Meditation and Prayer ...

Meditation and Prayer resemble the spies that went to search the land of Canaan: the one views, and the other cuts down; and both bring home a taste of the fairest and sweetest fruits of heaven. 

Meditation, like the eye views our mercies; and Prayer like the hand, grasps those mercies! Or, Meditation is like a land agent, who goes abroad to purchase what we need; and Prayer, like a ship, goes forth and brings in what we desire. Lord, it is my misery, that I cannot be so perfect as not to be in need; but it magnifies your mercy that I cannot be so miserable as not to be supplied. Meditation cannot find out a real need, but Prayer can obtain suitable comfort. 

Lord, if mercy is so free, I will labor to know my poverty that I may be enriched with your grace; and yet I will not rest, until you shall do more for me than I am able either to ask or think! Prayer was appointed to convey, the blessings God designs to give; Long as they live should Christians pray, for only while they pray, they live. 

[Thomas Sherman]

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Joshua 1:8 ... This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Proverbs 15:8 ... The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. ❤

A Christians End ...

Wise agents always propound their end before they commence their work: and then direct their actions to that end which they propounded. If a mariner sails it is that he may arrive at a certain harbor: therefore, he sails by compass, that he may compass that for which he sails. A Christian should always have one eye upon his end and the other eye upon his way. 

That man lives a brutish life who knows not what he lives for. And that man acts a fool's part who aims at heaven, and lives at random. The end for which a wise Christian life is that he may live without end; and therefore, his way of living is, that he may live to spend his life continually in the ways of life. He is always walking in those paths in which he can see heaven before him. 

O my soul, what do you aim at? Is it a full enjoyment of your God? Why then, while you are present in the body be always drawing near unto the Lord. Just so, when you shall be absent from the body you shall be always present with the Lord. 

[Thomas Sherman]

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James 4:8 ... Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Hebrews 12:2 ...  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Corinthians 9:24 ... Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  ❤

Desires of The Soul

What do you desire, O my soul? With what imaginable excellency would you clothe yourself! What desirable object would you pitch upon? Is it beauty? The righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. So shall they be forever with the Lord. Is it riches? Wealth and riches are the portion of all God's children; everyone in His family shall have a rich, a glorious, an incorruptible, and eternal inheritance among the saints! 

Is it honor? What honor can compare to this to be a friend and favorite of God, and a spouse of Christ to have a crown of righteousness, of life, and of glory!  No more, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory set upon your head!  Is it pleasure? The just shall enter into their Master's joy, and there are rivers of pleasure at God's right hand for evermore! 

In a word, what would you have, O my soul? A confluence of all the glorious things of eternity? If heaven, and the holiness thereof are what you seek; then heaven and the excellencies thereof you shall find! Lord, make me holy then I shall be happy!

[Thomas Sherman] 

Psalm 73:25-26 ... Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. ❤

Soul Satisfaction.

What can satisfy you, O my immortal soul? Nothing but the immortal God, in whom all fullness dwells. He alone can fill the soul who fills heaven and earth. The insufficient creature may fill the soul with vexation; none but the all-sufficient God can fill the soul with satisfaction. 

O Lord, no creature of Yours will satisfy me, without Yourself! Therefore, O Lord, take my heart and give me Yourself! 

[Thomas Sherman] 

Psalm 73:25-26 ... Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

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The War Room

Meditation and Prayer resemble the spies that went to search the land of Canaan: the one views, and the other cuts down; and both bring home a taste of the fairest and sweetest fruits of heaven. Meditation, like the eye views our mercies; and Prayer like the hand, grasps those mercies! Or, Meditation is like a land agent, who goes abroad to purchase what we need; and Prayer, like a ship, goes forth and brings in what we desire. 

Lord, it is my misery, that I cannot be so perfect as not to be in need; but it magnifies your mercy that I cannot be so miserable as not to be supplied. Meditation cannot find out a real need, but Prayer can obtain suitable comfort. 

Lord, if mercy is so free, I will labor to know my poverty that I may be enriched with your grace; and yet I will not rest, until you shall do more for me than I am able either to ask or think! 

Prayer was appointed to convey, the blessings God designs to give; Long as they live should Christians pray, for only while they pray, they live. 

[Thomas Sherman]

Joshua 1:8 ... This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 5:2 ... Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. ❤

Give Me Misery!

How apt are many at the sight of a rich worldling, to envy him for what he has. But, for my part, I rather pity him for what he lacks! He has money, but he lacks wisdom to use it wisely; he has a lamp, but it lacks oil; he has a soul, but it lacks grace; he has the creature, but he lacks the Creator; he has a mansion, but he lacks Heaven. 

In his life, he floats upon a torrent of vanity which rolls along into an ocean of vexation! And after death, it will be said of him, "Take this unprofitable servant, bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness!  Consign his soul to the eternal lake of fire and brimstone!" 

Where now is the object of your envy? It is not his gold that can then rescue him, nor his mansion that can then satisfy him, nor his friends that can then comfort him. Therefore, if he is worth the envying then who can be worth the pitying? If this is happiness, then give me misery! Lord, rather make me poor, with a holy heart than rich, with an evil heart of unbelief! 

 [Thomas Sherman] 

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Luke 16:10 ...  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

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

Go, Take Your Fill!

Your happiness arises from that object on which your affections are placed. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. If your affections are placed upon a poor empty creature; or, if like Judas, your heart is so depraved that you desire only the moneybag; or, like Reuben, you are content for worldly convenience to continue on this side Jordan then remember that you are bartering eternal life for a mere fantasy and deceiving yourself into irretrievable and endless ruin!  If you will be content with a breath of honor, a blaze of pleasure, a snare of riches, or a parcel of vanity, then go, take your fill! 

But know assuredly, that the end of these things is death! When you shall draw your last breath, when honor will appear only as air, when your deathless soul shall be forever ensnared then you will greatly lament your past conduct and wish you had never been born! 

But now, O true Christian, if you are risen with Christ from the dead, and are looking at unseen and eternal realities then for you is prepared a golden crown, a celestial harp, a glorious mansion, and eternal hallelujahs! You shall enjoy the presence of God and the Lamb forever and ever! You shall gaze on the incomparable brightness of God, and forever contemplate the wonders of redemption! 

Lord, if this is my happiness then let others enjoy the things of this world! For my part, I am content to deny myself, and take up my cross and follow You! 

[Thomas Sherman] 

Psalm 16:11 ...  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

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Affliction Prepared For and Improved

As it is the duty of God's children to prepare for affliction before it comes, so is it also their duty to improve affliction when it does come. If we do not prepare for affliction, we shall be surprised by it; and, if we do not improve it, we are likely to increase it. 

He who would prepare for affliction, must beforehand: resign all to God, strengthen his graces, store up divine promises, and search out secret sins. And he who would improve affliction when it does come, must labor to see: sin more and more in its filthiness, so as to mortify it; his heart in its deceitfulness, so as to watch over it; the world in its emptiness, so as to be crucified to it; grace in its amiableness, so as to prize it; God in His holiness, so as to revere Him; and Heaven in its desirableness, so as to long after it. 

He who takes more care to avoid afflictions, than to be fitted for them; or is more solicitous to be delivered from them, than to be bettered by them; is likely to come soonest into them, and to live longest under them! God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. 

[Thomas Sherman] 

Hebrews 12:10-11 ... 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.

 Psalm 119:71 ...  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

 Psalm 119:75 ... I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. ❤

Pray!!

Meditation and Prayer resemble the spies that went to search the land of Canaan: the one views, and the other cuts down; and both bring home a taste of the fairest and sweetest fruits of heaven. Meditation, like the eye, views our mercies; and Prayer, like the hand, grasps those mercies! Or, Meditation is like a land agent, who goes abroad to purchase what we need; and Prayer, like a ship, goes forth and brings in what we desire. 

Lord, it is my misery, that I cannot be so perfect as not to be in need; but it magnifies your mercy that I cannot be so miserable as not to be supplied. Meditation cannot find out a real need but Prayer can obtain suitable comfort. Lord, if mercy is so free, I will labor to know my poverty that I may be enriched with your grace; and yet I will not rest, until you shall do more for me than I am able either to ask or think! Prayer was appointed to convey, The blessings God designs to give; Long as they live should Christians pray, For only while they pray they live.

[Thomas Sherman]

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Matthew 26:41 ... Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ... Pray without ceasing.

Philippians 4:6 ...  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.❤

Stand Amazed!!

O precious saint! Three questions call for your answer:

1. What were you?

Dead in your transgressions and sins, a rebel to your God, a prodigal to your Father, a slave to your lust, the devil's captive, on the highway to Hell!

2. What are you?

Redeemed by Christ, a royal child of God, the spouse of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, the heir of a priceless eternal inheritance!

3. What shall you be?

A glorious saint, a companion of angels, a triumphant victor, a crowned king,

an attendant on the Lamb, a participant in those soul-ravishing and ineffable excellencies that are in God!  You shall behold the King of Glory face to face and enjoy immediate communion with Jesus Christ!

Nay more, you are made one with Him: clothed with His excellencies, enthroned with His glories, crowned with His eternity, and filled with His felicity! O stand amazed at His free grace and render all the glory to God!

[Thomas Sherman]

1 Corinthians 2:9 … But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

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Stand Amazed

O precious saint! Three questions call for your answer:

1. What were you?

2. What are you?

3. What shall you be?

1. What were you?

Dead in your transgressions and sins, a rebel to your God, a prodigal to your Father, a slave to your lust, the devil's captive, on the highway to Hell!

2. What are you?

Redeemed by Christ, a royal child of God, the spouse of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, the heir of a priceless eternal inheritance!

3. What shall you be?

A glorious saint, a companion of angels, a triumphant victor, a crowned king,

an attendant on the Lamb, a participant in those soul-ravishing and ineffable excellencies that are in God!

You shall behold the King of Glory face to face and enjoy immediate communion with Jesus Christ!

Nay more, you are made one with Him: clothed with His excellencies, enthroned with His glories, crowned with His eternity, and filled with His felicity!

O stand amazed at His free grace and render all the glory to God!

[Thomas Sherman]

1 Corinthians 2:9 … But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

Lord, Let Me Be a Pure Stream

Jordan, that famous river, no doubt runs through many a pleasant meadow, by many a shady grove and flowery bank; and yet at last empties itself into the Dead Sea.

So it is with a wicked man! Here on earth he walks through meadows of worldly pleasures, and rests under the shades of earthly comforts, and sports and wallows among the flowers of worldly delights but at last runs himself down into the Dead Sea of Hell. And not only so, but his earthly delights will fade, his beauty shall be turned into horror, his honor shall be turned into shame, his lusts shall be turned into tormentors, and his pleasures shall be turned into bitterness!

Lord, let me be a pure stream, that I may terminate in Heaven! I care not what difficult channels I pass through here on earth if in Heaven I may exchange my weakness and corruption, for perfection and glory!

[Thomas Sherman]

Matthew 25:45-46 ... Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

1 Corinthians 9:24 ... Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

1 Corinthians 15:54 ... So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.❤

Soul Satisfaction

What can satisfy you, O my immortal soul? Nothing but the immortal God, in whom all fullness dwells. He alone can fill the soul who fills heaven and earth.  The insufficient creature may fill the soul with vexation; none but the all-sufficient God can fill the soul with satisfaction.  O Lord, no creature of Yours will satisfy me, without Yourself! Therefore, O Lord, take my heart and give me Yourself!

[Thomas Sherman]

Psalm 73:25-26 ... Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.❤

Desire of The Soul

What do you desire, O my soul? With what imaginable excellency would you clothe yourself! What desirable object would you pitch upon?

Is it beauty? The righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. So shall they be forever with the Lord.

Is it riches? Wealth and riches are the portion of all God's children; every one in His family shall have a rich, a glorious, an incorruptible, and eternal inheritance among the saints!

Is it honor? What honor can compare to this to be a friend and favorite of God, and a spouse of Christ to have a crown of righteousness, of life, and of glory! Nay more, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory set upon your head!

Is it pleasure? The just shall enter into their Master's joy, and there are rivers of pleasure at God's right hand for evermore!

In a word, what would you have, O my soul? A confluence of all the glorious things of eternity?

If heaven, and the holiness thereof are what you seek; then heaven and the excellences thereof you shall find!

Lord, make me holy, then I shall be happy!

[Thomas Sherman]

Matthew 13:43 ... Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

1 Peter 1:4 ... To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

2 Timothy 4:8 ... Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Psalm 16:11 ... Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 73:25-26 ... Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.❤

A Rich Worldling

How apt are many at the sight of a rich worldling; to envy him for what he has. But, for my part, I rather pity him for what he lacks!

 

He has a talent but it lacks improvement; he has a lamp but it lacks oil; he has a soul but it lacks grace; he has the creature but he lacks the Creator; he has a mansion but he lacks heaven.

 

In his life, he floats upon a torrent of vanity which rolls along into an ocean of vexation! And after death, it will be said of him, "Take this unprofitable servant, bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness! Consign his soul to the eternal lake of fire and brimstone!"

 

Where now is the object of your envy? It is not his gold that can then rescue him, nor his mansion that can then satisfy him, nor his friends that can then comfort him. Therefore, if he is worth the envying, then who can be worth the pitying? If this is happiness then give me misery!

 

Lord, rather make me poor with a holy heart than rich with an evil heart of unbelief!

 

 

[Thomas Sherman]

 

 

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Luke 16:19 ... There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

 

 

 

Luke 16:23-24 ... And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

 

 

 

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

As We Live, So We Die

That way which the tree leans, while it grows that way it falls when it is cut down; and there it lies, whether it be toward the North or South.

Just so, our life is an indication of what our death will be. As men live, so, in general, do they die; whether they lived for heaven or hell. Being once dead, there is no second chance. For as in war an error is death; so in death an error is damnation! Therefore live as you intend to die and you will die as you have lived. O Lord! let my soul be always fixed on you, that I may fall into your arms, and forever rest in your gracious bosom!

 [Thomas Sherman]

Matthew 7:13-14 ... Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 25:45-46 ... Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

John 3:15 ... That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.❤

The Worth of a Christian

The world scarcely knows what we Christians are, for if they did realize that we are God's jewels, the favorites of heaven, the excellency of the creation, and the beloved bride of Christ, they would not mock and persecute us as they do!

Or if we did only consider that we shall be glorified together with Christ; that His happiness shall be our happiness; that His joy shall be our joy, and His glories shall be our glories truly, we would not be so much dejected as we are!

[Thomas Sherman]

Romans 8:16-17 ... The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

1 John 3:2 ... Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Isaiah 61:10 ... I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.❤

Would Jesus Do It?

When anything presents itself, think: if He were alive and in my place, would Jesus do it?  Or if I were about to die, would I still do it?

I must walk as He has walked; and I must live as I intend to die. If the thing in question is not Christ's will it is my sin. And if I die in that sin it will be my ruin.

I will therefore in every action so conduct myself as if Christ were on the one hand and death on the other!

[Thomas Sherman]

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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:

John 13:15 ... For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

 

 

Ephesians 2:10 ... For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.❤