "Even So, Father!"
I have all in all to all eternity, when I can call God my Father.
"Father!"
He that can lisp that word upon his knees has uttered
more eloquence than Demosthenes or Cicero ever knew!
Abba, Fathe ... read more
All is transparent and harmonious to His eye!
(From Octavius Winslow's, "My Times in God's Hand")
We live in a world of mysteries.
They meet our eye, awaken our inquiry,
and baffle our investigation at every step.
Nature is a vast arcade of mysteries.
Science is a mystery.
Truth ... read more
All is well
(Henry Law, "Deuteronomy" 1858)
How varied are the stations of man's calling!
How diverse are their positions in life!
Some reign in palaces;
some toil in cottages.
Some feast at plenty's table;
some pine in poverty's contracted cell ... read more
All our care, forethought, and caution
(John MacDuff, "The Prophet of Fire" 1877)
"Wherever we go, there is but a step between
us and death!" (Matthew Henry)
"One day Israel's new king, Ahaziah, fell through
the latticework of an upper room at his palace in
Samaria, and he wa ... read more
All our care, forethought, and caution
(John MacDuff, "The Prophet of Fire" 1877)
"Wherever we go, there is but a step between
us and death!" (Matthew Henry)
"One day Israel's new king, Ahaziah, fell through
the latticework of an upper room at his palace in
Samaria, and he wa ... read more
All the mysteries of providence?
(Octavius Winslow, "Morning Thoughts")
"Now we see through a glass darkly (in a riddle),
but then face to face; now I know in part, but
then shall I know even as also I am known."
1 Cor. 13:12
The position which the Christian ... read more
All things!
(Philpot, "The Subjection of All Things Under the Feet of Jesus")
"You crowned Him with glory and honor and put
all things under His feet. In putting all things
under Him, God left nothing that is not subject
to Him." Hebrews 2:7-8
See t ... read more
All this loveliness of character
(J. A. James, "The Practical Believer Delineated" 1852)
"Without holiness no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14
An unholy person cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
There is a vast difference between sanctification--and the
common moralit ... read more
All your secret abominations!
Spurgeon, "Plain Directions to Those Who Would Be Saved from Sin"
"The ways of man are before the eyes of
the Lord; and he ponders all his goings."
Proverbs 5:21
God is everywhere present, at all times.
He has seen all your evil ways.
... read more
An idol is an idol
(J. C. Philpot, "Prevailing Pleas" 1865)
"Son of man, these leaders have set up idols
in their hearts! They have embraced things
that lead them into sin." Ezekiel 14:3
An idol is an idol, whether worshiped inwardly
in heart, or adorned ou ... read more
An unfailing spring of joy and consolation!
"O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my every thought when far away.
You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me where to stop and rest ... read more
And how is it that I am made to differ?
(John MacDuff, "The Prophet of Fire" 1877)
Let us adore the freeness of God's mercy,
and the sovereignty of His grace.
God's thoughts are not our thoughts, neither
are His ways our ways. Man has generally
some reason for conferring his fa ... read more
Angels damned, men saved?
From Spurgeon's sermon, "ELECTION AND HOLINESS"
God has CHOSEN to himself a people whom no man can number,
out of the children of Adam- out of the fallen and
apostate race who sprang from the loins of a rebellious man.
Now, this is a wonder of ... read more
Are you hungry?
from Spurgeon's sermon, "BREAD FOR THE HUNGRY"
We should come to hear the Word, like baby birds in the nest--
when the mother-bird comes with the worm, they are all
stretching their necks to see which one shall get the food,
for they are all hung ... read more
As your Biblical knowledge widens
(John Angell James, "Christian Progress" 1853)
There are many who regard an increasing acquaintance
with the text of the Bible, as an evidence of growth in
grace.
Ask yourselves the solemn question. In proportion as
you store your minds wit ... read more
Authority, glory and sovereign power!
(J. C. Philpot, "Jesus, the Enthroned King")
"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns!" Rev. 19:6
The unlimited dominion of King Jesus extends over . . .
all things,
all events,
all circumstances,
all people!
All are subjected ... read more
Babylonian books!
by Spurgeon
To forego your Bible reading for the perusal even of good
books would soon bring a conscious descending of the soul.
If you read the 'Babylonian books' of the present day, you will
catch their spirit, and it is a foreign one, which wil ... read more
Beware of light reading!
from Horatius Bonar's book, "FOLLOW THE LAMB"
Beware of light reading!
Shun novels; they are the literary curse of
the age. If you are a parent, keep novels
out of the way of your children. But whether
you are a parent or not, neither read them ... read more
Beware of that practical atheism!
(from Winslow's, "The Glory of Christ in Heaven")
Beloved, God is in history.
God in every man's history.
God is in your history.
He is in every event, and circumstance, and
incident of your life. Whatever that history be,
God arranged ... read more
Bible reading...
by Thomas Brooks--
"Remember that it is not hasty reading,
but serious meditation on holy and heavenly truths,
that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul.
It is not the mere touching of the flower by the bee that gathers
honey, but h ... read more
Biblical knowledge
"Reader, remember this: if your biblical knowledge
does not now affect your heart, it will at last, with
a witness, afflict your heart.
If it does not now endear Christ to you, it will at
last provoke Christ the more against you.
If it does ... read more
Bold, unblushing audacity!
(Bonar, "Divine Love and Human Rejection of It")
"I listen to their conversations, and what do I hear?
Is anyone sorry for sin? Does anyone say, 'What a
terrible thing I have done'? No! All are running
down the path of sin as swiftly as ... read more
Bow to the Word!
Don Fortner
I bow to the Word of God.
There are many good creeds, confessions, and catechisms
written by men, clearly setting forth the gospel of the grace
of God; but I do not pin my faith to the writings of any man,
or any group of men, no matt ... read more
Building air-castle upon air-castle!
(John MacDuff, "Thoughts for the Quiet Hour", 1895)
He who goes about whining all day long about some
imaginary drawbacks in the sphere which Providence
has assigned him--when all the while he is situated
so much better than thousands around--i ... read more
But God also prepared a worm!
(John MacDuff, "The Prophet of Fire" 1877)
"And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made
it to come up over Jonah, and soon it spread its
broad leaves over Jonah's head, shading him from
the sun. This eased some of his discomfort, and
Jonah ... read more
Can he scale heaven and dethrone our God?
(Henry Law, "Psalms")
"Let us break their chains," they cry, "and
free ourselves from this slavery." Psalm 2:3
Self will rejects restraint.
Pride will not yield to rule.
Conceited reason lifts up defiant head.
The gentle scepter of ... read more
Can he scale heaven and dethrone our God?
(Henry Law, "Psalms")
"Let us break their chains," they cry, "and
free ourselves from this slavery." Psalm 2:3
Self will rejects restraint.
Pride will not yield to rule.
Conceited reason lifts up defiant head.
The gentle scepter of ... read more
Can the Ethiopian change his skin?
(Joseph Philpot, "Daily Words for Zion's Wayfarers")
"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the
leopard its spots? Neither can you do good
who are accustomed to doing evil."
Jeremiah 13:23
Before the soul can know anything about salv ... read more
Christian contentment
Christian contentment is that sweet,
inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit,
which freely submits to and delights in
God's wise and fatherly disposal in
every condition.
Jeremiah Burroughs ... read more
Come and display your treasure!
(Henry Law, "Deuteronomy" 1858)
Ah! wretched worldling, when will you be wise!
Come and display your treasure!
Your best is but . . .
a fading flower;
a fleeting shadow;
a tottering reed;
a failing brook.
And how long can yo ... read more
Common or priceless?
(Spurgeon, "Praises and Vows Accepted in Zion")
We have our common mercies. We call them
common, but, oh, how priceless they are!
Health to be able to come here and not to
be stretched on a bed of sickness, I count
this better than bags of g ... read more
Contemplating God's greatness!
From Spurgeon's sermon, "Fear Not"
Lift up your eyes, behold the heavens, the work of God's
fingers-- behold the sun guided in his daily march;
go forth at midnight, and behold the heavens;
consider the stars and the moon; look upon these works ... read more
CONTEMPLATION OF DIVINITY...
From Spurgeon's, "The Immutability of God"
The proper study of a Christian is the Godhead--
The highest science,
the loftiest speculation,
the mightiest philosophy, which can ever
engage the attention of a child of God,
is the name,
the nature ... read more
Continually churning up mire and dirt!
(John Angell James, "Christian Love" 1828)
"The wicked are like the troubled sea, which cannot
rest, whose waves are continually churning up mire
and dirt." Isaiah 57:20
Until the carnal mind, which is enmity against God,
is regenerated an ... read more
Dark and mysterious providences
(Octavius Winslow, "No Night There")
Our journey is often dark, long, and weary.
In the present life our path is at times draped
with gloomy, painful, and inexplicable clouds.
"God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform."
So ... read more
Darkness of ignorance, dungeons of falsehood, chains of superstition!
from Spurgeons,"WHAT GOD CANNOT DO!"
Truth once reigned supreme upon our globe, and
then earth was Paradise. Man knew no sorrow
while he was ignorant of falsehood.
The Father of Lies invaded the garden of bliss,
and with one foul lie he blig ... read more
Deluged with love!
God is the fountain of love, as
the sun is the fountain of light.
Every stream of holy love, yes, every drop
that is, or ever was, proceeds from God.
In heaven, this glorious God is manifested, and
shines forth, in full glory, in beams of love. ... read more
Disaster!
(John MacDuff, "A Book for the Bereaved")
"Does disaster come to a city, unless
the Lord has done it?" Amos 3:6
"Does disaster come to a city," to the cottage,
to the palace--is there disaster which blights
some unknown poor man's dwellin ... read more
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