Mystery, Wonder and Love of Christ's Incarnation

He who was eternally in the bosom of His Father, chose to be born in a foul stable. He who hung the stars in the sky, chose to be nailed and die upon the accursed tree. This is love immeasurable, love incomprehensible!

[William Gurnall]

Consider Christ's condescension: He who made man, was made man. He who is the eternal Word, was pleased to be an infant who could not speak. Oh, the depth of this mystery! 

[Isaac Ambrose]

The Eternal God was pleased to wrap Himself in flesh, in order to come down from the height of His glory to the depths of our misery. Here is a love that surpasses comprehension. Here is the greatest wonder that heaven and earth have ever seen!

[John Flavel]

He came not as a fierce lion to devour, but as a spotless lamb to be sacrificed, that we might be reconciled to God. Marvel at this: the King of glory chose a cradle over a crown, and a cross over a throne.

[John Bunyan]

The Son of God left His glorious throne, to become a servant; in order that we who were rebels, might become children of God. The incarnation is the key to all our hope and joy.

[John Cotton]

The Creator became the creature. The infinite was clothed in flesh. The Son of God, became the Son of Man. Such is the divine wisdom and love that it staggers the comprehension of angels and men alike.

[William Perkins] 

What greater wonder is there, than that the infinite God should clothe Himself in finite flesh in order to save wretched and rebellious men? This is the bottomless ocean of mercy.

[Jeremiah Burroughs]

Behold the marvelous mystery! He who was rich, became poor; that we who were poor, might become rich. The Son of God entered the misery of the world that we might enter the glory of Heaven.

[Christopher Love]

The infinite became an infant. Incomprehensibility was made man. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman's bosom. Supporting the universe and yet needing to be carried in a mother's arms. Oh the wonder of wonders. Oh, the mystery of mercy. Oh, the profoundness of His matchless grace.

[Charles Spurgeon]

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"Afflictions"

Afflictions teach us to value the blessings of God which in prosperity we are apt to forget.

God's afflictions are not to destroy us, but to wean us from the world and bring us closer to Christ.

It is folly to doubt God's goodness because of His chastening rod, for the rod is in the hand of infinite love.

[Richard Baxter]

Afflictions are but God's furnace to refine His gold. 

Christ's school of affliction is the best school in this world.

God would not rub so hard, if it were not to fetch out the dirt that is ingrained in our natures.

Afflictions are God's medicines to cure His people.

[ Thomas Brooks]

As the winter prepares the earth for the spring, so affliction prepares the soul for glory.

The greatest afflictions are less than we deserve.

God empties us of worldly comfort to fill us with heavenly joy.

[William Bridge]

God's people are like gold they are purified by fire. 

God does not strike as an enemy to destroy, but as a father to correct.

[Jeremiah Burroughs]

Sanctified afflictions are better than unsanctified prosperity.

The furnace of affliction is where God polishes His jewels.

[John Flavel]

God's wounds cure sin's kisses kill.

[William Gurnall]

Afflictions quicken our desires for eternal things.

Afflictions are blessings to the soul, though they seem bitter to the flesh.

[John Owen]

Your afflictions are your father's love-tokens.

When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines.

[ Samuel Rutherford]

God breaks the cistern to drive us to the fountain.

The fire does not destroy the gold, but only refines it.

God's hammer breaks us in pieces, that He may fashion us into His own likeness.

God squeezes the sins out of His saints by affliction.

It is better to go limping to Heaven, than leaping to Hell.

[ Richard Sibbes]

A sick bed often teaches more than a sermon.

God's rod is a pencil to draw Christ's image more distinctly upon us.

[Thomas Watson]

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Puritan Quotes 1

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)

It is not the bee's touching of the flower that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he who reads most, but he who meditates most who will prove to be the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian!  (Thomas Brooks)

Let us use worldly things as wise pilgrims do their staves and other things necessary for their journey. So long as they help us forward in our way let us make use of them, and accordingly esteem them. But if they become troublesome hindrances and cumbersome burdens let us leave them behind us or cast them away. The temptations of prosperity, like unseen bullets, wound and kill us before they are discerned! (George Downame)

The best course to prevent falling into the pit is to keep at the greatest distance from it. He who will be so bold as to attempt to dance upon the brink of the pit may find by woeful experience, that it is a righteous thing with God that he should fall into the pit! Sin is a plague, yes, the greatest and most infectious plague in the world; and yet, ah! how few are there who tremble at it, who keep at a distance from it! (Thomas Brooks)

Riches are long in getting with many pains, hard in keeping with much care, quick in losing with much sorrow. (Thomas Fuller)

Your life is short, your duties are many, your assistance is great, and your reward is sure! Therefore, faint not, hold on and hold up in the paths of godliness and Heaven shall make amends for all! (Thomas Brooks)

Where one thousand are destroyed by the world's frowns ten thousand are destroyed by the world's smiles. The world, siren-like, sings us and sinks us! (Thomas Brooks)

We fear men so much because we fear God so little. One fear cure another. When man's terror scares you turn your thoughts to the wrath of God! (William Gurnall)

When we grow careless in keeping our souls then God recovers our taste of good things again by sharp crosses. (Richard Sibbes)

How sweet is rest, after fatigue! How sweet will Heaven be, when our toilsome journey is ended. (George Whitefield)

The winter prepares the earth for the spring so do sanctified afflictions prepare the soul for glory! (Richard Sibbes)

As the wicked are hurt by the best things so the godly are bettered by the worst. (William Jenkyn)

Poverty and affliction take away the fuel that feeds pride! (Richard Sibbes)

To bless God for mercies is the way to increase them. To bless Him for miseries is the way to remove them. (William Dyer)

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In The Lord...

The Christians strength lies in the Lord; not in himself.

[William Gurnall]

Isaiah 40:29 ... He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Ephesians 3:16 ...  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

1 Peter 5:10 ... But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. ❤

Blessings!!

Christian, has not God taught you, by his word and Spirit, how to read the short-hand of his providence? Do you not know that the saints' afflictions stand for blessings? 

 [William Gurnall]

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; ❤

Praise Him!!

How heartbreaking that too many witnesses of God's goodness are silent witnesses. We must not allow this to be true of us! Praise and verbalizing thankful hearts are very becoming behaviors of God's children.  The birds rise in the morning and are saluting the rising sun with their sweet notes on the air. Thus, should we strike up our harps in praising God at the first appearance of a mercy. 

 [William Gurnall]

Psalm 117:1 ... O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

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The Real Cost of Discipleship.

 We are commanded not to be conformed to this world- that is, not to compromise ourselves with the corrupt customs of our day. The Christian must not be such a compliant tailor as to cut the coat of his profession according to popular fashion. Instead, he must stand fixed to his principles, openly showing he is a citizen of heaven by clothing himself in garments of truth. It takes great courage to disregard the abasement you will surely meet for your nonconformity. Sadly, there are many who cannot stand the strain. Too often we have seen a self-tailored cloak of pride tossed hurriedly over the heavenly garment of imputed righteousness by one who fears the derision of men if he dares 'confess Christ openly' (John 7:13). How many lose heaven because they are ashamed to go there in a 'fool's' coat!

While some will mock, others will persecute to death the Christian who will not conform in principle or practice.

[William Gurnall]

John 15:19 ...  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

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Rejoicing Hope.

Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation, that it can laugh while tears are in the eye, sigh and sing all in a breath; it is called "The rejoicing of hope."

[William Gurnall]

Romans 15:13 ... Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. ❤

God's Heart

The Gospel is God's heart in print.

[William Gurnall]

Jeremiah 31:33 ... 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2 Corinthians 3:3 ...Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

2 Peter 1:20-21 ... Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ... All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.❤

His Arm

He who has God's heart — cannot lack His arm!

[William Gurnall]

Deuteronomy 33:27 ... The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Isaiah 40:11 ... He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

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.❤

The Storm

Let this encourage those of you who belong to Christ: the storm may be tempestuous, but it is only temporary. The clouds that are temporarily rolling over your head will pass, and then you will have fair weather, an eternal sunshine of glory. Can you not watch with Christ for one hour?

[William Gurnall]

Psalm 89:8-9 ... O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Psalm 107:29 ... He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Mark 4:37-39 ... And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Nahum 1:7 ... The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. ❤