Battle Hymn of The Republic

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored. He hath loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword, His truth is marching on. 

I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps, They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps. I have read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps, His day is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah Glory, glory, hallelujah Glory, glory, hallelujah, His truth is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel, As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal. Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel, Since my God is marching on. 

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat, He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat. Oh, be swift, my soul to answer Him, be jubilant, my feet, Our God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah Glory, glory, hallelujah Glory, glory, hallelujah, His truth is marching on.  His truth is marching on. 

[Julia Ward Howe] 

1 Peter 4:13 ...  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. ❤

Greatest Earthly Blessing

I bear witness that the worst days I have ever had, have turned out to be my best days. In the same way, when God has seemed to be the unkindest to me, He has then been the most kind. If there is anything in this world for which I would thank Him more than for all else, it is for pain and affliction. I am sure that in these things, His richest and tenderest love has been most manifested towards me. I am certain that I have never grown in grace, one-half so much anywhere else, as I have upon the bed of pain. I have learned to kiss the wave, that throws me against the Rock of Ages.

Affliction is the best piece of furniture in my house. It is the best book in a minister's library. Those who dive in the sea of affliction, bring up rare pearls.

God's love letters are often sent in black envelopes. The cloud that is black with horror, is big with mercy. We may not ask for trouble; but if we were wise, we would look upon affliction as the harbinger of an unusually great blessing.

Dread the calm: it is often treacherous; and the pestilence is often lurking beneath its wing. Fear not the storm: it brings healing in its wings, and when Jesus is with you in the vessel, then the tempest only hastens the ship to its desired haven.

God is too good to be unkind, and He is too wise to be mistaken. When we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.

I venture to say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the exception of sickness. The furnace of affliction is the most beneficial place for you, Christian.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Hebrews 12:5-11 ... And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. ❤

The Scale!!

Put your soul in one side of the scale and put all that the world calls good and great in the other side. Think of everything that the heart of man can desire riches, honor, pleasure, power. Heap it up well! Fill one side of the scale until there is no room for more. Put in all the gold of Australia, all the diamonds of India, all the delights of youthful love, all the pleasures of wife and home, of children and friends, of health and strength, of name and fame. Put in all that the natural mind of man deems the height of happiness, and everything that may weigh this side of the scale down. Now, when you have filled this side of the scale, put your soul into the other side the state of your soul for all eternity. Represent to yourself your deathbed and hold the scale with dying hands as lying just at the brink of eternity. See how the scale now hangs!

What if you had the whole world that you have put into the scale and could call it all your own; but at that solemn hour felt that your soul was forever lost that you were dying under the wrath of God and there was nothing before you but an eternity of misery! At such a moment as this, what could you put in the scale equal to the weight of your immortal soul?

Take the scale again. Put into one side, every affliction, trial, sorrow, and distress that imagination can conceive, or tongue express. Let them all be your distress of mind, pain of body, poverty of circumstances, contempt from man, assaults from Satan, Job's afflictions, Jacob's bereavements, David's persecutions, Jeremiah's prison, Hezekiah's sickness. Put into this side of the scale everything that makes life miserable and then put into the other side, a saved soul.

Surely, as in the case of worldly honors, and riches, and happiness a lost soul must weigh them all down!

So, in the case of afflictions and sorrows and troubles a saved soul must weigh them all down too!

[J. C. Philpot]

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Luke 12:20 ... But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Matthew 16:26 ...  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? ❤

"Come To Me!"

Jesus calls you to His throne of grace. He is there waiting to hear, relieve and bless you. You are to go to Him just as you are and receive from Him all you need.

He will give you: wisdom, to direct your steps; peace, to keep your hearts; strength, to do His will; righteousness, to justify your souls; and rest, unspeakably sweet.

He is glorified in bestowing these blessings upon you. He calls you this morning, this moment to receive all you need, without money and without price. What a precious Savior is Jesus! What a kind and tender Friend!

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

"Come!" He says, "Come to Me! Do not go to SELF, to the world, to the empty cisterns which creatures idolize; but come unto Me, and I will do immeasurably more than all you can ask or imagine!  Your sins, I will pardon; your graces, I will revive; your comforts, I will restore; your holiness, I will increase; your efforts to glorify Me, I will crown with success; I will bless you, and you shall be a blessing!"

[James Smith]

Matthew 11:28 ... Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

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Lost and Found

When man is lost, he has earned it.

When man is saved, it is a gift.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

 

Ephesians 2:8 ... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Acts 20:21 ... And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. ❤

Letter to John Newton

To Rev. John Newton,

Oh, what is man! How easily we spy the vanity and inconsistency in another, and how hardly we discern it in ourselves.

The foulest stain, and worst absurdity in our nature, is pride! And yet this vile hedgehog so rolls himself up in his bristly coat, that we can seldom get a sight of his claws.

Pride cleaves to us, like a shirt soaked in tar cleaves to the skin. No sharp ploughing and harrowing will clear the ground of it. This foul weed will be sure to spring up with the next rain!

Pride follows me like my shadow!

This diabolical sin has brought more scourges on my back than everything else! It is of so insinuating a nature, that I know not how to rid myself of it.

I hate it and love it.

I quarrel with it and embrace it.

I dread it and yet allow it to lie in my bosom.

It pleads a right, through the fall, to be a tenant for life. It has such an amazing appetite that it can feed both on grace and garbage! It will be as warm and snug in a monastery, as a brothel and be as much delighted with a fine prayer, as a foul curse!

Lord, save me! If pride must dwell with me, let it not be a lordly master, but a loathed viper!

Oh, that I could once say unto you, foul pride: "Farewell forever!"

There is no Christian grace, but pride will creep into its bosom and mix with it as freely as oil with oil.

Nor is Lady Pride ever so delighted as when she becomes intimate with humility, and by soft caresses and kind speeches, encourages the sweet damsel to think highly of herself, even when she looks and talks humbly.

One moment she whispers and tells me that I am a fine fellow and then I am elated.

By and by, she calls me a fool and then I am sullen.

I can do no religious act, but pride is skulking at my elbow and much affecting me both by her smiles and frowns.

This foul pride besieges my heart, besets all my steps, and meets me at every turn.

Pride has more heads than a Hydra! (A mythological serpentine water monster which had many heads. Every time someone would cut off one of them, two more heads would grow out!)

Pride has more shapes than Proteus! (A mythical Greek figure who could assume a different shape at will.)

It is such an odd mysterious evil that I can even be proud of loathing my pride.

Henceforth if you ask my real name, it is Pride!

Yours,

John Berridge

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Your Light...

Your light is not from yourself; it comes from God. Do not hide your faith.  Shine brightly so that others may see your life in Christ and then glorify God.

Matthew 5:16 ... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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Our Great Lesson!

At best we know but little, and we are slow to learn. But the Lord has promised to instruct us. The Lord's teaching always produces humility, self-loathing, confidence in God, zeal for His glory, and heart-devotion to Him! 

The Lord's teaching always brings us to the feet of Jesus and delivers us from the present evil world. Under Divine instruction we learn the true nature of sin, the vanity of the world, the emptiness of creatures, and the fullness and preciousness of Christ! 

Is God willing to instruct us? Then let us be early and often at His throne of grace; praying, as the Psalmist did, "Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me; for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long." (Psalm 25:4-5) Then shall we exclaim, as Elihu did, "God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him!" (Job 36:22) 

The Lord will teach us to profit and sanctify us through the truth He imparts. Christ is our great lesson, and to know Him rightly is life, peace and joy! Is Jesus your teacher? Then sit at His feet, treasure up His Words, and show forth His praise! He says, "Learn of Me." Learn to know Him, love Him, obey Him, and live upon Him! 

[James Smith]

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Psalm 27:11...  Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Psalm 32:8 ...  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. ❤

The Curtain Falls

 Unbeliever, what is your hope?

To live long? Yes, and what then?

To bring up a family? Yes, and what then?

To see them comfortably settled in life? Yes, and what then?

To be a grandfather to a numerous progeny? Yes, and what then?

To reach extreme old age in peaceful retirement? Yes, and what then?

The curtain falls! Let me lift it:

The cemetery.

The judgment throne of God.

Sentence on your soul.

The trumpet of resurrection.

Final doom.

Body and soul in Hell forever.

You have no better prospect.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Matthew 25:46 ... And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Hebrews 10:26-27 ... For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. ❤

The Murderer

Nature ever has a voice for those who will hearken to her teaching. The glorious sun, enlightening all with his cheering beams, reminds us of the Dayspring from on high, who came "to give light to those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death."

The bright moon, reflecting as it does the light of the sun, reminds of the true Church of Christ.  The moon above, the Church below, A wondrous race they run; But all their radiance, all their glow, each borrows of its Sun. The countless stars shining overhead, remind us of the eternal glory of the children of God.

The birds of the air teach us their lesson of daily dependence upon the care of the great Provider. Luther, we are told, was once in much distress about provision for those whom he had gathered under his roof but was comforted as he hearkened to the note of a little songster. It seemed to him in its note ever to be repeating, again and again Mortals, cease from care and sorrow; God provides for the morrow.

The lily of the field has taught us, through the lips of Christ, that our Father forgets not to clothe His children. The vine and its branches have taught us much of the mystery of grace. It shows to us the necessity of ever abiding in Christ by faith and prayer; and assures us that all grace and strength flow from Him, the Living Stem, into the hearts of His believing people.

Let us learn from the book of nature another lesson, very different from any of these. Our teacher shall be a remarkable plant, that grows very abundantly in the forests of Brazil. It bears the name of the Sipo Matador and has been thus described: "Its stem is at first so exceeding slender, that it has no natural support in itself. It entwines and creeps along the ground until it reaches some lofty vigorous tree then its mode of growth is most peculiar. It lays hold of it with a clinging grasp, and spreads itself, like a flattened bark-like stem, over one side of the trunk, cleaving to it with the greatest tenacity: from both the edges of this bark it sends out very delicate arm-like tendrils, exactly opposite to each other. 

They grow on until they meet, encircling the tree, round which they become a solid ligature, never to be removed. These arms are sent forth at regular intervals as the Murderer mounts upwards, until the trunk of its supporter is clasped by numberless inflexible rings. These rings grow larger, and clasp tighter as the parasite ascends. Up, up it climbs, one hundred feet one hundred and fifty-one hundred and eighty; at last, it mounts to the very top and then, as in triumph, forms a vast flowering head above all the surrounding forest, opens its blossoms to the sun, ripens its seeds, and scatters them over the soil below.

The supporter, by this time, is strangled and dead; and the strange spectacle remains of the strangler clasping in its arms the lifeless and decaying body of its victim, in which wood-boring beetles have already commenced their operations. It soon crumbles in rapid decay; and the parasite which destroyed it, having flowered, fruited, and continued its kind, falls to the ground, a shapeless mass, involved in one common ruin with its supporter."

What is the lesson this plant may teach us? Is it not this; The mysterious power of sin, and the danger to which its victim is exposed? Only carefully ponder the description of the plant which is given and then trace the striking analogy.

The very name suggests it. It is the "Sipo Matador" or "the Murderer".

The child frequently bears the name of the parent. The author of evil is spoken of by Christ as "a murderer from the beginning." Such also is sinning a destroyer a murderer!

O sin, sin! what have you done? How many, through you, have had to pass through the gloomy chamber of the grave! What multitudes, in all ages, through you, have forfeited the peace and salvation of a soul!

[George Everard]

Psalm 19:1-5 ... The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

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Divine Purpose of Affliction

Affliction, in some of its many and varied forms, is the lot of all the Lord's people. Indeed, if we do not have it, then we lack evidence of our true sonship, for the Father chastens every son whom He receives. Every believer is refined in the furnace of affliction.

To every follower of Jesus, how strong is the consolation flowing from this truth. God's afflictions are loving and parental towards His redeemed people; whereas towards His enemies, they are judicial and punitive. God refines His saints in the furnace of affliction, for their purification; but He places the ungodly in the furnace, for their destruction. The believer can welcome and patiently bear sickness, bereavement, and poverty; knowing that God's fatherly chastisements are not judgments, and His afflictions are not condemnations.

The furnace of affliction is needed in the process of sanctification:  to consume the dross which adheres so closely to the precious ore, to purify the heart, to center the affections on Jesus, and to wean the soul from enticements of this vain world.

The hour of affliction is the hour of softening, where: the hardness of the heart yields, the callousness of the spirit gives way, the affections become heavenly, and the conscience is made more tender. It is a season of holy meditation, of prayer, and of withdrawal from the world and from creature delights; while the soul is more closely shut in with Jesus.

Through these trials, the Holy Spirit comforts the afflicted soul by unfolding the deep and unchangeable love of Jesus, showing the believer that his sorrow is the fruit of Divine love, sent to draw the soul nearer to Himself. The Comforter opens the believer's ears to hear the voice of God's chastening rod, causing the disciplined heart to return from its wanderings and seek the wounded, bleeding, suffering Savior more eagerly than ever. In the furnace of affliction, the believer attains a deeper knowledge of God's all-sufficiency, and a truer knowledge of his own spiritual poverty and unworthiness.

In each season of affliction, the believer must turn from all creature sympathy, and look to Jesus, who was preeminently the man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief and suffering; making Him able to sustain and sympathize with His afflicted people.

In every stormy wind, in every darksome night, and in every rising fear, the voice of Jesus is heard saying, "Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid. Your affliction did not spring out of the ground but came down from above; a heaven-sent blessing clad in a robe of ebony, sent entirely in love."

As you grow deeper into the loving heart of Jesus: sorrow shall wound you less deeply, affliction shall press you less heavily, and tribulation shall affect you less keenly.

[Octavius Winslow]

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Isaiah 48:10 ...  Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Romans 8:28 ... And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

2 Corinthians 4:17 ... For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; ❤