John Newton’s Letters Difficulties and snares April 15, 1776.My dear Sir,I often rejoice on your behalf. Your call out of the world was a singular, comfortable instance of the power of grace. And when I consider the difficulties and snares of your situation, and that you have been kept in the middle path, preserved from undue compliances […]
Afflictions and trials give birth to SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING. We can weep with those who weep only if we have wept alone. We can more readily forgive the fallen from their fallen position if we have fallen and have experienced forgiveness. It is difficult to criticise a fellow cell-mate and impossible to cry “unclean” of […]
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.” 1 Peter 1:5 This salvation takes in all the circumstances of a child of God. It is not only a salvation from wrath to come—that were an immeasurable act of grace—but it is a present salvation, anticipating and providing for every exigency of […]
Living Commentary! Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. – Psalm 119:117 We are poor, weak, inconsistent creatures if left but a little to ourselves. When I think how cold, dull and heartless I have been; how often I have wandered, how often trifled […]
The law calls unclean every issue from the body – that is, every issue but one: tears. It seems to be the only thing that we humans produce that is not repulsive to God. Tears are precious to Him. He is even said to collect them in a bottle. (Psalm 56:8) Hezekiah’s tears were counted […]
God’s lancet! “The Preciousness of Trial” by Octavius Winslow Trials are a precious discipline, a precious correction, a precious school, that lead you more fully into the heartfelt experience of the preciousness of the Saviour. Trials make you more intimately acquainted with your best Friend, your dearest Brother, the tender, sympathising Beloved of your soul. […]
When the creature failed, he flew to the Creator! (Charles Spurgeon) “Help, Lord! For the godly are no more.” Psalm 12:1 The prayer itself is remarkable, for it is short, seasonable, pithy, and suggestive. David mourned the fewness of godly men, and therefore lifted up his heart in supplication. When the creature failed, he flew […]
“For you are my lamp, O Lord; and the Lord will lighten my darkness.” 2 Samuel 22:29 Octavius Winslow BLESSED Lord! You are my light. Accepted in Your righteousness, I am “clothed with the sun.” Dark in myself, I am light in You. Often have You turned my gloomy night into sunny day. Yes, Lord, […]
(by Horatius Bonar) “Let us not sleep as others do.” 1 Thes. 5:6 We all have a tendency to slumber. As the disciples, both on the transfiguration hill and in Gethsemane, fell asleep, so do we in the most solemn circumstances and times. The atmosphere of earth seems loaded with slumberous vapors. This present evil […]
How can they escape?J.C.PhilpotWhy, the Lord ‘keeps their feet’. He carries themthrough every rough place—as a tender parentcarries a little child. When about to fall—Hegraciously lays His everlasting arms underneaththem. And when tottering and stumbling, andtheir feet ready to slip—He mercifully upholdsthem from falling altogether. But do you think that He has not different waysfor […]