No Dirty Dogs!

Throughout the Scriptures unholy people are branded, to their everlasting contempt with the worst appellations. They are the most dangerous, and the most harmful beings in the world, and therefore are emblemized by ...

lions for they are cruel, Psalm 22:21; by bears for they are savage, Isaiah 11:7; by dragons for they are hideous, Ezekiel 29:3;  by wolves for they are ravenous, Ezekiel 22:27;  by dogs for they are snarling, Revelation 22:15; by vipers and scorpions for they are stinging, Matthew 12:34, Ezekiel 2:6;  by spiders and cockatrices for they are poisoning, Isaiah 59:5;  by swine for they are intemperate, Matthew 7:6.

Remember this: that all these stinging expressions and appellations which disgrace and vilify unholy people, were inspired by the Holy Spirit and published in His holy Word. The glutton is depicted as a swine; the fraudulent person is depicted as a fox; the lustful person is depicted as a goat; the backbiter is depicted as a barking cur; the slanderer is depicted as an asp; the oppressor is depicted as a wolf; the persecutor is depicted as a tiger; the seducer is depicted as a serpent.

Do you think that God admit such vermin as unholy people are to eternally inhabit His holy Heaven? Surely not! God has long since resolved upon it that no unclean beasts shall enter into Heaven that no dirty dogs shall ever trample upon that golden pavement! Certainly God will not allow such beasts and toads and snakes and serpents to forever live with Him! Heaven is a too holy place to admit such vermin to inhabit!

[Thomas Brooks]

Revelation 21:27 …  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Revelation 22:15 …  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.❤

Lay Your Ear to The Pit

O unbeliever! Look down into the bottomless pit! Do you see how the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever? What  do you think of those chains of darkness? Can you be content to burn for eternity?  Do you see how the worm gnaws, how the fire rages?  Do you see that gulf of perdition? Will you take up your habitation there?

O lay your ear to the door of Hell!  Do you hear the curses and blasphemies, the weeping and wailings? How they lament their follies and curse themselves! How they roar and gnash their teeth!  How deep their groans! How inconceivable their miseries!

O how fearful would the cry be if God would take the covering off the mouth of Hell, and let the cry of the damned ascend in all its terror among men!  And of their moans and miseries, this is the piercing, killing emphasis and theme, "Forever! forever!"

As God lives, you are but a few hours away from all this misery unless you be converted! If there is anything that may be called madness and folly, and anything that may be counted absurd, brutish, and unreasonable, it is this to go on in your unconverted state until God throws you into Hell! (Luke 12:5)

O sinners, see what a God you have to deal with. If you will but turn, "He will have compassion on you; He will subdue your iniquities, and cast all your sins into the depths of the sea!"

[Joseph Alleine]

Matthew 25:30 … And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

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.

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It Opens The Eye of The Mind

Conversion is a deep work, a heart work. It makes a new man in a new world! It extends to the whole man to the mind, to the affections, to the motions of the whole life. Conversion turns the balance of the judgment, so that God and His glory outweigh all carnal and worldly interests. It opens the eye of the mind, and makes the scales of its native ignorance fall off, and turns men from darkness to light.

The man who before saw no danger in his condition, now concludes himself lost and forever undone except renewed by divine grace. He who formerly thought there was little hurt in sin, now comes to see it to be the chief of evils! He sees the stupidity, the deformity and the filthiness of sin; so that he is affrighted by it, loathes it, dreads it, flees from it, and even abhors himself for it!

He who could see little sin in himself, and could find no matter for confession now sees the rottenness of his heart and the desperate and deep pollution of his whole nature. He cries, "Unclean! Unclean! Lord, purge me with hyssop, wash me thoroughly, create in me a clean heart!" He sees himself altogether filthy, corrupt in both root and branch. He writes 'unclean' upon all his supposed virtues and good works. He discovers the filthy corners that he was never aware of, and sees the blasphemy, and murder, and adultery, that is in his heart, of which before he was ignorant.

His hatred boils and his anger burns against sin. He has no patience with himself; he calls himself 'fool' and 'beast'; and thinks any name too good for himself, when his indignation is stirred up against sin. He could once wallow in it with much pleasure; now he loathes the thought of returning to it as much as of licking up the filthiest vomit!

Hitherto he saw no form nor loveliness in Christ, no beauty that he should desire Him; but now he finds that Jesus is the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of great price which he is willing to sell all to obtain.

[Joseph Alleine]

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Romans 7:15 … For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

Job 42:6 … Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Ezekiel 36:31 … Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.❤

Most Church-Goers

Refined worldliness is the present snare of the Church. The young are trained and encouraged by their parents to be "lovers of pleasure." Parties, dancing, theaters, and such like, are no longer forbidden things to the followers of the Lamb!  Most church-goers are in fact, but worldly men varnished over with religion, that is all.  These are the ambiguous disciples of our age, who belong to Christ but in name. These are the stony-ground or thorny-ground hearers!

The religion of such is but a half-and-half religion without depth, or decision, or vigor, or self-sacrifice. It is but a picture or a statue not a living man.  Such a man's whole religious life is one grand misconception; and every step he takes in it is a blunder, and a stumble, and a snare. Let such a man know that, in his present half-worldly, half-religious condition, he has no real religion at all. It is a fiction, a delusion. It will not stand the test of time or of eternity. It will go to pieces with the first touch. It is all hollow and must be begun again, from the very first stone of the foundation.

O worldly formalist, if you would make sure your hope of eternal life and obtain a discipleship that will stand all tests count all the past but loss. Fling away your vain hopes and self-righteous confidences. Give up your fond idea of securing both earth and Heaven. Go straight to Calvary; there be crucified to the world, and the world to you, by the cross of Christ (Galatians 6:14). Go at once to Him who died and rose again, and drink into His love. One draught, nay, one drop of that love will forever quench your love of sin, and be the death of that worldliness which threatens to be your eternal ruin!

[Horatius Bonar]

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Strange Times

Eventually, over time, the unthinkable will become tolerable, then it will become acceptable, then, before you know what happened, it becomes normal. Finally, it is celebrated, and worse, defended. 

False doctrine, fake bibles, prostitute preachers, alternative lifestyles, and bad political ideas are all based on one thing, pride. Pride because it silences all opposition, pride because it thinks it knows better than common sense, pride because it desires to strip away every sense of reason from the people because it thinks it’s better than the rest. And it will attack venomously anyone who seeks to oppose it.

We are living in some strange times, and I believe it’s going to get worse before I get old. The best we can do at some point is educate ourselves in the word, be led by the spirit, and seek discernment in these troubled times. It’s the only thing that will help us get through this mess that is invading our world, as well as our life.

Dare to speak out.

[Christopher Gregory]

2 Timothy 3:1-5 … This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.❤

Your Light

Don’t let lying clouds steal your Son light.

[Troi Nelson Cockayne]

John 14:27 … Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33 … These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

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The Most Important Relationship

How comprehensive is the love of Jesus! There is no part of His people's interests which He does not consider. There is nothing which concerns their welfare which is not important to Him. Not merely does He think of you, believer, as an immortal being but as a mortal being too. Do not deny it or doubt it: "The very hairs of your head are all numbered!" (Matthew 10:30) It would be a sad thing for us if His mantle of love did not cover all our concerns for what harm might be wrought to us if any of our matters did not come under our gracious Lord's care!

Believer, rest assured that the heart of Jesus cares about your smaller affairs. The breadth of His tender love is such that you may resort to Him in all matters; for as a father pities his children so does He pity you, His redeemed child. The smallest interests of all His saints are all borne upon the broad bosom of the Son of God. Oh, what a heart is His, that does not merely comprehend the salvation of His people but comprehends also, all their diverse and innumerable concerns!

Do you think, O Christian, that you can measure the love of Christ? Think of what His love has brought you justification, adoption, sanctification, eternal life! The riches of His goodness are unsearchable; you shall never be able to tally them--or even conceive them. Oh, the breadth of the love of Christ!

Shall such a love as this have half our hearts? Shall it have a cold love in return? Shall Jesus' marvelous loving-kindness and tender care, meet with but faint response and tardy acknowledgment?

O my soul, you are no desolate wanderer but a beloved child, watched over, cared for, supplied, and defended by your Lord!

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Psalm 149:4 … For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.❤

With A Rope Around My Neck

What misery have my sins brought upon me! Oh, what miserable state I am in! Sold under sin, cast out of God's favor, accursed from the Lord, cursed in my body, cursed in my soul, cursed in all that I have. My sins are unpardoned, and my soul is within a step of death!

Alas! What shall I do?  Where shall I go? Which way shall I look? God is frowning on me from above, hell is gaping for me beneath,  conscience is smiting me within, temptations and dangers are surrounding me without.

Oh, where shall I fly?  What place can hide me from Omniscience? What power can secure me from Omnipotence?  Alas, what shall I do?  Shall I go on in my sinful ways? Why then, certain damnation will be my end!   Shall I be so besotted and mad as to go and sell my soul to the flames for a little ale or a little ease; for a little pleasure or gain or comfort to my flesh?

Shall I linger any longer in this wretched state? No, If I tarry here I shall be miserable forever!  What then, is there no help?  Is there no hope? Is there any remedy for such woeful misery?  Is there any mercy after such provoking iniquity?

Lord Jesus, I come to You with the rope around my neck! I am worthy to die and to be damned. Take me for Yourself forever. I give myself to You, I come to You, as the only way to the Father, as the only Mediator. I have destroyed myself but in You is my help. Save, Lord or else I perish!

Too long have I served the world; too long have I hearkened to Satan; but now I renounce them all, and will be ruled by Your dictates and directions, and guided by Your counsel.

[Joseph Alleine]

Romans 10:13 … For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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The Eternal Watcher

God is always thinking upon us; He never turns aside His mind from us, and has us always before His eyes! This is precisely as we would have it for it would be dreadful to exist for a moment, beyond the observation of our heavenly Father! His thoughts are always filial, tender, loving, wise and they bring to us countless benefits. Hence it is a choice delight for us to remember them.

The Lord has always thought upon His people, hence their election and the covenant of grace by which their salvation is secured.  He always will think upon them, hence their continual preservation by which they shall be brought safely to their heavenly rest.

In all our wanderings, the watchful glance of the Eternal Watcher is evermore fixed upon us! We never roam beyond the Shepherd's eye! In our sorrows He observes us incessantly, and not a pang escapes Him! In our toils He marks all our weariness, and writes in His book all the struggles of His faithful ones. These thoughts of the Lord encompass us in all our paths, and penetrate the innermost region of our being. Not a nerve or tissue, valve or vessel, of our bodily organization is uncared for. All the 'littles' of our little world, are thought upon by the great God!

Dear reader, is not this precious to you? The Lord lives and thinks upon you!  If the Lord thinks upon you, then all is well, and you may rejoice evermore!

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Hebrews 4:13 … Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Psalm 139:17 …. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

1 Peter 3:12 … For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.❤

He Conquers and Cleanses

The Holy Spirit is the administrator of God's grace. Without the gracious operation of the Holy Spirit in conversion, no sinner would ever become a beneficiary of saving grace. The blessed Spirit quickens all whom the Father chose in eternity past,  leads to Jesus, all the sheep for whom the dear Shepherd laid down His life,  conquers the stoutest hearts, and cleanses the foulest spiritual leper,  opens sin-blinded eyes, and unstops sin-closed ears!

Redemption was effectually accomplished for God's elect by Christ at Calvary; and it is effectually applied to all the redeemed by the Holy Spirit in effectual calling. The Spirit applies Christ's work of redemption, in calling, convicting, regenerating, sanctifying, and preserving all for whom Christ died.

Every one whom God chose in Christ, is effectually drawn by the Spirit to Christ. Everyone predestined to be saved, is called by the Spirit in time, justified in time, and will be glorified in eternity when time will be no more!

[C. D. Cole]

Titus 3:5 … Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 🕊

A Holy Man!

Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing with God's judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word.

A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. He will not only live a life of faith in Him and draw from Him all his daily peace and strength, but he will also labor to have the mind that was in Him and to be conformed to His image!

[J. C. Ryle]

1 Peter 1:16 … Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

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