HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES-CHARLES SPURGEON

All over England, in our cities, towns, villages, and hamlets, there are tens of thousands who never will hear the gospel while open-air preaching is neglected. I believe that God allows us to preach in churches and chapels, but I do not believe that we have any apostolical precedent for it, certainly none for confining our ministry to such places. I believe that we are allowed, if it promote order and edification, to set apart buildings for our worship; but there is no warrant for calling these places sanctuaries and houses of God, for all places are alike holy where holy men assemble.

It is altogether a mischievous thing that we should confine our preaching within walls. Our Lord, it is true, preached in the synagogues, but he often spake on the mountain’s side, or from a boat, or in the court of a house, or in the public thoroughfares. To him an audience was the only necessity. He was a fisher of souls of the true sort, and not of the modern order, who sit in their houses and expect the fish to come to them to be caught.... The minister who does his duty, goes out into the highways and hedges; he goes into all the world; he preaches whether men will hear or whether they will forbear, and delights to make hills and woods ring with the message of peace.

From a sermon entitled "The Model Home Mission And The Model Home Missionary," delivered April 14, 1870.

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS

BY CHARLES WOODRUFF

How could we fail to mention the mother of our Lord? The scripture says “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42b). She is to receive honor as no other woman, but she is NOT to be worshiped! As a matter of fact, she herself worshiped the savior. She knew she was greatly honored, and blessed, and said so in the Magnificat (See Luke 1:46-55), yet she knew she was a sinner herself, and needed this savior that she bore in her own womb (verse 47). She knew she was NOT co-redeemer of the human race ready to receive our prayers and intercede on our behalf with Christ. There is nothing of this lying Popery in the word of God! Mary was a humble woman, chosen of God for the greatest motherhood of all time. She was a godly woman that all women could model after in character. She is to be honored, remembered and taught about -- but not worshiped! If she was on earth today, she would be saddened by those misguided souls who pray to her and worship her. She would point to Jesus Christ and say “worship Him who is the true savior”. (See John 14:6). She loved Him as her son, sure, but loved Him more as her “Saviour which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Mary is truly the most honored mother in the Bible. The most honored mother of all time

WHEN YOU WERE MARCHING TO HELL!

By THOMAS WATSON (1620-1686) Excerpt from  The Mischief of Sin  (at Grace Gems.)

"Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.." 1 Timothy 1:13

Literally, "I was bemercied." Christians, why might not you have been in the number of those who persist in sinning? Because God has bemiracled you with mercy!

See what cause you have to admire the stupendous  goodness of God, who has wrought a change in you —and checked you in your full career of sin!

Christians, you who are vessels of election—were by nature as wicked as others—but God had compassion on you and plucked you as brands out of the fire! He  stopped you in your course of sinning—when you were marching to hell! He turned you back to Him by sincere repentance.
Oh, here is the banner of love displayed over you!

Behold sovereign grace! Let your hearts melt in love to God. Admire His royal bounty. Set the crown of all your praises, upon the head of free grace! "By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10
Entire article at:   http://www.gracegems.org/Watson/mischief_of_sin1.htm