PATIENCE AMID SORROW AND PAIN-------------JOHN CALVIN

God does not require of us such cheerfulness as to remove all bitterness of pain. Otherwise the patience of the saints would not in the cross unless they were tormented by pain, felt agony, when someone caused them trouble. Likewise, if poverty were not harsh and bitter for them, if they did not endure some torment in the disease, if disgrace did not stab them, if dread did not hang over them, what fortitude or moderation would there be in scorning all these things?
 

But since each of these has bitterness attached that by nature stabs all our hearts, therein is proved the fortitude of a faithful man, if tried by a feeling of such harshness, yet valiantly resisting he strives constantly to resist, surmount and rise above them. In this patience is shown if, pricked by this same feeling, he is at all times restrained by fear of God, as by a bridle, which will not let him break forth in any intemperate act.
 

In this appears his joy and cheerfulness, if being struck by sadness and sorrow, he nonetheless gives himself to God’s spiritual consolation. The combat that the faithful, following patience and moderation, wage against the natural feeling of sorrow is well described by St. Paul: “Tribulation we endure in all things, but are not in distress. Poverty we endure, but are not left destitute. Persecution we endure, but are not deserted. Cast down we are, but perish not.”

PERSONAL INTIMACY WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST--J.C. RYLE--(1816-1900)

Regular and habitual communion with the Lord Jesus, is absolutely essential to growth in grace! I mean that daily habit of communion between the believer and his Savior, which can only be carried on by faith, prayer and meditation.

It is a habit, I fear, of which many believers know little. It is possible to have “union” with Christ–and yet to have little “communion” with Him. Communion . . .
between the Bridegroom–and His bride,
between the Head–and His members,
between the Physician–and His patients,
between the Advocate–and His clients,
between the Shepherd–and His sheep,
between the Master–and His scholars.
 
Communion implies a habit of daily application for things needed, and of daily pouring out and unburdening our hearts and minds. It is getting close to Him and laying hold on Him with confidence–as a loving, personal Friend.

Now I believe that no man will ever grow in grace, who does not know something experimentally of the habit of communion. We must seek to have personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus, and to deal with Him as a man deals with a loving friend. We must realize what it is . . .
to turn to Him first in every need,
to talk to Him about every difficulty,
to consult Him about every step,
to spread before Him all our sorrows,
to get Him to share in all our joys,
to do all as in His sight, and
to go through every day leaning on, and looking to Him!

Let us never doubt for a moment, that the preaching of Christ crucified - the old story of His blood, righteousness and substitution - is enough for all the spiritual necessities of all mankind. J.C. Ryle   

GOD ORDAINS ALL THINGS----CHARLES SPURGEON

Oh! We love the sublime doctrine of eternal absolute predestination...Some have doubted whether predestination is consistent with the free agency of man. We believe that man does as he pleases, yet notwithstanding he always does as God decrees....not only is the will of man under the absolute predestination of Jehovah; but all things, great or little, are of him.

There is nothing great or little, that is not from him. The summer dust moves in its orbit, guided by the same hand which rolls the stars along. The dewdrops have their father, and trickle on the rose leaf as God bids them...Yes, the sear leaves of the forest, when hurled along by the tempest, have their allotted position where they shall fall, nor can they go beyond it. In the great, and in the little, there is God working all things according to the counsel of his own will. And though man seeks to go against his Maker, yet he cannot...Everything is ordained by God!

Unto Him who guides the stars and sparrows, who rules planets and yet moves atoms, who speaks thunders and yet whispers zephyrs, unto Him be glory!

Spurgeon- from "The Incarnation and Birth of Christ"

THE PRICE OF SINNING AGAINST GOD'S SON--JOHN FLAVEL (1627-1691)

Ponder this little piece from the great Puritan preacher, John Flavel (1628-1691). Flavel had a great burden for lost sheep, and did much in pointing them to the saviour. Carefully weigh this liitle message, for there is more here than appears.

If Christ be the beloved darling of the Father’s soul, think what a grievous and insufferable thing it is to the heart of God, to see his dear Son despised, slighted, and rejected by sinners: verily, there is no such cut to the heart of God in the whole world. Unbelievers trample upon God’s darling, tread under foot him that eternally lay in his bosom, Heb. 10: 29. Smite the Apple of his eye, and how God will bear this, that parable, Mat. 21: 37, to 40, will inform you, surely he will miserably destroy such wretched sinners.

If you would study to do God the greatest despight, there is none like this. What a dismal word is that; 1 Cor. 16: 22. “If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha,” (i. e.) let the great curse of God lie upon that man till the Lord come. O sinners! you shall one day know the price of this sin; you shall feel what it is to despise a Jesus, that is able to compel love from the hardest heart. O that you would slight him no more! O that this day your hearts might fall in love with him! I tell you, if you would set your love to sale, none bids so fair for it as Christ.