ALL OF "GRACE QUOTES" FROM MARCH 2003 IN ONE FILE
Afflictions, sorrows, trials
(Henry Law, "Psalms" 1878)
"It is God alone who judges; He brings one
down, He exalts another. For the Lord holds
a cup in His hand; it is full of foaming wine
mixed with spices. He pours the wine out
in judgment, and all the wicked must drink
it, draining it to the dregs." Psalm 75:7-8
God's mode of dealing is often wrapped
in mystery.
We fail to understand why one is elevated
to the highest rank, while others seem to
waste their days in poverty, obscurity, and
low estate.
But no misgivings should arise.
It should be firmly fixed in our persuasions
that in all these matters God's hand prevails.
Thus, also, afflictions, sorrows, trials are
all appointed by the same unerring wisdom.
His hand holds a cup which is mixed in
accordance with His righteous will. According
to His good pleasure He causes the sons of
men to drink from it.
But what will be the portion of the wicked?
Let them tremble! They are forewarned that
they must wring out the dregs indignation
and wrath, tribulation and anguish forever!
He found it in the prison house of the devil
(Henry Law, "Psalms" 1878)
"Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will declare what He has done for
my soul." Psalm 66:16
Of what did the Psalmist speak?
Of all that God had done for his soul.
Oh! the breadth and length, the depth and
height, of this most marvelous declaration!
He visited his soul in darkness,
and gave the light of life!
He found it in the prison house of the
devil, and translated it into the kingdom
of grace and glory!
He saw it laden with all iniquities,
and removed the total burden!
He saw it filthy in all the mire of evil,
and clothed it with the garments of
righteousness and salvation!
Such is the theme of the believer's story;
but heaven must be reached and eternity
exhausted, before the whole can be told.
Are there no exceptions?
(Henry Law, "Psalms" 1878)
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good. Psalm 53:1
The heart is the true mirror of the man.
Its language speaks the real character.
If we could hear the secret whispers
of a graceless heart, the sound would
be uniformly evil.
The godless cherish the delusion that there
is no being greater than themselves. Their
conceit ignores divine supremacy, and scorns
to yield to a superior yoke.
Such men exist in fearful numbers.
The faithful Word declares it, and truly adds
that they are fools! They may pride themselves
in imagined wisdom, but their real place is in
the depths of ignorance. Their light is darkness.
Their boasted knowledge is extremest folly.
It follows that from atheism in heart,
comes wickedness in life.
The spring being impure, what can flow
from it but defilement?
The tree is rotten at the core; the branches
cannot be sound.
Their works, the emblems of their hearts,
can only be abomination. They only pollute
the earth; hateful to God, injurious to man.
Are there no exceptions?
Not one by nature!
There is no good but what the Holy Spirit
implants. Where He is absent only evil dwells,
and He has no abode in unregenerate men.
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good. Psalm 53:1
To love a worm!
(Spurgeon, "The Joy of the Lord" #1027)
Does it not make a man glad to know that
though once his sins had provoked the Lord,
they are now all blotted out, not one of them
remains; though once he was estranged from
God, and far off from him by wicked works,
yet he is made near by the blood of Christ.
The Lord is no longer an angry judge pursuing
us with a drawn sword; but a loving Father into
whose bosom we pour our sorrows, and find
ease for every pang of heart.
Oh, to know, that God actually loves us!
I have often told you I cannot preach upon that
theme, for it is a subject to muse upon in silence,
a matter to sit by the hour together and meditate
upon.
The Infinite, to love . . .
an insignificant creature,
an ephemera of an hour,
a shadow that declines!
Is not this a marvel?
For God to pity me I can understand. For God
to condescend to have mercy upon me I can
comprehend. But for Him to love me; for the
pure One to love a sinner, for the infinitely
great One to love a worm, is matchless, a
miracle of miracles!
There is a great deal of profession
(J. West, "Spiritual Desires Satisfied in Christ" 1858)
There is a great deal of profession in the present
day. But it is one thing to profess to be a Christian,
and another thing to be a broken hearted follower
of a despised Christ.
Empty bubbles!
(Henry Law, "Psalms")
"I have hated those who regard lying vanities.
But I trust in the Lord. I am overcome with joy
because of Your unfailing love, for You have
seen my troubles, and You care about the
anguish of my soul." Psalm 31:6-7
Many vain cheats are impudent to deceive us!
Riches,
honors,
titles,
reason,
intellect,
invite us to rely on their aid.
But they are empty bubbles.
Their promises are fraud.
The believer flees with abhorrence
from those who walk in these deceits.
He has a large volume of experience. In
trouble he has found that God's thoughts
were on him. All his adverse circumstances
have been lovingly regarded. In all his
ways of sorrow God has been by his side.
"I have hated those who regard lying vanities.
But I trust in the Lord. I am overcome with joy
because of Your unfailing love, for You have
seen my troubles, and You care about the
anguish of my soul." Psalm 31:6-7
Strong, immutable, and eternal
(Henry Law, "Psalms")
"Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close." Psalm 27:10
Earthly relationships are easily dissolved.
Affection may decay.
Fickleness begets estrangement.
Distance may part.
Death comes, and desolation sits
where happy fellowship once reigned.
But God's love is strong, immutable, and
eternal. His heart beats with tenderness,