A Measure of Peace

I may express all my complaints in one short sentence: "I am a poor creature!"  And all my hopes and comforts may be summed up as briefly, by saying: "I have a rich and gracious Savior!"

Full as I am in myself of inconsistencies and conflicts, I have in Him, a measure of peace.  He found me in a waste howling wilderness and He redeemed me from the house of misery and bondage.  And though I have been ungrateful and perverse, He has not yet forsaken me and never will.  He is able to hold even me up to pity, support and supply me to the end of life.

How suitable a Savior! He is made all things to those who have nothing and is engaged to help those who can do nothing.

[John Newton]

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Hebrews 7:25 ... Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 13:5 ... Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Ephesians 3:18-19 ... May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.❤

Bright Rays and Reviving Showers

To glorify God, by doing good to men is the great end of the present life; and it is only as we keep the eye on this object, that we answer the design of God in our creation and salvation. The Lord has formed us for himself, that we may show forth his praise. God aims at our welfare in connection with his own honor, in all that he does; and in proportion as we are taught by his Spirit, influenced by his love, and ruled by his word we shall do the same. Self must be dethroned that Jehovah may be exalted. Selfishness must be crucified that benevolence may be displayed. God must be imitated in his moral perfections if we would prove our relationship to him, and union with him.

"Be therefore merciful as your Father also is merciful." Thus spoke Jesus to his beloved disciples. "Be imitators of God as dear children," is Paul's exhortation to his brethren at Ephesus. And thus we are exhorted by the Holy Spirit, through him. To bring souls to Christ is of immense importance, and to stir up believers to assist in doing so, is only second in importance to it: and such is the aim and object of this book.

Yes, to glorify God by bringing souls to Christ, and to stir up believers to engage in this great work, is the object we have in view. Reader, we wish to render you holy and happy; and this can only be done by leading you to receive Christ as your Savior, and then engaging you heartily and constantly in his cause. It is only in doing good  that we expect to get good; and it is only as we aim at God's glory in all that we do  that we can benefit the souls of others, or secure solid happiness to ourselves.

In this work you will find: variety and yet harmony; law as well as gospel; works as well as faith; love as well as light; bright beams as well as dark clouds.  We wish to awaken conscience, to arouse the affections, to lead to the Savior,  to consecrate to God, to engage in his service for his praise.  Time flies! Death is working in us! And eternity is just before us! Let us, therefore, work while we have the opportunity, as it will soon be gone forever.

[James Smith]

1 Corinthians 9:19 ... For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

Proverbs 11:30 ... The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.


Matthew 28:19 ... Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:❤

Abortion Survivors

The best thing I can show you to defend life is my life.  It has been a great gift.  I have met other survivors of abortion.  They are all thankful for Life … when I speak, I speak not only for myself, but for the other survivors, and also those who cannot yet speak.  Today a baby is a baby when convenient.  It is tissue or otherwise when the time is not right.  A baby is a baby when miscarriage takes place at two, three, four months.  Why is that? I see no difference.

[Gianna Jessen, saline abortion survivor who has overcome amazing odds]

My birth mother was 13 years old at the time she became pregnant with me. Her mother took her straight to an abortion clinic where she had a surgical abortion. After thinking she had “fixed the problem,” a few weeks later she realized her belly was still growing. Her mother took her back to the abortion clinic where she learned that she had been pregnant with twins.  One was aborted; One survived.

[Clair Culwell, abortion survivor]

We weren’t given alternatives. Nobody offered me any choices,” said Linda Noie whose son Joshua Vandervelden survived her attempt to have him aborted 13 years ago. Linda and Joshua told the media and conference attendees how they now live next door to, and picket at, the abortion mill where Linda underwent an abortion procedure.  Joshua was asked by a reporter what his reaction was to the pro-abortionists’ criticism that he was being exploited. “I’m glad to be alive,” he replied.

[Joshua Vandervelden , born in a bed pan]

In the examining room after the abortion, the doctor wrapped the baby in a towel and laid it aside while he finished caring for Marie. The infant continued to squirm and cry.  Soon afterward, Marie left the doctor’s office for a friend’s house nearby. The physician then placed the child in a sack and gave it to one of the two friends who had accompanied Marie.  In a few minutes, the woman with the sack arrived at the house where Marie was waiting. She said the doctor had told her to “take it along with you and pretty soon it will stop moving.  After Marie fell asleep, the friends kept their death watch over the aborted infant until they decided to seek help.  The baby survived.

[Mike Matterson, “Baby Survives Abortion in Arkansas.” The National Right to Life News]

This was going to be just another of the thousands of routine, late-term abortions performed annually in the state of New York, even though abortions after the 24th week of pregnancy are illegal under that state’s law. According to Rosa, who was then 20 years old, she told Hayat that she had changed her mind and didn’t want to go through with the abortion. “He said that it was impossible to stop, that I had to continue,” she told New York Newsday.  According to Rosa, Hayat’s assistants held her down while he sedated her. When she awoke, she was told that the abortion was incomplete and that she should come back the following day. That evening, however, she experienced increasing pain and bleeding. Her mother took her to Jamaica Hospital by taxi, where, five hours later, Baby Ana Rosa was born. But Hayat had left his mark upon her; Ana Rosa’s tiny right arm had been torn off in the brutal abortion attempt. Ana Rosa has disappeared from public view, but when last reported, in 1996, she was a perfectly healthy, beautiful, little girl, aside from the abortionist’s mark, which she will always bear.

[Ana Rosa Rodriguez, survivor from New York City abortion chamber of Doctor Abu Hayat, the notorious “Butcher of Avenue A”]

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Jesus Came Leaping

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus came leaping! He came with such love that He came leaping!

When a man goes leaping, you may know that it was with a great eagerness.

Jesus came leaping! How so? He came leaping  from the throne to the womb,   from the womb to the cradle,  from the cradle to the cross, and from thence to the throne again!

This was His great leap! Oh! sirs, oh! sirs, how eagerly did Jesus suffer and die for poor believers!

[William Dyer]

Song of Solomon 2:8 ... The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

Luke 1:44 ... For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

Ephesians 5:2 ... And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.❤

Sanctifying Grace and Pardoning Mercy

Jesus! Precious name, how sweet it is! How well it befits Him who bears it and how glorious is the salvation which He accomplishes!

Misery is the natural consequence of sin. Everything that God enjoins is good and everything that He forbids is evil. Jesus saves His people from their sins and so saves them from misery. He died to atone for transgressions. He ever lives to save His people from the power and practice of sin yes, and eventually from the very presence of sin.

My soul, let your whole trust be in Jesus, not only for deliverance from guilt and its consequences but from sin in its manifold workings. You are powerless against your inward corruptions but Jesus is "mighty to save." He can subdue your iniquities. Trust Him then, for sanctifying grace, as well as pardoning mercy!

Dwell much on all He did and suffered for you. In His agony in the garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross at Calvary see something of the exceeding sinfulness of your sins, from which He died to save you.

[Author Unknown]

Micah 7:19 ... He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

1 Corinthians 15:3 ... For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

Matthew 1:21 ... And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.❤

What a Comfort is This!

Christ knows all of His sheep.  His knowing His sheep is His loving them. This is a great consolation.

He knows every one of their names.  "He calls His own sheep by name." John 10:3

He knows all the sighs and groans they make. "My groaning is not hidden from You." Psalm 38:9

Christ knows every tear they shed. "I have seen your tears!" 2 Kings 20:5

He bottles their tears as precious wine! "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book." Psalm 56:8

He knows all their sufferings. "I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them." Exodus 3:9  "The Lord saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel." 2 Kings 14:26

Christ knows all their good works, all their works of piety and charity.  "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance." Revelation 2:2

[Thomas Watson]

John 10:14 ... I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

John 10:11 ... I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Matthew 25:33-34 ... And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:❤

The Devil is A Deceiver

The Devil disguises himself as an angel of light that he may more effectually lead us into darkness. If he were to come like a devil, like an enemy then everyone would run from him. But he comes masked and puts on the face of a friend and so he tricks and cheats us. Indeed, he prevails more by his wily subtleties than by his power.

If the Devil had come to Eve and spoken to her as follows: 'I was once a glorious angel and lived above in the Court of Heaven but I have sinned and am now cast down to Hell. Eat the forbidden fruit and you will be like me!' Would this have succeeded? Surely not!

Thus if he came and tempted men to sin, by telling them that sin is the sure way to Hell would this prevail with them to sin? No! The Devil is a subtle old serpent he cloaks and paints sin. He covers his hook with a bait and draws men in before they are aware of it. He is a deceiver and lest he should be known, he puts on a false garb and disguises himself as an angel of light.

He dare not say, "I am the Devil I am a deceiver! I will lead you into Hell!" for that would spoil his wily schemes.

[Ralph Venning]

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2 Corinthians 11:14 ... And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Matthew 7:15 ... Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

1 Peter 5:8 ... Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: ❤

Modern Day Machinery

Friends! the churches have no need for the modern machinery which has supplanted the simplicity of faith.

I truly believe, that if the Lord swept the church committees and schemes out of the universe, we would be better without them.

I hope the church will soon say, like David in Saul's clanking armor, "I cannot go with these" and with only her sling and her stone, confident in her God, I trust she will confront her foe.

 

We can do all things, if we can but trust Christ. But nothing is possible to your man-made schemes and systems.

God will sweep them away yet, and happy shall be that man who shall lead the van in their utter destruction!  Go up against her, take away her bulwarks, for they are not the Lord's; He did not ordain them, nor will He stand by them.

Act in faith, O people of God, and prove the power of prayer for "all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23

The fact is, God does not need our power but our weakness. He does not need our greatness but our nothingness.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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1 Samuel 17:39 ... And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

Joel 3:10 ... Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.


Luke 18:27 ... And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.❤

How Shall I Follow in His Steps?

The first requisite is a personal relationship to Him. I cannot wear the loveliness of Jesus--until I drink deep of the forgiveness of Jesus. From the Cross where He has saved me.  I set out on the pilgrim-road of imitation.

It is necessary, also, that love for Him leaps and flames in my soul. No amount of intellectual comprehension is enough. The heart must enthrone Him, must adore Him, must turn to Him with the inevitableness and the trust of the sunflower turning to the sun. I can only resemble Him, if my affection for Him is profound, controlling, and pervasive.

And there must be intimacy with my Lord. I am to share His thoughts, His temper, His motives, His decisions. I must dwell much with Himself in prayer.

I must often meditate on the story of His life and death.

These are some of the modes in which I shall touch and grasp and imitate the grace and the wisdom and the loveliness and the gentleness and the splendor of Jesus Christ.

[Alexander Smellie]

Job 23:11 ... My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

1 Peter 2:21 ... For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 John 2:6 ... He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.❤

The hell of Hell

And as there are a diversity of torments in Hell so the torments of Hell are everlasting.  The sentence which shall be passed upon them is eternal.  God Himself, who damns them is eternal.  The prison and chains which hold them are eternal. The worm which gnaws them is eternal.  The fire which torments them is eternal.  Grievous is the torment of the damned for the bitterness of the punishments.  It is more grievous for the diversity of the punishments. But it is most grievous for the eternity of the punishments!

If, after so many millions of years as there are drops in the ocean, there might be a deliverance out of Hell this would yield a little ease, a little comfort to the damned.  But oh, but this word, 'Eternity! Eternity! Eternity!' this word, 'Everlasting! Everlasting! Everlasting!' this word, 'Forever! Forever! Forever!' will break the hearts of the damned into ten thousand pieces!

Suppose that the whole world were turned into a mountain of sand, and that a little bird would come once every thousand years and carry away one grain of sand from that heap. What an infinite number of years would be spent before this great mountain of sand would be fetched away! Just so if a man should lie in everlasting burnings so long a time as this, and then have an end of his woe it would give him some ease, some hope, and some comfort.

But when that immortal bird shall have carried away this great mountain of sand--a thousand times over and over alas, alas, sinful man shall be as far from the end of his anguish and torment as ever he was! He shall be no nearer coming out of Hell than he was the very first moment that he entered into Hell!

Suppose, say others, that a man were to endure the torments of Hell for as many years as there are  sands on the sea-shore,  drops of water in the sea,  stars in the heavens,   leaves on the trees, blades of grass on the ground then he would comfort himself with this poor thought, "Well, there will come a day when my misery and torment shall have an end."

But woe and alas! this word, "Forever! Forever! Forever!" will fill the hearts of the damned with the greatest horror and terror, anger and rage, bewilderment and astonishment!  If the fire of Hell were terminable then it might be tolerable. But being endless it must needs be easeless, and remediless. The eternity of Hell is the hell of Hell.

The damned shall live as long in Hell as long as God Himself shall live in Heaven! The reprobate shall have punishment without pity, misery without mercy, sorrow without support, crying without compassion, mischief without measure, and torment without end!"

Oh, exalt that Christ! Oh, extol that Savior who has saved you from that eternal wrath!

[Thomas Brooks]

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Matthew 25:41 ... Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

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

Matthew 10:28 ... And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 ...For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, ❤

A Willing Sacrifice

Prophecy: 

And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,  And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.  Genesis 22:15-18 ✞

Fulfillment: 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16 ✞