"Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod" or, "The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes" by Thomas Brooks, 1659, London. "I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!" Psalm 39:9 (A Christian with an Olive Leaf in his mouth, when he is under the greatest afflictions,... Read More
Excerpts from 'Devotional Classics' edited by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith Thomas Merton (1915-1968) Introduction to the Author Born is Prades, France, Thomas Merton had a trying and painful childhood. His mother dies when he was 6 and his father after moving numerous times dies when Thomas ... Read More
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, —Psalm 39:3 Devotional: "My heart became hot within me." He now illustrates the greatness of his grief by the introduction of a simile, telling us that his sorrow, being internally suppressed, became so much... Read More
Having set your heart in tune, we now come to the music itself. Having acquired an appetite, approach the feast. Come, for all things are now ready. Heaven and Christ and the eternal glory are before you. Four factors promote heavenly contemplation. The first factor is consideration. By this I mean ... Read More
1. Of all those things which our Lord Jesus Christ has foretold, we know part to have been already accomplished, part we hope will be accomplished hereafter. All of them, however, will be fulfilled, because He is the Truth who speaks them, and requires of us to be as faithful, as He Himself speaks t... Read More
Psalm 1(1) Beatus vir qui non abiit 1 Happy indeed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked, nor lingers in the way of sinners nor sits in the company of scorners, 2 but whose delight is the law of the Lord and who ponders his law day and night. 3 He is like a tree that is planted beside... Read More
September 16, 1838. Lord's day afternoon. We met again to pray for supplies for the orphans. We are at peace, and our hope is in God. He will help us although only one shilling has come in since last evening. September 17. The trial continues. It is now more trying to our faith each day, but I am su... Read More
Preached at Zoar Chapel, London, on Thursday Evening, July 27, 1843, by J. C. Philpot "My soul follows hard after you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:8 Did the question ever arise in your mind, how David composed the Psalms? Of course, the answer would be, "He composed them by divine inspirat... Read More
Let the Abbess always bear in mind that at the dread Judgment of God there will be an examination of these two matters: her teaching and the obedience of her disciples. And let the Abbess be sure that any lack of profit the master of the house may find in the sheep will be laid to the blame of the s... Read More
My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue.... --Psalm 39:3 Prayer among evangelical Christians is always in danger of degenerating into a glorified gold rush. Almost every book on prayer deals with the "get" element mainly. How to get things we want... Read More
Mute Christian under the Smarting Rod - Part 1
Thomas Merton
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned
Four Aids to Heavenly Contemplation
Exposition on Psalm 40
Book I
Trusting God for Every Need: Chapter 11
The Soul's Pursuit After God
Let the Abbess always bear in mind
A Closed Mouth and Silent Heart